Ear Infections Stink!

Lawson spent the majority of 2013 with an ear infection. It was terrible. It started just before this first birthday. When I took him to the doctor the first time, his only noticeable symptoms was that he was super fussy. I thought the nurse and doctor would think I was nuts when I told them what his symptoms were (weren't), but they politely checked him over and reported that he had an ear infection. I was a little confused to be honest. There was no fever, no pulling at his ears, nothing. He just wasn't himself. I know fussy might not seem like a symptom, but Lawson is a super happy boy, so when he just could not be kept happy and kept getting supremely worked up over pretty much nothing, I knew something was wrong.

Well, that was just the first of many ear infections we would deal with throughout 2013. And, with each one that came, they just got worse. Our pediatrician didn't want to refer to an ENT for tubes unless we absolutely had to. In fact, in October at Lawson's 21 month check up, Dr. Jon told us he thought we might be in the clear if we could keep him healthy through the fall and winter months. And then...over Thanksgiving, he got an ear infection. This one came with a fever, snotty nose, and a super cranky boy. About a week after we were cleared by the doctor, we were back with another, and then just after the first of the year, another. This time it was REALLY bad. He was absolutely miserable. We ended up taking him to a walk-in two days after we started antibiotics because he was getting worse instead of better.

A month later, we were at the ENT and shortly after that, we were in out-patient surgery getting tubes put in and adenoids taken out. Dr. Gwartney also pointed out that Lawson has enormous tonsils and that they will need to come out in a few years too.

We had one of the first appointments of the day, which I think is supposed to make it less traumatic when keeping a toddler from eating or drinking. We waiting just a little while in the waiting room, but then the waiting really started. 

The medicine they gave Lawson to calm him down so they could put him under worked to some extent. He was mostly just silly, but then it started to wear off. I think we were in that little cube waiting for the doctor for at least an hour (seemed like a lot more) before they finally took him back. Apparently the doctor was in a meeting. Yes, a meeting! Seriously. Jason and I were about to lose it. The procedure itself didn't take nearly as long as the waiting before did, but the aftermath was terrible. A friend had told me that her daughter was a mess coming out of anesthesia, so I knew it would be unpredictable, but I wasn't completely ready for what we got when we went to see our boy. He was very angry and just wanted the IV out of his hand. He kept trying to pull it out and screaming. I. HATED. IT. Then, to top it all off, they began talking us through the post-op information. It was ridiculous! It makes no sense to try to talk to parents whose child is thrashing and screaming and has just undergone something traumatic. Whatever. If we ever have to go through surgery again, I will make them give me the info before the surgery. 

Our boy was worn out. He was pretty out of it the rest of the day and mostly slept, which was a good thing. The next few days were rough and we had our moments, but we have only had one ear infections since (I'm actually writing this almost a year post-op). Ear infections stink. So does surgery. I am so grateful for the health of my baby boy. I'll take ear infections any day over any of the number of terrible things other kids/parents deal with on a daily basis. Praise God for a healthy boy. 

2 Year Well Baby

When we went to Lawson's 2 year well baby doctor's visit, there  was good news and bad news. Good news: in terms of well baby, 2 year check up stuff, he was doing great! He had grown and was doing very well pretty much across the board according to the 2 year old questionnaire.

He also had a little fun while waiting on the doctor thanks to Nana getting creative with a rubber glove.

The bad news that day was that he had ANOTHER ear infection. Grrrrr! So, we went home with more antibiotics for our third ear infection in as many months. We saw Dr. Denise that day and she wasn't quite ready to do a referral to an ENT, but it wouldn't be long until that would come too. More on that in another post. 

I'm so thankful to have a happy, healthy, growing boy!! Ear infections stink, but I'll take them any day over any number of other, far worse, health problems there could be. Praise the LORD for a healthy boy!! 

The Birthday Boy

Lawson's birthday was almost a week before his party, but we still did something special on his actual birthday. Lawson actually sick on his birthday. Stinking ear infections! Sick or no, he still likes a good Sonic corn dog and tater tots. Plus I brought him a double doozie cookie from Great American Cookie too.

Two Years Old

Lawson's second birthday was January 6, and we had his birthday party the following weekend. Disclaimer: I know this post (as well as the next few) are LONG past-due, but I've been super busy living life instead of writing about it. Between our normal schedule of working and Lawson starting preschool just a couple of weeks before his party, we had plenty to keep us busy. But, since we're crazy, we also add to the mix Jason taking classes toward completing his bachelor's degree and me starting grad school. It seems crazy to think that all those years it was just Jason and me went by without us feeling the need to pursuer furthering our respective educations, and now that we have Lawson, here we are. But, this is just how it has worked out. So, all of that to say we've been busy. (PS More on my grad school adventures later).

This year we had Lawson's birthday party at Nana's house. It was kind of themed around Lawson's favorite things. The night before the party Nana, Auntie Stephanie, and especially Addison stayed up late getting everything ready. We had so much fun!

The invites and his party day shirt were guitar themed since he loves music...especially his guitar.

The invitations, party shirt and cupcake toppers were all from Trendy Biscuit, my sweet friend Katie's business (you can find it on Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, and Intagram). She's amazing!! Everything turned out perfect! Of course Aunt Carla made the cupcakes!!

We had a ton of Lawson's favorite things! The menu was all stuff he loves: hot dogs, Cheetos, Funyens, apple sauce squeeze pouches, mini donuts (chocolate and powdered), fruit snacks, apple cinnamon sticks, veggie sticks, marshmallows and bananas. 

