Cheerios Don't Belong in Noses

So we have had a wonderful day, probably close to a perfect day in Noah's book. We had breakfast and played and then headed to the library. After checking out lots of new books we headed to Target - or as Noah says "O" but he did not want to go to Target - still he was good and it was a quick trip (we had to get Josh a new pair of shoes, one of the others got left outside and Kasey ate it). We then had lunch at Noah's favorite place and went to the children's museum - the boys loved it!! We had a lot of fun and it was a great change of scenery. Josh seems to be getting his appetite back and finally is okay to play. Josh was even standing on his own, he would be holding on to something and let go, stand there in awe for awhile. He also was taking some steps. I tried to get it on video - hard to do alone though.



Once we were home, Josh went to take a nap and Noah was having a snack of cheerios, fruity so they are very bright colors. Suddenly he's crying and saying "ow ow ow" well I didn't know what to think or what was wrong and when I asked him he kept pointing to his nose - sure enough he had a cheerio firmly stuck up his nose! A bright green cheerio...I tried to get him to blow it out, he still hasn't gotten the hang of blowing his nose though so that didn't work. Next we tried to suck it out with the nose sucker thing (so technical I know) and that didnt work. He was more and more upset and I called Sara finally (who I am sure is so sick of questions from me lately) who suggested to try giving Noah a popsicle to distract him and using tweezers. Most of the cheerio did come out and the rest I am pretty sure disolved as he had bright green bugers...yuck! I don't know where he gets these ideas, but certainly we are on our toes here most days with him. thankfully I didn't have to go into the Urgent care place and ask them to get the cheerio out - that would have provided quite the chuckle for everyone I'm sure but I'm glad to not have had to make the trip.

Happy Thanksgiving

Noah putting an ornament on the tree


Josh was playing while we decorated (in half his pjs)

Just a few notes about our Thanksgiving - we were so glad to all be well and be able to join Matt & Sara and their family for dinner and tons of fun. What a huge blessing they are to us always, Noah had so much fun playing with the big boys tonight, Matt, Andrew, and Sara's two brothers who were so kind and let him play along (he held a controller during video games and I'm sure felt part of the action!) Sara's mom was so gracious, she kept telling me to sit and relax and just really - wow what a blessing it was to relax today after such a rough week. We spent the morning at home, with our normal craziness (by the way if anyone knows how to teach a 2 year old boy how to be calmer, gentler, and quieter at least part of the day he is awake I want to know...) but we had fun! We watched the parade some and Noah performed on the stool during the dancing and singing parts - ha that was a hoot! Josh is clingy today and just wanting to cuddle and be close, so he spent most of the day on my hip or in my arms. We did get pictures today, Noah helped me finish decorating the tree this morning and was thrilled to have a tree in the living room - Josh didn't seem to mind but left it alone (guess being on my hip today was good in many ways). I took some videos of Noah playing and performing today - will try to get them up tomorrow. Sara took better pictures at dinner that I'll put on Kodak when I get...hope everyone had a blessed and peaceful day(note that I didn't put this on facebook like promised =) but I didn't say anything about the blog - sorry Andrew!).Matt and Noah with the ramp (how fun is that?!)
Ethan was watching the action
Noah found a mask and was having a ball "scaring us" all - even Josh was laughing!
such a funny kid!

Light at the end of the Tunnel?

So since Friday afternoon we have been sick - we have been at home and all have had some form of this nasty nasty bug. I am so tired of it, hopefully we are over it too! In the process of healing we have gone through 4 bottles of pedialite, relied on numerous friends for help with getting to the after hours clinic to make sure Josh wasn't dehydrated (he was not), getting more pedialite and bread, getting things taken and set up for MOPS. With all of that we have also had countless calls to check on us, can I just say how much we appreciate it all? THANK YOU! We are I think maybe getting better, maybe I hate to say it for fear I will be wrong but we just might be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with a turkey at Matt and Sara's on Thursday. Tomorrow we are going to stay home, we still were a bit too sickly for me to feel it would have been 24 hours without symptoms tomorrow. I am hopeful though it will be a fun day in our house tomorrow. I managed tonight to get all toys and hard surfaces completely disinfected and steam cleaned the carpets - so hopefully all those nasty germs are gone. Here is a picture, now that the living room is clean finally, of our new arrangement so we don't have any more jumping the railing!

It's Officially a Sick Day

Ugh - so yesterday was Josh's surgery, which went swimmingly but I was sick at the hospital (talk about embarassing, but what do you do?) and continued to be sick when we were home, I kept trying to pretend I was feeling better but that dream quickly faded. Josh has had a bit of a stomach issue too- not sure if it is from the sleepy stuff yesterday or he has some of what I have - poor baby, he just is exhausted. I did ask before we left about when to call in if he caught what I had, one nurse asked me if dad could just take over care when he was home from work - well yes I am sure he would be happy to but that is still some time away huh? - so it's me and the boys and we are surviving but sick. Since the stomach issues are still with Josh this morning, that means at least 24 more hours in seclusion which is going to be hardest I think on Noah who wants to run and jump and hop and play. We have had lots of calls and well wishes, and if we need anything I am thankful I know I have plenty of folks I could call and ask - but we are stocked up on things and just going to hang out. Josh is already taking his second nap for the day, it's 10 am kind of sad I know. I am going to try to keep the energy up to at least pick up and fold laundry and such - my plans of deep cleaning for the weekend are gone, but maybe I can avoid being super behind. So officially it is a sick day here!

