I took Matthew to BC Children's Hospital today for his ultrasound on the lump I found in his right thigh. It was POURING rain. So crazy. I don't like driving in Vancouver, especially in my beast of a vehicle (the Tahoe), but at least I'm 100% comfortable driving to BC Children's because I passed it every time I drove to Genesis Fertility Clinic.
We surprisingly got a great parking spot (I was nervous about that, because I know there is a lot of construction happening there right now) and I managed to find 'Patient Registration' and the 'Radiology' departments without getting too lost :). As soon as we got checked in, Matthew made four separate trips to the bathroom. Maybe he was nervous? Maybe he just has Jon's bowels? Poor kid.
Anyways, Matthew did fantastic during the ultrasound, not that I was worried at all. He's so shy/quiet/obedient when it comes to appointments that he just sits there and obeys. He enjoyed watching Dora while they did the ultrasound.
The ultrasound technician was shocked at how small the lump is (it feels like it's about 0.5 cm in diameter?) and asked how I even noticed in the first place. I have no idea how I noticed. Maybe I was just massaging his thigh? Anyways, it was very obvious on the ultrasound, which I was relieved for, because I didn't want to just be imaging things. What's nice about being at BC Children's is that when the ultrasound technician was done taking the pictures she needed, the doctor took a look at them right away and then came right away to give the results.
The lump on Matthew's thigh is a lipoma. It's a growth of fatty tissue, and for those wondering, it's non-cancerous. It's rarely found in children, so it's strange that Matthew has it, but at least it's not harmful at all. The doctor wants to keep an eye on it, so I'm sure we'll be visiting the hospital on a regular basis. We'll have an appointment with our family doctor to discuss.
As I was explaining everything to my Mom when I got home (she had been babysitting Kayla and Nathan while we were at the appointment), she reminded me that she had noticed a lump on the top of Matthew's right hand. I took a look, and sure enough, it's another lipoma. This one is bigger, and is much more obvious. Matthew's such a thin child that everything shows up on him...I think if he had a thicker build the one on his hand wouldn't even be obvious.
So at least we had a good diagnosis. I wasn't too worried...everything is out of my hands and is in God's control anyways...but still, it's nice to not have to worry about it. I'll still do some googling tonight, to see what the internet has to say about lipoma in children (I've only spent 30 seconds reading about it because we were busy with costumes and pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating today!).
After struggling with infertility for three years, we were blessed with the birth of Matthew and Kayla in March 2011 (by in vitro) , Nathan in October 2013 (by frozen embryo transfer), and Olivia in August 2015 (naturally!). We are loving every moment (well, almost!) of our lives as parents.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Nathan is One!
Happy Birthday, Nathan!
Nathan weighs 26lb 5oz and 32.5" tall. He wears size 12-18 month clothes easily and has started with 18-24 month sleepers. He wears size 5 shoes, and size 3 diapers.
He has eight teeth. A few days before a new tooth erupts he has a very rough sleep, which usually results in him laying in the middle of our bed (which Jon hates). One night this month, Jon took Nathan out of our bed (while he was awake) when he came upstairs and put him back in his own crib. Nathan freaked out. Jon tried to soothe him for 10-15 minutes, but couldn't. I then received permission to bring him back to our bed :). While Nathan was laying beside me, Jon tried to lean over to give Nathan a kiss and Nathan freaked right out and pushed him away. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard. He wanted absolutely nothing to do with Jon for the rest of the night.
Nathan learned how to say, "Mom" this month. He always says, "Ada", which means "again". As in, let's sing "Row, Row, Row your Boat" again or let's play "Smooth Road, Bumpy Road" again or let's sing "If You're Happy and You Know It" again. He also can communicate his preferences SO WELL by nodding his head, or by having a tantrum. :)
He is on 1 tsp of Restoralax (or 1/2 tsp of Lactulose) a day because as soon as I switched him to 100% homogonized milk (in August), he started getting constipated. I switched him back to 50% homogonized / 50% formula for September and he had regular bowel movements, and so I tried weaning him back to 100% homogonized again in October. He started getting constipated again, so just like Kayla, he's getting Restoralax every day, as well as 4 oz of formula in his evening bottle.
He is down to only two 10oz bottles a day: one after his morning nap, and one before bed. He used to also have a bottle after his afternoon nap, but I went cold turkey on him and replaced that with some (diluted) juice in a sippy cup.
Nathan absolutely loves his siblings. He loves the attention he receives from Kayla. When she chases him around the house he giggles. He loves to pester Matthew by kicking Matthew's back to try to push him off the front of the stroller (Matthew sits on the front tip of our BOB Duallie). Nathan also loves to hit Matthew's head in the car if Matthew has fallen asleep, leaning towards him.
