Happy First Birthday, Andrew!

It is truly hard to believe that Andrew turned 1 today! It seems like just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. Yet here we are one year later. A lot has transpired in 365 days.

For new followers to the blog, you can relive all the excitement of his delivery and birthday here:

He’s Here!

He didn’t go to bed any later than normal last night, but he slept longer than Ella today, which is not the norm. Ella was up and playing in her crib and I got up to get her. We came back to my room where Andrew was still sleeping. As much as she tries to whisper, every now and then she forgets and just gets loud. When I reminded her that it was his birthday, she screamed with excitement … and of course, woke him up.

When Sam got home from work, we whipped up some breakfast and had some well deserved family time. We snapped a few first birthday photos and then got ready for a day at the park. It was just beautiful today with temperatures up near 70. The sun made it feel a whole lot warmer.

We drove through and grabbed lunch and brought it to the park for a picnic lunch. There is a small park about 20 minutes away and it was just perfect. There was a playground with playscape and swings and a pavilion with picnic tables where we ate. There is a trail that you can walk with a small creek and fall colors.

Sam and Andrew explored the tennis courts and playground while I sat with Ella as she finished her lunch. When she was finished, we walked over to them. Sam asked if Ella wanted to show me where she had seen some ducks the last time they were there. She said she’d rather play on the playground, so Andrew and I took a walk over.

There is a little bridge that overlooks the creek and he loved just walking on it and looking down at the creek.

We were at the park for quite a while enjoying the day. We didn’t leave until it was close to nap time. Andrew wound up falling asleep in the car, which worked out because Sam wanted to stop and pick up some balloons for him. When we got home, Sam wanted to take a short nap before dinner.

Her mom stopped by to drop off Andrew’s birthday gift and brought their dog Toodles! We all love that dog! The kids loved that she was here and we all went outside and ran around with her. I wish I had gotten some pictures of that!

We had planned on making a chicken and rice dish for dinner, but I neglected to pull chicken out to thaw, so I wound up running to the store and picking up a rotisserie chicken. We made some green beans and mac and cheese to go with it.

After dinner, Andrew opened his birthday gifts and played with his new Little People School Bus before it was time for cake. We sang Happy Birthday and we gave him his cake.

Unlike the day of his cake smash pictures, this time, Andrew REALLY chowed down on this cake!!

It was very fun to watch. He just kept grabbing chunks of cake and stuffing his face. I swear, he ate 3/4 of that cake! I’m surprised he fell asleep tonight after eating all that sugar!!

He snuggled up with mommy and fell asleep on her tonight. It was just beautiful. Sam mentioned to me last night, she never really understood just how different it is in regard to the mother/son bond. She loved them both the same, but that bond is a little different. I explained that I totally understood what she was saying because I feel the same way with Ella. That daddy/daughter bond is really special.

Sam, Ella, and the birthday boy are all asleep as I write this. I think back over the last year and remember so many wonderful memories. He certainly has given us a run for our money. Plenty of after hours urgent care visits, a few months with his helmet, fracture of his foot, and all kinds of other things.

His sleep study showed he had sever sleep apnea. He was diagnosed with Laryngomalacia, which is some extra tissue on the larynx which can cause apnea and other issues. He goes in for surgery on Thursday to correct this. His sleep doc is also worried about whether or not the apnea caused some heart issues, so next week we have to go for an echocardiogram for him. We’re praying that all goes well with the surgery and the echo.

Before he has surgery, he had to get a COVID test. I had to take him in for it and I was totally prepared for a lot of crying. I just knew that it was going to be awful for him to be swabbed. The nurse came in, swabbed him, he made a face and there were no tears! I literally snapped this picture like 20 seconds after the swab.

What a blessing he is to us. As I said on Facebook today:

One year. 365 days. What an amazing trip around the sun it has been for our Andrew Joseph! He is unique and wonderful in so many ways!

This amazing little guy has brought even more happiness to our home. His bright blue eyes light up the room. His smile is contagious. His laughter is joyful noise.

His happy dance makes us all giggle with delight. He is a good little brother, even though Ella has said that he “drives me crazy!”. I have no doubt these two will be best friends. Thank you, God, for allowing me to be “dad” to these two amazing kids!!

Happy birthday, AJ! Thank you for a wonderful year of memories and milestones. We can’t wait to see what the years ahead will bring….

I love you, son.

Sam posted this:

Andrew Joseph-

Today you are ONE! This momma might be in a bit of denial that you aren’t my tiny baby anymore. Even though you are my second baby, you have definitely taught me how to be a momma in a whole new way. You taught me to listen to my momma gut when something isn’t right. You have taught me to fight for answers and pray harder then ever.

Andrew you are fierce and determined! You will not let anything stop you. Your sister might be bigger but you have no issues pulling her to the floor by her hair if it means getting your toy back. You will find a way to get to whatever you want. Even if it isn’t always the safest. There is a reason we call you Bamm Bamm.

You are brilliant! There is not a single gate, or baby proof tab or lock that you haven’t mastered. All it takes is one time of you watching and you know how to do it.

You are so loving! You have always been busy, but you are the first to always snuggle your momma. You still have yet to ever nap somewhere that isn’t in my arms and 99% of the time that is where you are all night too. You fall asleep with my lips on your forehead every single night. And it is secretly my favorite part of the day.

You have the best smile and the brightest eyes and we love you more than you know! Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

I have said it before, but it is worth repeating – I am a truly blessed man.

Happy Birthday, AJ! You are so special to us.

I love you,

Daddy

That was “interesting” … and uncomfortable!

