The patient

Here is Jay the day after surgery. He was all smiles through the morning. He enjoyed all the pampering but by afternoon, he was exhausted and ready to go home which didn't happen. It's Saturday morning as I'm posting this and he's still in the hospital. They want to make sure they have him on the right meds to kill the staph infection before they send him home which totally makes sense but Jay was really down last night. We are hoping he gets to come home today.

About one hour after surgery. Notice his big wrapped finger! He wasn't in any pain, just very hungry since it was 4:30 in the afternoon and he hadn't eaten anything all day.

Nick enjoyed vistiting Jay as he got to play with the beds. As I was watching/listening to him I was thinking I was glad I was doing this whole hospital surgery thing with a 9 year old vs. a 4 year old. I have a feeling that had it of been Nick I would be deaf from the sounds of him moving his bed up and down, up and down all the time. On the day of Jay's surgery he had to go all morning and into the afternoon with no food and poor Nick took the brunt of his frustration with that. Jay was meaner than a snake to Nick but as I've always said about Jay since birth........when he's sick or doesn't feel well he's the most delightful child - you just have to make sure he's fed. Ha.

Right before surgery he had some drugs to make him sleepy. See picture below. Before he was sleepy he was giddy.

The finger situation

Jay's finger infection went from bad to worse on Wednesday. We found out that he indeed had staph infection that had gotten into his finger bone. We were told we needed to act quickly because we risked the infection getting into his blood stream - very scary. When I'm nervous I sweat. My shirts were completely pitted out by late Thursday afternoon! It's a totally gross thing but some people pace, some people get really quiet (this is what Jay does) but I sweat. Jay had surgery yesterday at 2:30 and it all went well. The doctor said the infection had made some of the bone unhealthy but he irrigated it and Jay has been on IV meds overnight in the hospital. The doctor is confident this should clear up the staph infection and Jay's finger should heal just fine. It was a very scary 36 hours though. My boy was so brave! I was really proud of him. And he touched my heart this morning. I was helping him get to the bathroom - people who have had surgery or a baby know the drill - you have to get the IV situated and because both of Jay's hands are "indisposed" he needs help with cutting his food, going to the bathroom, getting dressed, etc.....Anyway, after I helped him go to the bathroom he looked at me with his big brown eyes and said, "Thanks for helping me mom, I'm really glad you were here with me." Really, where else would I be but it felt good to hear it from him.
To make this story more amusing, my sister was admitted to the hospital yesterday for preterm labor. My mom spent the day going from Jay's room to Kim's. I also have good news to report about Kim. Her labor is under control and she and Jay have bets as to who will be released from the hospital first. We'll see who wins.

Cuts, bruises, fractures & more

A few weeks ago I blogged that Jay had fractured his finger but that he also had an infection in that same finger. He was put on two rounds of anti-botics and Mike (thank goodness for my husband and his work schedule) took him to an orthopedic doctor three times - all the while, this doctor's main concern was Jay's infection. Here we are three weeks later and Jay's infection hasn't cleared up. The doctor surmises the infection is in his nail now and he's referring Jay to a hand surgeon. Jay is well aware of what will happen and he told him tonight that this time he's insisting they put him "under" for the next procedure. I can't blame him. After the ER incident a few weeks ago, it's not his idea of a good time to be faced with a big, giant needle again. And this time they may have to remove the nail. January is clearly the month for injuries in the Siebert household because Mike accidentally drilled a hole in his hand last week. It didn't go all the way through but it left a huge gash that he's really had to nurse. Mike was helping the Cub Scout boys with their pine wood derby cars and as he was drilling one of the cars, he was also talking at the same time - well you get the picture. It's so unlike Mike though - to make a mistake like that. Thankfully his would is healing nicely and he doesn't have an infection. Between Jay's visits to the eye doctor, the orthodontist, the orthopedic and now the hand surgeon it's been a busy month for us.
On another note I wrote a quick blog last night that I ended up deleting this morning. My mom caught a glimpse of it (before I deleted it) and said she liked the blog. I told her I had deleted it because I thought I was too negative. She laughed and reminded me I'm human and reassured me the tone of my email wasn't negative. I will admit the goal of that particular blog was to just be real and besides that, how many times do I say in my blog that I don't like to sugar coat things? So, this is enough blogging for tonight but in a few days I'll go back and "recap" what I wrote last night. I also have a special surprise to post in a week or so but I have to talk to my mom before I do it. Ha - Got your attention, didn't I? Stay tuned.

