New Braces!!!

It was time for new braces again!

I asked for another orthodics appointment in May because I felt that they just weren't high enough any more. After our appointment in December when they said he still had growth, I wasn't sure if I had to make my case or not. But there wasn't any problem this time.

 

As usual I came all prepared with what design I... I mean Nick, wanted.

He has been on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle kick lately, especially Michaelangelo ("my favorite colour") so I found a whole bunch of different options and Nick got to pick what he wanted.

 

There was no question about what colour to do the background (after the while background of our backyardigan braces I also specify something)
They came out fantastic!

Nick started showing off as soon as they were on him.
He stood there (bum not touching), and stood there... and stood there....

And he is standing so much straighter!

We have a wearing schedule right now (1 hour on, 1 hour off, then 2 hours on, 2 hours off) for a bit until he gets used to them.

Nick wanted a picture of all of his old braces

I think he has grown a bit!

Fun with Katheryn

Nick has started Conductive Education camp for 8 days.
It runs from 9-2, so instead of driving there and then driving home (about 70-90 minutes each way), I decided to stay around town.
We are lucky that it is right around the corner from the Ontario Science Centre.
So while Nick has been at camp, Katheryn and I have been going and learning (along with my dad for 2 of the days)

We've been checking out all of the different exhibits, and doing a different one each time.

There is so many different things to see and do and touch and run and climb and play and make noise!

There was a waterfall in a rain forest

The rock climbing was Katheryn's favorite part of the human body exhibit (why there is a climbing wall with human bodies, I'm not quite sure)

I took this picture to try to show Katheryn where Nick's spina bifida is.

Katheryn didn't know what these were...

And we also had to check out the mom and dad specific areas.
Like playing with an ultrasound on a 'pregnant' belly

 

Playing with the stethescope

 

And connecting electrical circuits

 

But she really enjoyed being a shoe-maker

 

 

We divided the science centre into 3 days so we got to check out everything. Katheryn has had as much fun with the Science Centre as Nick has had with camp.

 

 

And it also gives her some mommy time after we've spent so much time talking about Nick's surgery.

 

 

 

My Dad found this model of the digestive system and of course we had to look for the appendix (it is the grey thing right above his thumb... and it is upside down)

 

My Dad also came for 3 of the days, and I think that he liked the days with Katheryn as well!

 

But it gave us a great start to summer vacation, letting Katheryn play and get her hands on all kinds of toys and learn new things

Surgery count down

We have 3 weeks to go.
21 days

I'm trying to get all of our ducks in a row and worried that I'm forgetting something.

We've been talking about the surgery and trying to access all of the resources that are available.

There is a video through sick kids about preparing for surgery
I got a colouring book from work that Nick has been colouring and reading. He is really enjoying it. He is asking all kinds of questions and we've been able to talk about the surgery using the book. I didn't find anything on the sick kids website about a book, so I'm so glad I got access to it (Thanks Alex).

I have work all figured out, so I have my days off to be with him, we have Katheryn all figured out and going to daycare and then a fun trip with grandma and papa.
I went shopping and picked up a bunch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle stuff for Nick. He is obsessed with Michaelangelo. So I have a blanket and a pillow for his bed and new PJ's for the hospital. I also got 2 seasons of the new Nickelodeon shows (and the 80's episodes are all online).
We also have bubbles, which are supposed to be good for distracting from pain.

Today Nick went for a pre-op appointment and bloodwork.
I had a toy I picked up for him (a small stuffed Michaelangelo keychain that talks) that I pulled out right when they were ready to poke him.
Nick was so brave. He was scared. He didn't want them to poke him with the needle, but he kept still and squeezing that Michaelangelo and soon it was done. He was worried that it would bleed afterwards.

I was talking with Nick about something afterwards when he isn't feeling well. He gives me a look and says "Why won't I be feeling well?" Oh, um because the surgery will make him feel yucky for a while and then he'll start feeling better.
I just want to surgery to be done so then we can start on the healing and feeling better part.

On the weekend when we were up at the cottage and in the lake, it hit me that Nick probably can't go in the water for the rest of the summer. He has been loving the water at the lake so much. But it is only half of one summer. In the grand scheme of things it will work out.

There isn't all that much to do to prepare right now. I have papers that say someone will call, and if you haven't heard a week before surgery to call them. So it is just waiting.
We have the date (July 28th) but no time.

Now I'm just paranoid that someone will get sick! So everyone knows to use our handsanitizer all day.

Also, now that we are so close to having the poop part of it sorted out. Nick has been leaking pee. Not quite sure what that is about. I asked about it in my SB group and the first recommendation was the mitronoff surgery (the one they suggested we do with the MACE). But we went through all of the options before considering surgery for Nick and I am not ready to make that decision in 21 days.
We will at least have a consistent urologist for about a year or so, so after the MACE we can work on the peeing stuff (I'm thinking botox might be in our future) but for now 21 days until surgery.

Cottage time

We spent 5 really hot days up at the cottage

 

 

 We spent most of the time in the water and the kids got really comfortable. Especially with their floaties. Nick was running in the water and swimming.

Katheryn kept diving under the water, and the girls put on a water show for us

 

 

 There is a large area of shallow water for the kids to play in as well. But they liked going out into the deep part (which also means that there is less sand in your bathing suit at the end of the day)

 

 

And we all got lots of practice going up and down the hill from the lake to the cottage

 

 

And when we weren't in the water, there was still lots of fun for the kids.

 

Nick could do really well with his walker getting into places he wanted to go. Which meant less carrying a 40 pound kid up and down the hill

The swing set was a big hit as well. Nick could get up the ladder all by himself. And Katheryn loved swinging on the swings

It was so hot and humid, there was still some indoor play time (usually in the morning)

And the cousins were all together to play.
This game of checkers involved a board, checker pieces, 2 dice, a referee and 4 players.

And for Canada Day we had a big family party

With fireworks

Nick wasn't too happy about the noise, but it was a fantastic show (the mosquito bites we all got covered in wasn't that great though)

Watching how much fun Nick had in the water made me realize that Nick probably won't be able to go in the lake while he is recovering from his surgery (but once it is healed he should be able to).
That is definitely a negative to the surgery in the middle of the summer. But in the end it is just one summer in a lifetime of summers.

Happy Canada Day

 Happy Birthday Canada!