Toddler, Tonsils, and Adnoids

After about 2.5 years of recurrent throat, sinus, and 'unknown' infections, and high fevers, her daddy and I refused any more antibiotics and specialists and baby-girl had surgery on Friday! (Note the excitement in this sentence... this was a long time coming). Hannah has the most incredible 'team' of pediatricians, ENT's, and Allergists and we are so thankful for their knowledge, skill, and how well they all work together to help us make decisions for our baby.

Early early Friday morning, we headed to the Children's Hospital and did our best to prepare our very tired, very grumpy, and very very hungry 3 year old for a Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy...

Our first priority was to control her Asthma as well as possible....

Then, she had to try out all FOUR of the cool cars the hospital had to offer and make the difficult decision of which one she would drive into the OR.... out of the wagon, the train, the truck and the princess car, guess which one she chose??  ;-)

Surgery went incredibly well (only 20 minutes long) and waking up proved to be the biggest challenge of all....

Our angel, sans tonsils and very enlarged and very infected adenoids....

Once awake (and happy), not 1, not 2, not 3, but FOUR Popsicles were on the menu....

3 hours later, we headed home.... (with a very itchy face, thanks to the anesthesia)

The baby-sized wheel-chair was perfect for our girl... (notice how Dora made it to the hospital with us!)

And to make his girl feel better, Daddy carved a Dora pumpkin and even made her friend, Kai-Lan to keep Dora company on our porch!

It's been a LOOOONG and somewhat painful weekend but we're thankful for a healthy girl, amazing doctors, good pain killers, ice cream, and lots of prayers!

NOW, if we can only keep our big and healthy eater satiated on a VERY limited diet of soft foods and pain meds for another week, we'll be good to go...

:-/

(Side note; I had my (very successful) tonsillectomy when I was 26 and it was one of the worst recoveries I've ever had... and I've had plenty! I am SO SO SO thankful that Hannah had hers at a young age, that her recovery will be shorter than mine, and that she won't remember a thing about it when she gets older! Our prayer now is that she finds TREMENDOUS relief from those stinking infections!!)

Booooo-Bies!

Get your BOOOO-BIES checked!!

Donorsexuals- "You Got Your Sperm WHERE?!"

I stepped out to get the mail today.....

I mean, I don't read Newsweek... actually, no one in my house does so I'm not really sure why we get it. Hmmm...

Anyway, how could I NOT read this article when it's title was screaming at me.....

"YOU GOT YOUR SPERM WHERE?!"

In short, the article details the life of a sperm donor; the reasons why men donate sperm, who they donate to, and how. I guess there are many many websites out there that make forums, of sorts for people who would like to find a donor on their own, as opposed to finding one through an agency, etc. I have to admit, I found the article interesting..... creepy, but interesting.

Here's what I learned;

* You can get pregnant through a donor one of two ways; through AI (Artificial Insemination) or NI (Natural Insemination.... or sex).

 Now really, I'm a pro at understanding AI (we've done it a few times in the past) but what I know to be AI (like, in a doctor's office) is very, very different than what the article describes; injecting sperm into the vagina (yes, like in The Switch with Jennifer Aniston... turkey baster, anyone?) or placing it in a cup that is inserted into the vagina and attaches to the cervix.

* What creeped me out is not really HOW these people insert the sperm but WHERE....

"... so the venues at which they met their donor had a saucy impromptu feel; a hotel, the back  of the couple's SUV, a camper trailer, a Starbucks bathroom."

Coffee, anyone?

~ Now, i've never asked my parents where I was conceived but I'm pretty sure they'd tell me if I asked them... we're just kind of like that. (For the record, I don't plan to ask them...) BUT, what would the conversation between a child who was conceived this way and his/her parents sound like?

Hmmm....

* 'Donors' are calling themselves 'donorsexuals' and some even claim to be virgins, though they've 'donated' over 50 times and have many children through this process.

* The majority of men 'donate' their sperm in order to spread their genes and having as many kids as possible...

* Many 'donors' are married. (I do find it interesting that the article fails to mention whether or not the wives of these 'donors' know that they are, in fact donors.)

(If you'd like to read the article, click here. It really is interesting ;-))

So... I'm completely interested in knowing your thoughts on this; on 'donorsexuals' and the women/couples who find them and on the lives of their kids, should they conceive.

