may wrap-up

We have welcomed summer and are filling up our days with all kinds of things. But let me back up to the last week of school…

The kids decided to "build a house"outside. They are all about setting up little houses - in the playroom, living room, foyer, and even in the backyard:

They use anything and everything, whatever they can find, to make it just right. On this particular occasion, it was mainly outdoor furniture and toys, though they did come inside for blankets, towels, and Raffie and Chloe Puppy-the-Monkey (their favorite sleeping partners).

I can't help but giggle at their creativity and cuteness. They've come up with some pretty original ideas.

Speaking of, I was greeted on the back porch one afternoon by a little lady in pink:

Pink, pink and more pink. Blush and bashful even. Gloves, a scarf, a parasol… Jewelry is always part of the ensemble. {The pink hibiscus on her cheek is from the end-of-year luau at school.}

A little while later, she changed into a different (pink) outfit to play.

This is a common scene here on Evergreen Drive. I love to sit on the back porch, having my devotion time, reading or working on the computer while the kids play in the yard. When Hannah wants a break from running around, swinging or playing house with little brother, she'll pull out her markers, grab some paper from the printer and come join me.

She loves to draw, color, make things with her art supplies, you name it. Right now I am in the playroom and she is in front of me at her easel painting. She is an artsy girl for sure. Would've loved to have put her in an art camp but there's nothing here for her age. {We are doing Lego camp and she is SO excited!}

So anyway, after that following weekend, Hannah had three more days of school. Good behavior water day was on that Tuesday. If you earned enough stickers in the weeks leading up, you could participate. Hannah started off behind in the sticker-earnings because she missed several days the first week due to pink eye and fever. Every day I would ask her how she was doing and, on the Friday before, she was very excited to inform me that she had earned 15 stickers - the number to qualify.

The teachers lay out a huge tarp doused with bubbles and turn on sprinklers. The children run around, slip and slide, squealing when the teachers spray them with hoses. They all love it.

Also that day, the kids went for their annual teeth cleaning. It was Hannah's third visit and Joseph's second. Once a year is about all we do {me too for that matter!}. It's expensive and I'm not too concerned about their teeth at this point. I will add that our check-ups have been really good so that relieves the pressure of me taking them every six months. No cavities so far, woo hoo!

Of course, they had to touch everything and Joseph had to ask questions about everything. Everything. It's an exhausting outing, but their little teeth are shiny and clean!

That Wednesday, I had my favorite group of moms over for our last small group of the year. Joseph was already at preschool when his BFF, Weston, arrived. His mom Rebecca (in the moms group of course) took this picture of them blowing kisses:

Thursday was Joseph's last day of preschool and the end-of-year program.

The program was in the sanctuary this year instead of the fellowship hall and that was a much better arrangement. Joseph was calm and a little shy at first, but then he woke up. I'm pretty sure his favorite song was "Sally the Camel". Watching him try to figure out his fingers, holding up the right number at the right time, was hysterical…and very cute.

We love our sweet Josey. So do Monkey and Meme, two of his biggest fans…

I cannot believe we are done with preschool. Forever. The church preschool has been a part of our lives for four years, starting when Hannah was in the 2-year-old program. She went three years there and Joseph three as well, starting in the 1-year-old class. Everyday, our little ones were right down the street on the church campus, not far from Daddy.

Joseph is off to pre-K at Ridge Road Primary. And, just like that, both of our babies are in big school. They will be down the hall from each other and they cannot wait! Such excitement.

On that same day, I took Hannah to a cowgirl birthday party for our little friends (and twins) Kessler and McFerrin.

Between the ponies, the trampoline, and the big swing, it was quite a fun time. As a favor, Hannah brought home a mason jar filled with all the dry ingredients for Cowboy/Cowgirl Monster Cookies. We made them yesterday. YUM!

On Friday night we watched our sweet friend, Erin, graduate from high school!

On Saturday we went to the farmer's market and spent a relaxing and fun day at home.

And on Sunday we celebrated Pentecost and Memorial Day at church before heading out of town for the night.

I love that picture of them…my three loves.

What a busy week it was!

answered prayers

My sweet boy has been through a lot. Over the past four years for sure, and recently over the last couple of weeks. At his four-year well check on April 20, his pediatrician was concerned about several hard places in his abdomen. Of course, knowing his GI problems, we knew what those hard places were: stool. An X-ray confirmed what we already knew. He was significantly impacted. Anytime a doctor uses the word "impressive" you know it's bad. Look how bloated his little belly is:

After a lengthy telephone conversation between our pediatrician and the pediatric GI, we were directed to start a rigorous clean out. Enemas, magnesium citrate and a high dose of Miralax for three days. Ugh. We knew how miserable that was going to be…for all involved, but especially for him.

