One Year Post Op! Hip Hip Hooray!

We made it!  One year!  What a year!  As I write this, my day has been so full of emotion. 

It's an amazing place to be, but as I made myself remember each moment it was easy to "transport" back to the exact timing and place of where we were a year ago today.  Then the tears would start to fill my eyes and I send a prayer of thanks.  Thanks for all those who have prayed, those who are still praying, and those who have impacted our lives because of our situation.  This past year has not been easy and although we are still waiting to be helmet free I hope and pray that our journey will just become a bump in the road.  Something we had to pass through, a distant memory.  We have battle wounds, scars for real on the top of my baby's head and those symbolically on my heart, but a year ago today had faded until a month ago. 

When Chase turned the May calendar to June and there I saw it.  My little emoji that I had drawn onto the 22nd symbolizing that we had made it!  One year post-op! A cranioversary worth celebrating!  I had to call my mom because the second I saw it, it all rushed back in a flood that took me to my knees.  I suddenly realized I hadn't thought of it for awhile.  I hadn't mentally walked through each step, each part of the day of surgery and those immediately following, as I had post op.  It had been weeks maybe, since I had thought of it and then I felt like I had done a disservice not thinking about it.  I was talking to someone about it and couldn't even remember the word saggital.  And then I felt it my heart breaking, that here what had once consumed my life was yet a distant thing of the past.  Perhaps I had shoved it down.  Maybe wanted to forget or maybe it was just that.  I was healing.  Healing from the hurt.  Healing from the pain that not everything was perfect.  Healing from what I couldn't change.

Cannon's helmet was Cannon.  When it is off he looks so different.  It is just a part of him.  I know many would disagree.  And I honestly cannot wait until we hear those words that we are HELMET FREE but looking at him I don't see it.  I don't see the helmet.  It doesn't upset me.  It doesn't even phase him.  It is just Cannon!

We anxiously return to the hospital this week and hope we can hear we are D.O.N.E!  We had our hopes set very high that in April we would hear those sweet words but it was decided we were not done.  So the very week that we are one year post op we return to that place that changed so much of us!  Cannon still has a spot in the very back that needs to fill in but otherwise the shape of his head is a thing of  beauty!  Its perfect as it should be!  Its smooth and full of beautiful blond curls that haven't yet seen scissors as I want to enjoy the beautiful curls without being smashed under a helmet.  We have struggled these last few weeks to get him to leave his helmet on, as sitting in the car its thrown off, sitting in the stroller its handed off, sitting in the highchair its taken off, playing with brother its tossed off, throwing a tantrum it is torn off, sleeping in bed it is slid off so that he can feel the comfiness of his bed and the cush of his mattress instead of the hard plastic that normally encases his sweet golden locks.  I think he has had it off more than on, but we have tried.  So we wait! We wait to hear we are free!  Done with the helmet!  Done with being asked about why he wears it! Done with worrying about that spot that needs filled in!  And begin as we have already began stressing about each time he hits that precious noggin on something!  He has bruises and red marks from being Mr. Independent!  Walking and climbing and climbing and climbing!  AHHHHH!  Life of a toddler! I love it yet at the same time it is perhaps one of the more demanding times of infant hood!

I want to thank all of those who prayed, all of those who are still praying but most of all thank God who showed us so much love and healing through all of this last year! 

Happy Cranioversary Dear Baby!  We love you!

Update from....December

December, December, December.  It seemed like such a magical month! 

I love the Christmas season for the decorations and the precious meaning behind the season.  Especially having little babes you just look into their face and how heartbreaking yet powerful it was for our Father to send his Son to this hurtful place for me and my babes.  It is so powerful that every Christmas season since Chandler arrived I treasure the emotion and feeling that Mary and Joesph and especially our Father must have experienced on that night so long ago. 

