May 2013

We have had a great May and have been blessed with visits from my mom, Brian’s mom, and my brother.   I also got to sneak out of town for two days for some much needed rest and relaxation with my dear friend Julie.  I am finally getting Iphoto organized with YEARS worth of pictures so it has been many trips down memory lane. 

Mother’s day was nice and relaxing.  We took the kids to Niko Niko’s for an early lunch and they behaved PERFECTLY.  I was one proud momma. This year I was filled with thankfulness. Becoming a mom is one of the greatest joys I have ever experienced.  Logan and Catherine bring pure joy into our lives each and every day.  They can also bring those not so joyous moments, but I guess that is just part of having two toddlers in the house. 

1 out of 3 smiling is not bad

I am thankful to have a fabulous mother who has taught me more than I even realize was a lesson to be taught.  I continue to gain strength through her and recognize that she is truly exceptional. 

Me and Mom in Ireland in June 2006

I am also thankful to have a wonderful mother in law who is a dear friend and whom I trust for parenting questions, as she did raise Brian quite well.   

Brian and Debbie in Ireland in June 2006 (same trip)

Of course, it would not be a complete month in the Dwyer household without some ear issues.  I had my follow up with my ENT and after a month of Augmentin, I have cleared my sinus infection.  Unfortunately, I still have a 50% perforation (hole) in my right eardrum that will be monitored for the next nine months and worse case scenario, will need surgery to be patched.  Logan had an ear infection too and when the ENT suggested a different antibiotic, Augmentin, I told him I knew all about it.

He is scheduled for his 3^rd set of tubes on Wednesday and hopefully we will get back to normal soon after.

Logan now entertains me at the doctor's offices which is a welcomed change

Logan is THREE!!

Logan turned 3 last week and he is officially not a toddler anymore.  I think 3 is considered preschool age. Regardless of the technical classification, he will always be my sweet baby boy.

He is speaking up a storm now and always wants to chat.  He asked me what my other names were the other day and so I told him that when I was a child some cousins of mine would call me "Joanie Macaroni."  Logan laughed hysterically and will call me that sometimes.  He also calls me "Aunt Joan" some times because that is what his best friend Austin calls me.  So, a conversation could go like so:

Logan- I want a chocolate almond please

Me- Logan, you already had a chocolate almond today because you were such a big boy with poo pooing on the potty.  

Logan- I want a chocolate almond PLEASE

Me- Im sorry Logan but my answer is not going to change

Logan- Aunt Joan would give me a chocolate almond

Me- Really, she would?  Well too bad you don't have an Aunt Joan

Logan- You are Aunt Joan

Me- No Logan, I am your mother, not your Aunt.....

He is definitely humorous and energetic.  His likes include DINOSAURS and anything that flies in the sky (rockets, kaboom planes, blimps, & hot air balloons).  He also really likes cake and chocolate covered almonds.  I used almonds for potty training for number 2 and well, I just may have to change my strategy when it is Catherine's turn.  

As for dislikes, I would say the main one is going to bed ( and we used to have a rock solid bed time routine).  He also does not like it when Catherine is upset.  He says "It will be OK Katie. OK?"  As if Catherine is going to stop her melt down and be like "Yeah, OK Logan"!!  He is not a fan of loud noises and though we generally don't hear too many, it still startles him when we do.

He has added some skills to the have mastered list. Potty training (during day), getting dressed all by himself, & eating with utensils (consistently) are three new ones. Some skills he is currently working on are riding a bike and playing fairly with other kids.  We asked him some fun questions that I stole from a friend’s blog and the answers are just too cute.

What is your favorite color?

Red

What is your favorite food?

Hot taco

What is your favorite toy?

Rocket Key Chain

Who is your best friend?

I like Austin

What is your favorite thing to do?

Cutting with scissors, when further questioned he added,

Playing with his toolbox and with his big airplane

What is your favorite game to play?

Running

What do you want to do when you grow up?

Play with dinosaurs

And Catherine likes to play with dinosaurs too!

What are you most thankful for?

Winston

What is the best thing that happened to you this year?

I got not one, but two pairs of dinosaur sheets

What do you like about being 3?

