All clear!

We had Cael's follow up appointment with the ENT yesterday and his ears are looking good (despite the ear infection last week), and the tubes are still in place! The ENT said that if he continues to get ear infections every month or every other month than we will need to do some blood draws to check into allergies to find the cause for these ear infections...let's hope the infections are behind us now that the winter is coming to an end!

We also had his hearing checked again and his hearing is 100x better than it was last time, according to the audiologist. It was fun watching his reaction time this time compared to last test...he was much quicker. After the testing was all over, he walked over to the little animal with the drums and started stomping his feet and moving his hands like he was banging on the drums with sticks...adorable!

His latest thing has been to move his feet really quickly like "Happy Feet"...his new dance! I will try to post a video when I get a chance at home!

Hope everyone is doing well! Jonathan and I are still trying to beat this cold...Cael is doing fine! Have a good week...and GO UNI!

Little Explorer

So the weather has finally gotten a little nicer here...we were able to go outside without coats on Sunday! Cael has loved to explore the porch, the deck, the yard...everything! He has been reluctant to go on the grass, though which is kind of funny...he comes home from daycare filthy so I know he plays in the dirt there!! Anyway, he is doing really well, and is ALL BOY!




Notice the snow to no snow ratio in the matter of 3 days!

Another infection?

You guessed it...Cael has yet another ear infection. When you get tubes, it is supposed to reduce your risk of getting more ear infections by 80% (according to the ENT)...well, Cael is in the 20%. He hasn't really slept much in the last few days, and he has been pulling at his ears a little bit, and really fussy...especially at night. I think we got about 4 hours of sleep last night. Anyway, I took Cael in today and he has an ear infection in the right ear. So, we are doing yet another round of Amoxicillin and now he has drops (which he surprising doesn't mind too much yet). He is such a trooper...poor guy!

Ear tubes are in place!

Monday morning we went to the Children's Hospital at about 7:30 am, were checked in right away, and the nurse did all her assessments (and we changed Cael into the hospital pjs). We had about an hour and a half to attempt to entertain Cael in a pre-op room with various toys. This was more challenging that it sounds...try keeping a growing boy who hasn't eaten for 12 hours happy. He was so sweet in asking "please" by rubbing his chest and pointing to the diaper bag; time and again we had to distract him with another toy or silly game.


Finally at 9:15 am the anesthesiologist came to get Cael and asked if I wanted to go with until they put Cael to sleep. Sure...why not! I will admit it was interesting watching your own child "go to sleep", fight it along the way, then completely relax and give in...kind of amazing actually! The procedure started around 9:30, the ENT came and got us from the waiting room at 9:35 stating everything went very well. The nurse brought Cael to us in the hallway at 10:05. Cael seemed very dazed and not sure what was going on. The nurse said he didn't cry at all, and the post-op nurses said that most kids come back to the recovery room screaming...Cael is one tough kid (I like to think)! They immediately gave Cael some apple juice, and then followed it up with a 2nd juice box of apple juice. I think this is when he realized he hasn't eaten for 14 hours! He seemed to "snap" right out of the anesthesia and was begging (with "please" of course) for crackers. The nurse got his discharge papers ready and we were on the way to the car at 10:25. It was great! We got home and treated Cael to mac 'n cheese for lunch...he loved it! (And I'm not sure he stopped eating since that moment!).

One thing we have to be aware of is water in the ears. This is hard since Cael LOVES his baths! So, we put vaseline on a cotton ball and shove it in his ear! Much to our surprise, he doesn't seem to mind too much (yet at least)!


After his bath the night of the surgery...I think he is back to normal!!
He went to daycare today and "had a great day" according to Deb the daycare lady, so we pushed our luck and went to the YWCA, where Cael also did very well. We have noticed his personality kind of "sparked" since having the tubes placed, and he is actually quite hilarious (I mean, look at the photo above and tell me you don't chuckle with that!)

I actually have to start working again tomorrow...my student's last day is tomorrow! Better get to bed to rest up! Have a great rest of your week!

Brew day!

Gramma Debbie and Grampa Jim came to visit to help Jonathan brew another batch of beer. I should probably re-phrase this...Grampa Jim helped Jonathan brew beer while Gramma Debbie kept Cael entertained (I had to work that day).