The faceless children take a top-secret trip to WDW...

[DrMomof3]

Lol I was just going to ask if they would stay on the band on his crocs. Do you know where I could find a link for those ID bracelets? I was trying to look for some, but couldn't find any. I do think he'd wear one if we explained to him what it is...he's big on safety.

We've used the Who's Shoes on all sorts of shoes without a problem. They might annoy him on the band of the crocs but I think it could work....
I need to find the thread about the bracelets. I think it was in the Disney for Families section....

Amanda

 

[Charlefours]

Great deals!! The dresses you picked up for Sdyney are just adorable! The sweater is perfect Tiana colors, if you like it enough.

We are using SafteyTats with Lilian. I think they will be worth it just for the peace of mind. I really don't think she is going to run off either but you never know.I am also planning on teaching Lilian what nametag to look for if she gets separated.

 

[lexmas]

Hey everyone,

Sorry I've been slacking on updating. I've been meaning to, but things have been a little crazy around here. I do have lots to show you! I think it will probably wait until next week though. I took Sydney to the doctor today for this lump she has under her jaw (I had noticed it before Maryland, but it had gone away so I thought it was a lymph node or something, but then it came back this week) and the doctor is pretty sure it's a cyst. (I asked him a million times if he thought it could be cancerous and he told me that he would be completely shocked if it was, and that a malignancy isn't even on his radar for what he was feeling. So that's about as good as a guarantee as I feel I can really get from a doctor. But since my dad died of oral cancer a year ago, I think it's understandable why I would worry!) But anyway, I have to take her for an ultrasound on it tomorrow and then we should get the results next week, so I can relax a bit then. After that he said I might have to take her to an ENT (ears, nose, and throat doctor) and that they would probably want to do surgery on it, but that it was likely that it could wait, so we'll have to see what the specialist says about that. I would rather wait because she's never been separated from me longer than the time it takes me to go to the bathroom AND she's still nursing and this is under her jaw so I feel like it would hurt her to nurse after, and all that would be pretty traumatizing, I feel. So hopefully it can wait a few years if we need to get it removed. Obviously, if it's more urgent than that, then we'll deal with it, but let's hope for the best! Any good thoughts you can send Sydney's way would be more than appreciated! I'm trying to stay rational and calm, but I am just going to be a worried, worried Mommy for a few days.

 

[-Hope-]

I understand the worry. Sending good thoughts your way and Sydney's!

 

[DrMomof3]

I totally understand your stress! I'm sure it'll be nothing serious but I'm sending lots of good thoughts and prayers your way.

Amanda

 

[Dancegrl624]

Poor little Sydney! Many thoughts will be sent her way.

 

[ksl5f123]

Awww. Poor Sydney. It is good that you caught it though so the Dr. can keep an eye on it.

to you, mommy. It is the roughest on us!! However, if you have to go ahead with surgery, little ones often bounce back much quicker than we would. DS had ear surgery when he was 6 months old and was ready to nurse the minute he woke up. He never missed a beat.

Hoping for good ultrasound results tomorrow!

 

[lexmas]

Quick update: Syd had her ultrasound yesterday, and I actually got to talk to the doctor that looked at it and to the tech doing the ultrasound, even though they'll send it out to the person who reads these things "officially". They don't think it's cancer or anything, they think it's a thyroglossal duct cyst, which I guess is when some tissue gets left behind during development when the thyroid moves from the base of your tongue down into your throat. They looked at her thyroid though, and they think that her thyroid is just fine. From what I can find from some light googling, people get it removed if mostly if it's a problem, but that they generally do like to remove it because it can become infected and because if cysts keep forming they can be cancerous. So I freaked out about that until DH read the actual studies that talked about the cysts being cancerous and they said that cancer from this type of cyst makes up 1% of thyroid cancer. So, then I stopped freaking out, because 1% of a not so common type of cancer isn't something to freak out about. Especially because I had also read that it was a problem in adulthood, which probably makes sense because your thyroid does a lot of work during/after puberty. So I am hoping that this means they'll let us delay it for a few years, but we will see what the doctor says on monday, and since I'm pretty sure they'll send me to an ENT, what they say as well. After DH found out that info clarifying the cancer stuff, I am relieved with the results, and thankful that it seems that all is well.

Thank you to everyone for keeping us in your thoughts! I really appreciate it!

 

[-Hope-]

You must be so relieved!! I'm so glad that it has worked out. I don't blame you for freaking out a little- its natural when you read/hear the word cancer associated with your kids in any way to freak out a little. I'm glad your getting lots of opinions and educating yourselves to make sure your Sydney is getting the best possible care.

 

[Nettaboo]

wow!!You have been going thru alot!I am so glad everything worked out well!

 

[ksl5f123]

for good ultrasound results!!!!!

 

[lexmas]

Thanks for all the support for Sydney. (And for me!) We go see the ENT next Tuesday, so we'll know how we're proceeding then. Part of me really just wants to get the cyst out, but the rest of me feels very strongly about the circumstances, not if it's going to hurt her ability to nurse, and not if she has to be separated from me before the surgery because I just don't want her to be that scared. So, we will see. That pesky minuscule cancer risk really messes with me in how I want to deal with this. I hope this ENT is really nice and understanding!

