Dylan's Sprain

Last night as I was trying to get Dylan and Tyler to come in from outside and they were fighting me to just stay out a 1/2 hour longer. I caved and let them. So instead, I went and did some Wii fit and thought I would call back out to them in a half hour. I wasn't 10 minutes into it when I heard all sorts of crying from outside. Before I could get out there - Tyler was barging in the house with Dylan behind - Dylan was crying hysterically. Got it figured out that Dylan fell and "twisted" his ankle. Took off the shoe and the sock and I could see it was red but that's it. He immediately wasn't putting pressure on it and to the couch he went. He mentioned that he probably wouldn't be able to go to school tomorrow but I told him we would have to see what morning brang.

This morning I got him up and yah..he wasn't going to school. His whole foot was nice and puffy and he couldn't walk on it. He hobbled down the stairs on his butt and to the couch he went. I believed him but also gave the firm warnings that there was no running and playing/no going outside/only to be on the couch or in the chair playing the Wii. He asked for Tylenol and I sort of believed he was hurting. I called and got him a doctor's appointment.

Dylan cracks me up. Couldn't put his shoe on that foot so he has developed this hobble and drag move with his foot. It's cute to watch. As we were waiting a good 20 minutes at the doctor's office, Dylan was becoming annoyed we had to wait so long. He really is his father's son! :) The doctor examined him and sure enough it's a sprain. He said the tendon that runs from the ankle bone along the side of the foot is probably what tore away. He suggested an ace bandage and for him to stay off from it. No gym for 2 weeks and keep with the Ibuprofen for the pain. We got home, got him settled on the couch and Brett wrapped his foot up. Keeping him down is going to be a challenge........ He is a cute patient isn't he?

Tyler's ENT update

Tyler had his 6 month follow up from his last surgery. Ear tubes are looking great. Still in place and nice and open - working just the way they are supposed to. I was anxious for this visit as he was going to have a hearing test. He hadn't had one since 2007 so it's been a while. Even though he told me he wasn't going to do it....he did and he did fantastic. He passed with flying colors. No gray area of concern. She totally made it fun and he loved it. The ENT is very happy and we go back in another 6 months. :) I love these easy appointments!

Falling in love with a new smile, a new face

But I just can not forget the face that we welcomed into the world. This sweet face. Ok, who am I kidding.....there were days that didn't want to look past his eyes. I didn't want to see his lip that way. And yes...I'm ashamed to even type that but it's how I felt at times...not all the time, just sometimes. That first surgery (6 years ago today) is a memory like the day they were born. A memory that I will never forget. So far there has only been two of those moments. The lip and palate surgery....I remember the other 2 but not as vividly. I remember it took 5 hours. I remember the doctor coming to talk with us and telling us that surgery went well and that one of us could go see him. I hated that both Brett and I couldn't go. But we both knew I was the one going. I followed the nurse and rounded the corner and heard him crying. I had NO IDEA what he was going to look like....this was not what I was prepared for!So much bruising and blood. That sweet little face. I wanted the cleft back....He just looked like he was in so much pain. We got up to his room and he was hungry. So Brett prepared the formula and I held him. He would fill a syringe up and I would slowly push it into his mouth. He ate like a champ. Night time was rough. He wanted no part of his crib. So I held him in my arms and we slept. The nurse didn't like it but I really didn't care. We left the next morning to come home. With this surgery also brought us the first time we were away from Dylan. I hated leaving him behind.
We got home and everybody was so anxious to see him. Recovery got better every day. A few days later the steri strip came off and you could really see that new little face. I loved it. I couldn't help but kiss it. He now had 1 whole lip......

Over the years his face has changed and his scars have evened out. Most people look at him and don't even see the scars. I look past them now but at times I still see that wide smile of his. I will never forget where we started on this journey......

Ortho Update - Gum highlight

Cody had another orthodontic visit today and I am so happy that there weren't a lot of tears. A few tears this morning when he woke up but once we got in the car and he was settled in with his DVD and breakfast - he was good to go. We had a morning appointment so Brett could come with us and I am thinking that made a world of difference. I know it did to me...I felt like I had my rock with me and we could share that quick glance during the appointment and know exactly what the other one was thinking.

We did our normal first - put the cheek guards in and took our pictures....

To most of you it looks about the same....his front two teeth are loose. Not really wiggly loose but he told him to wiggle 'em and loosen them up. While looking at the picture above, on the left hand side you can see a bulge in his upper gum...that was where (as a baby) his gum was split in two. Well the dentist said that in that spot is now an adult tooth. Which is really a good thing...where there is a tooth there is bone and that's what we need.

Dr. Dillingham came over and took a look inside and noticed that the wire needed repaired. The spot where it was sottered together had worn down and he needed to fix it. So it had to come out. He popped it out and I could tell Cody was moving his tongue all around in his mouth. It must of felt weird. Then he looks at me and said "Mom, my appliance is out....(pause).....(eyes got really big).....CAN I HAVE GUM"........................OMG...yes, of course! So I called the assistant over and asked and she said sure. Thankfully I had gum in my purse. I gave him a piece and he chewed away. He loved it. The dentist thought it was wonderful. I explained to them how he has been so good and understand at what he can and can't have. How at times he has a meltdown and just wants to eat sticky food. So chewing gum is a big deal. I got out my camera to capture him chewing and the dentist wanted a picture too. He suggested holding up the gum pack. Here is my SUPER HAPPY boy chewing his G.U.M......

