Another Diognosis to Add to Christopher's Repertoire

Where do we start...All five of Christopher's therapists have asked, "Does he always sound like that?". Yep. The therapist he works well with and the one that I trust the most, asked me to make an appointment with an ENT. She seems to think he has vocal cord damage. Even after being asked dozens of times about his voice, I had never thought about vocal cord damage. It could have been damaged when he was intubated for his heart surgery. The more I think about it, I can vividly remember how "rough" I thought some of the nurses were handling him while he was in the coma after the surgery. When he had the chest infection they would sit him up and bang on his back with some special "physical therapy" tool to break up the mucas in his chest. Sure, he didn't feel it, since he was in the coma - but now I am realizing that damage can be done, even if he didn't feel it!!

As she was explaining what it could be, she kept telling me..."I don't mean to scare you, but I think you should get it checked out!" She is not fully aware of the medical issues we have gone through. After reassuring her that I am going to make an appointment, but I am not really concerned. She said, it could require surgery and they may have to shave his vocal cords down a little. I said, Ok...is it life threatening? Of course she said no. I said I'm OK with it then! It was just one of those days and I bet I have her thinking I am some crazy woman! Well, I am...but I have decided not to get concerned until after we meet with an ENT tomorrow. I won't lie - it is on top of my mind, but I'm not too concerned yet!

We had a fun fall weekend. Halloween festivities all weekend! Saturday, I brought the boys to Boo at the Zoo. Brad "worked" (that means he was at the LSU game "supervising" his employees as they sold Chick-fil-A sandwiches IN the stadium) so Nana (Stephanie Ray) went along with us. I thought since it was a home LSU game day, there wouldn't be too many people there. Boy, was I wrong!! It took us over an hour to get into the zoo from Thomas Rd. I was pretty aggravated sitting in traffic, but even more so when we finally got into the zoo parking lot and saw four sheriff's deputies standing around talking, instead of directing traffic or assisting people in parking!! I rolled down my window to let them know about the traffic situation out on the road. The said they were already aware of it and continued standing around in the parking lot!!! I was extremely aggravated. If you'd like to know the rest of the story - you'll have to ask Nana! ...I'd like for y'all to think I am a very patient and polite law abiding citizen! :)

Yesterday was our neighborhood picnic. That is what the pictures of Jacob are from. He had so much fun bobbing for apples. We are a really close neighborhood - thankfully! He would grab an apple, take a bite and then put it back in the water. Brad was completely grossed out. I am sure it was not the most sanitary game I could have chosen for them to play. But he had fun and I doubt it is any worse than him taking off his dirty Crocs and chewing on them. A daily task that Jacob participates in! By the way, everyone else was finished playing when Jacob did this! The first picture was before the "competition". That is why he has his game face on. After many tries and bites, he thought he would do better without his shirt on. Christopher and David had fun jumping in the bouncy and playing football, instead of playing in the chewed apple water. Hmmmm...that may have been why Jacob woke up in the middle of the night congested last night! :)

I worked all day today, so Brad picked up the boys from school and they headed over to Lafayette for the evening to see his parents and help out with the Chick-fil-A opening over there. I'm excited about having some peace and quiet. It is rare that I have a NO BOYS evening to myself. Usually when Brad and the boys are gone, it is because I am busy at a meeting or something myself. Tonight I can just sit at home, watch one of my girlie shows, post an update on their blogspot or just do whatever I want without having to get anyone a juice cup, fix dinner or change a diaper!! Wow...this is FUN!!!! :) I have been sooooo exhausted lately. I guess you can tell by my post today, I have been in quite a mood! :)

Yep..Those are the NKOTB (New Kids on the Block)

Last weekend was super fun!! I went to the New Kids on the Block concert. The concert was great and sooooo much fun. They did kind of disappoint me when they came out for an encore wearing the Boston Celtics jerseys. The concert was in the New Orleans arena (where the Hornets play). As a major Hornets fan, I thought that was a little disrespectful. Of course, since the whole arena was filled with women...no really there were not ANY guys there...they knew they could get away with it. The concert was great and long. After the concert, we met up with our husbands and hung out in New Orleans for the night.

This weekend was also the Louisiana Pediatric Cardiology Foundation Family Picnic. I was charge of it so after being up all night and only two hours of sleep we headed back to Baton Rouge Sunday morning to prepare for it. The boys stayed at Brad's parents while we were in New Orleans so G'ami (Brad's mom) and Gran (Brad's grandma) met us at the picnic too. The boys had a good time jumping and playing. It was nice and so encouraging to see so many children doing well after such serious heart diseases, difibulators, pacemakers, heart transplants and various surgeries. The kids wore their Halloween costumes and we went with a fall carnival theme. At the end of the picnic, the "heart kids" let the heart balloons go that we used for decorations. It was really cool. They all headed toward the sun, so I wasn't able to get a good picture.

