Yesterday while watching football, Owen had this commentary:
"run, run faster. Uh-oh, fell down. It's OK, try again!"
Such a sweet lil' guy!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Naked time
Tonight we had naked time for the boys. I have not laughed this hard in a long time. Owen loves running around naked, and then when we got Henry naked, he was so sweet to him. Giving him toys, rubbing his back, and tickling him. Henry loved being free from the arm restraints. While he can be out of them, we have to be very close, NO fingers, thumbs, or toys can go into his mouth.
In no particular order, here are naked time pictures.
Owen is very seriously posing next to Henry, Henry is very happy to see his arms.
You can almost tell in this picture, but if any of you were worried, the surgery has not taken away the crazy amount of drool Henry can make!
Happy! 
While Henry was out of them, Owen was put in the restraints. They make great jet wings!
"touch your nose!" (he was close, but couldn't quite make it!)
Seriously, Owen could be a model.
In no particular order, here are naked time pictures.
Owen is very seriously posing next to Henry, Henry is very happy to see his arms.
You can almost tell in this picture, but if any of you were worried, the surgery has not taken away the crazy amount of drool Henry can make!
Happy! 
While Henry was out of them, Owen was put in the restraints. They make great jet wings!
"touch your nose!" (he was close, but couldn't quite make it!)
Seriously, Owen could be a model.
He has such a great smile.
But if you ASK him to smile, you get this face.
The boys.
"smile Owen"
Naked jumbo jet. I love the tail! 
Me and Henry (before naked time)
The boys.
"smile Owen"
Naked jumbo jet. I love the tail! 
Me and Henry (before naked time)
Healing
Henry is healing and getting stronger. Yesterday started pretty rough. He wasn't eating or drinking much and seemed to be getting more lethargic. He also seemed green, literally. Since he was almost a week post-op, we worried. We were able to get into see both the surgeon and pediatrician in the morning. Surgically he looks great. The green face is bruising from the surgery. His mouth is healing nicely. Dr. Waldorf gave us the OK to start using a spoon. He even drank some apple juice out of a cup for her, a feat that hasn't been repeated at home. (show off!)
Dr. Snyder, our fabulous pediatrician, said, since Henry has given up formula, to push high calorie, high protein food. He suggested ice cream. I love any doctor that recommends ice cream! Both doctors were so nice, and very happy to see us. Both seemed concerned with his lack of energy and eating, but neither were overly worried.
When we got home, we started spoon feeding him. He was in food Heaven. He ate more in five hours than he had in the past 2 days. His favorite: plain yogurt with pear juice to thin it out. With more food, he seems to be getting more energy. He even wakes up every three hours to eat throughout the night (yeah?!). We are assuming, hoping, that this is the "corner" and he will only get stronger and stronger. This kid really knows how to worry his parents!
He loves to be held. Here he is in Lucas' lap.
Dr. Snyder, our fabulous pediatrician, said, since Henry has given up formula, to push high calorie, high protein food. He suggested ice cream. I love any doctor that recommends ice cream! Both doctors were so nice, and very happy to see us. Both seemed concerned with his lack of energy and eating, but neither were overly worried.
When we got home, we started spoon feeding him. He was in food Heaven. He ate more in five hours than he had in the past 2 days. His favorite: plain yogurt with pear juice to thin it out. With more food, he seems to be getting more energy. He even wakes up every three hours to eat throughout the night (yeah?!). We are assuming, hoping, that this is the "corner" and he will only get stronger and stronger. This kid really knows how to worry his parents!
He loves to be held. Here he is in Lucas' lap.
Showing off his "no-nos", his mismatched attire, and a smile!
Puddles
Our big snow storm of 2011, turned into a big rainstorm. In all honesty I didn't mind the rain; it's easier to drive in, warmer and it's quite fun to stomp in puddles.
Lucas got the privilege for this outing with Owen. We put on his new boots and he was on his way.
He loves jumping in, dipping his hand in, wading through any size of puddle.
Such a happy day!
A jumbo jet in the rain.
Big stick + Big puddle = Big fun. (I don't know how the math works on that one, but it's true)
Lucas got some great pictures. This one just shows how fun rain can be!
Lucas got the privilege for this outing with Owen. We put on his new boots and he was on his way.
He loves jumping in, dipping his hand in, wading through any size of puddle.
Such a happy day!
A jumbo jet in the rain.
Big stick + Big puddle = Big fun. (I don't know how the math works on that one, but it's true)
Lucas got some great pictures. This one just shows how fun rain can be!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Need food
Henry is home, and recovering. Overall, it's better than we thought it would be. He doesn't seem to be in too much pain, and he doesn't seem too upset about his arm restraints. He wants to be held... all the time. He's decided he doesn't like formula, and he HATES his bottle. So, we've resorted to feeding him watered down baby food, via a medicine dropper, one teaspoon at a time. It's not a lot of food, but the doctor assures us it's normal. He may lose one or two pounds.
Here he is on the ground. NOT happy.