Yes. It was completely miserable. He screamed and cried and we prayed and prayed. But we got results. Big time!

We had lunch picnics outside almost every day. He and Daddy even practiced shooting with the new water guns. We cuddled and endured. He was a trooper.

The doctors talked to us about Joseph possibly having Hirschsprungs disease. It is very rare, but the symptoms are very close to those of chronic constipation which is what Joseph was diagnosed with from the beginning. Hirschsprungs is a congenital condition where part of the colon is missing nerve cells. When that nerve tissue is missing, the child does not have the ability or has great difficulty in passing stool. Surgery is required to remove the diseased part of the colon. It is major surgery.

The reason Joseph has not been tested for Hirschsprungs before is because the actual testing is very invasive, requires putting him to sleep and taking a rectal biopsy. We just did not want to do that until we thought there was a good chance he had it. Our course of action was to complete the clean out, continue with the increased Miralax dosage, and encourage him to use the bathroom every day. We scheduled an appointment with the GI in Savannah for May 4.

Following the clean out and leading up to that appointment, in an incredible answer to prayers, Joseph went on the toilet 8 days in a row. This was HUGE for him, and unprecedented. We've done many clean outs before, but have never had anything resembling normalcy in the days following. Or at any time for that matter. He has always struggled…

At one point during that time we joined Joe on a visitation trip to Milledgeville. While Joe was at the hospital I took Joseph to TJ Maxx to find shorts. He has a tiny waist so it's tricky finding shorts and pants to fit in waist and length. He's also had a bloated belly most of his life causing his pants to get pushed down. {Side note: he runs really well with one hand holding up his britches!} With him doing so well, we were relieved as his belly got smaller and smaller.

He might wear a size 2T in shorts, but look at that flat stomach!!

You have no idea how happy that picture makes me!

At the GI appointment on May 4 (this past Monday), he had the best X-ray he's ever had. His belly was almost completely clear! We also got to see his actual doctor. The past several visits we've only seen NPs. Our pediatrician was emphatic that we see Dr. Rittmeyer himself.

Well, we had a great visit. There is a toilet in the exam room and the doctor got to see Joseph go. {Probably too much information, but when tracking poop habits is your life, and it's a constant topic of conversation, it's easy to lose your grip of what's appropriate to say in public!} Anyway, he is very happy with where Joseph is. He is still confident that he (just) has constipation and will one day grow out of it. No further testing needed at this point. Keep on doing what we're doing and encourage him as much as possible.

Praise the Lord.

It was such a relief to have a good visit, we could have all cried. Joe and I almost do when bathroom trips are successful. We are so incredibly grateful for all the prayers lifted up for our son and know they are working!!

So thankful that "Thank God!" has been a common phrase lately where Joseph is concerned.

{Joseph with Spenser in Savannah}

In other Joseph news, he wore his first neck tie and suspenders and was twins with Daddy last Sunday. I still need to learn how to tie a tie, so we had to stop by Daddy's office before Sunday School. 

Totally in love with my boys.

march miscellany

How about a really random post of March happenings? I thought you'd say yes…

Friday, March 6 - After-preschool driving with Daddy:

An almost-daily ritual of ours involves driving the car up the driveway. Sometimes I stop as I'm coming into the driveway and one child might climb into my lap. Other times the kids hop out and get the mail. Hannah might grab the garbage bin while Joseph gets up on my lap and steers the car into the carport. Sometimes one child drives while the other one patiently waits their turn and observes from the passenger seat. 

When the kids were smaller, it was mainly Daddy who let the kids drive on his lap. I have many pictures of Hannah driving with him. It was a highlight of her day, him getting home from work. But as they've gotten older, I've gotten in on the fun. 

Even after all these years doing this family ritual, it is still a highlight of their day when they see Daddy coming home from work. We will be out playing, riding bikes, going for a wagon ride… The kids get so excited, rushing to his car. 

Hopefully you don't think we're careless parents. I will say that we are very cautious and Joe is always watching for the children. But this is a memory I have of when I was little - driving on my daddy's lap. I hope it's a memory Hannah and Joseph will cherish, too.

