M Christmas!

The Saturday before Christmas we got together with my mom's side of the family. It was so great! My grandparents even invited one of my grandpa's cousin to join us this year! How thoughtful! It was fun to see all the babies together again and all the energy alive in the room!
Even the "big" kids enjoyed the legos!

Papa, Grandma, Dana & Elliot!

Kevin & Madi!



I think she likes the shoes!


Shelley took this one! yeah one of me! Thanks Shel!

Daddy and his girl!

Kissing Carson....again!


The boys! Caleb, Easton & Elliot!

The entire crew!

All the kids!

More on Elliot

Well we just returned from the doctor again. Elliot has another ear infection. We had him on an antibiotic as a preventive till the surgery and then on last monday we got him a stronger one since he was showing signs of a sinus infection again (more green). He had a cough at that point but it progressively got worse over christmas and we took him in today. They said he was wheezing as he was breathing so we needed to do a breathing treatment in the office. It did help some, so they sent us home with an inhailer to do more treatments at home. We also got a different antibiotic for his ears...hopefully his body is not resistant to this one and we can clear up this infection. Hopefully when they take out his adenoids on the 12th we can clear out some of this infection that we just can't get rid of. I'm amazed at how well he's done through all of this. You can tell he doesn't feel well but he's so big about it! Poor guy! Hopefully soon his ear will feel better adn we can clear him of this infection in his body. We talked to them about our concerns with all these antibiotics and they understood but said we really need to get this infection gone somehow and he needs to be on them. So we'd apprectiate your prayers that this one will work and he won't catch anything else before the surgery. So we'll be keeping him away from kiddos as much as we can!

ENT

So we have returned from the ENT. He really recommends we have Elliots adenoids removed. He believes there is infection in his body and that the adenoids are the cause. We had had him on antibiotics for 21 days straight(this last time) and then within 4 days off from them he was green with infection again. At Elliots age they say allergy testing is so inconclusive that they would recommend the surgery before that. It's so hard to tell with how they can test kids at this age what he would be allergic to...so allergies may play into his problem but at this time they feel the best soution is to remvoe his adenoids and get source of some of the infection out. Someday down the road we'll do the allergy testing when he is older adn they feel the test will be more conclusive. So that is where we are at. His surgery will be January 12. We'll get the time the friday before.

prayer

Please pray for us...we're going to attempt to take Elliot to the ENT...the soonest they can reschedule is Jan. 9 so we're going ot try and get there at 1 today before the office closes. Pleas pray we make it there and home safely in this weather.Thank you!!

Isaac's artwork!

Isaac was having fun drawing this morning...and they are actualy starting to look like what he says! madi even took it from Elliot so he wouldn't mess up Isaac's art! Wow..that was nice!

His car.

His train.

Visiting Santa!

Madi was so cute...she lifted Isaac up so he could see Santa over everything in the way! He was so excited..."mom, it's Santa...he's really here!"

I don't think Elliot cared much for Santa...sorry the picture is blurry..I was laughing too hard! Good mom!

he stopped crying for a sec to find me! Then he cried again!

New things with Elliot!

Elliots new favorite game!

Here he is playing with his truck....he loves just to push a car around and make "car noises!" Boys!

one more...he loves his walker! He has even been taking soem steps this week! He gets so excited. Ever since Wednesday he just stands up and tries to take a step or twoall the time now! Yeah!!! I can't believe my baby is walking!!! We thought it might be by Christmas!

Here is attempting to walk on his own! We're getting close!

Straight No Chaser

Have you guys seen this christmas mix...I hear these guys were contacted thi year because this You-Tube video had so many hits to make a cd....i think its out in stores already...that would be nice. Its a fun "mix up song"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

Song Download

Here are a couple of links to some free music downloads!

Sara Groves: toy Packaging (christain christmas)

http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/stories/11582350/

Franchesca Battistelli (ends dec. 19)
http://www.francescamusic.com/download

How Isaac burns energy

When Madi is gone at school..sometimes Isaac just does not know what to do with himself!

Christmas Programs.