Suzi is here helping us out. It's amazing how three adults can barely keep two kids happy. Holding Henry all the time, playing with Owen, feeding Henry, feeding Owen... throw in some jealousy by Owen for holding Henry all the time.... whew, crazy.
Henry likes drumming on the drum. An easy thing to do with straight arms. We've put a 2T T-shirt over his restraints to help keep them on. Thankfully, Owen has grown out of his 2T clothes.
Owen playing with trains with Suzi.
I went to get a sleeping picture of Henry. He was awake, just chilling in the crib. Here he is showing off the arm restraints.
Pretty happy for everything he's been through. Granted he has Advil and Tylenol running through his body, but if it makes him happy...
Hopefully, in the next day or two his appetite increases... maybe even his desire to eat formula. I think as he gets less painful, he'll get more upset about having his arms straight. But we are already four days down, only 10 more to go.
Here he is on the ground. NOT happy.
Suzi is here helping us out. It's amazing how three adults can barely keep two kids happy. Holding Henry all the time, playing with Owen, feeding Henry, feeding Owen... throw in some jealousy by Owen for holding Henry all the time.... whew, crazy.Henry likes drumming on the drum. An easy thing to do with straight arms. We've put a 2T T-shirt over his restraints to help keep them on. Thankfully, Owen has grown out of his 2T clothes.
Owen playing with trains with Suzi.
I went to get a sleeping picture of Henry. He was awake, just chilling in the crib. Here he is showing off the arm restraints.
Pretty happy for everything he's been through. Granted he has Advil and Tylenol running through his body, but if it makes him happy...
Hopefully, in the next day or two his appetite increases... maybe even his desire to eat formula. I think as he gets less painful, he'll get more upset about having his arms straight. But we are already four days down, only 10 more to go.Thursday, January 6, 2011
Henry has a palate
Yesterday was the big day. The day we've waited almost 11 months for... Henry had plastic surgery. It sounds so fancy to say that... but really, he did. Dr. Waldorf created a palate, and Dr. Hodgson gave him two tubes in his ears. Luckily, Henry didn't have too much fluid build-up in his ears, so he just needed the "short term" tubes vs. the tubes that last five years.
Lucas and I have been so worried, but luckily the anticipation was much worse than the actual process. Henry is such a little trooper, he made this much easier than it could have been.
Here we go... We woke Henry up at 0515 to go to the hospital. He was in such a good mood. Didn't complain of hunger or the early wake up call.
After check-in, we waited. For some reason, the PJs that fit Henry are pink. Granted, they had dinosaurs and whales on them, but they were pink. Luckily Henry looks good in pink, but he was called a girl a few times.
We waited some more, and paced. Henry kept putting his hand in Lucas' mouth, as if to ask, "so I'm going to get one of those?"
After getting ready in day surgery, we headed downstairs to pre-surgery. While Henry was drugged up on Versed, Lucas and I were getting very nervous.
The tubes were placed in about 20 minutes (including time to intubate and place an IV), the palate took a bit longer, closer to two hours. But, everything went smoothly, and we were told it looks great. Luckily, I have friends that work in PACU, so both Lucas and I got to go in while he recovered (policy is only one parent). When we went back, he was crying, but quickly calmed when I got to hold him. It looked like he was in a bar fight.
Lucas and I have been so worried, but luckily the anticipation was much worse than the actual process. Henry is such a little trooper, he made this much easier than it could have been.
Here we go... We woke Henry up at 0515 to go to the hospital. He was in such a good mood. Didn't complain of hunger or the early wake up call.
After check-in, we waited. For some reason, the PJs that fit Henry are pink. Granted, they had dinosaurs and whales on them, but they were pink. Luckily Henry looks good in pink, but he was called a girl a few times.
We waited some more, and paced. Henry kept putting his hand in Lucas' mouth, as if to ask, "so I'm going to get one of those?"
After getting ready in day surgery, we headed downstairs to pre-surgery. While Henry was drugged up on Versed, Lucas and I were getting very nervous.
The tubes were placed in about 20 minutes (including time to intubate and place an IV), the palate took a bit longer, closer to two hours. But, everything went smoothly, and we were told it looks great. Luckily, I have friends that work in PACU, so both Lucas and I got to go in while he recovered (policy is only one parent). When we went back, he was crying, but quickly calmed when I got to hold him. It looked like he was in a bar fight.Cotton in his ear from the tube. Blood from his nose from the palate repair.His face was swollen, and the inside looked like Frankenstein: lots of stitches. He got his first (and hopefully only) tongue piercing: a stitch placed through his tongue and taped to his cheek. We pulled this when he would start choking on his tongue, pulling his tongue forward. This was placed because of his small jaw, and the fact that by closing his palate, we made his airway smaller. We used it a lot for the first two hours after surgery, and then didn't need it any more. But, it stayed in over night for safety reasons.
We moved to our room about an hour after surgery. He just slept in our arms for a long time. We would stir, cry and settle right back down when he saw us. He looks so big!
Cute feet.
Cute baby.