Winter beauty blahs

This time of year is brutal on my body and I tend to notice all of my "problem areas" more (Remember the "great" idea of my neck slimmer last year, we all see how well that worked out for me). I try really hard not to gain weight during the winter but I find it much easier to maintain my weight during the summer. Getting outside and taking a walk is much more enjoyable than battling the weather and getting to the gym or working out in my cold basement. The other day a co-worker of mine said she was spending her evening trying on her summer clothes for an upcoming trip she was taking. Lucky her for the trip but we all agreed that summer clothes is not something any of us are ready for. Just the other day I was in a dressing room, trying on a pair of jeans. I was in a room with one of those 3-way mirrors. Really, is there anything worse than one of those things? I look around and notice my black roots first and make a mental note to myself to schedule my highlighting appointment ASAP, then my eyes go down a little and I see my pastey, cellulite legs - which haven't seen a good moisturzer in quite awhile - and I think to myself, "And Mike sees this everyday, poor man!" I always say that moisturized, tanned cellulite is better than pastey white, dried up cellulite. And let's not forget the "ring" everyone gets around their ankles from the socks they wear during the cold, winter months. I don't know how everyone else feels but I'll be glad when spring arrives and I can expose my legs to the sun and get out and move my body!!! Until then I'll be avoiding all 3-way mirrors.

Bath time fun

Lauren and Nick have a love/hate relationship. Kim and I always say they have more of a brother/sister relationship than cousins. They are 18 months apart and can really get into it but as many times as they get into it, I also hear them conversing back and forth in their 3 and 4 year old ways. It's too cute. Lauren can hold her own with Nick too. I've seen her outright charge at him, attacking him at full force. It's a hoot! Lauren is just preparing to spend her life with boys, boys, boys - as her brother Luke will arrive in March! I sure love you, Lauren, you bring some much needed girly girly laughter into my testerone filled home.

Random pixs

Once in awhile my boys will show affection towards each other. They spend so much time picking on one another it's rare that I get a picture like the one above. The boys were both dressed for hawaiian day at school. When I asked them to get together for a picture I expected some resistance but Jay jumped right in the chair with Nick and they both posed. Gee, wonders never cease.

My mom got Nick this USA puzzle for Christmas and he loves it. He wants to put it together and then leave it put together right in the entry way for days. It's really "convenient." This morning when I was making my way to the kitchen at 4:45 a.m. I slipped on it and nearly broke my neck! Needless to say the puzzle is put back in its box tonight. But I'm glad Nick enjoys it and he's learning about the states, although he's obsessed with Mississppi and California. Ask him where those two states are and he can point them out everytime. But ask him where Illinois is and he has no clue - Go figure! I'll be working on that small task before Kindergarten. I can just hear Nick's kindergarten teacher asking him where he lives and him shouting out, "CALIFORNIA!"

The horrendous head piece

Just a few weeks ago I blogged about Jay's mouth appratus. Today he "graduated" to the night gear appratus which attaches to the appratus he already has in his mouth. I would have posted a picture of Jay wearing this horrendous head gear but he is ultra sensitive about it so the joke I made at the doctor's office about how he should wear it out to lunch didn't go over so well. Remember the scene from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" with Johnny Depp when his father makes Willy Wonka wear that mouth-piece to keep him from eating candy? Let's just say there are a lot of similiarities between that and Jay's "new and improved" night time appratus. As we were driving to his appointment today he got very quiet which isn't so unusual for Jay but when he barely utters a word, then I know he's nervous and not happy. He got home this afternoon and shed a few tears but as Mike and I pointed out to him, he doesn't have to wear it to school but he does have an incentive, the more he wears it, the quicker he can be done with it. He was playing Wii this afternoon, head piece and all! Jay has had a lot to contend with lately from eye appointments, emergency room visits - needles and all - and visits with an orthopedic doctor. His finger is still broken and remains in a splint. He returns to the doctor tomorrow and we're fairly certain his infection hasn't cleared up so another round of anti-botics will probably be needed.
Here's to another week - Have a good one everyone.

9 years and counting

I really struggled to come with a creative title for my blog today. I comtemplated using 9 oz (as Jay was 5 lbs, 9 oz. when he was born) or 9 great things about Jay! But instead I used 9 years and counting because when I thought about it, if Jay goes out on his own or to college when he's 18 then he's lived half his life at home and we have only 9 more short years with him in our daily lives. Happy 9th birthday, Jay!! I love you tons. The picture above is Jay with his new snowboard we got him. He LOVED it. One of Jay's greatest gift(s) is his physical abilities. He got on that board and never fell once. He glided down the hills like he's been doing it for years. I told Mike I see a snow skiing trip in our future. He'll probably take to that like a duck to water. Ha.

