I do what you do...

Emmett has finally gotten to the stage of toddler hood that he wants to interact with his siblings and do the things that they are doing. Paige dresses up everyday and dances around whether it is before or after school she is dressed up. Well today Emmett felt like he should dress up to. So I am laying on the couch and Grandma brings Emmett down to see me. I almost busted out my stitches laughing so hard. Here's Emmett!

Emmett keeps us laughing all day. His personality is really starting to blossom! Here is Emmett marching with Grandpa to include Grandpa in the fun!

Dad says the curls have to go...

Well my baby became a little boy today. Scott said "Emmett needs a hair cut". Here is Emmett getting his first hair cut. He did so well, he sat on my lap while Lynda cut off his beautiful curls. I am happy to report that his curls aren't gone forever, as his hair grows longer the curls come back. YEA!!!

Sitting like a big boy waiting for Lynda to start.

Look at those curls! Too cute. Are you sure dad? He looks so adorable.

Here is the end result! Can you see Emmett's new hair cut? Emmett had enough sitting and being confined so as soon as he was put down, he was off. So I snapped a picture as quick as I could.

So Big!!

Here is another post about Emmett! I will be getting to the other kids soon, but Emmett is finally getting to the fun stage where he does cute and funny things. Here are some random shots of Emmett being Emmett!

Emmett has finally figured out that he is big enough to go up the playland at McDonald's. He was over at the levels yelling for me to come help. I told him to figure it out. Not thinking that he would figure it out, but sure enough he did. Each level Emmett accomplished he would smile and laugh. It was the cutest thing. Then he made it to the top!

How big is Emmett - So Big!!!!

McDonalds will never be the same. Or maybe it will be better where I can just sit like the mom's who bring a book to read while their children play. Uh probably not, it has never been that way with any of my children.

Emmett likes to climb up on our kitchen table. When we make any motion to get him down, he darts from side to side. Well this time around, he darted right off the side of the table and hit the chair on his way to the floor. OUCH!!!! He sliced his ear open and scrubbed his arm. He probably needed stitches, but dad didn't think so, "Oh he'll be fine".

One of Emmett's therapists and I have been working on his sensory issues. Emmett is sensitive to quite a few things that don't have anything to do with the touch, they are internal. So to help him deal with his anxiety of sensory, we pack a special bag for Emmett that is especially helpful when we go to church. Here is Emmett sporting his very own back pack! It is packed with a sensory brush (for his legs and arms), a red bag with a zipper, a few other things. I have the bag loaded to weigh about 3 pounds which also helps because it puts pressure on his shoulders which then releases the tension in other parts of his body. Emmett loves to wear his back pack!

Over track break we took a weekend trip to Utah. The kids always watch a movie(s) and play games. With all the noise, mom & dad insist headphones be worn. This time Emmett asked to wear headphones, and amazingly he kept them on!! He didn't keep them on for the whole movie, but hey 7 min of headphones and watching a movie is huge with Emmett!!! Baby steps lead to leaps and bounds.

Emmett's character is really starting to shine. Music has always calmed Emmett and helped him to focus. Now music makes Emmett want to get up and shake his groove thing! Whenever there is music on - tv, video games, radio, whatever, Emmett's hip starts moving back and forth and his head starts nodding. It is the cutest thing! Here a couple different times Scott was able to capture video of Emmett dancing. He doesn't like to be filmed or has his picture taken. 

Look what Emmett's been up to...

I would love to say that this a bragging post of all the great accomplishments Emmett has made. Well I guess in a way it kind of is. I will let the pictures illustrate what Emmett's been up to.

Look at extension of Emmett's tongue! This is an accomplishment. He has been able to stretch and move his tongue a lot more since having his surgery. Go Emmett!

Now, it's just fun to stick out his tongue!

I put Emmett in the pack-n-play in my room when I get ready in the morning. Emmett can't be left unattended. You will see why in the below pictures. So here Emmett is expressing to me that he would like to get out.

Since I wasn't quick to get Emmett out. He is trying to get out himself!

