Brett's surgery

Can I just say how different it is to send an adult into surgery instead of a child. I don't think I like either of them. I told Brett before his surgery that it was going to be very weird to go through this myself. For the past 6 years and several surgeries he's been at my side. To see him lying on the bed was very different. In our, ummm, 15 years together.....this was a first.

We went through all the normal admission stuff. He loved the gowns (haha). The nurses came in to take his history, annestia came in to discuss, at one point it was suggested not to have jewelry on. So he gave me his wedding ring. I slid it on my finger..ok, that was weird. I mean he's taken it off before for refing and such but to give it to me as he's heading into surgery and I'm hormonal and my mind thinks WAY TO MUCH.....if your a girl, you are getting this about now! :) It's time for him to go down stairs to the OR. I walk with him. We get to the doors and the kid starts showing me where the waiting room was. I didn't know what to do - I thought I got to back and wait. Oh wait - that's just when it's for kids! :) So, I kissed him by and off I went. I decided food would be good at this point. I ate quick cause I thought surgery was about an hour. I got back to the waiting room and settled in. Little did I know I was going to get to watch Dr. Phil, Rachel Ray and the Prices Right. All the while I am checking the board to see what on earth is taking so long. These shows are each an hour long! I'm trying very hard to tell the little voice in my head to SHUT UP, he's fine, the doctor is just doing a good job.

Finally, the doctor came into the room and we went to have our conference. I think I jumped from the chair. We love this doctor. He has performed Tyler's 2 surgeries and I trust him with everything. He talked to me at length and had pictures. He admitted it took longer than he thought. Brett has a very small mouth, small jaw and not much of an opening to work with. He cleaned him out - removed the tonsils and adenoids and shaved down the uvula. He didn't loose a lot of blood and did really well. By the time he got to recovery he was breathing through his nose. So I went back to my chair and sat. The phone rang - it was recovery to say he's in a little bit more pain and they were keeping him longer. So I sat longer and finally they came to get me.

I was very happy to see him on that stretcher coming towards me. He wasn't smiling but he was breathing. We got back to his room and he slept lots. This time I let him. See when it's the kids - Brett sleeps too cause he said hospitals make him tired. I got some lunch and we got him drinking more and eating some popsicles. By this time, he wanted more pain meds but wasn't due. We were ready to come home. Finally at 3:30 we were leaving. Yeah! It was just a long long day. We are both very happy this surgery is over. He will enjoy two weeks of recovery and we will enjoy having him home for two weeks with us at night.

Welcoming 2010....

I have no idea what she has in store for us - but I am excited to find out........

We had a great New Years weekend. I told the boys they could stay up but nobody made it. Brett woke up long enough to see the ball drop. After I watched some of the show - I made my way to bed. We were going to get together with my sister - who was also home, doing nothing - but with us both having kids neither of us wanted to go out in the cold after midnight. Boring, I know! Then my Dad reminded me that there was years where he couldn't keep me home on New Years....guess that is what kids do to you. I did tape the ball drop to show the boys and out of Dylan's mouth came "that's it....that was boring!"

On New Years Day I took Dylan to BCC to go ice skating. We also went with my sister. Shaun can skate and so can Karly so the 3 of them took to the ice. Dylan LOVED IT! It was his first time and he had a blast. Thanks to Uncle Shaun for showing him how to skate. He used the bar for support and did really well. Wants to go again. So now I'm checking into skate classes as he wants to get into hockey next year. Then we had a great dinner and when the kids went out to play in the snow - us adults had some Wii time! :)

I can't forget too that Cody finally lost his bottom right tooth on New Years day. It was in his mouth when he woke up. Finally it fell out. So the tooth fairy came and he's sporting a new smile!
Saturday we were off to Karly's first basketball game. She is cheering for St. Anthony's and she loves it. Can I just say how weird it is to see her on the court. I remembered back to when it was me. I loved cheering. She did great and they have a great coach and I can't wait for their competition.
Then Sunday came the day of getting my house back to normal. Our toy room looks like a mini toys-r-us anyways and then add new toys from Christmas and I felt like I was tripping. With the tree down, the room opened back up and we feel "put together". Very anxious to get the toy boxes that my dad is making. My lights are still up outside but those are going to wait for warmer weather.

Next up......Brett has surgery on the 12th to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. Plus they are shaving his uvula and trenching his palate. Yah, he's gonna be sore. But even bigger, Cody and Dylan turn 6 in less than 3 weeks. I have NO Idea where that time has gone. So we are busy planning a party and they are super excited.

So much to blog...

