Camping

Dillon just got back from a 4 day camping trip to Arkansas with his boyscout troop. He had a blast! He came back looking great with a little color. He was filthy though! And he was exhausted! I wish I had taken a picture of him leaving. It was really early and I wasn't thinking. He looked very grown up. So handsome. My baby is getting way to big.

Wordless Wednesday ~ My Adorable Helper

Wordless Wednesday-Brotherly Love

Surgery day for A.J.

Back in October we noticed a small lump in A.J.'s throat. It looked just like an adam's apple. We took him to the doctor and she ordered blood test and an MRI. That all was pretty scary but the blood test came back quickly and normal! We had his MRI a few weeks later and he was diagnosed with a thryoglossal duct cyst. We were told he would be just fine but would need surgery to remove it. It was growing so we chose to have it removed sooner rather than later.

A.J. had his surgery on Feb. 15th. We were really dreading this but overall it went well.
A.J. looking for things to get into while waiting on the anesthesiologist.

You can kind of see the thyroglossal duct cyst in this picture.

After "silly juice" and mama not ready to hand him over. The silly juice is a sedative so he doesn't realize he is being taken form mom and dad. It worked really well.

The surgery took about an hour. It was shorter than we expected so that was nice! When he woke up he was hysterical! He was screaming so loud and for a LONG time! His blood pressure was high and it was obvious that he was stressed. He was in pain but we believe the reaction was more from the anesthesia. First they tried to calm him down with Loratab. That failed. Then they ordered him morphine. The first dose did nothing. So they gave another. The poor boy crashed and slept a few hours. I really think he just needed to seep off the anesthesia. I hate that he was given so many drugs.

Once he woke up he was upset again. However this time I was able to calm him. He was given pain medication around the clock for 1.5 weeks. I hate that. But my baby was in pain.

A while after he woke up he was willing to eat a popsicle.

He did lots of sleeping. They originally gave us a rocking chair and a crib. We laughed and asked for a bed. There was no way A.J. was going to lay in a crib. No he wanted mom! And he got mom. I held him all day and all night. It was a little tricky sleeping with a baby all hooked up to wires.

This is the next day before we got to head home. The doctors came and took the drainage tube out of his neck. It was adorable because we thought he was sleeping. And once they were done he immediately handed him his left arm with the IV. He wanted that thing out! He hated the IV! He was so happy to get his IV out! He was ready to play as soon as it was out.

On our way home from Children's.

Once we were home he seemed SO much better. He played. He did rest and he was eating okay and drinking fairly well. Unfortunately he ran a fever from the day of surgery until 11 days later. He was doing pretty well until about 6 days after. Then he went back to not feeling well and being very fussy. He wouldn't eat or drink. He lost 2 pounds! I think allot of it was the fever. Once that broke on day 12 he acted so mach happier!

He has had a check up since and everything is looking wonderful! The doctor is very positive that he was able to remove the entire cyst and that it won't grow back. It does happen but I am hoping that this was a one time surgery!

Thanks to everyone who prayed for my little man! We really appreciate it!

Happy 11th Birthday Dillon!

11 years ago on February 7, 1999 with tears of joy my husband and I welcomed our first child into this world. Dillon took his time coming into this world. He was born at 42 weeks 8 lbs 6 oz and 20 1/4 inches long. He came out shouting at everyone in the room. He was pink, plump, and just perfect. I was in awe.

Stephen and I were very young when Dillon was born. We really have grown up with him. It hasn't always been easy but we wouldn't change it for anything. We love him so much and we are so proud of him! He is one of the sweetest kid you will meet. He is always thoughtful of others. He is incredibly smart. He is very respectful. He loves his brothers SO much!

For Dillon's 11th birthday he had two small parties. The first with his grandparents, Aunt Gina, his brother and us. We watched his basketball game and then came home for cake and ice cream. This was the day before his birthday.

Aunt Gina bought trick candels!

We had no idea what to get him ( Or Brenden in April) for his birthady. The kids do not lack toys! They are pretty spoiled. So the whole family pitched in and bought them a combo gift. A big basketball goal. They loved it! ( Well they will..we are waiting for the HOA to approve it !)

On Dillon's actual birthday we woke up and went to church. After church we took him out for Itallian food ( his favorite). Then we came back to the house, played games and opened a couple more small gifts.

The next weekend was his party with his friends at school. We let him invite three friends to spend the night and go to see " The Lightning Thief". All of the kids were great at the movies. And it was a great movie too. After the movie we came back home for pizza and cake. : )

I think he had a pretty good birthday. It is crazy to think that I have an 11 year old! It seems like just yesterday that he was sitting on the floor sucking his thumb and driving his cars.