The next day...

Dear Nicky,

We went to see Mom and Junie this morning. We stayed a long time. Granny and Grandpop came too but didn't stay very long because Mom's tense about nursing Junie. You were great all day, despite being cooped up all day, I'm very, very tired.

Love,
Dad

June has arrived...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon you became a big brother. Your sister June came into the world at 2:52 this afternoon, weighing 8 pounds 9 ounces, and being 20.5 inches in length. We left you with Edna this morning while Mom and I went to the hospital. We checked in at eleven, ostensibly for a C-section at one o'clock. Everybody was ready for us, but there were a couple emergency procedures that went ahead of us, so we were delayed. Finally our turn came up. The procedure was calm and uneventful and went by really quick and June was out in no time. Boy, is she a yeller. You're going to have to help us keep her in line, Nick. I have the utmost confidence in you.

Love,
Dad

House closing...

Dear Nicky,

Well, we closed on the house in New Providence today. Everything went pretty smoothly. You were in Edna's care while Mom and I went out to meet the decorators, then we went to see the house as part of the walkthrough. Everything looked pretty good. Then we went to the lawyer's office, signed a bunch of forms, and paid him a lot of money. Then the agents showed up, and the other people's lawyer. The other people's agent gave us some cookies. We all shook hands, said goodbye, and left. Mom and I went to Target, got some stuff, then came home to find you and end not here. She took you for a walk. She left and we ordered some Italian food and later we fed you. Edna's coming back tomorrow, because Mom and I are going to the hospital to bring your little sister into the world. June comes tomorrow!

Love,
Dad

We go to Berg again...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon we went to see Dr. Berg for a followup to last week's ear tube surgery. He said everything looks fine, although there's still drainage coming out of your right ear, the same ear he told us had a lot of fluid in it last week. I can only imagine how much junk must've been in there. He also suctioned a bunch of wax out. Anyway, he gave us some more of those same drops Dr. Chin prescribed last week. We just need to do that right ear, three drops twice a day. I also insisted he look at your nose since your right nostril has been congested with copious amounts of snot basically since Memorial Day. He seemed to be inclined to call it viral, although I don't think it would last this long. He also checked to make sure you didn't inhale something off the floor or something, since it's only in your right nostril. Finally I got him to write a prescription for some antibiotics. Mom and I hate giving you these, but that nose has got to be fixed.

Love,
Dad

Tough kid...

Dear Nicky,

This morning you had two therapy sessions. First with Shelby, then you took a quick power nap, then Tim. Tim worked you out a little gentler than usual because you had just woken up, but you did really well nonetheless. He feels you're very close to sitting up by yourself and thinks you're progressing very well overall. And of course that's always nice to hear. Two therapists in one requires an especially strong constitution and mental fortitude to handle them both.

You fussed a bit with your lunch. I don't know if it was because you were overly hungry or overly tired, or if was the extra textures I put in there, but you eventually settled down and ate most of it. Later I gave you a yogurt shake, which you consumed effortlessly with a straw. Then you took a really long nap. I caught a few winks in the red chair. Then you woke up gently and sweetly and gave me a hug when I lifted you out of your crib. It was the first hug you've given that was clearly a hug, and it was great.

Tomorrow, we go back to Dr. Berg, who'll check out your ears and make sure everything is okay. You've still got some discharge coming out, especially from the right one, but it doesn't look bad.

Love,
Dad

Vocalizations...

Dear Nicky,

We're not sure if it's just our imagination, our hopeful thinking, but Mom and I are both thinking that since the ear tubes have gone in, you're making more sounds, and more complex sounds, than you did pre-op. Also, today you ate a cracker, not the whole thing, but you held in your hands and munched on it for a very long time. You munched and you swallowed, too. No drama, no freak outs. Maybe it was the fluid in your ears causing a whole host of challenges, maybe not. But whatever's going on, it seems like you're making up for lost time. You're the best!

Love,
Dad

Nice ears...

Dear Nicky,

Not much going on today. It was another rainy, dreary day, and we all just hung out. Your ears are looking good though. They look like they're clearing out, and you're tolerating those drops well, also.

We gave you a bath earlier, and we put some cotton in your ears. It was hard to keep it in there, but I don't think we have to do it forever. You were nice and clean form that bath till this evening, when you spit up silently on the floor and rolled your head into, you little stinker.

