Three Years Post-Op Update

Today marks 3 years since Ezra had his crazy Atypical Mycobacterial Infection removed! He is old enough now that when we show him the pictures and tell him the story about the day he kind of understands it...as well as an almost-4-year-old can. Ashton actually asks about it and comments on it more than Ezra does. Anyway, everything is looking great with the incision and the infection site. His Frey's Syndrome from having the gland removed still flares up when he eats, but that's really no big deal as long as we remember to tell people it's not an allergic reaction.

Here he is a week or so after surgery.

This is a month or so post-op.

And here he is just a couple days ago! The incision is almost invisible and the infection site continues to fade.

The lighting here exaggerates the depression left from the Parotid Gland they removed (that's what causes the Frey's Syndrome - a red blotch on his cheek from the salivary nerves that are still there, but are no longer connected to the gland.) I had intended to get a picture while it was flared up, but that didn't happen. 

And here's his beautiful smile! As I have said before, we are beyond thankful that the surgeon and his amazing team were able to remove the infection without damaging the facial nerve. 

Every month or so, I get a comment or an email from another mom whose child has been diagnosed with this. While I am no expert, I remember wishing I knew another mom who had been through this to talk to or ask questions to. So if that's you, please don't hesitate to comment or send me an email at thoner02k @ yahoo . com. You can also read all my posts about Atypical Mycobacterium here.

Thanks for stopping by! 

~Anika

Jude Laurence: 3 months old

Jude at 3 months:

Weight: 18 pounds

Length: 27 inches

Diaper Size: 2

Clothing Size: Carter's 6 month (but their 9 month onesies fit you fine, too) and a few 6-9 month things

Eating: Nursing 5 times a day, every 3-4 hours during the day

Looks like: You seem to have eyes like Ashton and a smile & chin like Ezra. Almost everyone thinks you look like Mommy and Grandpa Steve
Nickname: JuderBug

At 9 weeks old you started sleeping through the night! I feed you around 8:00 PM and you fall asleep shortly after. We barely hear a peep out of you until 6:30-7:00 AM! 

We took you to the Minnesota State Fair with our friends John & Rachel.  You enjoyed riding around in your stroller and eyeing up all the food you will be able to try next year...especially Sweet Martha's Cookies!  You went to your second cookout at the Peterson's for Labor Day and sat around your first campfire at Grandpa Steve & Grandma Roxie's.

You were baptized at our church by Pastor Dave and we had a yummy brunch at our house to celebrate.

We brought you to Duluth for Mommy's cousin's wedding. You were such a good boy in the van the whole way up and back. You also got to stay in your first hotel and see Lake Superior.

Love you more and more each day, JuderBug!

Stitch Fix #5 & #6

Way back at the beginning of October, I got my 5th Fix. I went back to work a week later so blogging about it got put on the back burner. This week I got my 6th Fix so I am lumping them together in one post.

So, up first my October Fix...

These purple skinny jeans were a fabulous color. So fabulous in fact, that I already own a pair in this exact shade of purple...bummer!

The lighting was not good at all, but this was an awesome navy dress. It was a little too clingy around my tummy...which is "still squishy" according to one of my 3 year olds. If I was a year out from having Jude, instead of 3 months, I probably would have kept it.

This sweater was super soft and the color was great, but my rule for keeping Stitch Fix items is that they have to be perfect. Unfortunately, the chevron pattern is not in my Element, so this went back.

This sheer navy top was the keeper in my October fix. It's perfect for work and I loved the longer length.

This shiny silver bracelet was the last item in my Fix. Not something I would get a lot of wear out of so it went back.

Onto my 6th Fix...

I loved this sweater, both the navy and green colors are in my Element and it fit perfectly. But, there was a bit of angora in the material and it made me itch like crazy so this one had to so back.

The sheer cream layer on the bottom of this sweater is a faux blouse. This was soft and comfy, but didn't really do anything for me.

This dolman top is perfect...a little wrinkly from being boxed up, but the color is fantastic and the material is super soft. This was a keeper!

Oh, the dress that could have been wonderful! When I saw the raspberry and purple colors on this dress I was so excited...but then I saw the skirt. I don't wear black. For a minute I thought maybe it was a charcoal gray, but after holding it up to several other black items in my house, I came to terms with the fact that it was black. At that point I really hoped that it wouldn't fit so it would be easier to send back, Of course it fit like a glove and was so comfortable. I'm not lying when I say that I was tempted to cut off the skirt and sew a gray one on instead. It's on it's way back to California.

These green skinny jeans were great as well. Great color (sorry, bad picture!) and they fit really nicely, but when I walk around in them for a bit, they felt like they were starting to sag down and that just gets annoying. So they went back too. (I couldn't get my cute little helper to look at the camera.)

Want to try out Stitch Fix? If you sign up using my referral link I'll get a $25 credit and we can both get a fun Fix! https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3075423

Thanks for stopping by!

~Anika

Jude Laurence: 2 months old

Jude at 2 months:

Weight: 15 lbs. 8 oz

Length: 26 3/4 inches

Diaper Size: 2

Clothing Size: 3-6 month and Carter's 6 month

Eating: Nursing 7 times a day, every 3-4 hours during the day and once in the middle of the night

Looks like: You seem to have eyes like Ashton and a smile & chin like Ezra

We brought you to the Pierce County Fair this month. You slept a lot of the time we were there, but when you were awake you enjoyed riding in your stroller. You weren't too impressed with the parade, but you watched your brothers pick up a lot of candy.

