Hayden

I'm sure every mom hopes that their kids will grow up to be good people. Yesterday Hayden made me a very proud mom, and he made me cry a little.
At school, when it is the students birthday they get to eat their lunch in the classroom (a little weird, I know, but for some reason the kids think it is the coolest thing ever). Hayden has been asked by about every boy in his class to eat with them on their birthdays. So yesterday he was telling me that he got to eat with Spencer in the classroom for Spencer's birthday, then I remembered that Hayden had just had his half birthday, so I asked him who he had eat in the classroom with him. He said Tommy and Spencer (I was a little shocked, because Spencer is kind of a naughty kid, and Hayden's best friend Bridger is in their same class -I thought for sure he would have had Bridger eat with him) and I said "I didn't think you and Spencer were very good friends". He replied "Well, he hasn't got to eat in the classroom yet, because nobody has asked him".
I was so proud at that very moment. Hayden is a very thoughtful, caring boy. He is always thinking of others. He is truly a great example to me. I am so very lucky to be his mom.

Do mom's ever NOT worry?

When Rylan was born he had some breathing problems, and they were never able to figure out the cause of them. He had a lot of tests ran at that time, including tests on his heart. At that time we found out that he did not have a right superior vena cava (there should be one on each side of the heart, where the blood drains from the head and enters the heart), but they told us that it should never cause him any problems. We really haven't thought much about it since.

A few months ago, he started telling me that he was having a hard time breathing, and I didn't think much about it. I just figured that I would keep an eye on him. Then he started telling me that his "heart" hurt when he would jump on the trampoline or ride his bike. Then I began to worry.

I took him to our pediatrician, who made us an appointment with a pediatric cardiologist at Primary Childrens. He said that he just didn't want to take any chances, especially since Rylan's heart is different as it is.

At PC they did a chest x-ray, EKG and an Echocardiogram. The doctor was concerned after watching the echo, so he scheduled us to have an MRI done. Unfortunately w/ little kids they have to sedate them to get them to be absolutely still. So, we got the results back from the MRI and we learned a few new things about Ry's anatomy, not only is he missing his right SVC, but he is also missing his left jugular vein, and the vein that returns the blood from his left arm back to his heart, is badly misshapen. But even with all of that there is no explanation for his shortness of breath and chest pain. They said that his heart is functioning well and beating strongly, so there should not be any reason to worry about it. That was a relief, but we still don't know what is causing the problems.

So, it's back to our pediatrician and then probably on to a pulmonologist to have his lungs checked out. Hopefully someday we can get to the bottom of his problems, and he can run and play without pain and be able to breathe like everyone else.

He's been such a good boy through all of this. He's a pretty tough and patient little kid. Thank goodness!

Before he got his IV they gave him a "little buddy" to learn about the IV. He got to prep him for an IV and put it in.

Rylan was so brave when he got his IV, he didn't even cry. But then they couldn't get it in. So the 2nd (and 3rd) tries, he was not so nice - I don't blame him though-They hurt!

The medicine they gave him to sedate him was some pretty strong stuff, they have them sleep for 2 hours afterwards, because otherwise they wake up really mean.
Little did they know, that Rylan likes to sleep A LOT. He would not wake up! He is so stubborn, all he had to do was open his eyes and look at the nurse and they would let us leave, but he wouldn't! I asked him after why he wouldn't open his eyes and he said "I didn't want to" - what a stinker! After 4 hours in recovery (including 2 hours of unsuccessful attempts to wake him up using cold wash cloths and popsicles),

they decided we could go home

When we got home he slept some more,
in fact he didn't wake up until the next day!
And then, he didn't even know he had missed a whole day!

So, that is Rylan's month of April in a nutshell.

Trying to catch up!

So, I'm going to try and do better with my blogging (notice, I said try)   
     
Here are some pictures from Easter.

Coloring eggs













Easter Egg Roll-Off at Grandma's

Do you like how my finger nails match my egg?

Rylan won the roll-off.  Plus he won this fabulous non-breakable, traveling trophy.  He was beyond excited!

Then we went to the sand to roll our Easter eggs down the sandhills - it's a Delta thing.

Rylan had his first motorcycle riding lesson.  He hasn't had the interest Hayden had.  :-(

And Hayden just had the greatest day ever!

Sweetest Boys

This Mother's Day was kind of a bummer. I laid in bed sick all weekend. I even missed Hayden's first Pinewood Derby :( But Sunday morning, my cute kids tried to cheer me up. Ry told me that I could stay in bed ALL DAY (except I had to get up and get him some breakfast). After I went back to bed Hayden snuck off to the kitchen to make me breakfast in bed. He was gone for quite a while. I could hear him banging around in there, and I was very curious to see what he had come up with for me to eat. (Especially since we had no milk! Since I was sick, no one could go to the store and get any)

He came in with the biggest grin on his face, he was so proud of himself. He had made me toast, an Eggo waffle, a toaster strudel, strawberries and an apple. And I have to tell you, it was probably the very best breakfast I have ever had! :) I am the luckiest mom in the world, and I am so very grateful to have these boys in my life.