Okay, so I panicked here. Oh no he now knows how to get out of the pack-n-play. I am not going to be able to take a shower or get ready while Emmett is awake and unattended. Luckily for me, Emmett got scared like that and fell back into the pack-n-play. Yay for me!!!! Sad for the day when he gets it that he is already out, he just needs to let go.

Holy Eggs!!!!

What can I say about this picture? It still makes me cry whenever I look at it. I am not over it yet, where I can look at this picture and just laugh. Emmett loves to empty the drawers in my kitchen. Apparently today, he was bored with just opening the drawers and emptying them. Instead, he thought it would be more fun to open the drawer, stand on it, reach to the counter and pull the container of 12 eggs to the floor. Oh, they all didn't break on initial landing, so Emmett took them one by one and cracked them or by the next picture, tried to crack the egg open with his teeth.

What the Foil?!

Paige talked Emmett into going downstairs with her while I was on the phone upstairs. Before I could get down the stairs, Paige was yelling for me to come quick and see what Emmett did. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Watching". Are you kidding me?!!

So this what 250 sq feet looks like rolled up after being strewn all over the floor.

As if the foil wasn't enough, Emmett went into the "forbidden" room and moved around furniture, tossed the pillows brought in all of his stacking toys.

Emmett's accomplishments - 

• tongue extension (sticking his tongue out)
• upper body strength (pulling the body out of pack-n-play)
• cooking skills (cracking eggs)
• designer (draping foil and toys all over the floor)

My mother asked when I am going to learn that I can't leave Emmett alone. The thing is, he isn't always alone when he does these "accomplishments". Apparently I haven't learned the lessons that I need to learn. Thanks Emmett for keeping your mom on her toes and helping her learn patience, patience, patience and tolerance. I love you Emmett!!

Milestones

What a great day today was! Haven't had one of those in a little while. Before dance, while I was finishing getting ready and Paige was finding her dance shoes. I lost track of Emmett for a minute )well 7 to be exact) which isn't a good thing because that means something is destroyed and needs clean up. So I panic a little and start to yell out "where is Emmett", "Paige have you seen Emmett". I hear a faint "Mama Mama". There he is......Emmett is playing in the play closet downstairs all by himself. AMAZING!!! Of course I just ruined it by calling out his name and distracting him, but a milestone for Emmett to stay focused long enough to play by himself in a room by himself.  What a start to a great day!

At dance today, Emmett was his usual terror, but the great thing (a tender mercy) I didn't lose patience. I actually held it together, even with the other parents and grandparents asking me if he ever stops or sits down. I laughed it off saying only when he sleeps. Then the under the breath comments came, which I have heard them all before. I get it from people at church all the time. But today I laugh in your face and say WHATEVER!!!!

After dance, we rush home for therapy with Joan. I love Joan! She is one of Emmett's many therapists. Joan comes into our home and works on occupational therapy. Today I asked Joan to help me work with Emmett on his feeding and putting things in his mouth to help get him to work on the movement of his tongue. I have tried but haven't been very successful. Emmett usually bites me or spits the food out.

Today a milestone (and probably a tender mercy), Emmett climbed up into his chair and was ready for snack time. Emmett let Joan and I both put snacks into his cheeks without biting us. He moved his tongue a little side to side (which is progress) and was able to move the food out of his cheek to chew. AMAZING!!!

Later in the day, I was trying to get somethings put away and decided to try something new with Emmett. Paige was playing on the computer upstairs so no distraction there. Not thinking that Emmett was listening to me, I said, "Do you want to watch cartoons?" Emmett looked at me, nodded his head, and then went and sat on the couch. WHAT??!! Oh my, you were listening and you want to watch cartoons. So I quickly grabbed the controller and went into the DVR and put on a pre-recorded Backyardigans.

Yet again, another milestone (and most likely a tender mercy). Emmett sat on the couch and didn't move for 10 minutes. He sat and watched the show. He even did a little dancing and humming along to the music. How blessed I feel today!!!!!