Love,
Dad

Development...

Dear Nicky,

It was hot and drizzly today so we stayed in. You seem totally recovered from your ear tube surgery. We're still going to put some drops in your ears for a couple more days as a precaution. The drops are also helping to get out some more of that gunk that's in there.

You really look like you're getting closer to sitting up lately. And with Kristine yesterday you did brilliantly. You were totally into putting these little plastic shapes into a bucket, not just once or twice, but so many times. It was great! Also, this afternoon, you were clearly trying to put one of those rings back onto its post on the ring-stack. It's really quite fascinating to see!

Love,
Dad

On fire...

Dear Nicky,

Wow, you were great with Kristine today. I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Post-tubes...

Dear Nicky,

It's been a day and half or so since we got your ear tubes put in and you're doing just great. There's been no complications, no discomfort...knock on wood, everything seems to have gone smoothly. Then again, all your procedures have gone smoothly, and they've also gotten less complicated and less dangerous. One of the nurses from the hospital called to check on you, and she said everything sounded okay. Both ears seem fine. There's some dried up gunk coming out of your left ear, and your right had quite a bit of liquid goo coming out over the course of the day. It wasn't bloody. It just looked like a lot of melted wax, which is probably what it mostly was, along with maybe some blood serum or something. You woke up early this morning, around 5:20 and didn't nap after breakfast, so when Shelby came you weren't too good. You fell asleep halfway through. Then Edna came and she hung out with you for the day while I went to Target and made a bunch of phone calls and faxes. Tomorrow we go see Doc Mock or Dr. Chin just to check out those ears, just to be safe.

Love,
Dad

In and out...

Dear Nicky,

This morning Mom and I woke at four in order to have a cup of coffee and something to eat before we took you to the hospital for your ear tubes. We left here just before five because we had to be there to check in at 5:45. You can never tell with traffic around here, but this time it was okay. We checked in and waited around for a while, then we were brought to an exam room where we met with the doctors one by one. Finally, they were ready for you. I should mention that you hadn't eaten anything since six the night before, and yet you were patient and tolerant of all the activity. You and I were led down to the operating room, because only one parent could accompany you. I comforted you while they put you under, and then left the room. We went back to the waiting room. Maybe thirty minutes later you were done. Dr. Berg came out to tell us that everything went beautifully. The operation itself took five minutes, and the rest of the time was spent trying to find your veins for an IV in order to give you some antibiotic. We reunited with you in the recovery room, where you were disoriented and agitated. Soon you grew calm, drank some juice, and I, while holding you, sat in a wheelchair and were taken to yet another room for observation. There, you drank some more juice and your mood grew even brighter. Shortly thereafter they said we could go home, which we did. We put you to bed where you took a nice long nap and awoke fresh and sunny and hungry. You seemed fine all day, then I fed you dinner with some avocado in it, which you actually seemed to like, and then off to bed, which is where I'm going now too.

Love,
Dad

Tube time tomorrow...

Dear Nicky,

Well, my son, you're going under again tomorrow morning. This time for ear tubes. We got clearance from Dr. Solo and Dr. Chin, so you're good to go. We have to be there at 5:45, so I've got to go to sleep. While I'm not very worried about this procedure, I am a little worried. It's still surgery, even though the whole procedure takes about five minutes. Everybody says the results are almost always spectacular. And unfortunately, you're prone to fluid in the ears, so it's a must if we want your speech capabilities to develop to their fullest. I hope it's not too uncomfortable for you, pal. I have to remind myself how tough you are; you've been through much worse. Mom and I will be there when you go under, and we'll be there when you wake up.

Love,
Dad

Father's Day, 2006...

Dear Nicky,

I was just in your room checking on you. See, summer's here at last, and it's pretty warm outside, so we're running the AC, of course, but sometimes it runs too long and the rooms become like a meat locker and sometimes it doesn't run enough and the rooms become stuffy. So this means we check on you a few times before we turn in to see if you're comfortable, which is what I just did. I check by running the back of my finger against the back of your neck, and it was smooth and dry, very nice.

