Fall Happenings.... Pictures

Ian and Alex... 2 years!!



IAN





ALEX



Here is where the twins are at at 2 years old!!



Ian - he is now just shy of 33 pounds!! He is 37 ¼ inches tall and still full and I mean FULL of energy! He Loves when I read books to him… he now points to objects when I ask him where they are. He is just starting to talk!! He says: Duck, Apple (his favorite word), shoes, all done, momma, dada, Blue, Ball, Bear, Car and my favorite… choo choo train which sounds like Chee Chee Chee… and I know there is more but this is a huge start - for the longest time he would not say any words and now he is finally starting! He does have his own language and jabbers all the time - he is very talkative… we just don’t know half the time what he is saying. He will read books to himself and will use the same expressions that I use when I read… it really is fun to watch!! He is starting to know his letters and numbers also.

Ian loves to run and loves to run away from you when you need him!! Especially at naps and bedtime… you tell him it’s nite nite time and he runs away from you crying - he still hates going to bed and will always put up a fight!

He loves to play outside and he tests us by trying to go into the neighbors yard or running down our path.. He knows this is a no no but he looks at us with a smile and sees what he can get away with! When we catch up with him and try to redirect him.. He goes limp and throws a fit.. He is strong which makes it hard to get him back where we need him. He also throws fits when we change his diaper - he will pick up any toy that is near him and throw it at us out of anger.

Ian is a very happy boy.. He smiles a lot and loves to be around other kids. He loves to imitate Brevin with whatever he does - especially when Brev plays football… Ian tries to play football to.

Ian is a crazy boy at bath time… he loves to use the side of the tub as a slide and will slide onto his butt getting everything wet and making Alex mad. He loves to lay on his back and put his head in the water - loves to throw toys out of the tub… Bath time is work!!

Ian is a picky eater - can’t believe he is bigger than his brother because he is so much more picky!! He loves carrots, apple, strawberries and raspberries, banana, oatmeal and yogurt. He likes hot dogs but isn’t a big meat eater - he loves milk so for the protein.. I let him have as much as he wants. He doesn’t like juice which is fine with me… he loves to drink water.

Alex… he is 28 pounds and 36 ¼ inches tall. He is more aware of what is going on around him and more timid. He loves to be held and would love it if I held him all day long!! He loves to go to bed - he will grab his binky and blankie and stand by him crib when it is nap or bedtime - he never puts up a fight. Alex talks more than Ian… he knows his alphabet - we have letter magnets on our fridge and after mixing them all up.. I will ask him where a certain letter is and he will find it. A few days ago Mike asked Alex where the letter “W” was.. He couldn’t find it so he took the letter M and turned it upside down and pointed to it. He also know his numbers up to 10. Just last night at work - Alex was with me and on my shirt it says “STAFF”…. Alex pointed to the letters on my shirt and said each letter out loud while pointing to them… he loves letters! He also knows his colors… when I point to a yellow object and ask him what color it is.. He will say Whoa Whoa which is Yellow.. Boo is Blue and een is green and ed is Red…. So cute!

Alex is much more layed back - if I go grocery shopping I will take Alex with me and leave Ian home with Mike.. Alex will sit nice in the cart and is so patient… he now will look for letters all over the store and start saying them - I love it!

The twins are so much fun - I love watching them learn new things everyday - it is bittersweet with how much they are growing - it is going by fast but we are loving every minute of it!!





Happy 2nd Birthday Ian and Alex!!

Happy Birthday to my boys!! It still seems like yesterday that we walked into the hospital having NO idea what the next 2 years would be like - wouldn't change it for the world!! They are so much fun and watching them grow and learn is so amazing!! We are so blessed with all our boys!! Some pictures from the day they were born....

Thankful!

 Alex made it through surgery great!! He had tubes put in his ears.  We headed to Mott's Children's hospital first thing yesterday morning... we had to wake him up at 6:30am to be at the hospital by 7:30am.  While waiting, Alex had a great time playing with all the toys... he wasn't even bothered by the fact that he didn't have anything to eat or drink since 8pm the night before.  He loved going up and down the stairs in the waiting room... he was having a blast. 

 

We then were brought back to the surgery prep room where they immediately brought in toys for Alex... put on cartoons on the tv and one of the nurses was blowing bubbles for Alex - he loves bubbles!! What a great place and SO kid friendly!! 

