Happy 1st Birthday Mason

June 3rd, Happy Birthday Little Dude - as you are affectionately called around here. It has been a full year since you came into this world and became part of our family. I am so happy to be your called your Mom. You have been a smiley guy from the beginning.

You have developed an amazing talent for snuggles, making all the cares and worries disappear as you do, for the most important thing to do in that moment is to give you all the attention, love and snuggles you need. For I know, soon you will be running around and too much will be going on around to take time to sit and snuggle.

You have a big brother who adores you, who loves having you be part of his world. You two share a bedroom together, often I find him laying next to you in your crib keeping you company. He makes sure to keep you happy, finding you a paci when you sad and singing you the ABCs while you are crying. He tries to keep you from trouble either by dragging you by your feet across the floor or by showing off his strength and picking you up. I promise he hasn't dropped you on your head or hurt in his protecting process. Occasionally he does help you find trouble.

Your sister loves her Mr. Mason as she affectionately calls you. She loves to help take care of you, bringing toys to you or helping you eat (sometimes stealing your food). Norah loves to squeeze your cheeks and give you sweet kisses.  Occasionally she gets too aggressive, or will try to pick you up - you both weigh about the same, but Mom and Dad are quick to the rescue for our little man.

You have developed lots of curiosity for the bathroom. As soon as you hear that door open for the bathroom you sprint to the door, going to great length and tantrums to get in if the door is being blocked. Occasionally you are left with an open door and your parents are unaware. You love that toilet, it's filled with water to splash around in, just like a personal tub or pool. You have been caught climbing in a few times, but most just stand next to the edge and reach in. At times you leave the toilet fun behind for the real fun of pulling all the toilet paper off the roll, a pastime for most babies. It's completely magical to keep pulling the paper off the roll...it never ends.

Your favorites include bare feet, your love to take those socks off. Sleeping on your tummy, I love peeking in on you while you are sound asleep on your belly with you legs scrunched up under you. Sweet treats, you have already found your sweet tooth, Norah's been sneaking you peanut butter M&Ms. You love to play with balls, trucks and whatever your brother and sister are playing with.

Life is good. You are growing bigger and stronger each day. You are a babbling machine, especially late in the afternoon and at dinner with your constant mamama, dadadada and babababa. Throw in a few lip smacks and a raspberry or two and a great conversation is in swing.

Happy Birthday Mason - We Love You Little Dude!!!

Zoo Train

A ride on the zoo train is always a favorite. This was our first one since last fall. Grant and Norah were filled with excitement. We waited in line, and then when we thought the next train was ours we were stopped. There was a moment of sadness and frustration felt by my little ones as the train pulled off without them. I told them that now they a first for the next train and they get to pick out any seat in the train to sit in when it returned. The smiles quickly returned to their faces.

They enjoyed their train ride. The rocking along the track was soothing along with the fresh air. Sleepy eyes were settling in by the end of our train ride. Then it was off to home to taking a nice nap :)

Back In His Crib

We were out of the house for most of the day and when we arrived back to our abode at two o'clock naps were in order. Both Grant and Norah were tucked in while Mason was busy cruising along the sofa burning off some more energy. Mason finally wore himself out and when I went to tuck him in his crib this is what I found.

Grant looked so sweet snuggled in the crib that once upon a time was his. While I was tucking Grant in for his nap he was asking if he could take a nap with Mason. He loves his little brother but I'm still not sure what motivated him to climb into the crib.

HOUSE FOR SALE

Today Jason and I have put our house on the market, this will be a bitter sweet change for our family. We bought our first house just a few months after we were married. It was a 'fixer upper' that need lots of TLC. We have turned this house into our home - the floor plan was changed a bit, a bathroom and kitchen were gutted to the studs and rebuilt. A bathroom was added to the second floor, along with a walk in closet turning it into a master suite, complete with a huge tub to take a long soak in after chasing little ones all day. That is the other thing, this is the house that Jason and I went from being a family of two, to one of three, four and now a family of five.

