My Dog Looks Like a Flower

Surgery day

Mass chaos continues around here. We got the great day care switch sorted and Quinn and Declan seem to have transitioned fairly well. They definitely miss their friends from A's, but are enjoying the new friends at the new A's (yep, same first initial!). Dec's best friend from original A's is also going to new A's, and those sweet boys have helped each other feel better about their new world.

So, with a week under their belts at new A's, we thought we'd pile it on. I went out of town for work for a week and Yog went under the knife. Mike had found a small lump in Yog's abdomen quite a while ago. It was unchanged for quite a while, so we just kept tabs on it. Late this fall, we noticed it had started to grow. It grew aggressively from that point on. We were terrified of what the doctor would tell us and so we put off the vet appointment until after the holidays.

Ridiculous

Answered prayers - it was a fatty tumor and nothing more awful. However, it was definitely growing and would likely begin to cause problems for him (we started to see a few ... it was pressing on his bladder and he would have accidents during the day while we were at work on occasion). So we had it removed - along with four teeth that were giving him problems.

The tumor was very large, so it's a good thing we didn't wait much longer. He has a sizable incision on his side that is healing up nicely. Mike got to have a little excitement the day after the surgery when the incision opened back up. Luckily, a quick staple at the vet's took care of that. We are so very grateful that Grandpa Nash was willing to come down for a few days, watch Yog while Mike was at work, and generally add a couple extra hands to the mix while I was traveling. Thank you, Grandpa!

Yogi looked ridiculous in his cone (and like a flower). It was also too big for him, so we didn't make him wear it as much as the vet would have liked. Instead, Mike designed a fashioned white t-shirt/ponytail combo to help cover the incision area. It was slightly less ridiculous looking than the cone. He's been doing really well and has bounced back quickly. Probably too quickly - as we need to slow him down on occasion.

Bugs and I brought him in to get his stitches out on Friday. We are doing some heat packing to try to get rid of a bit of fluid build up by his incision, but other than that, he is back to normal activity. All that's left is few more weeks of softened dog food for his mouth to heal - and a fair amount of fur to grow back.

Life Outside

Walking out of swimming lessons

The weather is confused and it's looking a bit more like April and less like February (which was when I took the pictures). It was delightfully sunny and warm on Saturday and the kids were all over heading outside. We looked at the thermometer, walked past the winter jackets, and happily decided that hooded sweatshirts would do. Then we dug to the depths of the coat closet and found the stash of puddle jumper boots.

Although we knew it was just a taste of spring before the cold weather returned, we also dug to the depths of the garage and found the bikes and t-ball set. The girls happily rode around the garage and driveway and Dec set up his spring training station in the yard. Both he and Fiona tend to bat left-handed (even though they are right-handed), so I have to think extra hard when I'm the batting practice coach. Yogi joined us outside for a while and was so glad to be out (he had surgery last week - more on that next post).

Family set of puddle jumpers

The girls were excited to test out their puddle jumpers - and what better way to test than to actually jump in the puddles!?!? We put Yogi inside (and felt like we were cheating on him. But muddy melt in a new incision was probably not a good idea ...) and headed out on a family walk. Without a stroller. And we didn't carry anyone! That hasn't happened in over 5 years!!!

Declan watched the girls venture gleefully into the first puddle. They jumped and splashed and shrieked and giggled. That was all the boy needed for convincing. He ran in, stomped his foot, and didn't stop belly laughing for the rest of the walk. We did a two block loop and hit every puddle on the way. By the time we got home, everyone needed new pants and new socks. It was the perfect adventure for a warm February day.

Batting practice

Playing catch

Serious stomping

Fiona's Poster

Fiona was having a particularly tough week at school a few weeks ago (we were in an "it's not fair that I have spina bifida" valley). One of the teachers suggested to Fiona that they do an art project together. Fiona's all in on art, so she was game.

After several days of hardcore work at after school care, she came home with a poster about herself. Ms. Lori had written several words that made her think of Fiona, and more importantly, Fiona had written several things about herself. She thought of them and wrote them on her own.

You can click on the image to make it bigger, but in case you need some preschooler spelling assistance, her bubbles say:

• I love tackling my dad
• I like that I am having surgery
• I like pet horses and to ride them
• I love playing outside with my mom
• I can really run fast with my braces
• So smart
• When my sister and I play

We are so proud of her and her poster is currently hanging in the living room for all to admire. It was such a blessing to get a glimpse of some of the things that she believes about herself.