Now especially with little ones who's eyes light up at every little decoration and with each magical day that gets closer to Christmas, suddenly you realize how magical the season really is.  Chandler was all about "Christmas Magic" this year.  I don't quite know where he picked it up, but I think it was from the Elf on the Shelf that we did this year.  So then anytime there was a surprise or something special that happened he would inform you that it was because of the Christmas Magic.  Why did baby Jesus come to the earth? Because of Christmas Magic.  Why do we celebrate Jesus' birthday? Because of Christmas Magic.  How did Cutie, the elf on the shelf, get from place to place? Because of Christmas Magic.  It truly was a magical holiday in the eyes of Chandler.  I loved it!  It seemed as though the whole month was full of excitement and flew by in a whirlwind. 

Chandler got to be Joesph in the Christmas play at church and I don't think that I had laughed that hard in a long while.  He was absolutely adorable and precious, such a treasured memory.  We celebrated the birthdays of two very special men in our family, who without them we would not be the family we are today.  We did not go unscathed completely though, as the stomach bug hit our house not once but twice.  Once during the weekend of the Christmas play at church, but we were not going to miss that for the world so poor babes just had to make due. 

We also had an interesting situation with Cannon's helmet.  It was in late November that I noticed a bump forming on the back of Cannon's head.  It was bony not squishy like a goose egg although initially I thought perhaps it was just that, and it would get better.  However, instead of getting better it gradually was getting larger and more prevalent.  Also his coronal suture on the left side started to ridge dramatically and also became more obvious.  We would especially note these issues at bath time when his hair was wetted down and as this is the only time that he is without his helmet it was obvious something was not quite right.  I started to search for possible explanations.  The bump in the back of his head was right at the point in the helmet where there seemed to be a flaw.  There was a divet in the helmet and it seemed as though his body was filling in that divet with bone.  Of course, I being the mother that I am, stressed and worried until I could no more.  We tried to get in immediately to the orthotist here in town however, around this time the stomach bug number two hit our household.  Finally, we were able to get in and thought the issue was resolved but it didn't take long to realize things were no better.  So up to KC my mom, Cannon and I went to hopefully get some explanations.  I know to many people and even to our surgeon the thought is that many people do not have perfectly shaped heads.  So I really should not worry.  However, in our case, after all we have been through I felt and still feel as though Cannon deserves to have the most perfectly shaped head.  We have been to hell and back to ensure that our baby has a perfectly shaped head.  While in KC the divet was fixed/filled with foam and over the next few days the bump shrunk completely but the ridging is perhaps just going to take time, if it ever does go away.  Otherwise Cannon will have a ridge on his coronal that will just be there.  As hard as this is, we learned while there that Cannon's metopic suture had closed which good or bad is a fused suture, and that he had regrown 85 percent of his bone that had been removed.  I tried to remain calm and reassured that God is in control. Someone shared with me about the prayers that they still say for Cannon and the vision that had been shared with them and I had to remember that God is in control.  He has been there every step of this journey and who was I to suddenly doubt his healing abilities.  DEEP BREATH!

This month right prior to the release of our winter break a tragedy struck making my job all the more harder to bear.  As I clung to my babies that night, as I am sure most Americans did I realized the one place that you think would be safe is unrealistically not always.  I could not imagine the grief of those families nor the amount of worry that now was placed in the mind sets of parents everywhere.  I still am saddened and heartbroken by the unfathomable amount of evil that could ever intertwine in what is supposed to be safe.  Also this month my heartache deepened at the news of the splitting of our schools to create all the schools to be K-5.  I was hurt yet once more, and yet in this month there was a fortune cookie from a date night that said "Do not worry, God looks after you especially."  Seriously a fortune cookie!  It was once again a message reminding me that I am indeed not the sayer and doer of my future for it is all in His hands and I need to stop for a moment.  Although all of this rattled my heart once again, the healing from it all is a process and although it can be long and hard I have to walk the road of pain sometimes to see the beautiful skies to come.

Bless Cannon's heart too as we had been battling for wellness and healing he had his fifth double ear infection that would not heal.  It was decided that we needed to proceed with ear tubes to hopefully help his ears.  Although this happened while on break in December, just to see a specialist we had to wait a month.  So for the next update!

