Hunter's reconciliation

Hunter celebrated his first reconciliation about a week and a half ago.  Father Mike does it differently than when we had ours back when we were 2nd graders.  He does the sacrament in the church and as a family.  So we waited in line all together and when it was Hunter's turn we all went up to Father face-to-face and each said a sin.  Hunter had a "target" that he was to fill out with his sins ahead of time.  Father Mike explained weeks before at a parent meeting that over the years he has found this to be helpful to the kids because it serves as a reminder.  He learned that without the target the kids would have trouble remembering what sins they had.  Hunter received a wooden cross made in Bethlehem as a token to remind him of his reconciliation.  He's gearing up for his First Communion in a few weeks so this is one big step toward that big celebration!

Greyson's 2nd surgery

 
I've been a very bad blogger lately.  Been WAY too busy with other things going on in my life.  Good things, don't get me wrong.  Business is picking up and I hosted a party, which forced me to get the house clean and somewhat renovated!

Last Wednesday Greyson went in for his second surgery on the dermoid cyst that grew back and got infected.  Well, we thought it had grown back but the surgeon believed that it was mostly infected tissue that he removed.  We don't have results from pathology yet so only time will tell.  Regardless, he had this HUGE bump on the bridge of his nose (five times bigger than when he first had it removed a year ago) that had to come out.  Even the surgeon agreed when I asked about whether or not it was necessary, given that it wasn't a re-grown cyst.  He said he didn't even need to make the first cut to know that it was necessary; he could tell just by looking at it.  He told us that when he got down to his bone during surgery he found that the bone had a small pit in it that never grew shut which is a perfect place for bacteria to collect and cause infection.  I asked if we can expect
this to happen again and he said it could.  He also said that the only way of insuring that it won't happen again is to remove part of the bone which would cause deformation.  He suggested that smaller surgeries every so often is a better solution and we agree.  I guess it's something that he will eventually grow out of.  I don't know how that can be because that pit in his bone is never going to go away but I'm no doctor.

When he went in last year for the original removal he was mostly just really sleepy when he came out of surgery.  This time was much different and we were warned ahead of time by the nurses at Children's Hospital.  They told us that kids his age (between 1 and 5 years old) usually are mad when they come off of anesthesia.  Sure enough when we got to see him in the recovery room, he was crying and thrashing around a bit.  He couldn't get comfortable and would not stop crying, that was until he got his juice.  I couldn't blame him though.  He went 17 hours without eating by the time everything was said and done.  He fasted from after dinner the night before (about 6:30 p.m.) until he came out of surgery at around 11:30 a.m.  I'm sure he was just starving.  They gave him some saltines which he ate along with the the juice we brought with and that calmed him down a bunch.  They also gave him popsicles, which he loved.  He had never had a popsicle before so that was a real treat.  John and I thought it was pretty funny that every time he got down to the stick (after eating just the top of the popsicle) he'd start crying and the nurse would run and get him a new one.  This happened three times.  After the third one we switched to the crackers.  He looked a mess with the iodine on his face mixed with the orange-stained mouth from the popsicles and the bandage on his nose.  But he was a cute mess and he gave us one big smile right before he was released which made him even cuter.  He really liked that sliding glass door in the recovery room.  He was allowed to walk around a bit but we had to be really close to him spotting him because he was very stumbly from the anesthesia.  He was playing peek-a-boo for a bit inside and outside of the door.  We are happy that it's over with and are hopeful that it'll be the last.

Greyson at 16 months

I know at 16 months it's an odd time to write about Greyson but I don't want to wait a minute longer to blog what's been on my mind about him.  Usually common milestones are 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months but it's got to be done now, at 16 months.  I probably missed blogging on those official dates anyway so here goes.

I am loving this boy up so much lately.  At naptime and bedtime, and any time that he is feeling particularly tired, he has this habit of tucking his little arm down beside him, between him and me (or whomever is holding him).  It's his little sign that he's tired and boy is it ever cute!  It makes me want to sing one more extra made-up verse of his lullaby just so I can hold him and sway back and forth in front of his crib with his cute little arm tucked in before laying him down.

Another cute little thing he does that makes me laugh every single time is whenever I am lying down on the floor he will come over, pull up my shirt to expose my belly and blow raspberries to his heart's content.  I'm not exaggerating when I say EVERY time.  And it's not only me, he will do it to his brothers too.  It's super hilarious.

He spends a few hours at the Kids Corner at the Y (daycare they provide for members while they work out) at least three days a week.  I get such a kick out of picking him up (as do the Y employees) because he is BEYOND excited.  I can't begin to describe his huge smile and excited squeals he makes as he bolts for the door for me to pick him up and hold him.  It's irresistible.

He is such a little Daddy's boy.  Whenever John comes home from work, or the store, or wherever, he does the same excited routine but all the while saying, "Dada...Dada...Dada..." until he reaches him and John picks him up.  It's to die for.

He is crazy for balls. In fact "ball" was one of his very first words. He loves to go in the basement because there is a large bucket of balls he loves to dump out and play with. Whenever he sees people playing ball in the Y gym (which is across from the Kids Corner) he beelines for the doors saying "butt-baw" (basketball) over and over again, which makes the boys all laugh of course.

Oftentimes when he hears one of the boys crying due to minor injury or hurt feelings he will come over and give them a hug without anyone asking him to do so.  It's the sweetest thing that melts my heart every time.

He is officially as of a few days ago finally getting his third tooth, the upper left.  He has had only his two front bottom ones for so long now.