~ What are the implications for these kids when they grow up and find out that they were conceived this way? Is there a difference between getting pregnant through IVF, IUI, or a donor through IVF of IUI and the way this article describes? If so, why?

~Is it fair for these men to consider themselves 'virgins'?

~ If your husband/ partner expressed an interest in becoming a donor, how would you respond?

~ Will you EVER be able to walk into a Starbucks bathroom again?!

I'll go ahead and enable the judgement-free zone and the Cone of Safety so feel free to comment as Anonymous .... take advantage; that doesn't happen too often ;-)

BOO!

I have to be honest, I really don't like Halloween. I don't like what it stands for, or the characters people dress up as, or the shows and movies on TV at this time of year, or... well, my list goes on.

What I DO like is candy, and dressing up (in happy costumes) and the sense of community I feel when the temps are lower and everyone is outside and hyped up on sugar :-) SO, while we don't decorate or watch scary movies, and we have some strong limitations on costumes and characters, we do dress up and eat candy and play outside and THIS year is the first year we've been BOO-ED!!

I'm new to 'BOO-ing' so if you are, too here's a run-down (there are SO many versions, I've recently learned so I'll just still with the one I know);

~ We got home the other night from dinner and there was a cute Halloween gift bag sitting on our front step. Inside was this poem....

You've Been Boo-ed!

The phantom ghost has come to town
To leave some goodies... I see you've found.
If you wish to make this a happier fall...
Continue this greeting, this phantom call.

First, post this Phantom where it can be seen,
And leave it there until Halloween.
This will scare other Phantoms who may visit.
Be sure to participate, you don't want to miss it!

Second, make two treats,

Two ghosts and two notes like this.

Deliver them to two neighbors who may have been missed.

Don't let them see you, be sneaky, no doubt,

(and make sure they put their BOO Ghosts out)

Next, you have only one day to act, so be quick!
Leave it at doors where the Phantom hasn't hit.
Deliver at dark when there isn't much light...
Ring the doorbell and run, and stay out of sight!!

And last, but not least, come join in the season.
Don't worry, be happy for all the right reasons.

This is all in good fun and we are just trying to say...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

And this little guy (well, I didn't like the one that came with our's so I switched it out for this cute guy....)

Our bag was also full of yummy treats; some candy, some chips, cookies... yum!

So last night we filled 2 bags with treats of our own; candy, fruit roll-ups, apples (yep, i'm 'that' mom), and a special bag inside the big bag marked 'for mommy' with some yummy chocolates in it :-) Then, we bundled up and headed out to roam the neighborhood for 2 houses that had yet to be 'BOO-ED'. Hannah had such a fun time running from house to house and it really did make me excited to trick-or-treat with her this year. (Just WAIT till you see what she's going to be :-))

We got home last night and I started feeling slightly left-out and confused... I got to thinking, "Why do the kids get to have all the fun? What about the ADULTS?" :-)

So I wrote my own version of the "BOO" poem and decided that I'm going to do my best to start a new tradition for the adults in our neighborhood... we need to have some fun, too! Here's my poem (don't get critical, now... I never said I was a poet ;-))....

New traditions come with new neighbors

So here’s a new one for (name of neighborhood) to savor;

Kids get to ‘boo’ and run for cover

Now it’s our turn, fathers and mothers.

We don’t get to trick and we don’t get to treat,

And the candy we steal is the candy we eat.

Well, it’s a new day and you’re one who’s been picked.

It’s time for a treat not chewed, bit, or licked.

Not every home has a kid but each one has an adult.

The goal of this game has a creative result.

Like being ‘boo-ed’, you have work to do.

Shop your heart out but classy’s better, it’s true.

Some chocolate, a gift card, some décor, or wine.;

Keeping ‘adults’ in mind ensures a good time.

$5 or less, yes boundaries are good.

Classy but cheap should work, yes it could.

You have ONE day; copy 2 times, post the glass on your door.

Fill up two bags, ring two door-bells, hit the floor!

Keep the secret or tell, that’s not the point;

In a season of giving, let’s rock this joint!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!



So, there ya go :-) This is the extent of my creativity and it's all because I felt slightly left out. HA! I'll let you know if this new 'BOO' technique works.

Have you been 'Boo-ed'? If not, consider starting this in your neighborhood... we've met some new friends through 'boo-ing' and it's such a fun thing for the kids to do!