One fun weekend...

We had an awesome family weekend to kick off summer! We squished so much fun into this one weekend without even travelling.


We ate ribs, too much junk food and loads of s'mores. We giggled much. Alayna loved the ribs but was a little less than excited with the marshmallow ...I won't share who ate the rest of hers! We had fun with family and friends but mostly just enjoyed our little foursome oh so much!

We enjoyed lazy mornings eating breakfast on the patio with no hurry to go anywhere. Aidan & Alayna got lots of snuggle time in and we all had so much fun playing together!



We enjoyed a visit from Jason's niece from Arkansas. The kids bounced in the bounce house for a while but, Aidan talked LaMya into cleaning out the playhouse so off they went with brooms and Windex,they did a great job!







Alayna made sure she sent LaMya on her way with a few smoochies.

We celebrated our best buddies baptism day. Oh how we love our buddies~LC & Jace and are thankful for their whole family that has become our family too!



Finally, we celebrated Memorial Day and honored all the wonderful people in the military both past and present at Union Station. The KC symphony played a concert, Mark Schultz sang his awesome song "Letters from War", then they finished with fireworks.



If this weekend is a sign of the great family time to come this summer I say "bring it on!"

We have a stander...

Alayna amazed us with coming off this virus that made her totally lethargic last week with all of a sudden being able to get into standing.
Check out her silliness on try #2 as she plops down and waits for the whole family to applaud her!
Go Alayna go!

Hearing update

Alayna had a follow up hearing test today as she failed the one at the DS clinic in April and at the beginning of May at our pediatricians.
We are scheduled in to see an outstanding ENT at the end of June (or earlier if they have a cancellation).
We know she has had allergy stuff in April and that dreaded virus last week but, we don't want to wait any longer for her ears to clear up on their own before seeing the ENT.
Hopefully by June they will be clear and if not and the doctor suggests tubes we pray they can get Alayna in asap.

Hope you have a safe and happy Memorial weekend!

Thankful Thursday...

Life is so good to us, here are my thankfuls for this week...

Top of the list is Alayna getting rid of that virus! Oh we are all so happy to have our little girl back!

My parents who happened to arrive just in time to help out with a pitifully sick girl and entertaining Aidan so I could at least get a shower once a day!

As it went from spring to summer here within a matter of seconds...I am truly thankful for Richard, from Ideal Heating and AC that worked us in on Monday to fix our AC (everyone else would have been several days to get to us!)

Finally, a successful year for Aidan and the completion of 1st grade today! We are super proud of our new 2nd grader!

WOO HOO it's SUMMER (Is the pool open yet?)!!!

Hope you have had a wonderful week and take a moment to pick out a few things that you are thankful for...

The rescue shuttle finally arrived!

Guess who is feeling better?



Peek a....

BOO!
It's Layna Loo!

As of this week we are finally off the planet "it's a virus" and very thankful for the rescue ship that saved us!

Alayna was starting to get her pep back over the weekend but we kept her home just to be safe that she didn't pick up something else. (Sorry for no update we had no ac so staying in and blogging wasn't an option!)

As of Monday we started back to baby class and she really enjoyed playing with her buddies again.
She is back to her happy go lucky, on the go self! WOO HOO!

I sorta think all that sleeping time last week was a ploy...I caught her several times doing a downward dog from yoga in her crib and what do you know even as lethargic as she was last week she taught herself to get into standing without holding on! Go Alayna go...

Virus update

Alayna & Pop Pop watch the dogs play in the yard.

I can't believe I am actually having to do an update about this silly virus almost a week later...anyhoo! Trust me this virus being gone will definitely top next week's Thankful Thursday post!

We haven't seen a fever since Sunday, mouth blisters are gone, but as of Wednesday the congestion moved in so much that she was hacking, coughing and starting to retract like a little old man who chain smoked all his life...We gave her a breathing treatment at home and it helped but she wasn't able to get comfortable enough to sleep at night or nap time. She also has been totally lethargic this week, she would crawl a few feet and lay down. Poor baby!