Then there was Christmas!!! The long awaited reason for the season!  My boys and I enjoyed our long break together and I had to really put all of the above mentioned stress behind so I could see just how joyous this long awaited moment was.  Then what felt like a blink of an eye it was done.  Cannon stood for the first time on Christmas day!  Chandler was showered with so many presents that were fit for a king.  And once again, since that moment that, "Magical Christmas" Day, Chandler has talked about when it comes again next year!  As we were gathered singing "Happy Birthday to Jesus" I saw once again that moment.  Oh how Mary must have felt.  As the mother of a Savior who was born to die.  Whose days were numbered from the moment he arrived.  Who she felt moving while carrying him and whose birth was probably not how she pictured Him arriving.  Merry Christmas dear Baby!  Merry Christmas!   

Update from....November

November...seems like forever ago, but it was such a big month.  

Our little big boy turned four!  Four! 

At times we look back at pictures and it seems like a lifetime ago and in other moments it seems like just yesterday.  I actually very vividly can remember the week long stay that we had prior to our little Chandler's arrival.  We didn't know if we were having a boy or girl and what a surprise it made the wait!  I had been put on hospital bed rest in order to hopefully prevent a preterm delivery.  I remember I could be up for 10 minutes a day and seriously the nurses would knock on the bathroom door while in the shower reminding me of how much time I had left.  I look back and think of how young we were.  I remember Chandler's precious arrival and how much our forever was changed. 

Chandler was definitely a first born.  He enjoyed doing things his way.  We often joked that while in the hospital it was proved that he loved keeping everyone on their toes as his heart rate would plummet causing everyone to rush in and rush us to the OR for immediate delivery and then suddenly all was good!  And we would settle back in to 24 hours of monitoring.  When everyone would come and visit us in the hospital and then prepare to leave we would jokingly say that no one should say bye as it would cause our little one to grip the umbilical cord or hold his/her breath causing everyone to stay thinking that our little one was coming!  From the moment he was born was an identical image of his daddy.  His baby pictures and Chase's baby pictures could easily be swapped out.  He still looks so much like his daddy.  He still acts so much like his daddy too (I had to throw that one in there! HEHE!)!  Chandler is the sweetest, orneriest, most independent, biggest mess maker, cutest little guy in the world.  He has brought our lives so much joy and treasure that we often look to him to lighten the dark moments and to carry the load of being a big brother.  He has worn his role of big brother with pride and joy.  He still daily will inform you that Cannon is his best friend!  

From the moment of bringing Chandler home from the hospital our lives were impacted just like how any little one can do, but we as parents have learned so much.  I as a momma and Chase as a daddy have been heroes, disciplinarians, medical administrators (which include cleaning up messes that no one would have ever dreamed of), imagination consultants, teachers, encouragers, photographers, and the list goes on.  Chandler has grown up so fast.  He actually the day after turning four started talking about how on his next birthday would be five!  Chandler for awhile now has been very excited to turn five.  It is a big age; I guess?!?  He still talks constantly about his birthday coming up and when it does come how he will be turning five.  I on the other hand would love for time to hold still.  My baby is growing up and I know once school starts it will fly by and in the blink of an eye he will be all grown up.

Chandler loves books, lives for movie night and loves to be a stinker when asking him questions about things he knows.  He is so adorable and sweet as he constantly confirms with his words that he loves you.  He also definitely knows what he likes and what he doesn't.  Although lately we have had many discussions about how he thinks he no longer likes something that for years now he has loved, such as tacos.  Chandler is definitely a imagination pro.  He loves to "pretend" lots of things and appreciates you pretending with him.  He loves learning but lately tries to be a little stubborn when practicing certain things.  He also loves to view life as a big contest where often he would prefer to be the winner, obviously.  This includes how quickly you can eat dinner or racing to get inside from the car, etc.  This little big boy has grown up so fast.  This little boy stole my heart so many years ago and I honestly cannot believe that the time has gone so fast. I just look at him and my heart melts.  How we pray that time will hold still but he prays that he can grow big and strong.  How I hope that each moment we treasure will be remembered for who he is.  We love you big buddy!  Thanks for making each day so special!  Thanks for being our guinea pig (Ha)!  Thanks for loving mommy and daddy and Cannon so much!  May God bless all your years!

Bloggity, Blog, Blog

So I know it has been a while.  What a while it has been!  I have tried to post...I promise.  I actually had an entire post ready to go just a few days after my last post (I know clear back in November!).  It was one of the most adorable posts ever!!!  Okay, well may not ever as so many are pretty precious, however it was all about cooperation. You see, after we had visited the pumpkin patch I wanted some pictures of me and my boys.  So much of the time I am the picture taker and am not invovled in the photo session.  Not that I am complaining, but I wanted the boys to at least know what I looked like when they looked back at the millions of pictures that have been taken of them.  So we sat down for a little photo session and the results of the at least 20 pictures that were taken were HILAROUS!  So I wanted to share them!  At least 11 out of the 20, because each one was truly symbolic of how cooperative a then three year old and 9 month old can be!  I had the entire post ready to go!  Ready to share!  All the pictures put in the EXACT right spot each with an added caption.  I was so proud and excited because I just knew everyone else would enjoy them as well and then *POOF*!  I went to publish my post and this little message comes on saying that my memory for my blog has reached the maximum...What?  The message ever so (not) kindly informed me that a great way to solve this problem was to download this free Google program that would help organize all my pictures and allow me to still post pictures...or at least that is how I read the deeply computer tech embedded saavy message.  So desperate to just get my post to publish I did this task and it took at least two-three hours.  But then as the program was downloading I realized it was converting not just my blog pictures but every single item that was marked as a photo or had a photo inserted into documents, PowerPoints, emails, including every piece of clipart, background, everything that was hidden deep into the files that I did not know even existed on my computer into current pictures! AHA!  I truly felt as though there could potentially be millions of which then individually had to be labeled and could be face recognizable as long I just would go through each one and select the face and then type the name and the process began. 

Once I realized the amount of stress that had been caused just to get my newly post published I became overwhelmed.  I located the pictures I needed in my new Google program and labeled, dated and face recognized to the whole bit, retyped my post and thought it would work.  Much to my dismay it did not and thus began another saga into why I suddenly disappered from the blogasphere.  I tried to get rid of pictures from previous posts, but I felt as though they all told the story.  I tried to elimate the "fluff" photos.  But that still did not allow enough space.  Heartbroken alas, as this has become such a way to share and relive the struggles and heartache, the joys and triumphs I had a couple of options.  One was to pay monthly for my blog or to create a new blog or to try another program.  I tried the latter and it was not successful.  After many attempts I decided I guess to take a break.  I have had so much to say.  I have typed this in my sleep.  I have worded it just right.  I have taken the time to even try and try again with the new program that apparently does not like me or my computer.  But after much conversation I guess maybe this will be a blog without pictures?  I don't know.  I haven't thought that far ahead. 

But I do know that today's date is very symbolic.  And I had to post today.  One year ago today our lives changed forever.  For the better.  One year ago today I would not have dreamed of what a year would bring.  One year ago today we were forever not just a family of three, but four and I would not have changed a moment.  Well..okay so maybe I would have asked for an epidural sooner, but I would not have changed a single moment after that! 

Happy Birthday Dear Baby!  Happy Birthday to You!  We love you!  Thank you for all the joy you have brought to our lives!  Thank you for putting up with our crazy!  Thank you for loving us all so deeply!  Thank you for being the best little brother!  Thank you for being Chandler's best friend (that's what Chandler says!  I promise!)  Thank you little buddy!  On this birthday and for so many more to come WE LOVE YOU!

Never Before...(Part Two)

Never before Craniosynostosis...

Did I ever miss the touch of sweet soft baby hair that I now miss and is sometimes unbearable

Did I miss sweet snuggles without a bowling ball/helmet in between my sweet boy and me

Did I miss pouring kisses all over his sweet baby head

Did I realize that the baby stage goes so quick, and in the blink of an eye it will be gone but a big part will have been spent wearing a helmet for my sweet babe

Did I get enough time just enjoying my sweet Cannon without every split second spent worrying about craniosynostosis

Did I look at other babies and feel jealous of their head shapes

Did I see a baby and worry about whether they have craniosynostosis, as now I see it everywhere

Did I notice people's head shapes like I do now and wonder what Cannon's will look like someday

Did I wonder and stress about scars or red spots or how to treat either for someone so young

Did I think that my heart could break when a doctor delivers such unbelievable news

Did I know how a diagnosis change so much in our little world

Did I know how such a big word could cause so much heartache

Did I worry about being strong enough

Did I doubt my God

Did I feel so much fear, grief, hurt or heartache

Did I know how absolutely amazing the human body is

Did I know how tough someone so small could be

Never before.

Never Before...(Part One)

Never before I was a mom...

Did I think that I would be used as a human jungle gym!  Oh WHAT fun!

Or that my hair would make such a great chew toy!

Did I think that a princess, (as Chandler phrased me today) would have to clean SO much

Did I think that 8:00am would be "sleeping in" (granted most days I cannot complain as my boys are amazing sleepers!!!)

Did I think that I could love somebody so much

Did I know how adorable it is to listen to little laughter

Did I think that it is okay (okay, well not okay, but tolerable without a reaction) to be spit up on, drooled on, pooped on or have snot rubbed on your freshly put on shirt

Did I picture my life as perfect as it is

Did I imagine the worry or stress that is all consuming once you have little ones to worry and stress about

Did I ever realize how much love one's heart can possess for someone before you even meet! 
Or how it quadruples once you do meet!

Did I think my house would be this messy

Did I think that I was strong enough to endure it all

Did I think that we would have had the experiences we have

Did I know how sweet the precious words of momma would sound when in reference to me

Oh, how I never could have, would have or did I picture it to be like this but I would never ever change it or trade it, as to me it is my perfect!!!

From the mouth of Chandler

So Chandler lately has been full of cute little sayings and ideas.  I wanted to share some of them!

~A few nights ago I was helping Chandler get dried off after taking his bath and Chandler ever so sweetly turned to me and said "Thanks Angel."  I looked at him and said "Ahh, Chandler that is so sweet."  He then informed me that Jesus sent angels to earth to protect us from the bad guys.  Oh how precious!  He then asked "Momma, are you an Angel?"  How was I to answer?

~While cleaning Chandler's face I told him in my sing songy voice what a handsome face he had.  He so earnestly looked back at me and said "It is because my eyes were painted by God.  See (opening his eyes so very wide) he painted them blue because that is my favorite."

~As momma was driving the boys to daycare one morning (running a little too close to being late) I was grumbling about the traffic and drivers going well below the speed limit.  Chandler then asked "What is wrong momma?"  I answered as best I could.  Chandler, the well experienced driver that he is, told me "Momma you should just speed up and pass him. That's what daddy does."  HA!  "Really, Chandler, that is what daddy does?"  "Yes, momma, he just speeds up real fast, like this (zooms his hands together) and then we go around them!"  UH-OH!

~Chandler's birthday is so fast approaching.  It is hard to believe how fast your little one's grow!  Anyway, we have been discussing Chandler's birthday and as we were discussing his "theme".  Chase and I were throwing out a multitude of ideas.  After LOTS of no's Chandler finally said "I should have a goose party!"  A what?  "A goose party!  You know, because I am a silly goose!"  HAHA!

~Recently, Chandler was zooming around the house pretending to be Batman.  When flying by Cannon and I, he told me that he was Batman and Cannon was Pete.  Pete?  Yeah, like Batman and Robin, but only it is Batman and Pete!  I think he might be onto something!  Maybe?

~Chase was feeding Cannon on the couch as I was finishing dinner and Chandler was setting the table.  Chandler announced that dinner was ready and Chase responded by saying that he was busy feeding Cannon and that he would be there when Cannon was finished.  Chandler then replied by saying that, "You mean that you are busy feeding our little Angel?" 

~Whenever, Chandler likes something he will always ask "Momma don't you just love this?" or "Daddy isn't this just your favorite?"  Of course, we always reply yes!  Especially, when he sings one of his made up songs.

~Upon leaving Target one evening we left and it was dark out already and we had not even eaten dinner yet.  Chandler then informed me that we had not "hustled our bustle" because it was now dark and when we had gotten there it was still light out.  Wow!  I need to watch what I say because "hustle our bustle" is a term that I always use to speed up my kiddos at school.  I thought I only used it at school, but apparently I must use it at home too because he has often has reminded us that we need to "hustle our bustle"

~Chandler always announces when he is hungry that he is a "Starvin' Marvin'".  One day after he was full he asked "Momma what do we say when I am full?"  "Well I don't know buddy."  "How about I am a full bull, momma?"  "Yes, I think that works Chandler."  Now whenever he is done eating he always informs whoever "I am a full bull!"  I don't know if bulls really ever get full, but at least it rhymes?

~One recent evening at bedtime prayers this was what was said "Dear Father, thank You for our food tonight, thank You for all You've done for us Father God, thank You for daddy's back feels better, that we can tackle, thank You for Cannon's bone will grow, thank You for Poppy's eyes to get better that way he can see me and daddy and momma, thank You for G-G's head to feel better, thank You for daddy's legs to feel better that way we can tackle more, (pause...pause...pause) thank You for everything Father God!" 

Thank You, Father God for our sweet Chandler!  I am sure there are so many little sayings that I am forgetting, but these were some of the ones that just stood out from this week.  Our little buddy is growing so fast, too fast sometimes, but thank goodness I can treasure so many of his little sayings! 

Halloween!

Momma and Daddy wore their costumes all day so I wanted to make sure to get a picture before the day started.  Can you guess what I was?  Yes, I was pink--no not like the singer, like the crayon color!  At school, another teacher had made all of us Kindergarten gals Crayola Crayon costumes, complete with a hat and all.  We made an adorable set of crayons!  I, of course, HAD to be PINK-my favorite!



Daddy was BATMAN! 



Chandler was BATMAN *mini-batman*!



Cannon was an astronaut! Or as Chandler kept referring to him as a "spaceman"!



Eyes closed-yes I know!  But I wanted a close up of his "space" themed helmet.

The Boys! Ready to go trick-or-treating!

Momma and her boys! Chandler about ready to come unglued because "IT IS TIME TO GO TRICK-OR-TREATING!!!"  Momma promising just one more picture!



YEAH!!!  Our happy astronaut has eyes!!!



So much for a second try!



TRICK-OR-TREAT!




The whole crew! Trick-or-treating!




How Cannon spent most of Halloween and possibly how he felt about the whole thing anyway!  Look at those cheeks!!!



Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Painting

So instead of attempting to carve our delightful little pumpkin patch pumpkins I thought it would be fun to paint them.  So away we set the night before Halloween painting our pumpkins.  Each family member that was able, momma, daddy and Chandler (sorry Cannon, maybe next year) were given two pumpkins to paint whatever they would like.  Below I posted the final products.  I will let you guess whose is whose but it was A LOT of fun.  I personally have a winner in mind but so does my hubby!



Well..I guess this picture gives away who this pumpkin belongs to.  This pumpkin according to Chandler was a scary blue monster.

  

Working SO hard!





Our pumpkin family!



Can you guess who did these?




Okay, well I think that these are so cute.  Yes, Chandler was inspired by a carved pumpkin that his Yaya did last year for him, and I did help a bit to help turn his pumpkin into Elmo, but the second pumpkin is an original, all by himself completed scary blue monster!




Take a wild guess who did these?



And the winner is?

Pumpkin Patch



ANIMALS!!!  Chandler ever so cutely would go from animal to animal trying to communicate by shouting at them animal their animal sound.  As well as the ALL of the pumpkin patch visitors!!!



