Stephen's Surgery- Success

Stephen is officially a trooper with a smile!
Wednesday evening as I was packing up John to go to my parents for a couple days, my stomach was turning and I was thinking of every reason to not have to take Stephen for his surgery.  I dropped off John and he was happy to be at grandma's; looking forward to waffles in the morning, his new little bed grandma and grandpa got for him and all the 2 on 1 time! I drove home second guessing everything, does he really need surgery? Maybe his ear infections weren't that bad...
I came home and Ryan and I put Stephen to bed.
Thursday morning Ryan and I got up bright and early to get ready.  We woke Stephen up at 5:30a to change his clothes and head to Children's.  We hadn't told him anything about what was to come, up to this point.  So I told SJ that we needed to go to the hospital and before I could say anything else, he cut me off asking if John got sick at Grandma's and if he was OK.  Ahh, that hit like a dagger! He is always so sweet and concerned for his brother and everyone else.  Off to the hospital.... Our ride there Ryan and I didn't have much to say as we both had heavy hearts.
We checked in and SJ happily got his bracelet (AKA hospital name band) and we were called right back.  The staff was so nice and kind to Stephen.  They talked me through everything, we met with his surgeon and the nursing staff.  I went back into the OR with him.  He was so compliant, never cried and just said "HI" to everyone and smiled.  He fought the sleepy gas, but as soon as I told him to take a little nap he closed his eyes and I gave him a kiss and was escorted out.
When I met up with Ryan in the waiting room we quickly realized I forgot his puppy at home! Ryan had emails for work that he needed to respond to so I tried my luck at racing to my parents house to get the puppy I sent with John the night before since they were closer then our house.  I picked up the dog and as I pulled into the parking ramp Ryan called that Dr. Shefelbine had just talked to him.  Ahh!  Not the worst thing, I know but I wanted to hear from her how it went...  The report was that his tonsils were huge, his adenoids were of significant size and his tubes were placed wonderfully. Great! His surgery was necessary!
SJ was a "wild wake-up"  ... I wonder where he gets that from?  ME.  Waking up from surgery is the worst... They got him settled and we were taken to our room for the night.
Stephen's nurse, Donna was a saint - anything and everything SJ wanted she had waiting for him.  All the movies, Popsicles and clean linens and PJs he could dream of.  We watched Chicken Run and Fox and the Hound as he ate 9 Popsicles! He was laughing and never cried.  So compliant to the blood pressure checks, temp checks, IV checks, and even his oral medicine & ear drops.  He then had ice chips and apple juice.  He was eager to get out of his bed and play... so we walked down the hall to the toy room.  He played in there for 20 minutes and then started asking for lunch.  We ordered him Mac and cheese, apple sauce, and ice-cream.  He ate everything!!  And then passed out for the afternoon.  I took a nap with him and Ryan headed to work for a meeting he needed to attend.  SJ woke up about 4:30 whimpering a bit from the pain... nothing a popsicle can't help! :) At this point, I asked the nurse if we had to spend the night- he was doing so well! She said that she had never seen a child this age do this well!  She thought it was very reasonable to get to go home but to see how the next few hours went and we could make a decision around 9pm.  By 5:30 he was asking for more dinner and when we could go play again.... I fed him and we went walking around, robot (AKA IV tower) in tow.  Ryan came back and we had the nurse disconnect his IV tower so we could be mobile easier.  At that point, I knew I wanted to go home.  Stephen wanted to stay-- he loved the Mac and cheese/ice cream/popsicles on tap, he didn't want to take off his "new" PJ's and he wanted to keep watching movies.  The joys when you are 2!
We had SJ take a cozy coup down to the pharmacy to pick up his meds and by the time we got back the nurse had his discharge stuff ready.  She gave him more meds, we changed him and she took out his IV.  The way we convinced him to go home was that he could get the mail alone (without John) when we got home.  He stayed awake the whole way and he got the mail.  I was shocked he was still up- it was almost 9:30pm!  By the time Ryan and I carried everything in from the car, got a little organized we realized Stephen had tucked himself in bed with his puppies.  Ryan slept in John's bed and took the night shift-  SJ slept until almost 9am this morning!
He had eggs and yogurt for breakfast and is happily watching TV with his puppies.

The nurse was quick to notice she had a little OCD kiddo on her hands... SJ didn't want his jams or his bed sheets dirty.  We had them changed a couple times.  He cleared his dishes this morning and commented on how nice it is to have a clean table!  LOL- I love it!! :)

Right after surgery, first popsicle :)

Mommy snuggling with you in bed

Loving Fox and the Hound 

In the Play Room.... his cheeks are red from the popsicles...

Snuggling with Daddy!

"Mom! I can push all the buttons?!!" 

Making the rounds

Waving at Mommy

24 hours later... Happily eating his eggs! :D

Stephen Joseph

Since I clearly dropped the ball on your birthday post... I do have proof that your daddy didn't!   Below is an email your daddy sent me to post on the blog:

From:        Ryan P. Patrick/US-Corp03/3M/US
To:        caroline.patrick@yahoo.com
Date:        06/05/2012 10:09 AM 
Subject:        
Dear Stevie-Joe,

I can't believe you are a big two year old!  This past year has flown by.  It has been so much fun watching you develop your personality and start interacting with our family. 

This past year has brought a lot of changes for you as well as our family.  We moved from St. Paul, to Nana and Granpa's house briefly, and now to our house in Woodbury.  You were a trooper the entire time and were always there with a smile and a hug despite all the moving around.  