Both the kids had their own Christmas Programs this year! What I enjoyed most was seeing our family sitting with us at both events. For each one we were saving at least 12 seats just for the kids family! That is so wonderful! We are very blessed to have two wonderful families that take the time to support our children! Even if they could not attend they were so good about calling to see how it went. I love our families! Thanks everyone!

Here is Isaac singing at church! Sorry its so up and down! I had trouble holding it up high enough over the crowd...but you get the idea. Its a little long because its the whole song, but its fun to see him sing through all of it, yawn, and then finally at the last verse do the motions!






Here is Madi at her School concert! She even got to ring the bells in one of the songs..she was so excited to do this part! She had told us she had a surprise we had to watch for!


In between songs the choir sang..I think Madi started to get bored!

Our Christmas!

EVery year we set aside the first Saturday in December to do "Our" christmas with the kids. We've tried to set this as our tradition because Christmas Day and Christmas Eve get so busy with family that we wanted one whole day with just our kids. This year we were afraid the snow was going to keep us from going..but we braved the weather. It was good we headed out so early in the morning because the roads were still in good condition when we headed out...the way home was a little slower..but i'm so glad we ventured out.

We started the night before with a Christmas movie on TV....next year we'll rent our own...we had stop watching for some "language" we didn't approve of! But I think the kids just liked snuggling...

Isaac had made his fire truck earlier in the day. At one point he grabbed my camera and took this next shot all by himself. I think he was very excited about his firetruck! Nice composition bud!!!

Here are the kids "freezing!" We getting all bundled up to go cut our tree!

Riding out to the tree!

Our tree!

Elliot and I waited in the barn for them to return...he had fun looking out the window!

On the way home we hit Burger King so the kids could play on the toys!

Check out Elliots new word....I love it!

Next came presents! Jon drew up a floor plan of the house (go figure) of where the kids presents were hid..we had to help them "read" the plans of course...but they soon found them!

One of the gifts was matching PJ's - moms favorite!

Do you think she's sick of pictures?

or just being silly!

Lastly we decorated the tree. The kids were finally old enough to let them do most of the tree themselves!

Setting up the manger..it was fun because Madi kept interupting Jon with how the story should go! She's got it down pretty good!

Overall it was a great day!!!

Naiya

Well, we have found a new home for Naiya...it was time. We love her dearly but she was just not good with kids. Elliot had found a new fascination with her and just wanted to chase her or pet her all the time and Naiya did not like that at all and we were afraid she'd bite him. the other two had learned to leave her be but even when new kids came over she'd growl a lot and that was hard. You never knew if this was going to be the time she'd bit. So after 8.5 years..we found someone who would take her. We first contacted the woman who sold us Naiya and she helped us find her a home. I really feel like she'll get spoiled at her new home. This couple already has another Shihtzu that is 10 years old and they rescued that one 8 years ago too...so they've been through this before. We've talked to them and Naiya didn't eat at first and just moped around but now seems to be accepting it. When we first told Madi she cried really hard for awhile...but then she said she'd be okay and wanted her picture taken with Naiya...so we had a couple final pictures...Isaac didn't care at all..he asked when we could get another one! It's been about a week now that she has been gone and the kids don't even ask about her...they'll see pictures or movies of her and its okay...so we're grateful this transition has gone so well.

I think Naiya knew something was up...because she actually sat nicely next to the kids.

December Fun!

Playing with Brother!

Elliot is learning to put balls in things!

Eating breakfast on the couch...he wasn't feeling so well this morning...but he is awake...

These Knuckleheads thought it would be funny to wear underwear as hats! Someday they'll love this..and yes..they are clean underwear!

Here is smiley boy at the doctor! You'd never know he didn't feel good! He had an ear infection this trip....i'm so thankful he's not that fussy even when he's sick.....it could be worse for sure.

Sage's Birthday! Madi couldn't make her party wo we got to come a little early for the celebration! Sage's mom even had cupcakes and party decor for the early arrival! that was so sweet!

They even let Isaac join the fun!

Jon loved little mans hair after his tubby!

admiring the snow!