Remember a while ago when I blogged about working midnights? Yesterday was an example of just what kind of toll it can take on a person when you don’t get a lot of sleep. Let me tell you about it.

Because I wanted to make sure I spent some time with Ella for her birthday, my sleep consisted of naps Thursday. On a typical day, the amount of sleep I got would get me through the night at work and through the drive home. Once home, I could just go right to bed.

Last night, my patient was a difficult one. Not difficult as far as personality or anything like that, but difficult in the sense of “challenging.” The study was one that kept me on my toes and busy all night. By the time I was ready to clock out, I was exhausted and ready to go home.

Sam knew that I had limited sleep and she called me to make sure I was ok to drive home. Around 7:50am, another call beeped in. I saw on the Caller ID that the Hospital was calling me. In a fog, I put Sam on hold and answered it. “Is this Mr. Keith?” the voice asked me. I told her it was me and she told me that I had missed my appointment.

At that moment, the midnight guy in me came out as I realized it was not Thursday anymore (despite the fact that in my mind it was), but Friday. I had scheduled a Covid Test for Friday morning, because I have a minor surgery coming up on Tuesday. “Oh my gosh, it is Friday! I am so sorry!” I told the woman on the line. She asked if I could still make it, because they could find a way to squeeze me in.

The problem was that I was almost home and a good hour away from where I had scheduled the test! I asked if I could do it the Saturday morning, but that would be too late. It had to be done this morning. Now I begin to panic. I panic because I have already planned transportation, took time off work, and got everything in order so that I can get this surgery done. No Covid test – no surgery.

The gal explained that if I go to any urgent care and have it done, they will usually email results. The problem is, because I am not having symptoms, they may charge me. So that is out. I remembered that there was a Beaumont Urgent Care about 30-45 minutes away (which is a little closer) and that if they did it, the results would be readily available in my chart for the docs to see. I wouldn’t have to worry about printing off an email or getting a piece of paper with results to bring with me to the surgery. The gal said that it should be ok to go there. So I jump off Northbound I-75 and get back on Southbound I-75 and head to the urgent care.

While the roads weren’t terrible, it was a slow go because of the snow that came down this morning. By the time I turned around and headed south, the roads seemed to be more wet than slippery. Luckily, they were able to get me in as a “walk in” and there was no one waiting. I would say I was there about 20 minutes – tops.

I’m not sure if it was the panic I had experienced earlier or what, but despite being exhausted, I actually felt awake. The nurse took my blood pressure (which was spot on – 122/81) and then the PA came in. He looked in the nose and throat, listened to my lungs, and then said they’d be in to swab.

This was my first Covid swab and up until now I only know what I have read from people who had it done. I wasn’t sure what to expect. The gal came in and asked me to put my head back and she began to swab.

When she finished with the first nostril I thought, “That wasn’t so bad.” It wasn’t until she did the other nostril that I really felt anything weird. I’m not even sure “weird” describes it well. Was there any pain? No. It tickled like crazy and immediately brought tears to my eyes. I was stumped as to why I didn’t get that sensation after the first nostril was done. Once my eyes started watering and the swab was removed I started feeling something even stranger. I am not sure I can explain it.

Burning? No. Tickling? A bit. Itching? I wouldn’t call it that, although I had to pinch my nose and tweek it so the feeling would go away. It was almost like a sneeze without the sneeze. It was just bizarre! Maybe you can help me describe it better. If so, please chime in!

By the time I got home it was after 10am. I don’t have to tell you that once my head hit the pillow I was out cold. What a morning!

So now I wait. As of 5pm today, no results yet. I’m not worried, as I have no symptoms, but I’ll keep on checking …

“I’m sorry, baby”

There are things that you do as a parent that you hate, but you know you have to do them. With my boys, I was always the one who took them to get their shots. There is no worse feeling as a parent than having your child look at you as you hold them down so the nurse can administer the shot. You feel like you are betraying them. It is truly an awful feeling. You know that you are doing what you need to do, but it rips your heart out!

Sam has scheduled most of Ella’s shots on days that she is off work and I work. I have told her that I would take her and she doesn’t need to always be the one to do that. She says she knows, but she feels that Ella “needs her mommy” for comfort after those pokes.

So Ella is having surgery this week to put tubes in her ears. She’s had one too many ear infections and the ENT said tubes will help. Here is the catch, before she can do the surgery, she had to have a Covid test done. It had to be done during a specific time frame, in this case Sunday or Monday. Sam works both days, so I was the one who took her to have it done.

It had to be done at either the hospital or one of the hospital affiliated Urgent Care facilities. The hospital is an hour and 15 minutes from home, where as the closest Urgent Care was about 55 minutes away. So we had to schedule a Virtual Visit with a doc on Sunday, in order to be able to get the actual Covid test done on Monday.

When I arrived they told me to bring her inside, because it would be difficult to do a curbside swab on someone her age. They brought us right back to the room, and Ella began to cry before anything even happened. She’s had enough shots to recognize an exam room and was probably thinking she was getting another one.

When the nurse entered with the swab, Ella began to cry even more. The nurse told me to cross her arms and hold them with one arm. I was then to hold her head against my chest so they could do the swab. Let me tell you, that girl of mine is strong! I had a hard time holding her. She fought big time. As soon as it was all over, I held her and she gave me the “Why did you let them do that, daddy?” look. I hate that look.

I kept telling her I was sorry. It breaks my heart to see her like that. Once we left the building, I held her in the parking lot and calmed her down before putting her in her car seat. I found a light up toy and that made her smile. I was so glad her mood changed quickly. Of course, I had to treat her to pancakes at McDonalds for being so brave.