Hydrocelectomy

About a year ago, Dakota went in for hydrocele surgery (for a pocket of fluid around his testicle). Before the surgery his doctor examined him and saw that the lump had really gone down in size and sent us home.

Fast forward a year and we were back - same time, same place, same surgery. This time we knew it was a go because his lump kept on recurring throughout the year. We tried to explain to him what was about to happen -poor Dakota had no idea what he was in for. Here we are in pre-op preparing the little guy for his surgery.

Soon they took him away. He cried - we cried (he didn't know that of course) and we sat out in the waiting room - and waited....

Finally, the nurse came and got us. The Urologist talked with us about the surgery and said it was a success! Then we were sent back into the waiting room to wait some more - until he woke up.

Finally (again) we were called back. Dad letting him know we were there.

Resting with his "Bear".

Waking up. This picture kills me - "Mom, how could you let them do this to me!"

Waking up on Dad's lap with "Brownie" his new horse they gave him before surgery.

When we left the hospital Dakota was still very groggy and very sore. He had a tough rest of the day and night.

By the next day, he was walking around (gingerly),playing Batman (cautiously), and getting spoiled by his Dad, Mom, and older sister. We can't wait to get our spunky Dakota back :-(!

2 @ 4K

About a month before 4K started........ we would drive Dakota and Bailey by their school and say, "That's where you will be going to school!"

A few weeks before school started Mom was talking to Bailey about school and asked her what she thinks her new friends names were going to be and what will they play together. Dakota shouted, "I AM GOING TO PLAY WITH BAILEY!"

A couple days before school started Dakota announced, "I am NOT going to school!"

Needless to say, the day school started Mom was very worried!

It started off well, Dakota woke up and exclaimed, "When's school, when's school......I can't wait for school!" Really?

Finally, it was time to go. Mom told the twins that she was just going to drop them off then go to Target and buy them a little present ~ that they would each get if they were good ~ then pick them up.

So we headed out the door with their new backpacks!

Got to school and hung up their backpacks....

Checked in.....

Found their circle spots.....

And then Mom left...... there was no shouting, no crying...just big smiles, kisses, and waves goodbye!

Mom held it together until she got in the truck - then BAWLED!

A picture of Bailey and Dakota with their teacher Ms. Erin:

They LOVE school! Dakota's favorite things about school is his teacher and gym. Bailey's is her new friends and playing with blocks.

P.S. The first thing Dakota said to me when he walked out the door was, "Mom, I didn't get a time-out!" I guess what he was trying to say was he was good (which I had no doubt) and deserved his present :-)!

I got a little video of Dakota's excitement:

Second Grader

RyAnne was all smiles and ready to start second grade!

There was an assembly at school to kick off the first day for all students and families. RyAnne found her class and was all ready to get started.

RyAnne's family found a wall and were not ready to say good-bye to her again :-(!

RyAnne and her second grade teacher - Ms. Price!