Owen's status

I took Owen to UT Medical Center today to have blood drawn for genetic testing. He actually did pretty well - it took fewer people to hold him down than it did the last time he had blood drawn and only one try (they weren't getting more than one try, so it was a good thing)! We should know in a few weeks if it tells the doctors anything about why he has hearing impairment/vision impairment/delayed gross motor skills (though whether he actually has delayed gross motor skills is debatable in my mind). However, I did find out that they are NOT running the test Owen's ENT doctor wanted, so we'll have to go through his office so they can run a separate test. I will see if they can do bloodwork for that when he has his next surgery. He has to go next week to have new tubes put in and have his adenoids removed. Owen has had one ear infection after another since he had his tubes put in, which means they are not working and the adenoids are harboring bacteria that keep causing infections. So, the doctor says that new tubes and removing the adenoids should solve the problem. I hope so! I'm sick of ear infections and I can't imagine that any of this is good for his hearing.

So, that's the latest with Owen. Kate is over her bout with a bilateral ear infection and I'm still fighting a sinus infection or something. James is hit or miss... I'm hoping that by spring, we'll all be well and ready to enjoy the better weather!

Adventures of Grandfather and Nana, The Final Chapter

When I came home from school, at the door to greet me was my loving wife. Nana said that when she waved good-by to all of them this morning there was a cry (or two) in her eye.
We looked at each other and now know what it is really like to be Grandparents. As I walked into our home it hit my how quiet it was, no patter of Katherine running around chatting and singing, no plopping of Owen as he crawls (no I never got him to walk). All the pans are put away, all the toys back place. They are on the way to Knoxville.

I hope you have enjoyed our adventure as much as I have enjoyed writing them. I will end the Adventures of Grandfather and Nana with the following short poems.

GRANDPARENTS
Grandparents bestow upon their grandchildren

The strength and wisdom that time

And experience have given them.

Grandchildren bless their Grandparents

With a youthful vitality and innocence

That help them stay young at heart forever.

Together they create a chain of love

Linking the past with the future.

The chain may lengthen,

But it will never part...

~Author Unknown~

GRANDPARENTS
Grandparents are special people

with wisdom and pride.

They are always offering love and kindness

and are always there to guide.

They often make you feel

so confident and strong.

Their arms are always open

no matter what you did wrong.

They try to help out

in every way that they can.

They love all their grandchildren

the same whether you're a child, woman or man.

They are always there to listen

and to lend a helping hand.

They show you respect

and they try to understand.

They give their love, devotion and so much

more,that's easy to see.

Grandparents,

what perfect examples

of the kind of person that we should be.

~By Stacy Smith~

Adventures of Grandfather and Nana Day 9

James and Ang arrived safely back about 9:00 this morning. They well spend the night tonight and head back to Knoxville in the morning. Needless to say the children were thrilled to see mommy and daddy. It has been wonderful being together. One of the things Nana and Katherine didn’t get to do was make a pie. They did that this afternoon. This afternoon James, Ang, Katherine and grandfather went to the park to fly a kite. Katherine had fun doing that and sliding and swinging. Katherine is asleep and they just put Owen to bed. Well tomorrow they will head home.