Back to disney, to take my mind off my troubles. I've been crafty lately, and I have a bunch more things lined up!

First up, I went a little overboard on the diaper covers. The second picture is so that hopefully you can see the embellishments, even though my camera was fuzzy when I took these. Some little boy keeps putting his fingers on the lens!

Then I made the skirt for Sydney's dinosaur costume. I am really proud of how this turned out!

Once I was in the mood from that, I made her this dress:

...here it is on my unwilling model.

We were out this weekend and happened upon some bargain water shoes for Sydney, which I was happy with because the soles are all flexy, and I was having trouble figuring out what she would wear if it rained. So this seemed like a good idea. Plus, we picked up some sandals (toy story!) for Jay for that reason too, because I don't like crocs in the rain. Actually, I would prefer the sandals all the time, with the moving sidewalks for loading rides and stuff. But he loves his crocs, so I will at least enforce the rain. He likes that they light up.

I also made him those soft-sole Buzz shoes, because I'm making Syd some shoes for the trip (2 or 3 pairs, something like that...but they're just a few layers of denim on the bottom, and I don't know how they'll hold up, so that's why more than one) and he's getting jealous that I always make Sydney things. He likes them, and I think they turned out well! I think I'm going to use that Halloween fabric like that skirt up there and make them matching soft-sole shoes to wear with their dinosaur costumes.

Speaking of dinosaur costumes...I lucked into a dinosaur costume for J.J. that matches Sydney's! I traded it on one of my sites online with someone! They have a blast dressing up together. I'm thinking maybe I'll just have them wear undies (well, a diaper in Syd's case) under these so they're not too hot.

Alright, that's all I've done for now. I'm starting to think about putting together a journal for this trip...it's just getting the time to do it! I also want to make the kids some disney jammies for the trip, but I haven't even bought the fabric for that. Less than 8 weeks to go!

Please keep us in your thoughts, it means a lot to me! I'll let you know how the appointment goes next week!

 

[-Hope-]

I totally understand your reservations with the cancer risk but also weighing that against the risk of surgery, interfering with nursing, etc. I hope after meeting with the ENT that some of your fears are put to rest and you are able to make a decision that gives you peace of mind.

LOVE the diaper covers, so cute! The skirt and dress are adorable as well. It's so funny how out of little kid mode I am, that dress looked so small that I thought it would be about tunic length and then I saw it on her and it's a full dress.

Those dinasour costumes are cute too- you guys are going to look great at the party!

 

[Dancegrl624]

You certainly have been crafty! The diaper covers are so cute and I love the Cinderella dress. Adorable! I love the idea of adding a skirt to Sydney's dino costume. Your kiddos look so cute together in the dino costumes!

 

[ksl5f123]

Wow! Your sewing machine has been busy! You have a good collection of diaper covers going! I am partial to princesses , so I like the pink one the best.

I love the dress for Sydney. So cute!

I can't believe you make shoes too!!!! What can't you do??!

 

[lexmas]

I totally understand your reservations with the cancer risk but also weighing that against the risk of surgery, interfering with nursing, etc. I hope after meeting with the ENT that some of your fears are put to rest and you are able to make a decision that gives you peace of mind.

LOVE the diaper covers, so cute! The skirt and dress are adorable as well. It's so funny how out of little kid mode I am, that dress looked so small that I thought it would be about tunic length and then I saw it on her and it's a full dress.

Those dinasour costumes are cute too- you guys are going to look great at the party!

Thank you! I really appreciate all the nice thoughts. It's so hard to have to make the "right decision" about surgery with a baby! I'm too tied up emotionally and can't imagine if anything were to happen to her! DH is super laid back and not worried about it at all, he's sure everything will work out. I mean, that's great, but I need to fret about it, so someone needs to fret with me!

Haha, I could see thinking the dress was shorter. It's also not crooked like it looks in the picture on her. She's just tiny.

I hope it all comes together for the party! I kind of think no one will have any idea what we are. But that's alright. We'll know.

You certainly have been crafty! The diaper covers are so cute and I love the Cinderella dress. Adorable! I love the idea of adding a skirt to Sydney's dino costume. Your kiddos look so cute together in the dino costumes!

Yeah, poor DH has been baby-herding while I sew. They're obsessed with the sewing machine and always want to be touching it! Now I just need to figure out how to make a bow for her costume. DH always needs her to be clearly "girly". In fact, I thought he wasn't going to make the ultrasound with me on Friday, so I dressed her in some green and blue boyish outfit, and when I realized he was coming I changed her into all pink. I didn't want to hear it!

Wow! Your sewing machine has been busy! You have a good collection of diaper covers going! I am partial to princesses , so I like the pink one the best.

I love the dress for Sydney. So cute!

I can't believe you make shoes too!!!! What can't you do??!

