Cochlear Implant Day!!

For several years, Jonathan has been unable to hear out of his right ear.  Since he currently uses a hearing aid in his left ear because of hearing loss, he was a good candidate for a Cochlear Implant. We are thankful that after much prayer and consideration, we were able to make the decision to have Cochlear Implant surgery. The day of the procedure was Friday, March 7th and we are thankful we had many people praying for us for which we feel very blessed.

This day started early (and yet a little late) for Dad and Jonathan...they were supposed to get up at 6:15am and 6:30am respectively but when I peaked my head out of the bathroom door about 6:32am to make sure all was going smoothly, I noticed Chuck had just got up and Jonathan was still in bed!! YIKES!!  We were already behind schedule!  Fortunately, they were able to get showered and ready and on the road only 25 minutes later than I had planned. I was so thankful that I had told them we needed to be there by 8:30am because we arrived at University of Iowa Hospitals at 8:37am!  Chuck dropped us off at the door and Jonathan and I went to check in.  We arrived at the Surgical check-in desk at 8:44am. Unbeknownst to Chuck and Jonathan, we were REALLY supposed to be there at 8:45am!!  So we were right on schedule!! Of course, I knew this all the time. I knew I would need to move the ETA time up a bit so we would get us there on time...and it worked!! So WHEW!!  We made it!

We did not have to wait long once we arrived and were escorted back to our Pre-Op room to get ready by 8:50am.  We had been sitting in the room for almost 5 minutes when a loud alarm went off and over the speakers we hear the automated voice: "Fire Alarm System has been activated.  Staff please take proper action." After hearing this message twice and not seeing anyone walking around outside our door, Chuck decided to step out and make sure we weren't the only ones in the place!  As soon as he stuck his head out the door, a nurse behind him said: "Don't worry, you're fine...we got your back!" :-)  So we sat back down and listened to the fire alarm sound for about another 3 minutes before it shut off.  As I sat there, I was thinking, I sure hope this isn't a sign of how the rest of our day was going to unfold. So we had quite a little excitement already this morning and it was only 9:00am!

It wasn't long before a student nurse finally came in, took Jonathan's vitals and then we waited, and waited, and waited some more. The Anesthesiologist and her student arrived to talk to Jonathan, answer any questions he might have and then tried to start an IV in his hand...but after watching his vein roll away from the needle for a minute or two...she gave up and decided to wait until the operating room to start the IV.  She was very gentle and didn't jab around like we EMT's can sometimes do. She didn't want to make Jonathan uncomfortable or in pain.  So all of us were happy about that...especially Jonathan!

It was about this time that we heard a commotion coming from down the hall. It sounded like a 5-7 year old boy that really didn't want to have anything done to him.  He was yelling and screaming, "I wanna go home!!!!", "NO!! Don't touch me!", "I'm going home!!!" "Get me outta here!!"...and on and on.  It was so loud and out of control that I was thankful Jonathan was older and not really affect emotionally because of this kid screaming.  I felt sorry for any other parents there with a young child. We all were able to laugh and listen to the poor nurses and parents trying to get this kid under control. About 5-10 minutes after this started, Dr. Jonathan (don't remember his last name) who was assisting Dr. Hansen in the surgery walked through door and introduced himself.  One of the first words out of his mouth were: "It sounds like we have a dissenter in the area!" Haha!  We all agreed and got a good laugh.

The staff were very cautious and repetitive to make sure they get things right. I believe that all the medical personnel that walked through the door all asked him the same questions: Name? Date of birth? What procedure are you having done? in what ear? And then they would proceed to ask or talk to him about what was pertinent to their specialty.  Dr. Jonathan then took out a marker and put his initials on (our) Jonathan's right ear to mark him for surgery.
 
The final person to enter the room was our pre-op nurse.  She asked the main 4 questions and as she continued to ask more questions and fill out the computer work, another nurse came by to shut our door to 'lessen' the loud screams from down the hall.  We decided they were probably getting ready to bring in extra forces to get this child 'under control' somehow.  Our nurse said, she tried everything to calm him down and didn't think anything she could do would make him like her anymore. She was hoping to steer clear of that room. However the next thing we know, she gets called out to assist with the 'dissenter'. When she returned, the screams had stopped and we were able to finish up our pre-op paperwork in peace and quiet. About 10:30, Jonathan was walked into the Operating room and we were sent up to the waiting room.

I found myself reading a "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book, and a crossword puzzle book and Chuck got a book on his tablet to help keep our minds occupied. We were thankful there were other people in the area to entertain us.  One such person was a 5 or 6 yr old boy that let out the loudest, most obnoxious belch I have ever heard and completely rattled every room in the area! I still can't believe that a sound that loud could come out of that little body...Wow! The poor grandmother was mortified and embarrassed and the rest of the waiting room was stunned and shocked into chuckles and laughter. I believe the grandma was glad to be called out of the room a short time later!

Jonathan's surgery lasted about 3 hours and we were back to the recovery room by about 3:00pm.  They didn't wait too long there to get him eating, drinking, and on his way out the door.  By about 4:00pm, we were wheeling Jonathan out of the hospital in a wheelchair. We spent the night in Iowa City and arrived back home Saturday around noon.

It was a tiring day for all of us!  It is crazy how sitting around all day in a hospital can be so tiring and wear you out.  We are so thankful for all the prayers and encouragement.