Your Uncle Mitch married Ashley so you officially gained an Aunt and a cousin in the same day! You came with Mommy and Grandma Roxie to get our makeup done, then once we got to the church your Aunt Kylee took care of you while Mommy and Daddy took part in the wedding ceremony. Then we went to the reception and your Great Aunt Margo and Great Uncle Jeff watched you for quite awhile so Mommy and Daddy could enjoy dinner. After dancing with Mommy for a little bit, you napped with Kris Deiss. You were such a trooper the whole day!

Even though Mommy is not going back to work until October, we still went to set up her classroom and get things ready for her sub. You got your first ride on Grandpa Steve's golf cart - I think you are going to love that thing just as much as Ezra and Ashton do!

Jude Laurence: 1 month old

So I am already a month behind, but I am going to post an update on our new little guy each month. They grow and change so quickly and there are so many little things I want to remember!

Jude at 1 month:
Weight: 12 lbs, 6 oz. - that's 2 pounds in a month!!
Length: 24 inches
Diaper Size: 1 (we skipped Newborns)
Clothing Size: 0-3 month, and Carter's 3 month, some of it is already getting too small
Eating: Nursing 8 times a day, usually every 3 hours, but sometimes you stretch it to 4+ hours over night and cluster feed in the evening
Looks like: I still think you look like a good mix of your brothers, the Thoner genes seem to be strong in you!

You are a noisy little guy - always grunting whether you are awake or asleep! Your big brothers have a hard time leaving you alone. They always want to touch you, kiss you, hug you and hold you, but they aren't always gentle about it. It's a good thing God made you big so they can't beat you up too much! Your naps often get cut short because one of them makes a loud noise or comes over to pester you if you are napping in your swing.

You started to smile around 3 1/2 weeks old and now you smile at us a lot...until Mom brings out the camera! You have adorable dimples. Bath time is your favorite! We have to keep your whale tub in the big bath tub because you kick and splash so much!

We celebrated your first 4th of July at Lowell and Carol Peterson's and at The Rush. You slept through the fireworks! At Peterson's your tank took first place for distance by a long shot! Mommy and Grandma Roxie took you to the Mall of America for the first time. We were shopping for clothes and shoes for Uncle Mitchell's wedding. We found you a sweet little outfit at Janie & Jack, but Mommy didn't have any luck finding shoes for her wide feet!

Family Picture at Vino in the Valley

Stitch Fix #4

I took a break from Stitch Fix while I was pregnant, however, I have since read a few blogs from ladies who have continued to get them even with a growing baby bump and they have gotten some great pieces that work even though Stitch Fix doesn't actually carry maternity clothes.

You can see my previous 3 Fixes here.

So as you may or may not remember, I am a WATER. Since I know my Element, there are many colors and patterns that I won't wear because they just don't work for me - they might overwhelm me, wash me out, etc...  It certainly makes getting a Fix interesting, but I keep my Pinterest board filled with styles and colors that do work for me so that my stylist can see what I am going for.  

Tiffani was my stylist this time, and I thought she did a pretty good job picking things for me.  I will leave her some feedback when I check out to help her more next time around.  I will start with showing you the worst and work towards the best...

(I feel like I am always apologizing for my pictures. Today, I had to take them on our back deck, which is kind of a mess, and I didn't have time to clean it up...all 3 boys were sleeping at the same, so I had to get the pictures fast because that never lasts long!)

Item #1: Whistler Graphic Print Button Front Blouse

Graphic print is not really my thing, and doesn't work for my Element either. So this was a definite no.

 Item #2: Laural Sleeveless Geo Print Maxi Dress

This dress is super soft and comfortable, but the print was not my thing and it's too short. So this will be going back too. If it was longer and a solid color in my Element, I totally would have kept it!

Item #3: Clea Colorblock Maxi Dress

The length of this maxi was better, but that cream color fabric is really throwing me off. The purplish/blue color was fantastic though! Again, this was very comfortable, but it will be going back mostly because of that cream color. (It's weird, right??)

 Item #4: Rylin Pintuck Detailed Silk Blouse

The color of this shirt is a little deeper purple in real life and it is gorgeous! It also looks boxy in this picture, but it's really not. I'm on the fence about this one. I really like it, but I'm not going back to work until October and I don't know how often I will have a reason to wear a silk blouse before that...I have a feeling silk and spit up don't work well together!

Item #5: Sam Hi-Lo Short Sleeve Tee

This shirt is so comfortable! The color and hi-lo hem are great. I usually find the "hi" hem of hi-lo shirts to be too short for me, but this one was perfect. It's being added to my closet for sure.

Want to try Stitch Fix yourself?  If you decide to do it, I would love it if you signed up through my referral code so I can get a little credit towards my next Fix! Just sign up through this link...http://stitchfix.com/sign_up?referrer_id=3075423 

Hope you are having a wonderful summer! Thanks for stopping by!
~Anika

Introducing Jude

We welcomed our 3rd son into the world on June 27th. We are so in love with our little Jude! However, he's not so little! He weighed 10 pounds, 6 ounces and was 21.5 inches long.  We were all a bit surprised by his size, but it's probably a good thing since he has two big brothers who would literally love him to pieces if I wasn't around to rescue him!

Can't believe it's taken me so long to introduce him to all of you! I will be back with more pictures soon!

~Anika