No place like home...

We're home! and Zachary is sleeping away, all cozy in his bed.
After a VERY early morning (we had to be at sick kids @ 6am), one rockstar 7 month old and a 2 hour surgery, there's no place like home.

Yes, my rockstar baby didn't make a peep. He last ate at 3.30am, was woken up at 5.30am and hung around waiting for surgery until 8am...and didn't make a peep.

The waiting room was packed, so there was a lot of distraction and no time to even think about today's date (although we are home early enough that it might sneak up on me later today).

Unfortunately, they were only able to do half of what needed to be done.  They have to wait another couple months to complete his surgery. So in 4-6 months time we will be back there again :(. That was a little tough to hear as it wasn't expected. But we are so thankful he is such a trooper and truly never ceases to amaze us.

A few pics from the day...

6am...All smiles :)

Waiting in the pre-op room with Daddy

The cutest boy in a hospital gown

That Day

...that day, it will be remembered like no other. I sat in the Dr's office waiting for my second OB appointment, having just had an ultrasound two days before. 
That day would bring my world down around me. That day would make me apart of a club that I never wanted to join. That day would teach me how strong my husband and I are and cherish the two beautiful boys that were already in my life.  That day would bring more tears I ever wanted to cry and confirmed a faith I knew would never fail me.
That date will forever be one I won't be able to shake, I won't ever mark in on the calendar, it will never be celebrated with a party, but it will always be an important one...
SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
I know it's still two days away, but even now I contemplate how I will feel that day. And I write this post two days early, because on that day Zachary will be in surgery.  Thankfully nothing major, but surgery none the less.
So I will either be very distracted or I will have a horrible breakdown as the memories of his first surgery will consume me. I have been to sick kids a dozen times in the past 7 months, but never back to that waiting room or recovery room.

...that day, I hope I can use that anniversary to show how far we have come and rejoice in the milestones and victories Zachary and our family have accomplished.

Carter is 4!

Well his actually birthday isn't until tomorrow, but we had his little party today, so I thought I would quickly get a post in.
Just as I commented on him going to JK...this truly makes me feel old. Where has the time gone.
Carter is the cutest, sweetest little boy.  He loves social interaction, is very witty and never lacks chatter. But he gives me a run for my money in the sassy factor :)
He was absolutely the best opening his presents today.  He had a great reaction for all of them..."oh it's a shirt!" lol
I love you to pieces little man, and hope your zest for life contributes to this world in a big way!



"Clutch Powers" Lego Cake



Good News and New Obstacles...

So this morning was a little tricky, but went off without a hitch.  Peyton got to his bus stop on time, Carter was at his on time, Ryan made it to work and Zachary and I were only marginally late for our Sick Kids appointment. Not that it really matters...as you only get there to hurry up and wait. :)

So here goes the good news...Zachary does not need to stay on catheters!!! Wow like music to my ears. He still needs the ditropan to help relax his bladder, but he is not at any risk of hurting his kidneys. His bladder doesn't have the strength to keep pee in there long enough for it to be pushed back up. Fantastic...

On to the not so fun news. His type of neurogenic bladder means the muscle is too weak to store pee.  And if you can't store pee, you pee your pants...
So while he is in diapers, this is not an issue, he can pee whenever he likes. But as you can figure, as he gets older he will need some sort of bladder control. The only way to provide him with this is to surgically close his bladder and then it would be emptied by a catheter. BOO.
So while they are not necessary now, they will most likely be part of his life forever.  Gulp...another emotional pill to swallow.  But hopefully the time I have to digest that one, it won't be so bad when we go through it...

That being said, we are still going to catheterize him once or twice a day so he is used to it when the time comes. But I feel better about this and don't feel the same pressure as I did 3 months ago when we first had to go on them.

So we have about 3 years for a miracle to happen and restore that little muscle in his bladder (oh as well as his bowels).  And good thing I believe in a Big God! :)

A little side note...as the Dr was talking to me about his bladder and everything, I was asking questions and answering questions, he looked at me and asked if I had some sort of medical background.  LOL, I told him my Mom is a nurse and I just seem to retain too much knowledge.  I thought that was a pretty big compliment coming from a specialist.  I guess I'm in the wrong field being a banker! lol :) But you can just call me Dr. Wood!

7 months!

Here we are again...another month has rolled by. 7 months makes me feel like I'm on the other side of infancy. My baby isn't "little" anymore and it also makes me think about having to go back to work :(

But Zachary is a delight and is adored by his brothers.

Firsts!!

So this week was back to school and it sure has been a busy one!
Peyton started Grade One...grade one! I can hardly believe I'm old enough to have one of my babies in grade one.
He was looking forward to it, which made me so happy, as last year wasn't all I had hoped it would be. He has come home happy everyday and his teacher seems really sweet.

Up next came Carter's first day!  This one truly made me feel old. With the first you expect it, it's the way it's supposed to be. But with the second I felt as though I had just gotten used to Peyton being gone and Carter just snuck up on me.  We weren't too sure how we was going to do on the first day as he is very shy...but he did FANTASTIC, I can't wait to hear all about his day (he's a good story teller).

This busy week runs into another busy week next week...
We have a wedding this weekend, church starts up again on Sundays (we run on Wednesdays during the summer) Monday both boys are in school and Zachary and I are off to Urology, Tuesday we head to the paediatrician, Wednesday I'm going to visit my Gramma, and then Thursday I might take a breath, as we get ready for another busy weekend celebrating some birthdays!