Toys and stuffed animals.  You love both of them.  You can entertain yourself for hours playing duplos, trains or puzzles.  Lately, you have really liked playing outside in the sandbox, jumping on the trampoline and using your pretend lawn-mower to help me cut the grass.  Water has also become a favorite activity for you and John outside.  Whether that means running through the sprinkler, playing in your little pool, or simply playing with the hose you are a happy, giggly kid.  Your stuffed animals are also a favorite - especially puppies!  You love puppies!  Nana bought you a stuffed puppy when you were a little tyke....after we temporarily lost the puppy once, your mom and I decided to order three more thinking that we could solve that problem should one go missing.....now you insist on sleeping with all four puppies at night!!  You also love seeing Sabo (Nana and Grandpa's dog) and Murphy (Dan's farm dog).

Stevie - you are such a great kid, a good listener, loving, and always so happy.  Even if you are woken up, you pop out of bed with a smile and a big hug.  You are always looking to snuggle and enjoy being held.  Most of the time you like to do this with your favorite drink - chocolate milk (A little cocoa mixed with chocolate protein haha!).  

We sure love you Stephen!  

Daddy

Ryan Patrick, CPA
3M Finance | Traffic Safety Systems
3M Center, 235-3A-09 | St.Paul, MN

I am just going to go through all the basics, little Stevie Joe:

Sleeping:
As I stated in the last post, Nana painted your bedroom into a safari and painted daddy's old firetruck bed into a safari explorer.  However, you and John just needed to share a room so now you are camped out with your mattress on the floor in John's room.  Daddy and I love that you 2 are sharing a room.  It has been a very smooth transition -- not too much goofing around in your room while you should be sleeping. :)  You still nap daily, anywhere from 2 hours to 4 hours!  You both go to bed at the same time which is about 8/8:30pm.  Your wake up time however isn't always so stellar.  You wake up anywhere between 5-6:30am.  You sleep with your many stuffed animals and stuffed dogs.

Eating:
You are a healthy appetite-- I rarely have to coax you into eating (or at least trying) new foods.  You are happy to eat what we are serving.  I would say your favorite foods are: Cereal (Special K with milk) oatmeal, eggs (scrambled, over easy or hard boiled) peanut butter and honey sandwiches, spaghetti, yogurt, raw carrots and all fruit.  You are a big breakfast guy and as the day goes on you eat less -- by dinner time you don't have a huge appetite left.

Language:
I can understand you 100% of the time -- YAY!  You have an expanding vocabulary and enjoy talking.  I do notice that people who don't know you as well do have a hard time understanding you sometimes. It isn't time to get you accessed for speech yet, but if it continues, I will look into it in the spring.  On the subject of language, your singing skills are so fun!!  You love to be sung to but even more you love to sing! ABC's, Old McDonald, Down on Uncle Dan's Farm, Wheels on the Bus, Twinkle Twinkle, and the list goes on.  When I put you to sleep on the nights daddy has class, I don't know the "dun-dun" song (Jason Mraz, I'm Yours) daddy sings you -- I sing the "oldies but goodies"... and you always have to sing along with me.  (which does not mean you are going to sleep like I wanted!) ;)

Skills and other tid bits:
You enjoy to color with markers, crayons and paint.
You can put on and take off your shoes.
You are known to be a bit OCD -- you make your bed (!!) and clean up your toys.
You drink skim milk.
You can fully undress.
You (almost) always what to help me or daddy with what we are doing.
You prefer to read only books about farms, specifically Dad and Patty's farm.
You need some help getting dressed --but will try until I am able to help you.
You are not afraid to climb to the top at parks, but will only go down slides feet first on your tummy.
You can buckle your own carseat --as long as you are not wearing a puffy coat. :)
You can talk on the phone, as long as it is daddy, mommy, or a grandparent on the other line.
You use your spoon and fork at meals.
You bus your own dishes!!
You are obsessed with potty training, we just can't seem to get full circle on the subject...
You like to help load the wash machine and change the laundry.
You like the show Miss Spider and the Sunny Patch Bugs
You can wash your own hands (as long as you can reach...)
You love to be outside, playing in the sand box or with other kids.
When you see a camera, you scrunch your face into a smile and say, "Cheese!!!"
You seem to have a high pain tolerance.
You are always looking to snuggle with daddy or I.
And, (you got this from me as I was this way as a child too...) you like to be a little "mommy"  (always telling people what to do) ;)

ECFE:
I have so much mommy guilt, but heck- what mom doesn't? I have always wanted to have everything "fair" for our kids... but that is just now possible.  My friend Melissa has 6 children and she always says, as a mom your job is to provide for the needs of your children, not the wants.  I really like this- all kids have different needs, and it is a good check in for me- the needs! :)  Anyways, SJ hadn't done ECFE, swimming, or any "extras" in his life so this fall we started ECFE in Woodbury at Central Park.  It has been so much fun!  He loves "school" - he loves the kids - he loves his teachers - and he loves all the toys!  His favorite part would be the group singing time.  Ms. Susan sings with all the kids and some of his favorite songs are: Jelly in the Bowl, Hot Potato, Brio Brio (a welcome song).

Temperament:
You are a sweet boy that is happy and quick to please me and daddy.  You have soft movements when you are being careful and always want to be clean.  You do have a very stubborn side.  You are sure what you want and want it now.  When John isn't listening to what you say, or takes a toy from you, you are quick to retaliate! : /  If I could just channel your passion (anger) into something good, John would have been spared many bites and pinches!!

Health:
You are a pretty healthy guy, at least I like to think that! You are the king of ear infections!  You had a set of tubes put in and your adenoids taken out back in 2/11.  Those tubes have since fallen out and the infections haven't stopped.  Your ear drums seem to rupture easily too.  We ran an immune panel on you this summer in which everything checked out fine.  Tomorrow, 10/18/12 you will be having your tonsils and adenoids out again and new tubes placed.  I am dreading this...dreading this!  I don't want you to be sick and in pain, but it is necessary.... :(

Love you silly Stevie-Joe!!