Bailey's Hernia

So I noticed about a year ago (spring 2014) a protrusion in her right groin one night as she was getting ready for bed.  It was sporadic; I didn't see it every night.  In October 2014, when we were visiting Tennessee, she was dancing naked before bath and sticking her right hip out and I noticed the bulge look bigger.  I had Cristin look at it (she is/was an ER Nurse Practioner) and she thought it was a hernia.  We saw the pediatrician the end of November.  The surgeon January 7, and that takes us to today, February 5, 2015....SURGERY DAY!

Since we saw the surgeon the beginning of January, Bailey would often say her hernia hurt.  She made numerous trips to the Nurse's office.  One day she was there 3 times.  And she visited again a couple days later...when there was a substitute.....hmmm.  So we had her surgery scheduled in mid-March, just before spring break, but with the increase in pain, we moved it up.  She knew it was 2 weeks away.  Then 1 week away.  Then 5, 4, 3 etc. She was counting down the days and letting her teacher, and anyone that would listen, know it.  Even at the park, to one of Sydney's classmates, her brother, and a couple of random kids: "I'm having surgery tomorrow....Did anybody hear me?!"

The night before she had a second dinner at about 9:30pm since she couldn't eat after midnight.  In the last couple days leading up to the surgery, she would say, "I'm just so nervous!"  And the morning of, "I'm really really nervous!"  She slept well the night before.  She was up at 5am looking for Daisy, her new Schnauzer puppy that Nana had given her the night before.  She had fallen off her bed and was on the floor.  It took her a while to fall back asleep and my changing Sydney's sheets due to a potty accident (we forgot to change into pull-ups at bedtime!) didn't help.  She woke up at 8am and crawled in bed with me to cuddle.  She wasn't mentioning how hungry she was so I didn't mention breakfast.  Sydney got up and joined us.  After I showered, Bailey had a bath since she wouldn't be able to for a day or two after surgery.  She hung out and watched Strawberry Shortcake on Netflix while Sydney and I ate.  She sipped some 7-Up.  She really didn't complain too much about not being able to eat.  Grandma came over about 10, as she was going to hang out with Sydney all day.  Bailey and I left the house at 10:40am to be there at 11am to check-in.

We pulled up to St. Luke's and dropped the car with the valet.  We walked in and got a tag to get checked-in.  Bailey and I had just started coloring in her new My Little Pony book when she had to use the bathroom.  We went quickly so we wouldn't miss them calling our name.  We came back and continued coloring.  Bailey said, "Mom, I really like it when you color with me."  A couple of minutes later they found us and took us to a private workspace to check us in.  Bailey and I got wristbands with her name on it.  Hers had padding, mine didn't.  She had us go downstairs to the Surgery Waiting room and check in.  We sat down and a few minutes later a male MA took us back.  He weighed her (18kg) and measured her height.  We went into the pre-op waiting room where she put on a blue spaceship and rocket gown.  She hopped up on the bed and put the heated blanket on her.  She loved that.  The guy came back in and took her blood pressure, temperature, and put on a pulse oximeter on her finger.  Meanwhile, PBS was on in a TV in the corner and she got hooked on that.  Shortly after, Kristen, the Life Care Specialist came in and told Bailey what the plan was.  She brought in a mask that she got to decorate with stickers of her choosing.  She also got to choose a flavored chapstick to be rubbed onto the inside of the mask to make the "sleepy air" smell good.  Bailey knew this was happening because we had watched the video on-line about 7 times on the St. Luke's Children's Hospital website.  The next person to come in was Geri, a nurse.  She was great and explained everything to Bailey and the time-line to me and TJ.  It looked like they were just a few minutes behind.  Suddenly, there was a nurse at the sliding glass door that was making faces at Bailey.  She got a huge smile on her face and she recognized who it was.  It was Deida, Laine's Mom.  She is an OR nurse there and wanted to come and check on Bailey.  That was so sweet of her.  Then the Anesthesiologist came in, Dr. Richins, and she was a 30-something doctor with young kids of her own.  She was really nice and easy to listen to.  She talked about a caudal block for Bailey.  She spoke in easy terms to Bailey about what was going to happen with the mask and the "sleepy air" and when she would see Mom and Dad again.  She told Bailey some people think the sleepy air smells like fingernail polish.  She asked Bailey to try really hard to figure out what color of fingernail polish it was, and she would ask her after the surgery.  Finally, Dr. Reynolds came in at 1pm to sign some papers and ask if there were any questions.  She drew a mark on Bailey's right side so they would make sure it was the correct side to operate on.  A few minutes later, we said "see you soon, B!" and they wheeled her out of the room.  I was holding back tears - and Bailey never saw.  She was so brave and strong.  Duncan, the nurse anesthetist, as well as Deida and another nurse whisked her away and she did wonderfully.  The procedure would take 60-90 minutes.  Dr. Reynolds would fix the right side, then look with the scope on her left side to see if a hernia had started there (10-15% of the time there is).  If so, she would fix that as well.  TJ and I were walked to the waiting room.

