Saturday, October 22, 2011

April Wrap-Up

Despite all the smiles, sparkling blue eyes and beautiful, bouncing, blonde hair, April had some challenges for both boys. 

Benjamin was sick a good portion of the month.  He had numerous eye infections of no known origin and weeks upon weeks of coughing & nasal congestion.  After waiting two weeks for the coughing to end, we saw the doctor for a confirmed (via x-ray) sinus infection.  We did the prescribed ten days of antibiotic, but it only minimally improved.  4 weeks later we had another x-ray reveal only a small lessening of the fully-impacted sinuses.  Lovely!  By this time, we also opted for an injection of antibiotic to kick-start the recovery.  It really affected him short-term (he was far more tender than he ever is with shots), and he had a fever.  However, the meds did their work.  but, this all means he spent >6 weeks with infected sinuses. 

After burning through far too much Vigamox treating all his eye infections, we luckily got in with a pediatric ophthalmologist to investigate a blocked tear duct.  We had gone through all that with Jasper as an infant, but Benj never had the same problems.  It seemed odd it would start being a problem now, but it just seemed like the likely area to investigate next.  Dr. Busse thankfully had an opening (from a cancellation) the day after I called and we got in for the diagnosis: a narrowed tear duct.  He prescribed Pataday (to reduce the swelling around the tear duct and improve drainage) daily to see if that would lessen the problems and frequency of eye infections.  He also explained that what likely was happening with Benj was that his tears were not draining from his eyes, and he was likely rubbing his cheek/eye and transferring germs which live on our skin into his eyes which were causing the green goop – and that the green goop was infectious but not contagious.  ahh!  finally an explanation that made sense (and was spoken with confidence). 

We know now that Benjamin has no allergies – no foods, no pollens, grasses, animal dander, etc.  none.  so what’s causing all his sinus infections are anatomy: likely small sinus draining holes.  so he gets eye drops and nose sprays to try to keep the troubled areas less irritated.  Things have improved.  Now we hope and pray his head gets big enough to accommodate his sinuses. 

Jasper had his own source of challenges – at school.  For reasons that we honestly cannot fathom, one day in April Jasper went from nearly running into Mrs. Kelly’s class with nary even turning around to say goodbye to clinging to my leg, crying and begging me not to leave.  I was so shocked I almost didn’t know how to handle it.  Thankfully, Mrs. Kelly was nearby and intervened to distract Jasper and get him into the room and calmed down.  But this was such a dramatic change that it shook me.  I was in tears after I left him.  Each day of school after that was hard for him.  Some were worse – (once, when Mrs. Kelly wasn’t able to intervene and Benjamin snuck away and was heading out the front door to the parking lot which meant I had to turn my back on Jasper and run for Benjamin, which made Jasper completely fall apart … yeah, that was worse) but others were better.  And he always calmed down and had fun at school once he was there.  But his exuberance about going was gone.  He was nervous (still positive but nervous) and we had to talk with overwhelmingly positive tones about being there.  That was sad.  We still cannot figure out what triggered this.  Nothing changed at home.  No new medicines.  … Drew thinks he just became aware of his surroundings more and was more anxious.  Whatever it was, it was hard on him … and on us. 

Kiddie Acres

It was hot even in April, so our one trip to Kiddie Acres this year was to celebrate Isaac’s birthday.  The boys had a blast!  They love the airplanes and surprisingly liked the ferris wheel.  Good thing Drew was along and opted to take one for the team, ignore the max total weight limit per car and ride with the boys.  God is good.  They survived. 

DSC_3486DSC_3487DSC_3493DSC_3496

DSC_3503DSC_3510DSC_3515DSC_3525DSC_3533

Easter 2011

With riding bikes under their belts, Easter was about Jesus, baskets and hunting for eggs.  I’m not sure for 2 and 4-yr-olds it was exactly in that order, but we definitely celebrated at church.  Except we didn’t celebrate at Austin High School like we usually do.  We celebrated at the UT Erwin Center.  You know – the basketball arena.  Sa-WEET! 

