Ear tubes for Catherine

This week has been VERY eventful. We've seen an audiologist, ENT doctor, and been to the surgery center. It all started April 25 at Cat's 3 year check up when I requested a hearing test. Her ears did fail. From there we were sent to the audiologist on May 5 who reassured with news that it wasn't a permanent hearing problem, but hearing loss due to ear wax or fluid behind the eardrum. That got an appointment with the ENT. We were lucky there was a cancellation, and we saw him May 6. He gently removed some ear wax (Catherine sat so still and didn't make a peep) then ran another hearing test which showed she still had mild hearing loss.

Let me take a moment to explain the hearing loss. Since Christmas, we have noticed Catherine saying "What?" a lot or turning her head or even lifting her head off a pillow to hear something. Even at the ENT's office, if her back was to us in the lobby, we could say her name and she wouldn't hear us. She has had few ear infections.

The ENT doc asked us if we thought she had had this problem for 3 months or longer to which Brad and I both said yes confidently. He said that she did have fluid and that he recommended tubes. Thankfully they had an appt. for today May 8.

We went in early at 7:30 am. We told Catherine this morning that she was going to the doctor again. She was going to take a little nap at the doctor's office and then she would wake up and we'd go home. So when it was time for her to go with the nurse she walked away without hesitation. 15 minutes later the doc came out and said she did great and that there was a lot of thick fluid in her middle hear that would NOT have cleared up by itself. He said she will definitely hear better. A few mintues later we got to go back and hold her as the anesthesia wore off. She was fussy just as the nurses said she would be, but is now back to her normal self.

In a day or two we should really notice hearing improvements! I can't wait!!!