1.17.2013

Buh-bye evil tooth.

Poor Jackson had his oral surgery last Friday. A molar was sideways and blocking the two teeth behind it.  When we got to the hospital at 6 am,  he didn't know exactly was coming,  but he knew it wasn't good.  He cried while we were in preop and kept asking to go home in Daddy's car.   The nurse was wonderful and attempted to calm him the best she could.

We were in a room with a sliding door like a patio door.  Every time the nurse would leave, she would leave the door open a crack.  Jackson would run over and try to escape.  His head fit, but his shoulders didn't.  He would stand there with his head out the door howling, "Wanna go home in Daddy's car!" People walking by would either laugh or give him a sad face.

After the vitals were taken and a million questions answered, out came the versed.  Jackson was instantly relaxed (or drunk, depending on how you look at it). He kept spelling dentist over and over again and singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame.  The anesthesiologists came in and asked me what he was saying.  They were really surprised he could spell.  Jackson surprises so many people with what he can do!

They were then ready to take him back.  The lead anesthesiologist carried him because they were afraid that he would try to jump off the gurney.  The nurse with her said she just wanted a cuddle.

After about 45 minutes, the surgeon came out and said that the troublemaking tooth was out.  She had to pulverize it because it was so impacted.  She said she put in a few stitches to help avoid a dry socket.  I was really relived he did well.

The regular dentist came out a little while later and said they finally got a full set of X-rays and we would discuss them at his next appointment.  While they were taking the X-rays, he lost a a baby tooth.  So, two for the price of one.  He also had some "trauma to his lip" she said.  Turned out to be a slice along his bottom lip.

They took me back to see him and he was sobbing and coughing that croupy cough.  Every time he is intubated, he ends up with airway irritation.  The anesthesiologist gave him some steroids, just to be safe.

Poor guy kept saying, "What happened to Jackson?"  His bottom lip was huge and he was very, very angry about the iv in his hand.  They wouldn't let us go until he drank something.  He finally took some water and we got to go home around noon.

The next day his cheek was huge and he had a big bruise on the back of his hand.  Tylenol 3 helped keep his pain under control and he went back to school on Monday.

Hopefully, there won't need to be anymore teeth taken out after the X-rays are reviewed.  My guy is such a trooper.  I have some pictures to post, but I can't figure out how to do it on the iPad.

Object du Jour:  he's back in love with the iPad after a short hiatus.