A little Scare

Bubba ended up giving us a little scare.  He stopped drinking, crying, talking, playing or even moving at this point.  He had a fever of 103 but we were able to control it with ibprofrin and tylenol.  We were told these temps are very normal for the surgery he had.  But then his temp spiked to 104.4.  He also was in the same diaper all day long and could not stay awake for anything.  His poor little lips looked so dry.

A quick call to the ENT determined that we needed to go to the ER for an IV.  Christian hadn't even left work yet.  We have a couple of the best babysitters.  I called my neighbor and Kaylee was over in just seconds and already cleaning my kitchen and getting my kids dinner.  Let's just say the kitchen was not my priority for the day.

We got to the ER and they checked him out pretty quickly and agreed with my dr's phone call decision. They got an IV started. The nurse was so awesome.  She got this on a 19lb dehydrated kid quickly and on the first try.  I mean she should seriously be put on my Christmas list.

The ER doc said yes he is obviously dehydrated and he also has an ear infection.  The irony in this is that in the tonsillectomy literature states that the pain from the throat will have referred pain to the ear.  Children will pull at or complain about ear pain but 99% of the time it is NOT an ear infection.  So yes I did see him pull at his ear, but Caitlin had also complained of her ear hurting.  I figured it was referred pain and gave them Ibuprofen or Tylenol. Poor guy knew his ear was hurting.

He did say the incision in his mouth and the stitches on his palate looked good and did not look infected.

So we sat and watched a little HGTV while the IV ran.  They gave him double the amount of fluids for his weight and then infused the antibiotics in his IV.  We went home with his IV still in so we can return if needed and not have to start a new IV.

When we left the hospital and the IV was in still he jibber jabbered and then looked at his hand.  I know he was thinking they have forgotten to take something off.  I told him we are leaving it one.  And he just grunted at him.  Too tired to argue but obviously not happy about the situation.

Movie Night

Christian has been working on the ceiling in our living room so movie night or pretty much any play in there had to be relocated.  It makes it hard because they can't really go to the kitchen or anything else. I can easily put in movies for the three older ones, but containing the twins well that is a whole other story.  I don't always have time or energy to just be gone for 3 + hours with them on Friday and Saturday nights.  Our middle ground has been going and getting dinner and making that last as long as possible or until my eyes are burning of exhaustion then we come home and all stay in my room and watch a movie.  I put the twins in the tub and that last until Maci attempts to drown Bubba or whacks him over and over with a cup and then they join the others in my bed.  I knew I got a king size bed for some reason.

Bubba's surgery

Bubba had his tonsils and adenoids out too.  We purposefully made his the last surgery.  We were told because of how small he was, weight wise, he would have to be admitted into the hospital.  We were also told to expect for him to be re-admitted as well.  Fingers crossed he won't be re-admitted. 

Here he is before his surgery.  Dad is trying to make him more comfortable but you can tell it isn't working. 

They had to find the smallest gown and they only had the pink/purple ones and it was still huge on him.  Don't mind him he can't be bothered by looking at the camera because he is watching his "shows".

All three kids enjoyed the tvs that come right up to their faces.  No standing required.  Maybe Christian enjoyed it too.

Here are Bubba's giant tonsils.  His surgery took a lot longer than it was supposed to.  I was starting to get nervous.  Finally Dr. Porter came out and said that he is screaming mad and and doing well now but that we would definitely have to stay the night.  He gave the OR a pretty good scare.  He didn't want to wake up or breath on his own.  He didn't code or have to do CPR but they were nervous in there.  He didn't give me all the details but throughout the day I found that they did need to give him epinephrine, they had to do some treatments and some other things.  I know it was big enough that it was relayed to his nurses in pediatrics that it was a bit scary.  They had him in the PICU for a little bit before we could see him as well.  His airway is so small and this tonsils filled his throat and his adenoids were bigger than that.  It was a good move to have them removed.  We shouldn't have sleep apnea anymore.  And hopefully it will be easier for him to eat once he has healed.  He also received a little tear on his palate because his airway is so small so he has a few stitches.  I don't know that he has even noticed it. 

This is pretty close to how Bubba and I stayed the rest of the day.  Well actually it ended up more with him on top of me with his sweaty little body.  He got his bear from Dr. Porter and was his little buddy and he got a new pillow and blanky.  The Linus project is awesome.  Brenten has gotten them for his surgeries as well. The Epi made his BP and Heart rate so high so they had to watch that closely the rest of the day.  My poor little man.  

My poor little man finally let me get up.  It didn't last long and he got a car.  This one is his but they have a great play room on the peds floor.  Then they can bring toys back to their room.  

Last night was rough.  Dad came and stayed the night while Mom took the night shift with Cait and worked a few hours.  Dad got a minute or two of sleep with me thrashing about on top of him.  It was a lot of fun for both of us.  Then Dad went back to work and Mom came back in after working in the morning.  

He doesn't look it here but he was a grouchy beast.  We all, including the nurses, called him little hulk.  So much anger in one little body.  But the toothbrush made him happy for a few minutes.  His vitals were better and he had drank enough to make the Dr happy so we got to take this Baby Hulk home.  

