A chapter closed

So Drew has come a long way since May 4, 2007.

To be honest..not a fun date for Todd and I to remember, but a date and surgery that had to happen.

I am happy to report that he has recently received a "thumbs up" from the neurosurgeon that performed his surgery and we won't have to make the trip to Sacramento anymore unless we are going for pleasure or passing through. Drew's skull is healing and growing, which means his brain is growing correctly too. Amen.

But just to recap our two year journey...the problem all started with situations like this picture below. Babies spend LOTS of time on their backs which means LOTS of time on their soft, malleable skull. Drew always, always, always tilted onto the right side of his head. Todd and I should of been more persistent about having him switch sides, sleep on the other side, or look the other way. But remember the whole twin thing???...Ya we were trying to figure out life with two babies, so Drew's favoritism of his right side never got the proper attention.


But it eventually turned into this....this was more than just a flat spot come time for his four month well baby check-up. I don't want to get into too many details, but his skull(in the most basic way I can write this) fused together too quickly due to constant pressure of laying on that right side. So Todd and I were faced with some choices, and with much guidance from doctors, CAT scans, and many doctor appointments we decided it needed to be corrected with surgery. Our six month old was going to have surgery on his skull so his brain could grow correctly. Very sobering thought for new parents, right?


This was the day we brought Drew home after the surgery. Swollen head and scar, bruised eye...but very happy to see his sister. I am sure Drew at this point wanted to say, "Is it really you Lilly? Where have you been? Boy, have I got a story to tell you."




So we will not need to ride an elevator up to the fifth floor of the Sutter Cancer building to walk out and read these words anymore.


Drew will miss the the big fish tanks. But I will not. :-)


It may not appear to be a thumbs up...but that's what it is.



Look at him now. Over two years later and just a happy, sweet bigness. Drew said it best as we left the neurosurgeon this last time, "All done doctor."

I couldn't agree with more of a sigh of relief that we are all done with that doctor Drew.

Happy Birthday America

Holidays mean Daddy's are home more than normal and twins get to go to BBQ's, big parks, ride trains, attach balloons to our wrists, play baseball(really, what is the 4th of July without some baseball?), and stay up late.



Why is a good family picture such a rarity these days?




Waiting patiently for the train to round the corner. You can feel and witness their eagerness to board the train in their stillness...toddlers are not still too often :-)




The face off between toddler with a wooden bat and two dogs. All parties want the same thing.....THE BALL. I am proud to report no dogs were injured in any way during this exchange. She really views them as her close friends.

The bigness' night out

Todd and I are very lucky to have family close enough to be able to do something like a special night out with ONE child. Lilly was with my mom for a sleep over when Drew got his night out with us. I think if Drew could have planned it himself, it wouldn't have been any different. All things that Drew deems fun, exciting, or related to chocolate were involved.

We all know Drew's fascination with NASCAR-McQueen-fast cars would lead us to this place. He was talking about riding the small NASCAR all day long leading up to our evening out.

The menu for the evening:


Drew making a wish in the foutain that he would be old enough or tall enough to ride the Go Carts.


Drew heard the angels singing down upon him when he caught a glimpse of this view


Todd rode with him and said he was pretty quiet(unusual for Drew)but just took everything in. A few times Todd said he would shout, "Bumpy daddy bumpy"



We ventured inside to a place of pure joy for Drew. A land of loud video games, basketball, and ski ball(a favorite of mine as a kid)

AS you can see...Drew's alingment with the hoop is right on, but that darn plastic piece was in the way.


Here is our remedy for the plastic piece. We showed you basketball game.


I am sure it won't surprise any of you that Drew couldn't get away from the video games where you drove cars.


Look at the face. Pure concentration meets pure elation.


The night wouldn't be complete for Drew without a giant(for him) chocolate chip cookie from Mrs. Fields Cookies.


Not only did we leave the mall with a cookie, but Drew got a new hat to support the local college. What a fun night for the Bigness.



Until our next special night out with Lilly...I wonder where she would like to go?

I seriously don't even know what to title this post

So as I have mentioned in previous posts, potty-training is on the horizon in this house. We are all warming to the idea of the potty and I have toddler potties now in each bathroom as a way to remind them(and me to be truthful) what is ahead. They enjoy sitting on the potty and "making pretend" potty sounds like they just went(what those sounds are I will just leave up to your imagination.)

Moving on.

The other day before nap time diaper change Lilly wanted to sit on the potty downstairs. I had no problem with this and told her to stay on the potty while I put Drew in his crib for a nap. As I come down the stairs and make the turn into the bathroom, I see Lilly doing what appears to be.....
.
.
.
.

Washing her buns?? Maybe I should tell her we have a special potty just for that, huh?



I mean I need to give the girl credit for good hygiene, right? As you can tell from her expression, she thought it was an outstanding idea.


PS There was no evidence of her going potty (anywhere)

PPS Remember the days of 0% body fat? Long Sigh

Direct quote

Setting: At the kids table during snack time. Lilly drops a piece of pineapple on the floor.

Drew says without hesitation, "Lilly...that's probably really, really yucky."

Do you like how he used two really(s)and the word probably?

I guess my two year old is telling me to clean the floor more often.

The Deal Finder

I appreciate a person who is always looking for some coupons. Lilly knows saving money on groceries means more money spent on her and her brother.





I do have to say that I love walking around the corner to find my kids imitating adults..there is nothing better than an unexpected chuckle.

Clearance

We all know you buy the the necessities for the winter in the summer because they are on clearance. But I personally like how they become new and exciting toys to keep toddlers busy.




I guess in the heat we have been having, they could also be used has sun shades too.