tubes

This has become an all too familiar site around our home.  R2 has had 5 ear infections (and that does not include when they were in multiple ears) this year.  We had an appointment with an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who did a hearing screening on him and discovered the fluid behind his ears was causing a hearing impairment (most hear at 0-20, his was at 40).  He recommended tubes in his ears.
We went in this past week to Strictly Pediatrics Surgical Center at 6 a.m.  Everything was bright and cheery and the staff was amazing (except the billing department).  R2 was for the most part calm.  Several people told me how quick it would be, but turning your 21 month old over to strangers and being ushered into another room while you know your child is being giving anesthesia, is pretty much gut wrenching.  I went to the restroom and played one 2-minute game on my ipad and the doctor was in the room to tell us R2 had done well.  WHAT?!!?  Seriously, 10 minutes.
About five minutes later, they brought are awake and very upset little man back to us.  They gave him a cup of juice, but he did not want any of that.  He just cried and kept telling us  "go".  We hung out with Nurse Rob for another 15 minutes and got our post-surgery instructions.
We thought once we got in the car, the little man would crash, but he was even angrier.  He was kicking and pushing us away, crying, and screaming.  It was awful.  I thought we had brought home the wrong child.  Of course the drive took forever.   When he finally got home, Mimi offered him some toast, but he wanted some juice and it was the difference maker.  All of sudden, he was our happy little boy.  He played for another half -hour and then we put him down for a four hour nap.
He is on antibiotics, drops we have to put in his ear.  Not the funnest job I might add.  So, the hope is now that he has tubes, there will be no more ear infections and his hearing will quickly improve.