Goodbye Habermans! Hello Evenflo!!

Lets face it, all who know me well, know I am totally into brands.  I might not have all the current designer clothes or items, but I am VERY into my labels.  I think it was how I was raised.  We weren't rich, but we didn't want for much either.  I can remember school shopping at Klines downtown or the Lion Store.  We wore Kangaroo shoes with cool zippers and Nikes.  So, lets just blame my label issues on my mother, that might be a good place to start.  Derek came to me with similar experiences, frequent shopping at Elder Beerman for Nautica and Tommy Hilfiger brands.  He once jumped into the fountain outside of the Lion Store, so I am guessing he wore clothes from there too as a little tike.  I have since molded him into Gap and Old Navy styles.  He now likes his Nike and Adidas shoes, since his reebox ones were not welcome in our marriage!  He is even sporting a new pair of Dr. Marten work shoes!  Thats my man!!  Yes, I only use Coach purses and wear only Teva sandals.  I am afraid I am probably passing my labels-issue on to my girls.  They understand Oshgosh and Gymboree.  They have even "stolen" a few Coach purses for dress up.  I have waited a long time to outfit my boy with Nike and Adidas clothes.   He looks awful cute in his Adidas Tiger outfits.  So, its probably not a shock to anyone who knows me that Tyler's Haberman bottles were just not going to make the "label" cut.  So this mommy is very proud to annouce the Habermans have been put away, way back on the furtherest shelf!!  Finally, Tyler is taking a regular Evenflo bottle consistantly and with ease!  NO MORE HABERMAN'S!!!  Tyler is such a big boy now!  He gets very excited to see his new bottles, and is taking 2-3 baby food meals a day.  He just finished up turkey and carrots for lunch!  I really believe the Haberman bottles were making him lazy and more dependent.  I really had to find a different method before he drove off to college with his Haberman bottle the cup holder of his car!  Now, on to the next project:  independant bottle holding!  My girls NEVER did this, let's see if Ty can thrill mommy with this skill! 

I would like to make a big shout out to all Tyler's caregivers!  Grandma's, Aunt's, and Daddy:  Mommy and Tyler have worked very hard to find the right bottle/suck combo.  PLEASE, do not pull the Haberman's out of the cupboard when mommy is not around to feed him!  He takes the new bottles great!  Tyler is a regular baby with a regular feeding routine now.  So lets all just follow mommy's rules.  (This would not be blogged about if it wasn't a true problem!  Sorry caregivers that Daddy and Grandma Sheryl had to ruin it for everyone to get the lecture!)

All three kids went to the dentist today!  If that wasn't the best party of five outing ever!!  Addy laid quietly getting her teeth cleaned and x-rayed.  Lexi acted like a fool.  Tyler was loving the trip until he fell asleep and then it was his turn.  What a way to wake up, in the dentist chair!!  Two bouncy balls and two happy meals later we returned home to finish preparing the camper for our upcoming trip.  Fun, Fun days at the Etue Estate!!  Let our summer begin!!!

Triple Trouble

The funniest diaper changing session ever!!

7-18-2011 Tyler's Turnaround Day!

What a day it has been!  Tyler slept all last night out of his bouncy seat.  We are hoping to cure his neck issues by getting him out of that seat.  Its the first night he has slept on his back/side without waking up.  He took his first bottle this morning almost happily.  That hasn't happened in the ten days since his surgery.  So later in the day I decided to try a different bottle.  I cut a huge hole in a regular bottle.  No fancy nipples just a huge hole in a regular old bottle.  And much to my surprise, he took the whole thing without going crazy!  He then slept for over three hours, on his back once again.  Then, he ate pears and rice cereal by spoon without crying!  He hasn't taken food from the spoon in about a month without throwing a huge fit.  After dinner, he took another bottle like a champ!  I finally feel like I am getting a normal four month old.  One that wants to eat and is participating willingly.  And not to mention sleeping like a normal four month old too, and not all propped up!!  Not only is Tyler healing well from surgery, but he is gaining huge strides developmentally!!! 

Potty Training Update:  Lexi is now a big girl!!  She is mastering #1 and #2 quite nicely!  She has even pee'd at the library on a big potty!!  She might gain some weight in ice cream, but the bribe is working like a charm!

