Kindergarten and Misc. Pictures

Brett and his Grandma Luckey. Bless her heart she doesn't know who many people are. Or if and when she recognizes you she remembers you from when you were much smaller. So just before this picture I was helping each boy get a piece of cake. First up was Tyler and I told her that this was Brett's youngest. She commented that he looked just like Brett. Then was Dylan's turn and she said the same thing except this time she specifically commented on Dylan's eyes and how they are just like his daddy's. Cody was last and she said he also looked like Brett and that's when I just couldn't believe her anymore. He looks nothing like him - but she did say that he has very soft and warm hands like his Dad. It was so great to see her and to get a picture like this. Not sure how much longer we will have her with us. But this picture we will be able to cherish forever! Cody on his first day of Kindergarten. He got to his class, hung up his bookbag and was off. I had to find him in the sea of parents and he showed me this section. It's right in front of the board and is their "meeting" room. Dylan picked out a great cubby and his name tag was waiting for him. He was excited to get it on, humored his mom for a picture and then was off to sit and draw at the table. Their smiles really do say it all. They were very excited to leave this morning. And at the end of the day - they had a great day!

Tyler's ENT visit

Well it's been a little bit since I last posted. Our summer is coming to a close. Right around the corner is the first day of school, long weekends of football games, a couple family birthdays (my mom and Brett), some pretty important doctor's visits for Cody and Tyler and of course now SURGERY.......

Tyler went to the ENT for his check up mid June. She noticed fluid on the right ear and told me to watch it. Call her if there were any infections, have the ped. check it at his check-up and to see her in Sept. Pediatrician checked the ear in July and there was still fluid. Just shy of our Sept. visit, he started complaining of ear pain. So we moved the appointment up and they found the fluid to still be there. She put him on Amoxicillan, gave him nasonex and said we better get a surgery date.

Today we had our appointment with the surgeon. He believes that because the fluid in the right ear has been there for a few months now it's time for another set of tubes. He said normally kids don't need another set especially after having their tonsils and adenoids out. The left ear looks OK but he would check it out better later. He thinks it's best to put long term tubes in. The thing with these is they don't "fall out" they would need to be removed - so another surgery down the road. These are the same type of tube that Cody has. Tyler has also been clearing his throat - a lot! So much that I didn't notice it at first - I think I had become used to it. Or I just didn't want to make it be something. My sister noticed it and said something and that's when I really stayed tuned into it all. The doctor thinks that possibly there could be some adenoid re-growth but he's not sure if it's enough that needs attention. But that too will get checked out during surgery. And lastly during surgery, they will cut the piece of skin that runs from his gum to his teeth. We all have this - Tyler's is just more prominent and our dentist believes it will cause a gap in the front teeth. So he will cut that and we shouldn't have any problems. Surgery is scheduled for 9/29.

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I seem to have fallen off the band wagon on blogging. I need to get better. We are heading to the in-laws for the long holiday weekend. Well after football games tomorrow. September tis the season for football! Cody and Dylan start Kindergarten on the 9th. They are both extremely happy about going. Not sure if they will be happy when I wake them up at 7am but they are looking forward to going. Cody has an appointment with Dr. Wu that same day. Hoping for good results from the blood work and that he can stop taking his thyroid medication. Tyler starts pre-school on the 11th. Same teacher/same school/same set of kids - so it should be an easy transition back. Brett is going to be picking up a part-time job if you will. My company is trying to get a huge project out the door and to Kaiser - we have manufactured this huge Robot system for filling prescriptions. So, with that we have all been pulling double shifts and more help is needed. So Brett is going to work in the AM to help us all out. My mom and Brett celebrate birthdays this month. And to end out our busy month of September, Cody has another follow up with his palate expander. Which is going great. Then Tyler's surgery. Check back often as I'll have lost of updating post to the above!!!

Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

1st day of Kindergarten Camp!

Today was the first day of Kindergarten camp. We got to meet the teachers, see the classroom, meet some friends and just help ease them into the whole idea of Kindergarten. They did great. I was kind of curious how I would decide on who to go with. So I asked them, Cody wanted to go with Brett so I went with Dylan. Dylan has Mrs. Matyas. As I left him at the table coloring, he had a little tear in his eye but there was no way he was letting it go. I got down the hall to Cody's room (Mrs. Cluck's) and saw Brett talking with the teacher. I peaked around him and Cody's face was as red as can be. So I held back my own tears and we chatted with the teacher a minute. I explained he was a twin and that this is his first time away. That seemed to put things in perspective for her. So we left and Cody did fine. Brett picked them up at the playground and they were having fun. They have talked about it all night and look forward to going back tomorrow.

