Sunday, December 10, 2006
The abandoned Xmas photo shoot
The boys in their outfits purchased for their Xmas photo, demonstrating why that effort was abandoned.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Ready for the weekend
I remember the days when Friday afternoon meant happy hour, a nice dinner out, socializing with friends. These days Fridays are pretty much like any other day except Flora isn't coming tomorrow. Oh well.
It has been kind of a long week. Allan is getting over his cold, but he tends to cough at night. The pediatrician is anti-cough syrup so the little fellow has to hack it out. So, not so much sleep for him or for us. Plus, the little guy had five doctor's appointments this week so he was pretty worn out most of the time. The upshot of all of those exams is that he's doing very well -- his pupil seems to be dilating more, the contact seems to be a pretty good fit, his "peg" has healed nicely and seems to be working as it should. All-in-all good reports.
Griffith is doing very well, too. He's gotten so big. He's eating cereal now and seems very proud of himself. He has learned to squeal which he thinks is about the funniest thing in the world. Especially when he flings his arms and legs simultaneously. He really has the hang of the whole turning himself over thing and can manage to stay seated for a few seconds before doing the Leaning Tower of Pisa off to the side.
No progress has been made toward Xmas photos. I wanted to take one last night - Allan was wailing because I laid him down which I had to do because Griffith had spit up all over himself and the surrounding three square feet. Griffith was furious because he was covered in spit up and I wasn't moving fast enough to address his issue. Not very picturesque but fairly representative of what we have to deal with. If Jay hadn't had the camera in his car, I would have done it.
(That's really unfair. After both boys were cleaned up, they were angels all night and we hung out upstairs, read books and snuggled. Just when you start to think "are there no orphanages? are there no work houses?, they turn sweet and cute and you hang on for another day.)
It has been kind of a long week. Allan is getting over his cold, but he tends to cough at night. The pediatrician is anti-cough syrup so the little fellow has to hack it out. So, not so much sleep for him or for us. Plus, the little guy had five doctor's appointments this week so he was pretty worn out most of the time. The upshot of all of those exams is that he's doing very well -- his pupil seems to be dilating more, the contact seems to be a pretty good fit, his "peg" has healed nicely and seems to be working as it should. All-in-all good reports.
Griffith is doing very well, too. He's gotten so big. He's eating cereal now and seems very proud of himself. He has learned to squeal which he thinks is about the funniest thing in the world. Especially when he flings his arms and legs simultaneously. He really has the hang of the whole turning himself over thing and can manage to stay seated for a few seconds before doing the Leaning Tower of Pisa off to the side.
No progress has been made toward Xmas photos. I wanted to take one last night - Allan was wailing because I laid him down which I had to do because Griffith had spit up all over himself and the surrounding three square feet. Griffith was furious because he was covered in spit up and I wasn't moving fast enough to address his issue. Not very picturesque but fairly representative of what we have to deal with. If Jay hadn't had the camera in his car, I would have done it.
(That's really unfair. After both boys were cleaned up, they were angels all night and we hung out upstairs, read books and snuggled. Just when you start to think "are there no orphanages? are there no work houses?, they turn sweet and cute and you hang on for another day.)
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
So on Monday both boys got their follow up vaccines for flu and RSV. They both got weighed and Griffith is now a whopping 13 pounds 2 ounces. Allan is 13 pounds 6 and a half ounces. I am given to understand that they are both nearly one stone apiece. (Whatever that means.) Cute little Becky the Nurse gave them both their shots. Allan seemed to anticipate that this was not going to end well, but poor Griffith was grinning at her like she was his best friend. That she turned on him so cruelly was infuriating to him. He. Would. Not. Stop. Crying. We are talking full-on, howling at the top of his lungs, hardly able to catch his breath crying. It clearly was not the physical discomfort of the shot after the first couple of minutes. Thereafter it was venom, fury and white-hot anger at having been so misused.
