Busy, Busy!

July is a weird time for us. I'll probably write more when I've gotten some distance and perspective from all that's going on. For now I thought I'd share what we've done with some by posting some photo's - after all "a picture is worth a thousand words!"

The house is completely renovated, but it still needs those homely touches.
Thijs is busy fixing up pictures, lights and here he is installing a door bell.



Oma and Opa are helping us tidy up the outside of the house by getting rid of all the green waste.

Lilo has been keeping busy, making sure any tennis balls or squeaky balls are firmly annihilated!

I stayed in the kitchen making a few meals for the freezer. However I was so proud on my Greek inspired pie ... courgettes, mince and topped with feta enriched mashed potato, yummy!
I named it Troodos pie, after the mountain in Greek Cyprus, because it was such a huge pie. The sparkles in the ovens back splash make it look like a night sky ;)


You saw in the last post that Noah had sat on a chair, yeah well check out how confident he is now!

If you listen carefully you can hear Noah laughing - well his version of a laugh. :)

Now that the house is getting all lovely and home-y, we're turning our attention to the garden. We of course don't have any money to do anything yet, but it's fun to think of ideas and dream of what we'd like to do when we win the lottery! :)

Here's Thijs doing some research - although he's not that happy that I keep sneaking up on him taking photos!




Noah is often in his walker, he loves kicking a football. However Lilo has other plans ...

"Play with the tennis ball!"

"No! The tennis ball!"

"This kid is really hard to train!"


Noah hasn't been going to his creche group since we left our old home. Because his surgery is so important we didn't want to risk infection by Noah being in contact with too many children. However, we noticed that Noah really missed the interaction. So after some discussion with his team at the group, Noah now goes once a week for private sessions with some of the members of the team. He was really glad to go, and they were so glad to see him. Everyone commented on how big he's growing and how well he is doing developmentally. We're really proud of him.
Here he is doing some of his exercises ....

Noah can't come into the crawl position yet because his tummy muscles won't support him, but he can hold the position for a short while when assisted. This will help him develop his muscles.
Furniture surfing! I hadn't put much thought into how much balance comes into moving your feet together and apart. You have to put all your weight onto one foot, balance and move the "light" foot, then move your weight onto that foot, balance and bring your feet together! Phew ... this is also something Noah is practicing.

Noah is pretty active now, I'm not quite used to it. He can roll around onto his tummy and back again. He had done this once or twice in the past - but now he's like a little alligator thrashing around and around, especially in bed. Which is why he looked like this last week ....
.... mummy has to get used to closing the safety gates. Feeling very guilty right now!

This week he has a new look! My dad posted out some new clothes ... I'm not sure that Lilo is convinced whether Noah is a fashion victim ....
.... or a fashion guru. I have it on good authority that neon stripes are really in, but the jury is out!

We wanted to take a look around our new area, so we decided to go to the Saturday market and check out the shopping street. It was a miserable wet day, but the little town center was charming, lots of restaurants and independent shops. Great for window shopping and stopping for a lovely coffee and cake ... but maybe on a sunnier day!

Noah was in for his 2nd stent change last week. I got some lovely pictures of Noah on his bed watching "In the night garden" before he went down to surgery. His favourite thing to do now is chew on his foot .... he's just showing off how flexible he is really. I put together a little slide show, I hope you enjoy it :)



The Drostens xxx

Even more photos!

I realise we've been a bit quiet on the blogging front. You can appreciate it's hectic and stressful at the moment with the frequent trips to the hospital. However, that's not to say we're not taking time out to enjoy ourselves as a family when the opportunity presents itself.
We enjoyed a lovely bike ride this Saturday, a chance to enjoy the sunshine and get to know our new neighbourhood. As you can see, Noah was like a prince in his carriage. He really enjoyed himself.


Thijs did all the hard work, the box-bike is quite heavy once you add a few bottles of oxygen, a suction machine, Noah, and the dog!

Even though this is a tough time for Noah, he's still managing to surprise us. His development keeps on developing! Just for fun, Noah's nurse Heleen, put him on his seat (previously too big and too advanced for him) .... well, this was a surprise!

What a big boy :) He was able to balance himself and as you can see, his feet touch the floor!! Heleen is not one to let the grass grow under Noah's feet so she tried him on a stool (no back, and so therefore harder work for his tummy muscles to keep him stable).

Ta-da!

It's not only Noah's daddy that's incredible (see t-shirt), but our Noah is incredible. I keep wanting to call him my little boy, but he's not little anymore! :)

We're off to the hospital again this Friday for another stent change. His usual doctor is on holiday, but the surgeons performing the change were in attendance previously so it should be fine. We're very lucky in that the hospital let us come home after the procedure, it's a long day but at least Noah gets to sleep in his own bed at night.

We'll write as soon as we're able to string a few coherent sentences together, but for now we hope you enjoy the photos. :)
xx

A few photos

Noah after his first operation, in bed laughing at his favourite "In the night garden" DVD, surrounded by Maka Pakka!





