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:


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.


He started getting relaxed.


And here's the last picture I took before they took him back. He's really feelin' good.


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.


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.