Year End Wrap Up

As 2011 comes to a close I am sitting here reflecting back on the year.

In January Nathan started going to preschool 5 days a week. He learned to love preschool and now that he takes a bus to and from school he loves it even more.

In February we started having trouble with Nathan and he was admitted to the hospital a few times with severe, chronic diarrhea. We never did find out a cause.

In March we had more of the same, more hospital stays and more diarrhea. At one point Nathan was diagnosed with a lactose intolerance even though he wasn't eating any lactose (thank you very much Albany Med Peds GI, you are simply awful).

In April we went on Vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC with Grandma and Grandpa. It was a great vacation but we had to leave early to take Nathan to the ER. Up until that point it was a pretty good vacation and we can't wait to go again.

In May, nothing noteworthy again. Forgive me, it's late and I'm having a mental block to May.

In June preschool took a break before summer session began. Program preschool (where the therapies are included) doesn't break like regular school, they go year round with breaks like regular school.

In July Daddy impressed us with his fireworks display at the lake. Trevor loved all the pretty colors and didn't mind the noise, Nathan liked the colors but HATED the noise.

In August, this was a big month for us. We went to Cape Cod and it was supposed to be a fun beach vacation. In a surprising turn Trevor got sick and ended up in the ER and Nathan had a great week going to the beach with everyone else while I stayed home and nursed Trevvie back to health. Not to be outdone Nathan's feeding tube came out and we needed to call an ambulance to put it back in. Later in the month we had a party for Nathan at the track so he could see all his friends before surgery. Then at the end of the month we went to Boston to get his trach removed. It was a long surgery for all of us but Nathan came through it great. Trevor got to spend some time with all his grandparents who took turns taking care of him. Also, Trevor started really walking all over the place. Once he got mobile there was no looking back!

In September Nathan was sent home for the very first time in his life without a trach. Nathan had never before been home without one. It was quite a day for all of us, hard to believe we were able to take him home only 2 weeks after surgery but we were (since I'm a nurse I was trusted to wean him off pain meds at home).

In October we went to B'ville to see the Hipolito family and visit the zoo. Trevor loved the zoo but was always a little jealous that all the animals were eating and he wasn't. Nathan also decided there was a nearby hospital he'd never visited and knew Aunt Trisha always wanted to see the inside of it so he got pneumonia while we were out there and got himself admitted to the hospital. He was sent home a couple days later, just in time to require Aunt Trisha and Geege to do the "herkimer shuffle" with Nathan and I since Eeeeaaaa and Trevor had to go home the day before.

November brought holiday festivities. We had thanksgiving to celebrate with the family and Nathan went to his first Turkey Trot. Trevor woke up quite early and was exhausted for the rest of the day. It was also the first Thanksgiving where Trevor was able to actually eat and he loved it. Thanksgiving is his holiday, he rocks at Thanksgiving. He ate himself into a food coma and when we got to grandma and grandpa's house he was ready for bed even though all the other kids were still up playing. Also, the boys were both asked to be ring bearers in their very first wedding! Nathan is already practicing walking slowly and smiling (at the same time, hard to do for a 4 year old).

December was full of family, fun and Santa anticipation. Once it got closer Nathan was a little nervous that Santa was going to come into him room and scare him but that didn't happen. Trevor doesn't understand the joy of Christmas so he had to be woken up at 8am to open gifts. Nathan opened all the gifts for both of them while Trevor walked around eating cheerios.

Other things that happened
-Trevor started talking and waving his hands to signal he wants something, usually food

-My parents believe Trevor signs, I'm still deciding

-Nathan started talking and needs to be reminded to breathe, he just doesn't stop. I asked him if he wanted to have a silent contest and he got sad and said "I just can't stop talking mommy, I love it"

-Nathan tricked everyone into believing he can read by memorizing his books and then repeating them to you as you looked at the book

-Trevor realized he HATES broccoli, and makes a cute face when he does accidentally eat it

-Trevor realized that he can walk his little self into the kitchen, open the pantry and get some food. He has a preference for the honey. That was before I bought a gate to keep him out of the kitchen

-Nathan started taking a bus to school and loves it

-Matt got a new job with Amtrak, we are all very excited

-Nathan turned 4 with a Thomas the train party.



Overall, 2011 was a good year for us. With nothing else, Nathan got his trach removed and that is all Matt and I ever wanted. We had a lot of great times and a few bad times. We were lucky enough to spend lots of time with our friends and family.

Here are my resolutions for 2012:
-I want to live in the moment more, spend less time worrying about what the future holds and more time enjoying the moment.
-I want to teach both boys how to swim, might need some help with that one.
-I want to take the whole family to California and have no one on our plane complain about the annoying kids in reference to mine.

Happy New Year's everyone. I hope you all celebrated with the one's you love most!