One of Ellie's favorite cereals is Honey Nut Cheerios.Hooray! It's done, over, finito, accomplished! And it went so well! :) We arrived at the hospital at 7:20 AM. Nicole was nervous, but was so brave. She cooperated with all of the medical personnel, and they were so fantastic with her. There is nothing less fun than watching your kid be wheeled off to surgery, but I knew she was in good hands.
In less than an hour, they brought her to us in her recovery room. She wasn't a happy camper at that point. She was crying, scared, and her throat hurt...of course! She just wanted to go home. Things were a bit better after we got the Disney channel turned on, got a slushy for her, and a dose of tylenol with codeine. We waited our requisite hour in recovery, and then they took out her IV, gave us our discharge instructions, and we were home by 10:30 AM.
Nicole spent some time in our room watching some movies, but by this afternoon she was out with her siblings, playing Wii, and PBS Kids. She even asked if she could go ride her bike! Umm, nope, but I'm sure glad she feels good enough to want to. :) I was surprised that she didn't take a nap, or sleep at all during the day. I have been told that the worse days are 3-7, so I'm not counting myself in the clear yet. One of her sweet friends brought her a poster to color, and she's been having fun with that.
We're giving her the pain medication regularly, and giving her lots of drinks to keep her hydrated. She is happy with the popsicles, slushy's, ice cream, and pudding, but she is hungry for real food. Nothing that was a little more substantial that I was okay with her trying was approved by her though. Maybe tomorrow we'll get some real stuff in her.
The absolute best part of this is tonight, after she fell asleep. I went back to check on her, and she is sleeping so peacefully. No snoring, no constant moving to find a position her airway stays open in, no obstructing. She was so quiet I had to put my hand on her chest to make sure she was breathing! That hasn't been the case since she was about 1 1/2 years old. What a beautiful thing. My girl is going to get the sleep that she's been missing out on for years. That makes it all worth it, and makes me so happy! :)
A look at our day:
Just what you wanted to see....the before shot! No after shot yet, she's a little too sore to open wide enough for a picture. ;)
Waiting for her turn.
After....she just wanted to go home.... :*(
Grape slushy made life better...check out her "surgery buddy"doll that Child Life gave her. She got to color a face on it, and she even painted it's nails. She took it back with her to the OR, and when she came back, the doll had a pink hand bandage like Nicole, and a bandaid on it's neck! Nicole was pretty thrilled about the pink Coban, WITH HEARTS no less, covering her IV hand!
The fun wheelchair ride out the door. It's off to home we go! :)
So happy to be home playing some Mario Party 8!Well, tomorrow is the day...Nicole's tonsillectomy.
We have our instructions and time to be at the hospital. Grandmommy is all set up to babysit, and Riley's ride to school is set as well.
Today I was out getting stocked up with popsicles, sprite, ramen noodles, and jello. We went to the little pediatric surgery orientation at the hospital today, and Nicole got to see all the rooms where she'll go, and some of the equipment that they'll use on her. She's a bit nervous, but I think seeing it today will help tomorrow's comfort level. Our home teacher came over tonight to help daddy give her a blessing. So, I think we are ready!
I know I'm ready to get those nasty things out, and especially to have her be able to sleep comfortably now....it seems like lately her obstructing and snoring is getting worse. Ellie will really enjoy having a quiet room-mate!
Once we get back tomorrow I'll post the outcome. Wish us luck, and send a little prayer her way if you are so inclined! :)
Yesterday was a good day. I was allowed to remain in bed to "sleep" in....but really, who can sleep with screaming, etc. going on?! I was then treated to breakfast in bed. Toast (2 pieces! One with cinnamon/sugar and the other with butter and jam) and frosted mini wheats. Jared and Ellie helped me out getting it eaten.
