Kaeleigh's 10!!!

Kaeleigh's favorite meal right now is Chinese Haystacks...or Hawaiian Haystacks (whatever your family calls them.) We think she likes this meal because of the fancy tray that spins, plus we let her help prepare it, which she thinks is cool. So this was her birthday meal.

She wanted Chocolate Molten Lava Cake for her special day. She sure does have an appreciation for most things "grown up". I think gone are the days of 9x13 sheet cakes with pink frosting and sprinkles on top for her. Honestly, these are my favorite though, so I will gladly provide them every birthday if that is what she wants. The only problem is that, as you can see in the picture, I gave up after 8 candles. The candles kept sinking in due to the center of the cake being hot and runny....MMM!

I couldn't resist putting the "blowing out" picture.

She was serious when she said she could eat the whole thing! I am glad she loved it!

This is Kaeliegh's reaction to Daddy's present...maybe not what he was hoping for, but it should be a fun night regardless. Ryan and I gave Kaeleigh two tickets to the High School Musical on Ice tour. We get to go (she and Mom) next Wednesday. I guess they really are growing up when they stop jumping up and down over HSM! So sad!

I thought I would do a little something special for Kaeleigh and list 10 of my favorite things about her for her big "double-digit" b-day:

1. Kaeleigh is the most tender-hearted person I know! She is always concerned about others feelings and puts them before her own...although we are trying to include her brothers in that "always" statement still. It would be easier if she feel like mothering them all the time.

2. She is the best big sister that Ashlyn could have ever asked for! Ashlyn totally loves Kaeleigh and follows her around and Kaeleigh wouldn't have it any other way. Kaeleigh loves to let Ashlyn sleep in bed with her and have sleep-overs, loves to dress her for the day, help feed her, and change "non-poopies". What a great helper! She treats the boys very well too, she is just working on the oil and water effect of brother/sister relationships. I think that most of the time she is very good to them too.

3. One of my absolute favorite things about her is that she has always known right from wrong. Kaeleigh will try and punish herself if she feels she has misbehaved. She has tried to ground herself for life on a couple occasions. She repeatedly sends herself to her room. She is very hard on herself for things that Ryan and I consider "life", like an accidental collision during more wild playtimes and someone ends up getting hurt. She could learn to relax just a little.

4. Kaeleigh loves the scriptures! She knows the Book of Mormon and Bible so well that she puts me to shame. I want to be as good as her and be able to put them in chronological order as easily as she does and know the names of all the persons like she does.

5. Kaeleigh is a brilliant child. She excels in spelling and math and the rest of her subjects in school. She will accept nothing less than a 100% on spelling tests...she used to get so upset if she got a 104% (highest is 105!) I had to explain the extra credit thing many times, but she wants to be perfect!

6. Kaeleigh is super forgiving! I am embarrassed to say that I hurt my daughter's feelings probably all too often, but she always comes and gives me a hug and we make up. She never holds grudges and is willing to forget anyone's offenses towards her.

7. She has always been more mature than her years in ways. I can talk to Kaeleigh about things and trust her that she will not repeat them. She understands that some "topics" are of sensitive nature and she is honored to be trusted with "information".

8. Kaeleigh loves to try new things!

9. Kaeleigh is stylishly modest. She is very creative in her wardrobe and willing to work with items to make them work according to her own standards. She hasn't worn a pair of shorts (not bermudas...finally, I got her to wear those last summer!) since she was about 4. She used to only wear capris...that was the "shortest" it got for her. She thought shorts were immodest! She wouldn't be caught dead in a tank top...it's so nice that she holds herself to these standards and I hope she holds on to them as she approaches her teen years all too soon.

10. Kaeleigh is a great 1st child. She is an example not only to our other children, but to Ryan and I also. I learn so much from her every day. I want to be more like her in ways...I so don't want to be 10 again though! I couldn't have chosen a better child too lead the way for our family. Her siblings look up to her and want to be just like her. She is absolutely the most beautiful girl I know, inside and out.

We love you Kaeleigh...Happy Double-digits!

Deegan is home and well

Before: with his new "friends" and After: vegging out to Sponge Bob.

What a day! Deegan never went back to sleep until we were about 10 minutes away from the hospital. It turned out OK that he stayed awake. He never had any problems not eating. I made him some lemon jello and that was quite a treat for him. Ashlyn didn't seem to mind it either.

I got Deegan there and I settled in to wait 2 hours and next thing I knew, they were flying through the process. The admitting lady gave Deegan 2 stuffed animals and when the next nurse met him, she gave him one too. They all thought Deegan was adorable.