Sunday, March 8 - My little Sunday greeters at SUMC:

Another thing these children love is helping me when I'm a greeter at church. I can barely hand a bulletin to anyone; they are very eager to take care of that for me! They are very social and know most people by name. I love how much they like to help. 

Tuesday, March 10 - Breakfast with Honey:

It was French toast sticks day. The day after Hannah turned 5 1/2, she was up and moving fast (as she always is on Tuesday mornings) eager to make it to school on time for breakfast. Since Daddy was out of town, I spontaneously decided that Joseph and I would join her. Little #1 Best Brother on Earth was thrilled. So was big sister.

Wednesday, March 11 - A second lost tooth!

This one was loose for a little while. Every day she asked me to check on it. I would wiggle it and guess how much longer I think we had. Finally, it was so loose I told her I think I should pull it out. She wanted me to at first, but was a little nervous. I wiggled it with a paper towel, but it wouldn't come. It was hanging on on one side. Later in the afternoon she was sitting on the swing, and I tried again. It hurt for a second and she put her hands up to stop me, but the tooth was already out and in my fingers. She was quite excited! 

The Tooth Fairy came and, taking her tooth this time, left $1. She is saving all of her money… 

Thursday, March 12 - Soccer pictures:

Most of her practices were rained out, but this day she actually got to practice and was thrilled to be doing so. I think they might have gotten two practices in before the games started the following week.

Friday, March 13 - Pre-K registration campout: 

That's my sweet friend, Rebecca, above. Her son, Weston, and Joseph are BFFs. Joe and I took shifts this year camping outside the Board of Education to get Joseph into Pre-K. It was a cold, rainy night…but it was worth it! We were spot #19 in line (54 spots were available). Joseph gets to go to Hannah's big school in August and he's over the moon!

Sunday, March 15 - Bedtime stories:

Daddy read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. A few weeks ago Hannah and I checked some books out from the library. There was a few they really liked (this one, Madeline and Love You Forever), so we had to renew them. 

Saturday, March 21 - Princess party:

The Saturday after St. Patrick's Day (and Joseph's accident), Hannah and I had some princess fun at a Frozen-themed birthday party for her friend, Gabby. My Anna got to meet Elsa, who was so nice and sang all kinds of Disney princess songs. That was one excited room of little girls.

Sunday, March 22 - Legoland (our playroom, not the park):

In between trips to the doctor, Joseph built lots of buildings, towers, and trains. Hannah and Joseph both have spent the majority of their time indoors playing with Legos and putting puzzles together. Most of the time they play nicely. It's just when someone's got a piece that the other person "needs" that we have a problem. 

Monday, March 23 - Back to the doctor:

So, yes… things haven't exactly been great with the head injury. At preschool Joseph and another (not-so-little) boy collided heads in the classroom, re-opening his wound… right in the center!

Tuesday, March 24 - Birthday dog:

It was a beautiful, sun-shiny day and the kids begged to ride bikes. We decided to take Mollie, too, since it was her birthday. Cannot believe she is 10 years old. She was a puppy when Joe and I started dating!

Wednesday, March 25 - Back to Dr. Rob (again):

Our friend and surgeon, Rob, had to reassess Joseph's wound after he bled through the steri-strips. He was cleaned up and a larger strip was put on. So far, so good and it's still on. And, let me just add, that Joseph is obsessed with his umbrella, so he was excited to be out and about in the rain.

Thursday, March 26 - Hannah's second (our first) game:

Hannah played goalie for the first time and did great! She also played defense and "runner" which she likes best. She was all over the field. She really likes soccer and we are so glad. Such a fun sport to play and watch. And we love to watch her do anything that involves running. Long-legged, exuberant cuteness.

That brings me almost up to date. March has flown by!

first stitches

Yesterday was an eventful day.

It was Hannah's first soccer game and I had just gotten to the fields with the kids and put our stuff down on the bleachers. The coach had started pulling the team together when Hannah decided she needed to go to the bathroom (which was a good distance away from the field she was playing on). As she sauntered off, I hollered at her to run; the game was about to start. Joseph then said he was going to go with her. So they took off, and I followed behind. I grabbed my phone so I could call and let Joe know which field to go to but left the rest of our stuff on the bleachers.

As I was getting close to the building that houses the bathrooms, I heard a collision followed quickly by screaming. I didn't know what had happened until two other moms ran around the corner and waved at me to hurry over. And then Joseph came around the corner, crying, blood pouring out of his head.

