Jake’s Recovery

It has been nearly a week since Jake’s surgery and he’s doing a whole lot better. His throat is still sore but manageable. He didn’t want any Tylenol this morning, that is the longest he’s gone without it. Now that he is on the road to recovery we need to work on getting back on a schedule. He’s gotten used to a late bedtime, late get up time and a late nap. Tomorrow will be his first day back at daycare so we better get busy.

This weekend we spent some time out of our house (much needed!) at G & G Bergmann’s. Amy and her crew were up so my boys got some playtime with the cousins. I think it helped Jake start to feel better. The weather was nice enough to play outside. Once everyone was thoroughly soaked they played forts inside.

Ben is as busy as ever. He was a little out of sorts with Jake being under the weather. He knew something was up and just didn't know what to do about it. He is talking a lot and can mimick almost any word. Between Ben and Jake I don't think I'll have any chance of staying indoors this summer (at least I hope!). Ben loves to be outside cruising around.

I don't think I wrote anything about us buying a camper. We finally broke down and bought one a few weeks ago. Jake is sooooo excited about it and it seems to be growing on Ben. At first when we went in he wanted to go right back out. We don't have a lot of days planned for the summer yet but we've talked about lots of them. I think Curt is just about as excited as Jake.

I started my 17P shots today. Curt also had his stitches removed at the same time, so he took Ben and Jake went with me. Jake thought it was pretty funny watching his mom get a shot in her butt. We’re crossing our fingers that the shots help. I also got them when I was pregnant with Ben and the doc feels that I’d never had made it to the end (even with bedrest) without them.

In 2 weeks we leave for Jamaica – it should be a blast. Hopefully we are organized by then. Both Curt and I need to figure out what we are going to wear for the wedding ceremony plus we need to find some vacation clothes for bumming around.

Hope everyone is well, enjoying the nicer weather and that your kids are enjoying the huge puddles everywhere!

Jake's Surgery

Jake had his tonsils removed, some re-growth of his adenoid and some lymph nodes on the left side of his neck removed today. He did an absolutely great job. We were a little worried about how it was going to go because last year when he had his ear tubes and adenoid removed it was an awful experience. This year was a totally different story. After surgery was a little tense due to an IV and a pressure bandage wrapped around his neck but as soon as he convinced the nurses to remove both of them (mostly by kicking, punching and screaming), he started coming around. I had a little episode of nearly passing out to add to the day but that is a whole other story.

He ate a popsicle as soon as we got home, then another, chewed some gum, had another popsicle, then a bowl of sherbet. I have this feeling that he’ll like his new diet just fine. We watched some movies, put a Lego tractor together, started the Lego combine and then I FINALLY convinced him to lay down for a rest. He really needed it.

We are spending the evening laying low and enjoying the snow coming down (since we don’t have to leave and can’t do anything about it anyway!). Hope everyone is well.

Ben has finally given up the bottle! I know, some of you moms are thinking, “oh my, he’s plenty old.” You’re probably right but for whatever reason I didn’t feel the need to yank it from him (mostly because he seemed like he really needed it) and now he pretty much decided, on his own, that he was done with it. He hasn’t had one since daycare on Friday and Melissa said he wasn’t very interested in it at all. I even packed them away.

I’ve been waiting to get the bottles off of the counter but I guess I can’t get too comfortable with that idea because in September we’ll be starting all over with them! We are getting pretty excited for our new arrival in the fall and crossing our fingers for a bedrest free pregnancy. Oh, I know, that isn’t likely but we sure can hope! I am feeling pretty good, just can’t seem to sleep at night. It has been 4 years with restless sleep what’s another couple?

We started a “Good Jar” and a “Not So Good Jar” for Jake today. Overall he’s really a good kid but he has a really hard time listening to us. Just keeps doing whatever it is (sitting on Ben, screaming, talking back, you name it) no matter what we do. So we are going to try this – pennies for good and pennies for not so good. If the good jar is full first he gets to pick out something new, if the not so good jar is full first he has to give up one of his favorite toys. I thought this was a great approach until while we were eating supper he asks me, “If I’m good, then bad, then good, then bad, both jars will be full at the same time. Then I can give one of my toys away to make room for my new one.” Not really what I had in mind!

