Surgery #9

Today was Benjamin's 9th surgery - a bilateral myringotomy, aka tubes in his ears.  It went really well and was the easiest by far.  We were able to do it in a surgery center so we were discharged just over 2 hours from the time we arrived!  The staff loved him, and said they wanted to keep him because he was an easy patient.  He's had lots of practice!

Benjamin and Cookie in their surgery attire.  Benjamin was quite intrigued by the "flashlight" on the end of his finger.  Pretty cool that Cookie got to wear a fun hat and ID band too!

 A special post-surgery gift from the Dumlers - Benjamin gets to play his guitar in the hospital now just like Cody!

Musical Boys

Benjamin loves music.  He amazed me by starting to clap on beat before the age of 3.  Both him and Samuel love it when Brian brings out his guitar.  For Christmas, Ben and Lisa gave them tambourines and they both love to play.  

Check out this video of Benjamin playing the tambourine with his Papa:

http://youtu.be/99kQtbtmX6c

Catching Up...

I think I have forgotten about this blog...probably because our lives are not lacking in things to do.  :)

We said goodbye to summer and Brian and I got to take our very first trip alone since having children.  It was wonderful to go and it was wonderful to come back.  Soon later we helped my parents celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.  Samuel turned one in early October.  I had that strange feeling of "He's already one year?!?" accompanied by "He's only been with us one year?!?"  Funny how that happens.  We had a simple little party with family and (most importantly to Benjamin) cake.

Along with is first birthday was also his first haircut.  Uncle Harold was right - everyone should attempt to cut the hair of a young child at some point in their life...maybe it should be an Olympic sport.

Before we knew it, it was the end of October.  The boys did dress up even though colds kept Tigger and Piglet home from making any visits.  (Thanks to aunt Jenny for loaning us the costumes.)

Thanksgiving has come and gone, reminding us how very grateful we are for all of the blessings God has given us - grace, mercy, family, two healthy boys, friends, health, and purpose.

Now it is the Christmas season where we celebrate John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in Him will not parish, but have everlasting life."  We are starting to decorate and Benjamin is so excited to get a tree tomorrow.

Benjamin is doing very well.  He started back to preschool in September, and everyone pretty much agrees that he won't qualify next year, meaning that he has caught up with his peers enough to be in a standard preschool.  That is of course great news.  He is has been going through a growth spurt and grew almost an inch last month!  His vocabulary increases every day.  He can say his ABCs and cound to 14+ on his own.  Our current prayer for him is for his ears as he had a report today that wasn't so good.  He is getting over a cold, so we are praying that when we have a follow-up in January that the issues have resolved.

Samuel has started to walk.  He is at an age that I absolutely love regarding how much personality he has and how playful he is, but also a phase that makes me a little crazy with opening cupboards and pulling everything out.  I currently have most of my cupboards rubber-banded together to help keep them shut.  I very much remember this phase with Benjamin. :)

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