new ears

Jacks doctor called me one saturday (after the whole allergic reaction nightmare featured in my last post) to see how he was doing on a different antibiotic b/c he had yet another ear infection. It was then that she gently suggested that he might need tubes. My first reaction was NO WAY! But he had had 6 ear infections in less that 6 months, and those were just documented ones. So I set up an apt with a wonderful ear, nose & throat doctor- Dr Murray Joe. On our first visit Jack had yet another ear infection (#7) so he put us on a different antibiotic and said he'd see us in 2 weeks. In two weeks, we went in and he looked better, but all the testing still showed signs of fluid, so that's when we made the call to have the surgery. Scheduling was a few weeks out and of course the week before the surgery Jack got sick yet again with another ear infection (#8). Clearly a sign that we were doing the right thing.

The night before surgery I met up with some of my FABULOUS family for dinner and to hand Luke off to my momma so he didn't have to wake up early and wait it out at the hospital. We called it "Jacks last day of bad ears dinner". :) We pretty much took over Wu's Open Kitchen with our loudness and the kids running around. We had a great time trying new things (or i tried some new things!) and drinking yummy drinks!

My lovely grandparents and their "volcano" drink

all those who came out!

Luke got this 'stache in the vending machine. we think he looks like uncle steve!

After dinner was all said and done- we parted ways. Mom took home Luke for a slumber party and I took the littlest home to bed. We had to be up and at the hospital at 6am. OUCH. So I had everything ready to go the night before- the iPad to keep him entertained and snacks for once he woke up from the surgery. I hardly slept! I was so nervous. 530am came quickly. I got everything in the car and the car warmed up and at 545am I swooped in and grabbed him from his bed, wrapped him in a blanket and stuck him in the car. He didn't know what was going on, and thankfully fell back to sleep in the car quickly. Chris followed behind in his car so he could go to work once Jack was in the clear. We had to wait in the waiting room for them to call us back. They put one of those bracelets on all of us (jack HATED his and kept trying to take it off) and then we waited. Jack made fast friends with some of the other people in the waiting room (all waiting to be called back into day surgery).

keeping busy on the iPad- round 1

Soon they called us back. They had to take his blood pressure and pulse and all that good stuff. And he had to put on the cutest tiny gown ever!! Then we pretty much had to wait. There was another little boy ahead of him, so it looked like Jack would be going in around 8am. So we played on the iPad and roamed the halls. He charmed all the nurses with his blue eyes and smile. He was being the best boy!

Keeping busy on the iPad - round 2

so cute!

Watching cartoons with Daddy

Before I knew it they were taking him away. As soon as he was out of my sight I burst into tears. Like hot mess SOBBING tears. It was awesome. But I barely had time to take a sip of my coffee when the AMAZING Dr Joe was in the waiting room letting us know he was done. He said Jack was the best boy and didn't cry one bit! And that the liquid in his ears was the consistency of snot, which meant that it had been there a while! He also said that his speech will drastically improve from here on out (although I didn't think it was that bad to begin with). Dr Joe said he'd been in recovery for a bit and then they'd let us see him! 15 minutes later we were given the all clear and I basically RAN to his room. He was sitting there with big tears in his eyes and the biggest pouty lips ever! He started bawling the second he saw us. I scooped him up and loved all over my brave little monkey. I handed him off to Dad so I could get some instructions and other info. But i snapped this one sad face pic...

sad baby!

Shortly after this he realized that I had a breakfast sandwich (chris grabbed me one from downstairs while we were waiting). He ate about half of it while waiting for them to get him some juice. He then downed 2 things of juice and lots of his other snacks while we waited to get discharged.

my favorite pic of him in the hospital!

Finally we started roaming the halls and they got the drift that we were ready to roll. So they let us go home! He was a total chatterbox the rest of the day (and continues to be). He took a serious 3 hour nap (i had to wake him up!) but then he got to play outside in the sun. I am blessed to have this amazing little guy (and his handsome brother) as my kids. Thanks to everyone, especially my momma for all her help, thru all of this. All your texts and prayers and emails meant so much! Hope you all have a great weekend! XO

Rockin' his PJ's in the sunshine!

19 months

taken on sunday- the kid loves baths!

 I forgot to post on Sunday that Jack was 19 months. I don't even know how that has happened. Right now we are battling our third double ear infection. Last round of antibiotics this happened:

taken at the hospital

So I'm hoping that this sulfa-meds they gave him this round help. Poor kid.

However- at 19 months he's quite the character. He certainly has his opinions and will tell you no! He's stingy on hugs and loves unless he's tired or sick. I have started calling bedtime "naptime" just so that he'll go down without a screaming fight. woooweee- I'm in for it with this one. BUT he always kisses me goodbye when I drop him off at daycare, and he runs and hugs my legs when I go to pick him up. He loves to share his foods with me and loves to learn new things from his big brother. Jack James is a blessing, ear infections and all.

