Surgery

Whew.....it's over!  And my JD did AWESOME!  He is currently napping and has been napping for 2 hours so I'm sure he'll be up any minute!!

So we had a very early call this morning, we had to be at the hospital at 6:15, so we were up at 5 to get ready.  I quietly scooped up John David without waking up Austin.  Success!!!!  We got there at 6:15 and they took us in right away.  I was a bit nervous they wouldn't do the surgery since he developed a cough this morning and a runny nose.  For me, they seemed cautious, but Kevin didn't think so. They must have listened to his heart 10 times!  But lungs were clear so they went ahead with surgery.  We put his gown on, he hated it, and by the end of our hour wait, it was removed.  So he went to surgery in a diaper!!!  Ha!  So most of the time this morning was spent keeping him occupied.  We brought toys, they had a tv and a wonderful nurse, who played peek a boo and this little piggy, thank you!  About 20 minutes before they started, they gave him some medicine to help relax him.  Within minutes of that, he was super cuddly and tired.  He was laughing and smiling at me.  Thank you, medicine, you made leaving him so much more easier!  We walked with him part of the way, and he smiled at me as I left.  I thought he was going to scream!  I prepared myself for screaming/crying and was pleasantly surprised that he was fine!  I went downstairs, grabbed a cup of coffee and a bagel for Kevin and I, as Kevin waited in the waiting room, came up stairs, ate my bagel and then they were finished!  Wow, that was fast!

Playing with the blood pressure cuff after surgery.

They did the ear tubes, but did not remove the adenoids.  Dr. Ho. was going to look at them and if they were extremely enlarged, he was going to take them.  Since the surgery was so quick, we knew that they didn't take them.  Dr. Ho came and said, he did great.  Gave us post operative instructions and then took us to John David who was waking up.  He did warn us that he was screaming/crying and that it was completely normal but to expect to hear him when he opened the doors.  I gotta tell you as soon as I heard him, I ran to him, hearing that cry, was awful!  This was the worst part, but thankfully, I got to hold him right away and within 10 minutes or so was able to calm him down.  Coming out of that anesthesia was hard.  They had a glider there and it was so nice to rock him.  It made me think of midnight feedings!  The nurse turned on Curious George (he's not a big fan of tv so I was surprised he watched it).  We had to wait an hour and within 20 minutes he was back to himself.  Gave him some water, then some gold fish.  Got him dressed and then off we were.  He was his wild man self when we got home!  Although, his coughing and runny nose was worse and he was super congested.  Good thing we got the surgery done today, because tomorrow they probably would have said no.  Good thing the surgery is finished because I'm sure this cold would lead to another ear infection.  So I think we got it done, just in time!

I'm so thankful that is over with.  He did great and I'm so proud of my baby!  I will be off work tomorrow and look forward to hanging with him one on one.  We have some shopping to do.

My little climber

Well John David has done it!  The boys were in their room, they were supposed to be napping, but all I heard was giggles and laughter.  I went upstairs to get the pack in play to set it up in the play room.   I have done this several times, since they don't nap well together. When I come down, all I heard, was "Mommy, babid in bed"  Huh?  I went in to their room and sure enough, John David was sitting in Austin's bed.  That little stinker!  So, this is what I think happened, he hoisted himself over the crib after stepping on his music toy.  He wasn't crying, so I'm sure he wasn't hurt.  Before bed time, I moved the music toy as I'm hoping I can get a few more months out of the crib, but if he does it again, I'll have to suck it up and realize that my baby is no longer a baby but a big boy in a toddler bed.

I am a ball of nerves this week.  We've decided to change daycare and I'm telling them today.  It's mostly for financial reasons, but it's still hard.  I can't help but look at my boys knowing that what they know, their schedule, their life, their friends are all about to change.  It's eating at me.  I know they will be fine, they will adapt, make new friends, learn the new ropes and I'm excited for them, because I feel that this new place is going to be wonderful for them.  It's a preschool and they will have a curriculum that is designed for their age.  This will be the first time that they will be separated all day, but I'm sure they will get use to it and maybe it will allow for John David to be John David and not Austin's sidekick. Nonetheless, change is hard and I'm nervous about having a conversation with them.

I'm also a ball of nerves because John David has his ear tube and possible adenoid surgery this week.  I can't wait for Friday to be here, so it'll be behind me.  I know he will do great, it's an easy and quick procedure, but I'm still anxious about it.

Austin has the cutest new phrase:  "that's not nice"  I was playing with his hair and he looks up at me and says 'that's not nice"  What?!?  Of course, that's nice, Austin, I'm showing you affection by rubbing your head.  "Oh okay'  Later on, something else was done, and there Austin goes with "that's not nice"  It's the cutest the way he says it.  I'll have to get it on video.  I did get a cute video of Austin yesterday morning.  You can't see anything, but he is trying to tickle and is being tickled.  The way he says tickle tickle is so stinkin cute!

Well, I be sure to update on how the conversation with daycare goes and how the ear tube surgery goes.

Weekend Fun

We were very busy enjoying this beautiful weather we have been having, by going to the park after work and on the weekend or having outside time in the backyard.   The park by the house is awesome in that it has a trail behind it.  Austin is very interested in going on the trails, John David, on the other hand, is not.  What do you do when they both want different things?  I guess this is what they mean by they will be running in the opposite directions.  We have been trying to take turns and I got out the wagon so when John David or Austin get tired when we are walking the trails that I don't have to pick them up when I hear "uppy uppy", I can just put them in the wagon.  I think Austin likes the trails so much because he loves picking up the sticks.  We had quite the collection over the weekend as the wagon housed the sticks when the boys weren't in it.  John David is quite the cautious little fella, at first, he wouldn't even go through the tunnels, but by the end of the weekend, he mastered it.  Still won't go down the big slide, he will the little ones and won't even come near the swings, unless it is to push Austin.  Not sure what it is about the swing.

