GROW Baby Grow!

GOOD NEWS~ The Pediatric GI doc is convinced that Bethie's reflux and milk allergy are starting to resolve themselves! Bethanie will remain on her Prevacid and special formula for another four months... But she's finally started to pack on the pounds! (One day she won't be happy with me for saying those words!). She is up to 15 lbs 9 oz now... And is a whopping 27 1/4 inches long. That's 3/4 of an inch and 7 oz of growth in 4 weeks; which is the most she's had since April! Grow little Bethie-Boo... GROW! She's still below the 3rd percentile on her weight and about the 15-20th percentile for her length but we'll take it! We're hoping she tips the 16 lb mark by the time she reaches her 11-month milestone (which is only two weeks away).

Thanks for all the well wishes & prayers for Bethanie. Apparently all of your hard work is helping her! Best news of all... No more invasive tests for the little dumpling!

More later....

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Yet Anther Surgical Experience!?

Yes... The title IS right! Tony & I are prepping ourselves for another surgical experience. That will bring us to a total of two trips for surgery (luckily with two different kids) in less than six weeks. Emmalie's tonsils and adnoids will be a faint reminder of the past when all is done! She was a trooper for the ENT today (who I must say is one of the best I've ever met... even counting my years in the OR/PACU). They even gave little miss "thang" her own tailored booklet to help her understand what her tonsils are and what the procedure is... Complete with a spaceship journey through the mouth! She found it rather interesting and is referring to it as "something like Meet the Robinsons"! To think, the nightly tone of her constant snoring is going to be gone... How will Tony & I ever sleep?!

That is the update I promised. No more exciting news from the homefront. Though I'm sure the week will present something... So, more words of life to come.


Shelia

Autumn fun has OFFICIALLY begun!

What a fun weekend the kids & I had! Yes, that's right... Tony had to miss it because he was working. But he'll get in on many of these kind of weekend events, rest assured! What made it so fun...

FOOTBALL SEASON has officially started!!!!!

Dalton had his preseason scrimmage yesterday and, besides the fact that he insisted on going early to "scout" the other teams which resulted in a rather long day in the 90-degree heat, it was GREAT! Don't get me wrong, I love basketball and baseball seasons, too... But there is something so much more exciting about sitting in the bleachers amongest tons of friends and family in breezy 60-80 degree weather cheering for your team! I don't know what I'm going to do when their's no more football seasons with the boys.

Here are some pictures that Emmalie & I took at the football game yesterday...

Dalton is number 54 (like his nickname carrier Brian Urlacher).

I have to throw in a couple others that were taken late this Week...

Devin at the FB scrimmage, the girls showing some "personality", and the boys waiting for the school bus bright & early Friday morning!

Tommorrow is Emmalie's ENT appointment in which we will find out the fate of her tonsils. Initial thoughts are that they are coming out. I was telling Tony last night that it will be a little hard to explain things and prepare her because she is so smart and catches on so well that we may end up scaring her. We're waiting until we know for sure before we tell her anything. I'll keep you posted.

Well, time to brave the rain for a few odds-and-ends. We're looking for the perfect first birthday invitations for Bethanie. If anyone knows of someone or some place to find ones that fit with her playful, happy personality please let me know!

And for those of you who were curious and waiting patiently... The answer to the Mother Goose riddle is..... A STAR! (Thanks for the email answers; though it is okay to post them here too!).

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Finally! About Time! Better Late than NEVER!

Well.... IT FINALLY HAPPENED! Bethanie's first tooth is here..... And the sleep-filled nights are back, too! I was starting to worry that all three of the other kids had at least two teeth by the time they were 9-months old and Bethie still hadn't gotten her first one yet. But better late than never I guess. Bethanie is just eager to get to eat "real" table foods that she can SINK HER TOOTH INTO (get it!). The girls decided to do their own celebratory dances to commemorate the event. (See the video clip below). It seems the music and fun never end in this house! We're thankful for that.

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Let's add some more fun... Today's riddle (courtesy of Mother Goose):

Higher than a house and

Higher than a tree.

OH, my, whatever can it be?

Keep mulling it over! I'll post the answer, along with more of life's words, in the next post.... Until then...

