The World of Mackay

The kids are doing great. Owen's smile will light up a room and he bestows it freely on anyone who comes within range. Miss Mackay is keeping us entertained with her 'Mackay-isms' and non-stop chatter. "Don't worry, Mom. I got it." - Said in response to my frequent looks of concern as she makes an enormous mess or is looking like she may fall to her death. "No...Do it Kai's-self" - Said anytime anyone tries to help her with something. And our recent favorite: We're in the car, and Bill and I are trying to have a conversation. Mackay is babbling incessantly, and with increasing volume, in the back seat. When we can no longer hear each other, Bill and I turn around simultaneously say (yell?) "MACKAY! Would you please be quiet!!!" She stops her monologue, stares sulkily out the window, and says under her breath... 'Jeez.'

A few months ago, Mackay walked by her dad in an unpleasantly stinky state, and Bill asked her, in the phraseology of her grandfather Rule, "Do you have a turd in your pants?" To which Mackay responded, "A turtle?" Since then, it has become an inside joke in our house when we need to change Mackay's 'turtle-ish' diapers. Today, Bill informed me that things have evolved, and the new lesson during diaper changes is 'Don't touch the turtle.' Ick.

Owen had a minor setback last week. Thanks to Bill's vigilance, Owen got a slightly accelerated trip to UCSF for an angioplasty (they put a catheter through a vein in his leg and use a little balloon to expand a part of his heart). The good news: the procedure was successful in expanding a small part of his aortic arch and his blood flow is probably better than it ever has been. The not so good news: there is still an area that is too narrow, but time will tell whether it needs further surgery. In any case, Owen seems to be responding tremendously well. Despite a nasty cold, he's smiley, wiggly, kicking, and generally a happy little guy. We're thrilled to have him home. Happy New Year!!

The holidays are almost here... little Owen is 2 months old already. He's doing well... having doubled his weight - from 5 lbs at birth to over 10 lbs. We're expecting he'll need another heart procedure -- an angioplasty where they go in through an artery with a little balloon to expand a narrow area in his heart -- but not sure when it will be. Let's hope he doesn't get THAT for Christmas. Miss Mackay continues to thrive, though she's definitely hit the terrible two's. All in all, she's been a great big sister and is doing well to accommodate the new addition to the family. Bill was explaining to her about Santa the other day - he knows when you've been good or bad, yadda yadda... And he tells her that Santa doesn't come if you've been bad. Mackay looks at him, wide eyed, and says "Oh no!!"

If you ask Mackay how old she is, she will tell you definitively either 'five', or (inexplicably) 'two more months'. In either case, she is officially two years old -- with daily bouts of throwing herself dramatically to the floor to protest anything denied to her to prove it. She received some wonderful birthday gifts, including a karaoke machine from Papa John, a tricycle from Nana, her own 'puter' (aka DVD player) and perhaps her favorite gift -- a chocolate cupcake. Some milestones: she has officially moved from her crib to a 'big girl' toddler bed - which she seems to enjoy. However, on night two of being in her new bed, she managed to fall out of it. Fortunately it's only about 12 inches to the carpet. She seems undeterred and continues to climb into her new bed each night without concern. On the little brother front, Owen is officially a month old -- and has already gained two pounds, perhaps setting a record for newborn weight gain. Every da...

Owen's been home for just over a week now, and things are going well. He's already gained a pound since he was born, and he's a very mellow little guy. Mackay is mostly ignoring him, perhaps hoping that he'll go back where he came from. She's had a few moments of evil, more than balanced out by doing things that melt your heart. In the car yesterday, Owen was being uncharacteristically fussy, and Mackay leans over and tells him 'We're almost home, baby.' She has also undone any angry parent karma (not that she induces much) with her favorite new phrase. After several weeks of us being gone at the hospital, she was sitting on my lap. She leaned back, gave me a little backward hug, and said 'Miss you.' Despite being a little groggy, we are settling into our new routines. I'd be remiss if I didn't pass along a huge thank you to my mom, who was chef, playmate, chauffeur, teacher and more to Mackay for the three weeks we were at the hospital....

I now understand why mothers with multiple children get a 'mom' haircut and stop all except absolutely necessary personal grooming. And Owen's not even home yet...