So, Your Little One is Having Tube Surgery?

I’ll preface this by saying our first kiddo, Maverick, was never THIS sick … I’m not sure if this is a second kid thing or what, but WHEW. Mama’s tired is tired. Our youngest, Melody, has been sick since July with ear infections on top of random rashes, and colds, and we finally had surgery this month. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect other than having to put eardrops in her ears every day.

So I wanted to share just a few things I’ve learned from this experience. Many of these tips can honestly be helpful for any illness since there always seems to be something.

1. Quick and easy meals: I wanted to make things as easy as possible so I could devote most of my time to snuggles while still having a meal prepared for the entire family at supper time. Costco came in clutch with this one – we ordered the premade meatloaf as well as the lasagna! Both of which were enough for the entire family for the whole week!
2. The first day is the hardest: I guess this could’ve been a given. Day 1 was filled with nonstop snuggles, Encanto on repeat, and completing any and all tasks with 1 hand. We brought pouches and her favorite stuffy to the hospital with us so when she woke up from anesthesia she had a snack and a comfort from home!  
3. Medicine: we learned the best trick from our favorite pediatrician, Dr. Nuss. Mix the medicine with chocolate syrup, coffee creamer or even water flavoring. Melody has been on some kind of antibiotic since July – so having her try and take “just one more dose” was like wrestling an alligator. So, I started measuring her dosage with the syringe and mixing it with chocolate syrup and I’ve never seen a toddler take medicine so quickly. I felt like I leveled up in parenting.
4. Electric nose suction: this thing is a lifesaver. I’m not sure what we’d done without it. We’ve been using this non-stop to try and suction as much snot as possible from her nose throughout the day. 
5. Cut yourself some slack: sure the housework may not get done, work, or your own shower. But you’re doing the best you can and that’s really all you can do. 

A lot of these tips could honestly be used at any point in this motherhood journey so hopefully, this will bring you some solace in knowing you’re not alone in this journey!