It's her birthday today, tomorrow & the next day, at least if you ask her.

Such a momma's girl when it comes to birthdays, isn't she?

Happy third, babygirl!

To tube or not to tube, there really is no question

This post could also be titled: sorry about the gross illustrations. The one below kinda makes me gag. Your welcome.

So, this Friday is Shaney's big tube day. We were originally going to wait out the summer to see if he developed one in the "off" season, but after three or four or five or actually after one seemingly constant ear infection with a week break here and there, the decision became quite clear - tube and tube it now.

After seeing an ENT and looking at the piece of paper which shows how clearly Shane is hearing, the decision was easy. Well, after that and when the ENT said, "whoa, more than 8 ear infections and he's HOW old? Yup, I think this one is a no brainer." And then ESPECIALLY after he told me my baby's been living in a tunnel probably for most of his life. You know that muffled sound when you have water in your ears or as my brother said when you plug up your ears? Well that's about what my baby boy has heard most of his whole life. They said chances are good that even when he doesn't have an infection, he has significant fluid build up causing muffled hearing, inner ear balance issues, etc. I've said for months now, he just doesn't seem like he likes standing or walking. Like it bothers him some. And now I think, maybe it does. Maybe his ear issues have messed up his balance and walking just isn't very comfortable for him. I guess we'll see after this week how much better things get.

It's amazing how many kids/babies get tubes. I've hardly mentioned it to anyone who doesn't know someone that has them or got them as toddlers. So, while I'm not looking forward to the "surgery" as they call it, (I like to think of it more as a "procedure" I like that word better) and mostly I just don't like to think of him being under anesthesia as I HATED that as a kid, hell I'd hate it as an adult, but I know this is what we need to try.

So by friday, well maybe Saturday, we fully expect Shaney will be speaking in full sentences and running a 500 yard dash faster than any of his peers as the fluid will finally be gone, gone, gone and hopefully will not be back to mess with my boy's ears any more!

I'll keep any interested parties on notice via twitter, but I'd love it if you keep the little man in your thoughts Friday morning and send some good ear vibes his way and that his post op will be speedy and we'll have a happy little guy by the weekend! :)

ps - I know some of you readers have first hand experience with tubes in little ones, so any advice/wisdom/presents you can send my way will be appreciated, especially presents, lots of lots of pretty presents!