We're Home

Ryan's surgeries went very well today. It lasted two hours, which was longer than expected (giving Mommy and Daddy a stressful hour), but both surgeons said everything went well.

Ryan seemed to tolerate the anesthesia better this time around. He woke up beautifully with no pain and minimal nausea. We left the hospital just four hours after arriving, which was much quicker than last time. We got home a little before 1:00, and we had to stop for a prescription.

He's eaten four popsicles and half a peanut butter and honey sandwich! He is complaining that he "needs to scratch" his eye, but he isn't in any pain so far. He urninated right after we got home, so that was great!

I'll update more later, but that's the report for now. Thanks so much for all your prayers.

Specific Prayer Requests for Surgeries

Tomorrow are Ryan's surgeries, and I thought I'd list some things we'd specifically like prayer for. I know he is in the Lord's care, but the Bible does say, "You have not because you ask not." If you care to pray along with us, we are praying:

1. That Ryan will tolerate the anesthesia well. Last time he was pretty nauseous.
2. That he would be free from infection.
3. For skill and wisdom for the doctors.
4. One of the uncommon side effects from the particular eye surgery he's having done this time is that his lower eye lid could droop slightly. We are praying that would not happen, of course.
5. He will have peace and be courageous! He is very anxious.
6. For a quick recovery, speedy healing and minimal pain.
7. Lastly, we pray that the surgeries would have the desired outcome and be successful. The eye surgery is difficult for the doctor to know definitively where to cut and suture. So much of the outcome is based on things that she can't predict or control...like how his brain will "interpret" the new position of the eye. So we're praying for the best possible outcome.

His surgeries begin at about 7:30 am, and last time we were home by around 2:00 pm, if I remember correctly. I didn't list it above, but of course Daddy and Mommy could use your prayers too. I am much less anxious about it this time around, but it is never easy to hand your baby over to someone else to anesthetize and cut on! Thanks so much.

Completed First Chapter Book

I find it hard to believe, but today Ryan finished his first chapter book, The Boxcar Children. He had been slowly reading it in the beginning, but then the last week started reading it during his quiet time, some days 30 pages at a time! I gave him the book as a reward for finishing it. I'm so proud of him.

Caterpillars and Mole Hills

We took a much-needed outing to our local lake and park, Trojan, weekend before last. We had been cooped up for weeks because Abigail was sick, but her fever was gone now and we needed out! We brought all our fishing gear, but the kids spent most of their time exploring the water's edge, digging in the dirt and running around playing games they created from their imagination. Among other games, they built a miniature Mt. Hood from the remains of an abandoned mole hill and then promptly demolitioned it with an imaginary bulldozer.

Ryan found this beautiful caterpillar, and we had an impromptu lesson on metamorphosis and the wonder of God's creation. Frankly, I was impressed that Ryan held it so willingly. He's usually pretty squeamish about crawly things.

Dig those dirty fingernails!

Upcoming Surgeries

Ryan's surgeries are just a week away now. We haven't really talked to him about it for a while, but recently when we've mentioned that Gramie will be coming soon, he has gotten upset and whined that he doesn't want surgery. Apparently, somewhere along the line he associated Gramie's coming with his impending surgery (smart kid), and he knows that if she's coming, surgery is not far off either.

I'm not really thrilled about it either, but I am much more as ease than I was last time around. I know he is in the Lord's hands, and now I have a good idea how he will handle everything, so I feel better prepared. Of course, life (and the Lord) often has a way of surprising me. I'll just have to wait, pray, and see how it goes this time around...hopefully the last time around!

Cookie Dough Kid

We made cookies recently, and Ryan excitedly told me he wanted to lick the spatula! I knew once he tried it he'd love it. Poor Abby was very dismayed though...up till now she's been able to lick the beater and the spatula!

No Idols Here

We watched the newly released DVD of Curious George tonight. In one of the scenes the Man in the Yellow Hat suggests trying to find the lost idol of Zagawa in order to save his museum from closure. Ryan turned and looked at me aghast asking, "Some people make idols?" I explained that some people did and they worshiped them too. He sensibly said, "But we don't because we want to obey God." It's encouraging to know that memorizing the 10 Commandments wasn't a superficial act, but that he's actually understanding and applying what he learned! I spent most of the day today reminding each of the kids to talk nicely to each other (even banning Ryan from talking for part of the day!) and felt a little frustrated at how they were behaving. It was so encouraging to hear this comment and to be reminded that little by little some good things ARE taking root.

Kindergarten

After a two-week break, Ryan started Kindergarten this week. It was not an organized start to the school year, but we managed to get five days of school in despite a sick little girl and lack of planning on Mommy's part.

Ryan is excited to be in Kindergarten, though he doesn't really know what that means. We're beginning this year with math worksheets, copywork, and reading McGuffey's First Reader. It's mostly review this first week to ease back into the routine of school.

Mr. Independence

When Gramie and Granpa came for my birthday in July we ate out a lot, and every morning Ryan had French Toast. That was the first time he seriously made an attempt at cutting his own food, and he did a fair job of it. But this morning while we were eating (French Toast again) breakfast, he decided he was big enough to cut his own food. He did a great job! There's not much left that I need to do for my little boy. He's so independent. He's learning to tie his shoes, so that's the next things he'll master. It's such a great feeling watching them gain independence, but at the same time, I still like it when he needs me!

Feeling Neglected

The last couple days we have been really focused on Abigail and her needs, and I think Ryan has been feeling a little neglected. In addition to not having his playmate around, Mommy and Daddy have been doing little more than holding Abby all day since Saturday. Then yesterday we were really focused on her and her doctor, trying to get all the information we needed to monitor her blood sugar.

