I Wonder

Tonight before bed Aaron and I had a conversation I want to remember. It went like this:

"Mom, do you know what I wonder? I wonder how my body can move and do all the things it does."

I told him it's amazing and it's because of our brains.

"Mom, do you know what else I wonder? I wonder how my brain can think like it does and make my body do everything it does."

I told him it was so interesting to think about, but I really don't know how it works, and maybe he could learn about it as he grows and teach me about it when he is older.

"Yeah. If you're still alive then".

Umm. Wow.

"Well, buddy, I plan to be around for a long time", I said.

"You can't make a plan like that".

"True... I hope to be around for a long time though".

"Well you never know...", he said.

Yep... don't want to forget that one. :)

Super Powers

In February 2011 Aaron had surgery to remove his adenoids in order to combat his sleep apnea and get him/us more than an hour of sleep at a time for the first time in his 2.5 years. Super power #1: unfazed by extreme sleep deprivation.  

In June 2012 Aaron had surgery to remove adenoid tissue that had grown back and to also install pressure equalizing (PE) tubes in response to multiple ear infections. Super power #2: tissue regeneration.

In the next month or so of 2013 Aaron will have surgery to remove his PE tubes due to multiple recent ear infections caused by his body attacking the tubes. Super power #3: foreign body-fighting cells of steel.

On Saturday evening it seemed like he had a ruptured eardrum. We ended up at the ER since other options were closed and the bleeding from his left ear wouldn't stop. The ER doctor diagnosed him as having a ruptured eardrum. The bleeding slowed down by Monday morning but it hadn't stopped all together. 

Today we saw his ENT who said the eardrum is not ruptured. His ears are a "disaster" filled with infected tissue around the tubes, blood, pus, and inflammation. He said it is very very rare that this happens, and when it does it is usually after the tubes have been in more then two years and won't fall out like they're supposed to. Aaron's have been in 10 months but probably started having problems at 7 months when the first of the latest infections was found. 

So out they will come. I think our ENT frequent-flier punch card is almost full!    

 

Easter 2013

Aaron colored Avengers eggs this year. 

Thor was the family favorite.

On Easter morning we woke to find that the Easter Bunny had hidden eggs and Aaron's Easter basket. Luckily, he left Aaron some clues along with one of the eggs so he knew what to look for... 

The eggs were hidden somewhere remote, 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDNccBOd-Dk&feature=youtu.be

somewhere entertaining, 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMwHrjMRNX0&feature=youtu.be

somewhere cold, somewhere freezing, 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGemLwCxEus&feature=youtu.be

and somewhere fiery (under his dragon). 

The basket was hiding somewhere dry...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwmDJlfXEkw&feature=youtu.be

It was not an easy clue. After all, we do keep our house pretty dry.

But he got it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNB6B48rNIo&feature=youtu.be  

Gaga and Papa also left Aaron an Easter Basket. He checked out each item carefully. He is sure any suckers that Gaga gives him are MADE by her. We had just been talking about needing new bubbles yesterday, and some were in there! :) He was most excited about the carrot car and the new Easter books! Thanks Gaga and Papa!

Newport Still

We made good use of our extra time in Newport today. The guys got the kite sort of going (the wind was not so windy) while I ran, and then after Leland headed home Aaron and I headed out for the day. 

We went back to Cafe Mundo for lunch and more live music (and a to-go order for dinner later). 

Aaron's "scary face". 

Aaron's "happy face".

Then we went north to Otter Rock to check out some more tide pools.

But these tide pools paled in comparison to the caves, waterfall, and stream. 

We had a nice evening relaxing and watching a Scooby Doo movie (thanks, Gaga!). The clouds were a bit thick for a perfect sunset. But we didn't mind---we had Cafe Mundo for dinner! Ha!

So home tomorrow. It has been a truly lovely time. But I think we both miss our beds. Who knew a 30-pound 4-year-old could occupy so much real estate in a king-sized bed...

Newport

We are so excited to be in Newport for a couple of days. We got into town yesterday afternoon and went straight to the sand. The weather was beautiful---49 degrees and SUNNY! In MARCH!   

He's ready to lead the way across the creek!

We checked in to our new very favorite place to stay in Newport. We unpacked,  snuggled on the couch,  and watched a show. Then we went to dinner at Cafe Mundo. It was a busy Friday night but we timed it right and scored a good parking spot and a table before the live music started.

We have a great view of Yaquina Head from our condo. 

Aaron slept in until nearly 8:00 this morning. We got out onto the sand for the guys to do some wave-dodging while I went for a run along the shoreline. We were supposed to be heading home tomorrow, but it is just so perfect here... So this morning I booked another night here for just Aaron and me since Leland has to work on Monday.

We went to see The Croods (which was good) at the theatre and then to Yaquina Head Lighthouse. The interior of the lighthouse was closed---budget cuts? :( We had planned to check out the tide pools at Otter Rock, but the tide pools at Yaquina Head had everything we were hoping to see. Aaron is an excellent adventurer. And he only fell in once. Happily there were no creatures in the pool he landed in, so no one got hurt.

 The view from outside the lighthouse. The sun-bathing seals were a big hit. 

We found anemones, urchins, hermit crabs, snails, fish, coralline algae, sea stars, mussels, and barnacles----everything but the sunflower sea star.  

Aaron found a cave just the right size for him. 

 Now we're relaxing and enjoying the view until dinner at... Cafe Mundo!

Negotiations

Today Follow, our adopted porch cat, and Aaron are negotiating the terms of the cuddle and hold portions of their contract.

Follow is holding to a "I'll walk up and snuggle and purr while you scratch me" platform...

while Aaron will not concede the "I will hold you in my arms" point.

Through the door I can hear...

"No. Let me explain. I will pick you up. Then I will put you down. Okay?"
"No that is not holding. That is cuddling."
"Follow, I know you don't speak English. Let me show you."
"Do you know the cat down the street that the girl holds? That is how I want to hold you."

And so on.

Follow's response seems to be...

"No. My way."

It's tense. But no hard feelings.

Peter Pan

Tonight we took Aaron to see Peter Pan live at Northwest Children's Theater in Portland. http://nwcts.org/

It was a very fun production. There was singing and sword fighting and pixie dust and a flying Peter Pan. The actor who played Captain Hook was perfect.

After the show we stayed to meet some of the characters and get some autographs. We stopped by the mermaids first. Aaron liked their costumes but wanted me to go over for the autograph on my own.

We did it together. :) 

Then we stopped by the pirates. 

It helped Aaron warm up when Noodler commented on Aaron's Scooby Doo hat. 

Then he SPOKE to Starkey (mostly hidden in the picture) and Cecco (striped bandanna). They were very kind to crouch down to him. They beckoned him right over and commented on his hat too (love that hat!). So Aaron, very bravely, said, "I like your sword" to Cecco. He replied, "thank you. Our swords are really metal, but they're not sharp." Aaron said, "that's because they are pretend. I have pretend swords too". Cecco said, "then you must be a pirate too!" They were neat guys. We didn't stop by Smee, which was a shame----the actor playing him was lots of fun to watch. But Aaron was warmed up and ready to talk to Peter Pan himself next. 

He approached Peter on his own, so I was able to get a picture. It may not look like it, but he was THRILLED! :) 

And last, but not least, Captain Hook! Hook asked if Aaron had any Scooby Snacks. They shook hooks/hands and Aaron made a pirate face for the camera! Woo hoo!! As in many versions of Peter Pan, the actor playing Hook also played Mr. Darling. That meant he had to take off his Hook make-up for the final scenes. He looks good in these pictures but the make-up he had on during the show looked even better.