So as if it couldn't get better, I let Emmett help Paige and I make cookies and it was an enjoyable experience. See the post "Making Cookies".

What a great day today was!!!!  I am so happy with Emmett's milestones that he has reached. He is getting better. It is a slow process, but with days like today it makes it all better. Emmett's attention span was able to stretch a little, Emmett stayed focus a little longer, and Emmett was able to play by himself for a little bit. Huge milestones and blessed tender mercies.

Making Cookies

Homemade cookies sound good to me today. Well okay homemade, but not from scratch (the main ingredients come from a bag - that I spent 35 cents for after using coupons). I love oatmeal cookies, but my kids aren't a real big fan of them. We decided to make oatmeal, peanut butter, and chocolate chip w/walnuts. I know - crazy huh?

So I get started. I pull the baking sheets out (which Emmett was so excited about). As I get the bowl out to mix up the cookies, Paige comes running into the kitchen wanting to help. Wow! I must be feeling good today or something. Cause I decided to let everyone help, yes, even Emmett! I know what a crazy person I am today. I am figuring that it will be easier to manage Emmett if I have him on a chair next to Paige and I while we mix the cookies and put them on the baking sheets. HERE WE GO!!!!!

Everything actually went smooth. I was able to capture some adorable pictures of Paige and Emmett. I guess be glad that we aren't sharing these cookies with friends, cause we put our fingers in the dough and in our mouths and then in the dough and back into our mouths. FUN TIMES!!!!


















Paige mixing up the cookie dough. Emmett contemplating what he should do to help out with the cookie making process.

















Oh yea, Emmett could help by put his mark in each cookie as it is placed on the baking sheet.

















Oh but the even better thing to do would be to taste the cookie dough. Um Um Good!!














Here is the final product. A lot of Oatmeal, some Peanut Butter, and a little Chocolate Chip w/Walnuts. Great job Paige and Emmett!!!!

First Haircut

Today after getting my hair done, I decided to have Lynda give Emmett his first haircut or trim. I love his curls on the top of his head, but they are getting a little out of control. The hair hanging over his ears is a little crazy as well. So it is time.

Part way through the hair cut, I remembered that I need to take pictures. So I grabbed my phone and snapped a couple. Here is Emmett getting his hair cut.



















Here is the end result! Great job Lynda. But where did my baby go? All I see is a little boy or a big 2 year old boy!

Happy New Year

A new year brings resolutions. Resolutions that you will keep and incorporate into your life and those that you make knowing full well that you won't keep but temporarily.


So here is my first resolution that I knew would be temporary, but was hoping it would make it at least a few months. Truth is it didn't even it make it 2 days.

A New brings another visit to the ER.

Here I was thinking after meeting our family deductible many times over last year with Emmett’s 3 surgeries that we could maybe (hopefully) take a break in 2010.

Well thanks to a family in our ward who doesn’t believe in staying home from church when their children are obviously sick. Then they think they are doing you a favor by giving your child one of their toys that they have hacked on. Yes, I am still very bitter. I can't stand any member of the church who comes to church knowing they are SICK!!!!

So guess what, yep, Emmett ends up getting croup on Jan. 2nd. With Emmett, nothing is easy or simple, so croup landed us in the emergency room. He had trouble catching his breath. He would start retching from the mucus, which he isn't able to retch due to the surgery he just had. So with all of this, we ended up in the ER for breathing treatments and steroids. URGH!!!!!

So my positive attitude for 2010 is already in the crapper!!!

Wrapping it up….

This has been a busy week with school ending and getting ready for the holiday festivities.