Well I need to write about our fantastic Christmas weekend but I'm tired and I don't think I could keep all of my thoughts straight. :) So I'll come back to xmas, promise!

I do think of my blog as something to reference back to about Cody and his journey. On Christmas eve his right bottom tooth (which has been loose) became extremely loose. I thought maybe that Santa and the tooth fairy would be coming on the same night. But.....Cody freaked out when he saw the blood and wouldn't let me near his mouth. So it has stayed. Last night, with a little brotherly help, the tooth got hit again and again more blood and it's so super loose. Just barley hanging on. He won't let me just pull it. He goes into hysterics and cries. He says things like "why do I have to loose my teeth". Forgive me but a part of me laughs cause it's a tooth and he will get an adult one, but then a part of me crumbles because he won't get an adult one for every tooth. And at the ripe age of almost 6, he has had a lot done on his mouth. Way more than most adults in a lifetime. So the tooth is still very very loose and still in his mouth. I am waiting for another "brotherly love contact" and it will be out.

Today thought he really got to me. He woke up the other morning with an itchy rash. This morning it was still present and after talking with my sister she convinced me to call the doctor. So after I got the appointment, I called home to tell Cody that I would be home to get him. What I got next I wasn't expecting. He told me he didn't want to go to the doctor, asked why he always had to go, why doesn't Dylan, how he wished Dylan was born first and not him and then Dylan would have to go, and then I faintly heard him say I wish Dylan was born with a cleft. OK.....that last one got me!!!!! Thankfully, I was at work and he quickly gave the phone to his dad. I really hope he doesn't think he has all of this because he was born first. What do I say to him? That god thought he was super special. While I agree - I question it at times. So friends...family....I'm puzzled....what have you said?

"Is Santa coming tonight"??????

That is the question I get asked nightly when tucking my 3 little boys into bed. No.......not tonight but very soon. My 3 are super excited for Christmas. They are trying to be as well behaved as possible - even though that is extremely hard at times. I'm trying to find those extra patients as well, that is hard at times too! But.....with a few late nights, a few longer than normal shopping trips, I am wrapped, menu is planned, food is bought, stocking stuff is ready, teacher gifts are delivered, xmas cards out and the Luckey house is ready for the big man in red to come! :)

Yesterday the boys all had their school parties. I am still trying to figure out how to be in two classrooms at the same time. I visited Dylan's class first and then went to Cody's. By the time I got back to Dylan's - they were done. Thankfully, Tyler's was in the afternoon and at a different school. Today is the last day before they break for Christmas. I am looking forward to having a week to myself and eating normal lunches. I am sure my mom is NOT looking forward to the week as she will have them all day!

Last weekend, we went to Cuba to have Christmas with the Luckey's. It is always crazy when everybody is home but so much fun. The kids have a blast playing together. We were 1 grandkid shy this year as baby Samuel is still in the hospital but with any luck he'll be home soon.

On our way home, we stopped at my Dad's to see what was in the workshop. For those that don't know, my Dad is awesome with wood and making things. I have many beautiful items in my house that he has made over the year. I really hoped some day he would do something for my boys. He is! They are all getting toy boxes. Not sure what I'm doing with 3 of them but trust me - I am sure we will have no problem filling them! :) They will have them forever and know that he put a lot of time and effort into them. I will post pictures when we get them.

Gearing up for the next few days. Not much planned for Xmas eve. Brett has to work which is a total bummer. They are letting them out 2 hours early but for Brett that is 9pm.....big deal. So I think we will decorate some cookies, bake some more and maybe do a good cleaning of the house so Santa has lots of room to leave his stash. Oh and I might need to pick up one more gift so I may have to hit the mall. yuck! Christmas day we are having everybody down for dinner at my house. This is a first and I'm looking forward to it. Brett will bake us lasagna and we'll have a nice Italian dinner. Saturday morning my brother comes home. I can not wait to get all 6 grandkids together. So much fun to be had over the weekend. Saturday we'll do gifts from my mom and to each other and then Sunday we plan to have a fun outside day at Tanya's. Shaun has been busy making his own ice rink. (that might be a little redneckish...but it will be fun)

From Our Family to Yours.....Merry Christmas!!!!

Gearing up for the holiday....

I, like all of you, am super busy getting everything in order for the holiday. Shopping is about done. Just a couple last minute gifts to buy and then comes the task of wrapping. I've found that my nights aren't long enough for all that I want to accomplish before my eyes are ready to shut. It will get done though.....

