Hey, What's THAT You're Eating?

Joann and Tag drove to Idaho today to attend the graduation of Tag's oldest brother Jordan while I stayed behind to work.  I'm not sure how it's going to be without the two most important people in my life for a week.  

Tag is discovering things quickly.  Just the other day, I noticed him watching me eat with very curious eyes.  His look was classic as it clearly communicated, "Hey, wait a minute, what is that you're eating, and how do I get some of that goodness in me!"

Joann gave him some fruit rollup and texted me this photo:

 

The funny thing about this photo is the fruit rollup mustache Tag has.  I didn't even know it was possible to get a mustache from a rollup!  Joann told me it was his absolute devouring of the item combined with his complete lack of eating skills that created the phenomenon.  I'm afraid we have created a monster who isn't happy unless he is eating something when we are, even if he's full of breast milk.  So far, to my knowledge, this includes tiny pieces of bread, apple, orange and pear.

Tag always sleeps on his stomach, but just in the last few days he has mastered the quick rollover onto his back.  Lucky for us we know he can only go right, so as long as we wedge him against the right wall of his little crib, he still only can stir a bit and soon falls to sleep.  It's so funny to watch him roll so fast.

He is really getting smart about his car seat.  It used to be heavenly to put him into a car as the movement would put him right to sleep, but he is such a social, curious little fellow, that now he starts to fuss the minute we buckle the strap.  Here's a photo Joann sent to my phone today showing the theme of her drive to Idaho.  That looks fun...

I miss them both already, but I'm trying to focus on the positive, like leaving my dishes out all night, no noise making machines turned on full blast and leaving the toilet seat up all night.  Just trying to enjoy the little things...

Surgery Approacheth

I love Sundays.  My friend Chris Wright was driving through town en route from St. George to Logan, Utah so Tag and I drove into town to meet him and say hello.  It was great to see him.  In true Chris form, he gave me 4 CD's of music to try.  He has always loved music and I'm grateful to Chris for exposing me to so much great music, not to mention tennis.

I've been sleeping much of today.  I'm not sure if I'm not feeling well or what, but my body's quite achy and mostly just wants to sleep.  However, there's been some fun photos taken the last few weeks and I wanted to get them posted.  Enjoy!

Hangin' in St George with Grandma Julie:

Vintage Tag...

Grandma Julie up close with Tag.

You can't force these smiles out of a 5 month old.

THE perfect baby gift.  The 'Bumbo'. Holds Tag perfectly.

NOTE: Nice pecs and biceps, son!...

Pleasant breakfast conversation.

Thanksgiving Pointe Gardens with Joann and Grandma Marina "Momsie" Spence:

Momsie enjoys some Tag time...

Stop and smell the flowers, son. 
 

Toes.

Spring is here. In more ways than one, we hope!

 

Relfecting

It's Sunday night, Mother's Day.  We had a great weekend with Joann's boys coming down to honor their mom by spending the weekend.  It's about 11 PM, and I have been alone watching a show on ESPN I enjoy called E:60.  Everyone else is asleep. They had a segment about concussions in sports and they highlighted a college football player who played 4 days after receiving a concussion and got hit a second time and he has never fully recovered.  He can barely walk and talk and at one point they showed a big scar on his head where they had to remove a section of his skull in an attempt to try and relieve the pressure on his brain after the collision on the football field.

Why am I talking about this...?  Well, it made me break down in tears as fear about Tag's upcoming surgery looms on June 11th.  Mostly, I'm calm about it but tonight my mind caught a hold of some of the "what ifs" about this surgery.  Really, the tumor on Tag's head is one of the largest on record and in fact may be the largest.  I can't believe how much faith it takes to turn my son over to these doctors and say, "Okay guys, go ahead and cut his head open and take out this tumor and bring him back to me a healthy little boy."

What if...? 

No question I'm a different person the last 5 months.  I'm more kind and patient.  I'm more determined.  Tag's demeanor inspired me and I got serious about dieting and lost 23 pounds in 25 days on a cool diet called HCG.  The point is, I did it!  And Tag did this for me.  I hadn't been able to break some bad eating habits and get below 200 for 5 years.  Today I'm 185.  I'm very proud of this and I wish he was old enough to high five.

I'm reminded of one of my favorite movies, Gladiator, in the very last seen where the African slave friend of Maximus holds his little sculptures and says, "I will see you again... but not yet.  Not yet."  Tag, I pray for you and want you to know I believe you will be fine so that we can play catch, go hit 18 holes, catch fish, waterski, and go on so many adventures.  But tonight I'm afraid.  I can't imagine not being able to do these things with you.  Right now you sleep soundly in your little crib after a full day of giving everyone funny faces, cooing sounds, and lots of smiles.  No wonder you're tired.

Sleep well, son.  We'll play soon.  But not yet.  Not yet.

Remove the Bump!

Joann and I got tired of it snowing so we packed up Tag and headed to St. George this weekend. Yes that's right, snowing on April 30th on and off for 3 days straight. We had a follow up call last week from Dr. Sadiki's office that Tag's skin around his tumor had not ben invaded by any of the tumor cells, according to the pathology reports.  This is great news; and a surgery has been set for June 11. Apparently, it's about a 2 hour surgery and he will need to stay at Primary's a few days so that he can be monitored after the surgery.

Our whole family is excited and we feel so grateful that Tag's adventures at the hospital might come to an end.  However, this may be Tag's greatest adventure yet, as this surgery isn't going to be a picnic.  Even though the CAT (CT) Scan looks like his skull is fully developed, it's really hard to know until they get in there and have a look.  Then there's the question about the veins feeding the tumor; where they are and how many.  Mix in the skin and the cosmetic reconstruction and he's got quite an adventure ahead of him.

Despite all these question marks I remain completely calm.  I've mentioned to some friends recently that no matter what were to happen with Tag I feel lucky to have known him the last 4 months.  Joann and both Grandma's always joke that "It's a shame Mitch doesn't really like Tag yet".  I guess that means I play with him more than what they are used to seeing from other Dads?  How can that be, unless other Dad's just don't seem to get the magic?  Maybe I just more appreciate the miracle since I've waited so long for my turn, that I don't want to miss anything.

This little boy mostly just smiles and I can't get enough.  It's so fun to watch him learn to grab things and use his arms.  I'm hoping he's left handed, but there's no sign of a preference yet. He has discovered his feet and is constantly grabbing his socks and rocking to the side. It looks like his mother's genes have given him the gift of constipation, as he's now going on day 4 without a bowel movement, and has been repeating this pattern all month. Despite this building pressure, he still eats and smiles mostly.

June 11th.  It's coming fast son.  Looking forward to it!