Too Tired To Play

On Friday we were driving to Park City with Grandma Michelle, and I looked back and saw Nolan put the blanket over his head, so Grandma playing peek-a-boo with him once. He then put the blanket on his head again, Grandma waited a few seconds and tried to play with him but he did not respond. The next thing we saw was Nolan's head tip over and he was sound asleep within 20 seconds of covering his head up. He slept like that all the way up the canyon and we uncovered him soon after we got to Park City because we were worried he was getting too warm.

Rylee's Mimic

Nolan is not a thumb sucker, but the other day after nap time he decided to do try it out just like his big sister Rylee. Rylee and I got Nolan out of his crib together and when I set him down he grabbed his blanket, put his thumb in his mouth, and followed Rylee into the toy room to watch a movie. Nolan loves to do everything Rylee does, and there is not much that he cannot do. He continues to suprise us, scare us, and make us laugh!

Lots of Love for Rylee

We want to thank everyone for the phone calls, text messages, emails, thoughts, and prayers that were sent to our family and Rylee yesterday. We cannot even begin to express the joy and gratitude we feel for having such amazing family and friends, thank you so much. Rylee also recieved a few presents yesterday for being such a brave girl. Aunt Tarah, Uncle Travis, Bryson, Lucas and Austin sent Rylee a Cookie Bouquet to make her feel better. Grandma Michelle and Papa Steve got her a ballon bouquet featuring her favorite, Minnie Mouse. Granmda Kathi made Rylee an amazing treat bouquet that Rylee and Nolan dug into for breakfast this morning. We are again grateful for the love and support everyone has given us, and we are excited to move forward and do this again in December!

Cookie Basket :)

Balloons!!

Eating One of Her Cookies

Her Treat Basket Grandma Made

Rylee's Surgery

Her bags are packed and we are headed to surgery

(New pajamas thanks to Caity!!)

Yesterday was the first of two surgeries Rylee will have on her ears. The doctor started with the right ear yesterday, with the hopes of finding out what was causing the hearing loss. We had to check in at the hospital at 9:45 for Rylee's surgery at 11:15. She was so sweet and almost excited about her surgery. She told Nolan before we left, "You need to stay here with Grandma, I am going to go to the hospital and get my ear fixed, love you!" It was the sweetest exchange ever, he then gave her a hug and we left on our way.
Everything went so smoothly at the hospital and it sure helped keep all of us calm. Rylee started with getting weighed and measured and then into a room for her vitals and to change into her hospital pajamas. We waited in the room for a bit and then it was into the pre-op room where they had toys and craft activities for Rylee to do while we waited for the doctors. First her surgeon, Dr. Muntz, came out to speak with us and explain what he would be doing today, then her nurse came out to say hi, and last was her anestesiologist who took her back to surgery.
She got to drive a car back to surgery and was so sweet and calm as she went behind the doors and we went into the waiting room to wait for the outcome.
She had two different procedure done yesterday on the right ear. The first is called a Tympanoplasty. (Tympanoplasty through the ear canal is an operation to patch the eardrum and evaluate the bone that carry the sound from the eardrum to inner ear. The eardrum is lifted up and a tissue graft is placed beneath the old eardrum to allow healing. Dissolvable packing is used in the middle ear and ear canal to keep the graft in place.) This first one was to explore what was going on in the ear. The second procedure is called Ossicupolasty. Ossicupolasty surgery is a procedure to repair the middle ear bones that cause hearing loss. This surgery is the one we were hoping to have, and we did have it. The hearing bones consist of three different bones. The first two can be replaced with an artificial bone if there is something wrong with them, but the third bone sits too close to the hearing organ to remove it and replace it. Well, the problem with Rylee's ear was the third of the three bones. When he got in the ear and evaluated the bones the third bone was stuck and not moving. Since it did not move the sound could not vibrate through the ear. Dr. Muntz was able to loosen the bone, reposition in and mobilize it. The success rate of this procedure is 75%, so we are hopeful but we will not find out until November 15 when Rylee has a hearing test. The good news is there was something wrong, so we are excitedly awaiting November to come!
Originally we were planning on staying the night, but the doctor decided that if she was doing well we could go home around 6:00pm.
At first we were a little nervous about going home with her because we could not get her pain managed and under control. The nurse gave her a fast acting pain and anxiety medication through her IV and once she got that she calmed down and started doing much better. After a little nap she decided she was ready to start eating and being much nicer. Once her pain was controlled and she was eating and drinking we decided that it was going to be good to go home. She got to ride in a wagon on the way to the car, and was happy to see Grandma and Nolan waiting for her outside.

