Josh's surgery

Yesterday was Josh's surgery to remove his kidney stones. The urologist had to go in through the abdomen to make the attempt to get rid of the stones and end Josh's pelvic agony. We've known that Josh has kidney stones and a pelvic kidney since college. He's had multiple attempts to remove all the stones. They've never been 100% effective, but they've given him some relief except for the surgery before Ethan was born.

At around 2 o'clock yesterday, when I was expecting the surgeon to call me and tell me how the surgery went, the phone rang. The surgeon was calling to tell me not that the surgery was successful but to ask me a question. Would I give my permission to remove the kidney? The kidney was really small and really difficult to operate on. They thought they could get all the stones but they saw the formation of lots of other stones. This surgery was a once in a lifetime surgery and they only way to remove Josh's stones. In a year or two from now, he had have stones again and this surgery wouldn't be an option. Removing the kidney was Josh's best option for possibly being stone and pain free. I agreed to the surgeon's recommendation.

Josh and I had discussed the removal always as a joke. Wouldn't it be great if they'd just remove the troublesome kidney? Ha ha. The surgeon had always told us this wasn't an option. He would never remove a kidney even if it only contributed 30%. I found myself making a life decision for my husband without being able to discuss it with him. I felt weird making the decision that Josh will live out the rest of his life with one kidney.

I hope I made the right decision. I hope Josh understands why I made it. I hope Josh agrees with my decision and doesn't resent me or is angry with me. I made the decision because I thought this was the best chance he had to feel like his old self.

I love you Josh!

First tooth!

Ethan's first tooth has finally pushed through the gum. It is his lower left. On Monday I could see the white line and today it is up through the gum. I know this because he bit my finger. I can't believe how quickly a baby grows.

His Nana took him to kindermusik today. They had a good time.

Go Sox!

Game 1 of World Series.

Pulling forward

Well, Mr. Ethan has figured out how to drag himself forward to get to a toy. Crawling can't be that far away. He is really cute to watch as he sees something he wants and he tries to figure out what combination of rolling, stretching, and pulling himself forward will achieve his goal. He can't get very far pulling himself, but he is good at rolling. He uses this interesting technique of rolling until he can't go any further, twisting his body and rolling again. He makes a zigzagging pattern until he can finally reach his object of desire, which is usually something he can't have like electrical cords, wireless receiver, fireplace screen or the cats.

I love watching him grow!

A walk in the woods

Wednesday was a lovely fall day. The air was crisp and clear. The perfect day for a walk in the woods. Ethan and I drove a mile down the road to Long Hill. I strapped him into his hiking backpack loaded him onto my back and off we went for a 1.5 mile hike in the woods. It was just lovely until we came upon a dreaded legless creepy creature as long as my arm. UGH! I don't just dislike snakes, I have a phobia of them. Usually when I see a snake on a hike, I scream bloody murder and run down the path as fast as I can. Something that one shouldn't do with a 7 month old strapped to your back. So I just stood and muttered swears under my breath while trying to get my heart to slow to a normal rhythm. The snake was just lying coiled up sunning itself on the dry leaves about a foot from the path. I considered turning around, but I was already more than half way done. I considered walking on the path right next to the snake. Too risky, what if he lunged at my ankle! I looked to the left of the path where there was a rotten log that I could walk across. What if there were snakes hidden on the log? Where there is one there is bound to be more. Finally, I decided to walk across the log. I made it passed the snake and walked briskly off while trying very hard not to look at the ground for any more snakes.

Other than the snake, it was a lovely hike, and despite the snake, I'll probably go again. I might start walking with a bell to warn off any creepy reptiles of my approach. It is times like that that I wish I had a dog. You never see a snake when hiking with a noisy mutt.

Salem

Salem is a nightmare right now and it is still 2 weeks until Halloween. Yesterday, I wanted to drive to Whole Foods to pick up some baby food for Ethan. Well after sitting in traffic for half an hour and still in Salem, I gave up. I should have kept going because it took me half an hour to just to go around the block to head back home. I probably could have been to the store by then. Crazy! I don't see what the attraction is for tourists to flock to Salem. The city murdered women because of witch histeria and people flock to it at Halloween to see what? It is a cute city with yummy restaurants and some interesting museums. I wish people would visit for those reasons and not because of the witch trials.

Ethan is super cute. 7 months is a great age. He can sit up and stay sitting up while playing with objects. We have a pumpkin that he loves to pat and touch. He also likes to suck on apples. I love the fall and there are so many interesting things to share with him.

Top ten

Our next door neighbors' baby boy was born this week. I felt a tad nostalgic. Ethan was so cuddly, and soft. Then I remembered how he really needed his "4th trimester," and how LOUD a little 8 pounder can be. I was thinking it would be kind of fun to write the 10 things I now know about babies that would have been good to know, rather than figuring out as we went along.

These are in no particular order.

1. Baby poop comes in all sorts of colors. Green (believe it or not) is nothing to be worried about.
2. It is okay for baby to sleep at night in his car seat. Sleeping is the important issue not where.
3. Cribs are not necessary for the first 3 months of life.
4. A cradle/co-sleeper is essential. I think for our next baby I'd like to get a cradle that attaches to the side of the bed.
5. Breast lanolin is useless and babies don't like it. At least mine didn't like it.
6. Gel pads rock and are a necessity for the 1st 2 weeks of breast feeding.
7. Buy a breast pump before baby is born. It will be necessary to stimulate flow and to allow hubby to feed baby.
8. Sleep when you can get it. This is really hard to do as an adult, but you eventually become so exhausted you can sleep during the day/sitting up on the couch.
9. Swaddling is an art form. I never perfected it, but Josh did.
10. Really check out the activity mat, bouncy seat, and swing you register for. Look at how the baby will be buckled in. Look at the toys (do they look like dog chew toys?)

That's just some of the things I have learned over the last 7 months.

Apple picking

We had a nice weekend. We went to my Mom's open studio on Saturday and saw lots of art and had our family portrait taken. It was a total impromptu photo session, but it came out really well for not planning outfits, hair, etc. Ethan of course is the star and makes the photo. Ethan is in his Red Sox onesie to celebrate the Red Sox making the playoffs and winning the division.

On Sunday we went apple picking, and posed Ethan in the pumpkin patch for the quintessential fall baby photo. The orchard was absolutely packed with people. We had a good time despite the hordes of people. However, we were unable to get any cider donuts due to the long lines. :( I'm sure we will get some this season. I made ribs in the slow cooker for dinner. mmmm...