First Day of School

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Daniel returned for another year at a Mother's Day out program.  This year he is
in the pre-school class and has all new friends except for one good friend from
last years class. 

I was interested in how Daniel would handle going to school again since last
year there was lots of tears and tantrums.  I asked Brian to meet us at school
to help me out in the case that a Daniel style tantrum appeared.  We entered the
school and he did not want to walk down the hallway so, Brian picked him and we
started our journey to the furthest classroom.  As we passed numerous babies and
toddlers crying I was crossing my fingers hoping he wouldn't notice.  Finally we
arrived at his new classroom and fortunately he saw the one familiar face of his
friend from last years class and walked in without hesitation.  That was
it....When I picked him up at the end of the day he told me that he had a good
day. 

Thank you God!

Evan's Big Day at the Hospital

Monday, August 23, 2010

The day finally arrived when Evan had to have surgery to repair his cleft
palate.  This is something we had been dreading but, anxious to get it over
with.  Daniel had his palate repaired before he came home so this surgery
experience was new to us. 

We arrived at the outpatient clinic of the Children's Hospital in OKC around
9:45am.  His surgery was scheduled for 12:30 and he hadn't eaten anything since
8pm the night before.  It was our mission to keep him entertained as a
distraction from missing food.  It actually worked pretty good as he played with
the toys in the waiting room.  We were called into the back where they started
preparing Evan for the surgery.  Immediately he knew something was up and let us
know he wasn't happy about it.  The nurse suggested that we give Evan a drug to
help calm him down and boy did it ever!  Within a couple of minutes we had a
baby that appeared to be drunk. When it was time for the surgery to begin, I
walked him into the operating room where they placed a breathing mask over his
face.  He didn't resist at all and I knew it was the drugs!

A couple of hours later were we called to the recovery room.  It was so painful
to see him laying in the hospital crib with a breathing device that looked like
a cover for an electrical outlet that was stuck in his mouth with blood running
down his chin onto a towel.  Brian and I had to take turns visiting with him
since they only allowed one person at a time in the recovery room.  Brian
eventually went home to check on Daniel while I stayed with Evan. 

His recovery was difficult for him because he couldn't get comfortable.  He had
wires running all of over him and both of his arms were in cuffs to prevent him
from touching his mouth.  It seemed like every time I got him back to sleep the
nurse would take his temperature, check his blood pressure or touch his IV. 
Even though her movements were quiet and gentle, Evan noticed and I paid the
price.   

After several hours in the recovery room they moved us up to the 9Th floor where
we would stay for the night.  As always they took great care of us.  Evan
struggled until the evening when Brian showed up and he was finally able to rest
in his arms.  Evan slept while multiple family members came to visit including
his loud and boisterous big brother.  When everyone left, Evan continued to rest
in the crib.  From time to time he would awake and the only way I could calm him
down was to lay in the crib with him.  Believe it or not it was actually more
comfortable than the fold out bed that they provided for me.

By morning Evan was feeling better but, very quiet.  We were released and I
drove him home where he rested quietly for the remainder of the day.  Daniel was
at school so it was nice and quiet for a little while. 

It has been 4 days since the surgery and Evan is still on a liquid diet.  Not
eating is making him miserable.   He is more active now and is enjoying playing
a little bit.  The tantrums appears at meal time and it is getting harder and
harder to find something to satisfy him.  Sunday he will get to eat soft foods. 
I can hardly wait!

Sleep Study

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Daniel and I went to the open house for his Mother's Day Out class that will
start soon.  After he met his teacher and a couple of new class mates we were on
our way to the Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City for his second sleep study. 
He had his first when he was about 18-months-old and it had to be repeated.  He
was a pretty good sport about the whole thing until they stated attaching the
wires.  When it came to adding the head pieces he just sat there and watched his
movie.  When his movie ended I turned it off and that's when the waterworks were
turned on.  He cried and sobbed for about 10 minutes (seemed like an eternity to
me) until he feel asleep.  I had to sleep on a not so comfortable pull out bed
nearby.  When the technician entered the room at the end of the study about 6am
I felt like I hadn't slept at all.  Daniel woke up in a great mood, we headed
for home and started what felt like the longest day ever.