If you look closely at the pictures hanging here you'll see newborn, one year old and two year old pictures of Lawson with his big sock monkey. My hope is to get a picture of him every year with this same sock monkey. We'll see how long he allows it.

We had cardboard guitars for the kids to color too!

Lawson had so much fun and ate lots of yummy snacks. He LOVES marshmallows. 

And here are just some fun ones from the party. There are a lot more, but I can't seem to get them all off the disk and onto my Mac and then the blog.

And, if there was any doubt that this child is spoiled, look at all these presents!! Good thing we cleaned out some older toys and passed them along before we brought all this stuff home.

Nana took this one a day or two after the party. Lawson found a couple of extra balloons outside on the mailbox. I think he looks so big in this picture.

I cannot believe this little guy is 2 years old. It's all happening so fast. We love you so very much Lawson Jace Keyes!!

Lawson's First Car

The first weekend of January Lawson got his first car. A race car to be exact. Technically it's a race car bed but still. 

We have gone back and forth about switching to a big boy bed for a few months but just weren't sure we (he) were ready. Then, one day, he climbed out. All by himself. So, that was it. Not long after that, we got the race car bed from Nanna (it was Jevin's and also a cousin's before). She was keeping it for Lawson when he was ready. 

When I see this picture of his room, a couple of things come to mind. One, this looks like a little boys room except for the changing table. I don't think this is a nursery anymore. Two, this child has WAY too many toys! It is literally wall-to-wall stuff in this room. And, he plays with all of it!! 

So my baby has a big boy bed. We are still working on getting him to bed/sleep each night in a timely manner. He just wants to play...and get a drink...and go peepee potty (more about that in another post)...and tell Daddy he loves him...and give Daddy more kisses.... You get the idea. He'll get there eventually. 

I just can't believe he's growing up so fast.  

Preschool

I cannot believe it's March 2014!!! I am so behind on posting, but I promise I have good reason. It's been a busy couple of months in the Keyes House.Times they are a changing. A lot of you may already know about the stuff I'm going to post in the next few posts, but since I'm using this blog as a baby book of sorts and a way to record all our goings on, you'll just have to hang in there.

Lawson started preschool the last week of December. PRESCHOOL!! He might as well be moving out of the house at some level because it DOES NOT seem like we should be to this point yet. How is it possible that the tiny little 7 pound 14 ounce baby boy we brought home just two years ago is already in preschool.

Nana has done a fantastic job keeping up with Mr. Tootie Pants for two years. He has certainly kept her busy. It has been our plan from the beginning to put Lawson in preschool around age two, and Nana actually started telling us last summer that she agreed he would need "more" than just hanging out playing with Nana all day (though I am certain she would love to keep him all to herself as long as possible). So, last summer we put him on a waiting list for the preschool we chose. They figured it would be after Christmas before a spot in his class opened up. And, just before Christmas, one did. So, on December 30, 2013, Mr. Lawson began his preschool journey. We started with half days since Jason and I were actually still off for Christmas Break. It seemed weird to take him down there and then just come back home, but we all (Jason, his teacher, the director and I) agreed that a week of half days would be the best way to start out.

I was too busy not being a basket case to take a picture when I dropped him off, but here are  few pictures of him after I picked him up. He looks like he had a good day, right! He may have cried at drop off but he sure is proud of his first (of many) craft projects.

 For the record, he does not have a black eye in the picture above. I think it's just a shadow.

And, this is headed to preschool on day two. He looks pretty excited. I won't lie. He cried at drop off for the first two weeks, but then got WAY better.  

And, as you can see from this note, he loves his teacher! He was not a fan of the other kids wanting her attention. Only child much?

And here is his lunch box. Friday's are sack lunch days at preschool, so he needed a cool lunch box.

How are things going you ask? Well, it's been two months and he's missed about a week of that for snow days and then had a couple of ear infections with which he ran fever so he missed about a week or so for that, but he's doing really well. After being out for a full week with fever, drop off is difficult right now, but getting better, BUT he LOVES his teacher Mrs. Tonya, he knows his ABC's start to finish, he can identify all his primary colors and a few others, he can identify basic shapes, and he knows his days of the week. Jason and I feel like we are in preschool because when he's at home he's always telling us to "sit on your bottom...criss cross apple sauce" and then pointing at the wall telling us the days of the week or our shapes or colors and then asking " what's this one?" as if he's quizzing us on things. It's too funny. He's just a little sponge!

Christmas Day

Christmas was fun last year, but this year it was amazing! This was the night before. Santa had already stopped in. 

And then the festivities began!

Gotta line those cars up just right. 

One of Lawson's gifts was a bag of orange wiffle balls. I honestly had to take them away and hide them to get him to open anything else. He loves wiffle balls! 

And he loved, LOVED his drums!!

And this is the aftermath!! What a mess! 

Daddy was trying out the new cars and track while Lawson played wiffle balls. Did I mention he loves them? Haha. 

Lawson also got a wagon. He "helped" Daddy put it together. 

Then went for a little ride with his pals Mickey and Monkadoddle. He made a mess with his chocolate gravy at breKfast so we had to ditch the shirt. 

Lawson decided to play with the cars and track too. He figured out a way to still play with the iffle balls too. Crazy kid!

Lawson also got a much anticipated guitar for Christmas. I got plenty I video of him opening it and playing it, but somehow...not a single picture from the morning.  Boo, momma! I did get a few the next morning.

Such a fun Christmas with our growing boy! I'm certain next year will e even better.