Josh's Surgery

So it is only 1245 here - the boys are happily playing with each other so I am taking time to update now - and we are home and seem to be recovered from Josh's surgery this morning. We took Noah to Alexis this morning and headed to the hospital, where it was quick getting checked in and everyone was super nice. There was even a play room that we spent some of the time waiting - that was so much nicer than just trying to keep a little one occupied/entertained in the room or the curtained area (like we did with Noah). At 935 Josh had already fallen asleep from some medicine and also I think because it was about that time for him anyway - but they came to get him for his procedure. Within 15 minutes, the doctor came in and said everything went well, he was in recovery and should be out in 10 minutes. His left ear was probably on its way to an infection so I am very glad that we were able to do the tubes now. Josh recovered well, he was very sleepy but happy to nurse, then had a little tummy trouble but we were still able to come home after 30 minutes or so. Now that we are home, he's eating a little more and playing with Noah. He had the biggest smile when we were home for Noah - they certainly do love each other! Josh also woke up this morning with a new tooth - he now has 4 teeth, it's funny that you can even see the bottom 2 in pictures sometimes - the top 2 are still working on coming down to be seen though but they are definitely there. We'll all be taking naps soon and then hanging out to play and "rest" (as much as I can get these two to do that) for the evening.

Growing and growing...

So Josh officially had 3 teeth on Sunday, I was quite sure of this as he bit me while nursing - OUCH! He also today started taking steps, I definitely would not say that Josh is walking but he will take two full steps and then basically falls toward whatever he is going for. This morning he was going from the train table to the couch, the couch to me, etc. I will post pictures of the new living room arrangement, once the living room is cleaner (not tonight, I am tired). Today the boys also were having a snack after naps, both of them sitting at the table. Noah had a popsicle and some goldfish and Josh had goldfish. The cheerios container was on the table from breakfast (we've had quite the busy day - no judgments please =) pretty please). So Josh was getting fussy, I was cleaning up the kitchen some and Noah said "I try" and got the cheerio container to get some for Josh - what a good big brother!

What house needs that rule for a 2 year old?

That was the question Mike asked me this evening as we chatted on the phone, me retelling him of our adventures from today. The morning was great, it was wonderful and peaceful and fun as we played and enjoyed hanging out with Ryder this morning. There were only two things this morning that happened. Ryder was napping and both our boys were up, I was working on laundry and went to check on the washer (if you have ever been here you understand) so I shut the gate at the top of the stairs firmly behind me, as I'm in the laundry room I twice hear and see Noah coming downstairs to join me! I asked him how he got downstairs and Noah answers clearly, "I fall downstairs." WHAT? So then I asked him to show me, he shows me about half way up the steps where he "fell." So I told him there was no falling downstairs, we cannot fall downstairs. Mike when I was telling him about this, simply asked, who needs this rule? who with a 2 year old needs a rule that you don't fall downstairs? Thankfully this is what I needed to hear and we both laughed at the challenges ahead and the adventure-loving son we are so blessed with. I will in fact be rearranging furntiture tomorrow, we will spend most of the day out tomorrow morning and afternoon and then will have company in the evening so I don't think we'll have any chance of falling downstairs tomorrow, but tomorrow night after boys are in bed, I am going to be doing some rearranging, probably will not love the arrangement, but we are moving anything that Noah can climb on away from the banister. So pray that we do not have any broken bones in the near future - Noah it seems loves to climb and fall and we are trying to teach boundaries and hope we are safe in the process. Here are some pictures from dinner at Sandi's tonight though....

Noah wants to be just like daddy!

Josh does too!

Happy 11 months Josh!

Wow! What can I say time keeps slipping away! We are doing okay here this week, it has been a bit of a busy, then sick week which meant we relaxed today and mostly hung out at home. We did make a trip to the library cause both boys were feeling better it seemed (Josh's fever came back tonight! ugh!). We needed some new books though and I figure the boys just kind of at this point in life tag along with me, there isn't a lot of choosing by them. So we had a good day, by tonight the sickness seemed to be at bay again, we'll spend another day mostly at home tomorrow though to make sure we don't share our germs. So here are the new updates on Josh...