So by bedtime last night we made the decision to take her to Children's to get a good suctioning and breathing treatment. They diagnosed her with an upper respiratory infection and bronchiolitis.

Thankfully her oxygen sats were high which was great because we didn't have to stay. Literally within seconds of being deep suctioned she signed thank you to the nurses and immediately fell asleep on my shoulder.

They did a breathing treatment while she slept and sent us home. She only woke up a couple times needing to be suctioned in the night, she slept with us so we could prop her up, and had much more energy today to actually get down and play with toys. Although this momma wonders how people do that family bed thing all the time, I got no sleep and am a little zombieish today. Have I told you how much I like a good sleep?

Let me tell you though those grandparents showed up just at the right time. Alayna has been enjoying their attention and snuggles this week while she hasn't been feeling up to much else. With her wanting to be held all the time I wouldn't have gotten anything accomplished this week if they hadn't arrived.

Hoping that she can get in a great nap today and be back on the wellness path.

Thanks for the prayers, we appreciate them all.

Thankful Thursday

So many things to be thankful for...(sorry no pics this week, my sweet girl hasn't had the energy to hold her head up long enough to get any!)

My parents making it back to town after their winter hiatus in south Texas. The look of utter and complete happiness on Aidan's face every time he sees them arrive. (Think of your kids face on Christmas morning!) Alayna warmed up quickly too!

A sweet lunch date today with my favorite 7 year old! He was totally surprised!

Getting out of the house to grab a few books at the library and get some much needed groceries and enjoy the one day of sunshine this week.

Time... to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book while Alayna has slept.

The beauty of the rain, when I don't have anywhere to go and can just sit and enjoy the sound.

I know there has to be one thing you are thankful for this week....big or small....do share!

Captain's Log

Day 5 on planet "it's a virus"....fever comes and goes, mouth blisters are painful and make you not want to eat, regular great nappers can't sleep for all the drainage now happening, the slime is great for hair gel though and works wonders at keeping your hair nicely in place out of your eyes. Once asleep you must be checked on for a pulse because you sleep through all the morning festivities and still sleeping past 10 am, Where mom's get giddy to get out of the house to go grocery shopping because they haven't seen the light from the sun in days (thanks Pop Pop for babysitting).

Oh this is a place everyone will want to visit right? Aren't you busy checking Expedia for cheap tickets here? Well ok save your money and maybe we will pick a better planet next time....

Beam me up Scottie, we are all through. There is no life form here!

Just a virus...

Alayna's fever is gone as of last night. But, she still isn't herself. She slept about all day and night yesterday, getting up at 9:30 this morning and couldn't figure out why daddy and Aidan were already gone.
She is drinking fine but doesn't really want to eat anything.
She has some interesting white spots in her mouth that I was guessing were hand, foot and mouth but, took her to the doctor and they declared it a fever virus that gave her some blisters...Continue Motrin for pain management and call us if the fever comes back...
She is now back to nap land. Hoping the blisters and pain go away by tomorrow and she can get back to eating and back to her perky self.

The grandparents arrived safely. Alayna took one look at them and waved and threw them a hug but wouldn't go to them. I am sure when she sees Aidan with them she will warm up quickly.

Germies, germies go away...

Saturday started out great...


In the morning we danced to children's music, played and the kids enjoyed free boat rides. Daddy made a big omelet breakfast and we were getting ready to head out, even though it was a rainy day to find something fun to do when....we noticed Alayna felt warm.


She went from laughing, happy, big breakfast eating, more boat riding please toddler to this lethargic, fever running, non eating lump in a matter of a couple hours.









Thankfully, she slept a bunch and is feeling a bit better today (still running a fever but much lower, however she only drank milk ate no breakfast which when our kids don't eat I know they aren't well!). Hopefully just a virus and we won't have to make a trip to the doctor or urgent care today.


