Nathan's Surgery

Nathan had surgery back on Jan. 3rd.  I will spare details as its a sensitive topic of a private area and I don't want to embarrass the little guy.  But lets just say with all the anxiety he had going into the surgery, he sure got a lot out of it.

He had a nurse who explained everything to him.  The first thing she told him after her name was that she would not be giving him any shots.  He was glad to hear that.  He felt pretty good by the time they wheeled him down the hall. 

As his parents we felt a lot calmer.  It was a much easier surgery than Kathryn's.  We know and trusted Dr. Lashley(Same urologist who operated on Kathryn).  And Nathan was so much older is was easier in a way to be able to explain things to him.  He really liked his anthesia, it was hard to wake him up!  Big surprise there, right?

He is a sweet boy-- he got a new bear, a new 49ers pillow case, and a really cool race track!  Plus he was doted on and loved on like crazy. 

We love you little man.  Glad you are feeling better.

Another Birthday!

Nathan had trouble going to sleep last night.  He was just too excited about his birthday.  He was hoping we might give him a gift before school?  I told him that was completely silly since we bought him new shoes on Saturday and Daddy bought him the Transformer Movie on Saturday too that Mommy actually let him watch on Sunday.  So he has already "opened" a couple of gifts-- right?

Anyway, I told him I completely understood.  Seven years ago last night I was getting ready for bed knowing I would be going into the hospital to be induced the next day.  I had some trouble sleeping too because of excitment!

Happy Birthday Little Man! 

We sure love you!

Last Day of Scool Celebration!

I am sure if you have been around the Conser home for the last year or so you have heard the discussion of the "Big Top Cupcake".  My kids saw the commercial and were relentless with their pleas to get us one!  A Big Top Cupcake is basically two cake pans, one in the shape of a cupcake bottom, and one in the shape of a cupcake top- you use one cake mix to bake one.

Fingers showing their new grade!

SO- my gift to the kids was a BTC Party!  I made them each their very own Big Top!  Nathan was thrilled- he told me he was going to smoosh his face into his!  That he did- check it out:

Leila's last week of school was good- except she was pretty sick.  She stayed home her last Friday and her last Monday.  Party in Reading(which is watching a movie-- how many movies do they watch that last week?) was on Tuesday so she refused my taking her temperature.  She went and had fun.  Wednesday night she was up in the middle of the night with ear pain.  I got her drops and got her back to sleep.  The next day, Thursday(last day), around 11:30 I get a call from her teacher.  Leila had been crying the past two hours, but was refusing to go to the office because she didn't want to leave school early.  So I dropped Kathryn off at my neighbors(thanks Erica!) and went down to talk to her.  She decided she didn't feel good enough to stay and it was OK if she went home, they had a little party(They watched a movie- the latest ice age).  So we got a frosty and she napped all afternoon.  Poor sweetheart.  She asked me if she would still get her very own Big Top since she came home from school early.  I said:  Absolutely!  You finished 1st grade, even if you came home early on the last day!

Six on the 6th!

Our little Man turned 6.  He is my daily reminder some of the best things in life are not planned.  Some of the best things in life come like a storm out of nowhere and leave a happy trail behind making the world a better place for having happened.  We love our Little Man.  Nathan proved to me my heart was capable of even more love than I thought possible.

Nathan is very sweet.  He is very sensitive.  When we were planning his party, before he had a guest list for himself, he wanted to make sure we invited some babies for Kathryn and some girls for Leila.  He loves to share his things for the most part.  A new exciting toy might not be sharable for a while, but he is known to give his toys away to people he loves.  Nathan is goofy and funny, or at least he THINKS he is!  He always makes me laugh.  But when Nathan is in a bad mood, my heart breaks- it affects every part of this house.  Thankfully those times are few and far between.  After going to bed at night, unless he is super tired, he always gets up one more time to get another kiss and snuggle. 