Now my thoughts......standing in that hall way with them I couldn't help but flash back to the day they were born. These little 5lb babies with big eyes just starring up at us for us to guide into the little men they have become. I remember back to Dylan's baby days and his crying and his reflux and thinking those nights of "jiggling" would never end. Back to Cody's early days and wondering what his future even held for him. Would he even go to the same school as Dylan? (may seem like a dumb thought to some, but those that have walked my shoes know where I am coming from....I didn't know anything about his birth defect)......then I watch the two of them grow up. Watch them sit up together, crawl together, stand up at toys together, took those first steps together....brother's through and through. Yes they fight and now that they talk probably have said some things to each other but really have never been apart. They have during Cody's surgeries and Dylan has been caring and wondered when his brother was coming home. I remember how Cody healed from his palate surgery so much faster after he got home to his brother. So to have them stand in that hallway and know that in seconds they are about to embark on a new path - a separate path from each other was sad, exciting, proud, emotional.....all sorts of emotions wrapped into one. Yes they will still be brothers, yes they will still fight and nothing will change at home.....but during the day they will go to their own class, meet some new friends, be taught similar things just in a different way. I know they will do great. Yes I'll probably cry one more time on the first day of school but after that.....who'll have time!!!! I'll be super busy keeping up with 2 little boys in Kindergarten! YIPPEE!!!!!

Weekend Pictures

Dylan floating around the pool Cody's new way to plug his ears and his nose at the same time. My 3 swimming boys! The water was wonderful! Brett and Alicia laughing about something. Not sure what but it must of been funny!I love this picture. Brett, his Grandma Luckey and his Dad. Priceless is all that comes to mind!

Swimming fun..

Over the weekend we headed back to Cuba for a graduation party of Brendan's. Thankful our weather was super nice and we all got to enjoy the pool. We had a nice party and Brendan was very surprised. He is off to college already. At times I think he has been this age forever but on his gift table was a hand print mold. It was so cute as it was little and I was curious how old he was. He was 5ish and in pre-school and it was 1995. OMG, your kidding right cause that was the same year Brett and I started dating. Made me feel very old that he is now old enough to go off to college. We all have these moments, and some have them about me (that I'm old enough to have kids) but wow - this was my moment. It was also very nice that Grandma Luckey could come for the party. She is 96 (I think) and bless her heart doesn't know who you are but we could never forget her. She reminds me so much of my own Grandma, her size, her demeanor, her love for the outside.

All that warm weather gave us a great opportunity to enjoy the pool. It was wonderful. Sunday we all got in and relaxed. All 3 of the boys came even farther out of their shells and did some first. Cody and Dylan both took off their arm floats and were swimming away. I was so shocked and so proud of them. They quickly jumped in and realized they sink right down to the bottom but if they used their feet - up they came. Then finally, I got Tyler to take off his batman ring and just swam with his arm floats. He was amazed he didn't sink. I told him he wouldn't but he needed to build up the courage himself. After all that sun, they all crashed!

Countdown is on to the start of school. Waiting very patiently to get our teacher assignment. (And I'm using the word patient very loosley) :) Next week they have Kinder-Camp for 3 days. Very anxious to see how that will go. I get teared up thinking about it all.

Cody's team visit update

Cody had both his yearly craniofacial team visit and his first orthodontic visit since getting his palate expander on yesterday. We had a long day in Syracuse but it yielded good results. I'll break it down by visits.

1. First we met with Dr. Tatum's staff as he was performing an emergency surgery. The lady who first looked in Cody's ears said "tubes are great". I got a puzzled look on my face and said "really?" Cause we were just here in March due to ear issues and Dr. Tatum said tubes were on there way out. I got back to the waiting room and told Brett I didn't exactly trust that opinion. The other's wanted to talk about all things in the distant future and to be honest they were things I knew and things that I never even asked about. She felt the need to tell me that they can't fix his nose until his finished growing. Some days I feel smarter than them. (Sigh)

2. We met with Eileen in speech. I was very curious what she would offer about his speech since getting the palate expander on. He repeated his phrases (even the one when she said "speak up nice and clear cause I'm getting old"). She said a few of his sounds 'ch'/'sh'/etc are a little garbled but it is due to the expander and it will get better when that comes off. He should have no lasting speech issues from the expander. No air escaping out the nose still - good news! So over-all she was very impressed with him and his speech! Yeah!

3. Then came hearing. They checked his ears and said tubes were OK although they said they couldn't see them as clearly as the first person made it out to be. He passed his hearing test with flying colors and we were out of there.

4. Next up were pictures. They take lots of pictures of all different angels for their records to help them watch his growth. This time the photographer said "not for the cover". Meaning - he is the same guy that took Cody's pictures before for the craniofacial brochure that he is on.