Today was Father's Day. Not much went on. It was hot. We went to Granny's and you went into the pool. You seemed to like it, and you saw your girl cousins, whom you definitely like and who adore you. Then we ate some food and came home. When we got into traffic under the covered roadway, you started to cry. It seemed like we'd never get home. But we did and you stopped crying as soon as we got out of the car. You were sleepy but you ate a good dinner then finally went to sleep.

Love,
Dad

So close...

Dear Nicky,

Pal, you are very close to sitting up by yourself. It's great to see. You assume this sort of sideways position and put your right hand on your right thigh and kind of pause. I know you're thinking about how to proceed next, you're a little unsure of yourself, but you're doing so good. And the same goes for eating. For the longest time now, we would have to guide your hand into a bowl of food in order to get you to touch it. Now, any kind of food in a bowl in front of you is a target for you to attack. Man, what a mess you made today with some oatmeal. You're not inclined to bring your food-covered hand to your mouth yet, but that'll come soon. Mom and I wonder where this is all coming from. Is it just a surge in development? Is it just the right time? Or is it a combination of the new glasses, the brushing protocol, and the lecithin/CoQ10? Who knows, but this last bit has only been going on for a week, which coincides with your boost in activity. Whatever the reason it's great!

Love,
Dad

Evening update...

Dear Nicky,

So yesterday was the last day of Stones for three weeks or so until the summer session begins and all three of us went. It was hot and crowded, I thought. You did pretty well in both PT and OT. Man, Maria loves you in your glasses, just like everyone else does. Kristine, too. Later in the evening, or actually this morning you woke up at around 2:30 crying about something. You were very snotty so I suctioned you and that seemed to help, but afterward you'd cry when I put you down, so I basically held you till around six. When Mom got up, she took care of you while I got some sleep, then I got up so she could get ready and go to the OB/GYN. We also gave you some Motrin because you seemed a little feverish. It worked well. I hope it's just teething. Mom's appointment took a long time. You took a nice nap while she was out, then ate your lunch just beautifully. Later I went to Target and a girl named Liz came to help Mom eliminate some of the stuff she never uses from her closets. You ate your dinner nicely, and we had ours after you. We put you to bed, but it took some effort to get you to sleep.

Phone calls...

Dear Nicky,

Today was a tiring day and I'm bushed. I'll catch you up tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Boosted activity...

Dear Nicky,

Recently, we began something called a brushing protocol with you. Basically this involves firmly brushing your arms, back, and legs with a soft plastic brush. You seem indifferent to it, quite frankly, but I think we might be seeing an increase in your sensitivity and desire to explore with your hands. Optimally, you receive this brushing twice a day, followed by joint compressions, which I'm sure you know quite well. Now, I don't know if it's the brushing, or the new glasses, or the two together, but you're quite active in newer, good ways, and less active in less desirable ways. Shelby came today, and we all got quite messy trying to eat toast with jam. Then Edna came and watched you while I ran around doing errands and getting ingredients for making a spinach shrimp dip for Mom to take to a Stones Candlelighters meeting. After Edna left, I fed you a nice big dinner, and we played together for a while before you finally went to sleep.

Love,
Dad

Nice glasses...

Dear Nicky,

Everybody loved your new glasses at Stones today and couldn't get over how cute you looked. We went to the optician and he adjusted them for us again. When we got home we had some lunch, then you took a nice long nap in the afternoon and woke up sunny to work with Tim, who worked you hard. Then more hanging out, messing around, and lots of laughs, till dinner, then bed. Good night!

Love,
Dad

Basic Monday...

Dear Nicky,

This morning you woke up around five, but I tossed some toys in your crib and you hung out pretty quietly for an hour till Mom came in and took care of you. Shelby saw you with your glasses for the first time today and commented on how cute you looked. You did very well with her today. After she left, I gave you some fruits, then you took a nice long nap. Apart from sleeping, you basically wore your specs all day. Overall you took to them like a duck to water. I wonder what they'll think at Stones tomorrow. Also today, you ate quite well, but you're still very snotty. I suctioned you a bunch of times and got quite the reward for my efforts. We had a lot of laughs. When Mom came home she brought me a steak dinner, which I enjoyed after feeding you. Then Mom got you ready for bed and you were out like a light.

Love,
Dad

Fussy eater...