The best was my hubby whose meetings were canceled so I had lots of help getting ready for church. Bliss! :)
Church left a bit...a lot...to be desired. I'm sure the talks and songs were great, but my kids were in rare form again. Hitting, screaming, head-butting....the usual. What is the deal? My once complacent 2 year old has become a demon in church. So we went out once, then twice, and I would've just bagged it and gone home but I think that would have induced too much guilt in my hubby stuck up on the stand. Besides, if I held out just a bit longer, I was getting a 2 hour reprieve while they went to their classes!
Don't you love getting the sympathetic "knowing" smiles from other parents, but you know behind that smile they are wondering why I can't control my children? My answer...if I had an answer we wouldn't have a problem now would we?!?!
After church, and after daddy got home, the kids opened my gifts for me. I was reminded as I watched their excited faces that this was truly the best part of the day. Watching MY kids, joyful, exuberant, and loud as they are. But they are mine. I love them, and they love me.
I got a fun summer outfit with sandals, chocolate truffles, a flat-iron, some make-up, and the DVD versions of Persuasion and Sense & Sensibility that were shown on Masterpiece earlier this year. Woo-HOO! Then my sweet husband made me dinner. Grilled tri-tip....yum! We tried to have my mom over for dinner as well, but she'd already made plans with her sisters....huh?
All in all , a great day, and some joy from my sweet kiddos.
Recording it in writing almost made the incident today of my 2 year old punching me in the nose because I asked her not to chew on her hair okay....almost. ;)
Today was the next to last soccer games for Jared and Nicole. Because Nicole will be recovering from her tonsillectomy next Saturday, it was her last game, and since I most likely won't be able to go to Jared's game next week, I got all my photographing done today. Fun times! Beautiful weather, a boy who performed well in his game, and a girl who....well....ran around in her game and noticed the ball a couple times! (Nicole will be trading in her soccer cleats for ballet slippers this next year. Maybe dance will hold her interest a bit more!) What follows are a few of the fun shots I got. Enjoy!
GO!
Fighting for the ball.
My absolute FAVORITE picture! Someone's going DOWN!
Cute little soccer girl! :)
I got an early dose of Mother's Day today. It started this morning as I attended "Moms & Muffins" this morning with Nicole's Kindergarten class. We began with a little treat of muffins and milk, then we rotated between a game, a coloring page, and making a little book together. It was fun! I felt bad as it went late so I had to leave during the last part when Nicole was coloring, but Ron had to get to a meeting. While there, the kids also presented their Mother's Day gift to us. A plate that they each colored themselves! So cute! It's even plastic, so it won't get broken when she has me use it.
There was also a paper that went with it, titled "My Mom Is Special" and the kids filled in the blanks about their moms. Here are Nicole's answers:
My Mom's name is Andrea.
My Mom is 29 years old. **GOOD GIRL!**
My Mom's favorite thing to do is shop.
When I'm at school, my mom does activities.
My Mom is good at a lot of things but she is best at hugs.
My Mom is really smart! She even knows pioneers.
My Mom has a pretty smile! I like to make her smile by hugs.
My Mom is special because she buys movies gives candy when I'n good. **We instituted the "I'd love to" jar at our house this past week...**
The fun of the morning continued when Jared got home from preschool bringing me this:
I LOVE it!!! I've seen those kits in the store to make these cute garden stepping stones and have almost gotten them a few times, but now I have one! He also brought home a little information sheet that he got to fill out about me. Here are his views of mom:
My mom's name is Andrea.
My mom is ___ years old. She never tells
My mom likes to read a book about people.
The prettiest thing about my mom is her shoes. **what?**
If my mom had a whole day to do whatever she wanted to do, I bet she would just sit down.
My mom's favorite food is every food in the whole wide world (not candy). **does this kid live with me?**
At bedtime, I like it when my mom says prayers with me.
My favorite thing that my mom feeds me is waffles, "love to" jar.
My mom's favorite store is Costco.
My mom has blue eyes and brown and black hair.
My mom's favorite thing to say is I love you.
I love my mom because I love her.
