Surgery Date... and more

Yesterday, the ENT's nurse called me and told me that they have a date for Jude's tonsillectomy.  "March the 26th, in two weeks" were her words.  


She continued to tell me that Jude needs to have blood work and a couple other things done the week before the surgery.


Well, I called my mom to let her know and she brought to light that the 26th is NEXT MONDAY!  I called the nurse back and she just didn't realize that the 26th was only next week.  


So yesterday we spent running around doing pre-op stuff and "attempting" to get a successful stick for blood work.  Attempting being the key word.  I held my sweet redhead tight as they dug around looking for blood.  He was such a big boy and only cried for the sticks.  


Here he is last night with his bandages.  He was so tired and starting to feel bad.

We are "attempting" at a different lab tomorrow so please say a prayer that they get a successful stick on the first try!


It was Aubrey Lane's 8 month birthday yesterday too, but she was running a little fever and cranky so I haven't got her monthly post done yet.  


Speaking of fever, both kiddos ran fever last night and we ended up in the pediatrician's office this morning with BOTH kiddos.  So thankful my mother in law came along to help me with them.  The double stroller is just too much somedays.


Both kids are now on antibiotics.  Aubrey Lane for her first and hopefully only ear infection, and Jude for a respiratory infection.


Hopefully everyone will be better for Monday, the BIG surgery day.  So please keep our family in your prayers for this coming time.


Now onto the "more".


Please take the time this week to love and pray for your neighbor. I'm not just referring to your friends, coworkers, or fellow Christian brothers and sisters. When I say neighbor, I mean anyone God puts in your path. 


There is too much hate in this world... please take a few minutes each day and replace some of that hate with love!

Because they're ours...

When Jude was born, several doctors talked about his unique characteristics like his chromosome abnormality was completely to blame for all those details. 


Not only would they would contribute his medical problems to his genetic disorder, but also physical characteristics like his curly red hair and short stature as well.  The disorder even gained credit for his happy disposition.  


Many of these opinions made Lane and I feel like Jude belonged to his genetic abnormality more than he belonged to us.  


Then we had Aubrey Lane.  She does not have the same chromosome abnormality that Jude does, yet she shares so many of her big brother's characteristics.  They even share a small birth defect.  When Jude was born, he had a little dimple in his lower back known as a sacral dimple.  Lane has one too, but the doctors still credited Jude's chromosome disorder to that birth defect.  Well four years later, a healthy baby girl was born with that same exact dimple.  Proving that Jude did not have his dimple from his genetic disorder, but because he was Lane's son.


This makes my heart so happy and I watch both Jude and Aubrey Lane in amazement as their personalities develop and I see so much of Lane and me in them.  And I love how they are even sharing so many personality traits.


Now don't get me wrong, God is completely responsible for creating both of those precious babies.  But God did give them our genes. 


So, because they're ours...


they both have their father's blue eyes


Jude has my course curly hair inherited from my own father


they both have a great love for music


Aubrey Lane has my pug little nose


they are both little shorties


Jude is a cranky morning person just like his mommy


they both rub their faces and snuggle blankets when they sleep


Aubrey Lane already sings like her daddy


Jude loves the outdoors like both of his parents


they both have tiny little feet


they are both well known for their happy and sweet personalities


I could not be prouder or more in love with those two little people that are so much like Lane and me.


 

AWANA be a Big Boy!

At our church, on Wednesday nights, all the children participate in AWANA.   It stands for "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" from 2 Timothy 2:15.  Well this is Jude's first year to participate, and he is having a blast as a Cubby!

Last night, Lane shadowed him and we participated in his class where I learned two things.

1.  Jude is very accepted and loved by his peers.  None of his funny quirks and yelling seem to bother or scare them at all.  They seem to genuinely accept Jude as part of their group.  It's very, very sweet.

2.  Not only is Jude accepted by his peers, but dare I say he may actually be somewhat of a leader among them?  Every time Jude was acknowledged or praised, the children would copycat what he was doing.  For example, during story time, Jude became very excited and started clapping.  The story teller acknowledged him and told him good job.  Immediately, about 7 other children sitting next to him start clapping with him.  It was kinda cute.  

Jude is also getting better at his walking; taking steps on his own and going where he wants to with the assistance of hand holding.  So he walks from class to class.

sorry... these pictures were taken on my phone

Okay... on to some updates.

So remember the whole sleep apnea scare?  Well that day while we were at the hospital, the doctor ordered an xray to see if Jude's adenoids had grown back.  A couple weeks later, we received a call that they had and we needed to see our ENT.  When we got to the ENT, he informed us that it wasn't Jude's adenoids that they saw in the xray; it was his tonsils.  Apparently the tonsils aren't getting smaller, only bigger.  But he didn't want to make the call for them to come out.

So Monday, we saw our pulmonary specialist again and he said that it's time for the tonsils to come out.  In fact, he wants them out ASAP.  And he said he didn't even want Jude to have any other procedures until the tonsils were taken out.

Tonsils being removed is a big surgery for Jude.  The doctor said that he'd be in the hospital for 2-4 days at least and he couldn't go to school for 2 weeks.  He also said Jude would need to sleep in our room for those two weeks.  They told us to be prepared that Jude's eating would regress in the beginning, but ultimately be better in the long run. 

So we are waiting for the nurse to call us with a surgery date.

On the flip side, we got some good news.  Despite the increase in severity of sleep apnea, Jude NO LONGER HAS TO WEAR OXYGEN AT NIGHT!!!  The doctor said that since Jude pulled it off constantly, that he'd be more worried with him wearing it than not wearing it.  

So I had to ask:

Does this mean no more O2 tanks in the truck and only going on road trip vacations because we need to bring the oxygen concentrator?  

The doctor told me to leave that junk at home and go have a good time!

I have to admit, it was a little scary at first, but the doctor is über conservative and careful, so I know that he would have never told me to do this if it was too risky.

Well, that's it for now.  I hope y'all are all enjoying this fabulous early spring (guess the groundhog was wrong- again).  

Angel