Christmas

Cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer

Brody serves breakfast

Brody has taken to helping himself to cereal and anything else in these cupboards. Although he is eating off the floor, at least he had the self-respect to find a spoon to use. We're not animals here!

An old moustache

In the van today -
Amelia: Dad, how old will Brody be when I'm thirty a thousand?
Me: People usually don't live long enough to be a thousand.
Amelia: How old will Brody be when I'm 100?
Me: He'll be 97.
Amelia: I bet he'll have a moustache then because that is old.

Happy New Year

There is little point in trying to catch up after 6 months without blogging - I'm sure we created many wonderful memories, achieved milestones and had a generally merry time, but we must move forward. You've gotta go forward to go back.

We celebrated New Years Eve in Clackamas with a rousing family game of Trouble and some Martinelli's sparking apple cider and fresh cookies from New Seasons. The kids were all in bed by 8 and Kandi and I were asleep by 10. I did awaken briefly to hear fireworks at what I presume was midnight. I continue to stand by my long-standing belief that I need not stay up til midnight to greet the new year as it should still be the new year when I wake up.

After a breakfast at McDonalds (so much for that healthy eating resolution - glad it lasted almost 8 hours into the new year), we headed to OMSI. I've never been to OMSI with so few visitors - it was a great time and we spent awhile playing with all the different active options. For Salem friends with Gilbert House membership - your membership gets you in to OMSI for free - a great deal if you head to Portland.

Brody has started standing up all by himself tonight for seconds at a time. Hopefully we'll catch some photos or video soon to post. Blessings to all for a memorable 2011!

Tooth!

Brody just turned seven months and his bottom two teeth are pushing through! He's getting big and is so sweet!

Easter, Birthday and hospital stay

For Palm Sunday, Micah sang with the kids' choir at church. He did great. They sang at 2 services on Saturday night and 3 services on Sunday morning. I was singing on the worship team the same weekend, so it was fun to be able to sing together.

We love this picture of cousin Justin.

A rare moment with all three kids sitting still.

One evening I needed to get homework done so I rigged up this little system and decided to see if Brody liked "baby einstein." He sure did.

Amelia turned 4 on April 15th. Our week was so packed with different activities that we decided to have a little party for Amelia on Sunday night the 11th. This was my attempt to make a princess cake. Ryan made the cake and frosted it and I plopped a princess on top. Genius, huh?

Last Wednesday (April 14th) Brody started vomiting after he ate his bottle. We thought maybe his tummy was upset or something, but didn't think much of it. The next day he vomited a few more times. And started eating less. By Friday he was about the same. You see, Brody is so smiley and happy that he rarely looks sick. We had planned to visit my parents' new house in Black Butte and I was determined to go... even with a sick baby. Ryan had stayed home in the morning and wasn't so sure that we should go. He had been in contact with a triage nurse throughout the morning who wasn't too concerned, but wanted us to watch his intake. While we were debating, Ryan picked up the kids from school and I stayed home with Brody. I noticed that he seemed a bit lethargic and when they came home, we decided that we wanted him to be seen. Meanwhile we called my parents and arranged to meet half-way for them to spend the weekend with the two older kids. It was a pure God-thing that it all worked out like this.

I took Brody in to the Dr. at 4:30PM. The doctor took one look at him and was immediately concerned. He checked his pulse/oxygen levels and Brody was at 86% oxygen saturation (should be at 100). He told me that Brody needed to be admitted to the hospital. He typed it all in to the computer and told me how to check in at the hospital. I think at one point I said, "I'm going to drive him?" I had never been so scared in my life. By the grace of God alone, we made it to the hospital without getting in an accident. I waited at the admitting desk with my legs shaking. Ryan arrived. Brody was admitted and we were taken up to pediatrics. They checked his oxygen again and then sent us down for a chest x-ray (Ever seen one of those? That is a whole post in itself). We returned and got settled in his room. He tested negative for RSV and the Flu and his chest xray came back saying he had bronchiolitis. Basically, throughout the weekend, they monitored his oxygen levels, gave him more when he needed it. He had 3 doses of sterroids and many nebulizer treatments. On Monday morning he was cleared to be discharged. His levels were back up, we were sent home with two inhalers and antibiotics since he developed an ear infection while there.

We were home a total of 3 hours when Ryan asked me to look at Brody's chest and listen to him. He was clearly struggling to breathe and was making a funny grunting sound with each breath. We took the kids to my sister's house and headed back to the doctor's office. His oxygen was back down to the high 80s and he was retracting (ribs were showing while he was trying to breathe) more than I had ever seen him. So, we headed back to the hospital and back into our same room. They took another chest xray and this time they could see that he had pnemonia.

Long story longer, it is day 5 of our hospital stay and Brody seems 100% better. He's still on oxygen, but he had a lot of awake time and seemed so much more like himself. The doctor felt horrible that he sent us home before Brody was ready.

While the kids were at my parents' house, Micah developed a fever and a cough. I took him into the clinic yesterday and found out he has strep throat again (he just finished antibiotics for strep less than two weeks ago).

Throughout this process, so many people have been praying for us and i have felt supernatural strength. Ryan and I have averaged about 4 hours of sleep in each 24 hour period. If you know me, you know that I don't function with less than 8 hours of sleep. Ideally I need about 10. The only reason I am still sane is because of God's grace.

As of Wednesday morning at 4:55AM we are still in the hospital. I will update the blog when we know more. (At least, I'll think about blogging, I'll feel guilty that I didn't and then maybe I'll blog to clear my consience.)

It's been awhile

Wow, it's been awhile. Brody is growing so quickly, although he is pretty small for his age. At his 4 month appointment, his weight and height were in the 3rd and 5th percentile while his head circumferance was in the 75th. The kids spend all their time loving on him. Micah has recently been allowed to hold Brody while he's standing and is very proud to walk around with his little brother. Watch the video at the end to hear Brody's belly laugh.