A couple weeks ago Jared had his Kindergarten check-up and shots. If you can get a slot, it's fun for the kids to go to "Kindergarten Days". I begged my case that I HAD to have Jared done by May 1st, so I got to schedule an early appointment, with my doctor(miracle in itself)!
I had prepared Jared in advance for the shots and blood check, and as we were going in he told me he was going to be brave and not cry at all, and he didn't! Hooray for my boy! He was so excited to be there, and told everyone about for two days after.
They give the kids the above paper and stickers to mark off everything as it happened, and then end up the visit with the doctor with a fun picture. Dr. Arnold lets the kids pick happy, sad, or scary face, and Jared obviously chose scary, although he couldn't stop smiling. :) The kids also get a bag of cheapy toys that they love and break within a day, like the sticky bugs, tops, etc. The doctor gave him a pencil, and the visit ends with shots and a cookie and juice. A "bad turned good" memorable experience.
On a side note, I love our pediatrician! He is our second, and I adored the first and was worried that I'd never find another as good, but I did. Dr. Arnold knows us, and has a fantastic bedside manner with the kids...my only complaint is that he's too popular. I almost never get to see him when the kids are sick, and if I don't schedule well visits three months out, I'm out of luck to get in to him. **Disclaimer, when I say love, it is in the sense that I trust his knowledge, and care for our children, not any other meaning of love....just in case my hubby reads this post....he always teases me that I get dressed up when I go to the well-check visits to impress the doctor. Whatever!**
I hope everyone is having a bueno Cinco de Mayo! We are "celebrating" by having Tostada bake for dinner...I new recipe I got from here. Found it blog hopping! I love new recipes, especially when they are easy.
So...my chocolate cake plans yesterday very sadly hit a bump...I only had 2 eggs, and since all the neighbors were at church being good, I had no one to borrow from. But thankfully I had a chocolate chunk brownie mix from Costco that only required 2 eggs, so I made that instead. :)
I was going to make lemon bars for tonight, but I'm now out of time. So sad when life revolves around what dessert you are making...
Jared woke up yesterday afternoon with a nice little fever. By this morning it was obvious that, yes, he had strep. I promise, all who have not been in my home, it isn't a germy pig-sty. I even switched out all the toothbrushes for new and disinfected the drawer and bathroom when Nicole had it last. I'm about to tie my kids hands down to keep them out of their mouths and bathe them hourly in sanitizer. I'm already steeling myself for a couple days from now when Nicole gets it again...which she will because the drinking cups were only refilled last night instead of changed for new(yeah, and I wonder how and why they get strep...), and hers got mixed up and she got Jared's. Why me?! Her ENT appointment is Wednesday though, so maybe he'll test her then and we can treat if needed.
Saturday:
1 dad gone to a service project
2 soccer games, with nice, calm, and almost warm weather, yay!
1 dad that did make it to 1 1/2 games, thanks dad!
1 afternoon spent organizing, filing, and shredding in kitchen, resulting in a less cluttered counter
1 wonder dog got a bath so he doesn't have to stay outside or in the laundry room all the time....those few warm days he did spend outside made him awfully dirty....probably due to him rolling in the dirt...dumb dog :P
Sunday:
1 two year old that woke up at 6:30 am
1 mama who after being kicked, hit, head-butted, licked(what is wrong with my child?!), and bitten by, and shushing above two year old 200 times in 45 minutes of church gave up and came home for naps
2 happy kids who came home with mama and two year old and are now playing mario kart
Oh yes, I should get the mother of the year award. I figure I'll make it up with a gospel lesson tomorrow for FHE. :) I'm off to make a chocolate cake for dinner...err, dessert!
The view from my front door this morning....MAY 1st, 2008. You can tell who ran sprinklers and who didn't this morning....no water=snow on your lawn, water=ice encrusted, yet green, lawn!
This is what happens when you don't turn off your sprinklers when it is 32 degrees outside...
Nicole and her poster for her oral report on Eagles. She did great. A+ from mom anyway!
And the best part of my morning? No scrubbing of laundry room floor! ;)