TJ left to make a couple of phone calls and sign a chart.  Justin Grimm stopped by to see us.  He was operating with Roman at St. Luke's and knew we were going to be there.  He wanted to be sure that Bailey knew he was going to "peek in" on her from the OR window.  We chatted a few minutes then TJ and left one-by-one to go get some lunch.  It was 1:30.  Surgery started at 1:14pm.

Tucker's First Full Body Groom

Oh wow!  He was scheduled to go to the groomers after Memorial Day weekend, but since we are headed to the cabin, we wanted to get rid of his long coat.  The groomers had a cancellation, so we got in today.  He was gone from 11a to 4:45pm, which felt like a long time, but I just didn't know what to expect.  Last month (4/17/14) he just had a "puppy cut" where they cut the hair around his face and paws.  Here are the before and after pictures!

A week of the Croup

It started with a little puke and a fever Saturday just after midnight.  Sydney had a bit of a fever on Sunday.  Monday morning she woke up with stridor on inspiration and a fever of 102.6.  We gave her a dose of ibuprofen and called the pediatrician.  We could be seen at 1:45.  That worked out perfectly - as we could drop Bailey off at school and then head over.  Also, her IBU would be wearing off and the doctor could see her at her worst.  And she sure took a dive once we got there.  Cheeks red, didn't want to get on the scale.  Just wanted to be held.  Good thing we brought in DeeDee.  The nurse was concerned about her oxygen levels, and after putting the toe sensor on, she was at 99-100.  So that was positive.  As we waited for the doctor to come in, she fell asleep on the exam table in my lap.  I tired to block the light from her eyes with my hand.  So we got the diagnosis of CROUP.  We got 3 days worth of dexamethasone.  Doctor said if she is better on the 3rd day, to not give it.  While we waited for MedNow to fill the prescription, we went to DQ and Syd wanted an M&M Blizzard...though I don't think she even knew what it was, she sure loved it.  Luckily MedNow had a drive-through!

We had just a few minutes to get home and get Tucker out before we had to pick up Bailey from school.  Tucker joined us in the car for the ride.  We came home and worked on that dose of dexamethasone.  She needed 8 ML!  I poured it into a dosing spoon and gave it to her.  Well, she tipped it back and did not like it!  (It smelled like vodka--it did have alcohol as a base-- and had a tingle with a drop on my tongue!)  She spit out everything - just about 6 ml.....but 2 ml was left in the spoon.  So I worked on finding something to mask the taste.  Got some fruit punch Gatorade.  I probably added too much Gatorade, as the volume she now needed to drink was quite a lot.  We had lots of chasers out...even with the Gatorade.  I tried to bribe her with chocolate raisins, milk, even bites of a Cadbury egg!  It took over an hour to get her to drink it. Torture for both of us.

