Halloween

I really have no idea how my mom did it. We have pictures of us all dressed up for Halloween in costumes, usually costumes that she made for us. Then she had so much patience taking us from house to house collecting the goods.

Halloween started with Eve not liking how I did her hair... not pretty enough. Then when I took the boys to Eve's class I showed up just in time for her to throw up after she had gorged herself on Halloween treats.... AWESOME!! So then there were tears because her witch costume was in the wash when trick or treating time came along. I told her we have a giant chest of dress up clothes she could come up with something... so she decided on a ballerina.

Ezra decided he liked a horse costume we had... but I think he just liked the idea of a costume. He had Ian carrying it around while he was in his normal street clothes. So we filled up the buckets... Eve was allowed one piece of candy after she finished her dinner. Ezra turned into a giant candy monster that will never be satisfied... and Evan had a fun time tagging along.

9 months

What a busy 9 months it's been. When Evan was just a little newborn I thought he would be this nice calm kid... HAHAHA. I don't think I could have handled knowing that he was going to be wilder than Ezra. This kid really enjoys being a part of life and I don't stop him. I am glad that we are able to let him be as active as he is and not feel like he is going to kill himself... modern medicine rocks!!

Evan pulls himself up and cruises the furniture now. He also will just stand... and there is nothing he loves more than pushing things around the house thinking he is walking. My favorite thing about him right now? His hair... it is so fluffy!!

We have a port!!

 

Port surgery doesn't take very long... but it felt like FOREVER!! I know we had done it for Ezra but it didn't make it any easier. Once we got him back I did a quick count on the number of IV attempts I could see. First off I have to tell you the anesthesiologist had given me this talk prior to surgery then looked at Evan's hands and said this is going to be no problem. Yeah right.  They gave Evan gas before they attempted his IV so they didn't have to fight him, so I thought maybe they would really be successful right away. There were 4 pokes in one hand, two in the other... and the IV ended up being in his foot. Good thing we were there to get a port huh?

Evan has done pretty well since the surgery... he is a little fussy (who wouldn't be) and his pain meds make him sleepy (I am not complaining about my baby sleeping). We actually flew home yesterday... the day after his surgery. We flew in on the late flight so mom has the other kids still... I can't wait to see them!

We have fun too...

 So we don't spend all of our time in the emergency room. I swear! Most of the time life looks a lot more like this kind of craziness than the other. Actually yesterday was wildness of kids just having a blast together. Too often it seems like they don't get along and then once in a while a day comes along where they really just enjoy each other and have fun without fighting. Yesterday was one of those days. Someone called me and I really couldn't hear what they were saying on the other end because of how loud it was... I am sure they were thinking I was outta my mind but they were happy noises so we were fine. Look at these goofy kids... how fun are they. This is what makes all the work worth it.

Round 2 FIGHT!

It hasn't even been a week and we were back in the ER.  Evan was munching on a Barbie table and toppled forward breaking his frenulum open again.  This time the bleeding would not stop.  I called the blood center knowing what the answer would be. So, we packed up the family and headed to grandma Mil's to drop off Eve and Ezra before heading to the ER to get the infusion of Benefix that Evan needs.  We had a doctor that was telling us what the options were for a split frenulum and it was obvious that he had not been informed of Evan's special lack of clotting skills.  We pulled out the factor and pretty much told him this is what he needs then kindly asked what other things we could do to help that little tab of skin heal.  After he recovered from his surprise he was very helpful.  Ultimately, he said he was going to sign off on the infusion and get the nurses in to administer factor.  Our favorite nurse from the night shift happened to be on duty this morning too.  One of the other nurses gave Evan a poke then let Bethany have a stab at it.  Success in his foot again.  So now Bethany is 3 for 5, yes we keep score.  It took nearly 30 minutes after his infusion before the bleeding stopped.  Now, that is what we expected when he broke it in the first place.  Only 12 more days till Evan gets his port.

We're back!

My mother used to tell me there is nothing good that happens after midnight.  Well, for Ashley and I it seems like nothing good happens after 6.  While we were waiting for Eve to finish her swimming lessons Evan split his frenulum.  Well it is a little unfair to say that he did it all on his own.  He had a lot of help when his brother pushed his face to the floor.  The paci pushed his lip up and ripped that darn frenulum.  We have been warned that those things bleed profusely.  René the hemo nurse said when she split her frenulum as a kid you could have followed her blood trail for two blocks.  We must have lucked out.  Not more that two drops of blood came out of that boy.  But, we knew that a split frenulum meant a visit to the ER for a dose of factor.  You see that's the great thing about hemophilia and humans being carnivores.  The weak clot that Evan makes is dissolved by the enzymes in his saliva that break down meat and other proteins.  So, the frenulum keeps bleeding.  After a quick stop to pick up uncle Andrew to watch the older two we ran home to get factor and headed back to town.  The ER was crazy.  The lack of close parking should have been a giveaway.  Every room was full with a couple requiring security to stay posted.  We got our room and started the wait.  An hour later Dr. Meloche took a quick peek and said one of the most wonderful things I have heard a doctor say.  "In my years I have learned that when a hemophiliac or parents of a hemophiliac come in they know more than I do about the disease.  I am going to let Bethany give him the medicine he needs."  Then he was gone.  Ten minutes later Bethany poked Evan and got the IV in on the first poke.  AMAZING!  That was the best ER visit we have ever had.  I never thought I would use the word wonderful to describe an ER visit but that's what it was.

It's scheduled!!

So the 25th of this month is the day... can you believe it? It is crazy how quick it all happens. I know it was the same with Ezra but it still amazes me. We go from the talk to two hours later the scheduler calling with a surgery date. It is scary to think about my little baby having surgery but I will be so relieved to have two boys with ports. I will feel like we have more control of our lives, not that at any minute we will have to put our lives on hold and hang out at the hospital for however long it takes to get Evan his factor. Luckily we are already trained to access a port so once Evan is released from the hospital they are fine with us flying home. So we will only be away from home for around 5 days.