Sunday, January 25, 2009

All is well with the little man

Today, A.J. had surgery bright and early at 7:30 a.m. We had to be at the hospital at 6:15, and the nurses were impressed that my valet parking number was 2 ... meaning I was the second person there today.

We were in the big hospital today, so it was a little crazy, but still fine. In fact, the people who I sit behind in church were there waiting for their father to get out of surgery.

A.J. did great. He apparently had one ear that was in really bad shape. The doctor said it wouldn't have drained without being vacuumed. She said his balance will be better know. The boy does fall a lot, but I just figured it was a boy thing.

Here he is with his nurse Mary:
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They gave him some good drugs shortly after he was called back. They calm the kiddos with some loopy drugs to make it less scary for them. They put a pillow and blanket in a wagon, and I wheeled him around the surgery floor.
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He started getting relaxed.
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And here's the last picture I took before they took him back. He's really feelin' good.
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He's kinda crabby today. But he's eating. He's had three Eggo waffles and a bowl of Crispix. Keeping Kellogg's in business, which is what we're supposed to do around here.

Maybe he'll start sleeping and eating better. And maybe as a treat I'll make hima pie. In recent months, he's shown himself to be quite the pie-lover. When the temperatures starting dipping to the single digits, I had to use up the produce I keep in my garage. I had a bag of apples, and I made a pie. I think A.J. ate the whole pie except for the one or two pieces his dad got. Here he is after eating a couple of pieces. This photo says a lot.
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Stella started swimming lessons again a couple of weeks ago. She continues to wow us with her strength in the pool. She's gotten even better at swimming on her own, and her wonderful teacher Kathryn continues to work with her.

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Sunday, January 11, 2009

One snowy day

At least a foot of new snow.

Kids cooped up in the house all day.

Stir-craziness all around.

Toys, shoes and miscellaneous scattered everywhere by bored kiddos.

God help me.

We went outside to burn some energy.

The kids got big grins on their faces when I pulled them down the street in the sled.
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I wish Stella would wear a hat (and gloves), but I can barely get her to wear shoes. She does seem to like her new Meijer-brand snowboots, though.
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A.J. finds it a little hard to move around in hat, coat, boots and a snowsuit.
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He's fallen and he can't get up.
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A beautiful snowgirl on a beautiful snowy day.
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Please god don't let there be any snow days this week. God help me survive the rest of the winter.

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Hanging On

What's that phrase...when you get to the end of your rope, tie it in a knot and hang on ... ?

That's what I've had to do. My kids have been sick . . . AGAIN!

It was just a couple of weeks ago that I took both of them to the doctor for being sick, and now, it's a new thing all over again.

Both have been snotty, coughing, not sleeping or eating, missing school and daycare, and overall miserable. Stella seems to be able to get over things herself, whereas A.J. is on antibiotics again. We're biding our time until Jan. 20th when we go back to the ear/nose/throat specialist to confirm her needs his ear tubes redone and his adenoids taken out. I hope we don't have a long wait to get the surgery. A.J. simply cannot get over a cold himself. It seems to always turn into a severe sinus/ear infection that needs antibiotics...and I hate having to give him antibiotics because while they do clear up the infection, they're not good in other ways. Here is a photo of the pathetic little fellow.

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He didn't let me put him down all day long yesterday. My back was aching from carrying him. Still, it was better than the screaming/hanging on me he was doing.

If/when he gets this surgery, it'll be my 4th time taking a kid for this. Stella has had two sets of tubes and her adenoids out, and now it looks like A.J. will too. I'll bet they recognize me at the surgery center this year.

Like I said, Stella's case hasn't been as severe, but yesterday her teacher called me to come pick her up. I assume it would be because she was coughing and didn't feel well overall, despite her eagerness to go to school that morning. Well, as it turns out, she had diarrhea 4 times. Luckily, she didn't have a repeat episode when we got home. She was up bouncing on her bed at 4 a.m. this morning so I assume she's fine today. I sent her. The bus drove off in the snow...we got a few inches last night and looks like we'll get more soon.

Here's Stella when she put a container on her head the other night. This happy girl is the Stella I know and love.

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Both kids are still enjoying the bounty of their Christmas gifts... piano keyboards (3 of them), new clothes, puzzles, books, and A.J. in particular is having a blast with his art easels. Green fingerpaint everywhere!

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January and February are the WORST MONTHS for this severe cold stuff. I'm ready for winter to be over already!