Oh and they found a smaller boy gown.

Thanks to Grandmas and Grandpas and friends and to the Ped's floor all the help they gave us.  Everyone is seriously so awesome. 

Mitzi's Miracles

THIS is what Caitlin does when she is high on Lortab.  The day she had surgery the anesthesia and then the pain meds made her face itch like crazy.  Later in the afternoon I took the twins outside for 10 -15 minutes.  When I came back in Cait had scissors in hand.  I have really had way too much going on to really care but  I was still shocked.  I felt I had properly brainwashed her.  Christian always tells her that he will cut her hair and she says no Mitzi cuts my hair.  I asked her why she had done this.  She said her hair was too long.  She wants it like mine.  And it was driving her face crazy.  It wasn't until later that I realized that she thought it was her hair that was making her face itch.  She was quite bugged that even with her hair cut her face still itched.  Below is her mullet.  Caitlin spent the next couple of days asking me every half hour when Mitzi could fix her hair.  So below is Mitzi Miracle.  She really made it look so much better than I could ever imagine. 

Caitlin's Surgery

On Monday Caitlin had her 2nd set of tubes and then her adenoids and tonsils removed.

She came in super happy.  She was ready to get her doll to color on.  And they gave her a new blanket and pillow. They are so awesome with kids. Unlike Maci, she loved talking to all the people who had to come in and talk to us before the procedure. 

Her giant tonsils.  Her adenoids were huge too but they are shaved off not cut.  No picture op.  When Dr. Porter asked if I wanted a picture, I thought it was so strange but then he informed me that almost everyone does it.  Lets face it, I am weird like this.  Of course I want a picture of the gross tonsils. 

Isn't she so cute.  She loved her teddy bear that Dr Porter gave her.  She was such a trooper.  She was so quiet after surgery she actually made the OR staff a little nervous but she was just fine.  Just a quiet little thing.  She never made a peep.  If they asked her where her pain was she would point on the chart and they would get her more medicine.  When the nurses would leave she would just ask, "Why won't they let me sleep?"

I can't wait for her follow up hearing test to see how much it has improved.  Her breathing while she is asleep is already so much quieter. It will be nice to not worry about sleep apnea any more. 

Maci Tubes

After two years of ear infections Maci finally got tubes.  We are so thankful for this procedure.  Our family has used it well.  Maci did not like anything about this experience.  She did not want to talk to all the people who tried to talk to her.  She did not want to sit on the hospital bed.  She did not want to put on that super cute miniaturized hospital gown or the socks that were so huge that they went up to her thighs.  They were supposed to be the regular short socks by the way.  Not until they brought in the hospital doll that you get to color on with markers.  This is when her day was made.  And then she was given the cute teddy bear from Dr. Porter.  Tubes are so fast.  And it went well.  Dr. Porter said she had gunky goo behind her ear drum that would not have ever come out on its own.  She has already had her follow up hearing test and she is now hearing where she should be.  We can tell at home as well.  She is more responsive to sounds and she is starting to say a few more words already.  We are still moving forward with speech therapy with her but hoping that in a couple of months it won't be necessary by then.  Wish us luck.

The TWINS are TWO

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!!!

Cry if I want to 

You would cry too if it happened to you. 

They are definitely two.  Maci is embracing the tantrums.  :)  Bubba is known to be able to throw himself to ground while yelling and flailing about. I just happened to get this one on camera.

I tried to get them to sit together on the couch but Maci wasn't having it.  See above picts.  So Beckett came over to give her a giant huge.  She finally kind of looked at me and smiled. 

He is my funny kid.  We call him little Landon.  He is so much like him.  We even catch him doing make believe already.  He stands in the kitchen and acts like he is a ninja or a super hero.  Sound effects and all. I just love it. 

Grandpa and Grandma Sawyer happened to be here on their bday.  So awesome.  Maci decided snuggle time with papa is pretty cool.

They were pretty hesitant in opening their presents. This is just warm up for Christmas.  

They loved them once they got them opened though.  

I love these little guys.  They are so much fun and they are the best of friends.  It is great to see how they interact with one another.  So glad they are part of our crazy family.

Double Digits Already

Brenten thinks it is so funny that it makes me so much older to have a child who is in double digits.  He was so excited to turn 10.  However, part of him thought that it meant that he was a teenager.  That made me giggle a little.  I was quick to correct him.  I am NOT ready to have a teenager in the house.  Brenten is an awesome kid.  He is kind respectful and the best big brother.  The twins love to snuggle with him.  He helps me out all the time.  He will even change diapers for me if I need to.  He loves to hang out with his friends and play most anything. Football, soccer, basketball, legos, ride bikes or some made up game.  He is starting to get too big to give me loves in public.  I knew that time would come.  I can still get him to from time to time but he will look around and make sure no one sees.

RUNNING AND RUNNING

I just wanted you all to know that today I ran 7.45 miles at an 8 min 3 sec pace.  I was really happy with my pace today.  The best part is I didn't feel like I was going to die.  Except that it was 27 degrees out.  Maybe my legs like to ice while running but I really think I prefer to feel like they can move.