5. Met back up with Dr. Tatum and crew. This time a different outcome on the ear tubes. Yes they are in but they are not in straight but "funky" as the doctor put it and he told me to notify him of his first infection and we'll have to talk. (at this point the little person inside me wanted to scream I was right, but didn't) He was very impressed with the palate expander. All the students in the room got to take a peak too. I asked what is next and he thinks bone graft although we aren't sure on a time frame yet. Could be another year. He had us ask Dr. Dillingham to send over x-rays so he could take a look and then the two of them would talk. Dr. Tatum told Cody he is "double studly" for having that palate expander in his mouth. Cody just smiles! And it's always nice to have the doctor tell the room that this is their "poster child". I'm very happy that he stands behind Cody's repair. I completely agree but I am probably bias.

6. Our last stop of the day was genetics and really a complete waste of time. I realize it's important to see them to notify them of family changes but we have none. No new children, no illnesses, nothing. Just for him to tell me again that they have no idea why clefts happen and that there are no test to be done. Again, I knew this much. I swear the kid was just out of college. Sorry that is probably mean but at this point it's a huge waste of time. And Cody would of much rather been playing in the play room.

To finish out our doctor day, we met with Dr. Dillingham for our first visit. Cody wore his special t-shirt and got a raffle ticket. Then he had very clean teeth and appliance and he got another. Next time he gets a prize from the "big table" and prizes are very important when you are 5. Dr. D made a small adjustment to the wire. Then he used some bonding material to hook the wire to the tooth better. The tooth is small and doesn't give the wire a lot to push against. Cody wasn't pleased with having an adjustment made but handled it well. We didn't know he had to so therefore we didn't tell him and there was no time to get himself worked up over it. While that works I still like to be honest with Cody about what is going on. Dr. D congratulated Mom and Dad on great teeth cleaning. I'm sorry for that one I have to take the congrats away from Dad as he hasn't done any of it. Cody and I are a great little team and we have found what works to make teeth cleaning fun! We go back for another visit at the end of September.

In between visits we had a little bit of time and went over to the Carousal Mall. I've only been once and Brett has never been. We had a nice little lunch with Cody and let him shop around for a special prize for the day. He of course found another bakugan that we just HAD to have and then he was searching for a little something for his brother's too.

I didn't get to speak to anybody about his anxiety fears. He'll have a good day and I'll think to myself that everything is fine and it's just a phase but then other days something will rear it's head and I'll be lost. Yesterday we did good with the doctor visit - it came time when we went into the building and had to ride the elevator that he started to cry cause he didn't want to. We were pressed on time and there was no option for stairs and he just did it. And it was fine! We rode it down and he was fine. We were at the mall and went to go from one level to another - and went to take the elevator and OMG he LOST it. He cried and ran away from us - people looking at us like WTF - he did not want to ride that elevator. So we didn't. But I have no idea where that fear came from. So.....I still haven't heard back from the psychologist but will make another call as I think it's necessary.

We will see Dr. Tatum in 6 months unless something comes up with his ears and Dr. Dillingham in Sept.

Weekend catchup

It's Tuesday and I am just getting time to catch up and blog about our weekend. Not that anything life shattering happened during the weekend but a couple fun points that are worth remembering. This past weekend was the NASCAR race at the Glen. It's been a family tradition if you will that Brett goes to this race. When they first started going it was with my Dad and brother-in-law. The weekends were strictly a "guy's weekend" and I don't even ask what went on. They just had fun! Over the years the dynamic of the weekend changed but Shaun and Brett continued to go. Leaving my sister and I with the kids to do fun things of our own. This year was slightly different in that we stayed local and didn't do anything major. We did though meet a friend of mine in Syracuse at the MOST. The MOST is the museum of science and technology. Cool things for the kids to do. Then we enjoyed lunch out at a really cool place called Quaker Steak and Lube. They've been on food network and the atmosphere was awesome! We spend the night at the Smith's and that was fun even through the arguing that kids did. For some reason (weather didn't help) they were just at each other's throats. But they are very close cousins and really do fight like siblings.

Came time for race time on Sunday and wouldn't you know the curse of the rain at the Glen struck again. It poured and the race ended up being canceled. Brett called and decided to come home and go back on Monday and take the boys. Only Dylan and Tyler wanted to go, so they did. It was super HOT and humid! The boys enjoyed it but got a little bored. If anything it gave them a great day to be with their Dad.

Tomorrow we go to Syracuse for Cody's yearly team visit and his first orthodontic visit since getting his palate expander put on. As always my stomach is in knots even though I don't think anything will come from it. Just can't help it. I'll be sure to update about our day!