Noah Back Home

Noah and I (david) went up to Charleston on Wednesday night and stayed with the Warners in Mt. Pleasant so we could make the 6am arrival time at the hospital (MUSC). Noah was very happy and awake in the morning and our registration was easy and quick. Even the silly hospital gown was kinda fun for him.
He gave up a bit of struggle getting the pre-op meds in, but that only lasted a second. They had some really great toys in the OR, things that spun and lighted up which he liked so well they let him have it after surgery.
I went with him into the OR and it was only three easy breaths into the mask before he was sound asleep. Breakfast, reading and three and a half hours later and I got a call that he was all done. I beat Noah to the recovery room by about 2 minutes, and he was still almost completely asleep when he got there. After about 5 more minutes of groggy looking around, he became very upset. He ripped the IV our with one tug (at just the right angle not to hurt himself at all), and I held him on my lap for a while as he screamed and tried to get away.
But, he calmed all of a sudden and crawled back into bed to partly sleep for a while longer. Apparently the panic followed by calm is typical for kids waking from surgery, especially when they have been out more than an hour or so.
By the time he wanted to sit up, he was ready to go. The nurses were very pleased with his progress and I finally got a glimpse of his mouth...
He had a baby molar on his bottom right pulled and the tooth in front of it capped in stainless steel in order to hold the spacer in place. That will keep the space reserved for his adult teeth when they start to come in and everything should fit properly in a few years when his new teeth are ready to surface.
I carried him to the car and he rode all the way home with a slight look of concern while lying on his side in the back. It was a quiet trip and we were home by mid afternoon.
In the last 24 hours, he seems stable, is eating and drinking and seems not too much the worse for wear. It's still hard to tell how much pain he's in or if it just feels funny at the moment.
Thanks so much for your prayers, Noah was amazing and I am so proud of him!
-david

Noah's Tooth

Here’s an update on Noah’s condition: He’s not in much pain at the moment, so praise the Lord! He and I drove up to MUSC in Charleston yesterday and saw the doctor (it ended up being 2 doctors, a nurse and me working on him at the same time, but he was a very good sport).

Noah has had a cavity for the last 2 years that we have known about, but (at the recommendation of his dentist in Pittsburgh) we have just watched for signs of its progressing. Basically, since Noah is on a sugar free diet, the dentist said the cavity had a good chance of holding ground and not having to have anything done to it. Since any dental work involves the O.R. and completely knocking him out, the dentist wanted to avoid that if possible.

But, the tooth is now infected and has to be pulled. It has abscessed on both sides of the gum and was causing Noah serious pain for several days until the pressure reduced.

We are scheduled to take Noah back up to Charleston on Thursday morning for an extraction. We are still in the process of figuring out who’s going and where the kids will be. Please keep us in prayers, especially for Noah’s continued coping with the pain. Thanks!

Messing about in Photopshop

E+E

Elaina and her friend, Emma. The weird thing is that they have gone to school together in three different schools in three different states.

February 27, 2006 in South Carolina


April 12, 2002 in Pennsylvania

(Emma came over today to help Elaina clean her room. That makes the second generation of friends to help out someone in our house with room cleaning. To those of you who are laughing now, thanks :-)

All Alone

You know those shows you have seen on TV or National Geographic that have the "plight of the lone person or animal or whatever's struggle"? And as you watch this incredible battle against the snowstorm/mountain/shark-riding-on-top-of-an-elephant-just-stomping-
and-biting-everything-in-sight, something isn't right? While the scene looks really compelling and the person/animal looks like they are all alone in the struggle you suddenly ask, "Isn't there someone there taking these pictures?"

A Day at the Beach

Noah's Sandy Feet

Andrew and the sand

Molly's Hat

4 Kids

A Day on River Street

Kids on a Boat Anchor

Elaina and Andrew - River Street

Andrew, Elaina, Noah and Granny

Noah and Emily

Andrew

Molly's Cat

When Noah was younger, we got a kitten. That kitten's name is Sally and to this day permits torture from Noah that no other person or cat have ever shared. As a kitten, Sally wouldn't mind being dangled from one leg while Noah examined her. As she grew, the boy would pick her up and carry her around the house in a bear hug. Never a word from the cat.
Enter baby Molly. Sally seems not to care much that she's there, but our other cat, Kisa (Russian for Kitty), flops down for her hourly tufting. Handfuls of hair fly as Molly "loves" her kitty. No scratches, no fight, no flight from the cat. So why would an animal allow systematic, repeated abuse from one human being while remaining relationally normal with all the others? I don't have a clue. But, it certainly is fun for the children...

"It was his friend, He loved it." -EHS

In memory of Christmas Tree
December, 2005 - January, 2006

The tree went out the front door to cries of, "Bring back Christmas!" from the almost 5 year old jumping up and down in distress in the front hall. It sat in the front yard and the same child sat with it, gently stroking the sharp branches. "It's OK, Christmas," he consoled. Once on the car, the tears really began to flow, "Christmas, where are you going!?"
"It's time to go away, Christmas is all done," said a voice sounding just like the boy's father.
"Ok, Christmas. I love you." replied the boy, watching his feet.
"Bye, bye, Andrew. I'll be back next year" replied the tree.
"OK. Thanks."

The Princess and the Pea

Sometimes it's good to spoil a kid.... but, 3 pillows and a pile of blankets? Looks like we are raising a princess...

Molly and Emily on Christmas Morning

Andrew saving Noah while standing high up on a wall on the fort. (they were actually a long way from the edge of the wall, but Andrew takes good care of his brother.)

Noah on a high wall at the fort.

Emily, Elaina, Noah and Andrew at Ft. Pulaski, GA

mmmmmmmmmmmmm... peas

It has long been fortold
By daft seers of old
that kids will like veggies with neigh a scold
if you start them out early on peas, ice cold

And when they are beyond control
And think they have escaped the mold
I can promise they will be so bold
As to fill your toothless mouth with peas, ice cold



And now a Haiku
about consuming the peas -
they were delicious

Children of the Revolution

Andrew got a Nativity Set for Thanksgiving

Girls with Hats

Home Alone

It's just plain weird. Wake up at 6:45. No alarm, silent house. No reason to be up. Something's not right. Take a shower, get dressed and eat. Wandering the cavernous house aimlessly. Visit the empty crib for the third time. Sit down and read for a while. Even the cats are sedate. Feed the fish and put on some boots. Get to work early. It's just plain weird...

Well, Em and the kids are in Pittsburgh for the moment, and I will join them soon. In the mean time, I am reeling from the difference between a family of 6 and living alone. There are so many great things to do when you live alone: order Pizza, spend time in recording studio, see Harry Potter at midnight. But, it's just not enough to hold my interest. Great for a moment, but not for a week, let alone a lifetime. Ah, well "It's Friday, but Sunday's a commin'!"