Anniversary/Father's Day 2009

As soon as we got back from California, it was time for me to get to work on our Studio remodel, and then get everything ready for the new season to start. We had our first open week last week, and I think things will go very well this year. But, it means that we have not had much time for anything, and this month has gone by in a blur. :) However, we DID take a break for our Anniversary/Father's Day Weekend.

Saturday was the 3rd anniversary of our wedding. I had to work, so Dylan and KP hung out at the house for most of the day. But, as a present to ourselves, we brought KP into the studio to take some pictures at the end of the day. These pictures are unedited, and you know how much that kills me, but I just don't have time to edit them, and I thought that it would be better to get them up than have them perfect in my computer.

Sunday was Father's Day. At the last minute, we decided to have a BBQ at our house. So, we cooked burgers out on the grill and hung out at the house.

After everyone left, all of my boys were exhausted and passed out...

xoxo

Margot

California - Memorial Day Weekend 2009

Jessica and Aidan came back to the states from Japan for a little while, so we decided to go visit them in California. Since they flew 14-hours to get stateside, we thought we could surely fly 4 to visit them....just me and KP...

KP threw 3 tantrums, and did not take a nap on the flight into SFO. I have never been so happy to get off a plane --

Of course, once we got off the plane, psycho KP was nowhere to be found, and sweet helpful boy returned.

And then he promptly fell asleep in the car before we really even got out of the BART parking lot.

On Saturday morning, KP woke up and started his chores (Bachan is a slavedriver :) )





When he got tired of working, he threatened Bachan with a letter opener until he got some grub. :)




So she pulled up his table and gave him breakfast. :)

Then we went to meet Aunt Jess and Aidan at the SFO Zoo...where psycho returned, and KP put on quite a show for the meerkats and prairie dogs. But then he made friends with a goat, and all was well.

Who had other goat friends...



And then there was a bear...




But KP was not impressed...




There were a lot of babies at the zoo. The giraffes and the gorillas both had new little ones out to play.

On Sunday morning, we got up and got ready to do it all again. :)

We met Aunt Jessica and Aidan at the Oakland Zoo. There were huge tortoises there.




And KP decided that he needed to push his stroller around the zoo all by himself




There was also a fun little play area for the boys to run around in.













Then we went to the petting zoo, where KP saw goats just like the ones at the SFO zoo, and he ran up to them like they were old friends. :) KP also got his hands on the video camera, and wanted everyone to see the petting zoo from his point of view...

When we left the zoo, we went to go visit Jichan's family in Vallejo. Bachan always makes fun of Texas and our lack of 4 actual seasons, so here is some insight into California weather. It was so cold in Oakland, that KP was bundled up tight as we went through the zoo. Jess had to add another sweatshirt on top of what she was already bundled up in, and Aidan had his stroller blanket on. We drove to Vallejo, and I had to strip KP down to short sleeves, and he still ended up all red-cheeked. Yep. But, we have the weird weather, right? :)


Once we got to Vallejo, KP went straight for Jichan




He warmed up to everyone else as time went on, and adopted Keith as his best buddy while he was there (going up the stairs, and down the stairs, up the stairs, and down the stairs...)


While KP was getting his aerobic workout, Jess and I went down by the Cliff House and had dinner. I cannot remember the name of the place that we went, but it was cute, and the food was good.


Monday was our last full day in SFO, so Jess and I went out on our own and hung out at the Ferry Building.




While we were off being moms without kids, Bachan and Jichan took KP back to Tilden to feed the animals at the farm and to ride the train.







And then it was time for us to go home.






We had a very pleasant flight home. KP only screamed continuously for the last 2.5 hours of the flight. At least we got to meet our wonderful seat neighbors who offered us medicine, oreos, and play-doh (all from different neighbors) to try to make him happy. And then, as we drifted into our landing, he fell asleep...and stayed asleep until the entire plane was empty and I had no choice but to wake him up and take him off the plane.

xoxo

Margot

May Update

One of our friends that we follow will often post many blogs at one time when they each deal with a different event that has happened since the last time he updated. I think I'm going to begin doing the same. It seems to help keep the blogs organized better, and since I can't seem to get on here more than once a month, it will also make it seem (numbers wise anyhow) like I update more often. :)

When we last met, we had just been released from the hospital from KPs aortopexy, and we were cautiously optimistic on how it went. I will have to say that I (as a complete non-doctor) think that it has been a success. I recently had to share a bed with KP, and had to keep checking on him to make sure he was breathing. It is like having a newborn again. Before his surgery, you could hear him breathing across the room. And, it seems that he doesn't snore anymore. Now if I can just get him to stop grinding his teeth....

