J

J is recovering today from his urethrop*lasty (I put the * in to prevent people from coming to my blog from googling the surgery). It was a LONG day at the hospital yesterday. Today seems like it is going to be a long one too. He is complaining of pain/discomfort occasionally (he didn't get any medication between midnight at 6am so it may take us part of the day to get ahead of the pain). But overall he is happy and playing well.
Some people complain that they would never circu*mcise thier son because of the trauma...well this surgery is WAY more evasive and painful. But I don't think that it will have any long term damage to J psychologically. Not having the surgery would have negatively effected him as an adult male So we might as well get it done now, rather than as an adult or teenager.
We are on our way to our nation's capital next week. We are going to celebrate CO turing 4 with the family we have there as well as I have a cousin getting married on the weekend. I am SO looking forward to going. I have arranged for someone to paint my livingroom, kitchen & two bedrooms while we are away. The boy's bedroom is still pink (oops). The only downside...is that J just had surgery and he has a catheter in, which isn't to be removed until the middle of next week...solution...take it out myself :) the doctor showed me how.  CO's aunt is a nurse, so if I have any questions or reason to hesitate, I can get her help (we'll be staying with her while away).
Having J's surgery last minute this week, has thrown my packing off as well as my prep for CO's fourth birthday tomorrow and his party on Sunday.
He is having a campfire party! He invited some of the neighbours as well as a couple of boys he knows through storytime at the library. There are also a couple of kids coming from church and I have invited some friends with young kids. It should be a simple affair. I once again asked for NO gifts. This year we are collecting non-perishables for the foodbank.  I am glad I started from the begining to just have his birthday be a time of having friends over and playing rather than a focus of gifts. He gets presents from me, my parents and his other grandparents. That is enough in my world. Also I am actively trying to achieve the goal I set when I first became a mom and that is never to have more toys that my children can clean up all by themselves. I think it is also helping them to appreciate what they have and look after it. When one of CO's toys breaks, he cries (because he cares and treasures the few toys he does have).