Although he hadn't really shown any symptoms, Griffith was starting an ear infection so he's on an antibiotic. Other than that, he's doing great --growing at the proper pace, doing the proper things. He's even been cleared to start cereal.
Allan didn't fare so well. He didn't react very well to the vaccines and at about midnight (none of these things ever happen at 2 p.m.) he started to run a fever, breath faster and cough. And desat, causing the alarm to go off. Apparently he was on a verge of a cold and this just put him over the edge. He didn't sleep for more than 20 or 30 minutes at a time all night. (Nor did we.) We took him to the doctor the next day just to make sure that he wasn't getting pneumonia or something worse and that turned out all right. Still, the poor little guy was pretty puny acting. He's bounced back today, though, and is acting more like himself.
He goes back tomorrow to have his eye and new contact evaluated. Dad and I are still not what you would call adept at getting it in and out, but we are getting better (at the risk of jinxing it.)
We continue to consider the possibility of taking Xmas photos, but, frankly haven't had the strength to repeat our earlier efforts. Suffice to say that there will be photos -- eventually.
Although he hadn't really shown any symptoms, Griffith was starting an ear infection so he's on an antibiotic. Other than that, he's doing great --growing at the proper pace, doing the proper things. He's even been cleared to start cereal.
Allan didn't fare so well. He didn't react very well to the vaccines and at about midnight (none of these things ever happen at 2 p.m.) he started to run a fever, breath faster and cough. And desat, causing the alarm to go off. Apparently he was on a verge of a cold and this just put him over the edge. He didn't sleep for more than 20 or 30 minutes at a time all night. (Nor did we.) We took him to the doctor the next day just to make sure that he wasn't getting pneumonia or something worse and that turned out all right. Still, the poor little guy was pretty puny acting. He's bounced back today, though, and is acting more like himself.
He goes back tomorrow to have his eye and new contact evaluated. Dad and I are still not what you would call adept at getting it in and out, but we are getting better (at the risk of jinxing it.)
We continue to consider the possibility of taking Xmas photos, but, frankly haven't had the strength to repeat our earlier efforts. Suffice to say that there will be photos -- eventually.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Well, things didn't go so well with the Christmas photo shoot. Everything was set up and in place, but no one told the boys that they had to cooperate. Neither of them was his usual happy self that morning. If one was looking in the right direction, the other one was crying or had his head turned or was trying to eat fake snow. We worked like field hands for about 45 minutes and then just called it. Took off the cute like overalls and decided we would try later. Every time the camera comes out, things go to hell. You may get a Christmas card. You may get a New Year's card. It may be Valentine's Day or Flag Day for that matter. Just please, please don't ask where your card is.
After we quit pestering them for photos, the boys had a good weekend. Allan and Griff are paying more attention to each other these days. Not that it is always a good thing. Saturday afternoon I had them both on a blanket in the floor with toys between them. Allan would grab something. Griffith would grab from the other side and then he would roll over, taking whatever the toy was with him, deposit on the side away from Allan and roll back over to repeat the process with whatever other toy Allan got. This went on for nearly an hour. We think it is probably a preview of coming attractions.
Allan's contact came and we managed to wrestle him in to and out of it. So far it is a two-person operation. Although he doesn't seem to mind the contact once it is in, Allan is not at all interested in having it put in. And getting it out is quite the rodeo. Still it seems to be helping him track with that eye and we hope that the grudge matches settle down once he is a little more used to the process.
Allan's hearing was tested again today. Before he was discharged from the NICU, they tested him and concluded that he had a fair amount of hearing loss in his left ear. Still, because he was so little, they recommend re-doing the test. Today they have concluded that he has a little hearing loss in each ear, but nothing profound.
After we quit pestering them for photos, the boys had a good weekend. Allan and Griff are paying more attention to each other these days. Not that it is always a good thing. Saturday afternoon I had them both on a blanket in the floor with toys between them. Allan would grab something. Griffith would grab from the other side and then he would roll over, taking whatever the toy was with him, deposit on the side away from Allan and roll back over to repeat the process with whatever other toy Allan got. This went on for nearly an hour. We think it is probably a preview of coming attractions.