Nathan loves Jon (more than Matthew and Kayla ever did), but I'm pretty sure I'm still his favourite.
Nathan loves to grab the syrup bottle from the pantry and walk around sucking on the cap. I'm trying to train myself to keep the pantry doors closed. It's not going so well. If he doesn't have the syrup, he's walking around with a small purple-handled frying pan (which Kayla calls 'her' frying pan because it's purple). He is a very snoopy child...he likes to open all of the cupboard doors and look to see what's in them. I never had to do any baby-proofing with Matthew and Kayla, and I'd rather not have to make any changes with Nathan, so I just try to keep an eye on him. He tried to grab my toilet bowl brush the other day from my bathroom cupboard.
Nathan loves being outside. If I open the back door to throw some recycling in the bin he practically runs to try to get outside and then throws a fit if I don't let him out.
He already likes it when we take out the vacuum, and is more than willing to help. Matthew has some competition!
He doesn't like to wear socks.
He absolutely hates being laid down for a diaper or clothing change.
He loves candy. Don't try to sneak one around him because he will notice.
He loves to push cars and make a 'vroom' noise.
He can climb up the toddler slide at my parents' and wiggle his bum so that he can slide down all by himself. He also descends stairs by doing his bum-scoot.
Nathan's cupcakes: a dog (above) and a paw print (below).
And with the leftover batter I made a small '1' cake. The '1' was made out of hagelslaac (chocolate sprinkles) in the shape of dog bones.
Nathan weighs 26lb 5oz and 32.5" tall. He wears size 12-18 month clothes easily and has started with 18-24 month sleepers. He wears size 5 shoes, and size 3 diapers.
He has eight teeth. A few days before a new tooth erupts he has a very rough sleep, which usually results in him laying in the middle of our bed (which Jon hates). One night this month, Jon took Nathan out of our bed (while he was awake) when he came upstairs and put him back in his own crib. Nathan freaked out. Jon tried to soothe him for 10-15 minutes, but couldn't. I then received permission to bring him back to our bed :). While Nathan was laying beside me, Jon tried to lean over to give Nathan a kiss and Nathan freaked right out and pushed him away. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard. He wanted absolutely nothing to do with Jon for the rest of the night.
Nathan learned how to say, "Mom" this month. He always says, "Ada", which means "again". As in, let's sing "Row, Row, Row your Boat" again or let's play "Smooth Road, Bumpy Road" again or let's sing "If You're Happy and You Know It" again. He also can communicate his preferences SO WELL by nodding his head, or by having a tantrum. :)
He is on 1 tsp of Restoralax (or 1/2 tsp of Lactulose) a day because as soon as I switched him to 100% homogonized milk (in August), he started getting constipated. I switched him back to 50% homogonized / 50% formula for September and he had regular bowel movements, and so I tried weaning him back to 100% homogonized again in October. He started getting constipated again, so just like Kayla, he's getting Restoralax every day, as well as 4 oz of formula in his evening bottle.
He is down to only two 10oz bottles a day: one after his morning nap, and one before bed. He used to also have a bottle after his afternoon nap, but I went cold turkey on him and replaced that with some (diluted) juice in a sippy cup.
Nathan absolutely loves his siblings. He loves the attention he receives from Kayla. When she chases him around the house he giggles. He loves to pester Matthew by kicking Matthew's back to try to push him off the front of the stroller (Matthew sits on the front tip of our BOB Duallie). Nathan also loves to hit Matthew's head in the car if Matthew has fallen asleep, leaning towards him.
Nathan loves Jon (more than Matthew and Kayla ever did), but I'm pretty sure I'm still his favourite.
Nathan loves to grab the syrup bottle from the pantry and walk around sucking on the cap. I'm trying to train myself to keep the pantry doors closed. It's not going so well. If he doesn't have the syrup, he's walking around with a small purple-handled frying pan (which Kayla calls 'her' frying pan because it's purple). He is a very snoopy child...he likes to open all of the cupboard doors and look to see what's in them. I never had to do any baby-proofing with Matthew and Kayla, and I'd rather not have to make any changes with Nathan, so I just try to keep an eye on him. He tried to grab my toilet bowl brush the other day from my bathroom cupboard.
Nathan and his purple frying pan.
Nathan loves being outside. If I open the back door to throw some recycling in the bin he practically runs to try to get outside and then throws a fit if I don't let him out.
He already likes it when we take out the vacuum, and is more than willing to help. Matthew has some competition!
He doesn't like to wear socks.
He absolutely hates being laid down for a diaper or clothing change.
He loves candy. Don't try to sneak one around him because he will notice.
He loves to push cars and make a 'vroom' noise.