Today the boys kept themselves busy riding bikes in the house. They were having a great time, crashing, falling over, ramming into everything. It’s time for spring – my boys can’t wait to get outside to play more.

Next week I have training Monday – Wednesday in St. Paul. Curt and the boys are going to come down and stay with me. We’re staying at the Raddison Waterpark of America. It should be a really good time. Curt isn’t sure what he’s going to do all day Tuesday with both boys so if any of you are looking for something to do, give us a call!

Ben doing what he loves to do - walk around in other people's shoes, especially Jake's, and now he's starting to want hats on while he does it.

Jake taught Ben this trick. I usually don't make too big of a deal about it because I remember how much fun it used to be. What's a little spilled milk right? Well, it might not have been such a good thing. Last week when we were out to eat, Ben did this and we had milk everywhere!

Riding bikes. Jake is still riding Ben's because the pedals on the Big Wheel are just a little too far away. Ben loves the big wheel because his Flintstone feet work great with it.

Another milk and straw experiment. Three straws together!

February 8th

Here's the scoop around the Feldewerd house.

Ben hasn't been sleeping the best since he had the stomach flu the week before Christmas. He sleeps but had been waking up a few times a night again. Kids have a way of getting off schedule and staying that way! So, we decided we would try taking the bunk beds apart and have Ben sleep in a big bed. I think it was last Wednesday, right before bed we took them apart and moved the crib out. Both boys were super excited. It amazes me how fast they catch on - already the next day at daycare he was wanting to sleep in the toddler bed. So far he loves it - I wouldn't say it have solved every sleep issue but it is so fun to see how excited he is about it and now when we say let's go "night night" he runs down the hall to his bed.

Ben has started liking books - a little. He has a small picture book from the Middendorf's that he really likes to sit and look through. The other night he was sitting with Curt and just like that we heard "tractor", neither of us had heard him say that before. Sometimes I can get him to repeat quite a few words, sometimes I'm not so lucky.

He's really starting to change into a 'big boy.' Wants to do everything that everyone else is doing. It is really fun to see all the wheels go around everyday, day after day.

We were sitting around on Saturday morning getting things ready and Jake told me his first joke. "Knock knock - who's there - Boo - Boo Who? - Well you don't have to cry about it." It was super cute and pretty funny. I didn't realize he was telling a joke at first, I was just playing along. He said Melissa taught it to him. I love stuff like that.

Saturday was our anniversary and a fun day for everyone. Grandma Marilyn picked Jake up 1pm to go to Elk River to the hotel with Aunt Amy and her gang. At 1:30 Jill came to babysit and Curt and I headed out for a day out. We went to see Gran Torino, had supper at Applebees, went shopping for a bit and then met up with some friends for the evening. It was a super day - everyone had fun and Mom and Dad had a 'date.'

Jake and Curt headed to the lake to do a little fishing this afternoon. I hope they catch at least a couple. Jake has been wanting to get out on the ice for the last few months.

That's all for now.

Picture Update

I'm not going to write much today - here's some new photos.

Ben's News

This is one that only moms will appreciate.

Well Ben had a big accomplishment on Monday (it hasn't happened since, but oh well), he went poop on the toilet. He's been really interested in the toilet for a few weeks - constantly watching Jake, standing by it like he's doing the deed, and running to the bathroom after he's already gone. Only in the last few days he's been saying 'poop'. On Sunday he told me poop after he went, then on Monday he kept saying it and wanting to sit on the toilet. So I humored him. And low and behold - he was right. So now I'm not sure if it is a game or if he's really trying to figure something out, but I'm spending a lot of time in the bathroom! He's very little to even get my hopes up but I do like that he's making the connections! He says poop all the time and grabs his diaper so I kind of think it is associated with peeing as well.

He's been saying lots more words too. Jake has been in his list for some time but it is sounding more like Jake now. I've heard him say cow, apple, up, down, he tries Alley (which was Jake's very first word), MaMa, DaDa, and some others I can't think of. He signs a few words too because they use it at daycare.

That's all for now.

