It's Official......

.......Landon is now a member of the TUBE CLUB!!!  One week ago today, I sat in the operating room at Children's Hospital Boston, with a medical team of "6", and held my baby boy in my arms as he slowly went to sleep......and.i.was.a.MESS!!!  I tried to prepare myself for that day, getting lots of words of encouragement from those who joined the club before us.  And I must say, after this experience, I am convinced that you just never get used to it!  I held it together until his eyes started to roll behind his head....and then....I lost it!  That was the very moment, I realized that I was the one being comforted by "the team".  It was such a pathetic sight....and I am glad that it is over!!

Scott & I waited patiently in the waiting room, watching the clock intensely, after all this was "supposed" to be a 10 minute procedure.  Twenty-five minutes later we were brought into the recovery room to see our little trooper.  

...........Let me back track a bit here............

 Landon's surgery was scheduled for 7:30am.  We live about 45 minutes south of Boston.  However, we had to be at the hospital 1 1/2 hours prior to surgery......6am...which means we had to leave our house by 5am......which means we had to be up @ 4:15am to get ourselves & Landon up & out the door by 5!!!  When I went in Landon's room to get him up.......both eyes were SEALED SHUT!!!  Yep, total congestion, cough & a runny nose!!!  Oh, and did I mention that he had just finished his Augmentin, two days prior, for a double ear infection!!  That would make 3 ear infections in 1 month (which means antibiotics for 1 month straight)!!  

So to the hospital we go, wondering if they are going to go through with the surgery.  When Dr. Lee met with us prior to the surgery, he examined Landon and checked his ears....and wouldn't you know it....another stinkin' ear infection.  Poor little guy, just can't catch a break!!  Dr. Lee felt that it would be in Landon's best interest if we proceeded with the surgery.  Scott & I agreed.  

........Fast forward here!!.........

Twenty-five minutes later....why....because of that ear infection!!  Apparently, when Dr. Lee made the incision in his right ear....EXPLOSION.....(I won't gross you out with the details)!!!  His right ear had to be cleaned & suctioned out well, and sort of took a little more time than originally expected.  When we were brought in to see Landon he was awake and out of the crib already, a nurse was holding him and they were watching the construction work out the window.  She informed us that that was Landon's preference, and he was very adamant about it!!  Seems our little smiley boy awoke from the anesthesia quite fussy & irritable!!  It was awful seeing him like that, so uncomfortable:(  After some Tylenol, and his milk, we got the thumbs up to go home (about 1 hour later)!!  Landon slept the whole way home.....and when we got home.....he was ready to get back to his regular schedule....PLAYTIME!!!

Scott & I noticed some immediate results, definitely a little more sensitive to sound, and tons of babbling.  It was as if he LOVED the sound of his own voice!!  Over the next couple of days, we also noticed Landon starting to walk with his arms...down....as opposed to walking with his arms up like a zombie.  It appears that his balance is much better.  And now a week later, we are hearing even more sounds, /m/, /b/, /d/ & /l/'s!  He is now saying 5 words clear enough for others to understand: eat (eeeeee, while signing eat), light (liiiiiiii, while pointing up at the light), yes (yeeeaaahhh, while signing yes), up (uuhhh, while signing/pointing up) and Elijah (LiLi, long i) while pointing at Elijah!!!  I'm so happy to see the progress in this area and so proud of our little man!!

Landon recently caught another cold and his nose and eyes are runny again.  Brought him to the pediatrician for an ear check.....and I am happy to report.....the TUBES are working......they were in place & NO FLUID!!!  YEAH!!!

As nervous as I was about this whole procedure, I can honestly say, it is the BEST thing we could have done for Landon.  I'm just so sorry that he had to endure all those ear infections this past year.

  

     ***Before*** 

***After***

Landon's First Steps!!!

Yesterday morning found Landon & I at the pediatrician's office.  An awful cough hit Landon hard.......the result......STREP THROAT & CROUP!!  Ugh!  We were so close to making it through a whole month "sick free"!!  Ok, so we'll try this again in February!!  And we'll keep our fingers crossed that he at least remains "sick free" until after his 2nd birthday (Feb. 11th)!!  If you recall, he wasn't so lucky for his 1st birthday:(  Although we got some not-so-good news.......there has to be some GOOD for every not-so-good, right??!!  Well my friends, Landon has officially joined the 20+ pound club!!  That's right, he weighed in at 20lbs. 11oz!!  AND......he did it exactly 2 weeks BEFORE his 2nd birthday!!  YEAH!!!  BUT......(yes, there is always a BUT in there).....his pediatrician feels that it is best if he remains rear-facing until he gains a few more pounds......ha!......so we are hoping he will face forward by the time he is 3!!!  lol  Oh well, we are one step closer!!

A few posts ago, I mentioned how Landon has been sporadically taking some independent steps.  It always happens so quickly and it has not been easy trying to catch it on film.  BUT, (see, there's always a BUT), I have been determined to catch his first steps so that I could share it with everyone.  I don't have to tell any of you just how hard Landon has been working to achieve this milestone.......MOST of you already know this.  But I know that ALL of you can appreciate his hard work and know what a BIG moment this is for Landon AND for us!!  What better way than to share & celebrate this moment than with our closest family & friends!!

Landon DID IT!!  He just might be running around the backyard with his brothers this spring!!!

SNOW DAY!!

The snow finally made it's way to MA, and we got a decent amount.......enough to cancel school & work.....so we'll take it!!  It was nice to have a day off, ALL 5 of us, and just hang out.  That doesn't happen very often.  I have to say, I LOVE the snow, just not a fan of driving in it.  It has snowed about 3 times this winter and EVERY time it did, Landon has been sick:(  BUT, that was NOT the case today!  Today, I have 3 healthy boys!  So we hung out, were lazy, played games, read books, watched movies, had hot chocolate and sweets and, of course, we played in the SNOW!!!

We were a little disappointed earlier this morning as we looked out the window and saw that the plows had actually done their job.........I know, the nerve I have complaining about the streets being plowed!!  lol

You see, we live on street that ends in a cul-de-sac, so traffic is minimal.  And the street that runs right into our driveway has a GREAT slope (for kids).........to go SLEDDING!!!  Well, you can't sled if the streets do not have snow on them!  Fortunately, the snow decided that it wasn't ready to part with us and gave us a few more inches.  So, we waited until lunch time (when we knew the plow drivers would be taking their lunch) and we ran outside for some fun!  TRICKY, huh??!!!

Guess who finally had their very 1st snow day??  And he LOVED it!!

After Landon mastered the "bunny slope"......................

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He was ready to tackle the "black diamond" with his brothers!!!  lol

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A few more years and we will be hitting the REAL slopes!!! 

SILLY BOY!

So, I guess we are starting the New Year off right!!  Someone is feeling MUCH better and is back to his silly self:)  And I have the proof..............

Landon is finally becoming more of an active participant in role play & imitation.  You can pretty much bet, that any time you ask Landon to make a silly face, you will see one of the last 2 faces.....and if you're really lucky, you'll get both:)  I must confess, the last pic is one of my favorites........it's not very often you get a really good look at Landon's teeth..........I didn't realize how "BIG" his 2 front teeth are..........they remind me of that gum we used to eat  as kids.........CHICKLETS!!  lol