January 2011

So the new year is upon us - in fact January is almost half over. The end of December til now has been crazy for our family. Pete's dad has had a lot of health issues, as we are still waiting for answers with a lot of them. He had surgery on the 26th of Dec to remove a ruptured and gangrenous gall bladder. He is slowly recovering with some (s0 far) minor and mysterious side effects. Please pray for answers regarding his health - and strength and recovery for him.
Then our little Ty was discovered to have an enlarged liver and spleen. The ultrasound showed a build-up of fluids around his liver. We have had him in for two blood draws and are headed to Marshfield on the 20th of this month to see a Pediatric GI specialist. Please pray that we will find good answers there! Ty is a happy little guy, who is now speaking better than average for his age - yes, he was the one originally diagnosed with a speech delay - and just a pure delight. He doesn't seem to have any physical symptoms and is a very happy boy with a great sense of humor! He found a little friend at Sunday School, Sarah, and has been seen holding hands with her!
Jude has just been growing and growing. He is laughing a lot, and is constantly on the move. Crawling earlier than his two older brothers, he is quick to find the dog's water and food bowls and any little toys left behind by Drew and Ty. He loves all his veggies and has tried peaches and bananas as well. A very happy baby with deep dimples makes him irresistible to all he deems worthy of a smile.
Drew is really learning a lot. He understands so much more and it is easier all the time to talk about his feelings and trying to teach him about his frustrations and anger and how to talk it out so he doesn't need to act out. He loves going to Cubbies and Sunday School and is starting to make some friends. A little confusion for us, one of his buddies is named Ty - so which one are we talking about, Drew? He is learning to be a big help at home, has his own jobs and is always eager to be a "good big brother".
Personally, I couldn't think of a better trio of boys - but I may be biased. We had a great Christmas visiting with family and trust that you all had the same. Thanks for reading!!

What happened to November??

So I completely missed the month of November. It was full of fun, family and friends. Pete took two weeks to go hunting Elk in Colorado. The boys and I took off and visited with friends back in western WI. We stayed with two different families and visited other families. The boys loved the time with all the kids and seeing their friends too. Pete had jeep trouble so his meat, four wheeler and all his gear are still back in Wisconsin...so this weekend we are headed back to collect his things and get to see friends again! :) Thanksgiving was at my mom's house - Pete's family joined us there and we had a large group all together over a delicious ginormous meal. Jude had his first taste of vegetables for Thanksgiving...peas! Peas in all their deliciousness. He's eating his food like a trooper now, and is up to 18 pounds!! Drew weighs in at 34 and Ty at 31. So they are all growing like weeds. Ty's vocabulary has really expanded and tries to say almost everything now. Drew is learning that he'll have to pick up the pace to out-wit and manipulate his younger brother to have everything his way. Ty is catching up faster than he would like! Jude is rolling across the floor now...completely across the living room! He has pushed up onto his knees...but not on his hands and knees yet. Good thing too; cuz then I would have to push him back down!! :) Drew is practicing for his Christmas program. It's held on the 12th and he is trying so hard. The chorus is spelled out J E S U S; but Drew's rendition is more "J K L U S". I love the sincerity and sweet voice.

Pictures!!

Pete is working out of town, so after the muffins were in bed, I took the time to upload pictures. I know that you who are not on FB have not seen many of our house yet, but uploading is a s-l-o-w process. Drew was working so hard on his Lightning McQueen project. It was a gift from Auntie, and he took great pride in his work.He chose to hang it in the living room window, so all who come can see his artwork. I really should challenge his creativity more often...but it seems so many things crowd it out.Judah is just chilling in front of the fireplace on a cool day. Always a happy boy!And here he is: Baby Snoopy number three. All three boys have worn this outfit - a gift from one of my college roommates from before I was even married. I LOVE Snoopy; and they just wear it so well! ;)The three Wisconsin Badger boys - Uncle Evan wants all three to be future Badgers!Jude loves jumping so much,He wears himself right out!!!On October 10, 2010, Pete was baptised. Something he said he wanted to do for a long time; and he did. In October. Outside. In a RIVER. In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. According to one of the elders of the church, quite probably the latest in the year they have had a baptism. The water was quite cold!Ty watched, confused and not understanding, but intrigued non-the-less.Drew didn't really care...there was dirt and he wanted to play!Judah in all his rolly-poly chunkiness!Starting to sit up!!! Getting so big!Ever the handyman - Pete is working to fix our toilet. He works so hard at work, then comes home and works hard to fix and replace things around the house.My-Ty's birthday cake. The look on his face says it all!He had many lovely gifts, but ALL attention was directed upward to his balloon. He received it on Tuesday and he has yet to let go of it without a fit. He eats with it, he plays with it and he tries to sleep with it. (I am a horrible mommy and make him trade the balloon for his nuk!)Playing with play-doh the other day. Drew and his boat.All Ty wanted was snakes!!!

Fall...fall...

The leaves have all fallen off the trees here already. I think it's too early - especially since I was hoping to take family pictures outside our home while the trees were full of color. But since it rained the days Pete was home and was sunny the days Pete or we were all gone; it didn't work.
At the top of my entry I am told that image uploads will be down for maintenance for two hours. Since my time to update this blog is during these two hours of down-time, you don't get any pictures!! But I won't leave you with no entry anyway!
Sunday the 10th was Ty's birthday. We didn't have his party until last night, but it was a good one! Waffles with fruit and cream...one of Ty's favorite meals. Buttermilk or traditional waffles - mixed fruit or strawberry topping. Then, Ty's cake was a monster truck...complete with chocolate covered doughnuts for wheels. He "Ooooooed" with delight and we all enjoyed it. His favorite gift was a balloon, and he hasn't let it out of his hands since. Ty's vocabulary has picked up quite a bit over the last few weeks, and I am very thankful. I was starting to second-guess my decision to not transfer his therapy when we moved. I guess he just needed a rest period; for he is making excellent progress now!
Judah has discovered his feet. I love watching babies play with their feet...I have pictures; but you'll have to wait. Jude is also starting to sit up on his own...he's still quite floppy, but he's getting there. He is also gnawing on anything he can get to his mouth. No teeth in sight yet, but sometimes those invisible teeth cause more grief! Next trip to town I plan on getting him some cereal and give him his first food!
Drew is a ham...he is loving AWANA and is choosing to learn the hard way what it's like to be the "un-birthday" boy. He has convinced himself that many of Ty's new things are his; and when Ty doesn't cooperate, Drew isn't happy. A conversation with Drew from last week: "Mommy, we have to go to the hospital."
"Why?"
"We have to take Jude to the hospital."
"Why do we have to take Jude to the hospital?"
"We have to take Jude to the hospital and get a NEW baby!"
"You don't want Jude anymore?"
"Nope, get a NEW one!"
And then this morning:
"Mommy, can I have clothes? I want to go outside!"
"Aren't you going to have breakfast first?"
"Nope! Cereal is really sad. I have to go outside now!"
"Cereal is sad? I think Drew will be sad if he doesn't eat his breakfast!"
"I can't. It's angry, and ukky. Ty doesn't want any either."
(upon confirmation from Ty that he DOES want to eat):
"OK, but Ty only wants a little, little bit. Then he wants to go outside!"
And most of my day is trying to decipher what Ty really wants, from what Drew thinks/says that Ty wants.