Tonsils 2.0

Tonsils, take 2! This last Tuesday, the 8th, Grant had his tonsils and adenoids out! (adenoids is not easy to spell, but I've gotten plenty of opportunity to perfect it!) The same Dr. McMasters took Grant's out and he said that his adenoids were blocking 90% of his nasal passageway. So imagine number 4 on this diagram below enlarged to mostly filling that cavity they are in.


Grant breathes through his nose now, something he hasn't ever done on a regular basis. He is doing great now; eating and drinking and playing and done with the medicine. He did not like the pain medication they prescribed and would fight every dose. He didn't eat or drink as much as Mairyn did, but then again, they are unique children in their own rights. He wasn't as nauseated as Mairyn was and so, went home from the hospital sooner, but he was more stubborn about everything. I'm glad we have this behind us and I won't be dealing with so many sore throats and fevers this next year. YAY!!

My Kitchen Makeover

My kitchen was white, all white, the cabinets have stared at me like blank canvases this whole time. I'm sorry I don't have "before" pictures, but you can imagine them white, not too hard. I love the silhouette style, so I did some experimenting, and it turned out just how I wanted. It's all freehand, medium is acrylics.

Mairyn and the Tonsils

On Thursday, Mairyn had her Tonsils and Adenoids out! We had to be at the hospital by 6:45 am, bright and early. An hour before we arrived at the hospital, I had to put some numbing cream on her hands, that way the I.V. wasn't as memorable. Although, they doped her up with some Versed (a twilight medication) and she was flying high. She was hallucinating that people were flying around her, waving her arms to shoo them away. They gave her a little teddy bear upon admittance. She named in Adrian and promptly forgot, we named that bear several times.


They came and got Mairyn at about 10 after 8 and she was back in her room an hour later! Mairyn had asked them if they could save her tonsils so she could see them, and they complied. When she was brought back from recovery, she had these puffy eyes, was really groggy but she had her little jar with tonsils and she was holding them aloft like a trophy! I don't see how she could breathe or swallow with those things in her throat, they were the size of Aggie marbles! (I took a picture, bu they were just too gross to post) She was pretty nauseous and out of it most of the day, but we finally left at 2 pm. When check-out time came, they gave her a couple options for mode of transportation. They have a pillow padded wagon or a wheelchair. They also said I could just carry her out, but Mairyn piped up and voted for the wheelchair. A neighbor that is a nurse at the hospital, brought her a coloring book for kids to prepare them for their visit. In the coloring book, they said that when you leave the hospital, you would leave in a wheelchair. So, she left in a wheelchair.


Mairyn is doing great now; it's amazing that it was only two days ago. She has a bit of a sore throat and still just prefers yogurt and juice, but she is generally in a good mood, that Tylenol with codeine is wonderful!!

Flights and Fights!

Well, here we are, T-minus 12 hours until we leave! I am all ready, about 95% there. Just charging electronics, getting the toiletries together and thinking that I must be missing something! I always over-pack! I start out with good intentions, but things just keep hopping into the suitcases. Although I think we may be very close to perfection for this trip. Only two suitcases to check and our backpacks as carry-ons. Yes, you heard me right, Lydia really is packing and checking suitcases. I usually just send two medium boxes with all our stuff and we go bag-free, but I just didn't get my act together soon enough this time and we would have been waiting for clothes on the other end. That and Spencer is traveling with me to the States. Again, not usual. I'm always doing this alone. Entering the U.S. is usually more of a pain than exiting. You have to collect your suitcases, recheck them, etc. and I don't like to deal with that when I have 4 kids in tow! But with two adults, some things are just easier.

Eliza and Mairyn are pretty self-sufficient on the plane. As long as they have paper and pencil, they can be entertained for hours. Grant, well, since we traveled last year, he has finally taken an interest in watching movies. I don't think he'll be the crazy man that he has been in trips past.

Now, Jacqueline is an entity herself. As long as we can read One Fish, Two Fish nonstop for 30 hours, we'll be fine! We found a teeny sized version that is perfect for her to hold, so she may be independently entertained for 10 minutes or so!! Alright, that's all folks! We'll see you on the flip side!

Grant's Birthday!!

Can you believe it? Grant turned 4 on Sunday!!! He wanted a Spiderman cake and I did my best to fulfill his birthday wish! He is such a big kid now. He talks and everything!!

Grant's First School Picture

This is Grant's class at the Irish Nursery. Ms. Brenda, his teacher, is the blonde on the right and the 2 aides, well, I'm not sure of their names. They are rotated in and out regularly and I haven't learned the name of this batch! You have to click on the picture to see it really well. He goes 3 times a week, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. In the fall, he will move up to the Primary classes and be going every day. The little boy on his left our right is called Tamine. The blonde girl at his feet is Alexia and the little boy beside her is Gabrial. Those are the only kids that I remember their names because they're Grant homies; he plays with them mostly!

Trip toAlamein

One of the great sunsets

Eliza and Mairyn in front of their lumpy "creation" that kept getting attacked by the waves. Hence, the "lumpiness" of it.

Jacqueline and Grant conked out on the beach


Visiting the cemetery at Alamein

We went to El-Alamein this last week May 21-25. It was beautiful weather. Perfect!! Swimming, beach play and sunset walks along the shore were the schedule for 4 glorious days. It was just so hard to choose which pictures to post. We had so many good ones. We'll be bringing home a thumb drive full of digital photos this summer to make into hard copies to distribute. Yeah, this summer starts in just 2 1/2 weeks. June 12th we'll be on American soil once more!!!