September, Part VII
September 23rd, the timeline got pretty messed up in previous entries, I tried to fix it. Somewhere in there I hope I mentioned that Grandma Barn and Grampa Ray flew into town to help us with Ian and meals and whatnot during Nina’s surgery. We’ve had to rely pretty heavily on grandparents, friends, neighbors and more this year… I can’t say thank you enough but that won’t stop me from trying. Thank you! See this image larger.
On this day Nina definitely crawled. No doubt about that one.
Here’s some notes from around this date (September 23rd) that will give you an idea of what has been said recently by our crazy kids:
Nina – “A bah bah!”
Me – “A bah bah!”
Nina – “Dada!”Ian showed up at the side of our bed two nights ago, standing, but completely asleep – a silhouette of a head and shoulders with a blanket… When we dragged him into our bed he talked incoherently for a few moments, in partial syllables. Much later in the evening he blurted out “those are pictures, those are not videos,” while he was still dreaming… this is something I say to I’m when were looking at pictures on my computer and he wants a photograph to spring into action.
Me – “Ian do you know your street address for the new house?”
Ian – “No.”
Me – “two two four arbor.”
Ian – “two two awbow.”
Me – “two two FOUR.. And it is on arbor.”
Ian – “awbow.”
Me – “arbor.”
Ian – “awbow.”
Me – “What does a pirate say?”
Ian – “Arrrrrrr!”
Me – “What do you say when you are cold?”
Ian – “Burrrrrr.”
Me – “Ok now say both of those together.”
Ian – “Arrrrrrr burr?”
Me – “Perfect.” (proud smile.)Tv character – “…and I’m still in my pajamas, do you wear pajamas?”
Ian – “Yes!” Ian says excitedly and happily. Then he looks down and realizes he’s in his clothes. Looks a little perplexed and disappointed…. Goes back to watching show.Grandma Barb – “What do you want for lunch?”
Ian – “PeanutButterNJellyAndAPieceOfCarrotCake!” (remembered from night before)Words maybe we’d rather he forgot include “bahmma” and “poopy.” I’m not sure what bahmma is but it is more the way he uses it. Example: “You are a bahmma.”
September 25th, Ian helps Mommy with the meal preparation… See this image larger.
A cute shot Grandma Barb snapped of our happy little girl! See this image larger.
Her tongue had been feeling out those gums a whole lot those days and even more when this post was written in October. I bet you can guess why! See this image larger.
Quick everybody roll around on the floor! See this image larger.
Daddy and Nina, pre op… note the never-ending march of Daddy’s receding hairline. 
Mommy and Nina, pre op 
Daddy and Nina, post op. 
September 21st, Mommy and Nina cuddle previous to the procedure… at this point we’re in the 2nd waiting room of a total of 4 waiting rooms throughout the procedure. I’m not kidding. 
Just before anesthesia, little girl hasn’t had anything to eat since 3:30am and this is at 10:08am… still she somehow manages to find the ability to sleep. Here we’re in the third waiting room. In the fourth, they give you a number that corresponds to your child, and you watch her status change on a TV screen. It is like a cross between purgatory, the waiting room for a car mechanic, and waiting for a plane to land. 
The parent has to “X” which nostril is the correct one, and the doctor initializes said nostril. This made me nervous. 
After the procedure, Nina collapses into Mommy’s arms, content in that way alone. Here we’re waiting in the wrong room because they have not admitted us yet. We ended up waiting for 3 hours or so. 
They have to scan her ankle bracelet whenever they give her certain meds. Now we’re groceries, I guess. This is our final room. Once we got here everything was awesome – people waited on us hand and foot! 
A close-up of the battle-scarred wee one. She continues to tough through her pain. 
Best I could do while holding the phone myself. Melissa has some nice pics on her phone. 
This morning, the Princess returns to her castle! All is well! Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts — special thanks to Grandma Barb for watching Ian and taking care of us! 
September 15th, Seth loves the new house. Sometimes I think he’d rather send the kids off to college a little early, but the house, he loves. 
Same day, I think I have some video of this as well, but Nina really knows how to handle a book. 
September 16th, looking off to the east of our house in the back, no less than 20 wild turkeys swarmed around a neighbor’s fence. They ended up inside of there, pretty confused… the fence has since been patched. 
September 18th, Nina shows off her arm strength… 
Little girl continues to improve on all fronts, and we couldn’t be happier! Keep going, Nina! 
September 13th, Ian uses a book like a mask to become Robo-Ian! 
September 12th – Ladies and gentlemen, some of the best pictures that exist of my lovely wife and two beautiful children. I declare this one pretty awesome. 
Although Nina looks cute as a button in this one, peeking through Mommy’s feeding cover! 
Taken on the front porch of the new abode, of course! 
Later that same day, Ian gives Colonial Sanders a run for his money. 
Our ice cream parlor in town has taken the magic of blue moon and added different colored chunks of cookie dough. Take sugar, add sugar, swirl. Delicious! 
Also September 8th, Ian seems to know his letters pretty good, so I asked him to write his name. A couple different pictures are included here… I think he did pretty awesome, can you kinda see it? 
He tried it a number of times and it was really neat to see. 
I made this, and I’m posting it here for you to enjoy. Ian called it “Mommy’s car” because it apparently looks like a Prius. 
Nina did extremely well with the anesthesia, and we were relieved. The MRI technician would just need to look through the images and find out what the anomaly was! The waiting game begins anew! (This picture taken at breakfast after the procedure, still on September 3rd… we appreciate the break that our help let us have!) 
At home and on 5 different drugs. Nobody’s happy about the latter part, everybody’s happy she’s home. 
Grampa Dave plays with Nina a bit before dinner. 
My exhausted family does what exhausted people do. 
The bravest little girl I’ve ever met. 
Thanks for taking this one Grampa Dave, a picture of me and the two kids is a rare one! Plus I love that we’re all playing with my iPad. 
My heart breaks when I look at these pictures. They shouldn’t have to make hospital gowns this small. I’m trying to hold the camera and take the picture, so I look a little angry but I’m just trying to focus… the exhaustion you’re seeing there is legit. 
Melissa and I were at our wits end. Not just because we didn’t know what the test would reveal, but Nina would have to undergo anesthesia with her heart condition. 
I’m often amazed by Melissa’s toughness. She and I put on a pretty good front most of the time. We’ve relied heavily on family to help us through this, though, and again I thank you all. 
Speaking of which, meanwhile, back at our house, Grampa Dave and Grandma Marcia (having arrived the night before) took care of Ian and stayed around as reserve help in case anything went wrong! 
Grandma Marcia smiles on while Ian plays with the new toy they got him that morning… an erector set! Here’s a rocket! 
Ian blasts off to outer space! 
Yeah you’re cute, I guess we’ll keep ya. 
August 30th, Nina wears Ian’s hat at the “red dinosaur” park. This is the day Ian told me to never go out into outer space without him again. 
Same day, at lunch Ian’s long sweaty hair looks like it needs a cut. 
So we got his hair cut! 
And he was a good boy, so he got a treat! Think that made him happy? (This is the blue moon ice cream from the quotable Ian post.) 
August 31st, Kasey down the street stopped by to see if Ian could play for a little while at his house. 
So proud to watch Ian walk on his own over to Kasey’s house, but still a little sad to watch him go. 
I was no less proud when Ian ran back home moments later so we could walk to Kasey’s together. 
Kasey’s mom took this picture of the two of them playing “rescue guys.” 