Surgery Update and SNOW SNOW SNOW!

**Surgery Update: We heard from the surgeon's office on Monday that Sullivan's results from the cyst and lymph node removed last Thursday all came back benign and normal. Great Amazing news, and again we are so thankful for a healthy boy. We can close this door and move forward. Thank you for all the prayers!

There hasn't been too much excitement in the Midwest lately. Well, other than frigid temps, blizzard conditions, oh and the fact that it snows non-stop! I believe it has snowed at least the last 6 Saturdays in a row. I think it's safe to say everyone is sick of winter around here. And of course we got a tease today with temps almost reaching 50! Heat Wave!!

Yesterday we got another 6 inches of snow. After I got off work early, I came home in hopes that my wonderful neighbors plowed our drive and to work out. It seems I wasn't the only ones working out. A view from our office showed a few high school boys plowing and shoveling the track. Something you don't normally see, but I assume they are getting ready for track season. I also came across this vehicle that must have missed the turn on the off ramp. It was buried deep in the middle of the median for a few days. 

Tomorrow night they are predicting freezing rain followed by another 3 to 8 inches on Thursday. And if that doesn't make you want to head somewhere warm, we are also in a blizzard watch on Thursday. I'm really not sure where we are going to put anymore. Pretty soon we will not be able to see out our bedroom window. 

So if you live in the Midwest, bundle up, stay inside and stock up the house before the next storm hits. If you live outside of the Midwest, well enjoy the warmth for us!

Surgery

Sullivan was born with a cyst above his right eyebrow. We have known about it since the day after he was born. Then a month or so later we discovered another bump on his neck. Since noticing them, we've been monitoring their growth and consulting with his pediatrician on the next plan of actions. Sullivan's pediatrician advised us to wait until after he turned 18 months to ensure that his head plates were into the correct position. Over time the cyst on his eyebrow has grow and become more noticeable as he matures and his face thins out from baby fat. Most people say they didn't even realize he had a bump in pictures we took, however, if you have seen Sullivan in person, you would have noticed. At first, we were unsure whether we were going to remove them. But as they became more noticeable and larger, we felt it was necessary. 

At Sullivan's 18 month appointment we again, like all other appointments, evaluated the bumps. This time his pediatrician gave us the go ahead and referred us to a surgeon. The next day we got a call from Dr. Wait's office and set up a consultation. The day after his consultation, the surgery date was set for February 13th at 7 am. It seemed like we have been talking about this for so long and then finally everything was happening so fast. I was excited for Sullivan to finally get these "bumps" removed, but then a part of me, even on the morning of surgery, wanted to cancel because I was scared if something would go wrong or he would be in too much pain. The procedure itself was explained to be very simple, however Sullivan would have to be put under anesthesia. This is something Mike nor I have never had to experience before, and now our 19 month boy would be. 

So yesterday morning, at 5:30 am, we packed up in the cold and made our way to Covenant for Sullivan's surgery. We woke Sullivan up right before we left, leaving him in his jammies. As soon as we got to the hospital, he could tell this wasn't a normal Thursday morning. From the moment we walked out our door, Sullivan was very calm but quiet. I think he said maybe a total of ten words yesterday which only consisted of "no, momma, yeah and more." 

The staff at Covenant was super and made sure to fully explain to us what was going to happen and also let Sullivan warm up to them. While waiting, Sullivan got to play in their children's waiting room which was a well stocked toy room. When 7:00 rolled around, we walked our little boy to the operating room doors and said our "See ya laters." Again our little boy amazed us, he did not cry once, that we heard of, but instead was very calm and quiet. 