Later that evening, we had a Fall party at church. Thankfully, with such a full day - the boys were exhausted and ready for bed. Until we realized that Cow (not only what he is, but also his name!) did not make it home from Pop and G'amis. Those of you that don't know Cow, he is a member of our family (he even has a picture on this site!) Stevie and Jamie bought him for David's first birthday and he has slept with David EVERY night since. He used to go to little school with David, he travels with us when we go out of town, etc. Thankfully now that David is 5 1/2 he only "needs"him to sleep with. David was upset and after I created a makeshift "Cow" he agreed to go to bed. He then came out crying, "But G'ami doesn't have his food". Brad and I tried so hard not to laugh. I asked him what Cow ate and David looked at me as if I was the dumbest person on the planet..."he eats HAY". I must admit I was quite surprised, because for the past few years I had not been stocking the pantry with hay for Cow. We promised David that Cow would be OK for one night and that we'd go get him after school on Monday. Well on Monday, Brad picked David up from school but David didn't want to go back to Lafayette to get Cow. Today is Wednesday and David has not asked about Cow since Sunday night!!!

Our Fall Vacation....

Last week we packed up the boys and the Sequoia and headed for the "woods". David has been wanting to go camping - so we did the next best thing....rented a cabin at Beavers Bend (Oklahoma). We went horseback riding, canoeing, hiking, fly fishing and of course made a bunch of s'mores! We had to stay somewhere that would catch the sorry LSU game - so we stayed at the Dancing Rabbit cabin. It was super nice (nicer than my house!!) The closet was so big, we ended up putting Jacob's pack and play in there for him to sleep. David loved the pool table and the hot tub. Christopher's favorite part was the tipi. They had a huge tipi on the side of the house.

My parents met us up there on their way to pick up my Dad's new hunting dog, since hunting dogs aren't bread in Louisiana. Hmmmm...maybe just another excuse for them to travel :) My mom went horseback riding with us and Dad created a new hobby for Brad...fly fishing. Brad is on a fly fishing kick - looking for places in this area to do it. I am excited about his new hobby. I (like my parents) love to travel and maybe this will mean we'll have to go on more trips to the mountains where the "REAL" fly fishermen go! :)

One more quick note...this weekend is our LPCF Picnic. If you know of a family that has a congenital heart defect or disease, please pass the word out. We are meeting at the BREC park on Jefferson Hwy from 11-2 this Sunday. We have a clown coming, inflatable bouncing things and some yummy food! Check out our website for more details. http://www.lpcf.com/ Also, for those of you in Lake Charles - the AHA Heart Walk is November 8. I have set up a Team Christopher - Cardiac Kids since we had to miss the Baton Rouge walk (remember Jacob was in the hospital!). Even those of you out of Lake Charles can participate by making a donation. I won't get on my soapbox - but y'all know how I feel about kids with heart disease and the lack of research about it. It is afterall the No. 1 birth defect!!! More kids die because of heart disease than ALL pediatric cancers combined...Let's raise some awareness people!!! :)

We did not get the rookie toothfairy this time!!

Thank God we did not get that fairy dust leaving tooth fairy this time! Last Friday David lost his second tooth. This time he quite literally "LOST" the tooth. He came in from school and said, is my tooth still in? Nope. He worried that the tooth fairy wouldn't come since he didn't have the tooth. We left a note for her. David went to bed early (just in case she came early) and I ended up falling asleep on the couch - waiting for her. She never came. Thankfully another fairy sneaked in and left a note saying how great of a big brother David is and thanked him for doing so well in school. When David woke up, I panicked (since I was STILL on the couch). Brad told me that he thought she came and so we went to look and she had the note and money under his pillow. David was upset that she didn't leave a toothbrush or glow stick like she did last time. We quickly responded that she must only do that for the FIRST tooth! He pointed out that it must have been a different one than last time since she didn't make a mess. {See previous tooth fairy post}.

This weekend is the school fundraising fair. Brad and I have to work the ticket booth tonight from 5-10! I am not too excited, but if it is what helps keep our tuition down - I am there!!! Sunday, David is performing in a fair act. I'll take pictures and post them next week. In the meantime, have a good weekend!