Sweet Potatoes and Kisses!

This week, Sam has two new skills!

We tried solid foods for the first time, and he seems to really like sweet potatoes. Last night, Grammy fed him, and he spit out even less than he did the night before. Both times, he's seemed disappointed when the potatoes were gone. Next, I think we'll try peas!

He gives kisses! When you ask for a kiss, he opens his mouth and puts it on your cheek. He then waits for you to celebrate and thank him. We're still working on technique, but this is so much fun!

Post-op Day 2

Sam is now post-op day 2, and to see him you'd never guess it. He has an incision about 2 inches long on his lower back that hardly seems to hurt.  
He started the day reading with Daddy and his new giraffe. 

He had some laughs later with Mommy and Molly. He loves to laugh aloud when we laugh with him. 

Ending the day with standing on Daddy. We put him in the boy dress for bed so we'd have easy diaper access. He doesn't seem to mind; it shows off his shapely legs. 

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We're home already, and Sam is doing great!

Evening Update

Sam is feeling much better already!  He's still pretty puffy from all the IV fluid, but he's in great spirits. He's playing with toys and talking to Daddy. 

9:40 Update--Good News!

Dr. Wellons just came out to tell us the tract stopped at the bone!!! The surgery is done, and he never needed to open the dura (the spinal cord cover). This is such good news! He told us there is a small incision. They'll keep Sam overnight in the hospital and likely let us go home tomorrow!

Sam is still in the OR waking up from anesthesia. We can't wait to see him!

8:30 Update

The nurse called out to tell us Sam was doing fine. They are getting started and will call again in about an hour and a half.
All of Sam's grandparents are here keeping us company. We are still doing okay, trying to stay busy with reading, blogging, and working on needle-crafts (mostly the grandmothers, but mine is in the car). Good friends Brandon, Lindsey, and Dr. Stagno have stopped by to wish us well. We've already hit up the Starbucks downstairs, which has also helped some.

7:45 Update

Sam is in surgery.

7:00 Update

We arrived at Children's Hospital at 5:30 this morning, and Sam is being a champ. He hasn't eaten since before 2:00, but he still isn't complaining. We've met the anesthesia team, who seem very nice. The CRNA reassured us that babies older than 6 months do great with anesthesia. We reminded her that he was just 5 months, and she then tried again to be reassuring, that he's healthy and big. The neurosurgeons have been in to see us, and now we're just waiting for them to come get Sam for surgery. The grandmothers have called to let us know they're in the waiting room waiting for us. We're very nervous but doing okay.

Getting ready

New Blog

I've been thinking about a way to keep all of our friends and family up to date with the wonderful changing faces and stages of Sam, but have for some reason been hesitant to start a blog. Then, Claudine did it, so I figure I can, too. It will be a great way to keep everyone in the loop over the next few days and as he continues to grow.

This picture is actually a few weeks old, but I just love it. He's such a happy, smiley baby!