Ear Tubes

You got ear tubes put in today. You were a champ. It is always a little nerve racking for parents because you have to go under anesthesia and then on top of it we can't be with you when you get wheeled away. I had heard stories of how you would wake up angry, cry a lot, and then be upset most of the day. Then there is the whole having to not let you eat or drink before the surgery. Fortunately we were blessed with no problems.

Your buddy Sean Bailly went through this at the same time as you. So I actually had a comparison through the whole thing. We got up early and had to be at the hospital around 7 am. I was worried you would ask for milk and food the moment you got up since you normally do, but fortunately you didn't. We did feed you at about 9 the night before and I tried to tell you before you went to bed that you wouldn't be able to drink in the morning. So maybe it sunk in. 

Anyway, we were admitted to a room and then waited there while you were given tylenol and the nurses did pre surgical work. We got to see Sean before you went for your surgery. Then they whisked you off in your blanket and jammies to the OR room. You looked at me a little panicked but didn't cry. Which was good because it was hard for me to see you being carried off. We went and visited Sean while you were in surgery and in no more than 15 minutes you were done. 

They brought you back to me fast asleep. I got to snuggle you in my arms while the anesthesia wore off. When you awoke we asked if you wanted your bink, to which you nodded your head. Then shortly after that we offered you your milk. It was quite adorable because you drank the entire sippy cup full of milk in one drink. You didn't even stop for a breath of air. Your Dad and I laughed. Then it was time to go home. We stopped to say hi to Sean who unfortunately wasn't faring as well as you, he was crying and upset like most little kids respond. 

On the way home we stopped to grab food and when we got home you managed to scarf down a full breakfast of pancakes and eggs. Beyond that you were completely normal the rest of the day. No side effects whatsoever. I felt so fortunate and blessed. You were a trooper.

Fast forward to a few months later (I am writing this later) the tubes have helped so much. You almost instantly started talking more and you are participating more in school. It is definitely something we made the right decision on. Your language skills are amazing and we love listening to you talk. 

Birthday Part 2

Your birthday party was a huge success. Since you are so in to Curious George right now we had a George themed birthday party. You loved that all of the decorations were George and that all of your favorite people in your life were there to celebrate with you. I made your cake from scratch and it turned out fabulous if I do say so myself! It was a white cake with a raspberry crème filling. Unfortunately for you since Mom doesn't love chocolate cake, you aren't getting a chocolate cake for your birthday until you can actually ask for it. Then I will make you one. It was so much fun singing you happy birthday because we had just celebrated Grandpa's birthday not even a week prior, you knew exactly what to do. You blew out your candle when we told you to and you wanted to eat the cake immediately. So much so that you dug in to it before we even had a chance to cut it.

You were showered with gifts and you even had your buddies SeanE and Brody there to help you open gifts and celebrate. Other guests were Popper (Nana got sick), Grandma (Grandpa was working), Aunt Megan, Matt and Tina, John and Loren, Jessica, and Great Grandma Casey, and of course Brody and Sean's parents.  

Happy 2nd Birthday!!

We did a LOT of things for your birthday this year. I think because we went to Hawaii for your birthday last year it sort of diminished the rest of it because that was so big. This year though I was very sentimental about your birthday and really wanted to celebrate it. I think some of it is because I knew you would be old enough this year to really understand what was going on, even if you won't remember it. Needless to say I am glad we did everything that we did. You had so much fun.

Your birthday was on a Friday this year which was perfect because I took the day off. It gave me time to spend the day with you and prep for your party on Saturday.

I wanted from the moment you woke up to be special. So the night before your Dad and I blew up a bunch of balloons and put them in your room. When you woke up in the morning you were so incredibly adorable. You stood up in your crib and said “hoh! Balloons!” Then I picked you up and with sheer excitement you started running around your room throwing them in the air and kicking them. You thought it was the best thing ever and you played with the balloons for days.

Dad had to go to school in the morning so you and I got to spend the morning together just the two of us. I wanted to take you swimming since you haven't been since swimming lessons when you were around 9 mo old. You LOVED it. There wasn't a lot of people there so we pretty much had the kiddy pool at the YMCA to ourselves. We went down the slide, jumped in the water, played with a ball. It was a blast. Then...the best part that I won't ever let you live down when you get older. You are going through a naked phase right now. You LOVE to be naked. So, I thought that I would be a nice Mom and let you “be naked” while I got dressed in the locker room. So I took your swim trunks and pullup off while I was getting dressed. Lo and behold, you managed to open the door to the locker room and bolt out while I was getting dressed. Of course I didn't have my shirt on at this point so I couldn't chase after you. As I called your name you just streaked down the hallway. By the time I got my shirt on you were already down the hallway and halfway up the stairs to the workout equipment area. All the meanwhile bystanders stood laughing at you thinking you were the cutest thing ever. Lesson learned: do not let your child sit naked in a locker room under any circumstances.

After the YMCA you and I went to Burger King for lunch. We played in the play land and enjoyed one on one time. Now for the mommy moment I will never forget. After all of this we stopped by Walmart to pick up the supplies for your birthday. As we were shopping you stopped me, put both of your hands on my cheeks and held my face and said “Mommy, happy.” To which I replied “oh, you are happy?” You immediately responded with a “uh-huh.” This was a big deal for me. You made my day, probably even my month. You have never said the word happy before and to hear you tell me that you were happy on this very special day when that was exactly my goal just made my heart swell with love and sheer happiness. Since then you have used the word happy many times, however not usually in the context that you are happy, but rather that other people are happy. So I know that the time we spent on your second birthday was a very special day for you.

That evening your Dad and I took you out to get frozen yogurt. You loved being able to pick out toppings to put in your cup and had fun hanging out as we ate our yogurt in the restaurant.

On Sunday since we didn't get to do anything just the three of us on your actual birthday we took you to the aquarium. You loved it and have now asked to go see the fish again.