Our Week...so far

We can start this week last Thursday.  Brayden had a pre-op appointment for his tonsillectomy.  At that appointment, his Dr looked at Kalyn's ears and she, of course, had a LOT of cloudy fluid.  Since she is allergic to penicillin, she was put on an alternative antibiotic that could potentially have a cross-allergic reaction.  Awesome!  Good news, she didn't (so far so good anyway!). 

Friday, we had a school friend over to play.  Play dates are something that I want to encourage with Brayden (all the kids really) to help them in school.  Brayden is doing really well with everything in school, but I think he could use a little social encouragement.  :) The play date went pretty well.  Just shy of two hours was the perfect amount of time.  When it is nice out, the kids will have a blast playing outside together at a mutual spot (park, pool, etc).

Friday night, I got hit HARD with the stomach flu.  YUCK! and that does not even describe it well enough.  I hope hope hope it is OVER and no one else (especially the kids) get it!  On a plus side, I have lost my appetite and I am pretty sure I lost weight :) LOL

Saturday, Brayden had another bday party for a preschool friend.  He interacted a little more and Jon was able to capture a few pictures and videos! It was at an inflatable place in our area.  I definitely think we will have to do that for Nolan's 3rd bday! (since Brayden already said he wanted a swimming party!!!)

Sunday, Nana came and played after nap time.  Brayden got to stay up late and watch a movie with Mom and Dad.... which ended up backfiring.... but at the time it was a great idea!  Nolan was up and down a few times between 11pm-1am.... which is VERY unusual for him.  Kalyn was up pretty much every hour except the 2 o'clock hour.... and then Brayden couldn't eat breakfast.... he was up at 6am, of course, and everyone else wanted to eat.  His appointment wasn't until 8:30am Monday morning.

Brayden didn't really have any reservations until it was time to leave mom and dad.  We walked him to the door and then the nurse swooped him up and we blew him kisses.  He took a little longer to wake up from the meds, but Dr. Young said it went VERY well.  He was holding his puppy when he started waking up and then we got to go back and see him.  He snuggled up on my lap and was in good spirits!

Two and a half days later, he is still doing well!  Drinking plenty of fluids and eating "little foods" aka soft food.  He is my little stud!

FINALLY!!!

I know you are all very VERY excited to hear more from me (ha ha) but we FINALLY got a new computer (no more shattered laptop screen) and I can now post more entries (and type A LOT more) using our new computer rather than my iphone!!!  WOOT WOOT!!!

OK... So, what have we really been up to?????

Well, tis the season for crazy, busy schedules!!!  The first weekend in December, we spent at my mother in law's house.  We had a great time.  We hung out with some friends sin kiddos Saturday night and then had our big family Christmas on Jon's side of the family.  It was a great weekend!  The kids were pumped full of sugar within minutes of the family Christmas and they loved every minute of it!

We had our family pictures taken by my bestie, Sarah McConnell Photography (www.sarahmcconnellphotography.net) on the following Monday. Also, I was able to spend some quality time with my bestie earlier that day when her daughter, Layla, came to play for an hour or so.

Kalyn turned 11 months old. :(  Time is going TOO fast and she is in a hurry to grow up!  She is crawling on hands and knees (still doing the boot scoot sometimes) and going up the stairs and even starting to cruise around furniture.  She's been pulling herself up for a while now and sometimes I don't even mind when Nolan pushes her down because then I don't have to do it ;).  I just am not ready for her to start "toddling."

Speaking of toddling.... actually... I'll get to that in a moment...

Wednesday, I met with a good friend, my mom, and my aunt for dinner on their annual Christmas shopping trip to Des Moines.  It was fun to see my mom and aunt being silly :)

I have been keeping busy with Pampered Chef.  Two shows this month and booking my January to the brim!!!  (YOU SHOULD ALL CONTACT ME TO HOST A SHOW!  JANUARY IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!!!!!)

I spent some time with some good friends from back home last Friday! We went up to the local establishment after a Mary Kay party at my friend Jess's house.  We watched our own Wade Sundell rodeo on TV in Vegas!  Woot Woot!  10 days full of rodeo with a lot of hopeful locals that Wade will be TOP in the WORLD!  How awesome!  So proud of him!

Brayden had a birthday party on Saturday for one of his friends from preschool.  It was interesting.  He was completely out of his comfort zone.  I guess we had to start somewhere.....

And with my other posts this week, that leads us up to today.... SO... back to TODDLERING.....

NOLAN... he LOVES school.  He goes to Toddler Talk once per month.  He doesn't even look back once he walks in the door.  He loves his teachers (miss melody and miss anna to name a few) and he LOVES all the playing, singing, and dancing they do!  He has been potty trained since the second week in June and I never get tired of hearing people compliment me on how awesome he is doing!  I'm a proud Mama, what can I say!!!???? I am just glad that we will have a year of potty training under our belt before he goes to 3 yr old preschool this fall!!!  He loves school so much.  We cannot really hold him back!  He is SO ready socially and he works SO hard with us and his speech pathologist to say more.  See, Nolan was a bit delayed on his speech due to his history of ear infections when he was a baby.  It was a rough time for him and (I believe) it also through his balance off and delayed him walking.  That part is pretty much made up, but I really do believe it and I know your balance deals with your ears and so on .... Just call me Doc!