This weekend we went to Key Lime Cove in Gurnee.  What an adventure we had.  Grandma surprised this trip for Morgan for her 6th birthday.  I still can't believe my niece is 6!  So we all got in Grandma's car and headed towards Gurnee.  Kevin had to work, so he was going to be meeting us after work.  Key Lime Cove has an indoor water park as well as many shops and activities for the kids.  The water park was pretty big and it was very crowded.  Austin loved it!  He loved going down the water slides and splashing around. John David hated the water slides and he just liked pitter pattering and walking around.  He kept telling me "ets o" "come on" as he always wanted to be on the move.

Kevin had a system with the big water slides since you couldn't ride together, all was solo.  Morgan would go down first, then Austin and then Kevin.  So Morgan would catch Austin and then Kevin would be down in a minute.  Mind you the water was on 1 ft deep in this area.

There was another area, that had this wide slide were multiple people could go at the same time, but you were dropped in 2ft water.  It was fun, Austin would slide down and I'd catch him, he'd go under sometimes but someone was always there nearby.  I think he loved this one best.  The smiles on his face were priceless.

I will call you Cookie Monster and you will be mine!

When we were going to dinner we passed by a place that is like "build a bear"  So each child got to choose one, Austin chose a hideous monster, John David, the cutest doggy and Morgan chose this cute doggie that had pink in it.  Here are some pictures of the boys helping the lady "stuff" the dog.  After the stuffing they got out the certificates and the lady asked Austin, "what do you want to name it"  He said, "Cookie Monster"  How fitting!  So now he calls him Cookie Monster.  I named John David's doggie for him, floppy! :-)  And Morgan named her doggie, Pinkie, too cute!

Grandma offered to keep Austin over night.  She got a room that had 2 queen beds.  So Austin stayed in bed with Grandma and Morgan slept with Daddy.  Kevin and i took John David home and came back the next morning.  It was so nice sleeping til just after 7!  I now know, Austin is the one who is getting up at the crack of dawn and waking his brother.  Poor grandma didn't get a lot of sleep.

Day 2 was fun as well!  Austin went down one of the big slides by himself but he really enjoyed those little water slides.  Tantrums were had when we left since he wanted to stay.  He was physically and mentally exhausted.  When we left it literally took him minutes to fall asleep.  He was all snuggled with his new cookie monster.  John David didn't last but a few minutes as well.  The are by far the two cutest sleeping toddlers I have ever seen.  Biased, yes, I know.

Thanks Grandma for a wonderful weekend!!!

March 2

Someone once told me that I need to videotape or write down the cute things that the boys do, or I might forget them.  I have to keep my video camera on me at all times because the boys say and do the cutest things!  However, the minute I bring out the camera, they stop!  So, I need to take mental pictures and videos and now I need to write it down.

Austin, my lovable Austin, has so many words!  He repeats what you say and says the cutest things.  Most days, this is how putting him to bed goes.  Me, "Good night, Austin, Can, I have a hug?"  Austin, Hug, "one more hug", "kiss", "one more kiss" "one more hug" "one more kiss" and then he'll say "Okay, no more"  Then he will say "love you", I will say "I love you" and then he'll say "love you too"  then we proceed to put 5 gigets (blankets) on him and find, lovie, elmo, cookie monster, glow worm, turn on his musical toy and usually he needs a car or a ball.  It is quite the ordeal!

Last weekend, we were in the play room and he saw a book.  He told me to "sit down" and he got his Elmo Chair out and sat in it facing me and began to read.  When he was finished, he said "The End"  Then he said "one more time" and read it again.

He is at such a fun age!  Sometimes, it's difficult because when he wants something he WANTS it!  We are working on it though!  I feel as though he is so close to potty training!  He has asked to watch "Elmo Potty", and he tells me when he poops and pees.

John David is my dancer!  He loves to dance!  As soon as Little Einstein's theme song comes on, he is twirling in circles with a huge smile on his face.  He is great at "fist pumping".  Jersey Shore would love it!  We'll be in the car and I'll catch a glimpse of him fist pumping to country music!  He has the sweetest voice!  When he says "please" it just melts my heart.

He is also becoming quite the puzzle master, like his brother.  He loves to do puzzles and gets a lot of them correct!  It just amazes me!  He is also great at making "caupee"   As you know, I drink coffee every morning.  And the boys mimic me with my coffee drinking, so they think they are drinking coffee since I am even though it's milk.  I'll ask for some more and John David will run and get me some more.  Usually, he likes to fill up the coffee in his play sink and then he'll come back and pour me some more.  It amazing at how much he understands and comprehends even though he doesn't speak all of the words yet.  His vocabulary is amazing though, I think having Austin talk to him helps a lot.

A cute thing that John David did last weekened and the other night....  When Buster comes in from the snow, he usually leaves a little trail and I get a paper towel and wipe it up.  Well, last weekend, I let Buster in, and walked away to get something.  When I came back, John David got a paper towel, cleaned up the trail and threw the paper towel away.  He did it the other night too.  He such a great little helper.  When I vaccum, he takes out his vaccum too!    Also, last night, I noticed that John David mimics what Austin is doing to me before he goes to bed, he wants the extra hugs and kisses too!

I'm so lucky to have such amazing children!  Yes, it's hard but totally worth it!  They are my life!