We did things a little different this year. Normally we go to the water park but we've had to put that trip off for the time being. Jay's infection in his finger hasn't cleared up and his doctor advised us not to go. Jay was disappointed but he knows we'll reschedule the trip. He was still spoiled. The picture above is him on the "saddle" at Texas Roadhouse, his favorite restaurant.

Jay requested his favorite breakfast, chocolate chip pancakes!

This picture nearly took my breath away because it makes Jay look so grown up, especially when he's standing next to his 4 year old brother. Jay is really growing into a nice young man. Okay, I totally just felt like a grandma saying that but it's true, he's a good kid who is growing way too fast.

Mike's parents got him a new sled. When you have a January birthday 3 weeks after Christmas then you get "winter/snow" related gifts. Ha. Jay was happy with all his gifts and even though we didn't get to go to the water park he seemed to enjoy himself just the same. He snowboarded, sledded, worked on his pine wood derby car and had some good grub at Texas Roadhouse - truly a great day in Jay's world!!

Mary Penguin's trip to Hawaii

My dear friend Mary is such a good sport, hence why Nick named his beloved penguin Mary! I wanted to mail Mary Penguin to Mary before she left for Hawaii but time ran out. Nick was not happy with me. Mary, being the wonderful friend that she is and not wanting Nick to be upset, suggested I email her a picture of Mary Penguin (thank goodness for technology) so I did and wa-la Mary had a printed picture of Mary Penguin that she took with her to Hawaii. When Nick saw the picture he said, "I knew Mary Penguin would have a weally, weally good time."
On a side note, don't Mary and John look so happy? The glow of newlyweds!

Welcome Winter

I think it's official, winter is here and Nick wanted to welcome it! Ha.

E.R. "Adventures"

Throughout my almost 9 years of having boys I've only had to make two trips to the emergency room and both trips have involved my older son! I don't think that's too bad considering I have very active, fearless boys. The first trip was when Jay was two and he thought he could use his nightlight as a step-stool to look out his window at a tractor. He quickly learned it wasn't a good idea as his foot crashed down on broken glass. That E.R. visit required some stitches but it all healed fine and dandy. Jay is no stranger to needles or dr's offices in general. Jay has been by far my more "sickly" child. He had tubes put in at 11 months, a wart surgically removed from his foot & his tonsils and adnoids came out when he was seven. Earlier this week we thought Jay simply jammed his finger but yesterday morning he woke up in a lot of pain but we weren't certain if the finger was infected. I was hoping to get through the weekend and take Jay to the doctor first thing Monday but no such luck. Jay and I were headed to the E.R. at midnight and he was in agony - poor thing. Normally, Mike does the E.R. thing, aka needles but the boys and I were spending the night with my mom last night, just for fun. The good thing was we were a lot closer to the hospital! When we got the E.R. we were greeted with high pitched screams from a patient. Jay's eyes got bigger and bigger from sheer terror. Turns out it was an intoxicated patient who had to be restrained! Needless to say that patient wasn't helping matters with my scared 8 year old. Two hours later after x-rays and needles I learned Jay has a hair-line fracture and an infection. His finger had to be drained with a giant needle and put in a splint. I was really proud of him though. Jay is quite a trooper. He handles pain well and is very brave. I'm happy to report he's better today - pain wise - but tomorrow we have to take him to the orthopedic doctor for a follow up. And all this just in time for his 9th birthday!

The dry ice incident

Recently Mike purchased food from Omaha Steaks. The food came packed in dry ice. I am not familiar with dry ice but apparently it dissolves in water - I guess. If Mike were reading this he would tell me that if I actually paid attention during his "teaching" moments I might actually learn something but truth be told, he gets all "Mythbusters" on me and I tune him out. Anyway, when I got home from work him and the boys were doing anything they could to dissolve the dry ice. At one point Mike put the ice in a water bottle, took it outside and wanted to blow it up. I was like "Really guys!"

Notice all the "smoke" in the sink. The boys loved it. My home was filled with gales of laughter - all my smoke!

My kitchen was starting to look like the scene from "The Wizard of Oz" at the end of the movie when Dorothy visits the wizard. Notice Mike in the background blowing in the sink, trying to make more smoke. Those boys of mine crack me up. They are always up to something from stuffing frogs into birdhouses to playing in the mud to turning my kitchen into a smoke-house. Gotta love 'em.

Jay's great loves - for 3rd grade anyways!