We started a few new family traditions this year. I cherish my family traditions from when I was young. One being hanging our new ornament on the tree. I picked this up with my boys this year. Cody and Dylan both got a personalized ornament that symbolized the loss of their first tooth and the date that happened and Tyler got a personalized firetruck (which was the theme of his birthday this year). I also remember as a child hanging up our red stockings on Christmas eve. My mom had decorative ones that her mother had made that hung up after Thanksgiving until we got to hang the ones that Santa would fill. Well this year in the Luckey house we adopted an Elf for the season. It's the Elf on the Shelf. He arrived on the first day of December - the same day that the "elves" come to pick up the wrapping paper we have bought to take back to Santa for his wrapping. His job is to sit and observe the behavior of the kids and at night, when they are sleeping, he gains his magic and travels to the North Pole to tell Santa. It works! SORT OF! :) The kids know he leaves because when he comes back he is in a new spot. Every morning the boys have fun looking to see where "Snowball" is (you get to name your elf and that's what we chose). On occasion he is in the same spot - oops - that means Daddy Elf forgot to move him. :) At the request of the boys, we are starting a collection of Nutcrackers. We will get one per year and someday when they are older and coming home for Christmas it will be cool to look back on and "remember when". Our first nutcracker is a Chef. He has a white puffy hat on, a red apron, a pizza in one hand and a cutter in the other. Totally fits our life right now as pizza is the number one dinner choice (tied with McDonald's).

We had a nice holiday party at a co-workers house. My company has decided to not do a party this year - to the disappoint of all employees. I have a lot of thoughts on that but maybe shouldn't write them - they aren't nice and it's 'tis the season! :) I will be busy though with the 3 school parties - all on the same day! Thanks teachers.....LOL...Trying to keep it straight as to what I have to buy for whose party. Thank goodness for sticky notes.

In some ways I feel very much behind but I am sure I will catch up. We are going to the in-laws this coming weekend for our family Christmas. So I am missing a whole weekend - although it's worth it. I just might have some long nights ahead of me. Bedtime can't come soon enough.

The boys - well they are just super excited for the man in red to show up. Every night before bed they ask if Christmas is tomorrow. I think they will like what Santa has under the tree. They no doubt will make out like bandits - lots of people that love them that get way to much! I can't wait to spend it with family.

Merry Christmas!

Ortho Visit 12.08.09

Not the best picture (I forgot my camera so I used my camera phone) but this is Cody's bite as of today. And for most of you it doesn't look that good but trust me - this is. Before the appliance you couldn't see his top teeth as they sat behind the bottom ones. He is coming along great.

Dr. D was very proud of his clean teeth and that he wore his special t-shirt. (They give a tshirt to all the kids wearing appliances and if you wear them you get a raffle ticket for a Target gift card). At first Dr. D tried to use some bonding material and glue the wire to the top teeth. But after he did it - it all came off. He is working with very little teeth. So instead he bent the wire and repositioned it. He still has one loose tooth on the bottom that we need to try and wiggle out of there. On the top the dead tooth is still holding on. He moved the wire from it as there is nothing to work against. He said he'll leave the tooth though as long as it doesn't cause him issues. So we will just watch it.

We don't have to go back for 6 weeks. Yeah! The weird thing is that is AFTER their birthday! UGH - they are turning 6 right around the corner. Crazy!

Holiday Catch-up

We had a really nice Thanksgiving. Had dinner at my mom's and got to enjoy her yummy turkey. I tried my hand at a couple peanut butter/chocolate pies and they were super yummy too. After dinner we did the normal, sat down with the sale ads to see what we "had to have". I did take one for "team shopping" early Thursday morning. After we woke up, Cody and I headed out to pick up the paper. I go no where without a shower and my hair/make-up done. I threw pants on and my coat, combed my hair, put a little eye liner on and we were off. I looked "fantastic"! LOL...but I got a paper and who cares. :)

I talked my mom and sister into embarking on our first Black Friday ever. We woke up early Friday morning - 4am and headed to Target. I was shocked at the line of people. I have never seen that out shopping. We entered the store that was jammed pack, no carts and headed in our own ways to get the deals we came to get. I have to say we succeeded. At about 6am, Tanya said we better find the check out line and so we did. We waited for over an hour. It was pure fun. You totally have to be a shopper to appreciate it all. An adrenalin rush is all I can think of. After all of that shopping, I had to work. I will totally take off next year. Once I got home I decided that I had to keep going. If I stopped I would crash. So instead we got out the tree and decorated.

Now the count down is on to Christmas. The boys have made list after list and want everything under the sun. Santa is figuring out what they really want. The goal is to finish shopping and decorating, do some baking and enjoy the holidays with family!