Don't Lick

When I said "Don't Lick" I should have been more specific.

They sure love eachother and we have been so happy with how gentle Hurlie is with him.

Bennett just being cute this afternoon. We talked to the Doctors today and it looks like we will be trying again with the trach removal on October 19th!

Lots of new sounds!

Bennett is trying out the new sounds today and has started sounding a bit like an angry elf.

He was actually pretty happy but just sounds mad. I am sure it will take him a while to get used to it.

We are teaching him how to sing Happy Birthday for his Auntie Katie tomorrow :)

Most beautiful sound in the world

I promise he is happier today than it seems in this video but it definately captures the new sound in our home.

I hope to post lots of cute giggles tomorrow. We are trying to give his little throat and voice some time to heal and rest.

How this works... His trach is now a smaller tube and taking up less space in his windpipe. So when we put a little cap on it allows for air to sneak around it and come out his mouth and nose. Hopefully with lots of practice over the next couple weeks he will be great at it and they will just pull the trach out!

Obviously this makes for a quiet little cry but still the most beautiful sound to a momma that hasn't heard her little man make a sound since he was 2 months old.

New Plan.

We are all home after a very uneventful day at the hospital. When the surgeon went to take a look into Bennett's airway they discovered he had quite a bit of scar tissue that can come from irritation. The surgeon said it was common in active little guys like Bennett.

They removed the scar tissue and felt like his throat would be too sore to try to remove the trach today. He sent us home to heal up and we have a plan to try again after a few weeks of healing.

They put in a smaller trach which allows him to breathe through his mouth around the trach a tiny bit. This makes it so he can practice over the next couple weeks. He loves his new sounds he is making today. Hopefully they will just get louder in the next couples weeks and he will be a pro when we try all of this again.

Thankfully the next time he wont have to be in an operating room or under anesthesia.

Bennett did wonderful today up at the hospital. He was a trooper and he always gets so many "oh my goodness what a cutie" which makes him smile even bigger.

Thank you for everyone's good thoughts and prayers, although it wasn't the outcome we had hoped for, Bennett is very happy playing at home and I think he has already forgotten he spent most of the morning at the hospital.

Grandmama multi-tasking

Getting ready for his week...

In anticipation of his surgery this week where we will determine the best way to remove his tracheostomy, I have been trying to take a ton of pictures and capture our little guy being cute with that trach in.

Bennett will be heading to Seattle Childrens once again this Thursday. We are meeting with the surgeon in the OR to determine what to do next... Our goal is to remove the trach but we are not sure how long this process will be. We just have to wait and see... Please keep our little guy in your thoughts that day. We have been waiting a long time to get to this point and we are very anxious to see what the surgeon comes up with.

Here are a few pictures from our weekend while daddy was away in Eastern Washington.

Cousin Reece... what a charmer

These kiddos are going to give us trouble together... what a cutie!

Our Nephew Reece Marquez!

Loves the Puffs, Yummy

With all the crazy surgeries Bennett hasnt really been a fan of anything but his bottle... until the sweet potato PUFFS. He loves finding them and plunking them in his mouth... I think he has had a few too many in the past couple days but I cant help myself... just too cute to watch him gobble them up!

Bennett sure loves the ladies...

Bennetts good friends Charli and Hadley came to visit today... what a treat!

They are the sweetest girls and it is so fun to see my best friends be such great mommies.

Helping daddy at work

Bennett and I have been loading up the jogging stroller and running to Joels work lately... He loves it!

And yes, that is a Dwight bobble head on his desk...

Happy birthday Stacey!

It is Bennett's nurse Stacey's birthday this weekend... So we had a
party for her. Well we wore hats and made a cake, but it was still
fun. Bennett couldn't wear the hat without trying to look at it the
whole time.

Stacey is moving next month and we will be so sad! We will really miss
her!

Crawling is so hard

Bennett is trying so hard to crawl. He sits on all fours looking
determined.... So far he can move his hands out and then it ends like
this... It is cute but still gets him nowhere.

The ZOO again!

Bennett took his friend Charli to the zoo today. He wanted to show her the tigers and elephants he saw the last time we went earlier this summer. Bennett got to see a few more of the animals up close and actually seemed a bit interested in them.

Thanks Stacey, Jania and Charli for a fun day!!

Bennett checking out the Tiger...

The Walrus checking out Bennett...

Yum Red Robin!

I don't know anyone who doesn't love Red Robin... Bennett was no different. This was his FIRST restaurant experience and he sure thought it was great...

But after a long day out he was pretty tired and caved to a nap right in the middle of lunch...

Aquarium!

We went to the Seattle Aquarium today! Bennett had a great time seeing a few of his friends and definately loved the seals!

Learning all about Northern Fur Seals

Checking out the seals from above

The babies and mommas

The Beach!

The family spent Sunday at the beach in Tokeland! Bennetts Great Grandmother Laurie lives there and finally got to meet him. We were able to make it down the the windy beach so that bennett could see the Ocean for the first time.