Every January I get a little sentimental about my first born and it's not because it's a new year, it's because January is his birthday month and he'll be 9 years old very soon. What a wonderful 9 year old boy he is! I won't sugar coat (there's that word again, sorry I tend to over use it) it, 3rd grade has probably been the most challenging for him and I. I push forward one step, he pushes back two steps more. I'm trying to give him some space but I desperately miss his separation anxiety (from his momma) days. Ha! Jay has a few great loves of his life right now and they include: Shiloh (the book), Legos and the TV show, Arthur! My mom bought Jay Shiloh this summer and he loved it. Since that time he's read the book himself at school and I think Shiloh has only deepened his desire for his own dog but that's another blog. Just the other day we turned on the TV to find Shiloh, the TV movie. When Judd Traver's came on, Jay said, "Judd Travers looks just like I imagined he would." Jay also loves legos. If you would have told me 4 years ago that Jay would spend hours sitting at his lego table building I would have told you you were CRAZY. But that is exactly what he does. During Christmas break that boy lived in his jammies at his lego table, building, organizing, etc...I could hardly get him to take a bath and out of his jammies. Moving on to Arthur. Let me just say Arthur has made me want to donate to PBS! I LOVE that show. It's about a group of 3rd graders and I love how they tackle 3rd grade subjects from bullying, siblings, parents and Mr. Rathburn, the teacher. The message is always is a good one. In Jay's world there is nothing that makes him happier than watching back to back Arthur while sitting at his lego table building!

2010 Recap - in pictures

We spent last New Year's eve with our dear friends, the Ausili's! We are so blessed to have them as friends!

In January, me, Jenny, Leta and Sarah went to see Brad P! It was a fabulous concert.

Jay finally got a 4 wheeler. He was one happy 8 year old. Unfortunately as I write this, his 4 wheeler ran for 3 weeks and then broke down. It's been broke down for longer than he's had the darn thing. Ugh! We are waiting on a part that is back ordered.

In June, me, my mom, my sister met up with Kathy and Tracy. Kim and I spent our childhood with Tracy and her sister, Lindsay. Lindsay couldn't make it but Kim and I and Tracy picked up right where we left off and laughed like school girls. Other big news in June: Kim announced she was expecting!

More good times with the Ausili's. We went to TN and had a ball!

In August we visited my college roomie, Mary and her boyfriend, John. I told Mary that evening I knew this was the guy she was meant to marry. On Dec. 19, 2010 John and Mary got married (just the 2 of them) in Hawaii!

Jay played tackle football and found his passion. He loved it and we loved watching him. I really enjoyed watching him play from a physical aspect but he also matured, he learned how to play as a team! Looking back, Mike and I agree that during the time Jay played football he was truly at his best. It's just like I've always said about Mike......Mike is at his best when he has a lot of balls in the air to juggle. Strange but so true.

Truly one of my best moments and I'm serious. The year I dressed up as a giraffe for my 4 year old little boy will go down as one of my heartfelt mothering moments. Nick loved it and I had so much fun dressing up with him.

A scene I saw often during 2010, Mike and Jay working on homework at the breakfast bar. Jay would not be where he is school wise, if it weren't for Mike. Mike worked with Jay consistently everyday with patience in his actions and kindness in his words.

The beautiful scene we woke up to on xmas day. Truly, a winter wonderland.

Things to look forward to in 2011:

*Jay' 9th birthday

*My nephew, Luke, will be born in March

*Nick's 5th birthday which means kindergarten in the fall

*My mom RETIRES in May

Happy New Year

Here it is January 1, 2011! I can hardly believe another year has gone by. What a year 2010 has been. First off, I've discovered that I love blogging and I enjoy following other women's/mom's blogs. It's my "me" time at night. Mike and Jay will see me on my laptop and ask me, "Blogging again?" Ha. I made a book of my blogs from 2010 and I love it. I'm not making any resolutions this year. When I looked back at my resolutions from 2010 I realized I have the exact same "resolutions" for this year: spirituality, finances, weight, blah, blah, blah. I'm always trying to watch what I spend and I'm trying to take more of a Do I need this attitude vs. a Do I want this? And trying to lose weight is the never ending story of my life. However, I think I am headed in the right direction because Mike is really into planning well balanced meals (and cooking them)! I do plan on beginning my search for a new church this year and that makes me nervous, scared, sad, you name it. I have really liked my little church but it's time to spread my wings and find a new church family for my own family, especially Jay. Jay will be 9 in a few weeks and I can really tell he does not have that sense of belonging in our current church - nor does he care about belonging in that church. Please pray for me as I begin this search to find the right fit for the boys and I.
I'm sure 2011 will bring new Siebert boy stories, new adventures and new challenges and maybe if I'm lucky, my master bathroom! Ha. Happy New Year everyone.