Tubes

The end of February we took Ryder to the ENT Specialist. He had 4 ear infections from December 1st to mid February and was on antibiotics more than he was off during that time. They did a hearing test and determined he would benefit from tubes going in and adenoids coming out. He was a good patient and listened closely to all the doctor had to say.

The surgery itself was pretty uneventful. The hardest part was to keep food and drink away from him prior to the procedure. He was eating cheez-its in post-op, and by about 1 pm that afternoon you would have never known anything happened to him. He went to daycare the next day.

We had a 1 month post of visit in March. The tubes were staying in place and his adenoids healed well. His hearing improved on the audiologists test, but as you can see from the photos of us waiting, his listening has not gotten any better!

Filling in the Gaps

Yes, I know it is not the end of February ... and I am thankful for that. February was a rough month, and I am full of good excuses.

February saw me in the second month of a new job. My company merged with another company and got a new name - Quatris Health (not to be confused with Crotchless Health, as more than one person has misunderstood me saying). I took on a new role as the Manager of Training, and times have been busy trying to figure out what that means exactly. I have been out of management for a couple years, and between navigating a new role, a "new" company, and new people reporting to me, it has been a tad hectic getting back in the swing of things. Needless to say, there has been much down time for blogging.

Not that I could have blogged if I wanted too. Well I could have, but I doubt anyone really tunes into the Blog for my witty banter. In February our home PC died. In the hands of a more advanced techno-geek it was probably fixable, but I've heard the description "Blue Screen of Death" enough to know I didn't possess the skills to revive it. Luckily mom's OCD rubbed off on me enough that I am crazy about backing up my videos and photos of Ryder. Not much was lost in terms of content ... but you may need to send me your address if you expect a Christmas card next year.

What was lost was my main means of blogging. Sure I have 2 other computers, but one is my work laptop and the other is from circa 2005 and runs so slow I want to poke a fork in my eye when I sit in front of it. Neither computer has Photoshop on it, and neither has Flipshare (what I use to manage videos). So back to my earlier point: I could have blogged words, but words don't keep Gramma Jill in images of Ryder. Instead I went blog silent.

So here it is, mid April and I have some catching up to do. I still don't have a new computer (if you are one of Ryder's grandparents who feels guilt about being 1000 miles away from your only grandchild and who thinks this is a neat little gizzmo for seeing his ever growing and changing face, I urge you to contribute just $10 a day to the CPU Contribution Fund. No pressure.).

I have figured out how to get photos and videos from my phone directly to the blog in the meantime. If I stand on one foot and hop while facing East at sunrise and cluck like a rooster, it really isn't so hard. But for you, far off friends and family, no amount of work is too much to get you out of visit to Oklahoma. I'm a giver. And so I begin filling in the gaps between March and now ...

P.S. I hear Reader's Digest has a great article on 10 Reasons to Retire in Oklahoma ... for some light reading in between blog posts: Save Money and See Your Grandson!

OUTSIDE!

If I hear "Mama" 10,000 times a day, then I hear "go outside" 5,000 times. I envision someday he will join a commune in Oregon where he will live among the trees and bathe in streams just to avoid ever having to be indoors. The boy loves being outside.

He has been sick (really, when is he not sick?!?) and I didn't think it was a great idea, but he wore me down.   The weather wasn't bad, maybe in the 40's but the Oklahoma wind was whipping. He didn't think his hoodie was enough, and insisted he wear his bear coat from Aunt Carla. He always insists on the bear coat from Aunt Carla, even when it is 70 degrees. We played outside much longer than I would have liked (Aunt Carla, maybe I need a bear coat ... ?), but he had a blast.

Watering the dogs

 Sliding

 General toddler fun

And then sleeping off all that fresh air with Daddy

Bucked off

He started with daddy  ...

And worked his way up.

If riding a 4 inch high stuffed dog is this much trouble, let's hope he never tries bulls.

Overheard

A glimpse into what is like to have a conversation with my husband.

Trent: I dropped off the lawn mower and told the lawn mower people not to go crazy on fixing it
Trent: I helped them plant onions, so if we need some ...
Laurie: What?
Trent: They planted five rows
Laurie: Why did you help the lawn mower people plant onions?
Trent: My parents!
Laurie: You said "them" ... we were talking about the lawn mower people, not your parents
Trent: Konner was mad he had to help, he said he didn't even eat onions. I told him me neither!
Laurie: You eat onions
Trent: Well I didn't used to
Laurie: But you weren't having this conversation with Konner when you were 12, you were having it today. Why did you lie to him?
Trent: I only eat them cooked, not raw like you do
Laurie: Eating them cooked is still eating them
Trent: I can't hear you when you close the door
Laurie: I didn't close the door, you did

WOW!