Dear Nicky,

This morning and noon you were kind of hard to feed. We put you in your feeding chair and you twist and kick and cry. It's distressing to watch. We worry a lot, Mom and I. We worry whether we feed you too much or too little. We worry that you spit up too much and might have reflux. On a more positive note, you are tolerating your glasses very well, and are not crossing your eyes when you have them on. I think they already need adjusting though, because they're leaving little red marks on your nose. We'll get those fixed on Tuesday since the eyeglass place is just down the street from Stones.

Love,
Dad

Mom's birthday...

Dear Nicky,

Sorry I've been so tired lately. The weather's been pretty bad most of the week, which consequently wipes me out more than nice weather. Let me briefly recap the week if I haven't already. Monday it rained, so after Shelby came and worked on you, we just hung out inside. I can't remember whether or not if later we went to the store and got some food makings and then made dinner. No, no, wait! We went to Stones that night for the parent-teacher conferences. It was good; we're all on the same page. Tuesday was Stones, and Tim. Wednesday, Shelby again, and Edna, whose concern is getting on my nerves. Thursday, Stones and Kristine. Friday, we went with Mom to her OB/GYN (everything's great), and we also got y0our new glasses from the very same building. They make your eyes look big, which is really cute. They must work very well, these glasses; you're not in a hurry to rip them off your face, and have proven to be amazingly tolerant concerning them. Today, Saturday, was Mom's birthday. We gave her our cards and a present, then you and I hung out while Mom did a huge manuscript, which needed a lot of work. Granny and Grandpop came over first thing in the morning! Later in the evening we went out to eat and took you along. You were very good on many levels, kid!

Love,
Dad

Plain beat...

Dear Nicky,

Once again, I got to get back to you when I'm less tired.

Love,
Dad

Beat...

Dear Nicky,

Again, I'm too tired to post. I'll update tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Soft coos...

Dear Nicky,

This morning Shelby worked on you for speech. You did okay, and promptly fell asleep when the session was over. Edna came and hung out while you slept. When you finally woke up, we tried to give you some food, but you weren't interested. I told her to try again in a little while, then I left to go to the mall to get a present for Mom. Her birthday is this Saturday, but she says she's got a ton of reading to do. Maybe we can go out for an early dinner that night anyway. After the mall I went to Target and got you a bathing suit and a rash guard shirt. When I came home, you were asleep so I took a nap too. But mine was interrupted when Edna did a Münchhausen by proxy and woke me up to say you had a fever, which you did not. After she left, I fed you your dinner, a third of which you sprayed on me. You can be a pill sometimes, but when you snuggle on my chest and drift off to sleep, there's few things nicer.

Love,
Dad

Sleepy ol' dad...

Dear Nicky,

I just seem to be so tired all the time these days. I'll write more when I can.

Love,
Dad

Boring Sunday...

Dear Nicky,

Sorry, pal, I'm having another one of those tired evenings again. I'll get back to you tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Rainy Saturday...

Dear Nicky,

I don't know about you, but I am sick of all the rain we've been getting. It feels like it's been raining all week. Not much to report today, didn't go anywhere, didn't do anything. You seem to be feeling better. Your cough's okay. Your appetite is good, and so's your mood. I'm happy about that very much. Also, I'm finally feeling better too. We were thinking we might have gone to a petting zoo festival type of thing today or tomorrow, but the weather killed that idea. We called the information number to find out it's been postponed till next week. Tomorrow Mom might take you out to Granny's for a visit.

Love,
Dad

Glasses...

Dear Nicky,

You need glasses, I'm afraid. No big deal. I'll tell you more tomorrow, right now I'm beat, and medicated.

Love,
Dad

Better for both...

Dear Nicky,

Today we both felt better, I think. My cough was a lot better, and yours was barely there at all, so keep your fingers crossed. We didn't go to Stones this morning, opting instead to take a morning off for a change. When the maids came we went to Target. While there, I put you in the toddler part of the cart and you loved moving around and looking at stuff. Then we came back and you took a good nap, then you had a nice big lunch. Kristine came and you did well with her, despite having your nap interrupted. Afterwards, you had a yogurt shake, then later dinner and to bed. Uneventful, sure, but stress-free, and your mood was sunny all day long. That's okay by me, boy I mean it, too.

Love,
Dad