Surgery day!

Aaron had his surgery today.

The day started with instructions for Aaron not to eat anything and to drink only clear liquids up to about 8:00 in the morning. We were scheduled to arrive at the hospital at 11:00 so I knew it was going to be a long morning.

I had already planned several things for us to do in the car to keep him distracted and away from food and drinks. My plan worked well (evil laugh...ha ha ha haaa!). He only asked for something to drink one time and was satisfied with the answer that we didn't have anything but that we would get something for him when we got home.

I had told him what was happening that day beforehand so it wouldn't be an unpleasant surprise for him. I've found it makes a huge difference in how he reacts when he knows what's coming.

While we were out, I got a call to see if we could come in early. Of course I said yes. (Who in their right mind would pass on the opportunity to just get this over with already?)

He got to wear really cool pajamas and got 2 (count them 2!) new Cars toys! (He gets so spoiled when he goes to the hospital.) He got to play until it was time to go into the O.R., and even the ride there was fun for him (the staff was so great with him!).


I did pretty good with waiting. I was told it would take about an hour, so I was patient...until the hour was up and the doctor still hadn't come out. Then I started watching the clock every couple of minutes (seconds) for the next hour (20 minutes) until he (finally) did come out.

I got to go see Aaron as soon as he started to stir so I was there when he first actually woke up. He just wanted me to hold him. He was in and out of sleep for about an hour.

The nurse let him choose the color of bandage to put on his hand when she removed the IV. He still wasn't completely alert, so I was surprised when he actually chose green. We brought Aaron's little stuffed Elmo, since he's one of Aaron's best (stuffed) friends. To make the recovery experience a little easier for Aaron, the nurse also put the same color bandage on Elmo's same hand.

They released him around 2:30. He was still groggy, but was with it enough to let me know that he wanted to watch the Pixar Short Films we had in the DVD player in the car. (The boy knows what he wants.)

We hung out on the couch the rest of the day. There have been a few times that the pain has kicked in, but we're alternating ibuprofen and acetaminophen. He can't stand up without a pretty good amount of pain, but otherwise the meds are working well. We'll see if he can stand up tomorrow.

Here's to a speedy recovering....and never having another surgery???

Another first, but this one I could've done without

Aaron had his first trip to the emergency room.

We had spent a great weekend at my sister's house nearby. Late Sunday afternoon, Aaron got what seemed like, and still could have been at least partly, really bad gas pains. I spent the next couple of hours with him "burrito" wrapped in a blanket and working out some bubbles. He started to feel better after awhile and was in and out of sleep.

Around 8:00, I started to get ready to go home. While I was changing Aaron's diaper, I saw something bulging out of his groin. After Shera directed me on what to do, 'cause I was just a little freaked out, we took him to the ER.

The bulge turned out to be a hernia, which I'm told isn't all that uncommon and should be easily fixed...with surgery. :(

The ER doctor was able to push it back in, which is good. Otherwise, he would have had much worse procedures done that night. He was feeling much better just a couple of minutes later.

He was such a trooper! He was so calm the whole time. All the nurses fell so in love with him instantly (shocking, I know). As we left he was saying "good-bye" and "thank you" to everyone on the way out. (He is so sweet!)

We have an appointment with a specialist tomorrow. I'll find out more about the surgery, recovery, etc. during that appointment. I'll let you know how it goes.

Sibling Rivalry...with an only child

I experienced something with Aaron this morning that I never imagined I would have...him being an only child and all.

Aaron noticed some pen marks on the sheets on my bed and asked what happened. I said, "It looks like you drew on my bed." He responded, without missing a beat, "No, Tanner did it."

Tanner is the babysitter's son...who has never been to our house...ever.

I'm interested to find out how many more conversations I'll have over the years that I never thought I would have with an only child.

Being a mom can be HARD

Do you ever feel like your kid is doing everything possible to make you snap? I felt like that today. Every time I was in a different room that Aaron, he would do something that he knows he shouldn't do...spill his drink on the floor, furniture, TV; throw his toys, the Christmas decorations (that we just put out this morning), his food, the mouse to my computer; put electronic wires or connections in his mouth...just to name a few. I'm not exaggerating about it being every time and all day long either.

I have to say that I'm proud of the way I handled it all, especially considering that I have been struggling with yelling at him. I got close to losing it this evening, but instead we took a drive and listened to Christmas music.

I love this little boy with everything in me, but on days like today I could really use a break from being around him...even if it's just for a couple of hours. Know what I mean?

I am not a blogger

As much as I want to stay on top of this blog and share the wonderful moments of my life with Aaron, I am just not very good at it. It's been months since my last post and, at this point, I don't even know where to begin.

I'm not ready to give up just yet, though. So, here goes....

Over the past few months, Aaron has continued to grow by leaps and bounds. He talks up a storm and I can understand more of what he's saying. He has an incredible imagination. He talks on his play cell phones daily and "calls" many of our family and friends.

He is very strong-willed (shocking, I know), but he is also very loving and compassionate so they balance him out most of the time.

We are experiencing what most parents call the "terrible two's". I have come to realize that most of what makes it terrible is not him, but rather it is my own strong will and stubborn determination. When I get stuck on what I want we butt heads. When I am more flexible and work with him to get what we both want it works really well. (Unless one or both of us are really tired... then there's not much that works well except sleep!)

Aaron had a fantastic 2nd birthday. He's grown out of his high chair and sleeps in a toddler bed. I still watch him and wonder how it happened so quickly. I am very grateful that I am enjoying him as he grows up.

We took road trips this summer, both to Vegas and both for the same person...my Grandpa. We enjoyed celebrating his 85th birthday in June and returned in August to honor his life after he passed away. He lived an amazing life and accomplished so much. What I remember about him most is his sense of humor and his incredible love for his family. I am glad that Aaron got to meet him, even though he may not remember him.

Let's see. What else?

Aaron is figuring out what Christmas is about. He recognized Santa Claus and Christmas trees as soon as they started putting them out in the stores (at the beginning of October!). We're watching lights go up on the houses. He gets so excited to see them when we're driving. He has some favorites.

Earlier tonight he became heartbroken when I told him we got to go home after sitting in front of someone's house looking at a train made of lights for about 10 minutes. He cried almost the whole way home, which luckily was only a few blocks away, but it was still very sad.

I am really looking forward to Christmas morning.

That's about it for now. I'll write again...sometime. ;)