Today for his Birthday Nathan wanted to go to Red Robin with Grandma and Grandpa.  We met up with them, and My Dad, who is quite the social butterfly these days, harassed the manager about getting a free dinner for Nathan's "Golden Birthday".  Of course that was not possible, however, when it came time to sing to our boy, the brought him a piece MUD PIE(which they used to give for birthdays when I was a kid)!  He wasn't super impressed with the singing.  In fact, he wasn't sure he wanted that big thing- he had in his mind an ice cream Sunday and our Nathan needs to be prepared of what is coming.  So he panicked a little until he saw both of his sisters eyes grow about ten times their normal size and the drool forming around their mouths(OK, mine too).  He dove in and didn't regret it.  He didn't even feel up to his actual Birthday Cake, which we will enjoy tomorrow.  Lucky Boy!

We love you Little Man!  Happy Birthday from your Family!

Soccer

Nathan really did enjoy soccer even though the above picture doesn't show it(he hates hates hates having his picture taken- if you can enlarge the picture look at that perfect pout!).  The best part was his buddy Jofess was on his team(they have matching shirts from last year).  The coach figured out pretty quick that they didn't need to play together otherwise soccer quickly became a full contact sport.

My sister belongs to an organization out in Hillsboro that is all volunteer and allows children to enjoy the game and not deal with the more competitive side of things.  We have joined in the past several years.  Leila decided soccer isn't her thing.  Its perfect for those of us with kids who aren't sure they want to be competitive and those parents of us who don't have the cash.  Our Nathan is pretty good- we enjoy watching him play and one day might put him in the city league and see how he really does!

The Life of Two

Saturday Morning Video Games

Surgery Questions and tender moments

The kids have been thinking a lot about Kathryn's surgery next month.  I under estimate how much they overhear me talk about it- and they hear me talk about it over and over since I have updated several friends and family over the past week, so it must feel huge and scary to them.

Tonight Nathan asked Jeremy if Kathryn would have a scar.  Jeremy told him yes.  Nathan asked if it could be shaped like a lightening bolt.  I told Jeremy to remember to ask the surgeon that.

He came in a bit later to talk to me more about Kathryn's surgery. 
Nathan:  Mom, how will they open her up mom?
Me: They will use a scalpel that will be sterile and clean to open her.
Nathan:  Is it like a knife?
Me:  Yes.  It is like a knife.  The doctor is very good at his job and will take very good care of her.
Nathan: Is it sharp?
Me: Yea, I think it is pretty sharp.
Nathan: Will Kathryn cry because it hurts so bad?
Me: No, Nathan, Kathryn will be asleep and have special medicine so she won't remember the surgery.  She will wake up and feel some pain, but won't remember anything the doctors did to her.  She will probably cry after the surgery, but not during.
Nathan: Will you be with her at the hospital?
Me:  Yes.
Nathan: Where will we be?
Me:  Your Grandma(not sure which one yet) will be here with you in the morning and take you to school.  After you get home from school Daddy will come and get you and bring you to see Kathryn at the hospital.  I think she will like to see you.  You make her happy, and that will brighten her day.
Nathan: That makes me happy we can see her Mom.  She sure must love us because I sure love her.  I hope she is going to be OK mom.
Me:  Nathan, she has very good doctors.  Kathryn will have a blessing the night before.  Mommy and Daddy love her and you and Leila so much- we will always take care of you to make sure you will always be strong and healthy.
Nathan:  I love you mom.  We will keep Kathryn in our prayers every day.
He then kisses me and bounds off to bed where he relays our conversation to Leila in the top bunk.

This conversation took place with him nestled in my arms, squirming around, his eyes big and concerned.  The love he has for his sister is moving.  We will get through this-- as a family-- and be stronger for it.

First Day of SCHOOL!

The kids were so excited for school!

