Snakes...

Bens question age 4.5

Ben: what makes Snakes alive?
Me: They are alive when They are born
Ben:What makes them alive when they are born?.
Me: well, what makes you alive?
Ethan: because our bodies are healthy
Me: well its the same for snakes

Ben: how do snakes slither along the ground?
Me: muscles.... Slithering muscles
Ben: How did the get slithering muscles get inside their body?

Getting warmer, getting colder

To set the scene- Ben is wandering around the house blindfolded...
Ethan: getting warmer, getting warmer, getting warmer, getting warmer (each time the pitch and excitement gets higher)
Ethan : getting colder (sadness in his voice)

Me: do you two even know what getting warmer and colder means?


Boys: no!

The things they mimic off tv is too funny

Slime

We made slime today (cornflour, water and green colouring)

Ben and Ethan loved it!!

Swimming from August

This is a video of boys swimming at the local pool back in August!

Pirate Party

A couple of months ago (yes, I’m slack) the boys went to a pirate and princess party. It was for their friend Chloe’s 5th birthday. They dressed up as pirates, and had a great time!

Park and Beach Pics

We have had many trips to the park and once to the beach. We are enjoying this warmer weather. I have been very slack taking some nice photos with my good camera lately. I made the effort the other day, and got some nice pictures at the park.

And a few from the beach. They had a great time at the beach. We dug big holes, and then they had fun trying to wet their poor mummy. They also met a stray dog who was keen for a game of fetch. It was a gorgeous dog the boys played gently with him.

Ben is wearing his new headband. It helps secure the ear plug in his ears. He has to wear ear plugs when ever his ears might get wet because of his grommets. He is very good about it, and so far hasn’t complained about it. He chose this favourite colour green!

Ready for work?

Silly boys wearing mummy's work shirts

Max Brenner chocolate shop

Last week we went to a chocolate shop for a special treat! It was very naughty, and very yummy!

The 4 of us shared a fondue plate - and we could hardly eat it all. We had strawberries, banana, marshmallows and banana bread to dip into chocolate. Yummmm
We have never done this with the boys before. They thought it was great, and made a wonderful chocolate mess!

Crazy sleeper

Ben and Ethan still don't sleep the "right" way in the bed. We check them every night before we go to bed, and often find them asleep, something like this.

Tough questions

Ben: how did they build the earth?
Me: I don't know
Ben: what kind of world did we live on while they were building the earth?

Now tell me how you answer that to a 4 year old!!
And it's like that most days. He asks SO MANY QUESTIONS.

Fun in the warmer weather

We have been enjoying some nice warm spring days lately... (And some awfully cold ones too, it's an odd spring)

We have been spending more time at some local parks and beaches....and the boys love it!

Gorgeous boys

Presents from Grandma

Today Ben got a "get well soon" package from his Grandma. It came via a delivery man. Ben (and Ethan) LOVED getting this special surprise.

Luck Ben got lovely bunch of flowers with some fruit (grapes, strawberries, pears, oranges, pineapple and bananas) a balloon, a teddy and some chocolates.

He's very happy about it, thanks Grandma

Day after surgery

Ben is doing great today!
He slept all night and woke up happy :)

This morning he is playing with playdoh. He is giving Cookie Monster an operation and taking out his very big adenoids!

Ben’s Surgery

Ben had his adenoidectomy and insertion of bilateral grommets today. In simple terms, he had his adenoids removed (lymph tissue at the back of the nose, similar to the tonsils at the back of the mouth, but higher up) and grommets, (small drainage tubes) placed in the ear drum of both ears. His adenoids were enlarged, and blocking the eustation tube (tube connecting the nose and ears), this caused fluid to build up in his ears, and lead to hearing loss. He also had speech problems from his hearing loss, snoring and dribbling. Removing the adenoids and putting grommets in his ears should help his hearing and other problems.

 

We arrived at the hospital at 9:30. Ben was not allowed to eat after midnight, but was allowed to drink clear fluids until 8am. He had apple juice and water for breakfast. We got admitted and the nurses did all their paperwork and then we waited, and waited and watched TV while we waited some more. As both Tracie and I work at the hospital, we know most of the staff between. We saw a lot of people we knew and had a few visitors.

Watching TV in bed.

Waiting…. He did so well waiting. He didn't even ask for food, which is unusual for Ben!

Ben was finally taken down at 11:50am. He enjoyed the bed ride.

Down in the operating theatre… Tracie went down with Ben. She held him while they placed the mask on his face and he fell asleep. He did a great job, he took deep breaths in the mask and fell asleep quickly, without any distress. We worked hard to prepare him for the events that would take place for going to sleep, we are pleased our efforts worked, and he happily cooperated and didn't panic.

Ben was in the operating theatre and asleep in recovery (PACU) for about an hour. Once he woke up, I (Sal) was allowed to go in to see him. He was crying and in pain when I arrived. It’s hard to see him like that, lots of cuddles and some nice strong pain killers helped a lot. We stayed in the recovery ward for about an hour, while they controlled his pain and monitored him. I bought the old iphone (loaded with boys videos and games) with me, and he watched some of his favourite shows as a distraction. Initially he wanted me to hold the phone while he just lay in my arms and sobbed and watched, then after the pain killers worked, he was holding the phone him self, By the time we left, he was talking to be about the games he was playing. It was nice to see him feeling better.

We arrived back on the ward and Ben was allowed to eat! It was after 2pm and he had only had a glass of juice all day. Ben ate, and ate and ate! He had an iceblock, juice, water, sandwiches, strawberry yoghurt, mango yoghurt, fresh fruit, cupcake and even some nuts!!

We were pleased to see him eating and drinking normally. He seems to have a little cut on the side of his mouth, and a slightly swollen face. We assume this was from the intubation, but we don’t know.

After the operation the surgeon came to talk to us. He said Ben’s adenoids were massive. He also said there was fluid behind his ears (as we expected). We are not surprised that his adenoids were huge, we have long suspected they were enlarged. We are very hopeful that after he has healed, he will benefit from this operation. With grommets in his ears, he will not be able to get his ears wet until they fall out. (3-6 months, but up to 3 years) he will have to wear ear plugs in the bath/shower and while swimming.

We were allowed home at 5:30pm. Ben got some of his favourite food for dinner… Macaroni and Cheese then icecream and yoghurt - nice and soft for a sore throat, and a HUGE treat!

He’s sound asleep after the big day, and dosed up on Panadol  (Tylenol in USA), fingers crossed he sleeps through the night.

I should also mention that Ethan was wonderful today. He was very patient, waiting around all day. He didn't complain at all. He enjoyed watching TV and playing the iPhone. He got to have a treat at the cafe, and lunch. He was such a good boy. He was nice to Ben and cared for him after his operation. He’s a good big brother.