                You cannot ever be too overdressed to use the potty!!  Mommy could care less what you wear as long as you hit the bowl!!!


Addy has turned four!!  One year older and wiser, or so she thinks!!!  We spent her birthday celebrating at home since Tyler was just a few days post surgery, but she had a blast none-the-less.  She had a Tangled theme party with family!!!

We also brought home our new travel trailer!  We are excited to say the least to use it!  We are preparing it now for our first adventure in a few weeks.  I feel like we have waited a long time to have one we can call our own, and with what we have all been through lately, we could use a little vaca!!

Goodbye Stitches

Little Tyler got his stitches out today.  What a pleasent experience,, NOT!  They need to have a little anesthesia gases available to get that done!  The NP said some kids cry themselves to sleep during removal, not Tyler!  He screamed with his "M" syllable so it sounds like Ma, and sweat like a pig!  He had the paper on the table drenching wet by the time it was over.  It all looks good though.  Everyday its looking better.  We will be able to really see a difference after the suture marks disappear.

Tyler is still screaming thru his bottles.  Its getting a little better, he will take about one ounce quietly and then screams thru the rest.  Its getting a bit annoying, but he is getting his calories none-the-less.

Mommy is definately ready for Tyler to get back to his normal self.  Looking forward to constant full nights sleeps and quiet full feeds.  All with time is suppose.

Chocolate Robot

Tyler and I are home from the hospital.  Our stay in the hospital was pleasent but not restful.  We had no issues with any care and Tyler tolerated everything really well.  But, non-the-less we were excited to come home to our own "stuff".  Tyler only slept for twenty or so minute stents at the hospital, so it was a very long night.  He wasn't fussy, just awake.  We changed up a few things once we got home to make his recovery a little easier.  He was only getting plain tylenol in the hospital which was fine.  But since he has had Tylenol with Codiene which has allowed him to sleep for longer periods of time.  He slept about six hours last night in his swing.  We didn't use a swing at the hospital either, and I think that may have made our night easier.  We are going to be putting some serious miles on our swing this week, as Tyler sleeps in it.  I am more than happy to sleep on our "own" couch next to him, rather than the hospital accommodations.  I am not quite sleeping in my own bed, but happy to just be sleeping in my own house!

We were all really curious how the girls would react when they saw him.  So, last night as they were brought home by grandparents we all sat and watched.  Lexi immediately went to him, pointed at his face and said "mom, Tyler has been eating chocolate".  His steri-strips are of course covered in dried blood, and that translated into chocolate for Lexi!!  Her next comment came when she noticed his arm splints a while later.  "Oh, Tyler is a robot"!!  The splints didn't bother her a bit, her brother was just playing dress up.  Got to love that Lexi!  We never know what she will come up with next!

We are syringe feeding Tyler now.  Not too fun for either party.  He screams thru all the feedings, but swallows the formula any how.  I am sure he does not appreciate the method,  but it seems to be working for now.  Looking forward to going back to the bottle in about a week.

For now, Tyler and mommy are on house arrest.  Its hot as heck out anyhow, so might as well hang in the house.  We are preparing for Addys Birthday Celebration tomorrow.  Not quite the big parties she is used to, but she will be happy with her "Tangled" theme anyway.  A bounce house is coming and will be at our house all week for her.  And she will be more than happy with her Barbie stuff and American Girl doll.  Cannot wait to make her day special tomorrow.  (which is really a day earlier than her actually birthday but she will never know the difference!  daddy has to work 12 hrs on her actual day!).

First Post-Op Day

                                                                 Second Post-Op Day

Day Is Done, Gone The Sun

Parent, RN, Parent, RN, Parent, RN,,,, I have been so confused all day!  Feeling a little bi-polar,,, I am a parent, yet I find myself fixing pulse ox's and talking medical lingo.  After a few minutes the medical staff has asked me, "are u a nurse"?  When I said yes, they said "I knew it"!  I totally feel like I could be doing everything I am doing right now at home, round the clock tylenol and syringe feedings.  I know our first nurse was thinking the same thing.  The only hospital thing happening now is a pulse ox.  It is nice to know his vitals, but I am sure I could have done that in his room at home too.  Oh, well, here we sit until morning.