He is talking so much lately.  Besides the most common "mama," "dada," and "ball" he is also saying "jacket," "cracker," "ducky" "boat" and "socky" (sock).  Of course they sound more like "ja-ku," "ca-cu," "dk-y," "boot" and "ahk-e."  He also does the signs for "eat," "help," "shoes," "milk," "bath," "hat," and today he imitated "drink" after I demonstrated it for the first time.  He is communicating so much quicker than all our other little guys.  He just wants to be heard!  He also knows where many of his body parts are when you ask him.  He can point to his head, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, hands, belly, and toes.  He understands so much of what we say.  As soon as we mention the word "bath" he is headed for the stairs.  When we ask him if he needs his diaper changed he walks to where we change him.  He will go and get his shoes when I ask him.  We send him on little errands all the time asking him to take things to the toy room when we straighten up or throw things away.  He loves to be a helper and part of the action.

Every little moment with him is so precious and sweet.  OK, OK...I know I'm writing this as he is soundly sleeping like an angel upstairs and not dumping an entire box of Cheerios all over the kitchen floor (which did in fact happen today) or screaming wildly for more food but nonetheless don't wake me from my dreamy ideological state about our perfect little boy.

Little boys make me laugh

"Mom, I hide my weapons in my undies just like Ninjas do!"

Origami

Man is Hunter trying my patience with his new obsession with origami.  It all started with a Christmas gift from his Aunt Laurean & Uncle Tom.  Seemed pretty harmless...an origami book complete with paper to get started folding right away.  A gift he was eager to put to use.  And so the folding began, until step two (out of 24) when it got too difficult.  Enter mom or dad for "help."  When it's my turn, this help consists of me spending the next half hour silently cussing while I "youtube" how to make an origami tulip (or other said project) while Hunter runs into another room to play ninjas with his brothers and wait until I complete every last fold.  Mind you I cannot sit at the computer without Greyson demanding to sit in my lap.  So add my frustration in understanding the "push in and outside reverse fold" to keeping a toddler from pounding on the keyboard and thus losing my place in the ten minute video which took me 20 minutes to get through (pausing every step of the way to make each fold).  Origami is not for me!  I don't have the patience.  I don't want the patience.  I know it's a virtue but screw virtues.  I've got more pressing matters than folding paper!  However, if it's what my little boy desires I aim to please (sometimes).

There is however, one project he has mastered; the origami cup.  He has folded at least fifteen origami cups in the last week or so.  For his cub scout meeting last Monday he had to bring in and talk about a collection of something to his den.  He creatively stapled his collection to a piece of paper and answered questions such as, "do they actually hold water?" (which they do) and fueled his passion for origami.  He has also made origami cups for visitors to our house, mostly his friends.

This past Tuesday he was home sick from school with a bad cough and runny nose.  He watched a lot of t.v., resting as much as possible so that he could return to school the next day.  This was very important to him because he knows if he stays home from school he also must miss any scheduled evening activity.  That evening he had to miss his basketball practice.  Wednesday evening, however, was his first-ever ski lesson for which he had been eagerly looking forward to for a week.  During one of those television programs I spent that day watching with the boys I saw Hunter pull out a Kleenex and then a minute later say, "Hey mom, look!  I made an origami cup out of my tissue!" and held up his latest creation.

New job

Many of you know that I moonlight a few nights a week serving at a fine dining restaurant to help make ends meet and for "fun" money.  I've been doing so for as long as I can remember barring several years here and there depending on what else was going on in my life.  It wasn't always fine dining but it has been the last several years.

I recently changed restaurants and started working for a non-corporate restaurant about 20 minutes from our home, owned by a nice older couple.  What a breath of fresh air.  It is so nice to have such a human experience at work that is far from uptight and clinical yet still professional.  The staff is wonderful.  Very friendly, warm and helpful.  Very unlike the previous restaurant where I spent two years.  I would estimate that at least half the clientele are "regulars" and I can't stop gawking when I see them hugging the wait staff and talking about certain times when they were invited into their homes for this reason or that.  This happens at least five times every night I've worked.  The owners told me when I applied that "it's like a family here" but now I believe it.  I know I'm still in the "honemoon phase" but so far I really like it.

Anyway, the other night I was frantic to get out of the house to get to work on time but I couldn't find my tie anywhere.  I said out loud, "Has anyone seen my tie anywhere?  I need my tie!!"  And Ty replied, "I'm right here, Mommy!!"

Bedtime shenanigans

Tyler and Brody have been difficult to "put" to bed ever since getting their big boy beds months ago.  We thought this would let up once the novelty of the freedom that a bed (vs. a crib) provides wore off.  We're still waiting...In the meantime we continue to use the same tactics that were successful to get Hunter through this adjustment period.  It seems to be lasting much longer with them and I wonder if it will ever get better.  They find playing irresistible even when faced with consequences.  After one warning of either being out of their bed or being too loud they know that they face getting something taken away.  The first time they get to choose what that item is.  The next time I choose.  I always choose their precious "biko" (blankie) when it's my turn since it's the ultimate punishment.  (Heartless, I know.  But desperation warrants such cruelty.

A few nights ago they were up to their usual loud shenanigans when I made my way toward their bedroom.  It was Brody's choice what I would take and he immediately started crying, not wanting me to take anything.  Clearly stalling, I told him that if he didn't choose something in ten seconds that I would have to choose.  Unfortunately, those ten seconds quickly passed and nothing had yet been chosen.  I said, "Aww, that's sad that you didn't choose anything.  I guess I'll have to."  More serious crying ensued, somewhat hysterical.  With my heartstrings being pulled beyond what I felt like dealing with, I offered him a rare second chance.  "OK Brody.  Last chance to choose something then."  He frantically starts looking around his bed at the options of stuffed animals, several books, his soft comfy blankies...none of which he wants to part with and then finally holds up a crumpled up tissue he came upon, starts cracking up laughing and says, "THIS!"