We started the week off with Emmett’s 2 week after surgery check up. His 5 cuts and feeding tube are all healing very well. Emmett’s weight is another story. He lost 2 pounds since his surgery date (for you and I would be just fine and welcomed), but for Emmett who is barely on the weight chart as it is, the doctor was very concerned. She gave us a week for Emmett to gain some or all of the weight back or she wants us to start feeding Emmett through his tube, which is currently only used to burp or throw up. On that same note, he can only eat liquid and soft foods. The doctor said no eating regular table foods for 8 weeks. The poor kid just got used to eating table foods and now they are all taken away from him. I have broken the doctor rules though. I have slowly started adding foods into his diet, like pancakes, French toast, etc. (just in very tiny smaller than bite size pieces. Other than the eating issues, Emmett has bounced back from surgery rather well. He is back to running around, back to sliding on his tummy (I know OUCH) down the stairs. All in all we are on our way to a full recovery!

Next on our weeks’ agenda was the Preschool Christmas Program for Paige. Last year Paige made her own debut by wearing fuchsia pink pants and shirt to her program. This year since we are almost 5 we are feeling a little more mature and in the Christmas season, so she decided to wear her red Christmas dress with her black click clocks. I must say she looked grown up, not like a 4 year old in preschool. Paige did awesome with singing all the songs and doing the signs with each song. Great job Paige!!!

The very next day we are at the school at 8am for Trent’s award assembly. Trent won the citizenship award for outstanding citizenship in the first grade. This award includes things like helping others in class, picking up, being a good person. Now I am not disputing this fact (well maybe a little), Trent is the most obstinate kid at home. Oh he helps out, but it isn’t until we have had a screaming match and a tantrum. It is nice to hear that he doesn’t do that for his school or Primary teachers, only his parents! Great job Trent, so proud of you!!!!

Here is Trent with his certificate and with the principal Mr. Johnstone.

On Friday, we had the ward Christmas party. It was good. I don’t think a very good turn out, but whatever. We didn’t stay to see Santa cause all the kids were running around and it was so chaotic. So we took our family and went to the mall to see Santa. No lines. The kids were able to get right in to see Santa, sit on his lap, tell him the thing that they want (but won’t be getting because they just added it to the list), and take their picture. We ended the fun filled evening with ice cream cones. Yea!!!

To wrap up our week, Paige performed as a gingerbread in her dance studios performance of the Nutcracker.

I couldn't get the video of her performance to load. Here is Paige in her costume.

What an exhausting week we have had. School is now out for 2 weeks for Paige and the boys. So hopefully we can stay home and relax a little bit.

Two Years Ago

On this special day for both you and I, we find ourselves in the very same place we were in 2 years ago, the hospital. The image and feelings are still so very fresh in my mind. As you lay here in this hospital bed not so tiny this time, you still have tubes in/out of you, you still have trouble keeping your breath, and you still are easy to calm by the touch of my hand to your foot and head. Of how I wish you didn't have to go through the things that you have gone and are going through. Oh how I wish mom could take away your pain. This is where I have learned that the power of faith can calm the soul and get you through any and all situations.

Two years has come and gone so fast and at times so very slow. You have grown leaps and bounds from your mere 3 pounds and yet you have so many more milestones to achieve. Emmett Cole Morgan you are strong spirit and a strong boy. Your smile brightens the room and makes everyone around you feel good. Emmett you have an infectious laugh that changes any mood to happy.

Two years ago today, you were born into our family. Heavenly Father had chosen you to come to us, an unexpected yet much needed blessing. You were our special blessing that would teach your mother and father to rely more completely on Faith, Hope, Charity and Love our dear Father in Heaven. During these two years Emmett, mom has learned that I am truly just the keeper here on Earth for you and your 2 brothers and your sister. Never have I thought of this more and realized it until you joined our lives. How blessed I truly am to be a mom of such great spirits. With that truly overwhelmed that I have been chosen to be one of your parents.

Your dad and I love you so very much. Oh how blessed I am to be your mom and to have you as my son. Happy Birthday my sweet Emmett.

Here is Emmett enjoying his birthday in the hospital.

Another surgery for Emmett

As we were waiting for Emmett's surgery. Emmett was able to play with the toys in the kids room. Here are some fun pictures of Emmett enjoying himself. Just before it was Emmett's turn to go, they gave him some relaxing medication.

This is Emmett feeling loopy.

