keeping up with the Howards

Monday, March 5, 2012

Jack's T&A...

Our little Jackie Boy got his tonsils and adenoids out 2 weeks ago. This morning is the first day I have sent him to school without having to take some Tylenol!!! He is also happy that after today he gets to eat chips and pretzels. We survived. It was a rough first week, but now that it's behind us, I'm glad it's done!

Because of Jack's metabolic disorder he had to have his surgery at the hospital instead of the surgery center. The anesthesiologist felt that it was safer and wanted to have him admitted for at least a full day. Luckily, his blood counts were so good, they let us go after 14 hours! No sleeping in the hospital is always a plus.

Jack was actually excited for the surgery because he knew he was getting a few gifts from us, and both grandma's. Little did he know...

Checking in to the hospital bright and early

They gave him some 'sleepy' juice and it was hilarious. He was acting so funny. KJ thought it was the funniest thing ever. Jack kept telling all of us that we had 2 heads.

Here he was being a little comedian.

Wheeling him away to the Operating room. This is when I started to get nervous. He was brave with his Mario blankets and all of his favorite stuffed 'friends'.

The recovery room was a nightmare. Something I want to forget. Poor little Jack lost all control. He was 'freaking' out coming out of anesthesia. I was back with him and it took 6 of us to hold him down so he wouldn't rip his IV out. He was screaming bloody murder for hours. I had been told that kids with Aspergers have a hard time coming out of anesthesia because it is complete sensory overload. I was not prepared to see Jack like this. It broke my heart. I tried every trick in the book to try to calm him, NOTHING worked. The only thing that calmed him came from the anesthesiologist giving him more meds to 'knock him out'. They had to do this 4 times. He finally settled down hours later. We were ALL exhausted. Jack, Dan, Me, the nurses, and the Doc's. It's hard to see your little one be constrained and not be able to help or calm him. I still cry when I think about it. I hope we never have to do that again. Rough morning.

I had friend offer to watch KJ and Olivia for the day, but they wanted to be there (they weren't in the recovery room) for Jack. They were so good. It was a long day and they were very good at keeping themselves busy. They were very concerned and very sweet. Jack came to a room full of cards and pictures made by them.

He was very tired and worn out.

They had a therapy dog come and visit Jack. It was the first time he was happy. He LOVED it. I am so appreciative of the people who volunteer their time to help make the day of a sick little one. He spent a lot of time with the dog, they had a special bond.

They finally took out his IV at around 9:00pm after all his blood work cleared and his doctor gave us the Okay to go HOME!!! It felt like FREEDOM!

This is the first meal he wanted to eat the next day. Raspberries and mac n cheese.

The next week we had lots of snuggle and nap time. The snuggle time was nice as that doesn't happy very often. I'm proud of Jack. He was one tough cookie.

He had his check up and is healing nicely.

Next up...Olivia's turn. She is scheduled to have hers removed on the 27th. She will be having her adenoids and tonsils removed as well as tubes in her ears and blood work done for allergies. The only bonus is that we've already met our family yearly deductible. :) Why not get it all over with at once?

Wish us luck...

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

50 rules for dads with daughters...

I found this article online and thought I'd share. Great advice written by Michael Mitchell, a father of daughters. Enjoy...

1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.

2. Always be there. Quality time doesn’t happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she add years to her… add life to her years.

3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights optional.

4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can.

5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.

6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball. Make her proud to throw like a girl… a girl with a wicked slider.

7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.

8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.

9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.

10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.

11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”

12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding day.

13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday. In a pinch, donuts with pink sprinkles and a candle will suffice.

14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.

Photo Credit :: Danielle Rocke Toews

15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day.

16. Take her fishing. She will probably squirm more than the worm on your hook. That’s OK.

17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.

18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.

19. Teach her to change a flat. A tire without air need not be a major panic inducing event in her life. She’ll still call you crying the first time it happens.

20. Take her camping. Immerse her in the great outdoors. Watch her eyes fill with wonder the first time she sees the beauty of wide open spaces. Leave the iPod at home.

21. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when daddy let her drive.

22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.

23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.

24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.

25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.

26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.

27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often. She will be drawn to the water like a duck to a puddle.

28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.

29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there. It’s their loss.

30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.

31. Teach her to roller skate. Watch her confidence soar.

32. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her soul. It’s not bad for yours either.

33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.

34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.

35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.

36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.

37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.

38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.

39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no concept of muscle fatigue.

40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.

41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.

42. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.

43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.

44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.

45. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.

46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.

47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.

49. This day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.

50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Love (and a headcold) is in the air...

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day everyone!!

This year our day wasn't as 'lovely' as it usually is. I woke up sick. I felt like I was hit by a bus. My eyes were swollen, I had a sore throat, runny eyes and nose, a nasty headache, and just felt like staying in bed all day. Unfortunately, I had signed up to bring the food to my kids' classroom parties. I had to get up, load up on all my cold meds, and get going. Mom's don't get days off do they?

I made it thru all the parties, we had homemade heart shaped pizza's for dinner (KJ didn't want a heart, he wanted a football), peanut butter brownies and ice cream for dessert and opened some gifts and packages we received in the mail. And although I had a kleenex stuffed up my nose most of the day (romantic, I know), I still felt loved and felt grateful for my family. Love is all you need.

One sweet story. Dan bought me a couple of cupcake books. I have a great love for a really good cupcake. It is also his nickname for me. :) He also bought all the ingredients to make me some delicious Nutella filled cupcakes. Nutella + Cupcakes = Perfection. He made me rest on the couch while he worked away in the kitchen. About 45 minutes later, I heard him say...."what do you have to adjust for high altitude cooking??" The cupcakes had spilled over and made a huge chocolatey (and smokey) mess in the oven. He cleaned everything up, and started over. He was determined to make those cupcakes for me. Turns out, he used 1 1/2 TB of baking soda instead of 1 1/2 tsp. Oops. So, right around midnight, he finished. The thoughtful gifts are the best. Something that can't be bought. AND HE WROTE ME A CARD which is a very rare occurrence. I love that man. He is so good to me and the kids.

Also, last Saturday Olivia's preschool had a Mother's Tea day and Valentine's program. It was such a fun morning! I loved having a special date with just Olivia. The mother's were spoiled with yummy tea, food, and the cutest little 'love' songs sung by all those preschoolers. They also had a slide show video of questions asked of the little kids. There were some FUNNY answers. Olivia's weren't too embarrassing, luckily, but so cute. Apparently Olivia knows I love her because I play Just Dance on the Wii with her. And I am the BEST chef in the world because I make good rice. :)