18 months old

     He may be 18months old, but he is still my BABY.  I am thankful to be the mom of both a little girl and a little boy because I have been able to experience motherhood on a whole other level with my son.  He is challenging, courageous, fearless, creative, and SUCH a mama's boy.  I truly wish I could keep him little forever sometimes because I know as he gets older, he will not want to cuddle with me this much!   The past year and half have been a whirlwind and I do not know what my life was like without him in it.  Boring?  Surely not because we had Emily!  But Matt brings "toddler problems" to a much higher level than she ever did.  If he can put it in his mouth, he will (seashells, clay handprints, old pancakes, baby soap)... If he can climb it, he will (tables, chairs, beds, bookcases, stairs)... If he can pull it off the shelf, he will (books, toys, clothes, lamps, printer paper, laptops, picture frames)... Everything is a truck or a car (vroom, vroom)... And he is covered in bruises and scrapes.  I think y'all get the picture.  ALL boy.  I promise I'm a good mom!  I would not change a thing about this active little boy.  I love him to pieces!  (and his big sister too!)  He has about 4 words (uh oh, oww, mama, no)-- which is a little "behind" the normal but I know he will catch up in the future! Let's face it, he has been through a lot and probably been stuck more with needles than the average adult.  He points at things that he wants and talks a lot using his own sweet baby language.  He is my most favorite little boy in the World!  Can't say much else than that... ;)

He loves pickles-- who would have guessed that one???

18months-- and yes we are sitting not the FLOOR of the peds office--
he was finishing up his tantrum over reading a book.

This is what makes me wish they could stay little forever...

Vroooom Vroommm!!! Trucks make everything better.  Especially bruises from lab draws...

Lunch delivered to me at work from my two favorite kiddos!
(and my sweet hubby...)

18 months with his truck!

I don't know if I will ever get tired of watching my children sleep peacefully.

"Helping" with Battleship.  He was my partner...

The woes of having a big sister... pink, purple, and baby doll everything!

These gorgeous eyes!!! Color?  Right now...
Brown on the outside, green in the middle, and blue at the center...

Here Matt, let's play kitchen and dress up (at least he is sans dress)

Daddy snuck this picture-- can't beat taking a nap with a baby!

Trip to the Zoo

After a successful surgery and a great summer, a well-deserving little boy and sweet little girl went to the zoo!  This was Matt's first trip and Emily's 4th or 5th time going.  They had a blast!  Pictures below...

Feeding the Giraffes!  

Elephants!

Making scary faces at the fish.

Merry Go Round!  Matt loved it!

And so did Emily...

Checking out the penguins

Feeding the birds

Watching the monkeys make a TON of noise

Daddy and Emi

She went on a pony ride!!!

Matt's Surgery

     Although Matt's first attempt at surgery was delayed, he finally did get his adenoids out on August 14th!  He also had an airway exam done at this time which showed he has a slight "congenital anomaly" (born with it) of his right airway.  They have called what he has a borderline "pig bronchus" or "tracheal bronchus".  This means when his trachea divides into the right left sides down to his lungs, his right side takes off almost directly at the carina.  In addition to that, he also has a "pocket" area off to the side at the site where it begins to branch off, that is collecting mucous from his lungs and letting it sit and grow germs.  Nothing "major" grew out of it when cultured after surgery, but this is probably due to the fact that he was blasted with heavy antibiotics a few weeks before and they killed everything.  I do not know what this means for him in the future and it may possibly be something he grows out of as his body gets bigger and "stretches".  Needless to say, I have a few questions for the doctor at our follow-up appointment but I'm hoping that as he gets bigger, everything will get better.   I don't quite understand it all myself so this is the best way that I can explain it!

     As far as his lab work and diagnoses go, Matt for sure has Transient Hypogammaglobunemia.  The best part about this is he WILL outgrow this with time!  It may take years, but it will not be permanent.    That being said, frequent labs and doctors visits remain in our future.  I told Stephen I keep wanting answers but I finally realized, I do have an answer.  But I just don't like it.  I want to prevent him from getting sick, but unfortunately I cannot wholly prevent this from happening.  I keep him in a "bubble" as much as possible but I want him to have a life still.  We do not take him to church, he is currently out of daycare, and we keep him home more often than not.  But I still cannot prevent him from getting the odd germ here and there, or the same bug over and over again-- and that is what I have a hard time as a Mama seeing because my little guy has been through enough already.  That is what I wish I had an answer to-- a way to prevent him from ever getting sick again.  I know that is not a possibility, but one can wish, right? 

     As we approach this flu, respiratory virus season this year,  please say a prayer for my sweet little boy to avoid a repeat of last year!  I am one nervous mama already and it is still hot outside.  I will be praying to put my trust in the Lord with Matt--to see him grow healthy and strong. 

In the Pre-Op Area

Sleepy baby on the way home-- all done!

Nap time with mommy-- I got in a lot of snuggles that day!