Tunnel FUN!



So in order to pick the "perfect" pumpkins.  I seriously walked the entire field of pumpkins.  However, among the potential ten that all of us found, did Chandler like any of our picks?  OF COURSE, not!  He was adamant on picking his very own pumpkin, which we were good with as long as it would make it back home in one piece.  He went through the remaining twenty left in the field and among them all he picked a solid green one, a rotten half green half orange one, one that was covered in bumps and and yuck, an orange one that was broken open, a green one that was the size of a tomato, one that was majorly deformed and so as we tried to convince him to pick one of the many pumpkins that we had found he finally settled on a cute round one that yes was partially still green but at least it wasn't rotten and it was one he found ALL BY HIMSELF! 





DUCKS, RABBITS, GOATS and PIGS...OH MY!




Pig races...how cute this was!  The pigs all had names like Britney Spear, Lindsay Loham, Kevin Bacon, Buzz Lightspear, Woody Would-be, and apparently, pigs LOVE milk.  That is what they race for, the prize for the winning pig is a big bucket of cow's milk!  The cutest part of all, is that the farmer let Chandler say "Get ready, set, GO!" into the microphone and ring the cow bell to get the pigs going! 

Cutest of it all, is that as we were going back home we asked Chandler what his favorite part was and of it...all the animals, the tractor ride, the pumpkin patch, picture posing, pig races, popcorn, he chose the airplane ride?  The what???  Yes, half of us missed it, but up above there are two pictures where Chandler is on a teeter-totor type thing that is in the shape of an airplane.  Apparently, it was the best part of the day because he seriously has mentioned it daily, since our afternoon adventure to the pumpkin patch.  He has also asked several times about the next time when we go, can everyone promise to get on it and let him be the driver?  So fun!    



My Little Helper

I must say that I have always depended on "my little helper" for help, especially once Cannon came along.  It has been so much fun to see how very helpful "my little helper" has become since becoming a big brother.  Chandler...in case you did not know who I was referring to, is always running to get mommy a diaper, or running to get daddy a burp rag, or just running to find the paci that somehow is never where it was left. Well, lately things have been disappearing at a rather rapid rate.  Although I must say it is very wonderful to have someone constantly picking up after me and placing things in places where one would never guess to look, it is somewhat difficult as the living room and Chandler's bedroom are a haven for misplaced items, also, under mommy and daddy's bed.  It was AMAZING all the lost goodies that we recently found under there.  It was like Christmas!  However, I truly must share the most recent run-ins that I have had with "my little helper". 

So, amongst the hustle and bustle of the week I normally try to keep up with a daily job of doing some laundry, because with little ones it seems like an undaunting task if you just let it pile up.  Last week was no different.  On a busy night where there were many many things to do I threw in a multitude of Cannon's clothing, blankets, washcloths and towels.  Things were going well.  Upon the cycle ending, I opened the washer door and I immediately noted something was WRONG.  The little crystals that you find when a diaper gets too full or when a diaper explodes were ALL over the washing machine.  That's odd?  How did...OH NO!  I quickly removed all the clothing items and not only were there lots of diaper crystals that had exploded from a once dirty, but now newly washed disposable diaper but also a paci.  I shook everything out as best as I could but if you could have heard the sighs and grumbles of now having to vacuum the crystal/pieces of diaper that were EVERYWHERE because apparently when you wash a diaper the pieces become like static cling styrofoam and were seriously EVERYWHERE.  So as "my little helper" comes running through the room I just happen to ask "Chandler, did you put a diaper in the washing machine?" Much to my demise his sweet answer of "Yes, momma I did.  I put it in there so that it could get clean and then we could use it again."  "And, Chandler did you put Cannon's paci in the washing machine?"  "Yes momma, I did.  That way you wouldn't have to wash it in the sink." *grumble, grumble* "Thanks Chandler, that was very thoughtful, but buddy those things don't belong in the washing machine, okay?"  "Okay momma!"

