Evan

 

 

 

 

AJ

 

 

 

 

Baby school

Alec started school last week.  I'm not sure who had a harder time; him or me. I loved having him at home while I worked; every coffee break was also a "hug Alec" break.  Alec, while usually playful and happy, likes to have him Mom nearby.  Even when off playing by himself he will occasionally call for "Mama" and come find me for a hug.  He also likes to be held a lot still.  So, school is a big adjustment.

AJ does love the toys, the outside time, the songs and stories and having new friends though.  He smiles and nods his head when I ask him if he played with the babies. According to his teachers, he has ups and downs.  He naps well there though, on a cot no less.  (Not unexpected, the boy loves his nap).

School for Alec is only two days a week so far.  For my remaining work hours we have a sitter coming to the house.  She is fantastic and Alec loves her already.  She brings her 12 month old daughter and they have a great time together.  Come July, AJ will be in school 3 days a week. And come September, Evan will be in Kindergarten 5 days a week.  I don't really want to think about that yet.

Less is More

Less tonsils = more t.v. that is.

Evan had his tonsils and adenoids removed on Wednesday due to obstructive sleep apnea.  He spent last week counting down the days until he could "have lots of screen time" and "eats lots of junk food".  Then, the day finally arrived.

Evan was up early (he was a bit anxious, I think) and we headed to the children's hospital (what a beautiful facility, right here in town!).  Other than being hungry because he couldn't eat until after the surgery, Evan was remarkably calm and happy.  At 9am we met with ENT doctor and the anesthesiologist. I got to put on a lovely white jumpsuit and blue cap and accompany my hospital gown clad boy into the operating room.  The nurses got Evan situated on the table and instructed him how to use the mask for the sleeping gas.  Within seconds he was out cold and I had to leave. 

30 minutes later the doctor found us in the waiting room and de-briefed us.  All went well, he did indeed have rather enlarged tonsils and adenoids. We were given post-op instructions.  A few minutes later, we were let in to see Evan. 

He was groggy and slept on and off for a couple of hours.  He had some nausea but was starving and ate an ice pop, cheerios and had two cups of apple juice before leaving the hospital!

We came home and popped in a movie, Chicken Run.  Evan got his first taste of kool-aid (knowing that keeping hydrated was the key to pain management, I decided any fluid was better than no fluid).  Shortly thereafter, Evan received a very special delivery: a bunch of balloons and a very cuddly bear. (thanks Granny, Papa Paul, Uncle Ben, Aunt Chris, Abby and Avery!).  They put Evan in such good spirits that we had to remind him to take it easy.

We are now 48 hours out from surgery and Evan continues to do remarkably well! He's eating a pretty good variety of food (eggs, yogurt, fruit, even pizza) but the mainstays are popsicles, jello, etc... and of course, kool-aid.

He's having some pain off and on.  Last night he was up with a fever and tummy pain and he slept until 8:30.  Oh yeah, and his breath STINKS.  He is just on over-the-counter pain medicine now though.

We are watching UP for the 10th time I think.  It's his new favorite movie.  AJ likes it too; he is enjoying the side effects of Evan having a "boo-boo" as he too gets to watch the movies and eat the popsicles.  

Hopefully, Evan will continue to weather his recovery so well.  I am completely amazed his resilience and good cheer!

From Evan's sleep study (where he was diagnosed with sleep apnea)

Oh the things they say ...

Evan-isms

E: "I like those carnivore trees out there"
Me: "?"
E: "You know, the ones that are green all year!"
Me: "Oh. Conifer trees."

E:"I have a tractor jam"
(he felt full = has a traffic jam in his stomach)

"Skeeling" = ceiling
"Stample" = steeple

Alec-isms

A: "No"
(that's pretty much it right now; he's been grumpy this week.  He also nods his head yes when trying to get someone to change their minds and give him what he wants; like using some sort of Jedi mind trick.)

He's also added "ah-wah" (waffle) and "bunny" to his vocabulary lately.  Anyone leaving the house is going to "cool" (school). 

Names

from a few months ago ...
Evan: "Is Godzilla a nickname for God?"

from tonight ...
Me (pointing to myself) "What's my name?"
Alec: "Mama"
Me (pointing to Alec) "What's your name?"
Alec: "I love you"

At the pumpkin patch