Alex didn't like getting his blood pressure taken and temperature taken... every time a nurse would get close to him he would cry.  So they ended up giving him some medication that makes him a bit loopy.. that was so funny... he was acting so funny.. Mike and I just laughed but it sure helped when the nurses had to get close and do something.  When it was time for surgery.. he went right to the nurse and they walked away.. he didn't have a care in the world at that point which was great for Mike and I to see... that helped us!

We were then brought to the parent waiting room which was really nice - it seemed like we were only sitting there for 15 minutes and the dr walked in and told us that everything went fine and that Alex was in recovery just waiting to wake up.  We were called back very shortly after the dr. visit and I saw heard Alex crying.. I went right up to him and held him... he was not happy!  They said he woke up fast and was trying to take his IV out and take his hospital band off.  So I gave him some water and he was downing that so fast.. we was so thirsty... I tried taking it away from him in fear that he would throw up but he was getting so mad when I would take it away so we would let him have a little.. then take it away and then let him have a bit more.... he ended up finishing his sippy of water.  We were brought back to another room.. a little more quiet and they put cartoons on for him.  He was cranky but doing really well... he ended up drinking his sippy of milk and just sat on our laps.... after about 45 mins we were able to go home.  I changed his diaper in the car before we left incase he fell asleep.. then I could just put him right in bed when we got home.   Well... on the way home he starting throwing up and throwing up a TON!! We had to pull over and clean up the carseat as best as we would and change his clothes.

Soon as we got home he was doing great... still cranky but he was really hungry so we let him eat and I have him a quick bath to get all that yucky vomit smell off of him.

So all-in-all it went SO well.... so much more than I anticipated... it still amazes me how quickly kids can recover!! Hopefully this is the start of Alex feeling better!!! Thankful for so a good day!

Here are some pics from the hospital!

Untitled

I have no title for this post... so many things have been going on lately.. all good things.  So.. I guess this is really a random post on random things in no particular order.. really... all stuff with-in the past month.

Brevin is officially in football.. we are about to wrap up his 2nd week of practice.  That takes a lot of time and energy on his part... he has practice 3 nights a week and it goes for 2 - 2 1/2 hours each.  He is doing amazing! We are literally shocked.  This is the boy that really never had a lot of confindence... always worries about anything and everything... he will be so sad and upset at any hurtful word that any friend will say to him...he is SO sensitive but he is working his butt off at practice AND having fun. We have such a great team of awesome kids, parents and a great coach. We were unsure with how tough this can be and have always heard of how coach's don't put up with any slacking off... if a child isn't paying attention.. they have to run laps and we have seen kids run many laps but Brevin is doing such a great job and the best part is... he is loving it!  We are so proud of him!!  Now we just have to work on Mike because he is about having a heart attack at every practice... this has always been his dream to watch his son play a sport that he grew up playing and is so passionate about... he litereally is almost in tears watching Brev.. he is one proud Dad! AND if Brevin really does play the position of running back that the coach has him doing lately.. Mike is going to fall over.. this is the position he played in HighSchool!  I have about as much fun watching Mike at practice as I do Brevin!

I signed up to be Team Mom.. having NO idea the amount of work it requires me to do but you know.. I love it!  The first week I was up till about Midnight sorting through paperwork.. building a roster with all contact information.. gathering important information to send out etc.. etc... but I seriously love it.  The parents of all the kids on the team are wonderful - Mike and I are having so much fun getting to know everyone! It is a little tough I admit with the twins but we are making it work.. we are SO lucky to have found a sitter... a daughter of a friend.. to watch the twins during one of the practices so Mike and I can give our full attention to Brevin. 

And on to the twins... they are doing well... we are finally starting to get some words out of them!  Alex said "shoes" for the first time tonight with Mike.  He also says Duck, Momma, Dadda, Uh Oh, ball and his version of "love you".  He will try to say a lot of stuff but these are the ones we can pick out that we know he is saying.
Ian doesn't say as much.. we really worry about all of this and I know you can't compare kids but it is hard not to.  Brevin at this age was saying a ton of stuff and starting to put some sentances together and we are no where close with the twins.  So we are just working with them and taking it one day at a time but it is very hard not to be frustrated.
One thing that Ian does that I LOVE is he always wants to be read to.. this is so wonderful!! He will literally follow me around the house with a book in his hand.. soon as I stop doing what I am doing.. he will hand me the book and stand there waiting for me to read.  I love this and will drop anything I am doing to read to him.. even if I am in a hurry and have to read a little faster than normal.. I will do it!!

Back to Alex.  He is getting tubes put in his ears on Aug 24... I am really ready for this.. he constantly has ear infections.. he has had at least one every month since January - he never feels that good so we are both so ready to get this little guy healthy again!!