How do you describe the feelings you have as the nurses/doctors wheel away your child to the operating room. Oh sure we have done this before (too many times), but this time I am overwhelmed with the feeling of "Father Thy Will Be Done". As I sit here waiting for the doctor to come out and tell me all is well, you can see him now, I have so many thoughts and feelings running through me. So much to think about, so much to worry about, and so much to be grateful for all at the same time. I am overwhelmed. During these times, I turn to your Dad and to Father in Heaven for comfort. Your dad knows how to calm me and talk me through it, where as Father in Heaven calms my heart and I feel calm and at peace.

The surgery that was only to take 2 hours and now maybe 3 so we can take our time the doctor says, is going on 4 hours. I am getting a little nervous. Finally the doctor comes out and says everything went well. Because of the inflamation of the esphagous and the stomach from all of the reflux there was more bleeding than expected, so they took there time through each step. The doctor was pleased with the size of Emmett's stomach, it was the size of a bigger kid so she had more to work with as she wrapped it around Emmett's esphogaus. Emmett's esphogaus wasn't long enough like it should be, so the doctor had to stretch it into the stomach before sewing the stomach around the esphogaus. Before the surgery was over, the doctor put in a g-tube to help with the venting of Emmett's stomach.

A whole new world I am entering into which has been the case since the day Emmett was born. Now that Emmett will not be able to throw up or burp, it is the responsibility of Scott and I to take care of this task for Emmett. We need to make sure that Emmett doesn't wretch and undo all the stitches that have been done.

Now that the surgery is done, we are in the hospital room and it is in the darkness of the night that I call out to my Heavenly Father. A night where I can't calm Emmett and he and I both are functioning on no sleep. As I hold a crying Emmett in my arms, I find myself crying just as hard and saying, "Heavenly Father, I can't do this anymore. I have reached my limit. I can't do this anymore. Please Father calm him, make him sleep." As I am pleading with all my heart and crying just as hard, I feel an inner peace and know that my prayers are heard. As I hold Emmett he is starting to calm and go to sleep. I am able to lay him in his bed and he sleeps for a monumental 4 hours straight. Oh how blessed I feel. I know that I am a daughter of God and that he knows who I am. He knows my weaknesses and lifts me to make me stronger.

The dawn of a new day brings sunshine and a happier Emmett. I feel like we can make it. The nurses seem to think that I need a break, cause each one that comes into the room to take vitals ask me if there is someone coming to relieve me. I am the mom, I need to be here, but then the darkness starts to creep in again. So I call for a break. My parents come sit with Emmett so I can sneak a quick nap in at home with a shower. Then Scott comes to the rescue and spends time with Emmett as well. Wow, I feel like a whole new person.

Four days into this hospital stay, Emmett is doing fabulous. The funny, non-stop whirl wind boy has returned. Emmett has emptied every drawer in the hospital room, has run the hallways. and told the nurses "no no no". So I think it is time for us to go home. Keep our fingers crossed that it will be soon.

Whirl wind trip to Utah...

How do you know what the right thing to do is. Sometimes in life we are presented with two right choices. When do you know as a parent what the best thing for your child really is. How do you know if you say "no" then you are potentially hurting him more and if you say "yes" then you are potentially hurting him more? At this point I would usually say thank heaven for the Temple and the answer to prayers. Which I feel is completely true. It is then facing the answers that you received.

We have some big decisions coming up about Emmett and his reflux, swallowing, chewing and just all around eating habits. I was desperate to get to the Temple to get some answers or just feel comforted before going in front of all the doctors. So on Saturday I was able to attend the Temple and I just had a calming feeling and the answer that Dr. Downey (our surgeon in Utah) would have the answers of what needed to happen to Emmett. Is that calming, I am not sure, but either way I felt at peace.

