We've Closed a Chapter in Our Life.

It all started Tuesday night at my moms. Dakota was playing with his cars, and my brother Logan. Logan was standing in the living room, and glances at the floor. "There's his mickey," he says. And I'm thinking he doesn't have a Mickey Mouse let alone brought to moms. No... his MIC-KEY! So we packed up and jetted out of there. Went home to get the surrenge (sp) to deflate the balloon, and put it back in. Ha Ha. IT has closed up a little bit, therefore we are back in the car ( at 930PM!) headed to the ER. They didn't have his size MIC-KEY, but pu tin a foley ( tube) that was the right size for the hole.
Told Jassen about it, and he thought it was time to just leave it out. I felt the same. Dakota has had his feeding tube since November 30, 2004! So, Wednesday I called the pediatrician to talk to him about it. Today we went in, and first they weighed him. He had gained 1 lb. since last month. He now weighs 30 lbs!! Well we talked to Dr. Ransdell and he agreed that it was okay. So there in the office he took the foley out, put a bandage over the hole, and we were done. The hole has to heal itself. You may be wondering about the hole to his stomach... I too thought they would stitch up the stomach, and stitch up the skin. Nope. He will have scar tissue from the stomach that will connect to the healed hole. It will take about 2 weeks for the hole to close and heal.
We were very excited about this whole thing. Throughout the day I was fine. I was thinking "Great, this thing is gone. Finally." Tonight he got upset when I tried to take the belly picture. I asked him why he was upset, and he didn't answer. I asked if he missed his MIC-KEY and he said "yes". He has never known any different. This hit me like a ton of bricks, and I cried (as I am now), and just as I did when they took away all of his oxygen tanks and supplies. This made me realize that we have finally closed this chapter of his life, and ours. The Preemie chapter is over. Other than him still being little we have officially finished that last obstical that came with him being 9 weeks early. After 3 1/2 years, Praise the Lord!!

1. Dakota without his MIC-KEY!! Red marks from the bandage the ER put on. 2. This is what his tube looks like. We slide it in hole, and 3. We inflate the balloon that is then in his stomach to hold it in place. Hope that's not too much for you. :) Thought some would be interested.

Jassen Almost Cried!

We never thought the day would come when Dakota would poop in the potty. Jassen simply asked if he needed to go potty, and Dakota said "yes". I was sitting in the living room, and I hear Jassen going on and on about how Dakota did a good job. HE did it!! AS soon as he knew he had done well he wanted prize. I keep a surprise bag in the laundry with cars and cars stuff in it for when I needed to bribe him, or he had done well. All I had left was a dry erase board with Lightning McQueen on it. He didn't care. It was "Cars". We didn't decided we needed to have a party. Dakota wanted pizza for lunch so we went to Pizza Hut. He went 2 more times today in the potty without our assistance. Yes, I took my camera because this is a day to remember. I will knock on wood because he is still not 100% potty trained. But I will keep it positive. We were soo excited!

Aloha?

Thursday Dakota's preschool held a Luau. They invited the parents to watch them do a couple of songs and dances. The older ones discussed facts about Hawaii. When we walked in Dakota didn't see us. I was just getting ready to take a picture of him and his class, and he noticed me. Gave me this look, and ran across the roon, and started crying in Jassen's arms. Therefore he did not participate anymore. For snack they had pineapple, dry coconut, pineapple and meatballs with sauce, and a special pudding. It was nice. But it would've been more enjoyable to watch him participate. :(

McKynley Yvonne

From 4 lbs 3 oz. to 13 lbs 4 oz. McKynley is doing great. The very first pic was taken in the NICU, the next at my house in Dec. The others have been taken within the last month. She is eating, growing, and cooing. She's a good baby (at my house) :) The middle picture at the top she looks like her Dad, but in all the others she looks just like Monica. She has that chubby round face. As soon as I get a baby pic of Monica I will show you. It's unbelievable.

Snow is Nice, But You Can Keep the Ice

Well, we finallly got some snow to keep the kids out of school. They were let out early Monday and didn't go back until Friday. Around here you don't believe the weather man until you see it for real. Monday and into Tuesday we got about 3-4 inches of snow, and then about 1/2 of ice on top of it. If I still had my hockey skates, and were about 30 pounds lighter I probably would've tried to ice skate. I don't remember ever seeing ice like this. Call me weird, but I think trees covered in ice make great pictures. Here are a few pics I took around the yard.