He has to wear "no-nos" on his arms for two weeks. These are soft boards that wrap around his elbows so he can't bend them. No hands, or other objects in his mouth for quite a while.
Our first roommates were less than ideal. Sharing a room was a strong probability, and we were prepared for that... but sharing a room with a large, loud, non rule abiding, cursing, bacon throwing (not joking) family was NOT going to be OK. After a few hours, they were able to move us to another room. While we were in another shared room, luckily they didn't have to admit another kid. So we had a private room the rest of our visit. We slept and relaxed much better here.
He started waking up for longer and longer periods of time. He needed a couple doses of morphine and Tylenol with codeine every four hours... so he was pretty groggy... but he would try to wave at the nurses. Such a sweet little guy!
"Hi Daddy"
Showing off his new arms.
The three of us. Look at that little smile!
We got home at noon. 35 hours in the hospital... not bad.
Henry is sleeping upstairs right now. He has managed to escape the restraints twice, so Lucas and I are taking turns watching him sleep, making sure the restraints stay on, and the thumb stays away from his mouth. It's going to be a long two weeks, but again, luckily we are blessed with friends and family to help.
We moved to our room about an hour after surgery. He just slept in our arms for a long time. We would stir, cry and settle right back down when he saw us. He looks so big!
Cute feet.
Cute baby.
He has to wear "no-nos" on his arms for two weeks. These are soft boards that wrap around his elbows so he can't bend them. No hands, or other objects in his mouth for quite a while.
Our first roommates were less than ideal. Sharing a room was a strong probability, and we were prepared for that... but sharing a room with a large, loud, non rule abiding, cursing, bacon throwing (not joking) family was NOT going to be OK. After a few hours, they were able to move us to another room. While we were in another shared room, luckily they didn't have to admit another kid. So we had a private room the rest of our visit. We slept and relaxed much better here.
He started waking up for longer and longer periods of time. He needed a couple doses of morphine and Tylenol with codeine every four hours... so he was pretty groggy... but he would try to wave at the nurses. Such a sweet little guy!
"Hi Daddy"
Showing off his new arms.
The three of us. Look at that little smile!
We got home at noon. 35 hours in the hospital... not bad.
Henry is sleeping upstairs right now. He has managed to escape the restraints twice, so Lucas and I are taking turns watching him sleep, making sure the restraints stay on, and the thumb stays away from his mouth. It's going to be a long two weeks, but again, luckily we are blessed with friends and family to help. While we were at the hospital, Owen got to spend two nights in Salem with my mom and dad. He got to see cows, eat popcorn, go on a flashlight walk, and I think he's coming home with a few new dinosaurs. He had a great time, and I'm sure a little more rested than the rest of us! Lucas and I can't wait to see him...
Monday, January 3, 2011
Getting Ready
After almost 11 months without one, in less than 36 hours, Henry will have a palate. He'll be able to say "K" and "Q" words, and maybe less food will come out of his nose. While Lucas and I both know this is what needs to happen, it doesn't make it any easier. We both feel stress, anxiety, fear, and some sort of emotion I don't even know. An emotion I would never wish anyone else to ever experience. Henry is such a happy little guy... I don't want to imagine how much pain he'll be in... and maybe that's what's making this so hard. The anticipation. The not knowing how he'll tolerate surgery. The fact that he has no anxiety, no fear... he has no idea what's about to happen. I keep reassuring myself that he won't remember. That he will treat us well when we get old, as he has taken YEARS off me and Lucas' life.
Luckily, we are surrounded by friends and family who will help us through this, as they helped us through his first few days, weeks and months of Henry's life. Friends and family who sacrifice their own schedules to surround us with love and support. Friends and family who I can't imagine life without.
Tonight, in preparation, we took Henry to get his second haircut. His first one was still a "baby" haircut. Tonight, we went "little boy" hair cut. He had a great time playing with the steering wheel of his taxi cab and drooling all over the place.
He looks so grown up! So cute! So happy.
FYI: surgery starts Wednesday the fifth at 0730. We have to be at Emanuel Hospital by 0600. Hopefully surgery will only take one and a half hours. Hopefully only one night in the hospital and we will come home. Both Lucas and I are taking two weeks off of work, as the first two weeks will be the hardest.
Luckily, we are surrounded by friends and family who will help us through this, as they helped us through his first few days, weeks and months of Henry's life. Friends and family who sacrifice their own schedules to surround us with love and support. Friends and family who I can't imagine life without.
Tonight, in preparation, we took Henry to get his second haircut. His first one was still a "baby" haircut. Tonight, we went "little boy" hair cut. He had a great time playing with the steering wheel of his taxi cab and drooling all over the place.
He looks so grown up! So cute! So happy.
FYI: surgery starts Wednesday the fifth at 0730. We have to be at Emanuel Hospital by 0600. Hopefully surgery will only take one and a half hours. Hopefully only one night in the hospital and we will come home. Both Lucas and I are taking two weeks off of work, as the first two weeks will be the hardest.
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