I will never forget my parent seeing our first home purchase, I'm pretty sure my mom cried after leaving and was thinking there's no way I could ever let them live there. For a short time the bathroom only held a toilet, and the shower was just a head sticking out of the wall in what is now our laundry room down in the basement. We learned a lot about how to fix plumbing, add a header to a wall, move duct work, and more.  Most importantly, we learned how to work together as a married couple, growing in our relationship.

I wish I knew where I packed away our before pictures, but for right now they are no where to be found. For now enjoy the after pictures, the ones that show all our hard work completed and that show this house is for sale.

We hope to sell our house and relocate outside of the city where things are a bit slower (not that I think that is possible with three little ones under foot) where we can have a peaceful nights instead of frequent noises that come with living in a city - sirens, trains, cars roaring from the race track or just street racing, street sweepers working in the middle of the night to pick up leaves. We will miss our neighbors and our great neighborhood but are excited for the changes this brings.

Norah's Eye Surgery

OK I have finally found a few quiet moments to post about Norah's eye surgery this week.


Tuesday we were off to have Norah's eye surgery. She had a recession of her right lateral eye muscle. Norah's eyes do not work together. The hope is that if we correct the eye that wanders the most, her eyes will begin working together. Hopefully this will also help her balance and gross motor skills, as well as her depth perception.

We left Grant and Mason at home to have some fun with Granny who came from Minnesota to help out. Norah's surgery was at the outpatient surgery center. I was a nice break from being at the hospital where all of Norah's other surgeries have been. It was busy place, with many families coming and going. We checked in at 7:30 am, and I was mildly jealous of the family that we sat down near, who 10 minutes later was called to the recovery room because there little one was already done. DONE, before 8am. Soon to go home and recovery there for the rest of the day. Lucky them, and they left me with hope to be home by lunchtime.

In the waiting room we played and waited for about an hour - making new friends.

 

Once in our preop area, Norah changed her outfit...

her socks were just a 'bit' too big.

Vital signs were completed along with answering lots of questions. Then is was time to wait some more so Norah continued to be her silly self.

Norah loves to give 'mustache kisses' and would like to give you one as well. :)

Then she was given her goofy juice which has always left Jason and I with a funny memory. Today's included Norah's need to hold her tongue while continuing to have a conversation.

Then Dr. Ruttum put marked the right eye for surgery. Norah and I were given a couple more minutes of snuggle time.



She was off to surgery and we were off to the waiting room. The waiting room had changed from a busy area, to one with just a few families waiting for there little ones to be done with their procedures as well. An hour later Norah was back were she belonged in my arms. I was not prepared to walk into recovery to hear Norah screaming and crying. I thought she would still be pretty sleepy so to find her this way turned my emotions back up. Quickly she settled in my arms a safe place.

Her voices was very hoarse and scratchy. The anaesthesiologist stopped back to say Norah was a bit of trouble in the OR. She started to throw up as the procedure began so they ended up intubating her for the procedure. So once she was a bit more alert she had a popsicle as she finished getting her IV fluids.

Once her fluids were done and she had proven most likely she wouldn't be throwing up again. We were given our walking papers and home we went.

Once at home a present arrived for Norah from Granny. Meet Sam and Molly the newest addition to our house.

Norah only wanted juice from a juice box and on days like this she pretty much gets what she wants. This includes her pacifier which is reserved just for bed time.

Then lots of laying down, sometimes just in the middle of the floor.

Here is the icky closeup of her eye, and a buise on her forhead which no one could tell us where it came from while they had her in surgery.

The one thing that I didn't know or think alot about before surgery was after surgery care. Norah was given arm splints to wear anytime we are not there to make sure she isn't rubbing her eyes for the next week. She's not a big fan, but she tolerates these more than putting the antibiotic ointment in her eye twice a day.

Overall, four days later Norah is doing great. We had one day of  eye pain, followed by a day of poop/tummy issues, then a day of being over tired and now I think things are getting back to normal, I hope.