Merry Christmas from the Wilsons

So no thanks to my precious son, I was a little late in getting our Christmas cards out this year. It's not that I didn't try {for weeks}, but I was just not happy with my son's performance for our perfect Christmas card.

Between camera-user malfunctions {thanks to Kristi for helping a momma out} and a busy boy that just wouldn't sit still and smile for me, we were a hot mess!

One day Jackson was looking quite dapper and in a good mode, so I opened the door to see what I could get...

But, for the life of me I could not get him to look at me. 

Instead he looked for Santa and his reindeer.

And then there were tears, lots and lots of tears, at the thought of sitting still

Until Momma brought out the goldfish and the tears dried up immediately

But, no amount of goldfish could keep this little man from running away

And laughing all the way...

 the hat was a lost cause, Jackson just wasn't having it.

As you can see, this was just as good as it was ever going to get - and a card was made.

I espically loved the quote I found for inside the card, 

I need to practice this every now and then!

Merry Christmas Y'all:)

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Surgery Day Recap

All of your thoughts and prayers were definitely felt y'all, thanks so much!!! Jackson surgery was a complete success and everything is going as well as to be expected. We arrived at the surgery center at 7:00AM on Monday and were on our way home at 10:15AM!

In case any of you have this in your future, below is the time line of our day so you'll know what to expect!

Sunday night I packed Jackson's bag with diapers, wipes, button down pj's to come home in, a sippy cup and his hippo. One last thing to worry about the day of:) We also pre-registered the week before.

5:35: Momma and Mr.'s alarm went off and it was time to shower for the day

6:35: Loaded car.  Woke Jackson up, changed his diaper, grabbed his blanket and put him in the car

6:55: Walked in the Surgery Center doors

7:00: We were sent to the Surgery Waiting Room

7:15: After watching some Mickey Mouse, we were called back to another room.

I'm not sure what to call this, but there were a dozen hospital beds separated with curtains.  ALL were full of people getting in there elective surgeries at the end of the year since they'd met their deductible.  Seriously, it was crazy busy!

7:30: Jackson was given some happy juice, Verset.  And he got loopy fast! The timing was perfect, as it was hard to keep Jackson on the hospital bed and not crawling under the curtains to the next patient.

We changed him into his hospital gown and a fresh diaper.

The anesthesiologist came and talked to us and played a little with Jackson so that he'd be comfortable with him.

We met the two nurses assigned to Jackson, they were all so very nice.

Jackson's doctor also came to meet with us to make sure we were all good.

The "happy juice" made Jackson so incredibly cuddly, it was precious.  He was giving hugs and kisses out like crazy {and actually hasn't stopped}.  The hospital have him a surgery bear and he loved that as much as his hippo!

8:45: The nurses came and got Jackson and said they'd call in the waiting room once he was put under.

9:00: The phone rang and my heart skipped a beat.  Mr. took the call and said everything was great.  They were ready to start...

I took one sip of my coffee, ran to the bathroom, and met Mr. back in the waiting room.

9:12: The waiting room phone rang, and it was for us.  They were ready for us to meet with the doctor.  I was certain that something had gone wrong.  I mean it had only been 12 minutes! But, the doctor came in and said that everything went beautifully! Jackson didn't have infection, but lots of fluid left from previous infections.  His adenoids were large and in charge, so she was very happy that we got those out.  She said that they were probably the root of our problems.

As we were walking out of her office, the surgery nurses were looking for us to come back with Jackson.  He was in a private pediatric suite (sound proof).  The poor nurse was almost the same size as Jackson, and was 5 months pregnant.  I felt terrible, as Jackson gave her a run for her money! He looked so pitiful with puffy eyes, hooked up to an IV.  I wasn't expecting to see that, but they wanted to make sure he didn't vomit before they took it out.

Jackson pretty much fussed and cried the whole time were were in there.  He drank some water and kept it down fine.  Finally, we asked the nurse if we could just take him home.  There was no way he was going to calm down in there.  And sure enough, we barely got out of the parking lot before he quit crying and was fast asleep.  We pulled out of the parking lot at 10:15 and went home. 

