Ear infection--need advice

I'm hoping someone still reads this!

At Ty's June 2011 cleft team appointments, the ENT said one out of two tubes were still in place. I just couldn't remember which one. Friday night I noticed some liquid in Ty's ear, and the stench is enough to make you fall over! I took him to a clinic yesterday since it was a Saturday, and there is a tube stuck in the canal. They can see it and probably could have pulled it out, but the PA didn't want to touch it (can't blame her). She did put Ty on antibiotics for an ear infection.

It's not much of a dilemma, but here it is. The cleft team ENT is in Seattle, 2 to 2.5 hours away. I really don't see the need to fight traffic and take Ty on that long ride just to have the ENT there pull a tube out. So should I:

1. Call the ENT at children's, get advice, and go from there?
2. Call my pediatrician and just have him remove it?

I am thinking option 1, and the ENT there (Dr. Perkins for those familiar with Children's Hospital) said it would be fine for us to get a closer ENT if Ty continued to have ear issues. Personally, I don't call one ear infection a year as having ear problems (He's had 3 infections total--2 last year and one this year). Plus, Ty had a cough and cold last week, so it's obvious he's been fighting off something.

Oh, and don't worry about Ty, he's fine. Worry about me because I'm losing it! He's sooooo loud, feels no pain, and is as ornery as ever! I love my spicy boy!

Thanks!