Surgery Day

After weeks of testing and working with an ENT for Blake it was decided he would need surgery. Blake has enlarged adenoids & tonsils that would be removed and clogged ear drums that he would need tubes put into place to help drain. Unfortunately the only day available to do Blakes surgery was on his birthday, so we celebrated a week early this year! Blake was such a trooper and after a few hours in recovery he went home with Josh and I. The first week my poor little guy was in pain and didn't want to eat that much, but we managed to keep him hydrated. He didn't really even care to have the ice cream and popsicles I thought he would love. I'm happy his surgery went well and everything looks like it healed great!

Speech for Blake

Since Blake was almost 2 I've told my pediatrician he will need speech. They proceeded to tell me a lot of kids don't talk well until 3 and to wait until then. Well I still went for a hearing test at that time, just in case, and it came back good! Now that we are close to 3 I went back to the DR for a follow up. Blake has more words now, but not a lot that other people can understand.

We are trying to figure out what steps we will need to take for Mr. Blake. We had a woman come out to the house from early intervention to see if Blake qualifies through the state for speech therapy. I had to answer tons of yes or no questions and depending on his percentage he scores he may or may not qualify. This test is so hard I think for moms to answer the questions because above everyone I know what Blake is saying and what he really does know...
For example there was a question if he can point out objects in a picture book...well yes he can. Later down the line I told her he won't sit still to listen to a book with me. She said well you said he can point to objects in a book..I said yes he can but he is not sitting there, he is running around answering 1 or 2 at a time. So in the beginning Blake did not score low enough to qualify until she thought it would be best to change the answer to that question to answer more questions....then he did score right at 50% which is what he needs to qualify.

The two women who came out to review Blake will now make a action plan for him. Since Blake is so close to his 3rd birthday he most likely won't be getting any help with early intervention, but they will give his action plan to the public schools so hopefully he can qualify to get speech with the public schools.
Good thing he is so dang cute...his looks may just have to get him through life! :)

Mini Bears Preschool

Braden started Mini Bears Preschool program today. He is so excited to go to school! He is so ready to have an activity without mom and this will be so good for my little social bee! Braden loves to socialize and talk with everyone, so I'm hoping he does great!

I've been told....

I need to update this thing!


There are lots of things that have past...I'll be working on it!

San Diego 2009

We planned a San Diego trip this year with our favorite neighbors across the street. The first day we hung around Belmont Park and let the kids see what the ocean was all about. The boys decided to get right in the water...without their swim trunks! Needless to say they were a bit cold and had to drive back to our hotel in their underware.
We planned a day at Sea World. Braden was so excited to meet Shamu he had been talking about it for weeks. As soon as we walk into Sea World he said where is Shamu, take me to meet him! I think he thought we would be hanging out with him all day :)...as soon as Braden realized this was as close we were getting to Shamu..we moved on with our day. The boys really liked the Elmo playworld and Blakes favorite ride was the Elmo ride, he would've rode that thing all day long if we let him. And of course he loved Elmo!



















The next day we spent most of the day at the beach. Braden did so good riding the waves in on the boogy board!

4th of July Fun

This fourth of July we laid low and played right here in Coolidge. We went for a BBQ and swim at our neighbors house with most of the block and all headed out for the fireworks at the ballpark.

Braden's 4th Birthday

Braden celebrated his 4th Birthday on June 26th. Braden is such a gift to our family, I couldn't imagine my day to day without him. He is always eager to help me whether it be fold laundry, help with the puppy Kadee, or help out with his little brother Blake. He is so eager to learn and ready to get started on preschool this year!

We had a pool party for his birthday this year at my in laws house. Braden was so excited to have all his friends and family come together for him.
This year instead of a pinata we did a balloon pop...and this was a HIT! All the kids had so much fun trying to pop their balloons any way they could to get their candy!


Well not everyone...

Happy Birthday my big boy Braden...we love you so much!!!

KaDeE

Our newest addition to the house.....

Miss Kadee

This little girl is so much fun! The entire family loves on her so much and she is so good with the boys rough housing with her!

Our Long Weekend

Our long weekend was spent productively...

We drove to Lake Havasu (yes again) for those of you wondering...and we picked up a wonderful gift from cousins Daniel and Angie Husted. When we were up in April they told us to take down and take home their playground set that their kids are outgrowing. We did not have any way to haul it away then and there, so we planned a trip to go back and get it.

Hubby decided to repaint the playground set before we put it back together, and so we did...

And the finished product...Click on the pic to see the little hiding faces...

Braden's 1st Dentist Visit

Braden had his first dentist visit..and did great!! We talked about everything the dentist was going to do before we went so he was ready and would hopefully do everything they wanted. Well he did! We went in and they wanted to take pics of his teeth, how you bite on those little films, with a little coaxing from the tech he did all the pics. Then it was time to sit in the chair and put his glasses on. The tech (Jenn) cleaned his teeth and then we waited for the dentist. The dentist poked around and counted all his teeth..and no cavities!!! Braden and Blake both got tooth brushes and a token to get a prize out of the machine when we were done!

Ball Park

I love going to ball parks for different games. We were doing big boys (Josh's) softball league. Now its T-ball for Braden, and softball for the Lillie girls across the street. The boys enjoy going to their games to run off energy and watch some ball!!

Happy Belated Birthday...

to Kristy! Kristy is my sister in law but we've known each other before we were sisters. We were roommates and best friends, this is how I met my hubby! Kristy is the best mother to 4 adorable kids and such a good wifey to her husband Matt. She is a awesome aunt to her 2 crazy nephews and she will do anything for our family!


We love you very much!!

Lake Havasu

We went to Lake Havasu this past weekend to visit and enjoy family. The kids always love it there because there is so much to do and so much land to run and roam!

The first day we took the kids to The London Bridge and road paddle boats under the bridge. After the kids enjoyed snow cones and enjoyed the sites.

The second day we hung out around the Ranch and the men, and Angie went on a 5 1/2 hour horse ride. We enjoyed watching them get all the horses ready and some kids even got on the horses. Back on the Ranch we enjoyed hours and hours of looking at all the animals, and going on ranger rides. A few kids tried swimming, but it was COLD, so that was short lived!


The third day we went to cousin Daniels before we headed home. Daniel had these 2 goats that were so cute! One was a baby and the other will have 2 babies in June! One of their horses is also expecting a baby! I can't wait to go back and see all the new babies!

Go Dragons!

Braden has started his second year of t-ball. Last year we started him even though he was still 2 years old (almost 3)...and he did OK. This year he seems to enjoy it a lot better! He is on the green team this year with 9 other little boy and girl dragons. It is so funny to watch all the little ones run around to get the ball and then all end up in one big dog pile together.

One last Easter thing..

Blaker!!!

Easter morning right before the egg hunt (while daddy was watching him) he found one little mud hole in the backyard and decided to play in it!

In his Easter outfit!

this picture does not do the situation justice...he had it all over his shirt and his shorts! Needless to say mama was not happy!

Easter 2009

Easter snuck up on me so quick this year we didn't start to talk about Easter until a couple of days before. The Easter bunny came to our house and hid the boys' baskets and Easter eggs for all the kids. