February 20th, 2008 - Emma's surgery

Morning of Emma's ear surgery. She was in really great spirits that morning.

The nurse was getting Emma all ready for her procedure. She even gave Emma some "happy" juice to relax her before going into the back.

Emma wanted me to take a picture of her ankle "bracelet".

Happy juice has kicked in. She was feeling no pain.

Keep the back closed up Emma. (she was playing run away from Mommy here and was haing a blast doing it)

I call this one "DROOPY EYES" Hey man that is some good stuff.

I'm all ready to go....

Nurse Barbara has come to take me back. Mommy is really nervous, but Emma had not a care in the world. Hmm, I wonder why?Post Op - Emma had a really hadr time coming out of the anesthesia. She was trully angry about this and literallly screamed and screamed for about two hours after she was rolled into the recovery area. The only person she calmed down for was Rob with the help of a little dermerol.

Home that afternoon. Emma was quite the tired little tyke. She slept pretty much the entire afternoon and evening.

Papa and Nana Conklin sent Emma this super cute bear and aballoons which Emma has been playing with the past couple of days.

Night before surgery - February 19th, 2008

It's about 6:30 p.m. at the time this picture was taken today. I was watching her sleep on the couch and was thinking to myself, "Wow, she has gotten so big. She not a little baby anymore." So I grabbed the camera and took a couple of shots.
Although Emma is going to bed at 8p.m., I figured a short nap wouldn't hurt. She has a big day tomorrow as she is going in for ear surgery very early in the morning. She is getting tubes put in her ears and her adenoids taken out. Hopefully this will help with all of the ear infections she is prone to get.

I am hoping that we will be out of the hospital and home by noon without an complications.

To your own bed little one!

Today has been the 4th morning that Emma has woken up in her own bed. YEAH ME!!!

Monday night; we (which translates to me) started to have her sleep in her own bed starting at bed time. The first night was horrible. I think I got a total of 1 hour of sleep. That child of ours screamed, cried, whined, and moaned for 3 hours straight. But I was adament about it and kept her there. Even when Rob came in to "RESCUE HER", I kicked him out and stayed the course.

WHEW.... I was tried the next day.
Emma was quite the angry little princess towards me. I wish I had a picture for the look she gave me when Rob brought her in to say good morning on Tuesday. She gave me the evil eyes.

Tuesday night came and we had a total of an hour of crying. She still woke up in the middle of the night for about two hours. I was seriously comtemplating giving up and bringing her back to our bed. Then I heard that little voice of encouragement that said "don't give up now for God's sake, remember she has to stay with her Nana and Papa for a week here and there while you're out of town. You can do it."
So back into the crib she went, wailing and all. I shut her door, our door and silenced the monitor. Another half an hour went by and then complete silence. So much so I got nervous. Had to make sure she didn't whack her head on the bed and knocked herself out. She was fine. Laying in her crib quietly thinking herself back to sleep.

Aahh two more hours of sleep to go....

Wednesday Night: Half an hour of crying as she went down and then silence. The joy of silence. Right to sleep and only a slight wake up around 130 am, with 20 minutes of crying. Then she went completely quiet again without another peep. I still had to get up and go check on her as it unnerved me a little that she went so quiet so fast. All was well.

Thursday night: We had to watch tv in the bedroom since our living room one is broken. So Emma did fall asleep in our bed... but surprisingly Rob got up and put her in her own bed before falling asleep himself. KUDOS ROB!!!!!
She woke in the middle of the night, I went in, gave her the binky, and layed her down. Two minutes... 2 minutes... of crying and then silence.
Can you say that I am doing the happy dance today. Sleep is returning and I am actually starting to feel rested again.

To my husband who was the pessimist about this whole thing and wanted me to wait until he was far away to start this, All I can say is "I TOLD YOU IT COULD BE DONE." NOW WHO'S THE MOMMY?

Seriously though the only thing that could make this any better would if I had a video monitor that I could watch while she cried herself back to sleep. Because I have to say, I am a little unnerved at her sudden quietness.

The little one has moved into her own room and I have our bed back. SWEET!!!!

Mardi Gras 2008

Mardi Gras 2008

Pics of floats can be viewed on the slide show.

We went out and enjoyed Mardi Gras this year. Emma had a good time. (not that you could tell from this picture)

She quickly learned how to put her hands out and hollar "Throw me something Mister!" (well something close)

We got to meet Mr & Mrs Jolly Green Giant. Em was not to sure of that girl.
Rob kept Emma on his back most of the day from where she could see everything around her and not miss a beat.
Poor thing exhausted herself and just passed out.