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Lazy Little Eater...!

I was meaning to post this yesterday with the rest... but must have been too sleep-deprived and mindless at the time! Bethanie has never been the best of eaters (as her slow weight gain shows). Emmalie snuck her a bottle from the diaper bag the other morning before daycare... and this picture is proof of how lazy Bethanie can get while eating!

YES! She IS holding her bottle with her FEET!

More later....

Shelia

Finally Some REST?!

What a busy end to the week... and weekend! Work has been busy (for both Tony & I) and both of the boys have started back to school. Devin seems to like being "big man on campus"... as he is no longer an "underclassman". He's contemplating playing football again this year; which I think he will end up doing to get in shape for golf (or baseball, whichever he decides when that time comes). It's been rather fun getting the kids back to school and looking forward to football and concerts and all of the other excitement the school year brings. The boys both have some really good teachers this year and will surely excel.

Bethanie is officially teething...! (If you don't believe me, just ask Tony about the last two nights of going sleepless). We even managed to get a picture of her today smiling big enough to see the two blisters about to erupt as proof!

Bethanie showing off her rather painful looking "soon-to-be" bottom teeth!

Emmalie is really wanting to ride the bus and be in school with the boys.. but there's that age issue! She has the best of daycare providers who works with her on what she can grasp at age 3-4 as far as learning goes. Emmalie is like most girls... a little forceful and ready to advance, falling about 6-12 months ahead on alot of things. Although, she thinks she's ready for Kindergarten (and between us... She's NOT!). Bethanie is also advancing well... with everything but her weight, that is. Bethie pulled herself up on the couch today and stood for what seemed like a long time (but it was only 30-seconds). She walks around EVERYTHING these days and has started to push her walker rather than walk in it. Bethanie goes back to the Pediatric Gastrointerologist in a week to check her growth (or lack thereof). She's holding strong at 15lbs, 4 oz!

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The girls and I managed to take advantage of the early morning today... but, with the teething, only Emmalie & I actually made it to church while the boys did yard work (yeah!). Emmalie & I truly enjoyed our quiet "mother-daughter" time so well that we played hookie and stayed out a little while longer after leaving mass. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have Tony take a quick picture of just us girls while we actually looked worthy of picture taking!

Mama & the Girls

Bethanie

Emmalie

Well, since the boys are working outside... I had better get started on the inside. The next two weeks should be eventful for us (doctor appointments, football scrimmages, etc, etc, etc). More wonderful words to come... Stay tuned...

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Back To SCHOOL!

My baby boy started Middle School today! Forgive me if I'm a little side-tracked... I'm not yet sure if I'm supposed to be happy or cry over it! Dalton absolutely hates me referring to him as my "baby boy" but I figure that I have at least three years of Middle School to outgrow it, right?! I even tried to get his picture taken this morning to complete his box of baby and school milestones... but, like all pre-teen and teenage boys, he hid like the dickens and this is all that I was able to get!

The High School had Freshman orientation day... So Devin's still not officially in school yet. I wasn't able to get his picture either. But the girls didn't let me down any! Emmalie, Bethanie & I made our way out and about town, ending up at the playground for some much needed "run-around" time. (Dad and Tony showed up after work to get in on the playground excitement!). It was kind of crowded for the time of day... but we still had a great time! SEE....

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We're looking forward to a very busy weekend (not unlike every other weekend has been with baseball and birthdays... or will be with football)... Anyway, I'll probably take a few days off since I'll be working most of the weekend, too. More words of our hectic life to come. Until then.... Happy thoughts and best of wishes.

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

All is Well!

Dalton's surgery came and went without any complications! AND.... He gets to be back at football practice in full pads come Thursday already! (Barring no issues with a re-bleed occurring between now and then...). He was such a trooper.... Calm, cool, and collected throughout the entire experience. Dalton was his normal, onery self when the morning started after getting him checked into the Peds ASU (Ambulatory Surgery Unit for kids only). Once they gave him his "juice" before taking him back to the surgery suite, he got a little talkative. The nurses just thought he was adorable... Especially the fact that the kid REALLY DID stay up until midnight to make sure he took full advantage of his timeline for food & drink (he finished his Dr. Pepper at exactly 11:55 pm!). He woke up so well that he only had to stay his formal 30-minutes back in the Peds ASU before we could take him home... out of technicality and hospital policy. I took a picture of him in his stylin' hospital gown ready for surgery, but I took it with my phone and I'm not quite sure how to get it off (maybe Tony can help me!).

