ENT

Ian had a visit with the ENT on Thursday. He has had an ear infection and fluid in both ears since December. He's been on 4 different antibiotics and we can't seem to get it under control. After our last visit with the pediatrician, she recommended we see the specialist. So, after meeting with Dr. Reidy, we decided that the best thing for Ian would be have ear tubes inserted to allow the fluid to drain. He did say we could postpone the surgery and try allergy medicine, but he was almost positive that he would have to have the tube, regardless. While Ian doesn't act like his ears bother him, I know they must be uncomfortable at the very least. And, I'm concerned that he's not speaking yet. We don't even get a consistent Mama or Dada, when kids his age normally have 2-3 words in addition to those. In speaking with the doctors and my speech therapist buddies, I know the fluid is affecting his hearing. I'm sure he's hearing everything we say as if we're underwater. I know he can hear me because he understands and responds to questions and his name, but I know it's muffled, making mimicry difficult. The consensus seems to be that, barring anything else, he should be talking relatively soon after the tubes are inserted.

So, with that being said, we're going in on Friday, March 12 for the pre-op hearing test and registration, and then on Monday, March 15th, he'll have the tubes put in. It's only about a 10 minute procedure, and the doctor does not use general anesthesia, but gas, so the recovery should only be about 90 minutes. I know it's a simple procedure, but I still feel bad that he has to go through it. He's a trooper, though, and I bet he'll do better than me!

New Lights and Less Trees

Last weekend, Jim and I bought a new chandelier for the dining area. The old one was white and plain, and didn't give off much light. So, today, Jim put the new one up. I really like it and it goes really well with the brushed nickel on all the other light fixtures. It did take one trip to the hardware store to buy a wire cutter/stripper, but he did a beautiful job and the light is so bright! I love it and I'm glad that Jim put it up for me.

Before

After

Jim also had some help from a very willing assistant. It was really cute, Ian ran and got his tool box and set it up next to Daddy and started banging away.

After that, Jim decided there was a dead tree in the front yard that was just begging to be cut down. So, Jim grabbed his ax and had the tree down in about 30 minutes. Ian and I watched and played in the front yard while Daddy turned all "lumberjack."

Most of you already know what Jim got for Christmas. He had been talking about taking up golf, so my mom got him a starter set of clubs. He's been practicing out in the front yard ever since. Usually, Ian goes out and "helps" Daddy with his swing. His "help" usually consists of taking the club away from him and running around the front yard. Anyway, our church youth group had a rummage sale today, and we found the cutest pair of baby clubs for $1. So, Ian was out playing with his clubs. While he had a club in each hand, he had a tendency to use his left hand for the swing. Please enjoy the pictures!

Changes

I've been playing around with the layout for my blog. I think I have it okay for a while. It might change, later, but this is what I got for now. A big THANK YOU to Jamie at jamespurejoy.blogspot.com. She's so creative. I wish I had a 10th of her creativity!

A first at church...and hopefully the last...

I can't tell you much about the church service, but it was memorable anyway. And for reasons that are not good, and upset and infuriate me. Let me first start out by saying that I love our church and the majority of its members. From when we first started attending, up until now, we have been welcomed with open arms and friendly smiles. Jim and I have great church friends, and Ian has dozens of doting grandmas and grandpas. Our pastor and his wife are amazing. Pastor Liebich came to the hospital when Ian was born, and was one of the first people to hold him.

Now, today, after 3 years of attending our church, I had the unpleasant opportunity to feel unwelcome. The sermon was just starting, and Ian had a huge blowout. I took him into the teacher's lounge to address the damage. 10 minutes later (yes, it was that big!) we went out into the back room. Our church meets in a middle school cafeteria. The large room is split into two by folding tables. The worship area is in the front and the fellowship area is in the back. There is no specific nursery, just a blanket and some toys in the fellowship area. I put Ian down in the back, and he made a B-line for the toys. He pulled the lid off of the toy box and threw it down. I grimaced because it was loud, but I couldn't get to it in time. However, after that, Ian was content to play with the toys, not being too loud, and definitely not interrupting the service. However, at this time, the president of the congregation came back. I have never been a great fan of his. I find him a little arrogant and cocky. Anyway, he came back and grabbed the blanket and told us we needed to move to the back. Basically, I took it to mean that we were being too loud and we needed to move. I picked up Ian, said that was okay, and we went back into the worship area. I was so upset. I felt like I had been kicked out for being too loud. We were in no way disturbing the congregation, no worse than normal. And no worse than the kids that had stayed in the worship area all along. I couldn't believe I had been made to feel unwelcome in my own church. I was upset and furious all in one. I wanted to get up and leave church all together. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep the tears from coming. And unfortunately, people noticed. The only thing that was positive was that the people in the congregation did not feel the same as this man.

Now, I'm a member, and I started thinking about finding another church. However, after Jim and I spoke, we decided it wasn't fair to let one idiot run us off from a church we love and who loves us. What scares me it those people who aren't members. There is nothing to keep them coming back to our church if that is the welcome they receive. Families with children are the future of our church. And, when we start our early childhood program, hopefully, children will be a much needed addition to our congregation. If this is the reception they receive, I am scared that we'll lose them.

So, now I'm torn as to what to do. As I said before, right now, my only reason for staying is because I know the congregation does not hold the same opinion. However, I don't want to be somewhere my son is not welcome, well behaved or not.

Mr. Muscles!

Visiting Friends

This weekend, Ian and I went up to Melbourne Beach, Florida to see some good friends. I met Brandon and Amy back in 2006, when they both worked at Green Tree with me. We've kept in touch ever since. They came to visit me when Ian was just 10 days old. They came to his baptism. Last year when we went to Detroit, we drove to Chicago to see them. It's nice to have friends like that. They're both traveling PTs and have spent every season in Naples, until this one. Thankfully, they were still in Florida, so Ian and I made the 4 hour drive to see them. They are staying in this amazing beach house, almost on the beach. (You have to cross the street to get there, but I'm not being picky!)

We got in late Friday night due to a 40 mile mistake on my part. Ian slept in the car, and was up and ready to play when we got in at 11. He made it to 12:30! Saturday, we took Ian for his first trip to the beach. It was chilly and windy, but he seemed to really like it, until nap time. Brandon buried him in the sand, a wave knocked him over, and he had fun picking up shells.

It was so nice to have a lazy weekend. And what made it even better was that Brandon and Amy loved on my son, so I was given a little break on the parenting front. Ian wanted to be held, Brandon picked him. He wanted to go outside, Amy took him out. I even got the chance to take a nap on the couch...when Ian wasn't napping!

Thanks, guys, for such a great weekend, and for spoiling my son. He was already looking for you when we got home. Hopefully, you'll extend and we can all come see you...or better yet, I'll get you a job at NCH!

(Oh, congratulations on the engagement...Brandon, Amy will be a BEAUTIFUL bride!)