New Ears

Thursday finally came for us to see the ENT. It was a much anticipated visit. I had many people call afterwards wanting to hear the verdict.

We drove to the appointment in silence. Cannon was watching the scenery, the radio was off, and the only logical thing to do was pray. I specifically asked for God to provide an answer at that appointment. That I would leave having a peace about what he said. No matter the outcome I would immediately know what was going on. I even *gulp* asked God that if the answer was that there wasn't anything wrong with Cannon for me to feel peace.

While sitting in the waiting room of an office not specially geared for children I realized I better write a list of things I wanted to be sure and address. The list was short, relatively speaking, so I scribbled down screaming out of frustration, erratic behavior, not able to pinpoint triggers that upset him, inconclusive hearing test back in December, plateau in speech progress. I think that was all. I really didn't even know how I was going to explain that to a doctor who didn't know us. But I gave it my best effort and he listened. I mean really listened to me. I cried, I got the hard lump in my throat, I stopped in mid-sentence because I realized that I wasn't making much sense. So he matter-of-factly said. "Well, let's see if there is anything I can do."

A little poking, prodding and coaxing was all it took to see that there was blockage in both ears. His left ear was completely blocked and the right ear was moderately blocked. He kept referring to Cannon as being deaf. I just lost it. I couldn't look up because I was crying and couldn't stop. He said that a child that can't hear is more likely to be frustrated and aggressive. I was asked if Cannon had ever had any head trauma. Dude, what gave it away? The missing front tooth or the fresh scar on the chin? But in reality I can't remember a bump that really made me concerned. He is a boy after all so yes we did have lots of goose eggs at one point but nothing that sent us to the doctor.

So on Wednesday the 3rd we are going to get tubes in his ears. And as I sit here typing that date I realize that God made yet another provision for us. WOW!!! I am in tears now. I was concerned because Wednesday was our kickoff for the fall Wednesday night program at church and I was trying to come up with a way for me to miss or for Cannon to be taken care of so that I could be there. None of this was really convenient. But this morning our plans changed and there won't be children's church for this week. Amazing how God knew I was worried and helped me to walk through something.

So back to the 3rd. We have to be at the hospital at 5:30 in the morning and should be there for a few hours. After a few days of recovery I am told we should be able to fully see the results of Cannon's procedure. I don't know if it is a surgery or just a procedure. It doesn't take long~maybe 15 minutes total but he is put fully under and that seriously scares me more than anything. I know that God wouldn't take us this far for there to be complications in the end.

One thing I am waiting to hear is Cannon's sweet voice saying his name. He says Nannon and hardly ever makes hard consonant sounds so everything is very mumbled and soft. Not that he talks soft but the sounds are soft. Hard to explain if you don't know what I am talking about. Anyways there are a lot of vowel sounds in his speech and very little hard sounds. Some words that I will miss are ickle-tickle, now-cow, who-horse. Something I am not sure we will ever correct or could at this point is that Cannon doesn't call Mason by his name. It is DeDe. You can very slowly say May-son and Cannon very slowly will repeat De-De.

So I specifically ask from you friends, family, blog buddies that you pray for us this week. That God will be surrounding us on Wednesday morning. That this is the exact procedure to heal Cannon. That after he is fully recovered we start focusing on 3-year-old behavior issues and not always wonder if it is because he is just frustrated. That Cameron and I can be consistent on our discipline so that when people are around him I not constantly having to apologize for misbehavior. I have asked for this before so you can safely assume this is weighing heavily on my heart.

Cannon was so excited to tell people this morning he was going to get new ears this week. I know he doesn't understand what this will mean but it sure does make me smile thinking how much our lives can change by next Sunday.

HE DID IT!

Cannon pooped in the potty.

Cannon pooped in the potty.

Cannon pooped in the POTTTTTTTTTYYYYYYYYYYYY!

That's all. Nothing else~Well at least tonight... GREAT news at Cannon's ENT appointment today. I can't say it enough. God is sooooo good. Update tomorrow when I gather my thoughts.

my reality

I think I need to pay more attention to my kids in the morning. Mason just brought me the toilet bowl brush while I was on the computer. eeewwww

Also, is it bad to fix crescent rolls every morning for breakfast? The boys love them and I can't deny my sweet little offspring something so special. I wonder if it becomes a problem when you do it for a week straight? At what point do you realize this can't be good for my thighs?

Weird feeling

Yesterday Gracelyn started the first day of first grade. She was excited and nervous at the same time. She had a great day meeting new friends and eating macaroni and cheese for lunch. That's my girl! But something I realized at about 10'clock last night was that I didn't have a first day of school this year. I resigned from KU at the end of the school year. I didn't have a classroom to get ready or an outfit to pick out. I didn't have nervous kids finding their seats and I didn't have crying parents. (I always had more tearful parents than students.) I counted it up last night and broke it down into first days of school. There were 13 elementary-high school first days, 5 college first days, 6 public school first days, 3 preschool first days for a grand total of 27 first days of school in my life so far. To say I will miss teaching is a stretch. I love being with my babies more. But I do miss the very first day of school.

Gracelyn was being super cool in her first day duds!

And she let me put a bow in her hair! SCORE!!!

