Bandage Removal

Sooooo....most importantly, Tyler is still doing great and his recovery couldn't be going better. However, if you were to ask Tyler, I'm sure he would tell you that today was not a good day. I mentioned that he had a birthmark removed from his forehead, and as you could see in previous pictures there was just a piece of clear tape over the incision. The surgeon told us that if it hadn't fallen off by this past Tuesday, we needed to remove it ourselves. So Tuesday night Tony tried briefly and Tyler freaked out. We decided to just call the doctor's office on Wednesday morning and ask if there is a good way to remove it....I was worried it would open the incision it was stuck on so tight. The nurse actually chuckled a little when I asked her about it (as in she gets this call a lot)....she said maybe some warm showers, etc. but the tape was actually glued to the forehead and was designed to even pull out any external stitches that had not yet disolved.

Tony tried again last night and got a little off, but Tyler was crying hysterically so he quit. We knew we had to get it off today, but were hoping a few more showers might help a little. Oh, Tony also tried while Tyler was sleeping last night - no success! So this morning I thought I might try a little bribery....usually works like a charm with a 3 year old....here was our conversation:

Me: If you let Mommy pull the tape off then we can go to Toys R Us and you can pick out a new toy.

Tyler: Can I get a buzzlight? (buzz lightyear from toy story)

Me: Sure...but you have to let me take the tape off.

Tyler: Welllll.....really, I have so many toys already I don't really need anything!!!

That's when I knew we were in trouble. I tried bribing him with things all day....nothing. So tonight the tape came off and let's just say that I thought the cops might knock on our door with reports of a child screaming so loud. I can honestly say that I have never seen him so hysterical. I still don't know if it actually hurt or if he just thought it was going to hurt. It did pull off some scab and all the tiny hairs on his forehead....and he did sit around the rest of the night with an icepack or a cold washcloth on his forehead. He even went to sleep tonight with a washcloth on his forehead. Poor little guy. Kuddos to Daddy for being the tough guy and taking it off!!!

Oh, I forgot to mention that Tyler was so worked up that Cole started crying hysterically just because Tyler was....then afterward he wanted to sit with Daddy and Tyler and just sat calmly looking at Tyler as if he knew something was wrong. It was very sweet.

Hopefully the worst of everything is now behind us....on to healthier times!

Meet the Trucks

A construction company in Tony's industrial park hosted a "meet the trucks" event on Saturday. Unfortunately the weather wasn't very nice, but he did get to go briefly. He also got a hard hat, but he can't wear it until his forehead heals.

Cole - reading and pulling up

Cole loves to read books....especially with Mamaw. His other new favorite activity is to pull up to everything. Unfortunately he hasn't figured out how to let go and fall back on his bootie....so he just stands and cries when he wants to get down. He'll catch on soon I'm sure.

Feeding Myself

Cole has discovered feeding himself. He really enjoys toast and banana puffs. He's not much of a talker yet, but knows how to "grunt" to get what he wants. As soon as he sees the puffs container, he starts grunting loudly until you put some on his tray. He cracks me up. He still won't drink from a cup - of any kind - so I'm hesitant to give him too many things because he can't wash it down without drinking. I am very excited that he feeds himself a few things though....makes it easier to fix dinner now since he is so entertained.

Filled Pancakes

Nurse Trisha gave Mamaw a filled pancake pan for Secretary's Day and she as nice enough to bring it with her. Tyler kept asking for pancakes, so we decided to try it out. They were actually easy to make and Tyler loved them (even though he wouldn't pose for a picture with them). Thanks Nurse Trisha!

Noodles

Mamaw also treated us to homemade beef and noodles while she was here....Tyler wanted to help roll out the noodles of course. I'm pretty sure he had more flour than dough. He ate a really good dinner though, so that was the most important thing.

Volcano

Keeping Tyler quiet is proving to be very challenging. Mamaw had the great idea to do some "science experiments" with him, so we made a volcano and erupted it. These pictures are in the reverse order, but you can see he was very excited about the "laba" (lava) erupting!

Mr. Smiley

Here are some recent pictures of Cole. He's all over the place these days and really enjoys pulling up to everything. He's also starting to feed himself little "puffs".....he REALLY loves them. I thought this meant he was ready to feed himself little carrots, etc......not the case. He is such a picky little guy. Oh well, I'm just happy that so far, he can eat anything!

He smiles more than any child I've ever known.....these pictures really capture his personality most of the time.

Brothers

These are just some random pictures of the boys together. Cole is at the age that everything Tyler does is just hilarious....especially spitting, which I just love!!! They really enjoy each other now....wonder how long before that ends?!?

