Tonsils

Next up in April was surgery.  I was told that Laycee could get her tonsils removed the summer before kindergarten.  Trent and Logan had both had their's taken out the summer of 2010.  The doctor didn't want to do Logan's then, but there was medical need.  She told me that Laycee also needed hers removed, but wouldn't do them at that time because of her age.  So we waited.  When preschool started last year, Laycee really struggled.  There were many social issues that we had to work on.  Eventually, that led us to a psychiatrist.  That was both a blessing and a dead end.  The psychiatrist encouraged me to put her on medication and I didn't feel like we were ready for that.  But he also subscribed a few other methods that might would help us help Laycee.  First problem with Laycee is that she is unable to sleep through the night.  She has never been a good sleeper and even now she isn't.  This issue led us back to to the tonsils.  Given that now there was a bigger need to get them taken out, the new doctor (switched because of insurances) decided to go ahead and remove them.  I am always so nervous any time Laycee has to be sedated.  She fights to the very end and comes out kicking and screaming.  Even the pain meds were too much for her.  It took her a little longer than the boys to recover, but I was so proud of her!  Back to the bigger issue, tonsils are taken out and melatonin was not a great alternative for her.  However, we have found more "natural" ways to treat her and they are really helping.  Yes I know this is going to sound quacky to some, but desperation takes us to new heights.  So, we started adding flax to her diet.  Refrigerated Flax Oil (also has the right ratios of omegas) is a mood elevator.  In addition, I have found a combination of essential oils to also help her sleep through the night.  I have a sensitivity to lavender so it took us a little experimenting to find something that worked without lavender in it, but we have found something.  We have undergone several transitions over the summer and she has only had 2 "periods" of instability in that time.  However, before our natural treatments and the tonsils, she had an episode every 4-6 weeks lasting about 1 week!  That is amazing improvement!  We have been working on routines and rituals to help the separation and anxieties that she has.  So, seeing the psychologist didn't help in some ways, but he definately pointed us in the right direction.