Oh there's lots I can't do. It has to be very simple for me to do it. Kind of like my knitting and crocheting skills...all I can make are rectangles. So, blankets, scarves, that's about it. I crocheted some very scary looking stuffed animals for the kids once, I should take them out and take a picture. Then you would see that I very much can't do lots of things! J.J. did love his though, and he would bring it to JoAnn's when I went shopping and I would try and hide it from all the crafty people. Not pretty!

Although, I do love to sew, and I've been telling DH that if it turns out I'm done having kids (I'm not coping well with the cyst thing, so I'm telling him I might be done after all...he disagrees ) I want to take sewing classes and like, open up an etsy store once my kids are in school. I can dream, right?

I'm making another dress for her (well, I have the fabric, I haven't started it yet) in a "tiana" theme. So stay tuned!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Yeah, poor DH has been baby-herding while I sew. They're obsessed with the sewing machine and always want to be touching it! Now I just need to figure out how to make a bow for her costume. DH always needs her to be clearly "girly". In fact, I thought he wasn't going to make the ultrasound with me on Friday, so I dressed her in some green and blue boyish outfit, and when I realized he was coming I changed her into all pink. I didn't want to hear it!

I'm all about the "girly" stuff. Madison was a bald baby (didn't really have much hair until she was 2 yrs old), so I was always putting those stretchy pink headbands on her. People still thought she was a boy! It was very irritating.

 

[DrMomof3]

Sorry about the stress about the cyst. I'm sure you'll have more info when you see the ENT.
You've been very busy sewing! Great job!!!

Amanda

 

[wlake]

Hello! You are so creative! As for the backs of heads pictures, I'm a teacher and that seems to be all I get of my students, especially on field trips! I just tell parents that there's a reason I didn't get into photography for a living!

I'm a little late here, but we give our boys (8 and 5) what we call "lost cards" to put in their pockets. They have our phone numbers and address on them. I got a bunch of them printed up for just the cost of shipping ($3 or $4, I think) from the Kodak Photo Gallery -- they have a great Disney picture on one side and the info on the back. I also use them as luggage tags inside each of our carry ons and suitcases. I didn't have them last year, so for that trip I just wrote the info on a small 2" by 3" card and laminated them. Both boys love cargo shorts, so there are always tons of pockets! They know if they're lost, they can show the cards. My DS 8 knows the numbers but I make him carry one just in case he panics. I know parents who give them to the hostess when they drop their child off at a birthday party, too.

The cyst sounds scary. My DS 5 developed a problem with one of his lymph nodes under his neck a few months ago. He had an ultrasound and a CT to rule out the nasty possibilities, so now the ENT has us doing "watchful waiting" to see what happens. We go again next week, and I'm hoping he gets a completely clean bill of health. The thought of surgery on a baby (even when they're 5!) is scary, especially if it might interfere with nursing. Good luck!

ETA: The cards are called Mommy Cards, and the first 50 of them are free.

 

[lexmas]

Sorry about the stress about the cyst. I'm sure you'll have more info when you see the ENT.
You've been very busy sewing! Great job!!!

Amanda

Thanks! And I know I'll know what I need when I see the ENT. We're taking her to one of the best practices around here, so I know they'll do the right thing. It's just hard keeping busy until then. Honestly, I go back and forth about panicking about it, since everything I've read about it indicates that it probably needs to be removed, but that it's not a big problem. And I know you're not supposed to be googling medical information, but I can't help but think that the fact that I'm NOT finding bad stuff has to be a good sign.

Hello! You are so creative! As for the backs of heads pictures, I'm a teacher and that seems to be all I get of my students, especially on field trips! I just tell parents that there's a reason I didn't get into photography for a living!

I'm a little late here, but we give our boys (8 and 5) what we call "lost cards" to put in their pockets. They have our phone numbers and address on them. I got a bunch of them printed up for just the cost of shipping ($3 or $4, I think) from the Kodak Photo Gallery -- they have a great Disney picture on one side and the info on the back. I also use them as luggage tags inside each of our carry ons and suitcases. I didn't have them last year, so for that trip I just wrote the info on a small 2" by 3" card and laminated them. Both boys love cargo shorts, so there are always tons of pockets! They know if they're lost, they can show the cards. My DS 8 knows the numbers but I make him carry one just in case he panics. I know parents who give them to the hostess when they drop their child off at a birthday party, too.

The cyst sounds scary. My DS 5 developed a problem with one of his lymph nodes under his neck a few months ago. He had an ultrasound and a CT to rule out the nasty possibilities, so now the ENT has us doing "watchful waiting" to see what happens. We go again next week, and I'm hoping he gets a completely clean bill of health. The thought of surgery on a baby (even when they're 5!) is scary, especially if it might interfere with nursing. Good luck!

ETA: The cards are called Mommy Cards, and the first 50 of them are free.

Welcome! Thanks for coming by! The back of heads pictures are definitely the default, I only get faces when I tell them to smile at me!

Thanks for the advice about Mommy Cards, I am going to go check those out now!

The cyst is scary! It's hard being a Mommy sometimes and dealing with this stuff! I hope that you find out next week that your son's problem cleared up on it's own! I will be thinking of you!