Noah decided not to sleep before going to the hospital for his stent change, here's his happy face at 09:00am!!




As it was Noah's birthday, he asked that we take some treats in for all the doctors and nurses that care for him. They were very happy to join in with the celebration. Thanks Zuzanne for taking the time to make these yummy treats :)


Noah in his Birthday suit!

1st Stent change.

Just a quick update to let you know that Noah is home, safe and sound. He has a fabulous ear-ring that gives him a certain "Pirates of the Caribbean" look. :)

The change went well. His throat didn't bleed, and is healing nicely. There is scar tissue, but that's not unexpected. They will work on expanding the airway over the course of the next few months.
Noah's next stent change will be in 3 weeks.

We will be celebrating Noah's birthday a day later due to the hospital visit and so tomorrow you're very welcome to stop by during the day for some refreshments. We're so very proud of our little boy.

We'll post some pictures as soon as we get a little bit more on top of things - it's been a bit hectic!!

XX The Drostens xx

Going Home Soon.

Hi everyone,

We just heard that we can go home next friday, much earlier then expected. Louise is learnong how to take care of his metal canule, and will be qualified by then. I may have to finish a bit later, but luckily can also finish the instructions at home.

We will have to go back next week on friday for the change of the stent, and probably another overnight stay. After that we have to go back every three weeks for the same procedure, but it looks like we will be in hospital for a minimal amount of time.
We'll let you know when we have more news, I'll update this post as soon as i hear more.

Thijs

Hospital Update

Hi everyone,

Just a short hospital update to let you know that everything went well.  The operation was succesfull, and the doctor has succeeded in removing the blockage in Noah's throat, whilst also saving his vocal cords. 

The doctor was pleased with how the operation proceeded.  He saw that the vocal cords were fused, so he seperated them.  The chords are not in a great condition which could mean that he will not have a good voice, but it all depends on how he heals.  He has surprised the doctors before! :) At the very least he will be able to make sound.

The blockage was indeed composed of cartillage that had grown into a disc instead of a ring. The doctor managed to open this up, and create what he described as "a decent size airway". The doctor cut away the blockage, leaving behind a 'U' shaped piece of cartilage, so he didn't need to use a piece of Noah's rib in order to strengthen his airway - the less incisions made the better!

A stent was put in the opening, to make sure no scar tissue will grow over the opening. This stent will be permenantly removed at the end of the healing process, which could take a long time; a minimum of 4 months.  It's difficult to be precise because this depends on how quickly Noah heals, (which is different for each child), and how quickly his mucous membrane grows over the wound.  This membrane is important for a healthy airway.

At the moment Noah is getting a lot of pain medication, and he is quite sleepy after his big day.  He was awake this afternoon for a little while.  It cheered us up enormously that his first order of business was searching for doekie la doek, and then to lift his leg up and pull his sock off! Business as usual for Noah :)

He came awake quite unstressed and not at all upset, and gradually drifted back off to sleep.  Thijs describes him as being quite happily stoned!

The doctor goes on holiday after the 9th of July,  so he wants to perform the first change of the stent himself, it's possible that Noah is again in theatre on his birthday - but this will mean that he can come home earlier, of course depending on his recovery. It's quite probable that Noah will have his ear pierced during this operation.  This is because the stent is anchored via a chord to his canule at the bottom, and with sticking plaster over the chord at the top. However, sticking plaster can come loose so the safest way is to tie this chord to an ear-ring.  So our little man will get an ear-ring for his birthday from the hospital! 

Thijs and I are feeling completly drained.  It's been a very intense time.  We're so grateful that it's gone as well as it has.  Thank you for all your sms's, positive thoughts and prayers.

We're off out this evening to enjoy a meal with perhaps a glass of wine or two and looking forward to a relaxing night sleep :) 

xx Thijs & Louise

 

Photo Update

Noah in his walker - he loves being able to move about and he's really good at it!




A few highlights from our trip to Wales

Welcome to Wales ... they even hung the flags out for Noah's visit.



Here is Noah in front of Caerphilly castle.



All good things come to an end ... bye bye England - yes the cliffs really are white!


I wasn't joking about the stuffed car!


Carrying all that shopping was hard work ... some just aren't cut out for it!


Highlights from Noah's Christening

You are now officially Noah Aleidus Glyndwr :)


Much happier now with my pal - Can you dig my funky Welsh dragon shoes Ties?!

With my Godparents, Tom and Lol and also my opa, mamma and Pappa.


I hat to post this one as Lol's hat is so fabulous :)



The Christening gang, apart from Wendy who's taking the photo .. thanks Wendy :)






An enjoyable lunch with colleagues. Bedankt voor de bloemen!


Aaaargh! I'm being eaten by a giant fish ... put the camera down and HELP ME!



Noah was ready for his hair cut, and he was really calm sitting like a young lad on his own in the big chair .... of course with dookie le doek close at hand!


Doesn't he look great?




Noah is preparing for the Netherlands victory at the world cup. Hup! Holland Hup!


And no photo update is complete without a bath time shoot!