Gavin Surgery - September 28 2009

Long time no blog.
Gavin had surgery. Wanted to post some pics for the interested. I've been
good at updating Facebook, but we've seriously slacked on gavinherman.com. Life is busy, and I'm living the reality of my disconncect from home.
Surgery this time went very well. He's amazing. God is amazing. I never dreamed that the surgery would continue to get easier each trip in. As he matures, he's more aware of the pending pain, and it makes it a little more challenging to subject him to it. Also, I have to be cautious, as we're in it for the long-haul, and have to explain the need for surgery in terms of knowing we'll be doing it over and over. God blessed this time, and put it in Gavin's head that he likes the hospital. Gavin kept saying today before leaving, "no, I want to stay in the childrens hospital", crying that we had to leave!

PreOp, being silly w/ Mom.

Sleeping after surgery.

Feeling much better on Tuesday.

Silly boy video. He wanted to stay!!!

Winter is Cold

It's 55 degrees here today! I feel like spring is just around the corner, which is a delightful thought, considering all the snow we've endured over the past month. I'm over it! Please, please, Spring, come soon.

The past month has been great. Gavin got sick after a record six weeks of perfect health. Praise the Lord!! Maybe all the freezing temperature killed the germs. Or, maybe his immune system is thriving and this is the new trend. Regardless, his doctor was great; we got the perscriptions we needed and he's over it. He's back to his funny self, saying things like "Don't tell me what to do." Yes, I know, incredibly disrespectful, but he says it so oddly, that I wonder if he knows what he's saying. But, just in case, (after I got done laughing) I firmly let him know that "we are not rude people" and that he could not say that to adults. I'm so happy that he's making complete, multiple-word sentences, that I'll tolerate it, at least until I know he's purposefully being bad.

As snow has come in plenty, we've shoveled and played a lot. We bought a snow sled and had fun as a family, climbing to the top of the hill at South Park and sledding down. Then last weekend we went to Connecticut to visit Mike's cousins, where we enjoyed a little snowmobiling. Gavin also discovered that he loves Rotwilers. Oh, and I must not forget, we live in the superbowl champ City...Go Steelers! Despite the cold-weather entertainment, I miss home badly. I'm feeling the permanent loss, now that the shock of the move has worn off, realizing that I really do have to acknowledge this as our real life, not just some extended adventure trip.

Gavin and I are enjoying some "alone time" as Mike will be in D.C. for training all month. We have a busy schedule planned. This is Valentine's week. We're making his Valentines, and also decorating the box that will hold his received valentines. Tomorrow night, we have his first birthday party to attend! Next week, Grandpa is coming from Alabama for a visit. We are very excited. And soon, Mike will be back and surely by then, some permanent warmer weather!

Enjoy the pictures. I'm posting more on Facebook.

Gavin making his Valentines.

Gavin and Colin

Gavin, Bella and Max

Gavin and Daddy

Gavin and Kerry

Gavin being pulled by the kids!

Gavin and Uncle Dave in the Kabota.

Mike and Kerry

Reading in Mommy's bed.

Walking on our sidewalk in the front yard!

Gavin, sledding backwards down the hill.

Eggs!

Now that the holidays have come to an end, we're back to work and school.

This week at home we've focused on food. Well, I guess the past month has really been focused on food, as the scales would remind me. But, I'm actually referring to Gavin. Due to his limited appetite, oral aversions and underdeveloped food processing skill, trying new food is a major "theraputic" emphasis in our house. Fortunately, he is better grasping the social benefit of eating through the consistent exposure at school with his classmates and at home with us. This has made him more open to trying new things.

He loves vanilla wafers and chocolate. Yummy! Please note that we have no nutritional goals at this point, as getting him to successfully put something into his mouth, chew it and swallow without choking is an achievement. He has progressed from meltable things, to items that require more chewing. He still loves the baby food cereals though, and mastered that completely, eating up to 20 pieces at a time - a snack he eats with confidence! It so cute to see him focusing to chew. He's always good about running to the trash can to gag when he's taken in too much! He hates to get dirty and now always throws up in the trash or bathroom. Ahh, maturity! (TMI for some readers, however, others will appreciate that the "puke towels" are rarely ever used nowdays!)

This has been the week of the egg. He's been very curious, but not yet ready to taste it. On Wednesday, he pulled me to the fridge and kept saying egg....egg....egg. So I pulled an egg from the carton. He was so afraid initially to hold it. Then I showed him how to crack it. Then we cooked it in the microwave. Every night since then, we've had to cook an egg. Maybe I'll try to explain eggbeaters next week! Enjoy the below pictures of our exciting food week!

Oh, and you'll notice he finally gets "posing" for the picture, only because he love to review the digital camera image immediately following the click. "Lemmee see, Lemmee see."

Egg Step 1

Egg Step 2

Egg Step 3

The modified Herman nose.

Chocolate lips!