Allan's contact came and we managed to wrestle him in to and out of it. So far it is a two-person operation. Although he doesn't seem to mind the contact once it is in, Allan is not at all interested in having it put in. And getting it out is quite the rodeo. Still it seems to be helping him track with that eye and we hope that the grudge matches settle down once he is a little more used to the process.
Allan's hearing was tested again today. Before he was discharged from the NICU, they tested him and concluded that he had a fair amount of hearing loss in his left ear. Still, because he was so little, they recommend re-doing the test. Today they have concluded that he has a little hearing loss in each ear, but nothing profound.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Sorry for the delay in posting. We've had a busy week. Jay and I had a night alone in lovely Clarksville, Indiana (there was a convention in Louisville and all the hotels were booked). Allan and Griffith partied like rock stars with Caitlin and Rachel. Caitlin said that Griffith talked all night long.
The immigration interviews went about as well as could be expected. If he gets deported it may be all my fault. I'm not terribly well-suited for responding to those sorts of questions (Q:"Does your husband have any previous marriages? Any other children?" A: "Not to my knowledge." Q: "What?" A:"Not to my knowledge." What more do they expect? He's got about 35 years unaccounted for.... Q:"Does his family like you?" A: "I really can't speak for them, but I should hope so." Q: "Does your family like him?" A: "They seem to." It isn't as if we have asked them directly. They ask you to swear to tell the truth and then look at you as if you have antlers when you do.)
We took Allan to have his eye looked at again and to be fitted for a contact. He did very well. We put it in and took it out and he really didn't fight too much. Of course, we only did it twice and he wasn't sure what was going on. We'll see how it goes once he's figured out what's coming.
Aunt Evelyn came for a short visit and was quite impressed with how big Griffith has gotten (his face has really filled out -- I think that means he's getting fat) and how alert and active Allan is.
Allan has really picked up steam lately. His breathing has been better and, consequently, he is more active. This is manifested in many ways, not the least of which is that he, too, is learning to pitch fits when things don't go to suit him. He will now howl like a banshee when you lay him down and he tried to shout the walls down at the pediatrician's office. I blame Griffith. He's a bad influence. Still it is fun (for now anyway) to see Allan feeling lively enough to act up.
We are going to try to take Christmas pictures this weekend. The odds of everyone being dressed, clean, happy and looking in the same direction are slim, but we are giving it a shot. It may take awhile. They may end up being Valentine's Day cards by the time we are through....
The immigration interviews went about as well as could be expected. If he gets deported it may be all my fault. I'm not terribly well-suited for responding to those sorts of questions (Q:"Does your husband have any previous marriages? Any other children?" A: "Not to my knowledge." Q: "What?" A:"Not to my knowledge." What more do they expect? He's got about 35 years unaccounted for.... Q:"Does his family like you?" A: "I really can't speak for them, but I should hope so." Q: "Does your family like him?" A: "They seem to." It isn't as if we have asked them directly. They ask you to swear to tell the truth and then look at you as if you have antlers when you do.)
We took Allan to have his eye looked at again and to be fitted for a contact. He did very well. We put it in and took it out and he really didn't fight too much. Of course, we only did it twice and he wasn't sure what was going on. We'll see how it goes once he's figured out what's coming.
Aunt Evelyn came for a short visit and was quite impressed with how big Griffith has gotten (his face has really filled out -- I think that means he's getting fat) and how alert and active Allan is.
Allan has really picked up steam lately. His breathing has been better and, consequently, he is more active. This is manifested in many ways, not the least of which is that he, too, is learning to pitch fits when things don't go to suit him. He will now howl like a banshee when you lay him down and he tried to shout the walls down at the pediatrician's office. I blame Griffith. He's a bad influence. Still it is fun (for now anyway) to see Allan feeling lively enough to act up.