This summer is going by fast!! The twins love playing outside but wow is that a lot of work.  Ian really is a naughty little guy.  he likes to run down our path and run in our neighbors yard.. he knows these are all "no no's" he will do it anyway looking back at us running after him and laughing at us all while trying to run faster.  He is quick and it exhausts Mike and I.  Alex isn't as bad but he watches Ian and likes to do what he does.  Ian is such a leader and Alex is a follower!  For instance.. if Ian decides on a whim to start walking backwards.. then Alex will do it.  When Ian starts screaming.. Alex will start.  When Ian decided to climb up on the toy chest and stand then Alex will do it... it just cracks us up how much Alex immitates Ian!!

As for Mike.. well.. he hurt his back a few weeks ago at work.. just lifting something out of his customers car.. nothing to heavy but just lifted it wrong so he has been in physical therapy and doing much better!

I have still been working at the gym a couple nights a week and I work Sat mornings - I really enjoy it!  I keep busy during the week with with twins of course and Brevin.  I have a wonderful group of friends that I walk with a couple times a week and I have been canning all kinds of goodies with another friend.  I am so blessed.. they know how hard it is getting out with the twins - dealing with chasing them around - that they are willing to come to my neighborhood to walk and come to my house to do some canning while the twins nap... friends that will come and get Brev and take him to the beach or a pool or just to their house because they know it isn't easy getting out with the twins and Brev still deserves to have a fun summer. God has put some very special friends in my life!!  Even at football practice.. I have a couple Moms that don't hesitate one bit to help with one of the twins and will walk around.. well more like run around with them... I am just so grateful.. without them I think I would be in tears a lot.. it is hard not having family close by and have to rely on friends but I am so lucky to have friends that don't even hesitate to help!

Now we are starting to look towards school starting up... really... already?? Good thing I got a 30% off to Kohls... school shopping here we come! I can't believe I have a 2nd grader! Where does the time go.. seriously!

So... that is about it in a nutshell I guess... sorry this is such a scattered post... lots going on but it's all good and I look around knowing how much Mike and I are blessed!!  Will post some recent pictures soon!!

Picture says it all!!

Brevin has been going to Football Camp this week - he is having a blast... Highschool football players and coaches put this on for the kids.  Brevin starts practice next week with his team "The Warriors".  He is so excited... Dad is so excited.. me... well... I am so nervous!!  This is full tackle football!  More pictures to come! 

Ian and Alex movie.MPG

First haircuts!!!

We finally got Ian and Alex's hair cut!  We were up in Ludington over the 4th holiday and so was Kathy so we asked if she wouldn't mind cutting their hair.....Alex did great as you can see below.. no tears.. Ian on the other hand hated the whole process - we gave in to feeding him marshmallows from the Lucky Charm cereal box to keep him somewhat entertained.  A HUGE thank you Kathy for taking on this challenge!!! She is amazing and so patient!!

Thank you so much Kathy!!! They look so cute with their new cuts!!

Alex

Ian

Now we have to try to keep up with keeping their hair short... here is to hoping each time gets easier!!!

7 years

My little (Big) man turns 7 today!!! God has blessed us so much with him... to watch him grow into such a loving, fun and caring young man.. it has been such an amazing journey. We are so proud of this boy. He is such a sweet kid!!

His birthday requests for today was to have breakfast in bed... so I made pancakes shaped into number 7's along with orange juice and grapes!! He loved waking up to me walking into his room with his tray of breakfast!! Then he had a choice to go to any restaurant he wanted to tonight and you know what he picked?? Hungry Howie's pizza and breadsticks at home and then out for ice cream to our local ice cream train - it's a train set up as an ice cream joint.. cute for kids and they have a lot of yummy treats!!

Saturday we have his official birthday party - he really wanted a rollerskating party so that is what we are doing!! It will be a fun day!!

A funny story.. Brevin just came back from a school friends birthday sleepover... he has a good time but he said to me that he didn't sleep well at all and was up from 2am to 5am... when I asked him why he told me that the boy sleeping next to him fell asleep on his arm... Brevin told me that he didn't want to move his arm because he didn't want to wake him up so he layed there the whole night with his arm hurting underneath this boy.... stories like this just go to show Mike and I just how sweet and thoughtful this boy of ours is!!! Always thinking of others!!

Happy Birthday to the best kid we could ever have asked for!! God has blessed us so much with Brevin and continues to do so every single day!!!

Some pictures of Brevin over the past 7 years...