• He's about 19 1/2 lbs (I think he's probably 28 or 29 inches in length but I'm not sure)


• He is still jabbering a lot, which is great considering his hearing loss, I know he says dadda and mamma and it seems like he is also starting to try to say something that sounds like dog - and usually he is looking at or pointing to Kasey


• He is a pro at pushing the truck around and cruising around furniture, he's getting speedy


• He also seems to be attempting to take steps, tonight I caught him going from the train table to the couch, which meant he had to let go to get there


• He has attempted to wave a few times too, mostly he just puts his arm out toward the person.


• Tonight he ate at the big table with us, we'll stash the highchair in his room because we will need it when we have company to use but most nights we'll all be at the table

We are waiting until next week and then will be excitedly heading to the hospital for tubes in both his little ears, I hate that I am excited about him having surgery but I really am hoping he will begin to feel better after that.

Tinkerbell?

So I don't think Mike will be thrilled that I am posting this picture - but I am...

Noah was playing dress up with the girls in church while I was at Bible study. They came to get me cause he was too cute, he had been playing cars and being a dinosaur or something I think, by the time I got back there he had taken it off, but was okay to put it back on for me so I could get a picture. Quite a handsome Tinkerbell I think, but you be the judge...and I totally love that there's a football peeking out of the dressup clothes!

On another note, Josh saw the ENT doctor today, he still has an ear infection (today was the last day of antibotic and they are not starting him on a new as of yet, unless he has fever etc. and then we'll go back) but he is getting tubes in both ears! Yeah and they even managed to find room for him on the 21st of Nov.! I'm so thankful that God answers prayers and we don't have to wait another month or so to get him feeling better.

A New Take on Lunch...

So I saw this somewhere online - though now I can't find it again - and thought hmm, if it will get Noah to eat some veggies or at least a variety of things easier we'll try it. So here is Noah and Elora's muffin tin lunch. The idea seems pretty simple, I hadn't really thought it would make a big difference but they both seemed to eat a variety of things easier. Noah didn't eat his cookie first, that in itself was amazing, instead he ate applesauce (that's new in the last several months he hasn't wanted it at all), his banana slices, toritilla shell, mac and cheese (that's where the veggies hide!), pretzels and then tried his cookie. It took me a while to find some cheap muffin tins but I think we may try this on occassion now that we have them, and of course they just go straight into the dishwasher. It was a really nice and quiet lunch, that was enjoyable for everyone! We're going to clean up and make some playdough.

Variety is the spice of life

Elora seemed to enjoy her lunch, too.

of course Josh was happy, he was eating

This is our life, this is the craziness that is life...

Kasey jumped in the tub with the boys...of course she did! Josh was okay until she was chasing her tail...the boys got out quickly (after I took a few pictures) and Kasey did get her bath (she was going to get one this week anyway)

Finally an update...

So it's been almost two weeks - sorry! We have been busy busy here! We of course had our normal week activities - MOPS, Bible study for me and playing for the boys, the commissary and AWANA. We have also been going to the Y a lot and the boys are enjoying getting to play with new friends (well Noah is enjoying it, Josh is mostly tolerating it and getting more adjusted I hope) and of course when we have the chance for us all to swim it is a blast as well. I will add pictures - that will catch you up on Halloween! We did painting for pumpkins this year, we also went to the fall festival our church had which Noah had a blast at - we spent an hour at the bounce house. We got to spend time with Elora and Sandi and Alexis, Ryder, and Simon lots these last two weeks too - which was really great.

Josh also has another double ear infection - on Saturday night the sitter noticed how much he was pulling on his ears, at this point I am constantly questioning whether him tugging on his ears is just me being paranoid or what, but sure enough that night was a rough night and he didn't sleep well. By Sunday afternoon, he just was not himself and we decided to make an appointment and sure enough he has another DOUBLE ear infection - our poor baby! So he is slowly getting better, but it is still not gone - unless he is being held, eating, or sleeping he is fussy 80% of the time. I hate that he feels so bad. We also went to his hearing test today and he has significant hearing loss, this was upsetting but not surprising. Noah had mild hearing loss when he had tubes, so I was sad that Josh's hearing seems worse but am hoping his ENT appointment next week also proves to be a step in the direction of getting him better. On another note, he is crawling on his hands and feet (not his knees) about half the time now, he is trying to push up sometimes to standing too - interesting bit of development.

Noah is doing well, he is starting to repeat more words. He's not using a ton of new words on his own, but is repeating words more often than he had been previously. That is exciting, he still has a ways to go to catch up I feel and it is just nice to see that he's continuing to make progress. He is also a jumping and hopping mad man lately. Oh this boy is going to break something I'm afraid - he is jumping and climbing off lots of things. I am working on teaching him what is okay to climb on and jump down from and what is not, I don't think we can simply tell him not to climb and jump - that won't work but he is learning what's okay and what isn't - which isn't to say he's not testing his limits daily! In the pool at the Y he has loved jumping from the side of the pool into my arm, he will sometimes go under completely too which is new. He will also walk out in the water up to his chin. He is getting so brave but absolutely loves to swim. I'm sorry that it has been so so long since I have updated, we have been on the go lately and I need to do better! Enjoy the pictures!