Well yesterday, Scott, Emmett and I flew to Utah (in and out in one day) to meet with Dr. Downey and discuss our options and make a game plan. The night before we left I was feeling all kinds of anxiety of the unknown. As we are meeting with Dr. Downey, he came into the room with a cool question asking attitude. He sat on the chair next to me, drew pictures for Scott and I to understand, and then he spoke words that made me giddy like a girl. He said, "I don't think it would be in Emmett's best interest to have this surgery right now. He has too many other complications going on with his eating and swallowing that it may undo the surgery I do. I am not saying that we don't need to watch this and maybe address at a later date, but for now we should wait. But I do want to send him to x-ray for an Upper GI." I quickly asked that if the GI showed something, would he change his mind. He reassured me that he probably wouldn't.

Okay so we left the hospital to head to another hospital for the Upper GI, as we walked out I felt my posture a little straighter, my breathing was a little deeper and a sigh of relief filled my body. As we drove, Scott and I talked, I couldn't help but feel so blessed to have gone to the Temple and feel the peace and comfort. To be reassured that there is a Heavenly Father who knows ME and MY FAMILY's situation, and helps me to feel comfort. Scott then asked me, "Hey I never did ask you what your answer was after going to the Temple". This is when you should remember that Pride cometh before the Fall. I got giddy and said, "Dr. Downey would have the answers of what needed to happen to Emmett. How great is that Scott that his answer was the same feelings that you and I also had."

How often does this happen, in my life - NEVER!!! Well and soon it will be that NEVER remains the consistent answer in my life. So we go about the rest of our day, head to the hospital for Emmett's Upper GI. During the test, the radiologist lets me know that he has refluxed 3 times in 1 minute. Abnormal is 5 times in 3 minutes, so Emmett has already beat the abnormal category. The radiologist couldn't confirm if Emmett was aspirating into his lungs during those refluxes or not. The test finished we go visit some friends before our plane ride home.

Just finished a nice visit with one of my best friends, when I received a call from Dr. Downey. All I can recall from the beginning of the conversation is, "Mrs. Morgan, Emmett's Upper GI was incredibly bad. Significantly worse than the one he had a year ago. Emmett is not going to out grow this reflux and I think it would be in his best interest to have the surgery and to place a feeding tube in." I am sorry, WHAT?????????? I lost my breath for a minute. I couldn't speak. I couldn't put the phone on speaker at that moment either for Scott to hear. We had just stopped by a restaurant in Lehi, UT called "Emmett & Ethel's". They were giving away a free meal to those named Emmett or if you knew someone named Emmett. Of course we had to stop. Dr. Downey called while Emmett was having his picture taken for the restaurant's wall.

Back to the phone call. Dr. Downey and the radiologist were flabbergasted to say the least of Emmett's Upper GI. They couldn't believe the volume of reflux that was coming up his throat. Emmett even has reflux coming up while he is trying to swallow food/liquid down. Poor guy. I started to feel complete guilt and then comfort at the same time. Comfort that Heavenly Father answered our prayers while I attended the Temple. Dr. Downey would have the answers of what needed to happen to Emmett. A hard thing to swallow at first, but as time has progressed the overwhelming peace of Emmett needs to have this surgery. Then incredible amounts of guilt. Guilt for the fact that I wasn't on board for Emmett to have this surgery. Guilt for the fact that I was feeling overwhelmed with my life. Guilt for the fact that my sweet little Emmett has been suffering with such severe acid reflux for 23 months now. What kind of mom........

Dr. Downey also wants to put a feeding tube in Emmett when doing his surgery. I am having a hard time with this request. Dr. Downey is worried that during Emmett's recovery he won't get the amount of nutrition he needs with just oral feedings. Especially since his oral feedings are a complete struggle right now, with choking, swallowing, and vomiting. So now Scott and I have a lot of information to process and decisions to make. I know that God hears and answers prayers and he will direct Scott and I to know the right thing to do for Emmett.

This is Emmett crashing in the rental car after his busy morning of airplane ride, doctor visit, and an Upper GI. Sweet Sweet Emmett.






Here is Emmett the day after happy to be back at home and in his own environment!

Will it be enough...