We are going to try to take Christmas pictures this weekend. The odds of everyone being dressed, clean, happy and looking in the same direction are slim, but we are giving it a shot. It may take awhile. They may end up being Valentine's Day cards by the time we are through....
Griffith in his new toboggan
Griff and great-great aunt Evelyn. And his new hat courtesy of cousin Edith.
Monday, November 27, 2006
The weekend recap -- Thanksgiving.
The boys have had a most excellent Thanksgiving break. The weather has been wonderful and we have taken long walks every day, trying to take advantage of it while we can.
The boys were very disappointed that the Cats blew it against Tennessee, but they wore their hats with pride any way. Who would have thought that the season would have gone as well as it did? And we still have a bowl game to look forward to. And, even better -- basketball season is ready to start in earnest.
Aunt Kathy dropped by on Saturday and immediately pronounced Griffith to be "fat" which made him laugh out loud. She also got to witness a full-on temper tantrum when he decided that his (second) lunch was late. She laughed and laughed and laughed. I think I heard her say something about revenge being sweet. I'm not sure what she meant by that, but I think she is implying that our pride and joy is just a little bit of a handful. Still you have to respect someone who knows his own mind like Grif and manages to convey it so clearly. He can pretty much roll over at will these days and scoots all over the place. He still wakes up happy as a clam and jabbers all the time. Flora swears that he says 'hi' (he does say something close) and that he said "da" today (which I refuse to accept -- it would be very ungrateful of him to do so.)
Allan has been doing just great since his surgery. His eye looks better every day and his belly doesn't seem to be bothering him at all. He still isn't eating much better, but we have been wearing him out with doctor's visits and walks and such. He did eat quite a bit yesterday for his dad -- who was feeding Griffith at the time. Allan kept watching and squawking and would suck down Griff's bottle any time his dad offered it - which then caused Griff to squawk. The two are going to be a little jealous, we're afraid. Still, Allan is a little love bug and snuggles down any chance he gets. He watches his brother when Griff is doing all of this talking and moves his mouth like he is trying to figure out how to answer him. Good luck getting a word in edgewise.
We have doctors' appts and work and immigration appointments today and Wednesday so it may be a while before we post. Enjoy the pictures!
The boys were very disappointed that the Cats blew it against Tennessee, but they wore their hats with pride any way. Who would have thought that the season would have gone as well as it did? And we still have a bowl game to look forward to. And, even better -- basketball season is ready to start in earnest.
Aunt Kathy dropped by on Saturday and immediately pronounced Griffith to be "fat" which made him laugh out loud. She also got to witness a full-on temper tantrum when he decided that his (second) lunch was late. She laughed and laughed and laughed. I think I heard her say something about revenge being sweet. I'm not sure what she meant by that, but I think she is implying that our pride and joy is just a little bit of a handful. Still you have to respect someone who knows his own mind like Grif and manages to convey it so clearly. He can pretty much roll over at will these days and scoots all over the place. He still wakes up happy as a clam and jabbers all the time. Flora swears that he says 'hi' (he does say something close) and that he said "da" today (which I refuse to accept -- it would be very ungrateful of him to do so.)
Allan has been doing just great since his surgery. His eye looks better every day and his belly doesn't seem to be bothering him at all. He still isn't eating much better, but we have been wearing him out with doctor's visits and walks and such. He did eat quite a bit yesterday for his dad -- who was feeding Griffith at the time. Allan kept watching and squawking and would suck down Griff's bottle any time his dad offered it - which then caused Griff to squawk. The two are going to be a little jealous, we're afraid. Still, Allan is a little love bug and snuggles down any chance he gets. He watches his brother when Griff is doing all of this talking and moves his mouth like he is trying to figure out how to answer him. Good luck getting a word in edgewise.
We have doctors' appts and work and immigration appointments today and Wednesday so it may be a while before we post. Enjoy the pictures!
Griff in his Pooh robe
Allan fell asleep before I could give him his bath. We'll have to get his picture later.
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