Fast forward a few nights later.  I was getting Chandler ready for bed and happened to notice that his toothbrush was really worn out.  I started searching for the new toothbrush that he had opened a month or so ago that I had told him was not to be opened until we needed it and was unsuccessful in my search.  I asked Chandler what had happened to the new blue toothbrush, that I had asked him not to open, but he did, that I had so thoughtfully placed in the drawer not to be used until I said.  He looked at me and so honestly replied "I threw it away."  "You threw it away?  Why?"  "Well, you said not to use it and I had already opened it, so I threw it away so that way I would not use it."  "But Chandler, now we need it. What are we going to do now?"  Chandler looks in the trashcan and ever so sweetly tells me "I guess we need to call the trash man."  Oh, how he melts my heart!  No worries, my child did not go without brushing his teeth we did have another new toothbrush, but to the toothbrush that was never used, oops!  

Then over the weekend, "my little helper" was so very excited about Cannon's new helmet!!!  He told us the minute he saw Cannon with his new helmet that we needed to decorate it.  Well, while daddy and Cannon were traveling to get Cannon's new helmet, Chandler and I went on a date.  I let him choose the plan for the night.  We went to McDonald's to eat and then da ta da da...we went to my school!  Yes, I know a very exciting evening, especially with a very impatient three year old informing me as every single piece of paper that came out of the copy machine that "NOW we can go play!"  Or for the millionth time "Momma come on lets go play!"  I guess this was not what he thought we would do at momma's school?  There was also the help of sending things through the laminator that were just a little a lot crooked.  But never fear!  We accomplished a great deal!  However, once we arrived home and were reunited with daddy and Cannon, Chandler was very impressed with Cannon's new undecorated helmet.  He told me that we better decorate it, but I told him we probably needed to wait.  (WHAT?  I know...but I want to make sure that it is ready for Cannon's Halloween costume and I don't want to have to decorate it and then waste the stickers as they might not work for his costume.)  So, although I explained this in what I thought was a very clear manner Saturday came and I still had not decorated it.  By evening, I was doing the weekly loads of laundry, sorting, folding and putting things away while Chandler and Cannon were busy playing.  I heard lots of "Hold still Cannon, Cannon stop, let go of that, Cannon HOLD STILL!"  Then, much to my surprise the stickers that came in Chandler's Happy Meal from our date were being placed all over Cannon's helmet!!!!!! Oh my!  So what is a mother to do?  But take pictures of the precious ordeal, laugh at the preciousness of it all and share and brag to everyone what a WONDERFUL helper I have!  Yes, the stickers were paper based(not what we use).  Yes, Chandler did inform me at bath time "Momma, don't put alcohol on the stickers because it will wash them off!" (amazing he even knows about this at his little age).  And, yes it took me forty minutes to peel all of the little stickers off as by Sunday they were quite a mess and were near impossible to get off! But my, oh my, how thankful I am for "my little helper"!

Fun times at mommy's school!  What a true helper!!!



Decorating Cannon's new helmet!



Rolling away!  Rolling away!



Hey look at these shiny things!  What are they?  Oh wait, what is that that mommy said?  Stay away?  Why?  Just because Zoe eats and drinks out of them?   



Cutie!  Yes, eyes closed, drooling like crazy and sitting up all by myself!



CHEESE!



DOUBLE CHEESE!



Four months post op!  Look at that hair!  Look at those CURLS!





Watching big brother's EVERY move!




Reach for them, reach for them! So close!



Chandler's decorations! What a thoughtful big brother!  Oh, and thanks to our helmet lady for the cute fish!



Side by side of helmet Cannon's new helmet and his very first helmet!

Notice the back padding...Cannon's head needs to get as wide as possible so we are now applying a lot of pressure front to back so the padding helps apply as much as pressure possible to encourage his head to grow wide and wider.

In the pictures it is hard to see the exact size difference but to us it feels like Cannon's new helmet is like double in size!  Lots of growing to do!

Three cuties!  Reading a book with daddy!