I feel so much better!

First, I want everyone to know that I am back to my normal self, maybe even better! Today was quite the day, let me tell you.

It started off really early. Since I couldn't eat anything before my surgery, Mommy and Daddy thought I was going to be a little cranky when I woke up. So when Daddy picked me up out of bed at about 5:20 AM this morning, he was very careful not to wake me - I even slept through him putting me in the car seat, and slept all the way to the hospital. When we got there, I did wake up, but I was a really good girl and didn't fuss at all! We checked in and finally they called us at about 6:30 into the pre-op room. I got to put on a little hospital gown and they put a pulse and blood oxygen sensor on my big toe, which I thought was very exciting and pulled off right after the nurse got done checking my vitals and left!

I crawled around on the hospital bed for a while, and Daddy and Mommy held me a little too. The nurse anesthetist and the doctor came by to talk about the procedure, and then went to get the operating room ready. We all had a big family hug then! I was still being really good and not fussing at all, even though I had been awake a long time without eating! At about 6:55 the nurse came and picked me up and we went into the operating room while Mommy and Daddy went to the waiting room.

It was quick and easy! They put a mask on my face and I went to sleep. The doctor said he first vacuumed out a lot of pus from both my middle ears, which was causing all the infections. He said things were pretty red and swollen. Then he put the tubes in, and was done in about 15 minutes. When I woke up, though, I wondered where I was and didn't see Mommy or Daddy, so I did get a little fussy. Finally, at about 7:30 they wheeled me on a gurney back into a room where Mommy and Daddy were very eagerly waiting for me! I saw Daddy first and tried to crawl off the gurney to get to him, reaching as far as I could with my little arms, fussing up a storm until he was finally able to pick me up. Then all was right with the world again, as Mommy says, and I quickly calmed down as Daddy and Mommy held me. They fed me a bottle, which I sucked down really quickly (I was really hungry by then), and we waited around until about 8 when the nurse let us leave. We got in the car and I fell asleep right away, and slept until about 10:30! I was tired!

But once I woke up, it was like nothing ever happened. I played with Mommy (Daddy had gone in to work), we went for a walk to the park and played on the swings, I took an afternoon nap, just like normal!

Mommy and Daddy sure were nervous, this being my first surgery, but fortunately things all went well and I can hear better and hopefully won't get any more ear infections! What a day!

Piper's going to have surgery on Wednesday

Our little Piper has been having a lot of problems with ear infections for many months now. The antibiotics she has been on each time have helped the symptoms, but the infections just come back again and again. After consultation with our pediatrician and with a specialist, the conclusion is that inserting ear tubes will help greatly reduce the number of ear infections, reduce pain and swelling of the eardrum, and enable her to hear much better (we've noticed lately that sometimes we have to speak very loudly to get her attention). But she's such an angel, always giving us that beautiful 5-tooth smile anyway.

So on Wednesday (the 30th), Piper will be having these ear tubes inserted. It is a very common procedure, with near 1 million children each year having it done, and the tubes are tiny and not visible outside the ear. But since it does require a general anesthetic, we're both a little concerned for our precious girl. We're glad that she'll be able to hear much better and learn to talk some more, but the next couple of days are sure going to be nerve-racking, as we consider the ever-present risks that any surgery presents.

Please keep our sweet little darling in your thoughts and prayers, and we will update everyone on how it went.

Russ and Rachael

What a beautiful day!

Today we went into downtown Oklahoma City where they were having an art festival at the botanical gardens. What a great day, sunny and nice without much wind. I got to look at thousands of people (and believe, there were a lot of interesting people to look at!) The botanical gardens were nice too, lots of grass and flowers and trees. Mommy and Daddy were acting really goofy toward each other the whole time, I finally figured out that their first date was at a botanical garden, so they were truly in fine form today, smooching and all kinds of other silliness.


We stopped for lunch (for me anyway!) on the side of a big grass hill. Here's Daddy and me on the hill.





There were lots of new things that needed to be tasted, like the grass we were sitting on! However, Mommy and Daddy didn't think it was as great an idea as I did and kept taking the grass out of my hands (and mouth). :(





There were lots of older kids (older to me that is, meaning anywhere from 2 on up) rolling down the hill on their sides. Well, we all know what a child Daddy is, so he of course had to try it out too. It was so fun, he went a second time! He sure looked silly, especially when he could barely stand up straight at the end. Mommy and I were much more reasonable and just played at the top of the hill.





We really had a wonderful day. It was great to get out of the house and do something together!

I helped Daddy play the piano!

I heard him playing, so I crawled on over, stood up (using his leg for support), reached up and started my own accompaniment! I can get the real high notes and the real low notes all by myself, but the bench is in the way of the others. Fortunately Daddy got the hint and set me on his lap to play. I really let loose, filling the house with melodious arpeggios and harmonious chords!

See, I can reach the keys all by myself!

Food flinging

I really got carried away eating today, and managed to fling some food on the wall. I've been good so far and mostly keep my food on my tray or on myself, but I hit Daddy's hand with the spoon in it just right today, and fling! The wall never looked better with pureed green beans adding some color!

Grandma and Grandpa visit again!

Today Grandma and Grandpa Roslewski came down from Tulsa again to spend the afternoon with me (we all realize they don't come down to see Mommy and Daddy anymore, it's me!) We got to go to the park and I got to swing on Grandma's lap just like Daddy used to do when he was my age. I'm sure I am much cuter though. I had a lot of fun!



I got thirsty, so Mommy tried to let me drink some water from her big bottle. I thought I knew all there is to know about bottles, but these ones are tricky. I did manage to get some in my mouth, but most got on my shirt instead! More practice is clearly needed.



I had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa and I hope they come back again soon!

Propping myself up on my elbows

Just this week I figured out that I can investigate things on the floor by propping myself up on my elbows! I know this sounds silly, but before I would crawl over to something, and then sit up to play with it. Now I can just lay flat on the floor and investigate that molding or floor tile to my heart's content! Makes things much easier and more comfortable too.

Tooth number four?

On 3/28 Mommy and Daddy saw tooth number 3 coming in, and although you can still just barely see it, it looks like I'm getting tooth number 4 (my upper right tooth) already!

And Daddy thinks he may even see the beginnings of number 5! It's the next one on the top right (okay, Daddy just looked it up, it's the "upper right lateral incisor"). More to come on this recent development!

Mommy and I are being silly!

Mommy liked my new hairstyle so much, she decided to try it herself. She thinks it looks really silly! I think she's right! Now we just have to get Daddy to put his hair up like this. That might be a bit of a problem though...



And if you look closely, you can see my first upper tooth on my left, my third overall!

I like to bounce!

This exercise ball may be bigger than me, but if Daddy holds on to me I can bounce, bounce, bounce! I think it's a great time. I also like to hit it like a drum, but then it usually rolls away!

Guess who did my hair today?

It's been growing so long that it gets in front of my eyes and now needs to be put up. Unfortunately, I've got longer hair than Daddy, so he doesn't really know much about all the latest hair styles. But it sure looks cute this way!

Lip smacking

Recently I've taken up lip smacking! I think I'm trying to imitate Mommy and Daddy's kissing noises when they give me kisses. It's fun and I get my mouth all scrunched up into funny shapes. But it does make a good smacking sound!

I can get dressed all by myself!

See? I found Daddy's T-shirt and somehow got it over my own head. Mommy and Daddy aren't quite sure how I did this, but when Mommy turned to look at me, there I was!

I've started playing around with all kinds of fabrics - pillowcases, Daddy's other shirts, just having a fun time flipping them over my neck and shoulders, or dragging them around the floor. Fun!