The Day in Which Baby Boy Becomes a Man . . . or . . . Happy Birthday, Baby Boy

 This weekend we took a break from the medical drama (and there is SO MUCH MORE to tell) to celebrate Baby Boy's 18th Birthday. 

We decided to have a big family style barbecue at home so that everyone would feel comfortable.  One of Mom #2's brothers couldn't get off work, but otherwise everyone stopped by to celebrate Baby Boy's most momentous occasion. 

I set up a "photo booth" so that we would never forget the great time we all had.

My Mom is always the first to show up.  

She likes to get the party started!

Here we are Striking a Pose!

Auntie and Cousin

Grandpa 

 

Family Fun!

Family Love

Crazy Friends

Special Friends

Mom #2's Family 

Wishing for a Bright Future

 You'll Be a Man, My Son *SIGH*

I have so many sappy things I could say right now, but I'm sure all you Moms of big kids know how it is.  If you open that gate, it's definitely a flood, not a trickle.   

 It was so much fun to put our worries in our rear view for a while and it's been so much fun watching Baby Boy grow up into a fantastic young man.  We're so proud of him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!


Until next time . . .

But Wait . . .There's More . . . Medical Drama

 Baby Boy's surgery didn't go well yesterday.  Actually, it didn't go at all. 

We got him to the hospital at the crack of dawn and they checked us in.  Usually the doctor comes into our little sitting room and just goes over what he's going to do during the surgery and approximately how long it will take.  So, imagine my surprise when Dr. Trusted Specialist is not the doctor, but one of his assistants is.  An assistant I have never met.  A stranger.  *Insert hyperventilating face here*

I freak out just a little (That's on the outside, I freak out A LOT on the inside).  I find out that Dr. Trusted Specialist is on vacation.  *SIGH*  Dr. Semi-Capable Assistant explains that he can do the surgery and blah, blah, blah, and that it's an emergency so we can't wait for Dr. Trusted Specialist to get back into town. 

OK.  Mom #2 and I hesitantly agree. 

They sedate Baby Boy and take him back to the operating room.

Thirty minutes later, out comes Dr. Semi-Capable Assistant.  He can't do the surgery.  It's a lot more complicated than he thought it would be and we need wait for Dr. Trusted Specialist to get back into town. 

I am on the phone to Dr. Trusted Specialist's nurse faster than a locomotive!  She apologizes profusely and says she will call back when she can figure out what we are going to do.  We get discharged and go home. 

Later that evening Nurse Sorry-About-That calls me back to say that time is of the essence and we NEED to have the surgery done as soon as possible, but Dr. Trusted Specialist is out of town.  They are trying to get in touch with him and get him back into town ASAP.  (At this point, I feel very sorry for Dr. Trusted Specialist's family . . . I hate to crash their vacation) and to be ready for surgery at any time in the next day or two.  In other words . . . NO EATING for Baby Boy!

So what we ended up with is a very inconvenient and expensive nap for Baby Boy yesterday, PLUS  he missed class.  My classes are in the afternoon, so after we were discharged, Mom #2 went home to be with Baby Boy as he slept off the anesthesia, and I went on to class.  Color me distracted.    

We sit around in anticipation of more medical drama either today or tomorrow . . . maybe . . . maybe not. 

*SIGH* 

Keep thinking of us.  We need it.

Until next time . . .

Medical Drama

Baby Boy has a medical appliance that is a "permanent" part of his body, although it has to be replaced every year due to deterioration and wear and tear.  We were scheduled to get it replaced next week along with two other annual surgical procedures (we like to get as many things done at once to minimize exposure to anesthesia).  This is a very delicate balance that takes months to set up because we have to get several very busy specialists in one operating room at the same time.  Literally, every year after we are done, we start preparing for the following year's procedure. 

Anyway, somehow Baby Boy broke his appliance on campus yesterday, after hours, of course.  I spent a considerable amount of time talking to on-call nurses, lab techs, and doctors who know nothing about Baby Boy's medical history and his situation.  His doctor is highly specialized and the only one who does this procedure in this area.  In fact, Baby Boy was the first person in Texas and only the third person in the United States to have this procedure done, it's been a lifesaver, but it can be frustrating to only have one person to go to when we have complications. 

So right now I'm waiting frantically for a call back to see when we can have emergency surgery scheduled to fix this.  It's not an option to wait for next week.  It's a medical device that is used daily.  This probably means we'll still have another surgery next week for the other things that still have to be done, but probably can't be organized on such short notice.

I'm a little anxious today.  Actually, I'm a lot anxious, but I'm trying to pretend I'm only a little anxious. 

If you have a chance, please send some positive energy this way. 

Thanks!

Until next time . . .

¡Vuelo!

Baby Boy and I went to see the opera Flight! last night. 

It is a modern era opera (oxymoron?) and an even rarer phenomenon, an English language opera.  Which leads me to question why I titled this post in Spanish.  Well, I'm trying to really speak Spanish all day every day, so when I sat down at the computer, that was actually the first word that came to my mind - I'm getting there!

Anyway, the show was racy, raunchy, and riotous.  Baby Boy and I laughed so hard we almost cried at some scenes and blushed so hard we almost burst into flames at others.  If this show is coming to a performing arts center near you, leave the littles at home. Consider this your one and only warning.

Baby Boy and I chatted and giggled all the way home and then I went to bed humming the tunes of the countertenor (Simply amazing!) and chuckling to myself. 

I am so thrilled to have a son who understands and loves me enough to indulge my passion for the arts.  He's the best escort a girl could ever want. 


Have a FANTASTIC WEEKEND!

Until next time . . .

The Beginning of the End

The community college is hosting campus tours at two local universities today with the opportunity to meet with a transfer adviser.  Baby Boy and I are going.

He'll be looking for places to go while I'll be looking for places to hide and have a good cry.

*SIGH*

It looks like the beginning of the end is near.


Until next time . . .