When the surgeon came in to talk to me, I pointed out a "bump" that only can be seen when Deegan laughs or sits up. It was fingerprint size, about an inch above the belly button, but barely noticeable. Turns out he had an epigastric hernia as well. So, we got two for the price of one and were able to add on to our surgery...Lucky Deegan!

Deegan was given Versed to help him become loopy enough to prep for surgery. I tried to give it to him myself, but he got a taste of it and that started the war! 2 nurses and myself held Deegan down while the other nurse tried to squirt the Versed into his mouth. Let's just say that Deegan does not trust any liquid medications now. He actually spit it straight up like a geyser right into the unsuspecting nurse’s glasses and all over her face (the one who gave him a stuffed animal and thought he was so cute!) Plugging his nose didn't work and nothing else would either. They said he is a fighter and very strong...really? He seemed to respond how was expected to the drug so it seems he got enough.

He was funny as they wheeled him down the hall to the O.R. and he kept raising both hands in the air and squealing like he was on a roller coaster.

They were able to take him back 30 minutes early, so Ryan came over from work and we waited together. It took about an hour. When they called us back to see him it was really hard for me. He looked swollen in the eyes and lips. His lips were actually crooked to me. He wasn't out of the anesthesia yet and I was surprised to see a nurse restraining my little man. He was thrashing all over the bed, just a little at a time. He would throw a punch or kick a leg, or his head would fly at the bed rail. He looked like he was possessed and he'd go from laying to a full on sit-up and then he would fall back down. The nurse said she was just trying to keep him safe. She was very good and patient with him.

We decided that maybe if Ryan or I held Deegan, snuggled in his “off-get” (soft blanket), that he would respond better. The weird thing was that every time we would touch him or talked to him, or there was a loud noise, he would start going crazy again. It was very hard for even Ryan to hold him, so they gave him more Demerol and Versed to slow his “coming to”. He crashed in Ryan’s arms and snored for about 30 minutes. Finally, we got a more gentle awakening. He still wasn’t himself as he didn’t care for a Popsicle or juice. That was all he had to do and he could go home.

Well, he kept fighting the juice thing and wanted to go home and have his IV taken out but refused the juice and Popsicle. He stood up on the bed and his upper incision started to bleed. This was 15 minutes before we were supposed to go home at 3:45pm. The anesthesiologist ended up turning his car around and came back to the hospital and the hematology office sent someone over too. We had to wait until 6pm before all felt he was safe to go home. He wants nothing to do with his pain medication because it is liquid.

It is the next morning now. We made it through the night and Deegan is well. He wants to snuggle nonstop which is just fine by me. I am tired from yesterday and didn’t sleep all that well. Deegan doesn’t want me to close my eyes though, so he is on my lap as I type the rest of this.

Thanks for all the prayers and concern for Deegan. Thanks to "Pops" for coming to the hospital to be with Deegan too. We love Pops! Deegan is doing great and even responded that he is feeling “better” when I gave him the choice of hurt or better. Yeah!

Surgery Day

So, I was reminded that things you dread come much quicker than things you just can't wait for. Christmas never comes fast enough for little ones and this surgery is banging my door down, so to speak. All in all, I am ready to just be done and move on for Deegan's sake.

Today's surgery will be at 2pm, so if you remember, say a prayer for us. Mostly, I am only anxious for myself because of nerves. Deegan will have no clue until they will come at him with a little needle and he doesn't have any idea what will happen after that.

The hardest part today probably will be that he can't eat past 6am. He came to our room at 4am and we (Deegan and I) jumped out of bed and headed to the kitchen. He had a bowl of oatmeal and then we watched Little Einsteins for a bit. Then at 5, Ashlyn decided to join us...who knew we were having a party this morning. So, I pulled out the griddle and we made some pancakes. I will be feeding him right up until the last minute as I can't bear the fight I can imagine my later morning turning into. I prayed fervently last night that this fasting thing for Deegan would go smoothly and I am so thankful that Deegan woke up at 4 instead of my planned 5:30. This way, he ate more and he will take an early nap and sleep instead of starve. I know Heavenly Father is always aware of me and my family. I know he always knows better and that he helped me see a better way at 4am rather than me and my beloved heating blanket having to part bitter ways on a grumpier term. Who doesn't love waking up to happy kids anyway?

Deegan will be able to have clear liquids until 11am, so maybe if he wakes up starving we will take a field trip to the store and buy some Popsicles to fool him into thinking he is eating.

I'll update after his surgery. Thanks for all who have been so kind to offer help with the other kiddos, meals, prayers and blessings with this. We have the best family and friends!