We had a super crazy month of dental trials in December. Both Meghan and Caleb had their first dental surgeries at age 2 and since then Spencer had almost all of his teeth replaced by caps or crowns last year at Primary Children's Hospital. We learned he has an enamel defect and knew as soon as his molars came in we'd have to go back to check for decay. So this month at their 6 month check up we found both Caleb and Spencer had multiple cavities. Meghan was cavity free (hooray!)
We made follow ups for the boys and I mad the mistake of trying to go by myself without Todd keeping my hopes high. Spencer wouldn't let them open his mouth so we scheduled him for surgery. Caleb's appointment was one of the hardest we've ever been to. The first thing that bothered him was the noise in the waiting room, Christmas music. so I knew before they even started he was having an off day sensory wise. They tried to put the laughing gas mask on and he panicked, throwing things, swearing and kicking me. Three of us held him down and managed to get the numbing shots in. Things got ugly fast so I called Todd for back up. He started throwing things and yelling. It took two hours in the office and four of us adults to realize there was no way he would let the dentist come any where near him again. Our insurance requires they at least try to complete the procedure in office and then fill a prescription for valuum if the child is over 5. That to me is insanity when they know our children have special needs! So both boys were scheduled for surgery after the failed appointment attempts.
This will be Spencer's sixth surgery and Caleb's fifth. I know their triggers pretty well now. The nurses called us the night before to go through medical history and I asked them about the ID tags. For some reason just the little plastic bracelet that goes around their wrist is enough to put both of them over the edge. At PCMC they now know to tagaderm the ID onto their back with a sticker, but this surgery center said they couldn't.
We arrived at 6 AM, and since we couldn't find a neighbor or family to take the rest of the kiddos to school, so I was by myself. The second we walked back to check in Spencer started saying over and over again "I don't want an appointment." He wouldn't let them weigh him or get a blood pressure. Then came the ID tag attempt. Poor little guy was screaming non-stop for an hour and half after they put it on. The nurses said it is illegal to take a child into surgery without it so he was on the floor trying to rip it off. By then Caleb was in tears as well. Neither one of them would get undressed and put on scrubs, they wouldn't let the nurses take pulse or temperatures. How they can let a child scream for over an hour is beyond me! Finally the anesthesiologist came in and pulled the ID bracelets off himself. He had me take Spencer back without any lead on, just in his street clothes. Caleb mom and little bean were all in tears at the OR door as we sent him back. That is by far the hardest part, handing them over to surgery staff. They let me go back with him once but the 16 other times we've had to pass off our children at the door. We can't do verced to calm them down pre-op anymore since both boys have had an adverse reaction to anesthesia.
Finally Todd got there, after Spencer was back and we could only get Caleb into a scrub top, with all the rest of his regular clothes left on. Spencer came out into recovery before Caleb went back so I couldn't tell him goodbye. Poor little man was so so upset in recovery. He was crying and angry. Kept saying he just wanted to go home. We couldn't get him to calm down so I stayed to wait for Caleb and Todd took Spencer to work with him. I really wish we had a strong support system to help us out in these situations! Both of our mothers are in poor health and work days so can't be used for babysitting. I asked our neighbors and the ward for help but had only one response. Our visiting teacher took our kindergartner for a few hours. For the most part it was just me and Todd tag teaming. I really struggle with not feeling bitter sometimes. It's pulled Todd and I closer and we've learned to rely on ourselves and the Lord.
When Caleb came out of the OR he couldn't stop throwing up. I spent two hours with him in recovery, five hours total at the surgery center. I took him home and Todd brought Spencer home form work. The good part of the whole thing was seeing both boys snuggled up together on the couch the rest of the day. And, I feel like it brought Caleb and I closer together. We had some minor behavioral regression with Spencer for about a week after, but no major regression like we've see in the past.
I thank my Heavenly Father for my friends online who checked in with us through out the day. Even though they are in other states and countries I did feel love and prayers from the distance. Based on our family medical history this won't be the last surgery. I pray they start to get a little easier of all of us.
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