Another Good Surgery

Today was Benjamin's surgery.  We had an early morning and plucked Benjamin from bed and headed to the hospital for a 6:30am check-in.  We were in the new Children's hospital at Emanuel, which is incredible.  He got to wear the "faded red" (ok, they were pink) hospital pajamas again and got to take wagon rides around the day surgery loop, play in a variety of scooter cars, and hang out in a fun play room before the surgery.  If I hadn't forgotten the camera I would have posted a picture of it.

After receiving a dose of Versed (happy medicine) he didn't even seem to mind a bit when the nurse and Anesthesiologist wheeled him away from us, especially when the Anesthesiologist said he could hang on to the toy tiger that he had been playing with in the staging area.  We waited in the same room that we has come so familiar.  Even seeing the same quilts hanging on the wall brought back memories, some tough memories of hearing some not-so-great news, and some wonderful memories, like the night he had emergency surgery his second day of life and we were surprised to be surrounded by family and friends late at night and all prayed together.  Thankfully the time passed quickly and before I knew it they were taking me back to see him.

He wasn't very happy about the IV when he woke up and it had to be taped up pretty good to keep him from pulling it out.  He was asking everyone he saw to "take it off."  Soon enough he was rewarded for hanging in there with a orange popsicle and a movie.  We were released around lunchtime and when we started to leave the building Benjamin said "I want a cheeseburger."  We weren't planning on it, but decided that we would give it to this request as a treat.

I am so grateful to all who have prayed for us and loved us through another surgery.  This afternoon we are praising God yet again!

Surgery #8

Well, we made it a year and 4 months without a surgery...that's a new record!  Thursday will be Benjamin's 8th surgery and the 3rd on his eyes.  It is very similar to his last one, which was the easiest surgery yet.  Still, this mama' heart is heavy at times when I think about it.  I think about and remember the feeling of handing my little boy over to a well-trained stranger, sitting in a waiting room trying not to think about what is going on with him at that moment, watching the door for a nurse or surgeon to come out with the report, trying to remember that this surgery is ultimately a blessing and not a curse.

It also takes me back to other times...times of waiting and praying, dreaming and hoping, being held up by the strength that only God can provide.  Seeing blessing after blessing, shedding tears of joy over each milestone passed.  Knowing the feeling of being prayed for by many and the sweetness of Jesus alone being my daily bread...

Thank you, Jesus, for your faithfulness - that you are Good regardless of the outcome of this surgery and that you love my little boy more than even I do.  Your Grace is sufficient for me.

Summer Days

Here we go again...time is going fast and summer is half over.  This has been a wonderful summer for me.  I have enjoyed lots of time with the boys outside and for the first time in my life, there are more plants than weeds in my garden...well, at least at this moment.  Canning season will probably start next week for me and that is usually when it all comes undone.

Benjamin started preschool last week.  It is the next phase of the Early Intervention program that he has participated in since coming home from the hospital.  There are 6 children in the class with 3 teachers/helpers.  All of the children have similar delays with speech and/or motor skills, so they work on those skills as a group.  Benjamin loves it.  He has been doing private speech and physical therapy too and is improving on a regular basis.  In fact, he has met all his speech goals and will be done after just a few more sessions.  

Samuel is 9 1/2 months and started crawling a few weeks ago.  He is into all sorts of things, but he loves to be wherever the people are and wherever his brother is.  He is a content, happy little guy that loves to laugh and chew on whatever he can get his hands on.  I am seeing more of his little personality every day.

 

Brian and I are doing good as well.  We are currently on vacation with his family and having so much fun.  It is amazing how vacations change when you have small children.  Even just sitting in a rental house doing nothing is fun!  Before children that would have made me crazy.  Benjamin and Samuel were able to "go swimming" for the first time and they both loved it.  

3 years & 6 months

Gus wears glasses too!