After Surgery

I had mentally prepared myself for when they took Tyler back for surgery.....I wasn't mentally prepared to see him after surgery! Now I know that in the big scheme of things this was very minor and not a big deal compared to what many children have to go through, however, he's my baby and it broke my heart to see him like this. They had told us that only one of us could go back in recovery - Tony's suggestion was to draw straws - however, when the nurse came to get us I convinced her to let us both go back. He was sitting up in bed....choking....crying....not really coherent.....not a sight a mother likes to see! I sat and held him for a while and Tony went back to our room to wait for the plastic surgeon. Eventually, Tyler sat up on my lap and started crying for his Daddy so the nurse went ahead and took us to our room. He slept on Daddy's lap for quite a while and then when he woke up things were much better. In fact, he ate more for lunch than he normally does...go figure!

The surgeon said both his tonsils and adenoids were very large so at a minimum he should start sleeping better after this. The plastic surgeon said he would send the nevus sebaceous (birth mark) off to the lab but is very confident it is benign. We aren't worried one bit, just wanted it removed as there was a high probability of it turning to cancer when Tyler was in his 20s.

Luckily, my Mom was able to get off work and come down to help. She stayed home with Cole so we didn't have to drag him to the hospital or drop him off somewhere strange at 5:30 in the morning! I was really stressing about this but Mom came and saved the day! I am so thankful she is staying through Sunday....with a nursing baby and a recovering pre-schooler, I might have lost my mind without her.

Mamaw made banana bread while we were gone and Tyler decided he needed to munch on the whole loaf, not just a slice. And....since he had just had surgery, he got whatever he wanted!

Here Tyler is playing with his new Nintendo DS.....how else do you keep a 3 year old calm for 3 weeks while his throat and forehead are healing?!?

Snuggling with his best buddy!

Before Surgery

We got to the hospital at 7:00 am on Wednesday for Tyler's tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy. He got new superman pajamas - including cape - to help him be extra brave. It was so nice that he was able to wear these for surgery instead of having to put on a gown....I'm not sure about other kids but putting on a gown always freaks Tyler out!



After we got all checked in, he got to take a wagon ride....Tyler referred to this particular wagon as a "Monster Truck Wagon" and since monster trucks are his favorite thing right now, it was perfect to pass the time.

He also got a "woody" and "buzz light year" blanket for the hospital. I pull out all the stops when it comes to being at the hospital!

Tonsil Update

Change of plans.....in light of Tyler getting sick again this week, his tonsils are coming out next Wednesday, April 21! Yesterday I had my pediatrician call the ENT and they told him that we would have to wait until June 23. I called the ENT today and left a desperate message for the doctor's assistant....she called me back and said he would work Tyler in next Wednesday. The plastic surgeon was willing to make it work too....God is good and being really kind instead of angry always helps as well! I'm already nervous but know this really needs to be done. Tony was supposed to be leaving for Las Vegas on Monday - business trip......it always happens that way. Anyway, lots of updates next week!

Sick AGAIN!

As hard as it is to believe, Tyler is sick AGAIN! Yesterday he was complaining of his stomach hurting and wouldn't eat anything...not even mint oreos, so I knew it was serious....and then he spiked a temp in the night. The doctor tested him for strep...negative...so at this point diagnosis is just another virus. His pediatrician thinks it's those nasty tonsils harboring infections and has recommended we pull him out of preschool for the rest of this year. Tony and I decided tonight, we are not willing to wait until June 23 for the tonsils to be removed, so....I am calling the pediatrician tomorrow to see if he can use some leverage to get it bumped up. If that doesn't work, we are seriously contemplating foregoing the plastic surgery for his forehead in order to get the date bumped up. Wish us luck tonight....his temp was over 103 at bed time so I'm afraid of what it will be in the night.

Big Boy

Cole is pulling himself up more and more all the time. While part of me really dreads him starting to walk, I think he will be more content. He's reached an age where he's getting bored again and really wants to be on the move! Won't be long as he turns 9 months one week from today! How did my baby get to be such a big boy already?!?

Sandbox with Papa

Papa and Grandma Jean were over on Sunday while I was doing the half-marathon to watch Cole. Tyler came downtown with Tony and after the race the first thing he had to tell me was, "Mommy.....Papa is at my house!" Yep, not good job Mommy or I saw you running Mommy....Papa being at our house was way more exciting to him! When we got back, Papa stayed for a while and played in the sandbox with Tyler. He sure loves his Papa!

Weedeater

Tyler has been in heaven playing with Daddy's real weedeater! He has a toy one, but of course he wouldn't want to play with that. No, this doesn't have any gas in it and it doesn't really work. He even had to lean over and spit during his weedeating the other day...."because I have some extra stuff in my mouth Mommy!"