little miss mimic

It's another nickname for our Ladybug as she loves to play shadow to her big sister. It rained lightly this evening and after it stopped, we were outside admiring the rainbow. Then the two of them took off running down the street (with daddy walking close behind), leaving adorable little footprints as they went. At our next door neighbor's house they spent nearly twenty minutes giggling like crazy as they ran up the steps, across the porch, down the driveway, across the sidewalk and up the steps again. Lap after lap, they ran and giggled with Butterfly in the lead and Ladybug close behind. Everytime Butterfly stopped to touch a flower, Ladybug followed. Whenever Butterfly threw herself at daddy's legs for a quick hug, Ladybug followed. It was wonderfully cute.

Our "little miss mimic" moments happen a lot and are especially cute when Ladybug is obviously just following big sister with no understanding of the action itself. She mimics reading books, dancing, singing, climbing things she shouldn't, being sassy, putting on dress ups, etc.

But ironically, the big thing that happened today is kind of a mimic as well. Or at least was something Butterfly had to go through and today we realized Ladybug will too. We met with an ENT today at the recommendation of our pediatrician who is concerned about how often Ladybug has been sick lately. Since September, she has constantly been congested with some kind of ear infection, eye infection, sinus infection or cold to go with it. She also snores regularly and often has breathing patterns that suggest sleep apnea. The ENT we saw is wonderful. He's not a pediatric ENT but well known for working with kids so we were grateful to be able to see him again. He's actually the same doctor that we saw with Butterfly for tubes and an adenoidectomy, which is exactly what he's recommended for Ladybug as well.

So here's your medical lesson for the day. Adenoids are behind your sinuses and similarly to tonsils, are important for filtering germs and bacteria, particularly in babies and children, until their immune system strengthens. As the immune system takes over, adenoids really have no purpose, typically shrinking and disappearing by teenage years. Sometimes adenoids can become enlarged, blocking the nasal passages (which explains the snoring) or can become colonized with bacteria (which explains being sick so often). As for eustactian tubes, its a small tube (picture a grain of rice but hollow and with the ends cut off) that is placed in the ear drum to create an opening from which fluid can drain. The fluid is caused by congestion (among other things) and can become infected causing pain and if left untreated, hearing problems. Ladybug has had a couple ear infections recently but usually mild. But the doc is concerned that the fluid (which shouldn't be there anyway) behind her ear drums is especially thick and won't be able to drain on its own. He also said her tonsils don't look too great either but she's too young to treat those so we'll just watch them for now. The tubes and adenoidectomy are done at the same time under general anesthesia. It's an outpatient procedure with minimal risk and a very short recovery.

Since Butterfly had this same procedure, I feel like I know what to expect and am less apprehensive. (Butterfly was actually hilarious after taking the oral sedative, super loopey and giggly until they took her in for the surgery and knocked her out with anesthesia. The bad part was when she first woke up, upset and obviously uncomfortable. Fortunately that wore off fast and she was full of energy again by that same evening.) The surgery will probably be in about a month and we're hoping to have the same kind of no complications/quick recovery with Ladybug too.