Luke is 5

Okay so it's been forever since I wrote on here- I'm sorry!! We have had rounds and rounds of sickness, work has been busy and my Zumba schedule got a little crazy! But here is the long awaited interview with Luke!


INTERVIEW TIME:
I am starting a new tradition of asking Luke every year on his birthday these same questions (thanks Lisa for the idea!). It will be fun to see his answers over the years!
Here's a link to his 4 year old interview CLICK HERE

1. What is your favorite color? Red

2. What is your favorite toy? GI Joes

3. What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries

4. What is your favorite tv show? Ninja Turtles

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Mac n Cheese

6. What is your favorite outfit? My comfy pants {sweatpants my mom got him}

7. What is your favorite game? Sorry! the board game with Mah-Mah

8. What is your favorite snack? Goldfish crackers

9. What is your favorite animal? Vulture

10. What is your favorite song? Michael Jackson "Bad"

11. What is your favorite book? My new BOB books especially the Mat one

12. Who is your best friend? Magnes, Harley & Kenny

13. What is your favorite cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunch

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play at the park

15. What is your favorite drink? Chocolate Milk {and sprite when my tummy hurts}

16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Woofie {his stuffed dog from aunt e}

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Daddy's bacon and eggs

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Red Robin

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a paleontologist {and yes he totally knows what that is and how to pronounce it}

"i'm fake 5- right?"

This past weekend we had 2- yes TWO- parties for our almost-5-year-old. We're at the age with Luke in preschool that he wants to party with friends, and yet the families still want to celebrate. So this year- and this year ONLY- we did 2 parties. His friends all celebrated with him at the Portland Children's Museum, and then Sunday we had a lasagna dinner feed (thanks to Costco!) with all our family. It was madness, but fun was had by all. But the best thing was something he said to me Sunday before his second party.

Luke: "Hey mom? Since yesterday was my birthday party and we celebrated my fake birthday- that means I'm fake 5- right?"

LOVE that boy.

here's some photos from the events:

his real birthday is friday- so stay tuned for his yearly interview. Click here to find out what he said last year! LUKE YEAR 4

17 months!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope that everyone had a great christmas and new year. I can't believe it's 2013 already. 13 is my lucky number- so I'm hoping this will be an awesome year!

Jack James is 17 months old today. I can't even stand it!! He's so big now and is such a kid now, not so much baby. When he sees me break out my phone he does this cheesy face and says "CHEESE"! It's really just too cute. He says so many words now and he's playing with his toys more- but he's still totally obsessed with balls. Especially Basketball. He has quite the arm too! Here's a few pics of him this past week- cheesy face and all!

Next up for us is Dad's birthday, Uncle Josh's birthday and then LUKE IS TURNING 5 on the 25th. I can't believe I have a 5 year old!!

what 2am looks like...

Both the boys are battling a bit of bronchitis- so sleep was a luxury last night. In fact- anytime Jack was down- Luke was up. I think i slept from 4am to 5am only. From 12:30am until 3am, Jack thought it was party time! Here's what 2am looks like in his eyes...

Good thing he's so stinkin' cute!

it's been a bit

To my 2 (or 3) faithful readers... i am so sorry that i've been MIA for a month and a half. it's been busy! We had a great Thanksgiving surround by lots of great family and food. I survived a bad case of the flu and luckily didn't pass it on to anyone else in my fam {i think God knows that i can barely handle my own puke, let alone anyone else's!!}.

How have we been celebrating the season? Well right after Thanksgiving we started our Elf on the Shelf. You can learn more about him HERE. He's been busy- but sometimes he doesn't move, and Luke is quick to point that out! Here's a few of his locations as of late...

We also started a new family tradition of going to the zoo lights! My mom and Gary came too! It was kinda cold and a bit rainy- but the boys didn't mind at all. They LOVED it! I think the train was the best way to go- you're covered and you get to see all the lights!

We also got a tree that weekend. They boys had a great time running around at the tree farm looking for the perfect tree. It was too cute!

i'm cutting down the tree!

jack wants to help!

Luke also got to go on a field trip last week to Wentzel Farms! Auntie Maris was there and between her and one of the other moms- i got sent some cute photos of that day! Luke's face cracks me up!!

this one makes me laugh every time!

luke loves to pose with statues!

This past weekend was a super busy one! But before we get started running around- we usually start our mornings off with a good breakfast with bacon. I snapped this cute one of the two littles... so adorbs.

bacon lovers

Saturday afternoon, my mom, aunt corriney and I baked family tradition spritz cookies and Jack got to have his first one. He LOVED it!

yummy!

 We also had our first of many christmas gatherings! We were at Auntie Jens (and Tayo and Uncle Jeff's) enjoying yummy gourmet grilled cheese and soup!

jack did NOT want this picture- can you tell?

cutie by the tree

aunt jaime and jack

 And i always love it when Maris sends me photos of Luke being silly (she watches him for me 3 days a week and gets him to preschool). This one cracks me up every time. and yes, that's a plug-in protector smooshed on his nose. hahahahaaa

 HAPPY HOLIDAYS!