Well... Leila was. Nathan wasn't so much.  I couldn't coax a smile out of him for anything.  He and I went and got donuts for breakfast for the family this morning, and that certainly helped.  I am thinking this might become a tradition- he is our early riser and we have plenty of time to go pick out a dozen donuts and be back before the others are up.  

Nathan thinks Kindergarten is boring.  In his words, the only good thing about kindergarten is they got to go outside and play.  Leila thinks 1st grade is just a little bit harder than kindergarten, but mostly the same.  She LOVES it, as we knew she would. 

We took our annual walk down to the school, with all the cars backed-up we are glad we are able to walk to school on first days(and any other day when it doesn't rain). 

It will be a fun year to see how they both settle in.  I can't beleive I had a 1st grader and and kindergartener!  Nathan is going half days thru next week, then he will be in full day kindergarten.  He was also accepted into the two-way immersion program, so expect my kiddos to be speaking some spanish to each other soon!

I love these kids-- LOVE THEM!

Odds and Ends

Pictures from the last month that I wanted to share.

Nathan's view(through my camera)

When Nathan is getting antsy- I hand him my camera. I love seeing what he chooses to capture- and thankfully we don't waste any film. This was at the bus-stop on my Birthday. He took about 50- 15 of them where of the van and its tired. I posted the ones that made me laugh. The last one is the guy who usually waits at our bus -stop with us. The back of his shirt makes for interesting photography.

A few of my favorite people

Bad Words, Broken Glasses, Clastrophobia & Strep

Nathan had quite a week. I got a call the previous week about him using a bad word. I know what you are thinking: Your sweet angel boy? He used the K word. As in K for Kill. The teacher felt fully confident that my little monster was not going to do any killing in pre-K, BUT thought I should be aware. My kids are playing rough these days and very imaginative. I promise, they do not play Jeremy's mature video games that does entail some of the K word. He also wasn't helping clean up, so we sent a chart in with him this week to school so he can earn check marks on the days he helps clean. He can earn a check plus if he helps right away. He did pretty good. Not perfect, but who can expect perfection from a kid in pre-k?

On Wednesday Kathryn snapped his glasses in two. So Thursday he really didn't want to go to school because he thought the kids would laugh at him. I talked him into going just to say hi to the teacher. He was right- some of the kids laughed at him. But luckily his cooler than cool mom was there to play with the kids. And baby sister had a trail of at least three little girls at all times who were more than thrilled to play with an actual baby. We hung out for a while. It was all good.

That afternoon we had the cousins over to play. Nathan and Joseph were playing in his closet. When the boys are over and upstairs we are used to hearing bumps and screams. Nathan started screaming and I could tell at once he was serious. I ran up there. I couldn't hear Joseph and I had visions of blood and uncounciousness. Well, the were playing in the closet and knocked the door of the track. They couldn't open it up enough to get out and Nathan totally freaked out. Poor guy! He was really stressed. I have noticed when family will grab him and not let him move (In a playful way of course) he tends to freak out a bit, I just had not seen this fear on such an extreme level. By the way, Joseph was fine and was talking about cleaning up in there. Too bad we rescued them so quickly.

Thursday night I noticed a very subtle change in his behavior. So sweet. So subdued. I thought it was due to his exercise from his earlier trauma, OR maybe he is getting older and to an easier stage- right? He woke up Friday with a rager of a fever. He was bent on going to school because he had the show and tell bag! He couldn't wait to show everyone his precious transformer that always falls apart and mom and dad are sick of assembling for him. I talked him OUT of going to school this day and called him in sick. He layed in his bed all day watching DVD's- exerting no energy, eating and drinking next to nothing. On Saturday he had a rash on his stomach and chest. I am lucky to have a doctor who works, or one of her associates works, on Saturdays and we got him in. Yep- its strep! So after a few rounds of antibiotics we are in fine working order. None of the rest of us have seemed to come down with it- so that is a good thing!

Quite the week for Nathan boy. I learned a lot about my boy. I love him, even now that he feels better and is terrorizing the rest of us.