Nothing Says Love Like Pie

Pie Quality Control team

We had a great time celebrating the Love Day around this place. We were lucky enough to have Gpa V here for the weekend, so Valentine's breakfast was complete with doughnuts. The kids have a tradition with Grandpa; whenever he stays here, he brings doughnuts for breakfast one day. They love that special tradition with him!

After breakfast, Mike and Gpa headed out to the lake for a day of ice fishing (don't judge Mike for going fishing on Valentine's Day. It was my idea!). The kids and I decided to celebrate by making a strawberry pie. When it turned out pink, the girls were thrilled - it was just like a heart. What are the odds!?!?! After rest time, we headed out to the lake to bring daddy and grandpa some pie. 

Grandpa and pie

Bugs and I should have had a refresher class before we went out that we were going to be on the lake ... made of ice. We both moved too fast and ended up on our bottoms. Luckily, we are Minnesota girls. As I told Bugs, it is neither the first nor the last time that we will fall on ice. You pick yourself up and try to remember to not run next time!

The kids had a fun time hanging out in the fish house (camper) and really enjoyed eating pie with dad and grandpa. The girls took turns fishing and each caught a couple crappies and sunfish. They were very excited when they could pull the fish up through the hole. And Quinn's favorite part was watching the fish swim away after Mike threw them back in. 

Once we got home, I made homemade mac and cheese and all three had second (and third) helpings - my gift from them! I got lots of hugs and thumbs up for the "fancy" dinner. 

Another One Hits 3 1/2

Official half birthday photo

I recently updated a collage frame in our living room. I showed Quinn a photo that I was taking out and told her that it was on the day she turned 1 1/2. Then I told her that when she was Declan's age, she was almost a big sister. And then, I realized he is almost two. And my brain hurt.

On Sunday, Mike and his dad were getting ready to head out for a day of ice fishing. I was cleaning up breakfast. The kids were playing in their room and keeping an eye on the window because they wanted to watch the fish house (camper) drive away. I heard the sound of the wipes package and what I thought was diaper velcro. Then I heard Quinn's voice ... "is that better, buddy?" ... and thought perhaps I wanted to know what was happening. I wandered into their room to find Declan lying on the floor, smiling away with his pjs unzipped, diaper open, and his sister using a wipe on his boyhood. She looked up at me, smiled, and said, "He had a wet diaper, mama. So I'm fixing it for you." Sweet - and a bit terrifying at the same time. I thanked her and finished up the diapering process on my own. [note to teenage Q and D ... yep. we are pretty much going to tease you about this forever!]

What these two anecdotes force me to admit is that Quinn is, in fact, now three and a half. A month ago, we were in the throes of three and life was hard! We are either out of the throes, or at least in a temporary reprieve - and are grateful. Three and a half, just as it was for Bugs, is a lot of fun!

• Quinn can memorize the words to every song she hears (unlike her dad who couldn't remember lyrics if you paid him!). She loves to sing her new songs back to you. She loves equally current pop hits like Shut Up and Dance with Me and Shake It Off and old standards like This Little Light of Mine and Twinkle Twinkle. 
• She is an incredible sister. She loves to ask Buggy questions about school and listens with great intensity to Fiona's answers. And she is always trying to help Declan out. She loves to sit with him and read books or sing songs. She is always volunteering to watch him or help him play.
• Quinn has an inner coil of energy and must have large muscle physical activity every day. If her need is not met, she will be leaping off furniture.
• She is both the bravest and most timid of the kids. New things make her nervous, but she is working really hard to be more daring. She's growing into her own and developing her inner confidence. And once she knows how to do something, well, nothing can stop that front tuck half twist of the couch!
• She's a yoyo at bedtime. Like another three and a half year old who I remember, she is in and out of her bed multiple times each night. We are working on cohabitation, staying in our bed, and going to sleep before 9:00!
• She is incredibly observant, asks two hundred million questions, and remembers everything. EVERYTHING! You do not try to pull a fast one on Q. Straight up honesty and transparency is always your best play.
• Her sense of humor slays us. She's discovering puns, irony, and bathroom humor. An example of her humor ... whenever she toots, she looks around, makes a face, and says, "I think I heard a duck!" 

We love this three-year-old and can't believe there will be four candles on her next cake!