Working Motherly Guilt, St. Patrick's Day and Sleep Study

It has been a while since my last post. I could say it is because I have been having so much fun at home with my family or taking care of household duties, but the reality of it is, that I have been working. Work has been very busy the past month and a half, but it has now finally starting to calm down...until the next go round (as I type this at 6:45 am on Thursday because I had to be at office at 6:30 am). Nonetheless, work has kept me from home a lot recently. Lots of late nights, early mornings and a 9 day trip to Washington, D.C for a conference.

Now, the conferences are a catch...They remind me of when I used to go to summer camp. I would go to camp, make great friends from all over the US, go back home, keep in touch and then see everyone again the next summer. The conferences are like that for me...I have these great work friends that live all over the word that I talk to all the time, and about 3-4 times a year we get together, work our butts off for 9 days but still have fun doing it, and then go back home. I LOVE seeing my friends there, but the guilt is AWFUL. Hopefully I am not the only mom that feels this guilt. I really do enjoy my job, the challenge, and the people I work for, but I don't love the long hours because I would much rather be at home with my boys...but on the other hand I want my kids to have wonderful experiences in life and have a nice life, and having nice things doesn't come for free. So while I sit here typing this now, my wonderful husband is getting my boys ready for their first school picture and I do wish I was there to see how cute they look, to take a picture myself and to make sure they didn't strong arm daddy into changing outfits :) But I know I am here at work to give them a great life...to provide for them...to show them that hard work has reward but also has some sacrifices...I do hope they know one day that I work this hard for them and for how much I love them!

So back to Washington...it as great! Got to catch up with great friends and made some new ones as well. Had great dinners, way too much wine and not enough sleep, but the memories are great and it makes me appreciate my family that much more! Here is picture of me, Jacqui (from San Francisco) and Rebecca (from London)!

While I was in DC, the boys celebrated St. Patrick's day at school. Landon LOVED it and told me later on that day that he wanted a leprechaun. He was so excited that the leprechaun had come to his class to sprinkle glitter all of the room even though he said that it left a huge mess (he is a bit of a neat freak - he is my child :) I had Amona (our au pair) take a picture of the boys so I could see them before they left!

Dylan in his green attire and his normal bruises all over - MARK MY WORDS - he will be my first ER visit!

Right before school

A few days after I got home from DC, we had a sleep study scheduled for Landon. A few months ago, I noticed that Landon is a very deep breather when he sleeps. I was lying in bed one night and with his door and my door shut, I could hear him breathing. I really didn't think too much of it until he started snoring...like grown man snoring..Now the snoring wasn't regular but I did mention it to my pediatrician one day and she sent us over to our ENT practice (same one that we go to for Dylan's ears). They took one look at his adenoids and said they have to go. They are so swollen that it is blocking his airway. I guess they are like pockets the size of quarters and Landon's are about 60-70% covered. They also said his tonsils were incredibly swollen so they did a strep test.  I knew he didn't have step because he gets a rash on his face every time he gets strep and there was no rash, and after the test it was confirmed...no strep either! He did however get it again the weekend I got home from DC. The doctor recommended a sleep study to determine if the tonsils need to come out as well.  He said tonsils have a bigger risk than the adenoids. Adenoids are like tubes...in and out and home and playing hours later. Tonsils is stay in the hospital overnight, much higher risk of bleeding, and an IV to prevent dehydration.

So last Tuesday night, Landon and I packed up to go to the hospital to have the study. I had told him all week before that we were going on a special adventure to the doctor so they could see how big his brain was. I was so impressed with how well he did. There were at least 15 wires all over his head and face, 2 straps around his chest and another wire around his toe. He didn't freak out at all. He just sat there watching Sprout while the nurse put everything on him. He finally fell asleep at 10 pm that night (after no nap that day) and sleep soundly. I couldn't get over how well he did...Now the next day the poor guy was a mess...I am sure it didn't help that at 4:50 AM, the nurse came in, said they got what they needed and that we can go home now...well thanks tons for that! We went straight to Dunkin Donuts for his reward of a chocolate covered donut and home to watch the Lion King...he was exhausted!

 Here he is getting all hooked up...

All the wires are on...almost done!

All done and now watching tv...I think he did even better than I would have done with all of that stuff on me!

We don't have the results back yet, but hopefully today or tomorrow...will keep everyone posted!

Well, back to work for me....until next time!

PS...While typing this, I talked to Landon who was REFUSING (to put it mildly) to put on his button up shirt for pictures because he wanted to wear Superman. So when I post his school pictures soon and he is in Superman...you will know why!