Because I Never Want to Forget

In everyday moments that are so perfect, I think to myself, "I never want to forget this."  Then my heart takes a picture.  I know my babies will grow old soon enough and while sitting in the back seat of the car (which I usually do whenever we drive somewhere as a family), I took a picture with my heart.  Then I pulled out my cell phone and took this picture.  It doesn't look as good as the one my heart took, but it'll do.

  

Have you ever refinished a playground? Word of Advice: Don't.

Matt took a week off work after Laynie's surgery.  For the first surgery he did the same, and it was needed; this surgery, not so much.  So, Matt decided to refinish our wooden playground.  He did the research, bought the materials, then what we thought would be a 2 day endeavor turned into a 5 day torture session!  Matt spent over 30 hours stripping off the old stain with acid and a wire brush, cleaning the wood with a wood cleaner, then painting it with Deck Over - a really thick paint.  I couldn't help much b/c I had to watch the kiddos, but for every minute I put in, it meant Matt was out there for 1 minute less.  So I went out during nap times and even put toys on the lawn to entertain the kids while we painted. 

The Before Picture

Working with the stain stripper / acid

Gavin was so excited to help Daddy.

Putting on the finishing touches

The After Picture

Isn't she a beaut?  (He's not too bad lookin' either.)

9 Months Old

Today Matt said, "Laynie's been out of the womb for as long as she was in it!"  Happy 9 months, Baby Girl!  We love you!

Statistics: 
Weight: 17.8 lbs (43.7 %tile)
Height: 27.5" (44.6 %tile)
Head Circumference: 17.5" (67.3 %tile)

Side Note:  I may or may not have touched up the pimply hives from her allergic reaction, her bruised nose, the bruise from her IV, and the sticky tape marks that take days to wear off.  ;)

Post-Op (Round 2)

Laynie's surgery lasted only 1 1/2 hours.  When Matt and I got to see her for the first time, she was just coming out of the anesthesia.  She was crying so hard and flailing around.  I hurried to her and as soon as I held her she calmed right down, grabbed my hair, and wouldn't let go.  Blood was coming from her mouth, she was in pain, and I cried a bit too.

As soon as we got to our hospital room, the nurses prepared a bottle, but Laynie was too sore to eat.  I ended up pumping the nipple with my finger so she could get milk in her mouth and then all she had to do was swallow.  (I did the same thing for her first surgery and it really helped.) With some food in her belly and some pain meds, she was able to drift off to sleep.  Matt and I held her 'til it was dinner time and then we held her for the rest of the night.

Meanwhile, Grandma/pa Anderson were spoiling Gavin with a trip to McDonald's and Batman with accessories.

I thought I'd be up all night with a crying baby, but she slept from midnight to 3am and then from 4 to 6:45.  I slept during those times too.  In the morning, the doctor came to check on her.  She was happy, playing with toys, scooting around on the floor (the cords attached to her wouldn't let her go too far so I had to keep redirecting her back the 2 feet she'd crawl and keep her in a tight circle.)  I was so glad we could go home.

Matt and Gavin came to collect us at 9:15 and we were home by 10am.

Laynie is doing really well!  We found out she's allergic to the antibiotic they gave her.  Her nose runs with blood every now and then.  She's SUPER congested.  She is only eating about 1/2 of what she used to, and won't sleep much.  BUT... she's happy and healing.  We couldn't have asked for a better outcome.

Round 2

Round 2:  Soft palate surgery and prosthesis replacement.  This go around, we knew a little bit more about what to expect.  Alayna's surgery time was at 1:15pm so she was awfully hungry and tired on the car ride there.  We had to check in at 11:45.

Poor baby cried most of the way there.

Once we got to the waiting room, toys happily distracted her.

This car was donated by one of my past co-workers whose little boy (Ryder) had CHD and passed away at 9 months.

More toys in the 2nd waiting room.  Thank heaven for toys!

Loves with Mama before surgery.

Loves with Dada before surgery.

Dr. Siddiqi did her surgery again and Dr. Yamashiro replaced her prosthesis (a piece that screws into her hard palate.)  Alayna will have to learn to swallow all over again.  She'll most likely be confused at first and be really sore and grumpy through the night.  I'm going to spend the night comforting my baby while Matt goes home to Gavin who's staying at a friend's house and then with Grandpa/ma Anderson in the evening.

Fun in the Fall

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays.  So to help celebrate it, we...

 painted pumpkins.

(Gavin painted Laynie's pumpkin b/c he wanted me to paint his - the minion.  Then when it was time to paint my own, I wanted to be done with it quick so a can of gold spray paint sufficed.  Matt went all out and did an awesome owl sillouette with full moon.)

I made a Spooky Greetings wreath.  Total cost:  $2.  I bought the grapevine wreath at DI, spray painted it black, then added stuff to it that we already had.

Matt came up with the idea to make rice crispy pumpkins.  We decided to test Gavin's patience.  (It's something we've been wanting to help him develop.)  So we mimicked the 1950s psychology experiment where a marshmallow was placed in front of a 5 year old child and told if they waited 15 minutes to eat it, they could have 2.  Gavin's only 3, so we told him if he could wait 7 minutes to eat his pumpkin, he could have two.  He shocked both Matt and me by actually waiting to eat it.  It was really funny to watch him eyeball the pumpkin and watch his mental dilemma with his facial expressions.

He Just So Happened to Turn 3 1/2...

So on Oct. 6th, I just so happened to feel like baking a cake, I just so happened to have 3 red candles,  and I just so happened to have red licorice for a train track.  Gavin just so happened to be thrilled that he was now 3 1/2.  After having a Thomas themed birthday, he's been telling me for his next birthday, he'd like a "James Birthday."  And wouldn't ya know?  Gavin just so happened to have a James train to top off the cake.  ;)

3 1/2 already?!

disclaimer:  I made sure Gavin understood that we usually don't celebrate 1/2 birthdays and not to expect this ever again.  ;)