So today I took him back into our room and asked him what he wanted to do. He didn't really answer so I asked him if he wanted me to read him some books. His face lit up, and he enthusiastically said, "Yeah!" So he went and got a dozen books, and for almost an hour we sat together and read his library books. Afterwards he thanked me and seemed to be in better spirits.

As a side note, Friday Ryan got Daddy's undivided attention for about five hours. He and Daddy went fishing, and Ryan did fantastically!

Weird Kid...Just Like His Mother

In addition to cleaning all of our windows, today I cleaned out and organized the kids toys and closets. I started in Abby's room, and Ryan kept running in, jumping up and down, begging me to come do his room! He loves to organize, just like his Mommy. Finally I got to his room, and we weeded through toys and games and clothes, and it is organized. So he's happy and I'm happy.

Preschool Presentation

Our homeschool year came to a close today, and Ryan did a little presentation for Daddy to show him some of the things he has learned this year during preschool.  He did the Pledge of Allegiance, sang some songs, showed a sample of his printing, recited some scripture, read a selection from his reader, etc.  Ryan enjoyed it, I think, and I know Daddy and I did.  Afterwards we had cupcakes, and Ryan showed Daddy his school folder full of all the worksheets and things he's done this school year.



He is so excited about being a kindergartener next school year, but he is also excited about the two-week break we're taking!  We will begin back with school on the 18th of September, and it's hard to believe we'll be schooling for the whole year this time around.  It's also hard to believe I have a kindergartener in our home, albeit, one younger than most.



I am so proud of Ryan!  Though he doesn't always have a great attitude, he is learning to be diligent (he can be done with school in 45 minutes if he's diligent!).  He's learned lots of math facts, his writing has improved tremendously, and I estimate that he is reading on about an upper 1st or lower 2nd grade level!

Finishing Preschool

Our homeschool year came to a close last week, and Ryan did a little presentation for Daddy to show him some of the things he has learned this year. I posted more news and some video on my homeschool blog, if you're interested in reading more and seeing him recite some poetry or say the Pledge of Allegiance.

Daddy Time

This weekend we decided to spend some one-on-one time with each of the children. Daddy took Ryan fishing on Friday morning while Mommy spent time alone with Abigail. Unfortunately Ryan and Daddy didn't catch any fish, but they had a good time being together.

Artwork

Ryan has decided he loves to draw, and he does it everyday. He drew this picture this morning, which for those of you familiar with the movie, is obviously the cast of The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue. ;) For those of you not familiar with it, beginning on the top left and going clockwise: Radio, Lampie (in yellow and hard to see), Computer, Maisie, Toaster, Kirby, and Blanky (also yellow and hard to see).

Library Prize

Our little library has been having their summer reading program, Paws, Claws, Scales, and Tales. They have crafts and special events once a month or so in addition to the regular storytime. Also, each time the kids went to the library, they got a ticket to put their name on to be entered into a weekly drawing.

Just look at those rows and rows of books at the St. John's
Library...and this is one of the small libraries, whoo-hoo!

Though our community is VERY small and despite the fact that we go to the library at least weekly and sometimes more often, neither Abby nor Ryan had won the drawing all summer...not until the very last one, that is! Ryan won the last drawing of the summer and got to choose his prize. He chose the book bag which is very useful, especially since he has his very own library card now. We recently paid the fee to join the Multnomah County Library system (since we were quickly reading through our local library's small collection of children's books), and when we did Ryan got his own card. He was very excited last week when he checked out his own books for the first time!

Surgery Date

We have been patching Ryan's eyes (first one, then the other) for the last two weeks to see if he still skips lines while reading. Unfortunately, we discovered that he doesn't which means that when he's using both eyes he's not transitioning well between eyes when he moves them across the page to the beginning of the next line. The surgeon believes that the surgery will help this transitioning and give him better vision. So we are going to go ahead and have the surgery done, especially since we have been able to coordinate the stenosis surgery and this one to be done simultaneously. It is scheduled for October 18 when Gramie will be here.

Our library had their last big summer reading day on Monday, and Ryan for the first time agreed to get his face painted. Mommy ended up having to finish the second half because he got scared or shy or something, but, hey, at least he tried this year! This picture shows slightly how one eye is a bit higher than the other, though I never notice it except in pictures. He's never standing still long enough to see anything most of the time!

Riding Again

Ryan earned his bicycle earlier this year by quitting his thumb sucking habit by his fourth birthday. He had stopped for months, but then at some point he regressed and starting up the habit again. We finally had to take his bike away and start all over. After some threats of putting on his surgical arm restraints at night (which is the only time he was sucking it), he got serious and stopped again.

Yippee, we were able to give him back his bike last weekend! It's too bad summer is almost over, but at least he'll get some enjoyment out of it for another month or whenever the rain begins.

Hungry & Resourceful

This morning apparently I didn't get breakfast on the table promptly enough for Ryan because next thing I know he has set the table for both Abby and himself, got out the Cheerios and dried cranberries (he loves those sprinkled on his cereal) and put those on the table and is telling me he's ready to eat! He didn't get out the milk but only because he's not allowed in the fridge yet. What a great helper!

First Chapter Book

Ryan has been asking me to read The Boxcar Children again for several months now, and I keep telling him he can read it again for himself when he's ready. He's looked at it a couple of times but apparently decided the picture/word ratio was way too high for him. Pictures are still a very big deal for Ryan when it comes to books. But yesterday he insisted he wanted to read it, so I let him read it during his school time yesterday, not really expecting him to stick with it.

I was very surprised, however. He read the whole first chapter (nine pages with only three black & white pictures), and today he read the second chapter (11 pages with only three black & white pictures)! I knew he was capable of reading the words, but I am surprised to see him tackling longer stories that have few pictures. This is definitely a new adventure that he is enjoying...hopefully he'll stick with it and finish the book.