Those 10 minutes went by quick. He spit the gum out and back in the appliance went. He did great getting it back in, no tears! He was so proud of himself too as he reminded his Dad later that he didn't cry. Dr. D is very happy with his brushing habits (yep, patting myself on the back), and the great thing is we don't have to go back for 8 weeks...which just so happens to be my birthday! :) Thinking that trip if it's nice will be a Zoo day!!!

Happy Easter

My Dad, the boys and I at Easter Breakfast....

Tyler's cool new sunglasses

Dylan got some awesome Monster Jam swim shorts....he LOVED them!!!

Cody was in Bakugan heaven!!! New battle gear, new volume 6 DVD, and new jammies....

All the kids lined up for the egg hunt...(well except Dylan as he took a spill in the yard and had a bummed knee...and maybe a little embarrassment going on too...but grandma got him some eggs....) Finally...we had a Easter that was nice weather. I remember last year having an egg hunt outside and the kids did it so fast cause it was freezing out. Mother nature was good to us and we had warm weather!

This Easter we were in Cuba. The Bunny didn't forget where we were and 3 little boys were so happy for that. It was fun for them to search for their baskets in a different house. Although I think the Bunny could of hid them harder. ;) Saturday morning the boys had us up and out of the house. I had a baby shower to go to and Brett and the boys stayed behind. Baby Shower was for a little girl....I loved all the pink....but only enough to want "pink" for a minute and then I quickly reminded myself how much "blue" I have at home and that's all I can handle. :) After the shower, we went to Aunt Joyce's for an egg hunt, good food, and lots of laughs. It was our first egg hunt with all of them and the boys had a lot of fun and I think the girls did a great job!

Sunday morning the boys were up and ready to find those baskets. Once they find them...which took about 2 seconds....they tore into them. That bunny is so smart and got them lots of stuff they can use this summer in Virginia. After baskets, we met my Dad at Sprague's for breakfast. I love breakfast! It was nice to visit with him. Darn hormones...they certainly got the best of me. But I'll blog about emotions some other time. We had a wonderful Easter dinner at Grandma Holden's. The boys had so much fun playing with the kids and of course more laughs.

Such a fun, fun weekend with family!

Catching up from the weekend....

This past weekend seem to be a busy one. However, I am finding that most all of our weekends are busy. Friday night we got to celebrate with my sister as she turned another year older. We had a great fish dinner/yummy cake and presents. 41 doesn't look bad on her at all! :) (She'll be so happy I shared that)

Saturday we woke up to a decent day and promised the kids an egg hunt. We've gone to this hunt just about every year and it's a lot of fun. Although, this year Karly was too old to participate she still managed to "help" her cousins and get a couple eggs for herself. They separated the kids by age group and even though Connor and Tyler weren't supposed to be together - Connor came over and hunted with his buddy! Heck, looking at the two of them you would have no idea who is older and who is younger. My kids were cursed with the short stick!

After the hunt, we headed to the mall for our yearly photo with the bunny. If I hadn't have started this tradition with them when they were babies we wouldn't have done it. $9.00 is the going rate for a picture with the bunny and it's crazy! He's more than Santa. AND that's just for 1 picture. But I guess my boys will soon enough grow out of this so we do it and I love to line the pictures up on my shelf to see them grow every year.

We are heading to Cuba for the Easter holiday. Looking forward to a baby shower I get to go to and a yummy dinner and just good/fun company. The weather is looking wonderful so that will certainly help and allow the boys to get outside and be boys, get dirty, go to the barn...oh who am I kidding.......I won't like the "getting dirty" part....that requires more work for me!

....bully...update!

Thanks to all of those that read and commented on my previous blog post. (I don't mean for all of my blog writings to come over to facebook but somehow I turned that feature on and can't figure out how to turn it off). However, since it does it also has allowed me to get great feed back from other's that have walked these shoes. And if you don't know me....that means a lot to me.

Anyway, I talked to Cody's teacher this morning when I dropped them off at school. She agreed with me and my request but said that her hands were some what tied as the student who did it was not in her class. Last night as I was going through Cody's bag I found that he had a nurses note so I felt that if the teachers knew, the nurse knew...the principal should know. Punching is a pretty big deal. He (the principal) agreed with me! He was not happy. He was concerned as to where the 4 aids were that are outside with the Kindergartners. He asked for the story and who the child was. I shared what I knew and he promised me he would get to the bottom of it. He felt that a good punishment would be to take away recess time. I agreed. It happened on the playground - so take the playground away. That is what happened. I am hoping the parents were notified and I really hope that the little boy understands that you can't punch somebody else.

Cody seems fine today. He didn't give me a fuss about going to school this morning. I honestly think that Dylan is more ticked off about it. As I was putting Dylan to bed tonight, he told me that he asked "boy J" why he punched his brother and the kid didn't answer. :) Dylan is a very big protector of his brothers. He might want to smack them around but don't let anybody else. :) That my friends, it just what it means to be brother's!