~LONG WEEK~

    I have managed to get photos posted in the last week, but have not really found the time to add any update on what is going on!

    Thankfully EM has done amazingly well with his post-op from the pharyngeal flap! Nothing really seems to phase this kid! As I posted he had bounced back quickly on Tuesday from the surgery Monday morning. I think he took pain medicine yet on Wednesday, but after that he said he didn't need it! Well their was one evening, I think it was Friday he thought he might need some. He had asked for water and I said it was getting too close to bed time...so he couldn't have any more water...I didn't really want him up and in the bathroom all night...He then decided he needed "pain medicine". That seemed strange, as he hadn't taken any for several days...well it dawned on me that he drinks water after he takes the pain medicine and that was his way to get water!!! I aske him if he needed medicine or was just thirsty. He said he just wanted the water, so I let him have the water and he didn't need medicine. He is so smart...sometimes I get nervous! I think he is going to be very bright!!

    As you can tell from the photos, SJ had her 5th birthday on Friday! Not sure how she got to be that old so fast, but time does fly. She thinks she should go to school now, since she is 5!!! I told her she will start in the fall and that seems OK. I think she thought she would start as soon as she turned 5!

    We had a really cold weekend! Saturday we stayed inside all day. I think the high was Zero and the low I saw on our Thermometer was -12. Way too cold for me. Sunday we did make it to church, but it was not much warmer. Today it was +5 when I got up. Scary when that seems warm! We loaded up the van and took the kids to the zoo! Nice thing about living in the north. They make the zoos friendly for all kids of weather. Many of the exhibits are completely indoors. All 4 seemed to have a good time. We stopped by a favorite Vietnamese Restaurant near the zoo. We lived near there before we bought our house, so when MR was little we went there often. The soup and wontons are still great as was the "pancake". Not sure of the official name, but all the kids loved it!

    Had a message on the answering machine when we got home. Pre-op for JM for next Monday! I called back. I guess you know you have had a lot of surgeries when the pre-op nurse recognizes you and you know the answers before they ask the questions! I made sure they had noted his difficult time coming out of anesthesia and they will see if any changes can be made that might help! I'm sure I will be a bit anxious to send him off for his palate repair, but I know I will be really glad when it is over. My parents will come out to help this time. JM will be baptized on the 27th. So well will once again have a busy week. Prayers will be appreciated. I will do my best to keep you posted.

All for now!