Salivary Mucocele

Grace fell at school in mid-April, and shortly afterward we noticed a bump inside her lower lip. we assumed it was a blister or a canker sore. Turns out to be a salivary mucocele, which must be removed, or it will keep growing.  We finally found a doctor (bless him) who was able to schedule us for surgery before we leave for Florida this summer.

She had the procedure this morning, and was up last night, terrified. She was afraid that she would wake up in the middle of the procedure; she was afraid she was going to miss her dance recital (which was tonight). She didn't want to be cut; she didn't trust what was going on. She tried to convince me that the bump had gotten smaller, but to no avail.

We got up VERY early this morning and made it to the hospital. She wore her princess nightgown, flower robe, and fancy pink high heeled plastic slippers with feathers at the toes. The nurses loved her. And she liked them. Until the blood pressure machine came out (it's actually a sphygmomanometer--one of my favorite words, and I so rarely get to use it!).  It squeezed her arm and she wailed. She was terrified.

Then we met the anesthesiologist, who was very kind and soothing. He confided in Grace that he is a grandfather, and he knows just how to take care of little girls. He then explained what he would do--that he would give her a mask to breathe, and he would make sure that she slept during the operation. I watched her relax in his presence.

She came out in good spirits, loving the popsicles in post-op. We made it home, took a nap, and got ready for her dance recital. She was insistent that she go, and since she missed her Christmas recital due to a nasty stomach flu that almost landed her in the ER for dehydration, we consented.

Keep in mind that this little girl is 4 years old. In preschool. Why did they put her 2nd dance at the end? AFTER intermission, 3rd song from the end?  The recital started at 6:30pm, and we didn't leave until 9:30. And we left directly after her last number.

(At her other dance studio in FL, they had all the little children's dances first, and a mini-finale just for the little ones before intermission. Then they got to go home!!! Not to mention that the studio had us drop the kids off and took care of even the 2 year olds without their parents backstage. . . . so in UT I missed half the show taking care of grace ) I don't understand this at all.

She was so tired from this day, and very thirsty--we suspect due to the anesthesia. And her mouth was starting to hurt, but you would never know it from the way she insisted we stay and the way she danced so enthusiastically. We were very proud of her dancing. She was smiling, shaking her hips, and knew every move. Then we came home.

I gave her some medicine and a popsicle. Within 15 minutes of taking the medicine, she was screaming and shrieking over every little minute problem. I talked calmly to her, read her a story despite her protests (nothing like a little Fancy Nancy to brighten your day, you know) and helped her into bed. I told her that the medicine would make her feel tired and grumpy, and she seemed to calm down, knowing that it wasn't just HER feeling icky.

I finally got her to sleep, and made it to the phone to call out for pizza 5 minutes before closing. Now when Terry comes home from his soccer game, we can relax over some pizza (if only I had a bottle of wine!!!) and perhaps a short video. We're big fans of Hulu these days. Thanks for the site, karen! :)