ErwinCtr

For a couple of weeks leading up to Easter, Drew and I took the boys to the Erwin Center and looked around, walked around the concourses outside, talked to them about how this was going to be our Easter church and then we prayed for our pastors, taking care of all the kids, all the logistics and all the visitors.  The boys prayed for Pastor Matt (Carter) and Pastor John (Murchison).  It was a great time of prayerful preparation and also mental preparation so that they were ready for a completely different environment on Easter Sunday.  Gratefully, both boys went into their KidStuff areas without hesitation and had a great time. 

Drew and I worshiped with thousands others (I think it was close to 11K) in the arena, being lead-off with a prayer by Coach Barnes - UT’s basketball coach and the instigator behind using the Erwin Center for Easter services.  Unbeknownst to the vast congregation, Matt revealed that morning, Coach Barnes approached Matt with this idea and arranged for it to happen.  Coach Barnes’ prayer was contrite and humble, and it left most of us in tears before we echoed amen.  Worship was wonderful.  Matt’s sermon was great, and in addition to that we were able to bless the city of Austin by being open & visible and by collecting large donations of food for the food bank.  It was a GREAT Easter. 

Here is a clip from the local cable news station about our service.

Here are some highlights from the materialistic side of things:

DSC_3412

Two of Jasper’s favorite things: his Thomas apron and a book about Fire Trucks. 

DSC_3415

Benjamin lovingly checking out his new Thomas blanket.

DSC_3418

Both boys pouring over the stack of new books from G&G Gant.

Hunting for Easter eggs:

DSC_3426DSC_3438DSC_3431

sitting pretty with their friend, Adolai

DSC_3451

Learning to Ride His Bike–April 22, 2011

Since Drew had Good Friday off from work, he took advantage of that afternoon to spend time encourage Jasper to ditch his training wheels.  On a few occasions previously, Jasper would go on one or two rides without his training wheels, but he always wanted them put back on.  Drew is patient, enthusiastic and encouraging, and he was ready to spend a few hours to help Jasper get over the hump of needing his training wheels. 

Look at the look of determination on Jasper’s face.  Wherever did he get that? hmm ….

DSC_3288

 

Drew never left his side – either on foot or on wheels for the entire time he helped Jasper learn to go faster, to stay straight, etc.

DSC_3295DSC_3296DSC_3302DSC_3305DSC_3308DSC_3309

Of course, there was the understandable learning curve – riding slow is tough when you’re just learning, and he’d teeter off to one side or the other … but he just kept going. 

DSC_3312DSC_3313DSC_3314

He loved his cheering section: Benjamin, Ella and Mr. David and mommy. 

DSC_3323

Even when he fell, he just dusted himself off (sometimes got a couple hugs) and got back on his bike.

DSC_3325DSC_3326

 

Benjamin is Jasper’s #1 fan!  Spontaneously clapping and saying, “Yeah, Jasper!”  He also is a fan of our neighbor, Ella.

DSC_3330DSC_3331DSC_3345

 

Look at the ease with which Jasper turns the bike!  Thank you, Mr. Skuut!

DSC_3351DSC_3352DSC_3353DSC_3354DSC_3355

Benjamin is always moving, so it’s actually pretty hard to get a good shot of him with the camera.  I was lucky to capture his sweet face.

DSC_3366

 

Riding on daddy’s wheel is a great place to be.

DSC_3379

By the end of a couple of hours, he was ready to take on the roads by himself (under our watchful eye, of course). 

DSC_3385

The day after he learned how to ride without his training wheels, Drew rode with him down to the cul-de-sac behind our house to ride with the kids down there (Fred, Andreas, Eric & Caroline).  He was just screaming around the circle, even going down an inclined driveway to pick up speed.  Everyone was amazed!  When they learned he had first really learned how to ride on a Skuut, the next week Fred’s dad bought him a Skuut and after 2.5 weeks of riding it, Fred was able to take his training wheels off, too!  Proven success! (if only a slightly small sample size.)