Jackson has been pretty good since we got home.  He slept on me most of the day on Monday and was just very clingy yesterday.  He's been running a low grade fever, so I've been watching him closely to make sure it doesn't spike due to infection.  Jackson also wanted to nurse pretty much all day on Monday, which was hard, but it made him feel better.
 

I had no idea the volumes of pee Jackson would have over the next 24 hours.  He exploded a Pampers Baby Dry during one of our naps.  We woke up soaked after about an hour!

He got two black eyes from the adenoid removal, but they are fading today.  He's rubbing his face and tugging on his ears still, so I know he feels something.  Mortrin has done wonders though!

And...Jackson has been sleeping through the night, hallelujah!!!

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prayer request

I cannot believe Jackson's surgery day is here, well almost. I'm a ball of emotions right now, praying that this routine surgery will be just that.

Tonight I let Jackson play in the tub until his hands looked like raisins. All the while, knowing that this would be the last care free bath he'll have for the next 12-18 months. I know keeping ear plugs in his ears and the water out is going to be a struggle.

He also may or may not have eaten the entire jar of homemade cookies at Loli's today, just because:)

I have much to blog about, but for now I just ask that you keep our sweet Jackson in your thoughts and prayers. Please pray for his doctor and the nurses with him during his procedure. I know that tubes and adenoid removal is such an easy surgery, but that is also what makes me the most nervous.

Please pray for Jackson to have a speedy recovery and relief from his ear pressure. Please also pray for this Momma, as I'm feeling as any mother would the night before her child gets put under anesthesia.

Hopefully, tomorrow will bring lots of new updates and some pics of our little man in his new Pajamas and cuddle toys...one that happens to be red and laughs when you tickle his tummy:)

I'm looking forward to what tomorrow brings for us.  I'm dreaming about what his little voice will sound like and hearing him say Momma again!

Loves

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Pampers vs. Target Up & Up Diapers

For the past 18 months, I've bought nothing but Pampers diapers for my sweet baby J. We started with the Swaddlers, oh how I miss those tiny, soft, little ones. When I was pregnant we were given a package of Huggies and Pampers. But, there was just something about the smell and feel of Pampers that locked me in from day one at the hospital.   I actually never opened the Huggies and donated them to a shelter.  Is that brand loyalty or what?!?

When Jackson started to get bigger and sleep longer, we bought Pampers Baby Dry diapers for nighttime. Eventually, as Jackson outgrew the precious Swaddlers, we converted over to Baby Dry for day and night.

I tried a Pampers Cruisers once, and only once. I wasn't a fan of the way it felt, and they didn't fit Jackson well. He actually peed out the one and only Cruiser he ever wore.

I have terribly sensitive skin. Like to the point that I can't change my soap, detergent or hair products - ever. Even different types of water can make my skin quickly break out into a high school "pizza face". My parents said that the only diaper I could wear was Huggies, and if they switched my behind would be raw from diaper rash almost immediately.

Jackson's skin isn't as sensitive as mine, but it is still very sensitive. We have to use the Lansinoh wipes and Aveeno baby products. Pampers sensitive skin baby wipes and Johnson's baby wash ate his skin raw. So you see, if something works for us, like Pampers, I have a hard time switching!

But, after 18 months of shelling out $35 every two weeks for diapers {Target is the cheapest place for us to buy diapers.  Wal-mart is $2 more and never has Baby Dry in our size stocked in stores} I decided to give the Target Up & Up brand a try. The savings was $0.08 per diaper, $19.99 a pack of 108 vs. $35.99 for a pack of 136.

The Up & Up diapers are not as soft as the Pampers Baby Dry, but they're still soft. I actually think they fit his chubby behind and thighs a little better than Pampers. He's worn them for the past couple of days without getting diaper rash.

Last night was Jackson's first time wearing them to bed and he woke up at 5AM - screaming and soaking wet.  Maybe it was just a coincidence, but it seems that the Baby Drys are able to keep him dry a little better... I'm going to finish up the pack and see if it happens again. If so, the cost savings isn't really saving me enough. I gladly pay the extra 8 cents to not strip a bed at 5AM again!

What have your experiences with diapers been? Are you brand loyal or do you buy whatever is on sale?

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