Hi all,

I just can't believe that "Jon and Kate' are getting a divorce.  If you know me, you know I'm a reality TV fan (which is why I don't own cable - I'd never leave the TV.)  I've never seen an episode of their show, but know they have 8 kids!  I'll tell you - I would stay in a marriage for the sheer reason that I wouldn't want to take care of 8 kids by myself!  Don and I often laugh that if we ever got divorced, who'd remarry either of us!?!  Who would want to take on the craziness?  And how could either of us do this alone for even 1 day!?!  Of course we will never get a divorce - we already know that - but with the divorce rate at 80% for special needs parents - we do sometimes discuss how impossible this would be to do alone. 

I am packing up everything for the hospital stay.  I will add this to my "What your dr. won't tell you" menu option:  Take your own diapers and wipes.  If you use theirs they charge you an arm and a leg!  Take your own meds - by the time they order them and get them to you - your child's schedule will be completely thrown off.  Take a cooler with your own food and food for your child.  The less I have to ask for 'applesauce' or 'juice' the more I can relax and bother the nurses for bigger things.  Bring paper plates, your own cup, your own blanket and pillow for the child.  The hospital pillows are crunchy and the linens are scratchy.  The temperature is never perfect.  Cafeteria food is a hassle and is always closed when you want it.  If your child is autistic or delayed - call the surgery center and ask for the earliest surgery time.  Cody does not understand when he can't eat or drink - and he goes insane waiting around for hours.  If you're first in the day, they get you in on time - the fasting takes place overnight - and you get out earlier the next day because '24' hours is over by the next morning!  Just a few tips I've learned over the last 4 years.  Oh, and if your child has mito disease - no propophol or tylenol.  Sometimes anesthesia depts. aren't up on mito issues (especially if admitted thru the ER for urgent surgery).  Anesthesia can be tricky for a mito kid so be sure to stay on top of it.  And if your child is already constipated typically - be sure to do a liquid glycerin suppository the day before and increase the laxative just a hare for surgery day and the next few days to make up for the constipating pain meds.  Obviously you can run this all past a GI doc as well for your child's intricacies.  

Don's always great in situations like this - a real rock.  I am the panicky one - he is the Steady Eddie.  God knew I needed a calm, optimistic husband.  We'll get Cody healed up just in time to celebrate Casey's 2nd birthday too!  I can't believe he's 2 already!!!  That is crazy!  I have no idea what we're going to do - something low key for sure.  I've been wanting to take him to the Rainforest Cafe - maybe we'll do that.  I dont' know what we'll get him yet - he is sure fond of those little kitchen set-ups (Don rolls his eyes at that one!)  There's a favorite toy store at Bothell Country Village where they have a kitchen sink, cupboards, and oven - all filled with wooden food, condiments, silverware.  Casey stands there forever opening and closing cabinets and drawers....making people (wooden) sandwhiches....dumping things into and out of bowls.  All the while Don is two feet away trying to coax him to the train set or the race cars.  Haha.  Nope - Casey wants the kitchen set!  Sorry, dad.  So that's one thing I'm thinking of.  I think he'd also really love Lincoln Logs - he is a real problem solver and loves to see how things work.  Who knows - we'll see when we get there.  It's just fun watching him grow and develop - learn and plan.  He just learned the word "MINE" and boy is that a doosey!  He must have learned it on the playground or something because I've actually tried to never use it.  But he picked it up and oh boy - now it's "MINE MINE MINE" all day long.  :) 

That's it for now,

all our love, Shawna