This is why I need 30 minutes to go from work mode to wife mode. Speaking Trent Drennan is like speaking a whole 'nother language.

39th Birthday

Ryder helped me celebrate turning 39 earlier this month. Mom mailed the cake, frosting and candles, and we had a little party after support. He still doesn't quit get the concept of blowing out the candles, mostly he spits all over the cake.

Ryder and Mama on her 39th birthday

Ryder trying to blow out the candles

Hunting for some milk to have with our cake

Yummy frosting!

He really enjoyed the frosting at first, but as time wore on we would catch him sticking his finger in the frosting and then sticking the frosting in the gas tank of his truck. I didn't realize his truck was a hybrid. And I don't approve of wasting frosting mailed from Minnesota.

Moves like Jagger

Ryder loves to dance, and apparently is working towards a career in break dancing based on the amount of time he spends on the floor.

Football follies

When Trent and I got married, we merged many parts of our life. Some were easier than others.

Trent was a fan of college sports and didn't pay much attention to the professional level. During the World Series a few years ago, he asked who this Derek Jeter guy was and commented how he was really quite good (!). I never paid attention to college sports - my attention span isn't good enough to learn new players names every 2 years. I like most professional sports, but football has always been my favorite. 

Last weekend we got the opportunity to spend some time with former OSU and current Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden. This was the perfect fit for both of us.

Trent was so excited he was giddy, he even put on cologne (for the first time since we got married). He debated between the cowboy hat and the OSU Cowboys baseball cap, and he wanted to make sure Brandon knew they shared the same Alma Mater. I was excited that I got to meet an NFL quarterback  despite the fact that he plays for a team I wouldn't be caught dead cheering for. Ryder couldn't have cared less.  

The family with Brandon Weeden

I love my family very much, but I did not hesitate to crop them out ... Me and Brandon!

Brandon signing the OSU football of Ryder's we brought

Trent and Brandon bonding over Stillwater

The football. If Brandon makes it into the Hall of Fame, this will go on eBay and into Ryder's college fund (for OSU, of course!)

Brandon was the nicest man - really down to earth and personable. He and his wife live in Stillwater and came to this dinner in Chickasha to raise money for the County Fair. He kissed babies and shook hands and genuinely seemed to be enjoying himself. Almost enough to turn me into a Browns fan.

These photos are unrelated, but they crack me up. As I'm sure happens with all toddlers, anytime we are anywhere there is a little girl, the parents always try to get the two of them to love on each other. I don't even know who this little girl is, but her face is priceless in these pictures.

Listening to instructions from her dad ...

Hugs. Gross.

And the eye roll. Classic!

Maybe try again in 15 years Ryder and you'll have better luck!

Lovin' the farm

At least a couple times a week, weather permitting, we tag along with Trent and go over to the farm to feed and generally harass the animals. Ryder loves everything about it. He likes riding in the feed truck, he likes scoping out the feed, the likes riding the Gator, and he likes gathering the eggs. He talks to the cows, horses, goats, and chicken, and overfeeds the dogs and cats. When it is time to go, he screams - then as we are driving away he will wave and say "bye-bye" to the cows. We are looking forward to warmer weather and more hours of evening daylight so we can spend more time there.

Riding in the gator with dad

 Playing with Sam, the new puppy

Loving on Ferdinand with dad 

Watching dad out the window of the feed truck

Looking for something to feed

Helping Papa put away eggs

All about hats

I love a good hat (or at least I did before I cut all my hair off) so I am pleased that Ryder is warming up to the concept of a good hat.

Prepster

I love these photos. Maybe it is the argyle, maybe it is how happy he was to be getting his picture taken, but these make me smile.

Overheard

Me: Anything
Ryder: NO!

And always with that finger shake. I wonder where he learned that?!

The many faces of Ryder Dean

"but mom, I'm so cute!"

"not tonight mom, I have a headache"

"not now, I'm pooping"

"why yes, I am a comedian"

"dad is feeding cows without me"

"I can get these all out before she catches me"

"cheese"

"this is the smallest TV I have ever seen"

"with this remote, I can rule the world"

"change my diaper? I don't think so"

"Where'd it go?"

"ahhhhhh"