Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Nonna (part 2)
While Mom G was here, the weather warmed up a lot and we finally have had warm spring days leading into the start of summer. One day we took our lunch and the boys' swimsuits to the creek and picnic area next to campus. Such a fun spot.
Nonna took the two oldest boys to the library one morning, and Timo checked out Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - and then was completely enthralled with it the rest of the week.
On Saturday morning (before Nonna's afternoon flight home) she, Jim, Timo and Mattias went downtown to the Farmer's Market and discovered a mini-festival going on. The boys got their faces painted (for the first time).
Nonna took the two oldest boys to the library one morning, and Timo checked out Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - and then was completely enthralled with it the rest of the week.
On Saturday morning (before Nonna's afternoon flight home) she, Jim, Timo and Mattias went downtown to the Farmer's Market and discovered a mini-festival going on. The boys got their faces painted (for the first time).
One last hug and photo before Nonna leaves. Timo hasn't stopped asking me since she left, "When are we going to visit Wheaton?" Thank you for coming and for your joyful, patient care!
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| yep, that's about how it goes |
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Nonna's visit (part 1)
We loved having Nonna visit for a week (the same week as Hawk's birthday)! So many books to read, so many songs to be sung, so many daily life activities to share with her in our busy, loud house.
Morning at Poteet Park, where we ran into friends -
Thankfully Nonna took quite a few photos with her camera, and shared them with us - and she captured some of our daily life activities (though she wasn't in the photos!).
Another day, another lunch at the picnic table ("please sit down and eat!" ha!)
One night after supper Mattias decided to do some drumming (on the stools), and Timo put on his mask to do some singing & used the shape-sorter as a clanging instrument. It was loud and extremely entertaining for Hawk.
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| Sunday evening supper at our picnic table |
Morning at Poteet Park, where we ran into friends -
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| how Hawk sits in his umbrella stroller (this was in his first cast) |
Thankfully Nonna took quite a few photos with her camera, and shared them with us - and she captured some of our daily life activities (though she wasn't in the photos!).
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| Timo outside his pre-K classroom |
Another day, another lunch at the picnic table ("please sit down and eat!" ha!)
One night after supper Mattias decided to do some drumming (on the stools), and Timo put on his mask to do some singing & used the shape-sorter as a clanging instrument. It was loud and extremely entertaining for Hawk.
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| Timo has started regularly helping with evening dishes (at his own request) |
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| hot afternoon: time for a truck wash |
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| helping Nonna make cupcakes for Hawk |
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Birthday party celebrations for Hawk
Good morning, and get ready for another day of birthday celebrations! This time at home with the whole family, plus Nonna, who was visiting for the week! (Don't worry, I'll get to that in my next post. Lots of fun times.)
There she is - the wonderful, ebullient Nonna!
In the afternoon we had one friend, Levi, come over for water balloons and cake. A new friend from church brought over a huge, decorate chocolate cake for his birthday, so we pulled out a candle and were ready to go. I don't think we've ever given our kids chocolate cake on their first birthday, so that was really fun.
One more present, opened the next morning... a ride-on car with adjustable handlebars, which actually fits perfectly with his cast. Now he has something else to sit on around the house for the next 6 weeks of this cast - when he can squeeze in a turn between Timo and Mattias, that is.
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| opening his present from the nurses at the hospital |
There she is - the wonderful, ebullient Nonna!
In the afternoon we had one friend, Levi, come over for water balloons and cake. A new friend from church brought over a huge, decorate chocolate cake for his birthday, so we pulled out a candle and were ready to go. I don't think we've ever given our kids chocolate cake on their first birthday, so that was really fun.
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| He mashed it up and tried a few nibbles. |
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| Julie was there too, of course, with her son Levi! |
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| he loves his new ball!!!!!!! |
One more present, opened the next morning... a ride-on car with adjustable handlebars, which actually fits perfectly with his cast. Now he has something else to sit on around the house for the next 6 weeks of this cast - when he can squeeze in a turn between Timo and Mattias, that is.
Hawk is 1!
I know all mothers say this - but, can you believe it?! Our little Hawk is one year old! And quite pleased about it, I should say. He loved hearing everyone sing "happy birthday" to him.
But this was on Friday, so let's back up a bit... back to Thursday, May 3rd, his birthday.
One year ago he arrived in the early morning - quickly (25 minutes after arriving to the hospital), 11 days before his due date, in the triage room, and with no doctor present! We were so relieved and excited to meet him and give hims his name, and then that day and following days were filled with concern and confusion about his physical condition (particularly the shape of his feet, hands, and mouth, and his inability to nurse properly). There were some very long, hard, anxiety-filled days with him in those first months, but alongside we very quickly received medical help from orthopedics and therapists and lactation consultants, and slowly we began to see improvements and changes.
And now, a year later, we have a little boy who is - in almost all circumstances - cheerful, outgoing, adaptable and curious. He eats well, loves his brothers, smiles a lot, has started to crawl, and can do all kinds of things with his hands. How "appropriate" that on his birthday we would spend the day at the hospital again - this time for his spica cast change! (which required anesthesia and an arthrogram, so it was a long day; we left home at 7 AM and returned at 7:30 PM) The staff there knew it was his birthday and really made it festive, with balloons, presents, singing, a cupcake, a big sign, plus the usual children's hospital treats like a new Build-A-Bear, visits from the therapy dogs in his room, and a school choir singing in the lobby. We've really had a good experience with Shriner's Hospital so far, especially because the staff all are so pleasant and helpful. And because it is a small hospital, we already recognize nurses and are recognized by them.
(This time Hawk now has a half-spica cast, which only goes from belly to knees on both sides, so now he can bend both legs.)
It's been a long day. Time to head home, go to bed, and wake up again tomorrow for another birthday celebration at home!
But this was on Friday, so let's back up a bit... back to Thursday, May 3rd, his birthday.
One year ago he arrived in the early morning - quickly (25 minutes after arriving to the hospital), 11 days before his due date, in the triage room, and with no doctor present! We were so relieved and excited to meet him and give hims his name, and then that day and following days were filled with concern and confusion about his physical condition (particularly the shape of his feet, hands, and mouth, and his inability to nurse properly). There were some very long, hard, anxiety-filled days with him in those first months, but alongside we very quickly received medical help from orthopedics and therapists and lactation consultants, and slowly we began to see improvements and changes.
And now, a year later, we have a little boy who is - in almost all circumstances - cheerful, outgoing, adaptable and curious. He eats well, loves his brothers, smiles a lot, has started to crawl, and can do all kinds of things with his hands. How "appropriate" that on his birthday we would spend the day at the hospital again - this time for his spica cast change! (which required anesthesia and an arthrogram, so it was a long day; we left home at 7 AM and returned at 7:30 PM) The staff there knew it was his birthday and really made it festive, with balloons, presents, singing, a cupcake, a big sign, plus the usual children's hospital treats like a new Build-A-Bear, visits from the therapy dogs in his room, and a school choir singing in the lobby. We've really had a good experience with Shriner's Hospital so far, especially because the staff all are so pleasant and helpful. And because it is a small hospital, we already recognize nurses and are recognized by them.
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| leaving the house for the hospital |
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| he was really excited about the balloons! |
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| also very excited by the waterfall in the lobby - anything to distract while waiting for surgery |
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| I give you: the little boy who goes 8 hours without anything to eat or drink, and doesn't cry at all while waiting! |
(This time Hawk now has a half-spica cast, which only goes from belly to knees on both sides, so now he can bend both legs.)
It's been a long day. Time to head home, go to bed, and wake up again tomorrow for another birthday celebration at home!
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