The day has finally come, Emmett's surgery. No parent is ever excited for their child to have surgery. But in this case, I have to say, that I am happy Emmett is finally going to be able to breathe easier. After his second sleep study results with no improvement from the first sleep study, the Pulmonologis recommended that Emmett have his adenoids and tonsils removed.

So we made our appointment with the ENT. She agreed that his adenoids were too big. Back in November when we met with the ENT about Emmett's first sleep study results, the ENT said that Emmett's adenoids were fine and he was too little for them to be removed. So I didn't push the issue. The ENT then pointed the finger over at the Gastro doc saying that the acid reflux is what's causing the sleep apnea. The Gastro doc is convinced that Emmett will grow out of the acid reflux, and we should repeat the test in 6 month. So again, I didn't push the issue.

So 6 months later, we repeated the test and still no change. Well that isn't entirely true, Emmett registered not only obstructed sleep apnea, but central sleep apnea as well. Central has to do with his brain. A completely other ball game that we aren't playing yet.

Back to current day. We met with the ENT, she looked up his nose and said that his adenoids are at 90% and back in November they were registering at 60%. WHAT??? Emmett's adenoids were at 60% back in November, you mean to tell me we could have taken care of his sleep apnea back in November. So my blood is starting to boil a little as we are talking with the ENT. So she says, the adenoids need to come out and that will help him to breathe a lot better.

I then suggested that his tonsils need to come out as well. Again, with the answer, he's too little. The ENT suggested that we take only the adenoids. I persisted that the they both come out. I didn't want to do another surgery in a month, two or 6 months down the road. Just get it all over with in one swoop. She was trying to negotiate with me, but I held strong. I wanted both out.

So now for the surgery day. The ENT came out 20 minutes after the nurse took Emmett into the OR. The ENT said that Emmett's adenoids were so big that they were actually blocking his nasal air way. Oh and his tonsils were rotten. WHAT? They were rotten and had grown up onto his dangle thing that hangs down to your throat. You know what I am talking about. Don't know the technical term and I am not looking it up. She explained that when she removed his tonsils, they just fell apart. She also said that WE made a good decision to take them out. Are you kidding me? If you remember right, you didn't want to take them out. I didn't say it to her, but I sure thought it. The ENT was concerned that Emmett had toxins in his lungs from the rotten tonsils, so we are keeping an eye on him for that. PHEW!!! We are over one hurdle.

Before surgery the nurses told me that I wasn't going to be able to be with him in the recovery room since he was spending the night in the hospital. I was devastated and tried again and again for permission to be with him. No such luck. Recovery didn't go as well as the nurses hoped. Emmett didn't do very well coming out of the anesthesia. So they brought me back to calm Emmett down.

While I was holding Emmett and calming him down, he started to choke, then he stopped breathing, and in my arms turned blue. The nurses panicked and said for me to get out of the room. Absolutely not, I am not going anywhere. They suctioned him out and I talked him through it. They were surprised how calm I was. Calm, I wasn't calm on the inside. I needed to be level headed for Emmett and the nurses. The one nurse that stayed with us for the rest of the recovery was awesome. She didn't feel comfortable sending us to our room until Emmett was stable and able to remove the flem on his own. So 2 1/2 hours later, we headed to our room.

We've had so many stays in the hospital that the nurses all remembered us. How sad is that?! Well it's good in a way as well, because they took good care of us. We were able to go home the next day. Even though it seemed easy in the hospital I knew that coming home was going to be whole different story. And it was.

Emmett had several episodes of where he stopped breathing. So I set up the pack-n-play in our room and I slept on the floor next to him so I could be there to make sure he kept breathing. Along with the breathing issue, Emmett would refuse to take his pain medicine and drink. It got the point where he was running a fever, and starting to get dehydrated, so we had to force him to drink with a syringe in his mouth.

After a lot of crying and sleeplessness, the sun rose and it was a new day. Phew, we made it. The recovery has been hard, but I have to say it's getting better. Emmett is starting to drink on his own, which is half the battle.

So will it be enough? We won't know for 8 weeks when we can repeat the sleep study. I hope and pray that as he heals, his sleeping pattern will get better.