At around 8:15ish the doctor came out to talk with us. He said Sullivan's surgery went great. A little longer than expected (should have only taken 30 minutes) but he said Sullivan is doing well and he did a fantastic job. We learned from Dr. Wait that the cyst on Sullivan's forehead is a sebaceous cyst. This cyst was also larger than what we thought, just under the size of a golf ball. The cyst actually was underneath the muscle so that is why it took a little longer. We also learned that what we thought was another cyst on his neck was actually an enlarged lymph node. Both the cyst and the lymph node have gone off for testing and we are praying and praying the results that come back are good and normal. The surgeon said Sullivan is a very healthy boy which we should have little concern for abnormal test results. 

Sullivan is doing very well. Yesterday was a quiet day with rest and light activity. He was "out of it" most of the day and his balance was off so we didn't let him walk by himself. Today is much better, he is almost back to normal. I'm sure he will be a 100% tomorrow. Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers, calls and texts. Sullivan is our world and we are so happy to have this surgery over. 

Before surgery- the cyst above his eye. My boy new something wasn't right.

Before surgery- the area on his neck were the lymph node was removed.

Before surgery- he loved the play kitchens in the children's waiting room. 

After surgery- reuniting with his momma.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I know many people hate this holiday or just think it's another day, but I love it and plan to make all holidays special for my family. Call me a hopeless romantic (maybe that's because I watch too many chick flicks) but I love Valentine's Day. I love showing my man how much I love him and know I'm lucky enough to share it with two boys.

This weekend we prepped Sullivan's Valentine's for his friends at daycare and decided to have a little mini valentine's photo shoot. Usually our little "photo shoots" take a whole lot of effort from both Mike and I and we are lucky to get one or two "lucky shots" that work. Sullivan was being so good with this one and hammin' it up for the camera. Maybe he's getting used to these? Doubtful.

Hopefully you are doing something special with your loved one(s). Everyday we should tell them "I love you." But today, I say go all out!

    

  

Slumber Party

Due to crappy weather almost every Saturday and/or Sunday, I haven't seen my family since Christmas. They've been itchin' to come to visit and I've been itchin' to see them. So on Friday night after work, Stac, Mom and the boys packed up and head to our house to spend the night and do a little shopping on Saturday. Sullivan wasn't sure what to think when they all came hauling in around 6:40 pm.

It wasn't long and all the boys were running around, toys were everywhere and screaming and laughs were coming from their little mouths. When the blow up mattress came into the living room for the start of settling in for the evening; Landon, Asher and Sullivan hopped on and were jumping around like it was the bounce house. 

Sullivan had so much fun with his cousins. After they left yesterday afternoon, Sullivan took a nap slept from 1:45 to 5:45 pm! When he woke up and realized everyone was gone, he cried and cried. He even asked were his buddy Asher was this morning. I have a feeling they will be good buds for a long time. 

This afternoon I prepped some meals for the week and got Sullivan's Valentine's ready for his friends at daycare. More to come on that later this week. 

We have a busy week ahead of us, on Thursday Sullivan will be going in for surgery. He was born with a couple of cysts on his eyebrow and neck and they will be getting removed. So we have docs appointments and that to prepare for at the end of the week. Hoping things go smoothly and it doesn't shake him up too much. I'm lucky enough to spend all of Valentine's day with him and cannot wait to celebrate! 

I will keep you all posted on how it goes, in the meantime if you will, please say a little prayer that the surgery goes smoothly and that Sullivan comes out of anesthesia fine. I think that's what I'm most worried about. 

A snowy Super Bowl weekend.

Weather is crazy here in Iowa and it looks like winter will be around for at least 6 more weeks. Last weekend we have crazy blizzards and this weekend we got more snow as if we didn't have enough. Will it every be a nice, clear weekend?? I want to see family!

After the snow fall last night/yesterday morning, we bundled up Sullivan. While Mike shoveled the driveway I pulled Sullivan around in his sled he got for Christmas and watched him "waddle" into snow banks.

Today on Super Bowl Sunday, I spent the morning prepping meals for the week and made a batch of homemade play dough. The boys are napping now, but later on we all can't wait to cheer on the Seahawks! 

On Tuesday their saying more snow.....they have to be wrong one of these times, right?