He can climb up the toddler slide at my parents' and wiggle his bum so that he can slide down all by himself. He also descends stairs by doing his bum-scoot.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Bye, Bye, Maternity Leave
I guess today's post should have been about Nathan's birthday, buuuuuuuuut...I haven't quite written that one yet nor do I really feel the desire. Maybe tomorrow :).
I can't believe my maternity leave is over. Actually, I can't believe I have to start work again. Correction...I guess I don't have to...but it would be financially unwise for me to not return to work. Trust me, I love my job. I love my job so much that I always said I would do it for free, and I even went back to work this spring for four hours a week, even though my maternity leave was clawed back by 50% of whatever I made from working. I just don't love that I have to return to work for 20 hours a week, spread over three days. That's way too much. I already didn't like working 15 hours a week when I returned to work last time...and now I have to go back for more. Oh well - hopefully this isn't for the long-term! lol. Wishful thinking, maybe?
I can't believe my maternity leave is over. Actually, I can't believe I have to start work again. Correction...I guess I don't have to...but it would be financially unwise for me to not return to work. Trust me, I love my job. I love my job so much that I always said I would do it for free, and I even went back to work this spring for four hours a week, even though my maternity leave was clawed back by 50% of whatever I made from working. I just don't love that I have to return to work for 20 hours a week, spread over three days. That's way too much. I already didn't like working 15 hours a week when I returned to work last time...and now I have to go back for more. Oh well - hopefully this isn't for the long-term! lol. Wishful thinking, maybe?
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Matthew and Kayla Give Thanks
Jon and I were sitting on the couch this afternoon while Nathan was napping and Matthew and Kayla were playing with stickers. All of a sudden we heard them talk about Thanksgiving and they started listing off things they were thankful for:
M: Thank you Jesus for bringing Tinkerbell to be Kayla's friend.
K: Thank you Jesus for a mouse eating ice cream. Thank you very much.
M: Thank you God for princesses.
M: Thank you Jesus for bringing Tinkerbell to be Kayla's friend.
K: Thank you Jesus for a mouse eating ice cream. Thank you very much.
M: Thank you God for princesses.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Bath-Time Conversation
The other evening Jon had to be at a volleyball game, so during dinner I told Matthew and Kayla that we could go to Tim Horton's for a donut. They were so excited. I first wanted all three kids to have a bath because Nathan had a particularly attitude-filled dinner, and so he had food all over his face. Within a couple minutes of the three being in the bath together, the following conversation happened:
M: When Nathan gets out of the bath then we are going to get out too because we are going to Porton's (Tim Horton's) to have a donut with sprinkles on top.
K: That's my favourite. I always would want that.
M: I dumped water on my head so I will look tute (cute) for the mans at Porton's.
K: I'm brushing Nayfin's (Nathan's) hair so it looks perfick (perfect).
M: Ya, then we will look tute (cute) for the mans.
K: He is looking handsomer.
M: Nayfin wanted water in his hair so I put water in his hair.
K: I'm going to clean him now, Ma-yew (Matthew).
M: I have to dump lots of water on him. I'm putting a number (foam bath toy number) on his eyes so it doesn't get in his eyes.
Poor Nathan. He didn't even cry though! I eventually did put an end to the hair-washing and cleaning because I felt bad for him.
M: When Nathan gets out of the bath then we are going to get out too because we are going to Porton's (Tim Horton's) to have a donut with sprinkles on top.
K: That's my favourite. I always would want that.
M: I dumped water on my head so I will look tute (cute) for the mans at Porton's.
K: I'm brushing Nayfin's (Nathan's) hair so it looks perfick (perfect).
M: Ya, then we will look tute (cute) for the mans.
K: He is looking handsomer.
M: Nayfin wanted water in his hair so I put water in his hair.
K: I'm going to clean him now, Ma-yew (Matthew).
M: I have to dump lots of water on him. I'm putting a number (foam bath toy number) on his eyes so it doesn't get in his eyes.
Poor Nathan. He didn't even cry though! I eventually did put an end to the hair-washing and cleaning because I felt bad for him.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Invisible Friends
It's no secret that Matthew and Kayla have invisible friends. Kayla's best friend is still princess, and Matthew's is Elmo. They talk on the phone to their friends, go to their friends' houses, and play with their friends. Their friends even get to come shopping with us most times.
Today, as Jon and I were walking with Matthew and Kayla through the parking lot at the swimming pool (so they could show Jon what they've been learning, and to get some extra practicing in...Nathan was left to nap at my parents' house), Jon asked to hold Matthew's hand. Matthew had both of his fists clenched, and when Jon asked him about it he said they were closed because "he was holdings his friends in his hands". He had his hands closed the entire time we got changed, and only opened them when we actually stepped into the pool.
I love it. Their imagination is great.
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