Getting her blood pressure checked

Waiting for the nurse to come back

Playing Tic-Tack-Toe

Playing with stickers

Driving back to surgery with her Anesthesiologist

Finally taking a nap after surgery (it lasted 20 minutes)

In her wagon ready to go home

Twirl Skirts

Last week Aunt Erica showed us a picture of some cute Halloween Twirl Skirts for the girls, and asked if Grandma thought she could make them. Well we started looking more and found a few other ideas, and then we called my friend who is a sewing pro to see if she new how to make them. Well, she sure did. Grandma and I picked out all the fabric, and yes I even helped sew, thread elastic, and even iron, and here is the finished product. The skirts are SO adorable. At lunch today I had 3 moms ask me where we bought that skirt, so I guess we did good!!!

Snuggle Buddies

I made the mistake of teaching the kids that my phone can watch cartoons, and now that is what they like to do. It is very handy when you need kids to sit still and quiet, but a bit annoying when the TV is in the same room. The other night they were both asking to watch Mickey on my phone, so I let them because we were just trying to wait for Daddy to get home and the they were going to bed. After watching the two of them snuggle and give loves I would let them watch whenever if this is how it makes them act!

Are Kami, Wyatt and Uncle Jason Here Yet?

On Sunday evening Uncle Jason called with some GREAT news, he, Wyatt, and Kami are going to come back to Utah to visit at the end of the month. Rylee overheard me on the phone and did not stop talking about them coming until she fell asleep that night. She woke up the next morning and the first thing she asked me was if we were going to go pick them up from the airport yet, and I just laughed. By 9:00 in the morning she had outlined who was sleeping where, which car-seat Wyatt would ride in, who would sit where in the car, and many other things about their trip. So, I decided to try to help her understand that it would be a little while until they were coming and we made a count down chain. She loves taking a chain off every morning, but it has not slowed down the planning and questions about how long until they come. Luckily, October is a very busy month so they will be here before we know it!!

Alpine Slide

Sunday was such a pretty day and we knew it was going to be bad weather all week, so we decided to spend the the evening as a family in Park City. It is so beautiful up there and even more so this time of year as all the colors are changing. We had promised Rylee she could go on the, "big slide on the mountain" and she did not let us forget. She and Daddy made it in time to get tickets right as they were closing for the evening, but once she saw the chair lift she was going to ride up she was not so sure about things. Daddy said she was pretty terrified on the ride up and hesistant to go down, but as soon as they got going she had a blast. It is fun to have some fun and different things to do so close to our house.

Field Trip

Last Thursday Grandma and Nolan went with Rylee's preschool class of their first field trip. The two classes (morning and afternoon) went up the canyon to learn about leaves and how they change colors. The teacher started with reading a story to the kids about leaves, and then sent them on their way to gather leaves. Nolan wanted to throw rocks into the river and several other kids joined him once he started. The kids then did a little craft and played some more before heading back home. I am sad I missed such a fun day with the kids, but I would have struggled to keep up with my cast and crutches. Lucky for me though, Grandma took some really cute pictures to show me what they did on the field trip.

Morning and afternoon classes

Nolan playing in the grass

Nolan throwing rocks

Rylee throwing rocks and getting dirty

Collecting her leaves

Rylee playing parachute

Nolan getting ready to play parachute