During the break

During Daniel's XMas break from school and prior to the surgery we did a few things to end 2011 right.
We went with friends to Kohl Children's Museum.
Daniel and daddy finished building a 1200 piece Star Wars ship.
We went to Botanic Garden for their Winterwonderland train exhibit. It was amazing. Everything was made from natural products (minus the trains).
That's the Chicago skyline behind D, made all out of natural material (moss, sticks, bark, etc.)
We rang in the New Year at Brookfield zoo (8pm for the kids). We fell asleep watching Toy Story 3 when we got home, when I say 'we' I mean Ry and I . We woke up at 11:40 to find the little man watching the movie and wide awake. He was there to ring in the REAL New Year.
I didn't take my camera, hence the fuzzy pictures. It was super cold but we even braved a ride on the carousel. We picked up two snazzy hats right past the entrance because we could not move forward without them. Ry even got hand warmer thingies but he got those because his hat cost a total of $3!!! I got a "Russian" hat with pink sparkly stripes. Let's say I wasn't picky with the wind outside. Daddy made his famous shrimp dish for us. Well, it was too spicy for D but we sure enjoyed it.
Now, to plan spring break memories...

Home sweet home

Yesterday we spent the ENTIRE DAY at the hospital. We got to the hospital at 11am, that included me missing the turn into the parking lot and we had to circle around. Of course, our luck, the Dr. was delayed 2.5 hours with the surgery and we were stuck in the room sitting in chairs. At least D was quite happy in his bed.

Towards the end we had to whip out the iPad and put on Chuggington to get us through the last hour and a half of waiting.
By 3pm Daniel was whisked away in his bed as Ry and I stood with tears helpless. We finally could eat because we didn't want Daniel to see us eating and drinking since he hadn't eaten since midnight.

By 4:30 we were allowed to see him in recovery. Within the next hour he had a popsickle and some food. It was too much because he threw it all up. We had to start the waiting process again.

After some more water, jello and TV we were allowed to leave at 9pm. We got home and Daniel was ready to play with his new chuggers from mommy and daddy.

The night went well with no interruptions. I know because I slept next to him with my glasses on just in case I had to pop out to get things under control.

He's doing much better today and is bossing everyone around.

Quote of the week and prayers

Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold.

-Zelda Fitzgerald

Daniel will be having his adenoids removed today (1-4) and possibly his tonsils.

Please pray for a smooth operation, wisdom for the doctors and nurses that will care for him, an easy recovery for our baby and calmness for his worried mommy and daddy.

We know God will watch over him and that gives us much comfort.

I will update once we are home and settled.

I've been holding off on posting the fun activities we did over the break so that will come soon.

Last quote of 2011

The great difference between voyages rests not in ships but in the people you meet on them.

-Amelia Barr

We have clearance, Clarence

We got clearance today from Daniel's pediatrician for the surgery on Wednesday.
Our boy is a perfect 40/40. 40 1/4 inches tall and 40 lbs. Pure love.

We were waiting for the Dr. hence the bare legs.
I'm excited to eat all the food we had frozen for XMas in the next few days. We'll be enjoying shrimp, scallops, stuffed mushrooms (for me, Ry hates mushrooms) and Ry will be making a shrimp dish. Goodbye clean kitchen, but he's super excited to make it. The weather here is crazy, it was in the mid 40s today. I was a wild woman today trying to keep the squirrels away from the bird feeder we put up. The bag of food says "Cardinals will love it and squirrels hate it", I don't know where they did their testing and what kind of squirrels refused these seeds but the ones in our back yard were hanging upside down to get to the food today. I strategically placed the feeder so they wouldn't steal the food. There was a squirrel doing gymnastics to get to the food. I felt bad. I just can't afford to feed everyone out there. These squirrels don't look like they are starving either.
They are also not as cute as the birds chirping to get to their meal. I don't appreciate the increasing amount of bird poop on my patio though. I guess I can't win either way. For now the feeder stays.

and we're back

We're here, still enjoying some time off after Christmas. We had a very busy week.
We prepared for Xmas by baking a ton. I had a little helper.
We made some reindeer food; recipe: oatmeal, lots of glitter, sprinkles, M&M's and love. Daniel proceeded to just dump the food on the driveway in one swift motion and not the ceremonious sprinkling I prepared him for. Before I could hit the button on the camera the "food" was out.
We joined my family for XMas Eve while daddy was at the hospital with his parents. Grandpa M had a little scare when his heart decided to take a little holiday break. He's doing well and hopefully going home soon. Ry joined us for a late dinner and presents.
We came home and "Santa" wrote D a letter, he gobbled down the cookies and drank some milk.
The next morning a smiling face woke us up with "It's Xmas today". We stalled for a little while but then made our way down stairs. D first spotted the trampoline he got from grandma and grandpa.
Then, it was off to open the presents from Santa, himself. The DEPOT that he waited so long for arrived.
Notice daddy filming and talking on the phone. Man of many talents.
If the depot was the only gift he got, he would have been happy.
Daniel received many "chuggers" to go along with his set. He played with it until it was time to visit grandpa.
He did so well at the hospital, partly because he got more chuggers that kept him busy.
We heated up some food and enjoyed our XMas as a family in the comfort of a hospital room. It didn't matter as long as we were together.
In the mean time Daniel continues to take inventory of the chuggers he has, by circling them and pointing out pathetically the 3 that he doesn't. He will have them soon considering that he will be in the hospital next week.
We don't have any plans for New Year's but to sit home and relax.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours

May Lovely, Happy Times
Decorate this Time of the Season.
May Warm, Special Memories brighten your New Year,
May the wonder of Christmas be with you Forever.

Merry Christmas!!!!