Big boy bed and getting my own seat on the airplane

Below are some of my favorite iphone photos from his first year.  I need to load my old drive so that I can post some pictures that were taken with our real camera.  These always make me smile!

Bluebonnets

Texas is known for their beautiful bluebonnets that bloom in the spring.  I have to say that each year I live here, I find myself falling more in love with their beauty.  They are just a weed for 50 weeks out of the year, but for the other two, they are gorgeous blue flowers that perfectly capture the spring season.

Dr. Albright

One thing I know for sure about parenting, and I stress the words KNOW FOR SURE, is that you have to love and respect your children’s doctors.  I could not imagine how stressful it would be to take care of a sick child and not feel exponentially better after talking/discussing treatment options with your doctors.  Dr. James Albright is both Logan and Catherine’s pediatric ENT.  He is fabulous and I could not recommend him more.  Now I wish I did not have to see him that often as driving down to the medical center and parking in the Smith tower (with at least one ear infected toddler) leads to quite an exhausting day.  But regardless, the staff at Texas Children’s ENT is the best I have found and I am grateful for their medical services. 

Catherine Anne-

Catherine has (finally) fully recovered from her second set of tubes and adenoid removal on March 20th.  It took her a full week to come back to normal after the surgery.  She had a bunch of wax, fluid, and puss in both ears and Dr. Albright said her adenoids were "exceptionally inflamed".  The anesthesiologist likes to take them back in a “calm” sate.  She asked me if Catherine would be ok if she held her and I said let’s give it a try.  Well, she was not ok with that so they gave her a baby Valium to calm her. Twenty minutes later, I was singing to her and she slapped me across the face.  I told her that I would document the occasion in her baby book but that I would also forgive her!  Poor little thing, she has some major doctor/nurse anxiety. 

Post surgery she cried infant/colic style for 3 days straight.   It was rough.  I guess when you can't hear and then you hear everything it can be complete overload. She also started screaming a short loud piercing scream and then point at her ears and say "ear".  It was maybe cute the first time she did it but not the following 50 times!! She seems to have gotten over this sensation and we have moved on. 

Thankfully.

She got a mild case of croup about 10 days after surgery that lasted for about 5 days.  We have moved past this as well.  Again, very thankful!

Logan Patrick-

Totally into dinosaurs so he was OK with
heading to "ear doctor" because he knew
who was waiting to play with him.

He was running a fever (102F) and lethargic the Monday after Easter.  On Tuesday there was no fever.  However, Wednesday at 4pm, it came back at 102F.  I took him to after hours care at the pediatrician’s office and was crossing my fingers and toes that it was not ear related.  Silly Joan, why would it be anything but? 

Both of his tubes had fallen out of the eardrum (normal process) but stuck in the ear canal, with infected fluid. Basically, anytime you have standing fluid, you get an infection.  I am not a MD but I am getting pretty good at understanding this very basic point.  Your ears have to drain.  Anyway, we started an antibiotic (no choice) and made an appointment for Dr. Albright to meet with us 5 days out as he was in surgery Thursday and Friday.  We met with him yesterday for our “weekly chat”.  The positive: tubes came out of Logan’s ear easily.  The negative: standing fluid in both ears with infection still present 6 days into antibiotic.

So, we go back in 3 weeks to check fluid levels again unless we have to go back earlier.  I have never actually made it to an Albright follow up as we have always had to go back sooner.  Normally, about 3 days after we roll off the antibiotic.  Statistically, the odds are in our favor not to need a third set of tubes.  Only 25% of kids need a second set of tubes with 5% of them needing a third set.  The third set is routinely done with tonsil removal.  Dr. Albright assures me he will grow out of this, as almost ALL children do, and hopefully it will be soon…very soon.

Easter

We had a very nice Easter Sunday here in Houston with Aunt Wanda and Babe.  We did our own easter egg hunt in which the kids quickly wanted nothing to do with the eggs but rather what was inside of them.  I did additional egg hunts the three days following Easter as it was such a colossal hit.

Logan's Guayabera shirt that my parents got him in Cuba.  He
thinks he needs to use all 4 pockets every time her wears it!

I just love baby girl in white.  Her mimi got her this for Easter.

This picture says more than words!

I got these bunnies at Old Bryan Marketplace, my FAVORITE store in Bryan, Tx.