I am now a mother of a 3 year old and a 6 month old.  I must say that while sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed, I am loving this stage and excited for what is to come.  Yesterday Benjamin was playing with a toy tool bench that makes music and sounds.  I put Samuel next to him.  Samuel is starting to support himself upright with assistance and was able to stay upright while holding onto the bench.  Benjamin started showing him how it worked and it made Samuel laugh, which made Benjamin laugh, which made Samuel laugh even more.  It was so fun to watch.

Snow in March?

Benjamin turned 3 a few weeks ago.  As with the previous 2 birthdays, I spent time reflecting on our little miracle and how amazing God has worked in him (and worked in me through him!)  Benjamin's speech is progressing well.  He is in speech therapy and is currently working on verbs and short sentences.  He loves to look at books and have them read to him.  He also loves anything mechanical and building things with duplos.  He has a sweet spirit and loves to be with people.  Tomorrow we start a therapy play group where he will work on speech, physical therapy, and play skills with a handful of other kids.  As much as I wish we didn't have any appointments, I think this will be fun for him. 

Samuel is at a super fun age.  He is so alert and wants to be where the action is, especially wherever Benjamin is.  Just in the past week or so he has figured out how to move around on his back.  He probably did the equivalent to 5 or 6 laps around my parents living room the other night.  It is quite humorous to see.  He is enjoying eating solids now, especially sweet potato, pears, and bananas.  He is a joyful baby and I am excited to see what he will do next.

Who's that baby?  Can you tell they are related?

Benjamin 6 months adjusted

Samuel 6 months

3 Months!

Our little Samuel turned 3 months this week!  A full term baby is certainly different than a micro-preemie.  It felt like Benjamin was so small for so long, but even though Samuel is only in the 25% for his age, it feels like he has grown so fast.  

Below is a picture of Benjamin at 3 months (corrected):

And Samuel at 3 months:

He is a great baby with lots of smiles and laughs.  I love how all it takes is for someone to smile at him and he lights up.

You Know When You're Sleep Deprived When...

One of the biggest challenges of having a newborn is lack of sleep.  Now that Samuel is 6 weeks old and sleeping a little better, I can see the more humorous side of sleep deprivation.

You know when you are sleep deprived when:

1) You walk into a room and wonder what in the world you went there for, and the only thing you can remember is that you have already done the same thing 3 times that day.

2) You nearly burn the house down by turning on the wrong burner...more than once in a given day.

3) You fall asleep in mid sentence while praying.

4) You move to an uncomfortable chair under a bright light and still fall asleep in mid sentence while praying.

5) You decide to stand up to avoid falling asleep while praying, and still fall asleep while standing.

6) When your newborn is crying and you are wondering why until you realize that it is 8am and you haven't changed his diaper since 10pm the evening before (please don't turn me into child services - it only happened once!)

7) You fall asleep while waiting for a cavity to be filled.

8) You try to put a size newborn diaper on your two year old.

Welcome Samuel Joseph

On October 2nd we welcomed the newest member of our family, Samuel Joseph.  He weighed 6lbs 14oz and was 19.5".  What a blessing!  God answered so many prayers...he is healthy, full term (to the date!), and the birth was pretty much textbook.

Bringing home a full term baby is very different than a preemie.  There are no cords, monitors, or oxygen tubes to trip over.  We don't have to interrogate people to find out if they have been around any sick people in order for them to visit.  We are pretty relaxed about most things instead of being jumpy about everything.  He only has one doctor versus a team of specialists that come with a zillion appointments.  On the flip side, he came home with us the day after he was born and not on a schedule.  We didn't have a chance to get to know him and how he works before coming home.  He has a normal cry which can get pretty loud, versus a tiny kitten cry.  When all things are weighed out though, we have decided that we prefer to do full term babies over preemies.  :)

We survived the first couple weeks and are now trying to figure out what to do with a toddler and a newborn.  It is most definitely a full time job!  Benjamin is not sure what to think of this little invader.  He isn't hugely interested in him at this point, but he isn't so sure about sharing attention.  All in all he is doing very good and eager to help.