So, Brayden..... Well, after months of watching and waiting and a few visits to the doctor/specialists, we are getting his LARGE tonsils taken out on MONDAY!  He has NEVER had strep or any other sore throats that we know of or ear infections, but he snores, has sleep apnea, and chokes all the time on spit, water, anything.  I would hate to see what his tonsils would look like if he were to get an infection!!!  Unfortunately, that means that he will miss his Winter Party at school and miss school for an EXTRA week... Feel free to stop by and say hi!  I feel bad but I really do think it's for the best.

That is enough for now!!!  Have a great night!!!

Brayden's Christmas Program

Brayden's program was last night! He was unsure about it when I dropped him off in his classroom but did a great job!!!!!
Na na and josh and papa and Julie were all there to see my big boy sing!! Mama sue has bronchitis :( and could not come.

The first snow

Yesterday, the kids and I went out and played in the snow first thing in the morning (before it all melted!!). The kids loved it!
I know I'm in the minority, but I'd love some more snow!!

(Late) Kalyn is 11 months

K was 11 months old on dec. 4! Time flies!!! She pulls herself up, goes up stairs, and has been to two movies already!!!!
Wowsers!

My goofball

Brayden is silly. Even Nolan says so in his cute 2 yr old voice, "bray? He silly!"

This morning Jon heard Nolan's voice and wanted to check on the boys before work and when he got up there, Brayden was sleeping WITH Nolan in Nolan's toddler bed. This is his crib minus the front rail (plus two little half rails).
So when we asked Brayden why, he said "well, I need somebody to sleep with bc you sleep with daddy!"
Oh boy :)

Weekend wrap up

We had a great weekend! We decorated gingerbread cookies with nana! Brayden had been learning about them in school and really REALLY wanted to make some. Nolan had fun too!
Jon and I were able to hang out with some of his friends Saturday night which was really fun! It has been a while since we have been able to get together with them.
Sunday, we had family Christmas with the reidy/knipp side. We had a good time- the kids ran wild as family filled them with cookies and juice!
Happy Monday!

Catching up

I feel like my wheels are spinning. Laundry keeps drowning me. Even if I get it washed, dried, and folded.... It has a hard time getting put away.*sigh*
But... I am thankful that Kalyn is feeling a lot better. I am also VERY grateful that thanksgiving break is over. Since we were not able to join our families in thanksgiving gatherings and were cooped up in the house with two very rambunctious boys, I was VERY glad to wait in the preschool drop off line on Monday! :)
November is almost over.... Can you believe it? December is crazy busy already. Christmas gatherings, bday parties for Brayden to go to with his school friends, planning Kalyn's bday party, pre-k Christmas program, and lots of shopping, cooking, preparing and planning. We have several activities that we want to do throughout December as we count down to Christmas.
The kids were anxious to put the tree up this year so it went up on thanksgiving day. The next day we put lights outside.(I keep telling Jon he needs to do it when it's still warm out, but he doesn't listen).

I think that's all for now!!

Happy thanksgiving

Yesterday, actually two days ago (Tuesday), Kalyn woke up with a few dots on her skin. That quickly evolved into several dots and a dr visit.

Diagnosis: hand foot mouth AND an allergic reaction to amoxicillin

It seemed to be ok until Wednesday. Throughout the morning it kept worsening. After speaking to the nurse three times, I took her to the ER. She was admitted and here we are.

They gave her a strong antihistamine and wanted to watch her closely bc of all the swelling the rash was causing.

The doctors are unable to pinpoint one reason for this severe reaction. I am so thankful this evolved how it did and for all the people who are helping with the boys and medical staff helping my sweet baby girl.

Happy thanksgiving!!

Growing up TOO fast!!

The kids are SERIOUSLY growing up too fast!!! Brayden is almost 4 and a half! Where did the time go?! He remembers EVERYTHING!!! You can't put one past him!!! He enjoyed his first art class at the YMCA last week while I enjoyed my workout.

Nolan is 2 and a half and he is getting SO tall!! Besides climbing on everything, he can reach places and spaces we never would have guessed! He is signed up for preschool next year already and I am so excited for him. He participates in toddler talk from AEA and loves it! One preschool day per month!

Kalyn! Oh man! She has her third tooth and pulls herself up! My baby is getting SO big!! I have been planning her bday party already. It is going to be over the top!! This past ten months have flown by much faster than I anticipated!

Here's a few pictures for now

Tooth #3

Kalyn has finally cut tooth number 3. Top left!!!!