Mom's meager review of Christmas 2013

Christmas Season has rolled in and over us now but we are thankful that other than a few near falls, we made it through in fine fashion.  With only a few weeks after the Minnesota trip to get ready for Christmas around here, it was a bit of a challenge trying to get our meager decorations up, shop for 8 others, and work 2-3 days each week.  Although I do prefer to see and touch what I am buying, I took the plunge many times this Christmas and purchased quite a few gifts online.  To put that into perspective, I had my credit card memorized and was becoming very good at the online shopping techniques by the time I was done! ...I don't think Chuck was too impressed by that.

It has been an adjustment having Stephanie out of the house so I am slowly adjusting to this change.  I am realizing that with no other females in the house, either the boys need to get out of their comfort zone and do a little work around the house or their mother is going to be sitting in an institution blankly staring at them with a glazed over look real soon!  I have to admit it has gotten better in the past few weeks with them being home over break.  It will just take a little more 'encouragement' (or nagging- as they call it) to form some good habits.  :-)

As I reflect on the Christmas vacation, it gives me such a warm feeling of being blessed beyond measure.  I have all of my boys around me, actually playing games with each other and enjoying each others company.  It doesn't seem so long ago that the Christmas break was a stressful time of trying to keep my head above water and looking forward to the day they would head back to school.  Chaos to the nth degree was how I remember it.  Now, we spent many evenings playing games, talking, enjoying family time and, of course, indulging in - what my boys think is the most important part - the unending goodies, sweets, and snacks that are all around us this time of year.  It is always an added bonus when we see Matt and Stephanie come in the door to spend their evening with us. For the most part, there was little to no major arguing (with the exception of what game to play) and I felt the Peace and Joy of the Christmas Season! (Something that I missed among the chaos in earlier years) I feel blessed to be in this stage of life and would like to hold on to these moments for a long time.

We are looking forward to whatever the Lord has in store for us in 2014!

The following are some photos of what we did over the past month or so...not necessarily in chronological order but uploaded nonetheless.  I am just pleased that I managed to update the blog at all...:-).

Another Contest for the boys: Who can eat a bowl of popcorn the fastest without using your hands?!
Winner: Jonathan 

Awwwww!!!...Justin, Jesse, Jonathan & Travis found bears just their size!

Tony and Chuck relaxing by the fire...

Schmidgall cousins - playing games.  Can we fit one more around that round table??

My washing machine broke down right before Christmas break...so Chuck and I spent a couple "date nights" at this laundromat doing laundry. 

The boys decorating sugar cookies.  Putting their "special touches" on each one.

CREME BRULEE!!
 My first attempt at creme brulee was a success!  We ate this for dessert
after our Christmas meal!  Mmmmmm...it was delicious!

Opening gifts....Nice ties, Matt!

Massner Family Band - evening performance

ICE HOCKEY ARENA!!!

Getting ready for some skating action at Matt and Stephanie's pond!  So much fun!

Justin performs in a brass quintet at the Nursing home. (He's the tuba on the left)

Aside from the Wedding

What? We can stop and think about something besides the wedding again? Yes, it is finally possible. This post consists of a bunch of pictures to catch up on our lives outside of the W-E-D-D-I-N-G, now that the house can breathe again and Christmas is making its entry. 

The first thing I see on the camera is the circus. This was the Massner family's getaway the Saturday after the wedding while Matt & I were on our honeymoon. It appears that they had a wonderful time without us.

We got back from our honeymoon in time to celebrate Jonathan's 16th birthday. He can drive now and Mom loves having someone to run people around for her!

I feel like all of our pictures at Mom & Dad's are on this couch...err, love seat.

According to the candles, Johnny is only eight years old. He tries to act that age, but we know better.

We got a very small snowfall earlier in November! Fortunately it melted before it could do too much harm.

We went up to Minnesota for several days to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with the Schmidgall family.

We played instruments at the Knobloch house Thursday afternoon. 

Thursday evening at Rob & Kathryn's

Playing games!

The newlyweds...Matt seems a lot more sure of himself in front of the camera than me.

Aunt Camera Wars

Encore!!

We went to the nursing home to sing for Grandma on Friday. 

Grandma and the girls

Grandma and the boys

Bowling Friday evening after eating at Pizza Ranch

The boys were very interactive in their game selection Friday night. 

So were the girls.

We went to the Hancock gym and played a two-hour game of basketball. 

Christmas at Bruce & Penny's Saturday evening.

I hope the poor guy passed his initiation...he probably didn't make a good impression when he stole a gift from Uncle Mark. 

...and here comes Christmas! :) Hope all is well!

The Wedding

I have finally managed to share several of our wedding pictures (yes, it's been over a month!). Twas a wonderful weekend full of many blessings and memories, and life is starting to return to a new normal at Mom & Dad's as Matt and I get settled into our new home. For more wedding photos and further ramblings of Stephanie in the future, please visit Matt & Stephanie's blog at msschulz.blogspot.com.

There is a Season

Ecclesiastes 3

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

The day has come! Yesterday was the time to be born, the time to grow and learn, the time to begin my walk with the Lord. Today is the time to be married and become one in the Lord with my groom. Let us cherish the moments we have together today as they will soon become our memories from yesterday, and let us always remember to put our faith in God, for He IS the one who holds tomorrow!

We appreciate the love, prayers, and support as we make this new beginning together in marriage.