"Surgerized"

After 5 rounds of antibiotics to combat ear infections over the last 2 months, Brendan had tubes put in today. It has been a rough day, not because of the surgery itself, but because Brendan woke at 2:30 this morning, wanting a bottle and couldn't have one. He could have water up until 3:00, but that didn't satisfy him and he wimpered and wailed until 4:00 when I figured if I couldn't feed him, I could at least love him and got him and cuddled him in bed with me. He wasn't comforted to sleep, however, and he AND I were awake until we left for the sugery center at 6:00. He was acting fairly well... mostly like his cute and cheerful self, up until about 10 minutes before they took him back for the surgery. Hunger and exhaustion got the best of him, I guess. He just laid down on the blanket we were playing on on the floor and screamed, unless of course I used that timeless trick of holding and pacing the room.



And even pacing didn't work 100%




After they took him for the surgery, I gathered my stuff and went back to the waiting room. Before I had finished a page of my book, the surgeon was back to give me my post-op instructions, I was taken back to Brendan, where I gave him a bottle (he was starving, but sadly, I think he was too exhausted to actually enjoy eating -- not to mention that its only formula and how enjoyable can that be anyway?) and we were out of there a mere 40 minutes after the surgery was scheduled to begin. We both had a good nap when we got home and he has been back to normal ever since! All in all, a superior surgery experience.

She's very bold

Emily: Mom, I finally got the courage to tell Jack I like him today
Me: (silently and horrified) YOU WHAT??? Its fine to have a crush on a boy, but you NEVER EVER TELL THEM!!!!! (out loud -- very calmly) Oh really, what did Jack say?
Emily: He didn't act very surprised.
Me: He didn't, huh?
Emily: No, he just said, "Is that why you always act so funny?" and I said, "No, I act like that because I AM funny!

Shorn

I just love the way a little boy looks with a fresh new haircut



I think Evan does too

Please excuse me while I swoon over the fantablulous adorableness of my little son...

This was the first time in days that poor little Brendan has acted like his happy little self. He's going on his THIRD ear infection in a row -- he hasn't even finished one antibiotic before he has to start another. He's been fussy and clingy and full of snot. Today has has begun to refuse to sleep. I'm sure the kid is sick and tired of being sick. I've learned to trust myself with this round of illnesses. I've learned to recognize his symptoms and know when something is wrong and I have to say it is SO satisfying to go into the doctor, say, "I think my son's ear infection is getting worse/not getting better" and have the doc peek in his little bitty hear and say, "Yup, its infected." Not that I enjoy him being sick, but its just so nice to NOT be neurotic.

Shedd Aquarium

Emily informed me last week that she was writing a report on Beluga whales at school. Remembering that there are Beluga whales at the Shedd Aquarium, I suggested we go check them out, much to the kids delight.





We watched the fish in the big aquarium room and later got to see a scuba diver go in and feed them. He answered questions from the crowd watching and Emily, who was very impressed by the large manta rays in the aquarium, asked what they ate. He said that they eat just about anything, but especially clams and fish. Dani was fascinated by the scuba diver and has edited her life's amitions to include being "a mom, a construction worker AND a scuba diver"





We watched the Beluga whales for a while and got to see the dolphin show from an underwater view, which was pretty cool.








We sampled some tilapia, which Dad really liked, Mom didn't and Emily, Dani and Evan cried and made such a scene that we didn't force them to eat it. It was a little odd standing in an aquarium and EATING fish with all the other fishies watching every move you made.



After a couple of hours, everyone started to get hungry, so we decided to head out, since we had bought a membership to the Aquarium (the price difference between admission for 5 people and a family membership was about $10, so we figured, what the heck? We'll learn a lot about marine life this year), we didn't feel too guilty just heading home and saving the Komodo Dragon, Shark and Amazon River exhibits for another day. If the kids have their way, we'll be heading back very soon!

She hates Spanish

Dani has started praying that everyone will stop speaking Spanish. I haven't a clue where this is coming from, except that she asked me recently when her friend,Benjamin's mom (who is Guatamalan and does speak very good English) will stop speaking Spanish and I told her that she would always know how to speak Spanish so, probably never. Tonight she prayed, "I hope everyone stops speaking Spanish in Poland and I hope everyone stops speaking Spanish in America." I wonder where she stands on all the recent development with immigration legislation......

Tired

We're at this difficult point with Evan. He needs a nap everyday, but he doesn't really need one. Generally, I don't make him take a nap. He fights it, it doesn't usually work, which just frustrates the heck out of me and when he does sleep, it frequently screws up bedtime. Lately, though, he falls asleep in the car on the way home from getting Dani from school. Sometimes I let him sleep in the car with the doors open once we get home, others, I try to make him wake up. On this particular day, he was tired, and he was staying asleep, no matter what I did. Poor boy, I let him sleep...... for 2 1/2 hours. Sometimes, you just gotta give in.

Safety Equipment

I was babysitting a friend's kids today -- 3 extra kids, plus the missionaries were coming over for dinner tonight. Yeah, a little crazy. I was making dinner and I had Brendan and my friend's baby playing in the family room. I noticed Brendan was sounding a little far away. Wondering where he could go, I walked into the family room, following the sound of his voice. This is what I found





The camera was right within arm's reach, so I grabbed it and snapped a couple of pictures and then through the viewfinder I could see Brendan starting to tip and I threw my hand out and caught his chest on the palm of my hand just in time to keep his little head from smashing down the 2 stairs he had climbed. Way to go, Mama. I am now going to go shop for a gate for the stairs before my young son makes a sport of stair diving!