The next night,Tuesday, she again had a fever of 102.9.  I decided to put her medicine in her vanilla milkshake from the Magic Bullet.  Again, in hindsight, I shouldn't have put all 8 ml in her milkshake.  And I shouldn't have let her drink it on the floor of the family room...She had pulled a wooden chair from the playroom over to use as a table and as I was adjusting the striped blanket on her legs, she tried to grab it and it spilled.  Ugghh.  Lost medicine again.  Bailey helped me get some towels to get it cleaned up.  Meanwhile, Syd was scooting over and getting back under the blanket.  I got up to deal with the towels and get the Little Green Machine to get ready to clean up.  Guess Sydney grabbed the chair again, put her milkshake down, and then I hear Bailey: "Mom, Sydney spilled again," in quite the calm voice. Oh man!  I was not CALM! &^%(&^!!!!! More lost medicine!  I had to guess and added about another 4-5 ml to the milkshake.  Another mistake!  And it still took way too long to get her to drink it all.  I think she finally finished it after bathtime.

Wednesday morning I called the Pediatrician to see if we could get a refill for one dose worth.  She was still miseraable and I felt we should do the third days' dose.  Bailey had a  mornning field trrip at the MK Nature Center scheduled and I was on the list to help  out.  Nana came over to be with Syd and cuddle.   And that is all that she needed.  They watched movies and laid on the couch  all morning with the fireplace on.  We  got the prescription  called in to our Walgreens on Apple, but they didn't have the medicine.  The Broadway Walgreens  did.  I called to see if they could flavor and I discovered that Walgreens doesn't take Blue Cross of Idaho.  Oh well,  just fill it and we''ll pick it up and pay cash.   Between naps in the afternoon and after  "dinner" of a milkshake, we started  our quest.   I put in 2 ml with a smaller amount of Gatorade.  Little bit at a time..  Chasers abound...milkshake, chocolate raisins, Pez candy....I didn't want any to be wasted so I did about 2  ml at a time with some Gatorade.  This time it took about 40 minutes.  Towards the end as I was pleading with her, "just a few more sips," she keept throwing  her head back and dropping her arms down, "noooo...I can't do it....."  I said,  "Yes, you can Syd!" and after some pouts and whining she said,  "I  just want love...!" in quite the sad voice!  I wasn't sure if I heard her right, because that is pretty darn funny....but  when I asked if that is what she said, she said yes.  So, 3 days of  INTENSOL dexamethasone......very difficult!   Ohh, and throw in in there 3 potty accidents of stannding there rooted to the carppet while all-out peeing to my afternoon!  I was exhausted....

Waiting to be seen by the doctor...

Watching a movie with Mama...

Lying in the back of the car while Bailey was at Dance class...

Another later afternoon nap...

More cuddle time with Mama...

Thursday morning perkiness...

Friday lunch-time nap...

Tucker's First 2 Weeks

What a busy time with a puppy!  The girls have fallen in love with Tucker and thankfully, my allergies have not precluded us to return the puppy!  Tucker has been adjusting to the routine and the house and the people and we are adjusting to him as well.  Yes, there have been some accidents.   But they are getting fewer and farer in between.  I am doing a better job of reading him (head down, sniffing the carpet in circles) and getting him outside.  It took Tucker a few days (Friday) to figure out how to jump on the couch...which is not allowed.

Also on Friday we took him on his first walk.  The girls and I took him just around the cul-de-sac.   He did a lot of sniffing around...but it was a good length of time.  We will work our way up to Riverside school, and back.

Tucker had his first bath on Saturday morning the 22nd.  He didn't like it too much and kept trying to get out of the tub.  TJ and the girls did a great job.  He did not like the hair dryer, so we just let him air dry.  He sure fluffed up a lot!

Sunday evening we had Grandpa Bob and Uncle Jason over to see Tucker.  They thought he was so cuddly and would be happy to dog-sit anytime.

In Tucker's second week, we heard him bark for the first time.  He saw himself in the full length mirror in the bonus room and started a deep growl with a "woof."  It was pretty funny.  Kenzie was spending the night so she and Bailey and Sydney were around to witness the bark.

It was a rainy Spring Break week so after going outside he would come in with some wet paws, mouth, and under carriage.  We would try to dry off his paws, at least a little bit.

