The surgeries are over!

Well, I was just spending a little time reading some other blogs, and realized it's high time for me to update our blog again. Someday I really do hope to get the hang of doing this more often. Otherwise, people are going to quit stopping by to read it!

Sam had his follow-up surgery last Friday. They went in to remove his stent, and then circumcised him. This was mainly to prevent further urinary tract infections, though we were happy to have it done. He was under anesthesia for about 45 minutes. We had been warned that he would be really cranky and in a lot of pain when he came home, but we were shocked to discover that was not the case! He did sleep for about an hour in the hospital before we were released, and also on the whole car ride home from Jax. But then he got home and was playing pretty normally, in his regular happy mood. Amazing! All weekend, the only time he cried was during diaper changes. And now that's down to just a little whimper, so things are looking great. He'll have another ultrasound in a month, and then another three months later. If all looks good, then we are in the clear! Can't wait for that report!

Since Sam's first surgery (almost a month ago), his Papa and Dandie (Ben's dad and stepmom) have visited for a weekend, his uncle Packy and aunt Christina (Ben's brother and his wife) have visited for a weekend, and Sam and I have flown to Minnesota to visit my parents, my brother and his wife, and their son. Whew! That is a lot of visitors and traveling to squeeze into one month--not to mention in between two surgeries!

He enjoys seeing family (though he doesn't get who they are yet, obviously), and loves to be with people who play with him and give him attention. He had a ball with his cousin Isaac in Minnesota. Sam is just two months older than him, but they are almost the same size. They had fun running around together, taking baths, going for a wagon ride with Grandpa, and picking apples in the orchard. I'm looking forward to them seeing each other again right after Christmas.

This is the first meeting of the cousins--at my brother's house in South Dakota.

You can't beat bath time! (Note: Sam fell off the bed right before we left on this trip, so he spent the whole time with a huge scab under his nose. Which he kept picking on. Fun, fun.)

Clues that this wasn't taken in Florida: Sam is wearing a jacket and a warm hat, Emily (my sister-in-law) is wearing a fleece vest, and I am wearing a hoodie under my jean jacket. You can't beat the Midwest for an apple orchard/pumpkin patch outing! It's just not the same in shorts and flip flops.

They LOVED being pulled around by Grandpa in the wagon. (And he loved it too!)

The best part of my trip? As soon as we landed in Gainesville and Sam saw Ben, his eyes lit up and he wanted Daddy to pick him up. After six days of being gone, Ben and I were worried that he might not remember him, or it might take awhile for him to warm up again. Our hearts were thrilled that this was not the case at all. Thank you, Jesus!

We have a big family trip to California in a couple weeks for Ben's cousin's wedding. So I hope to post pics more quickly. We'll see how that goes!