the elevator...

We got GREAT news this week when we saw the surgeon regarding Thomas' abscess....it has healed enough to quit packing it.  YAHOO!!!!  Big news for this mother:)  Many of you were praying..THANK YOU!  

 As we sat in the waiting room...well, some of us sat.....Thomas was on the move.  Tom and Ella were both along, so we each took turns chasing him.  When it was my turn, I could NOT keep him off the elevator.  He would push the button, the elevator would open and he would try to get on.  Having Owen in the sling, it was difficult to drag him away so all doors were shut and I ran the 10 steps to the waiting room to ask Tom to take over.  During those 30 seconds, Thomas managed to push the button, get on the elevator, push the emergency call button AND travel to the 4th floor.  When the elevator door opened again, a lady was talking to the emergency personnel, "No it was a small child who called you"  I said, "Where is that small child?  He's mine!"  She told me she thought he was on the 4th floor.  So...I went up on the elevator & Tom took the stairs down.  As the elevator door opened on the 4th floor, there was Thomas...eyes wide as saucers.  I picked him up and he clung to me.  Thank you Lord!  I just wonder...Will I one day be able to write a book about the many adventures of Thomas?!!

thomas' surgery

Thomas had surgery today to remove an abscess on his bottom.  It went well.  We were in the waiting room about an hour as they worked on him.  The dr. said the abscess was quite large...size of a 50¢ piece...so it was good to get rid of it.  Thomas came out of the anesethia just fine and didn't cry a bit.  As he was sleeping, the nurse asked with a smile if he was a calm, mellow child.  We laughed and said he wasn't:)  She said she figured by the looks of all his scrapes and bruises and just the look on his face.  She said he had that "Dennis the Mennace" kind of look to him.  Yep...that's our Thomas!!!:) He happily drank juice and ate graham crackers & a popsicle as he sat in Tom's lap after waking. He did NOT like the IV attached to him, however, and that made him really mad.  As did the blood pressure cuff and pulse thing attached to his leg and to. Once all that was off, he was fine until he spied the doors to go outside.  He was up and walking in no time and wanted out badly!!! This little guy never seems to slow down:)  They gave him a type of spinal so the drugs would wear off slowly.  Surgery was at 7:30am and we were home by 10:30am.  Tom headed to his last day of class in Anchorage and we headed home. He ate a bit when we got home and napped for 5  1/2 hours.  Then came the worst part....changing the packing.  To back up a bit...I scheduled a haircut over a month ago and it was today!  I desperately NEEDED it cut, but felt horrible leaving Thomas.  Decided to go anyway and hope mom wouldn't have too hard of a time with him when he woke up.  He had only been awake 15 min. or so when I got home.  Mom changed him when he got up, but we knew the packing needed to be changed, so set to it.  It was horrible! Mom held him down while I dealt with the wound.  Had to give him a bath too (orders are to do this 2x per day).  In order to do this, I had to get in the bath with him and hold him down.  Mom and I both cried...he was in so much pain.  Tom and Ella leave in the morning for bear hunting.  Please pray that this wound will heal quickly and not be too painful for him (or the rest of us!)  The adventures of parenting continue....

is there anything better?

I'm not sure there is anything better than snuggling with a newborn...we're all enjoying our Owen snuggles these days!

welcome owen

Owen Miles joined our family on may 9th at 8:44am.  He weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. and was 20 inches long.  We're loving him to pieces and look forward to all the memories we have to make with him...

tomorrow?

We enjoyed a fun low-key family weekend.  Yesterday, we went to the neighborhood park and the kids had a great time.  The girls think that Owen is coming tomorrow despite me telling them many times that tomorrow is just my "due date."  Before bed, Claire picked out a nice dress and sweater to wear because "Owen is coming tomorrow, mom!"  Ella was wondering what time they told me he'd be coming.  Oh boy.... I'll have some explaining to do tomorrow if he's not here:)  

The girls each made cards for Owen too....Both were sealed shut and in his cradle, but I opened them tonight.  Claire said, "I love you Owen  I am ixsited to hold you i cant wat to se you Owen!"  Ella said, "Dear Owen, I'm so exided to hold you!  It will be fun on the boat with you!"

 Before bed, we watched "Dirty Jobs" and they watched a calf being born.  They thought that was pretty cool because Owen was soon going to be born too.  I'm feeling really good...makes me wonder if it'll be awhile longer?  My mom comes on Tuesday, so if history repeats itself, Owen will arrive on Thursday.  With Claire and Thomas she was here a full day before they were born.  We'll soon see!

baby or boy?

Thomas' morning routine always includes waving goodbye to Ella as she gets on the bus.  I  think he looks like a baby by the window...
And a little boy here!  Claire took this picture of him...he's thinking hard about something:)

good friends

Last Friday, a few of my close friends gathered to celebrate Owen's upcoming arrival.  We met at Marla's and it was such a special evening.  We munched on yummy food (some of us more than others!!!:) talked, laughed & cried together.  They all put their hands on me and prayed for Owen, for me & for our family.  I really went through the kleenex during this!!!  I feel so blessed to have such good friends... Thanks guys:)