Brevin at birth in the hospital:

Brevin 1 year old

Brevin 2 years old

Brevin 3 years old

Brevin 4 years old

Brevin 5 years old

Brevin 6 years old

Brevin today... 7 years old.. breakfast in bed!!

Father's Day... Nascar Race

What a wonderful day we had on Father's day!! My Mom and Dad came in for the weekend and we (Mike and I) took my Dad and Brevin to the Nascar Race while my Mom stayed home with the twins (Thank you Mom!!!). Now I will admit that I have never been much of a racing fan.. just not my kind of "sport".. I am more of a football kind of girl but I know how much Brevin is into Nascar and I wanted to experience a race... so off we went. Wow.. what an amazing day!! I always knew the cars went fast but never could I imagined how really FAST they go... it almost doesn't seem real... it is seriously amazing.. it gets your heart pounding! And the noise... it is SO loud that you have to wear earplugs or earphones which we all did. These drivers are amazing.... the speed that they get these cars up to... it is so fun to watch how fast they whip by you... you can't even get your eyes to focus on one car when they are infront of you.. it is like a flash and they are gone... you know how when you see something far away moving.. it is moving in slow motion?? Well not in this case.. I posted a video ... check it out and see how fast they are going in the distance!!

What a fun day with my Dad.. Mike and Brevin. We still have no idea how Brevin got into Nascar.. neither Mike or I ever really watch it but it is fun seeing Brevin really enjoy and get into this!! It was so special for us to be able to spend one-on-one time with Brevin and he so enjoyed having Grandpa with!! I can't wait till next year.. we might have to make this a Father's Day tradition!!

I think this is Kasey Kahne with someone???


This is Dale Earnhardt Jr and I think Jamie McMurray?

This is Carl Edwards (in black) Brev's favorite driver and Kevin Harvick

Lets the race begin!!

The winner below... Denny Hamlin

VIDEO OF NASCAR

See my post of our day below....

Three years ago today....

Three years ago today I gave birth to my little boy Troy who was born completely still... we to this day have no idea why... no idea what happened but that day will live with me forever!! I am blessed that I had the chance to hold him and feel him but my heart is still heavy thinking of that day... tears still flow thinking of what we went through that day... what might have been and missing him greatly.

Saying a special thanks to some pretty amazing family members and friends who remembered and sent e-mails. notes and phone calls.... means so much to me!!

Sending hugs and kisses up above.... today and always!

Is it really June already?

It has been a while since I have posted... so much going on... busy but it's all good! Brevin is in T-Ball and loving it... his last day of school is this week Friday the 10th - I am excited to have him home and be done with school for a while.

We do have a busy summer... with a wedding... Nascar race... Wisconsin Dells trip... then Brevin has outdoor day camp for one week.. then football camp the next week and then... gulp... he starts full tackle football! Yes I am nervous about this but he really wants to do this and we are excited for him... we pick up his full uniform this month.. can't wait to see him in that. It will be fun hanging out with friends watching his games this fall!! I am so proud of Brevin!

We had a great time this past Memorial Day weekend.. we ended up staying home and not going to my parents place in Ludington... we really wanted to go but glad we stayed home with how the weather turned out. We had a wonderful warm day on Memorial Day so we decided to get out and head to Kensington Water Park for the day... we packed up the twins and Brevin and picked one of Brevin's friends. We had a great time and he twins did great - it was a little hard because the twins.. especially Alex... didn't want to hold our hands.... so independant but with kids running everywhere... we had to hold onto them so they would get run over... this made them mad but they still had a great time getting soaked!!

The twins are doing great - everyday I realize how blessed I am to have them... Mike and I still to this day cannot believe we are parents to 4 boys... never in my life did I think this would happen... after losing Troy I didn't think we would have anymore kids - it was hard and quite a process but God had plans.. wonderful plans for us and he gave us 2 more blessings - I am thankful everyday for all my boys.

Speaking of Troy... I cannot believe that on the 13th of this month it will be 3 years since I gave birth to him... 3 years since we lost him... still to this day it brings tears to my eyes... it stirs up emotions that I still feel from that very day. A couple days ago out of the blue Brevin said how happy he was to have 3 brothers. He said he was sad that Troy was not here with us.... just knowing that Brevin remembers him... it means a lot to me and warms my heart in a way.

My Grandma and Grandpa gave us a lilac bush in memory of Troy and it is in full bloom right now... in June.. how special is that... I always look at that bush and think of Troy.

So in closing.. here is a picture of my beautiful lilac bush.

The twins being... twins!