So Much Going On

Well as always the Bolte household is a whirlwind of activity! This week has been a HUGE week for us thus far!

Hope started a little baby food yesterday! I am not sure she cared much for it and am pretty sure she wore more than she ate, but it was a big step!

Luke lost his first tooth this morning! It had been loose for a week or so and Howard had been constantly bugging him to get it out. Luke I have to admit was a little freaked out by the whole idea and just wasn't too sure, but this morning when I woke him up he gave me a HUGE grin and something was missing! He then proudly showed me his tooth! SOOOO the tooth fairy will be making her debut tonight! (What on earth is standard for the tooth fairy these days? Does a dollar still do it?)

And lastly, tomorrow, Benjamin goes in for his FOURTH surgery. I have asked for prayer for him before but never really discussed his issue. Since then I have learned there are A LOT of families who deal with this so we might as well get the word out.

Ben has Hypospadias. Basically what it is is that his urethra was not complete and the opening was not quite where it should have been. His was extremely mild, but we were strongly encouraged to have it repaired, and Howard, being a man, decided it was best to get it corrected.

He had his first surgery just before he turned one. It seemed a success and was an outpatient thing done at the surgery center. About six months later we noticed that it just didn't seem right. We noticed one day while he was in the tub that he was urinating out of two openings, the original one and the new one the surgeon created. UGH!

SOO he had surgery again to repair it. Again, it seemed a success, until a fistula developed and the old opening once again opened. We were assured it could be easily resolved as it was causing MAJOR potty training issues. So we went in and had it repaired for a third time. We had decided that whether it worked or not that this would be Ben's last surgery as the recovery process is GRUELING to say the least. Ben comes home with a catheter for several days to a week and suffers bladder spasms and pain. It is a.w.f.u.l.

Anyway, at about two and a half we had Ben almost potty trained and he suddenly began complaining of pain. I noticed a lump had formed where his old opening was. It looked almost like a pimple. So, back to the urologist we went. She looked and has now decided that he is allergic to the dissolvable sutures she was using. His body rejects them each time and each time the reaction gets a little worse. SO...

The cyst has to be removed which means another surgery, we decided to let her try once more to close the old opening with a new stitch material since he has to have surgery anyway.

This surgery takes place tomorrow morning. I am a wreck. Howard is taking the day off and we will head to the surgery center in the morning. Since Hope is still nursing and will NOT take a bottle I have to take her along. This means we will have to wait in the waiting room. Hope cannot go back with him so I will not be able to go back with him and my heart is breaking.

Any time a child has to undergo anesthesia it is scary and he wakes up so agitated and confused and in pain and it hurts that I won't be able to be there with him. I know his daddy will and I know he will likely be fine but I would covet your prayers for Ben's recovery, that this would be his LAST surgery and that it would be a success, for his dad who will have to see him in pain and for me as I struggle with being on the other side of the door from him.


UPDATED SIDE NOTE:
For those who asked why Howard can't just stay with Hope...Ben is actually a Daddy's boy and will be just fine with his dad, really all of our kids take turns favoring one parent and Howard is Ben's favorite at the moment so as much as it hurts, he will likely ask for him first. I could swap back and forth, but that would just leave Ben alone for a few moments and he won't be good alone and Hope will need to nurse at some point and though Howard ROCKS at being a dad, he hasn't mastered lactation :). He will be just fine with Howard, it is mommy who will struggle. Though I called the surgery center today and they said that depending on how many patients they have that they may allow Hope and me back to be with him so we will see. :)