Sweet dreams

After two hours of telling and pleading with the boys to sleep, this is how we found them.

Twin Oaks

We took the boys to Twin Oaks Airport. They sure are cute.

Post-op

As soon as Henry was wheeled to the operating room, Owen asked to eat. He is so good at knowing we can't eat in front of Henry. He chose apples, yogurt and chocolate milk for lunch.

 After about 40 minutes, the surgeon came out and said all went well. He gave us the port-a-cath. Owen was thrilled.

 Maybe we all were. (Unicorn Lucas)

 Henry, sleeping in PACU.

 Owen helped wheel Henry back to day surgery.

 He was still sleeping soundly. Then I told him we had chocolate milk and white pretzels. This perked him right up. As a nurse, giving a kid chocolate milk right after anesthesia is horrifying. But, knowing Henry, as a mom, I gave it to him with no worries in my mind.

 Enjoying white pretzels.

 There's the port.

 The nurse gave us a barf bag, assuming Henry would lose it. But, Henry found it to be an enjoyable toy carrying device.

They warned us that he would be painful... but I think we gave Tylenol to help us feel better. He was marching around like nothing happened. Tough kid.

Goodbye port-a-cath. (pre op)

In June of 2011, Henry got his port-a-cath, a life line. This little piece of plastic that was embedded under his skin, sent a central line to his superior vena cava. This small contraption helped save his life. It gave chemo, took blood, gave blood and platelets. It gave antibiotics, and was a part of Henry for almost two years. While he had it in, he was also on Dalteparin shots daily. This is a blood thinner that helped prevent blood clots. So, while "normal" post-chemo kids keep their ports in for six months post treatment, Henry's came out after only 7 weeks post treatment. The sooner it's out, the sooner we could stop the shots, and prevent risk of blood clots (which he's had two).

 

Of course, we were nervous, but looking back, I suppose we forgot we were dealing with Henry. The toughest kid around. Owen was very excited for the port to come out too. He even promised to be VERY quiet in the operating room, if we let him in. Of course, Owen wasn't in the OR, but provided great emotional support and laughter for us and Henry during our long day at the hospital.

 

This is Henry in the doctors office waiting for our pre-op appointment. Owen asked great questions, and Henry pointed to his port and said it was "above his nipple".

 

 Owen brought Penguin to join in the festivities. Here unicorn Owen is giving Penguin a piggy back ride. (thanks Lucas).

 The boys ran around Randall Childrens' hospital.

 Quite often, Henry would let us know how hungry and thirsty he was. This is him pouting because I wouldn't give him yogurt covered pretzels.

 But, in peds day surgery, they had a ton of wagons and cars, and only two boys around to play with them. I suppose an afternoon surgery is good for some things.!

 Henry in his pink dinosaur hospital gown.

 After a while, they came in to give him pre-medication (Versed). They handed the syringe of oral meds to Lucas, assuming Lucas would need to give it. Lucas handed it to Henry, and he quickly drank it down. I think the nurse was quite impressed.

Then, the drugs started to take effect, and drugged out Henry showed up. Here he is being wheeled to pre-surgery waiting.

 In, yet another, waiting room, Owen found a huge dinosaur to keep us all entertained.

 Henry gave us the thumbs up... ready to go.

 We all took turns kissing him goodbye.

 (I love this one)

 Before they wheeled him off, I asked what he wanted to eat after surgery. He said, chocolate milk, white pretzels and hum bao. Two of the three things would be waiting for him. The hum bao we picked up on our way home.

Here he is being wheeled to surgery.

Zoo

On Tuesday of spring break, I took the boys to the zoo. I haven't taken the boys to the zoo by myself since Henry was stuck in a stroller. We survived and had a great time.

 

 Owen lead the way.

 And had style while doing so.

 The black bear was very close to us.

 Henry, as always, loved the tractor.

 Owen has started becoming a unicorn for pictures.

 Or sometimes, a unicorn with two horns.

Maybe my new favorite picture of the boys.

 

 Of course, we had a train ride too.

Seattle: Part Two.

We went to a park, and tried to bribe the kids down a big slide with a pretzel. They weren't impressed.

 We met our friends, Heather, Jen and Luke, for dinner. Here they are showing off their chocolate shake mustaches.

 A trip on the monorail was high on our priority list. Another thing we read about A LOT. I was worried they would be sad it was such a quick trip (two minutes each way) but they LOVED it!

 Then a crazy trip to Pike Place Market. Remind us never to do that again on a Sunday morning with three small children.

 Jennifer, Luke and Heather.

 The boys helped each other drink some water.

We had such a nice time. The boys did great.

Seattle: part one: air museum.

For spring break, we took a quick trip up to Seattle to visit friends. We started with a trip to the Museum of Flight in south Seattle. The boys (all three of them) were very excited.

 

They thought the small model planes were really, really cool. They had no idea what else we would see.

 An astronaut.

 The CONCORDE! The boys loved getting to see a super fast airplane. We read about it often.

 The cockpit of the Concorde. Yep, we got to go inside. We also got to go inside Air Force One.

 Three happy boys.

 Walking under and around a 747 is impressive. We didn't get to go inside.

 Lucas is taking a picture of the 707 (Air Force One). He looks so small next to the huge planes.

 If you use your imagination, the four of us are reflected in this jet.

 The boys loved sitting in the cockpits of fighter planes.

 And becoming an astronaut.

 As a treat for good behavior, the boys (all three of them) got toy airplanes. Henry chose a red helicopter, Lucas a C-5 and Owen a P-38 Lightning.

Such a great time.