Let me stop there. The blood. Oh. my. goodness. Never have I seen so much blood in person. It was coming down his face onto his clothes and the ground. Thankfully one of the other moms ran into the bathroom and brought me paper towels, but the whole seen was chaotic and scary.

Joseph was wearing his sunglasses (which, as you know, is very common for him) and I don't know if he was temporarily blinded when he rounded the corner into the shade or if he was not looking ahead or what…but he ran smack into a pole that was supporting the building's overhang.

I quickly assessed if he was ok - he was, but not really. I knew we had to get to the hospital. I scooped him up and asked one of the moms to make sure Hannah (who was using the bathroom while all this was going on) got back to her field. I didn't even know her - total trust there!

Thankful I had the phone in my hand still, I called Joe. He didn't answer the first time. I was running with Joseph on my hip to grab my keys off the bleachers, frustrated and beginning to panic. Called Joe again. {Frantic is one way to describe the way I relayed the situation.} I fastened Joseph in his carseat and left for the ER, where Joe met us as I pulled in the parking lot.

Joe, always a calming presence in the midst of my panic (though I will say he wasn't all that calm at first hearing me on the phone), hopped in the backseat - Hannah's carseat actually - and we drove around the building. As we were getting out, we called our friend and surgeon, Rob. {He was the one that was so helpful in the days following Joe's accident. It was also at his house where Joseph got the biggest goose egg I've ever seen when he tripped and fell at a holiday party.} I was hoping Rob would be able to do the sutures.

We got into a room at the ER, thankful that the bleeding had significantly slowed, when Rob texted and told us to go to his office. So I signed a form saying Joseph did not receive treatment (and hoping we wouldn't be receiving an ER bill) and left. Joe carried him across the parking lot to the surgical office next door.

We waited outside for Rob and his nurse to arrive, but after that it all went by fast and easy. I mean really fast and easy. While we were waiting I texted a friend who's daughter was also playing soccer and asked her to stand in for me. Hannah had been so excited about her first game. I also took this picture (face is mostly cleaned up!):

Once settled inside, Dr. Rob pulled up Joseph's favorite show, Jake and the Neverland Pirates on his phone and gave it to Joseph.

He sat right there on Daddy's lap and remained calm and still. The whole time. He wanted to know what everything was, but didn't cry or even move. Even when the needles went in. I don't know if it was Jake or what, but one thing I know: my baby boy is brave. So brave. I made a comment about how it was good to know how tough he was. Joe said later that his pain tolerance might have something to do with the fact that he's been in pain (GI-related issues) for years and could probably handle it.

Dr. Rob did the sewing, and Joseph watched his show. It went great! Five stitches. His first and our first.

He was such a good patient.

Afterwards, we picked up Hannah from the soccer fields and went to dinner at Puebla's, which we planned to surprise Hannah with all along. Joseph was excited to go, too. No one loves chips and guacamole more than him. Had to get a picture of Daddy with the patient and the soccer player:

While at dinner, I received these pictures from my sweet friend, Caroline.

She had a great time playing in her first game. I can't wait to watch her next time!

I snuck into Joseph's room last night and took a picture of my precious boy, sound asleep. Completely exhausted.

We all slept well last night.

Several times throughout this whole ordeal, Joseph asked "Why did you tell Hannah to run?" I couldn't figure out why that was all he would talk about at first. And then later when I was talking to him he said that he was looking back at me as he was running after Hannah (who I told to run!).

Sweet boy, that one. I hate that he got hurt. I hate that he was in such pain. Any parent who deeply loves their child knows how it physically hurts to watch your baby hurt. I was hurting for him, no doubt. And worried.

But now, I'm mainly thankful. For a friend who is a wonderful surgeon. For a girlfriend who was there to cheer on Hannah at her first soccer game. For countless family and friends who've called, texted, and sent Facebook messages. And, most of all, that our little guy is ok, escaping with an ugly boo boo and perhaps a mild concussion, but that is all.

He will be fine. Truthfully, after knowing he was ok, I then worried about how bad the scar would be. Would my cute little guy have a big scar in the middle of his forehead for the rest of his life? That might sound shallow to think that so shortly after it happened, but I did. I don't want anything messing up that beautiful face.

During our picnic lunch on the back porch today, Joseph told Joe and me, "Dr. Rob took good care of me…he is a great doctor…and he let me watch Jake on his phone!" Between telling everyone what happened and having stitches to show off at preschool, he is doing quite well. Very proud, owning the whole running-into-the-pole thing.