You gotta get well Alayna, Grandma & Pop Pop are on the way here to see you! Last time they saw Alayna she was just starting to crawl and pull up to stand and had just a few signs...Won't they be surprised?


Hope you are having a great weekend.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

Homemade Mother's day cards, snuggles, smooches and giggles from my kids that filled my day and made it one of the best days ever.



Family kite flying adventures that weren't successful in the flying department but were super successful in the family bonding and laugh until you nearly wet your pants department.




The amazing women that loved, accepted & swooned over Alayna this year so that I may continue my faith walk through my BSF international class. They were a true blessing! (I can't wait for September to start the new study on Isaiah...if you are looking for a great Bible study find a BSF class in your area, you won't be disappointed and your kids will love it too!)

A dear friend that adores Alayna and takes care of her so that I can volunteer on a regular basis in Aidan's classroom.

Football nights ...hubby gone to play soccer, kids in bed, house is peacefully quiet need I say more? OK add in some ice cream and it is the bomb!

Hope your week has been blessed with a thing or two and you have stopped to ponder them...

Psalm 111:2

How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.

Career opportunities?

It is never too early to start preparing for the future.
Alayna has definitely shown interest in pursuing a career in music . But, we don't want to limit her choices so here are a few more things she has shown interest in this week.


1) Parks & Recreation inspector - Official wood bark taste tester! Reports say a little extra fiber is good for you right?





2) TruGreen Chem lawn - Official dandelion finder. "Wait boys, you missed one!"














3) Plumbers are Us - Official shower inspector
("Daddy I think you have been in there quite long enough!")




OK maybe we haven't quite found the perfect match for her future, we will keep trying.

Prayers needed...

As a cancer survivor myself I can't imagine hearing a cancer diagnosis for Aidan or Alayna.

Unfortunately, that is the news one of our blogging buddies Denise heard this weekend on her sweet 2 year old, Ella Grace. She was diagnosed with leukemia on Friday and started chemotherapy yesterday.

Please click on her picture to go over and visit their blog and fall in love with this sweet girl as we have.

I am asking that you daily lift Ella and her family up in prayer for complete healing and peace during this time.

Happy Mother's day!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone. I will be enjoying my day by spending time with Aidan & Alayna.

May your day be blessed ~


Love you mom, can't wait to see you next week!

Thankful Thursday

Our life has been so busy this week. The days seem to melt into the next without me realizing that a new day has begun.

I love reflecting as it gives me a moment to stop the chaos and really see the beauty of my life.

I have so many things to be thankful for.


~Pillsbury Funfetti cake, which is requested by my husband each year for his birthday it turns him into a giddy school boy. Oh how I love that man, so easy to please!

~Family bike rides, small group barbeques, successful neighborhood garage sale, our church raising over $1 million for the new addition to our building

~A great check up for Alayna - her 18 month ( a little late) she is 20 # 6 oz (so far from that 4 pound 13 1/2 oz birth weight!)

~Aidan's reading soaring and him loving chapter books and the Bible

~Giggles - Every morning from Alayna's room we are awakened to giggles. They are contagious and it starts each day in such a great way.



Here is a video of her after she woke up from her nap as a little giggle sampling for you.

She is also giggly in the car now that she is facing front, I think she is very thankful for forward facing car seats!





~Communication - Alayna is picking up signs by the plenty, combining them into sentences and using her language not only to communicate to us but also others.
For example, she wanted my neighbor Liz to hold her the other day but Liz had been working in the garage and didn't want to pick her up because she was dirty.
Alayna looked at her with sad puppy dog eyes and very sweetly did the please sign very slowly like to say PLEASE! Of course, Liz couldn't resist an ask like that...



We are so thankful for our blessings. Hope you take a moment to reflect on yours and feel free to share a few.

Happy Birthday daddy!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Welcome to the 40's!

Have a wonderful day...

We LOVE you xxoo