Sleepover

On Monday night (2-11) Monica and McKynley stayed the night becuase we got a huge snow (4 in.) and ice on the way. We enjoyed their company. Monica and Dakota are always playing around. She is always finding a way to pester him, and get him mad. At one time she was chasing him with McKynley's swing in the kitchen. Never a dull moment with those two, let me tell ya.

ABC's of Me

I was tagged by my sister-in-law Sheila. She caught me at 1145 PM, and I have time to fill in my info. :)

A- Attached or single: Very attached
B- Best Friend: My bestest is probably Monica. We have grown a lot closer since we gotten older. Love you too Ana :)
C-Cake or Pie: Cake with very little icing
D-Day of Choice: The weekend and having Jassen home to be with Kota and I.
E- Essential Item: something to drink- quit laughing. you know who you are.
F- Favorite Color: Periwinkle
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Worms
H- Hometown: Owensboro, KY
I- Indulgence(s): Manicures and Pedicures are nice. Haven't had one since July of '06
J- January or July: July- Hate the cold
K-Kids: 1 awesome little guy
L-Life is incomplete without: my family
M- Marriage Date: July 20, 2002
N- Number of Siblings: You just had to ask. I'll keep it simple. 3 sisters, 2 brothers. I am the oldest
O- Oranges or Apples: Apples with caramel are the greatest
P- Phobias or Fears: Losing someone close
Q- Quote: Live life to the fullest. You never know when the good Lord is gonna bring you home.
R- Reason To Smile: Having a great family
S- Season: Anytime it's 75 outside, no humidity, and sunny :)
T- Tag Six: Triana, Stacey, Jenny
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I have very little patience
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: Both. I eat meat, but I couldn't do it living on a farm.
W- Worst Habit: distractability- I'm so easily sidetracked (Right there with you Sheila, Jassen approves)
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Whatever needs to be done
Y- Your Favorite Food: Cheesy potato soup (right now)
Z- Zippers or Zebras: Zebras, It could be 15 degrees outside, and I won't put a coat on!

School Wears Me Out!!

there are days when dakota comes home from school and is pooped. today he was fine. he ate lunch with us, and played with his trains for awhile. soon after jassen left i heard him talking to himself behind the recliner. i looked back and he was laying there with his "car car" blanket and pillow. (he is sooo a Lianus (sp) with this blanket and pillow. i asked him to come and lay on the couch, but he didn't want to. about ten minutes later he was asleep in the foyer. :(


i tell ya there are times we are begging him to take a nap, and then there are times he just poops out. this was one of those days.

Dakota's First Day of Preschool

Last August we tried to enroll Dakota for preschool. They were full so we were on the waiting list. The director called us last week, and they had an opening. I asked Dakota if he wanted tot go to school and he said "YES!" He would not quit talking about it. Tuesday was Dakota's first day of school. The weather was crappy. We had less than an inch of snow and ice that fell late morning. The public schools were on a two hour delay, therefore the preschool was still in session. I walked Dakota in. As soon as we were in and met his teacher, Mrs. Plummer, he acted as if I weren't even there, an didn't notice when I left.

I picked him up, and his teacher said that he did great. He fit right in. Wednesday and Thursday went about the same. Although Thursday he got lost among the other parents in the hallway when we were on our way to hang up his coat and bookbag. He got upset and was crying. Then he had a hard time letting me go. But it didn't take long for him to cheer up, and have a good day.

He is attending Old North Methodist Preschool. Is is one of the best preschools in Evansville with a great Christian environment. I am anxious to see how much he grows in the 4 months they have left of school. I know he loves to play, and enjoys being around other kids. It's the structure that he will have a hard time with.

Extra Large Legos

Dakota got more blocks for Christmas. He had only a handful before that, that came with a firetruck. He is really into building towers! The other night while Jassen was at work Dakota and I built a couple of houses and built our fair share of towers. I dont' have much of an imagination when it comes to playing with cars, but I do enjoy building stuff with him. Here are just a couple after I finally thought about getting the camera out.