Shunt and Derby

I am so sorry I will be quick.

June was upon us in no time flat.  Dylan’s headaches continued and we would continue to give him medicine to help try to combat it.  On the first day of June I was running like usual, but this time it was for a different reason.  Rhett really wanted to learn how to drive so I took him to get his learner’s permit.  He PASSED!  (Barely but we will take it!)  He received his permit, and now it was to get the pedal extenders on and a cushion that way he can see out the windshield. :)  Yes he is quite short.  It is a good thing I am was not sure how to put on the pedal extenders.  We will wait until they are on for him to drive.  At least we saw a cool care that is all glittery. :)  Rhett took some pictures for me since it was awesome!

Waiting to see if he can get his licence.

He passed!!  He can drive?!?!  EEK!!!

While Gavin finished school the other kids were home.  On the last day of school we had the opportunity to go the zoo with Mascot Miracle Foundation.  The kids had a lot of fun.  It was nice since it was in the evening, seeing as it was called, “Dream Night at the Zoo.”  What a great way to end the school year that was so stressful.

Monday was Rhett’s 17^th birthday!  I know can you believe it?  I am amazed that he is still here too.  But he had a good birthday and he didn’t even ask to drive.  Go figure.  I know when I was his age I was begging to drive where ever I could.  We just had a small party with just us.  He was ok with that since the last birthday he had was out of this world.  However a few days later and I finally got the pedal extenders on and we were ready to rock and roll.

Parking.

First blood pressure after parking.

Oh the road driving.  I am crazy!

We made it home alive!!!

Last blood pressure after getting home.

Was I scared you ask…. YES!!! 

Terrified!!! 

Even daddy wanted to go with him behind the wheel for the first time.  (Yes I have been thinking about making a will now that he is driving. HAHAHA!!!)  I cannot believe that I had to sit in the front seat with him behind the wheel.  That is so not fair.  I wonder if I could pay someone to do that for me since I was so scared.  I kept taking pictures I think to document the last day of my life if something happened.

Ok so nothing happened and I am still here. 

Nikole left the Tuesday after the first driving experience to go to girl’s camp but really didn’t want her picture taken.  She is my camera shy child.  Some children!  Geez!!

I finally got a call from the neurosurgeon the same day Nikole left, and he said that he had talked with the radiologist, and the eye doctor (who said that there was pressure on his optic nerves).  He then apologized to me and said that Dylan will need to have surgery.  He really wanted to avoid surgery and only do it if it was the very last option.  He said someone would call and set up surgery and apologized again.  I am grateful that he was covering all the bases and seeing if there was any way to not have to do surgery.  That very day a little later I got a call from the person in his office to set up surgery.  They set it up for that very following week.  My heart sank and I was so worried and anxious.  Yes Rhett had the same surgery with the very same doctor, but that didn’t change that I was still broken inside.

A few days later Gavin was off to scout camp.  He was so excited since he was going with the 11 year old scouts this year since his birthday was going to be before the younger group of kids went to scout camp.  Got a new shirt and everything.  So excited!! 

The day he left for was also the day I allowed Rhett to drive to the hospital for an appointment.  I am still wondering what I was thinking.  But that day I came up with a great sign to put on the back of the car.  If you all are able to go to Utah Orthodontic Care on Facebook and find this picture and like it I could win and iPad mini.  If I win I am thinking about giving it to Rhett for a graduation present this next school year.  I will see how he is doing by then.

After getting to the hospital Rhett had an ultrasound of his abdomen since his doctor said that his spleen was enlarged.  After getting the results everything seems to be fine.  Go figure.

The next day Gavin left that morning with daddy for an overnight adventure with the scouts, Nikole was coming home that day and Dylan had a Cub Scout thing too.  I went with Dylan since they were going to go canoeing.  Because Dylan is not a swimmer even though he thinks he is they would not allow him on the canoe and he get bored quite quickly.  I took him for a little walk after he got tired playing red rover and tag.  Yes he didn’t play for very long compared to the other boys.  He gets tired quickly like Rhett.  He was ready to leave and come home after only being there for maybe one hour.  I did not blame him I was ready to leave too.  But I help convince him to stay and have marshmallows while we waited for lunch.  I think he actually ate most of the bag of marshmallows himself. HAHA!  As lunch was getting over I was able to grab a few photos of all the boys together.

Marshmallows are yummy!

We were able to go to OBT (Off Broadway Theater) with UHope and we saw Pirates of Penzance.  I was amazed they were able to actually sing as fast as they did in the movie.  They were different word like normal OBT style but it was a lot of fun.  Oh yes do not mind the shirt, I have washed it so many times it is crazy.

Then because I am crazy, not stupid, but crazy I decide to see what my kids and their bunny think of other bunnies.  So we all went for a ride, with Rhett driving.  Yes I had him drive down Bangerter which is a highway.  Let’s just say Nikole was not happy and neither was Rhett. HAHA!  At least I got him driving faster than 30.  Goal accomplished!!  We played with baby bunnies and I made a great friend.  Lori is an amazing woman that loves life and enjoys having a lot of different animals around.  We had a great time.  The baby bunnies were too little to leave their mom and we had no place for them yet.  So our plan was to wait until the end of July in order to have a place ready and them being old enough to leave mom.

After visiting with Lori, her son, and her animals we came home and finished out the day since the next day was Dylan’s surgery.  My heart was heavy and I was looking forward to the Pinewood Derby that night.  Sadly I got a call that afternoon and was informed that they needed to change the day.  My boys were sad but not heartbroken, since they had played with bunnies.  They changed it from Tuesday to Friday the same week.  I was not sure if Dylan would be able to make it since his surgery was the very next day.

Nikole was not happy about Rhett diving.

Really not happy.

Nikole's favorite!!

The next day we needed to be up at the hospital nice and early.  I tried so hard not to let me anxiety show since I knew it would affect Dylan too.  We let him go to the hospital with his Pikachu.  He was happy about that and just went with it.  I think no one explained to him what was going to happen.  (I am sure that I had but who knows.)  As they took my little baby away I took some deep breaths and just maintained my composure.  I was not going to fall apart!  I refused to allow my emotions rule me, since it isn’t going to change anything and I have so much that I need to do.  I also do not need Dylan anymore stressed or worried than he is anyway.

Dylan was a pro and had his shunt placed on the 22^nd of June.  It hurts to see your baby hurt and there is nothing you can do to make things better.  Grateful that he did so well since he was able to come home the very next day!!  

Heading home!!

It was a good thing since the Pinewood Derby was the Friday after his surgery.  Dylan was so happy to race his car since this was a first for him and it counted towards scouts.  He even placed!!  

Surgery Wednesday, Friday the Pinewood Derby. 

Got his Bobcat.  So EXCITED!!!

Third place!!!

Second place!!  His last Pinewood Derby!!

So EXCITED!!!

We were thinking about going to the air show that weekend but everyone was too tired from all the things that happened that week we didn’t end up going.  That is ok, we will be able to go a different day.

Just like that June ended and we had a much calmer summer, or so I thought….  Coming up the next blog post will be very condensed and quick.