Getting it right

I realized this morning that there were so many things I didn't do to get Gracelyn ready for school.
~I didn't have a hot breakfast for her.
~I didn't have a lunch packed with a note telling her how much I love her.
~I didn't find her other black "fancy" flip flop and sent her to school on the first day in shoes that kinda hurt her feet.
~I didn't read a special book to her last night that would set the tone for the year.

But one thing I did right was pray over her and asked the Lord to grant her wisdom and success this school year. I pray for my friends who teach. That they would have a year full of joy and happiness. That their students would be safe and successful under their care. I prayed for our friends who are starting school for the first time to be confident. I prayed for all the mothers who dropped their kids off that they might be able to shed a few tears of joy that they have done what the Lord has asked of them. To be parents who teach and train their children to be independent and warriors for Christ even in a building that might not be filled with children who believe in our God. I prayed for protection on our buildings and for God to rest his mighty hand on each rooftop and shelter them from harm. I prayed that God would be glorified through our children.

I also prayed for life to slow down. I am tired of saying life is passing quickly. I don't know how to make it slow down but I do know that I want to enjoy every moment of it.

A new man in the house

Mom finally caved into Gracelyn's begging. Actually mine as well. We got a new Yorkshire Terrier and he is just precious. He came from a Yorkie rescue facility in New Mexico. A patient of my mom's gave it to her and she dutifully gave him up to her granddaughter. Mom was reluctant at first and even had to call and check on him a time or two. But we are doing really well and adjusting to an indoor dog really well. He is just soooo cute. His name is Ethan and he knows it very well so we are keeping it although Gracelyn has thought of 100 names to change it to.

And I had to throw this one in there just because he is just so darn cute! :)

ER bill

Got the bill in the mail today for Cannon's trip to the ER last week. Let me break down the glorious news for you guys because I was floored.

ER room~$276.50 (They were in the actual room for 3 hours so roughly that is $1.54 per minute that we have to pay for Cameron and Cannon to sit upon the gurney. How generous of them!)

Procedure Charge~$136.70 (Because 4 sutures is really tiresome work!)

Sutures~$2.70 (must have used the fishing line from a man at the nearby park/lake)

Lidocaine~$33.01 (Pea size amount! Can you imagine what the whole tube must cost?)

Gel~$63.67 (Not sure what this is for because Cameron said they only put lidocaine on him nothing else.)

So the final total of this trip was $512.58!!! NICE!

I personally think that stitching up children should have been a part of the first aid course I took years ago. Or at least a prerequisite for having boys. Or being married to one who has had 27 in his lifetime. Sorry Wade~Cameron has you beat!

stitching up Cannon

While I was at camp enjoying a time with our 1st-3rd graders Cameron was at the emergency room with Cannon getting stitched up! He had fallen and hit his chin on our foot board and had a really clean cut. No bruising so that is a huge blessing. He is a trooper (Cameron is too) and did so well. Don't know if we are setting a trend from traumas around Cannon's birthday or what but this is one tradition I will gladly give up. Sorry for the dirty face he had just finished off the Cheetos!

So blessed!

Sit back and enjoy our evening with us! :)

Preparing for our party

Mason kept himself occupied in the sink while I was icing cupcakes.

I'm pretty sure that Cannon touched every single cupcake.

Showing off his blue tongue and Cars underwear.
Our guests start arriving:

Randall and Lily. Everyone got a chance to hold her so Amy could help me. She was so wonderful in the heat and being passed around. Melissa is showing off her dancing skills. I seriously love the backgrounds of pictures. People don't know that they are in a picture and they seem so random. There are some pretty funny backgrounds in this bunch so check them out!
The cutest 18 month old there!

Bouncing into a good time

Immediately when the kids arrived they played in the jumper we rented. It was so fun and I even got in and jumped with the kids for a while.

Bug Eating Contest
Each contestant got the number of scoops of ants (chocolate sprinkles) according to their age. Then they had to hold their hands behind their back and eat the ants. It was so funny to watch.
On your mark...
Get set...
GO!

Gracelyn didn't want to do it so she held Macy's hair while she went to town on her ants.

Ryan never gave up! Stick the dots on the Ladybug

The kids had to open an Oreo and lick one side. Then close their eyes and add the "dots" on the lady bug. This was a riot to watch. The kids were so funny putting them on there. I would speculate there was some peaking going on!

Mason thought it would be fun to go and eat some of the dots off. EEWWWEEEE

Blaze got caught eating the "dots" as well. Every time we looked over there another one was gone. Finally I think he got all of them he could reach before we took it down.

Cake Time

Dirt cakes and cupcakes arranged like flowers.


Looks yummy Jack!

Gracelyn got wonderful things for her birthday. Some highlights were makeup, My Little Ponies, Littlest Pet Shop set, Sidewalk Chalk set, and much more...

Watching this as I type this blog!! I love Annie. My favorite gift that Gracelyn got!!

"The sun will come out tomorrow! Bet your bottom dollar..." (couldn't help myself)
Cannon opening his presents. He was precious to watch. Each present was his favorite until the next one came along. He played and played and played after his bath. When I finally coaxed him into bed he had not one, not two, but three cars tucked in with him.

Finally the PINATA

It took many, many, many hard whacks but we finally busted it open.

Life could not be more wonderful right now when you are still on a sugar high and able to reminisce over a ton of pictures. Thanks Amy for being the photographer!

Keri