ear 2.5 mos after stage II

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The above pic was taken at the beginning of March. The one below about a month and a half later.

The Fashion Designer at Work

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Two months out from Stage II

Heather via Centro

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Look Ma! No Kids

The grandparents mercifully took the kids to the Wild Animal Park. Andrew and I are figuring out how to speak Grown-up again...at least for an afternoon... Heaven!
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Still Swollen

tomorrow we learn how to get the freaky sponge off...
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Light saber

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Baloon guy

Aaron and balloon guy
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ariel baloon

And the freakish thing really did look like Ariel, the Little Mermaid!

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Peter Pan

In line.
For. Ever.
Aiden declined to be photographed.
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Aiden 'Asleep'

Aaron on Tom Sawyer's Island Treehouse
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And, okay, Aiden really WAS asleep!
SCORE!

Contemplative Boy

Who knew spinning teacups were so deep?
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Contemplative Boy LOVED the Tea Cups! Geez! It took me years not to think I was gonna hurl!

fading

God bless strollers.
The boy fades in and out just like the day after the last surgery.
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Aiden is My Co-pilot

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To say the boy loved this ride is to understate beyond comprehension. I think it had something to do with him being able to drive.
Not that he has control issues...

brutally early

after a 348am wake up, a Denny's breakfast across Harbor Blvd seemed in order. Ear freshly swollen, as predicted.
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'Christmas Story'

Yay!!! We got him to sit down for a second!!!! You would never, NEVER know this boy had surgery today if he didn't have a swollen ear! I swear to you, nothing keeps this kid from bouncing around.
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heading out

Aiden was given the option to ride alone in this HUGE wheelchair, or with his brother. He picked this option. Of course, he was stoned out of his gourd, but I think he still would have chosen to ride with Aaron.

Aaron, being the spectacular big bro that he is, while at the La Brea Tar Pits (a dream trip for him) chose a large woolly mammoth stuffed animal for Aiden.

Clearly, it was a hit.

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He's Done!

good to have the brother here
Heather via Centro

There are a couple of things you don't know about surgery until you're there. I'm going to list them here to make it easier to remember (for me):

1. Kids (adults too) come out of anesthesia really, REALLY disoriented. In kids, that looks like pain. Crying in pain. Crying crying crying. Flipping out. Thrashing. From personal experience, I agree with the doctors—it's not pain. There are so many pain meds flushing through your system for a few hours, that really, you CAN'T feel pain. You can be uncomfortable (thus, kids tug at the IV doohikies) but the thrashing is bad for us—the viewers. The kids won't remember it at all. Take a video. They'll deny it was them.
2. Coming out of the drugs takes awhile. You want to swoop in and hold your baby. You can't. Get over it. They wouldn't remember if you did.
3. Having a something to snuggle isn't a bad idea. Even stoned, they know that feels nice.
4. Whether the surgery is one hour or eight, the kids come out with this horrible raspy voice that just breaks your heart. Water and juice in recovery help some. Mashed potatoes and hot chocolate do too. It goes away pretty soon. It's just lousy to hear that horrible rasping bark if they cough. Awful. And again, they forget (good drugs!) you don't (sadly, no drugs).
5. If your kid hasn't eaten for five hours, your surgeon hasn't eaten for six or more. Bring the poor doc a snack.

Okay, aside from the above, if you can bring a really kind older brother bearing a stuffed woolly mammoth, that's pretty good too.

The Dr Reinisch Face

this boy loves his doctors
Heather via Centro

Seriously, when was the last time you saw a kid light up like this when he saw...his surgeon? And this was about half way through the expression. He brightened up even more.

I'm telling you, Dr. Reinisch is a spectacular doc. Amazing. And, you know, a great surgeon to boot. But a really nice guy who obviously loves his kids. Just wonderful.

I'm gushing.

I'll stop.

Aiden in. The Good Dr

Aiden in. The Good Dr R is cleaning it up. Said eardrum is bouncy (good) and that he'll "fiddle" w/the ear placement & form.

Fish Pond

Pre-operation, the morning of: the waiting room has a fish pond in lieu of coffee. And a mom for Aiden to flirt with.
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