We wrap up this week with a visit to Brendan’s cardiologist. He was due for his routine echocardiogram and EKG.
We schedule his appointments carefully when we can so that it falls during a normal down time for him and then we give him a little Benadryl to help him relax for all of the stuff he has to endure. It worked flawlessly today, he slept soundly through his entire appointment and they were able to get good clear pictures.

He looked so cute sleeping in a big bed with his HME on. We were so thrilled he was able to sleep through all of the pushing and prodding.

We were in the “Angry Birds” themed room today for echo

He got his EKG done while he slept in his stroller, it was so easy!

Benadryl is good stuff, Brendan woke up a little groggy!

The most awesome thing that we could have had happen today did happen, we got an A+ report card from Brendan’s cardiologist. His heart is strong and working well. No leaking valves at all, no narrowing of arteries, no abnormal rhythms. We do not have to go back again until January, he just has to keep focusing on growing and working on his lungs. This appointment was easy, everyone was right on time and we were home in a blink.

Trevor was lucky enough to stay home with Daddy today. Bill had the day off of work for Columbus Day! Trevor was good and took a nice nap for the first part and let Bill get some things done. I left lunch prepared and let Bill know to make sure to put his food down a bit at a time and space it out so that Trevor doesn’t put it in his mouth by the fistful.

The boys had fun with the literal interpretation of Mommy’s instructions.

Of course he goes for the chicken first, I don’t blame him!

Chicken and peas make Trevor happy

When Brendan was back home and still had a nurse for the rest of the day, Bill and I took the opportunity to go out for a lunch. Trevor was a super good boy at the diner!

Bribing with fries might have something to do with it!

Brendan’s nurse had a lot of documentation to write today about the doctor’s visit. Trevor thought he had a few things to add too!

We are so happy for days that go smoothly. We begin weaning medicines again today, I am hoping with all my might that it goes better now that he is stronger!

We send healing Brendan power to Aunt Erin to speed her recovery!

I wish that this would be the last Saturday night that we would have to cover. Sundays are always so hard because we are both so tired. Trevor was up at 4:45am for about 20 minutes but he was kind enough to go back to sleep and stay in bed until 7:15. So I had broken sleep and Bill has been up nonstop since 1:45am.

The boys did well today though. Brendan did about 8 hrs of mist collar. Trevor did a LOT of crawling and standing and exploring and so he took a couple of good naps. He also learned how to crawl through the basement of the jungle to escape baby jail if we use the jungle as a barricade. He will get to that dog food yet! He is certainly persistent. Brendan’s little temper tantrums when I walk away from him now start at about 3.5ft of distance. He had to learn to cry it out a bit while I fixed lunches today.

Brendan’s sitting is getting stronger every day. Our goal is that he be sitting on his own by his birthday, it would be so exciting to step back and see him sitting up himself. He does a good job of it but still randomly falls over right now.

Trevor enjoyed salmon for dinner tonight and loved it. It was followed up with some peach cobbler.
(ok, it was Gerber peaches with Cheerios floating on top, close enough for him!)

The pictures I was able to take today didn’t really come out well, so I only have a quick video to share of the boys waiting impatiently for dinner. (Trevor, anyway)

Aunt Erin is home from the hospital. Viral meningitis was the final answer. We hope that she feels better really fast! We were all very worried. Erin, cousin Caleb and Gramma are all coming out to visit here in just 12 days!! They all better be healthy!

It was a special day today for Brendan. He has now officially been “around the block”, only I mean it literally. We loaded the stroller with the two boys and Bill and I took a walk around the whole large block. We even passed 4-5 yard sales along the way. It was just over 3/4 of a mile.

It was a special day for Trevor, during breakfast this morning, I saw that a new little tooth had just cut through the gum line. That is his fourth one on the bottom now, and he has the one top one just part way in. That makes it 5 teeth each now, although I think Brendan has one on the way, just not sure which one.

Brendan did something else new today at lunchtime. All this time watching Trevor must have been motivating. I put a pile of Cheerios in front of him because he usually likes to push them around. Today he decided to grab one and put it in his mouth! Bill and I were shocked. It did not make him mad, but he did not know what to do with it once it was in there. It didn’t stop him from shoving in two more!
He shoved them around his mouth a little and they ended up in his cheek where they started to dissolve. Then he finally started to spit them out. Sorry for the yucky picture, it was a big deal for him!

Trevor says all his Cheerios are in his big full belly!

There is always room for one more bite of avocado though, he loves it

Brendan did actually have a little bit of a Cheerio cause him to gag. Suctioning out his drooly mouth was the only fix, although Brendan insists on doing it himself.

We had a very full day and we have a long night ahead of us.
Aunt Erin is in the hospital for another night, it is looking like it may be meningitis, we will know more tomorrow. The boys send healing kisses with baby drool and we hope that she is able to recover quickly.