Well it has been ages since I last updated, so I should have lots to share! Now if I can only remember what we've all been doing....

Chirstmas was great, however the week before wasn't so great. Ben had the stomach flu, I had the stomach flu and Jake had something. He had a fever and was just not feeling good. My mom came to the rescue once again since Curt was off in the cities hauling snow. My dad did an evening run to the gas station to bring some Pepto - boy I'm not sure how we would have survived otherwise! The bad thing was that we passed the bug on, Dad had it just before Christmas and while my brothers were home, they both got it too! I think my brother-in-law was blessed with it also.


Getting my brothers home was a little more interesting this year than other years. Since half the country was having bad weather they both had delayed flights. It all worked out fine, we just moved our family Christmas a day. Luckily Ryan's girlfriend Amanda didn't have any trouble getting here on the 27th. It was great to meet Amanda and spend a little time with her - of course we all thought she was wonderful. Well, I'm not sure what Jake thought since at one point he threw his cup at her and got her all full of milk! I don't think it was actually intentional since he had a bit of a surprised look on his face. Amanda - welcome to chaos!


Jake loved opening gifts everywhere (of course) and Santa's arrival was awesome. He only had one disappointment. He wanted a Star Bed from Santa. I asked him one day what a star bed was and his response was, "You'll just have to wait and see it." No Star Bed this year - he decided that it must have been too big for the sleigh. I think he's right.

Ben & Grandma having a snack on Christmas Eve.

Jake & Grandpa trying to figure out Jake's transformer.














Gabe & Jake taking a rest...














Mike & Will taking a rest...














Ben on his new trike - it's just a little bit too big yet.














Jake with one of his many presents.

New's Years Eve we went to Morton for the night. Since finding babysitters on New Years is a little tricky we took Curt's nephews Nate and Braden with us to watch the boys. It worked out great! Jake had an absolute blast with them and Curt and I got to do some visiting of our own. Brian and Jen also went with. Of course when it was time to go the next day Jake wasn't ready - the pool there was perfect for him. It was Ben's first overnight at a hotel and he did better than we thought he would.

Jake turned 4 on New Years Day. He was waiting for his birthday for a long time and LOVES being 4. We haven't celebrated with a party yet, much to his dismay, we thought we'd take a little time after the holidays to let things settle down. We'll be celebrating next Saturday with both families. The house needs some major cleaning before then but somehow it always seems to get done (thanks to my mom a lot of times!).















Ben & Jake playing on the new table we had my cousin Bill make. It's awesome.














Jake opening his birthday present from Aunt Amy and the gang.

Jake started swimming lessons last week at Jack Splash Swim School in Sartell. The minute I mentioned signing him up he was ready to go. I was still nervous that when we got there he'd change his mind. We arrived a half hour early so Jake had time to scope the place out. He had lots of questions and I had a chance to talk to the instructor a bit. Everything must have been just right because he did an absolutely awesome job and loved it. The lesson was only a half hour but I think he giggled the entire time. There are supposed to be 3 in his class but the other 2 didn't show so he had a private lesson. That might have made a difference but he still surprised me. He tried whatever Bill asked and ended up swimming all over the pool without assistance (other than floaties). It was well worth the money and the drive to Sartell. He has 10 weeks left and keeps asking when he can go again.



























Ben is doing great - he's finally starting to want to talk. There aren't a lot of words yet but he'll at least try. Physically he can do just about anything, very little stops him. Grandma Marilyn let him play by the sink one day in the water and that is definately his new favorite thing to do. It's great until he decides to dump and entire bowl of water onto the floor. He and Jake spend time out in the garage playing since it has been brutal outside. We bring the outside in! They both love it. We did the same thing for Jake other years, other than making a lot of moisture in our garage, it works awesome.

Ben has a nasty rash at the moment - not sure what it is. The doc says it is either an allergic reaction to something or a virus. I haven't seen it improving yet and he's had it a few days - hopefully by Monday it will be on the mend - then we can see if it comes back and then we can try to figure out what it causing it! Oh the fun. His mood is good and it doesn't seem to really bother him much, so I guess it could certainly be worse.

I hope everyone is well and that the new year brings you good health and happiness.