The Summerhays Daze: January 2009

About a week and a half ago(on a Monday or Tuesday), I was cleaning my ears with Q-Tips like I usually do every few days (Normally, I clean them with a towel in the mornings after my shower, but I do deep cleaning every once in a while with the aforementioned tool.). No big deal. Sometimes, after cleaning my left ear, it feels a little clogged; again, no big deal b/c the feeling goes away. Well, last week that clogged, pressure feeling didn't go away after a couple of hours. I kept yawning and chewing gum to see if I could get it to pop, but to no avail. The pressure remained. This went on for a couple of days. When it started to feel sensitive, I figured I was getting an ear infection, so I went to the drugstore for some over-the-counter drops to help my situation. When that didn't work and the sensitivity turned into real pain, I began to worry that I might have a really bad infection. So, I went to the doctor's office on that Friday, where I was told they couldn't see anything in my ear b/c it was being BLOCKED by a big ROCK of WAX (!!!) and that they were going to flush it out. I couldn't believe it. I've never had issues with my ears in the past, so this was new to me. The nurse said it would be no big deal since I'm young; I guess old people come in all the time for ear washes, and the nurses have difficulties flushing the wax out b/c they have dryer wax; since I'm young and have not so dry wax, it should be a jiffy to get the stuff out. When she told me that, I thought, "Sweet, just a quick flush with some warm water, and I can get out of here- pain free, able to enjoy the weekend. WRONG! She started flushing and little bits of wax would come out, only scratching the surface after a couple of soaks with solution and water being jetted into my very sensitive ear. At one point the nurse uttered, "Huh, it's harder than I thought." Yeah, that was comforting! Unfortunately, the office was about to close for the evening, so they shewed me away with a bottle of that solution and strict instructions to soak my ear 4 or 5 times a day until Tuesday (!?!), and then come back and try again. Great. So anyone out there who's had ear infections will understand when I say that ear pain is the most annoying pain in the world!
For the next four days, I walked around with that solution in my ear, covered by a cotton ball, and my head tilted to the side, so it would ensure complete soakage. By the time Monday came around, I was in so much pain that it brought me to tears. I couldn't wait for Tuesday to come. But I was also nervous for Tuesday to come b/c I knew the nurse would put even more pressure in my ear to get the wax out, and I knew that was going to be painful, and I don't do well with pain (although, I have had a few experiences this past year that have proven to me how much pain I can really handle, but that's a whole different story).
Finally, Tuesday came, and I was ready for the wash. The pressure and pain were awful, and the only thing I could hear was a high-pitched ringing that you hear in a quiet place after being in a very loud place like a concert per se.
I went to the doctor's office first thing in the morning, thinking that there wouldn't be that many people there yet to wait behind, but there were. So, I found the corner of the waiting area where the magazines were, and it was there that I found a little miracle. Someone had left a copy of the October(Conference) issue of the Ensign there. That office never has magazines like that there. So, I opened it up and starting reading Pres. Uchdorf's message about hope and faith. It was just what I need to calm my nerves. Immediately, I felt the love the Savior has for me, and the care that He took over me with something so minor as an ear flush. My nerves were replaced with peace, and I new that my pain would be gone very soon.
When the nurse called me back, I was so excited. I would be able to hear again. I would burp and yawn without pain or pressure. She looked in my ear before flushing and commented on how soft the ball of wax looked and that it would come out very easily. Yes! It only took two or three squirts of water to break through. Hallelujah! I could hear again. And (now this is gross folks) I couldn't believe the amount of wax that was stuck in my ear! I saw little balls that if put together would equal the size of a quarter in diameter. Again, I could hear! I wanted to give the nurse a big hug to show her my appreciation, but I thought that would be a little frightening for her. Instead, I thanked over and over again like an idiot. Oh well, I was cured. And I'd never appreciated the gift of sound more than on that day.
Moral of the story...don't clean your ears with Q-Tips b/c they just push in the wax instead of cleaning it out. Also, there is always relief on the other side of pain, but savour the pain b/c it allows you to appreciate the relief. The end.

Here are more photos of Christmas fun. Josh and I went over to his sister's house on Christmas eve, and at one point, the Tower of Babel came up in conversation (Tyler thinks it was an attempt at building a spaceship...crazy! but awesome if true), so Josh took it upon himself to build his own Tower out of little Avery's giant legos. Sadly, the tower wasn't even as tall as he, so I guess he's going to have to find another way to Heaven. Sorry sweets!

Christmas morning was spent blissfully sleeping in, Josh and I hanging out together in the morning, opening presents and eating Christmas Crepes (crapes). Then, his parents had everyone over for their open house, which was so fun. Anyways, voila!

What a beautiful Christmas afternoon! I LOVE that all I have to wear is a sweater and a scarf in December!! This is actually in Josh's parents' driveway where everyone was taking part in a family photo shoot with a new camera that Josh's brother was trying out. This is ours.