When Archer was born he was tongue tied meaning the membrane under the tongue extends past the point where it should stop and in Archer's case his went all the way to the tip of his tongue. When he was a newborn we asked his doctor of we should do anything about it and the doctor thought as he grew it would stretch out and be fine. Archer also couldn't nurse very well at all (a few tears were shed) and he weaned after a few weeks. Years passed and we forgot all about his tongue tiedness until the dentist mentioned that we might want to consider fixing his tongue. After several doctors visits we ended up at a specialized ear, nose and throat doctor who recommended surgery. Archer was unable to stick his tongue out of his mouth or lick his upper lip without using his bottom lip to push the middle of his tongue up to the top lip.
After waiting a couple of months for his surgery date to arrive, we traveled the two hours to Tucson, Az to the Camp Lowell Surgery Center. Archer had to fast from food or drink after midnight so I was a bit worried how he would do on the longish journey. He mentioned he was hungry several times but I was able to distract him until we got there.
Archy tongue tied
Zany & Archy waiting for surgery
(Zany's must be allergic to mosquito bites because she gets large welts whenever she gets bit. Unfortunately, she got a mosquito bite right under her eye which then almost got swollen shut and I think every nurse asked us about it and of course this day the eye looked the worst.)
We had an hour or so wait before his surgery and I spent the time embroidering. One of the nurses had amazing quilts in fall and Halloween colors all over the facility. Archy and Zany weren't too wild thankfully.
Rhiannon doing some embroidery while in waiting room
(Who says I am never in the blog)
Once Archy had to strip down and put on a gown he got really nervous about the proceedings he lay in that giant bed with all kinds of monitors hooked to him he began to shed a few quiet tears. The nursing staff and doctors were great and one of the nurses got him some super hero stickers that cheered him up a bit.
Waiting for surgery
Archy with his stickers
The surgery was really fast about ten minutes. They did put Archy under so we had to wait until he woke up to go see him. They gave him a popsicle in recovery and he was able to stick his tongue out of his mouth and lick it for the first time ever. That made me happy to see him have so much more mobility. When his popsicle was half gone Archy started asking to go home. After about ten minutes we were able to pack up and head out of there.
Archy can stick his tongue out finally!
Now Zany was completely opposite of Archy and she can do all kinds of tongue gymnastics. She can even flip her tongue over so the bottom is on the top, fold it in half, and curl it. She wanted a tongue picture taken too.
Zany and her amazing tongue
(the super nice nurses gave her a popsicle too)
The nurse got a wheelchair that they could both fit in for the ride to the car. They thought that was pretty neat.
Archy and Zany getting wheeled to the car
In all the whole process took a little over two hours and Archy was very brave and got to go to Target a pick out a toy. Archer chose a minecraft sword and he got to have lots of ice cream so I think he would say the day was a success as he is a tongue tied boy no longer!
Here is wishing a Happy Birthday to Pa!
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