He also escaped from the backyard this week.  He's been using his electronic doggie door quite smoothly since we got the new battery installed for the collar sensor.  I even witnessed him pooping outside in the grass while I was inside.  Yay!  One day, Bailey, Sydney and Kenzie were playing and acting "Frozen" scenes in the front room.  I was in the kitchen and Tucker was somewhere outside in the backyard.  All of a sudden, Kenzie shouts out, "Tucker's in the front yard!"  I dropped what I was doing and ran to the front door, ready to throw it open and start chasing.  But when I got to the front door, there was Tucker, standing right in front of the window, like he had just rang the doorbell and was waiting to be let in.  Whew!  I had visions of him running across the streets and making it to Parkcenter Blvd, dodging the many wheels of 5 o'clock traffic.  Tucker had gotten out by squeezing under the fence on the West side of the house.  That night, TJ put a bunch of sand under the gates on both sides of the house to temporarily deter him.  We have pavers being installed soon to fill the gap.

Tucker Arrives!!!

Tonight was the night that Tucker arrived.  He is our Schnoodle dog.  A schnauzer/poodle mix.  I found him on-line, at www.dominoschnoodles.com.  I started talking with Norma, the breeder, just after the first of the year (2014) and he arrived Tuesday March 18th at about 6:30pm.  He was just under 16 weeks old, being born on December 2, 2013.  He is brown, with gray fur coming out in some spots.  (His mom was a schnauzer; dad, the poodle).

TJ had a huge clinic but was able to meet us at the Delta Cargo building near the airport to pick up Tucker.  On the way to the airport, Bailey kept saying, "Oh my gosh!  Oh my gosh!" and covering her mouth with her hands.  She was freaking out.  The girls and I were jumping up and down in the parking lot as TJ pulled into the lot. We walked inside and he was right there in the kennel, head hunkered down and eyes blinking expectantly...."are you coming to get me?"  TJ picked up the kennel while the girls were trying to let Tucker lick their fingers and carried it to my car.  Tucker whimpered for just a few minutes in the back of the car until we got on the freeway.  I tried to take the corners gently, so as to not slide him around in the back.

It was time for doggy jail!  When we got home, TJ brought him into the laundry room and opened the kennel door.  We tried to let him come out on his own, but he wouldn't.  TJ tried to gently pull him out, but he wasn't having it!  We opened the doggy jail door and the kennel door and pushed them together.  He did some more sniffing and then went on in.  He ate, drank, peed and took a rest.  Meanwhile, the girls took a bath, got jammies on, and had a snack.  Bailey wanted to play with him so bad she started crying in the tub and got a bloody nose!

We got Tucker out for a few more minutes before bedtime for the girls.  When I sat down on the floor, he came right up to me and put his paws on my chest.  He just stared at me for about 2 minutes, unmoving.  Then I felt his belly and it was wet.  Then I felt the floor by my leg and it was wet.  Then I looked at my pant leg and it was wet.  Didn't smell like pee....just dog smell.  At any rate, he marked me!  The girls couldn't get enough of him!  Tucker this, Tucker that, Come on Tucker!  We were discussing what word to use when Tucker does something we want...."nice" or "hooray" etc.  Just as we said  "nice," Tucker jumps up on Sydney and she falls over.  And Sydney says, 'Nice!!!"  Bailey wanted to start training him to sit.  She wanted to brush his coat.  She wanted to put on his leash.  We told her there was plenty of time for all that stuff; he needed to have some time of just sniffing around.  We walked from the family room to the front room and he slipped a bit on the hardwood floors.  He was very unsure of the step down to the front room.  It took him about 15 seconds to step off.  At last it was time for bed.  The girls were on the floor and telling him good night.  Syd stuck her face close to Tucker's and he licked her face.  She said, "He ate my face!" and scrunched up her nose!

Corner of my DeeDee!

Syd loves her blankie….aka DeeDee.  When it comes out warm and toasty from the dryer, she wraps them up around her face and says, "I love DeeDee!!!!"  Her favorite part is the corners, where she rubs them on the tip and rim of her nostrils.
August 7, 2013                                           January 16, 2014

50th Day of Kindergarten!