Total surgery time was just over 4 hours.  Had four procedures done by two different teams.  No anesthestic complications, woke up calmly, acted like its just another day at the U.
People watching is in full bloom.  The amish family is staying in the room next door.  I am hoping they bring me some baked goods.  I seriously saw someone wearing a santa like suit in the hallway with a hooker woman with him.  Odd !!!!  Every child and parent up here has a story.  Kids are all over the hallways with tubes and machines being strolled or pulled in wagons.  Parents are making bottles with special bottles and formula, or storing breast milk.  I am checking all of them out, first the medical equiptment to try and figure out their diagnosis or disorders, then I am thinking about the parental aspect.  Some of these parents practically live here.  Makes me so thankful for all the blessings we have been given, even the clefts.  Tyler is getting all fixed up and he is going to run and play with all the other neighborhood boys.  Some of these kids up here will never be able to do that or never even know a life outside of these hospital walls.  Thank goodness God only trusted me with clefts, anything else would have put us all over the edge. 

Little cleft boy is asleep after taking another four ounces and some tylenol.  Can I still call him my cleft kid even after he is all fixed up? 

Forever my cleft kid! 
ps, found out during shift report he actually had a full rhinoplasty, (aka, nose job!).  i hope he isn't planning on taking after michael jackson!!!

Was The Summer Of 2011

Tyler has gotten most of his traits from his mom.  And he was blissfully unaware of what was happening this morning, just like I have been trying to do for days.  The process was fairly easy this morning.  Awaken early, drive north, park, check in, talk to over a dozen doctors, and then hand him off.  All the while he was smiling and cooing,,, smerking as I said to him "its real funny tyler, just keep laughing"!  So glad he is to young to understand.  Saw lots of older children being prepped and coaxed into their procedures.  Tyler just went along with everything.  He didn't even mind not eating, as long as we were holding or bouncing him.  After our goodbyes, it was off to the cafeteria for daddy and I.  Its no MMH cafe that is for sure!  And now we sit and wait with our U of M cell phone near us for updates.  The tubes are already in his ears, he had fluid in both ears but no infections.  His tongue is already clipped (YEA!).  He is intubated and the plastic team was starting their part as of 0811.  So here we sit........... oh, the phone just rang,, updated by the team,,, and now we continue to sit!!

good bye cheesy smile chunky boy!!

Listening To The Hours Ticking By

I have read a ton of other families experiences with their cleft affected children.  I always thought it was weird when they said they didn't want their childs wide smile to go away.  From the day I found out about Tylers clefts I couldn't wait for the first surgery.  If I could have sent him in the OR on his day of birth I totally would have signed that permit!  Now we are about 12 hours from sending him into the operating room and I think he is good just the way he is!  I have gotten so used to his cute, chunky, cheesey smerks.  Why can't this society just take people as they come,, why do we have to "fix" everyone?  I have turned into one of those cleft families who like their child's wide smile.

I usually have OCD.  I was packed for my childbirths at week 30.  I was probably packed for the hospital before we even knew which hospital I was delivering at with Tyler.  But I have been blissfully in denial this time around.  I told myself I was not thinking about the surgery until after our stay at our lake house for the July 4th holiday.  On the day we came home, I quietly told myself I was not thinking about it until I was finished working two shifts at the hospital.  Last night, Derek and I decided to buy a camper, so a camper shopping we went.  We fell in love with a trailer, and spent most of today working out the details and then finally placing a downpayment on it.  Today when I clocked out of my job I was still talking myself out of thinking of what was to come.  I have been focused on camper, birthday celebrations, and lastly, surgery details.  I did manage to go to the store for last minute things, but also occupied myself with picking out birthday things for the girls upcoming days.  I finally got around to packing for Tyler and I.  I find it kind of ironic that the day after we found out about Tylers clefts we had an appointment to check out some trailers.  We put those plans on hold because we did not know what the birth of this child was going to bring, both physically and financially.  So, I find it very fitting that the day before his first corrective surgery we have bought our first trailer.  Although tomorrow will bring lots of waiting, stress, and pain, Derek and I are blissfully looking forward to our upcoming family camping trips.  With every discussion about using our new camper, we start with, Tyler will be all healed when we......  I think tomorrow as I am sitting in the surgical waiting room I will start our family bucket list of places we want to visit.....  when Ty is all healed!!