Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

In the last 6 months Pete and I had noticed Afton's severe snoring and occasional sleep apnea. We had discussed the possibility of needing to have her tonsils removed and so I said I would bring it up at her 3-year-old doctor visit. As that day approached we were more and more anxious to get her opinion and hopefully a referral to an ENT for a consultation. Since we moved and began sleep training Peter, Afton was sleeping in our room more and more and we realized how bad things had really gotten! (Side note: Peter started sleeping through the night much better with her out of the room. Her snoring was waking him up, I think!)

So we finally saw a pediatric ENT up at Primary Children's Hospital in mid-March. He said on a scale of 1-10 her tonsils were a 10. And, in his experience, children with that big of tonsils typically had as big, if not bigger adenoids. So he recommended getting them out. The soonest they could put us on the schedule was mid-April but we asked to be put on a waiting list if there were any cancellations.

Well, on Monday, March 28 they called and said they had an opening for the next morning. So we arranged our schedules and headed in to have Afton's tonsils and adenoids removed.

The timing was better for our family since we will be moving in a couple of weeks and Afton should be all healed by then. But it wasn't great for our extended families since the Sundwalls were headed out of town and Grandma Rita just had surgery on her foot. Everyone was so great to help where they could. Grandpa Millar gets the MVP of the whole experience for coming to stay at our house with Peter so Pete and I could be with Afton. Peter is now quite attached to Grandpa and I think Grandpa to him as well ;) Grandpa also made sure to bring Afton a daily milkshake post-surgery so he's on her Good List too.

The surgery went great and Afton has been feeling surprisingly well. I am sure the difference in being able to swallow and breath is amazing! We continue to keep her on some medicine for pain and try not to throw up when we smell the wounds on her breath. She really wants to be active but we are trying our hardest to follow the Dr.'s orders and lay low. Her appetite right before the surgery also exploded and I thought it would slow down post-surgery but she has wanted to eat anything and everything all day long.

Afton's voice has changed and gotten higher and more nasal sounding, which is expected. The doctor thought we would see huge changes with her after having this procedure done. It was likely holding her back in a lot of ways. We are so glad things went well and just hope this will help her to be healthier and not so prone to infection! We are excited to see how this surgery will improve her health and quality of life overall!

Coloring in the waiting room while Mom checked her in

Dressed and watching frozen while waiting for the medicine to kick in

We opted to give her some medication to relax her since we knew it would be traumatic going back into the Operating Room without us there. She was so adorable with her goofy, loopy smile. I wasn't totally sold on using the medication since it is optional but, luckily, Pete was there and had the sense to say we needed it. This girl's memory is a little too sharp and she is a little too aware of things. It would have likely been very traumatic for all of us if we hadn't used it.

Insisting that she needed a "treat" with her milkshake from Grandpa. So she dipped that Tangerine popsicle in her chocolate milkshake and enjoyed every bite.

Grandpa and Peter. Thank goodness for Grandpa who knows how to keep Peter happy (which is not always easy)

Easter

I managed to get a couple pictures of the kids in their Easter dress clothes right before bed. Better late than never.

I had already taken some pictures of Afton earlier in the day outside, but she sat there posed like this until I would snap her picture. Ha!

This year instead of our regular Book of Mormon scripture study, we focused on the events of Jesus' life leading up to Easter. Afton really loved the pictures and was great to comprehend and recall the events each day. She became a bit fixed on the crucifixion and had a million questions she would ask throughout the day. Like why Jesus was crucified, who the bad guys were, if the nails in his hands hurt, why was he naked (the painting we have depicts jesus only wearing a loin cloth-type of thing). It was a bit challenging answering all her questions but it was good to reflect on things a little more in depth ;). 

Sunday night Afton said the prayer after all of our Easter activities and she did her typical rattling of "we're gratefie (grateful) for". . . but then after that she stopped and slowly said, "And we are so happy that Jesus could be resurrected on Sunday." I just immediately started to tear up. It was so sweet that she used the word "happy" instead of her typical "grateful" and that she really understood that Jesus being resurrected on Sunday was why we celebrate Easter. Not the candy or eggs or bunny rabbit. I will never forget that. She is one special little girl!

Her poses these days just kill me!

Afton ended up having a few Easter Egg hunts this season.

I was in charge of hosting one for the MSA (medical student families) the week of Easter.

  Then we attended one in Hidden Oaks with Grandpa Millar (Grandma Rita was home recovering from surgery). 

 

 And then Mimi and Grandpa had a little one for Afton as well. Spoiled! She loved it.

Spring Fever!

We have had quite the winter with Afton being sick on and off since December with only small breaks between illnesses. Peter hasn't been as sick as often as Afton, but he has also had his fair share. With the weather starting to warm up we tried to take advantage of the fresh air in hopes of curing our winter sickness!

Finding baby swings are a must for us. Peter loves to swing. Swinging keeps both kids occupied for quite a while!

We visited Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point with Dad during a break from school. Afton loved riding the horses.

Peter got his first baseball cap so now we are ready for summer!

Blowing bubbles in the backyard.

LOTS of dressing up on colder days.

Story time craft at the library.

Poor Afton sick with a stomach bug. She was the first to get it, then Baby Peter, then Mom. It was NO fun!

Enjoying being outside and watching Afton play at the park.

Afton got a hand-me-down bike of Olivia's from Mimi and Grandpa! She is still learning out to ride it but was SO excited when Dad put the training wheels on.

Lots of random nap times since she has felt sick.

An ice cream date to the mall

February Happenings

Afton  and I sang a primary song at a little care center branch meeting. I was so proud of her I took her to the dollar store to pick out something fun. She chose Swedish Fish.

Sometimes Afton's no-nap thing catches up to her. This day I was putting Peter down for an afternoon nap and came out to find Afton zonked!

Aunt Jessica came home from her mission! (Peter had intense stranger anxiety during this time)

Afton got invited to a Valentine's Day Tea Party by one of her friends from our old ward. It was so nice of them to not forget about us! And Afton was so excited to attend a tea party!

Kaiya's mom (the hostess) sent me this

Afton and Peter both had well-child checkups. Afton: 3 years, Peter: 9 months

Our library got these little carts which is just SO exciting, obviously. So now we MUST bring a baby doll to put in the cart each time we go. Baby Special fits perfectly!

We went as a family to a U of U gymnastics night. Afton mostly like it. But LOVED the popcorn Dad bought her!

Afton got this special quilt which Grandma Rita finished putting together. It was hand-embroidered by Afton's Great Great Grandma so there are three generations of grandmothers who worked on this quilt!

Peter and Bodi are preschool buddies. While the girls learn they switch off chewing on toys, poking each others eyes, and loving every second of it.