Mother's Day came and went in our house. KP had not been home from the hospital long, so we were not able to do much, but there was time for a wonderful cake. :)

KP also got to spend some time with his Grandpa Mike at the park. KP has a love/hate relationship with swings. But, anything to hang out with Grandpa Mike. :)

Daddy took KP to Toys 'R' Us, which has become his favorite play place. :) He hasn't discovered that some people get to take the toys HOME. :) Once he discovers that, we'll probably never go back. :) But for now....

At the end of May, KP and I went to California to visit Aunt Jessica and Bachan, but that will be the next post. :)

xoxo

Margot

KP's hospital stay

Here's some photos to go along with the narrative of Everett's May 2009 surgery for those of you who are not on Facebook.



Here's KP enjoying himself in the play area before surgery. He didn't eat anything that morning so it's a good thing he doesn't know what a taco is..

















Here's Mr. Man after he was taken to his room after surgery.


















First meal .... don't bother me, I'm drinking (and Dad, don't look so worried, I'm fine)


















KP and his favorite puppy (good thing he has 4 of them)

KP with his buddies - puppy & Paul













He was released after 2 nights in Pediatric ICU. We thought he might have to go to the general floor for one night, but Dr. Renard sprung him after his X-ray came back OK. KP was a happy camper. Reports were that when the nurse came in with the release papers, he started jumping up and down in his bed, squealing and clapping his hands. Once he was on the floor he was marching around with the formula can on his head... ready to go home.

Aortopexy 5/5 & 5/6 Update

We went in for the aortopexy yesterday (Happy Cinco de Mayo and Boys' Day everyone).

We got to the hospital around 7 a.m. Since we went in for pre-op on Monday, we got to go straight up to day surgery. They were super nice, and recognized us right away (you know, since this is becoming a habit for us). They quickly took KP's vitals and then let him dissapear to the playroom while I finished up his history with them.

They got some new toys in the playroom that KP really enjoyed. I will update this post later with those pictures once I get them off of Dylan's phone. They had a new microwave for the kitchen, and some push toys that we haven't seen before.

Papaw and Uncle Jack got to come visit in the playroom for a short while. KP was a little apprehensive at first, but warmed up pretty quickly.

Around 830am the nurse came and got us to go down to the holding area. KP gave everyone hugs and kisses and then held on for his ride in the elevator. We made quite the little parade. :)

We dropped Papaw and Uncle Jack off in the waiting room and KP and I went on to holding. We got KP's favorite nurse there, so he spent most of his time flirting...as usual. :)

His general surgeon came down and talked a bit about the procedure, and that's when we found out it would probably take a couple of hours. I've been spoiled by our 30 minute procedures lately, and forgot what a full blown surgery entails. Whoops.

They took him to the OR around 930am, and we all went down to the cafeteria for breakfast. Dylan joined us again upstairs in the waiting room around 11.

Around noon, the OR nurse came out and said that KP was stable and doing nicely. He seems to have found KP absolutely fascinating, and also seemed to have a lot to say, but never really said it. We left that conversation very confused, so we just focused on "stable". :)

They finally stitched him up around 130pm, and KP's doctor came out and talked to us. It appears that the operation went well, and we will be just waiting to see if it has the intended effect.

They admitted KP into the ICU, and we finally got to see him around 3pm. He was fussy, but medicated by the time we got in there. The nurses said that he tried to flip over when he first got to them...yep, that's our boy.

He ended yesterday, calm and asleep with an arterial line, chest tube, i.v., foley catheter, and chest tube all in place (not to mention the usual leads).

On the nurse's suggestion, Dylan and I went home for some rest since we knew that today would be a long day.

This morning they told us that KP threw up in the middle of the night, so we knew he was ready for liquids. He drank almost 20 oz of liquids this morning!! He was sooo hungry! After putting all of that away, they dialed down his iv, and eventually capped it off. There were rumors that we would be moved to the general floor today, so they went ahead and took out his foley cath and arterial line.

He was signing this morning and flirting like crazy with the cute TL nurse that came to check on him. :) He took a nap midday, and then woke up and downed another 12 oz. So, they let him have some solid food.

Unfortunately, even thought his oxygen levels were staying high, he was still retracting a lot while trying to breathe, so the decision was made to keep him in the ICU another night. We love the ICU because we get so spoiled there, but it means that he is not doing as well as expected, so it is bittersweet news.

So, at the end of today he just has the i.v. (which is capped, but will not be taken out until the discharge papers are signed), and his chest tube (which may come out tomorrow) left. I love watching the tubes drop off. I think that is still my favorite part of recovery.

He let us hold him a couple of times today, and he and Paul played for a while. Dylan sent a text saying that Paul now had his leads on thanks to Dr. Everett. :) I guess he was up to his old tricks.

I will try to update more tomorrow. Don't forget to follow us on facebook. I will update his status more regularly on there.

xoxo
Margot