Bailey happened to be getting her haircut the morning of the 50th Day of Kindergarten.  She was asked to dress up like a girl in the 50's.  Barb put some beautiful curls in her hair.  She absolutely loved it.  Even with some hairspray, the curls did get flat pretty quickly.  When Bailey got out of the car to go to school, she told Sydney, "Now Sydney, next time you see me, I'm not going to have so many curls!"  Bailey got to have a root beer float at school!

Father's Day 2013

This year we decided to hike Castle Rock for Father's Day.  We got off to a little later start than we wanted, as the day was warming up fast.  Syd needed lots of carrying, but at 2, what can you expect?

It was a gorgeous day in Boise.  We had a great hike and some play time at Quarry View Park.

Mother's Day 2013

We had another picnic in the park for Mother's Day this year.  TJ was on ER call but luckily he was able to join us this year.  We got sandwiches from Blimpies and the Doty's met us too.  Kelso's brought their new Kornhole table.  And the kids loved playing at Municpal Park.

Bailey's project at school is pictured below.  A note left for Daddy's eyes only asked him to bring in an empty soap bottle.  They took pictures and placed each kid in the bottle and then filled it up with soap.  What a great idea!  She also drew on the "newspaper" for World's Best Mom.  The pictures are of Bailey and Sydney with their long "Rapunzel" hair.  The circles are their belly's with belly buttons.  I love my girls so much and treasure this time with them as they are still little.  Sydney just turned 2 and Bailey is almost 5.

Sydney: Crib to Toddler Bed

We decided to switch Sydney at 23 months to a toddler bed.  Jeremy and Janelle were selling theirs and we decided to take one.  We thought it would be a nice transition to a twin bed later on, and preparing her for a real bed for our Beach trip in June.  Doing so would also free me and my back of having to lift her in and out of the crib!  We talked about it for about a week before we got the bed.  Telling her she was going to have a "big girl" bed, like her big sister Bailey.  She would nod her head "yes" and her eyes would get big and she would take a deep breath in, becoming very excited.  When the time came to bring the bed upstairs, both girls were running around going crazy!  Sydney helped Daddy take apart her crib.  Both Bailey and Sydney were trying so hard to sit still while we rearranged the furniture and the bed would be put together.  They both jumped on it and Sydney started to read a book!

It was about 8:30 by the time the bed was ready to go.  We did our routine; brushed teeth, read books, diaper change, cuddle time and then in bed.  She crawled right up there herself.  As I said Good Night and I Love You and closed the door, she didn't make a sound.  It was about 7 minutes later before she got up.  I happened to be walking up the stairs and saw her door open and she was just standing there with her DeeDee, not sure what she should do.  I tucked her back in.  Then, it was about 3 minutes before she came opened the door.  Tucked her back in.  The time between got less and less until she was practically right behind me.  I put some music on for her.  Still getting up.  Six times, and it was 9:30.  Bailey needed to go to bed, as TJ had fallen asleep on the couch.  As I was getting Bailey ready for bed, Syd got up again.  TJ took her back to bed and told her if she got up again, he would spank her bum.  Well, that did the trick!  After 7 times up and out of bed, she stayed put and slept almost the whole night.  She got up at 2:something and was crying and heading to our room.  She probably just lost her binky.  We found one and she crawled right back into bed and her eyes were shut instantly.

This morning, Bailey and I went into her room to check her out in her new bed.  (That sure got Bailey up and out of bed!)  We walked in and Sydney waved hello.  I asked Sydney if she had a good night sleep in her new Big Girl Bed.  She happily replied, "Yayyy!!!"  **Today for nap I had to use the "spank your bottom" card when she got up the second time.  That worked as well and she slept for 2 hours!

UPDATE:  Night #2:  Around 2 in the morning I was awoken to the sounds of Sydney's cry.  When I got up to check on her and walked down the hall, I could see she was sitting near the head of Bailey's bed, butt almost hanging off, and facing her door.  She was crying, perhaps because Bailey wasn't waking up.  My guess is that she went into Bailey's room because it was lit up with a night light, whereas our room looked pretty dark.  She had to have climbed up on her bed, crawled over Bailey to get to where she was sitting.  We walked back to her bed and she crawled right up and went back to sleep.  Whew!