Bennett was a little confused about the wind but liked the feel of sand on his feet. He also got to wear his firemans rainsuit and his firetruck rubber boots that his Auntie Katy and Uncle Rock got him. (I think mom enjoyed it a little more than he did :)

Hurlie was the happiest out of everyone... she loves the beach for chasing the ball and getting dirty.

Always ready for a walk

Bennett has always loved his daily stroller walks... Lately he has
been sitting in it like it is a roller coaster, all the way up. (he is
strapped in across his lap, dont worry)

Always alert and ready for anything on our walks ;)

Bennett making friends...

Bennett got woken up from his nap with a sweet little Hadley Block, Daughter of our friends Shannon and Andy Block, in the living room... He was not so sure what to think...

He really got used to her and they had a good time playing today... Such a fun and busy age... Keeping their mommies busy!

We have a Butt Scooter...

Bennett still refuses to be on the his belly which has left him frustrated on how to travel around his world. So I think he thinks he has invented the Butt Scoot. It is pretty hilarious and not very efficient at this point but he is giving it his all.

Here he is attempting to scoot to our wonderful nurse Stacey... He sure loves her and is obviously very entertained with himself.

(please ignore the overly loud mother with the camera)

Yum... Crib

Bennett has been pulling himself up and definately getting into
things...

He has also been working on two top teeth and anything seems to be
free game for going into his mouth.

The combination on these two things have definately made for some
funny moments... Too cute!

Our new nephew...

Katie, Marty and Baby Reece Marquez!!

He is adorable and lots of fun already!

INTRODUCING REECE WILLIAM MARQUEZ!

8lbs 10oz, born at 6:58am
A very handsome little boy and a very proud family!
Mommy is doing great and deserves a nap after a long night!

Waiting at the hospital for his cousin

We are so excited to meet our new nephew Reece Marquez! Bennett is so
sleepy from waiting all day ;)

He should be here in the next couple hours!

Three Olsen men

Playing with daddy and grandpa Olsen

Happiest little man in the world

Ok I know I have been posting a little too much lately... but I couldnt resist sharing these ones...

Someone may be outgrowing his infant tub..

Bennett's best bud

Hurlie is trying to get Bennett to throw the ball... And Bennett is
trying to convince Hurlie to come close enough to grab her ears...
Very entertaining and unsuccessful for both of them.

hot hot hot

Bennett just trying to stay cool at Grandma and Grandpas house.

Okay Bennett, now you are just showing off...

Always attempting to entertain Bennett during the 7 hour Dr. Appointment at the hospital.

Bennett had his first post surgery out-patient appointment today. He saw all of his Doctors at Childrens in Seattle and we get a room and the Doctors all come and visit... makes for a very long day.

The surgeon decided to take a look down his throat to decide what to do about getting the trach out. He took a look with a scope down into his airway and decided the surgery was a complete SUCCESS!

So now we have to schedule an operating room and time with the surgeon so that he can take a final look into his airway while Bennett is under anesthesia and make sure the scar tissue from the trach is all looking ok. The trach should be removed then... We can not believe we are so close. The only down side to all of this great news is that our surgeon is one busy guy and can not fit us in until October 1st. So unless I get my way with pestering the scheduling department or there is some cancellations we will have to wait until then.

We could not be happier with the results from his surgery. He is doing wonderful and we cant wait to have the trach out and to get on with all the normal little boy stuff!!

Reece in waiting...

Auntie Katie looking beautiful... It could be cousin Reece's birthday
any day now. We can't wait to meet him!!

Hey tooth fairy!

It is hard to get his very first new tooth in a picture but this is
definately his new thing lately, rubbing his tooth with his pointer
finger.

It has sure been bothering him lately, he just can't get a break!

The ZOO!!

Bennett took his very first trip to the zoo today. It was wonderful weather and we sure had an amazing time. It was nice to get a fairly normal trip outdoors in public. He definately turns heads at times... but I think it is just because he is super cute!

His favorite parts were the sharks, the cool stuffed monkey from the gift shop and being outside all day. He was absolutely enchanted with all the children running around... maybe he will be a little more excited about the animals in a couple years.

Our WONDERFUL nurse came with us and sure made the day extra fun and way easier! Thanks Stacey!

What a sweet smile!

Out for a walk in the rain this week.

Yum sweet potatoes

Not really sure what he thinks of baby food... but he surely didn't mind getting messy.

Rad like Dad!

Bennett is finally feeling pretty much back to normal. He is eating a bit better and busy playing all the time. His schedule is pretty off and loves to be up in the evenings to play and we are picking our battles at this point and enjoying the extra play time.

Some cute pictures from this week in the sun!

His newest friend Charli Miltenberger on his first trip to the LAKE! The babies did not like getting their feet wet... we will have to wait for swimming lessons a bit longer...