What a naughty little teething baby! Love her tho!!!!

Thirty

This past weekend was my birthday.

I spent saturday watching some depressing iowa and isu football and then went to stomp with my mom. so cool!! i think my boys would really like it!
saturday night, My husband got some of my friends together to go out for dinner and adult beverages. I had a blast- maybe too much fun! I learned that I am extremely passionate about vanilla and if you were there or crossed paths with me Saturday night, you KNOW what I mean!!

My mom and the kids made me lunch on Sunday (my actual bday) along with cake.(and my bestie got me cupcakes from my favorite cupcake store in valley junction!!!!!)

Thank you friends for making 30 not quite so bad!!

DIY

I made my first batch of laundry detergent on march 27, 2012. I am on my last container which lasts approximately one month. By my estimates, this mix lasts my family of five (2 adults 3 children) about nine months.
I spent $27.16. ($3.02 per month) The most expensive ingredient was the Purex crystals and is completely optional. I bought the big bottle for $8.96. (All items were purchased at Walmart).
It has worked VERY well for us!! There have been the occasional stains that I pretreat, but otherwise I just use two tablespoons of this homemade laundry detergent and my clothes are clean and smell good.

Well, there ya go!

Thankful Thursday

Today.....
I am thankful for blank children's hospital! They have helped us out when Brayden busted his head open last year. They helped us when we were terrified parents and just brought our newborn daughter home only to find out two hours later that she needed to be admitted to the hospital.(her newborn screens were abnormal so more testing needed to be done).
And last night I got to thank them again for X-raying Brayden after he swallowed a magnetic rock.... He was "pretending" to put it in his mouth and then Nolan bumped into him hard and he freaked when he swallowed it. Now, I get to dissect his poop until we find it. :)
But I AM thankful for their reassurance that he is ok.

I am also thankful for Jon. I came home tonight to this new storage thingy by our door. It is my mudroom that I always wanted!!! :) love him!!!!!

Daylight savings

I remember when daylight savings meant that I got to spend an extra hour at the bar or sleep an extra hour. Now it means spending "an extra hour" with my kids. That is not always fun bc their internal clock doesn't get it!!!

Yup Brayden was rocking on my lap and fell asleep mid-sentence.

Pictures!!!

Kalyn and mommy trying to listen to "teach me to talk" while Nolan was at "toddler talk."

Isu game

Castle that Brayden and mommy built

Kalyn is ten months old already!!!!! :(

Brayden's class Halloween party picture!! Notice....5 Spider-Man costumes!!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for my husband. I am thankful that he is a co-parent and doesn't just sit and watch me raise our children. I am thankful for his hugs-especially the ones that come at just the right time!
He is awesome! I am so thankful and blessed to have him as my husband.

Happy Halloween!

Brayden and Nolan were Spider-Man and Kalyn was a ladybug. We started at our neighbors' house- bob and Leanne. Then the boys and I went to the mall (VW). It was packed and crazy. Then we went home and to a few more houses in the hood.... And ended our night at uncle Josh's! Nolan was a trick or treating fool!!! He absolutely loved it!!!!

Weekend wrap-up

We started off the weekend with Brayden having his first ever ear infection and it was a double at that!

The good parents that we are went ahead with weekend plans. (My mom is a nurse so that's ok, right?) Jon and I went to a Halloween party Friday night and then headed to My moms Saturday to hang out with the kids before we went to the isu game.
The game was awesome! Jon and I had a great time despite the cool weather!
Yesterday the kids, my mom, my brother and I went to deal's orchard. It was fun! (And cold).

I love having weekends "off," but the aftermath is draining. Tired kids and husband. Laundry... And a puking baby! What the heck! Jon wasn't 100% and Kalyn was puking and the boys were tired but running wild! All of this AND we carved our pumpkin.

Monday is a relief!!!! :)
Happy Monday!!!

Brayden-isms

I thought I would post a few of my faves....
*in response to something I show him "ahhh... Niiiiiiiiiice"
*it has a tag, and I don't hike tags
*you just made me sad ....(pout pout pout)
*i need it very really bad
*my dad is my cousin. Jon is my dad
* my family-daddy, Brayden, Nolan, Kalyn, Brayden (yep totally forgets me...)
*i don't know what I am talking about
* here are his names for ppl/family:
Me-mommy/mom
Jon-daddy/Jon... Not dad
Nolan-nowen
Kalyn-BABY Kayen /baby k
My mom-mama sue
My Gma-gg
Jon's mom-nana
Jon's Gma-big mama
Josh-josh
Mike-uncle mike
My dad-papa Robert
Jon's dad-papa Rick or papa in heaven
Ava-Ava Ella
Ella-Ava Ella (not sure if he knows who is who.... Lol)
Ms Anna (speech)-ms nana
Exercise=mousekercise

I know they might seem obvious to most but I want to ALWAYS remember them!