The first words out of Dalton's mouth when Tony & I were reunited with him after surgery....

... YOU GUESSED IT folks! We're going to Burger King when I get out of here... I'm starved! If that doesn't tell you he was back to normal immediately, nothing will! We're even taking him to the school's "meet the teacher" night tonight so he can decorate his locker and such. The best part... all of the remaining bleeders in Dalton's nose were able to be reached and taken care of and, per the doctor, he should be good at least through high school (then he'll need his deviated septum addressed... but that's another story much later on).

That is the update on Dalton-berry. Thank you for your prayers, thoughts, and well wishes. Everyone else is doing well and enjoying a little bit of cooler weather. More to come later.....

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Surgical Monday...

What a rainy weekend we have had! The news reported that a record daily amount of rainfall was set yesterday.... as a result of two-hours worth of downpour. And it's STILL going! It's been fun staying inside though. Dalton & Emmalie have gotten really good at "cookie cutting" play-dough! I have been able to get a little deeper of a home clean-up going. Plus... it's been great weather to convince the kids that it's okay to "sleep in".... SEE!

Tomorrow is Dalton's nasal cautery surgery. It's scheduled for late morning, but anyone familiar with surgical schedules knows that could change. DJ seems to not be one bit nervous about the whole thing... Well, at least not the actual procedure and being put under anesthesia. He IS concerned about not being able to eat anything after midnight, though. (Growing preteen boys need food all day long!). Dalton's planning to stock up and eat right up until 11:59 pm! Please keep him in your prayers... Tony & I are praying for everything to go well this second time around so the bleeds will finally be a memory of the past. Dalton, on the other hand, is praying that things go well enough that he's cleared for football practice yet this week! PRIORITIES when you're an 11-year-old athlete sure are different then when you're the parent.

Hope the rest of your weekend is enjoyable. I'll try to get to post an update on Dalton within the next couple of days... Until then, many prayers to all.

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Football, Hot Weather, and Soon... School!

Even with Emmalie, Devin & Dad's birthdays all past... The excitement still remains! Football practice started this week for Dalton, ending with a tough night of full-pads and all out hitting. He absolutely loves it... But I think he's rather sore tonight too! It's been hot out here in middle USA. Even with the slightly lower temperatures and anticipated rain showers to come our way... It's HOT! Isn't it funny that you love to go out and play or swim on hot summer days when you're young... Then you hit 30 and pray for no day over 75-degrees or you feel like you're body will melt! Guess that means I'm getting old, huh?

School starts next week for the boys... Can you believe that Devin is already 16 years old and a Junior? And Dalton starts Middle School this year, too! I still remember them both at Bethanie's age learning to walk and talk and laugh at everything you'd do. Nowadays it can be a chore to get them to remember Tony & I really are the bosses! We're actually pretty lucky... If you don't count the "can't rinse a dish" or "but that's not my mess" comments on occassion! I think Tony will be a little sad for school to start because Dalton has been a big help with the girls this summer. Myself, on the other hand, can't wait to NOT hear pre-teen/teen complaints of "not having anything to do" or being bored. Plus, as the boys head back to school there will be more time for the girls and I to pick up extra activities. Right now I'm looking at either a mother-daughter dance class or gymnastics for Emmalie and a mother-baby water exercise class for Bethanie.

Devin with the "I just woke up & my hair is a mess" teenager look going on

Dalton shares his first "battle scars" of the football season

Beautiful, blonde and she knows it... Little Miss Giggles (aka Emmalie)

Emmalie catalog modelin' her dress from Grandma Teri & Grandpa Dave
Think Bethanie's trying to tell us she doesn't like the backwards hat look?Actually, I think she just wanted it off!

Many prayers to all. More wonderful words about life to come.... Until then...

Shelia, Tony & the Gang