Some Tough Shots

As I posted on facebook last week, I kind of forgot about the 3-year anniversary of David's open-heart surgery (8/12/2013). I'd thought about it the week before, but then we went to the beach and all, and it completely slipped my mind until 8/12, when I had to fill out some paperwork for David's new preschool and both enter the date and write "Repaired AV Canal defect" on a list of medical conditions.  I don't have a lot new to say, so here are some flashbacks:

(To read last year's surgery entry, click here - it's pretty good, which I can say because it's mostly stuff from an article I did not write)

And here's some other stuff I have written about the surgery:

Shiphrah, Puah, David Moses and the Red Line (this was my first "real" writing, I think, and I still think it's about the best thing I've written, or at least it's my favorite)

Exodus Things and Stuff, Parts I and II

Misgivings and Doubts

Tubes and Probes and Wiggling

After Surgery Stress and Letdown and More Post-Surgery Letdown

Hey Hey Dr. K (a letter to David's heart surgeon) and A Quick Response (in which I explore the differences between the words "sheepish" and "sheepless")

And (WARNING) here are some previously-unreleased photos. Difficult to see, yes:

(These first 3 are the day and evening before the surgery)
(he looks so small and lonely in this shot to me)

Yes, this is horrible. But we were so glad he was alive, we didn't really notice at the time. 

This is a few days later - he was in the hospital a total of 7 days. Pretty amazing. 

So he's doing so much better now, these seem ancient. And I did end up making a cake, but the photos are still on my phone and I'll publish them soon.

Thanks again to everyone: Dr. K, Dr. Aaron, all the nurses and other docs, and all our family, friends, and complete strangers who have prayed for and supported us these 3.5 years. God bless.

What is there NOT to be afraid of?

All righty. We're here in the New City, obviously, except at the exact instant I'm writing this we aren't, we're in Wilmington (NC). What I mean to say is, we continue to settle in to the New City and we're taking a break to visit some friends of Matt's from college. This is nearly a yearly (rhyme) event, about the closest we've gotten to vacations since Simon was born, and certainly since David arrived. It is a trip to the beach, great company, and a free place to stay so that's no complaint, but I guess it'd be nice to do other things in addition.

At the Bog Park in Greensboro NC

A bazillion turtles to feed in Wilmington

When we made the trip last August, I had this really great, peaceful experience with David at a Starbucks where we were hanging out waiting on the others (see Simple Happiness). I thought about repeating that exact trip this time around, even though I knew it wouldn't be the same, but I guess I was simply curious to see what it would be like. But the opportunity didn't really present itself, and David and I have gotten to hang out a lot, snuggle a lot, and generally enjoy one another, so that's okay. It was nice to be reminded that this time last year, David was not yet walking - that is unbelievable, it seems I've been chasing him everywhere for at least half my life, but that's correct, he didn't start walking until last September. 

David still has not been sold on the wonders of the ocean, and he protested a lot whenever we tried to put him down on the sand or even take him into inch-high water while holding him clamped around our waists. We went swimming in two different pools, the first he liked about as much as the ocean, but the 2nd one he did eventually warm up to. What made the 2nd one nice for Matt and me was, there was another little boy there who had Down syndrome. We got to meet his mom, dad, and older sister. I'm pretty sure his mom said he will be turning 5 very shortly, so he's got a year and a half on David. This little guy has been through the medical wringer worse than David, having spent a total of about 2 of his 5 years in the hospital (I think that's what the mom said); in addition to whatever else, he had leukemia (there is a type of leukemia that kids with Down syndrome are prone to getting, generally it is kind of harmless and self-resolving but that does not seem to have been the case here). While it was nice to talk to his family members, I got the most out of seeing the kid himself - he was pretty good-sized, not scared of the water at all, jumped off the side several times and was paddling around, strong and healthy.

David at the Bog Park, tracking a bug

This would be David, NOT enjoying the water

You know how when there's a big disaster or something and you are told to
"shelter in place?" Due to David's reluctance to move down to any other
part of the beach, this is "Sand-Castle-ing in Place."

Note: when I say "we" went swimming, that means that Matt and the boys went swimming and I provided support from a deck chair. It's not that I don't like to swim, I do (though I freely admit to being terrified to go any deeper than my knees into the ocean, I can swim in a pool) … it just seems like a lot of trouble, aside from swimsuit issues.

Note: I once confessed to a friend that I am really leery of the ocean, and she said, "What is there to be afraid of?" What is there to be afraid of? What is there NOT to be afraid of? (1) sharks (2) rip currents (3) sharp coral and shells to cut your feet on and draw said sharks (4) jellyfish (5) tidal waves (6) stingrays (7) other causes of drowning (8) seaweed brushing against your leg and you thinking it is a shark. Etc. I love aquariums, I am fascinated by sea life, but I do not need to actually touch it. 

Simon's another year older too; it's funny to watch him interacting with the (slightly) older kids, wanting to be like them and adopting all their little phrases and mannerisms. It's also a relief that he's more independent; we don't feel the need to check on him nearly as often and he's just generally managing himself better. But there were also plenty of reminders he is still a little kid (Shh! Don't tell him, "younger kid" is what we say), especially when he tripped over some cypress knees/roots and skinned up his arm - he needed me to hold him and kiss it better. That was nice.

Simon at the Bog Park

Yes, that sign says there are ALLIGATORS in this lake. We looked
for a long time, but never saw any. Oh, and (9) alligators and crocodiles. And caimans,
though I know they are small. Also piranhas, though I guess they live in rivers.

I'm just glad he has his swim trunks on frontwards. And
FYI that lady in the black swimsuit is not me.

Postscript: Now we're home, kind of exhausted. We're getting ready for the school year to begin - David starts his new preschool on 8/21, Simon begins the 1st grade on 8/26, and after that I'll start job-hunting - I'm hoping for part-time, mornings and early-afternoons only.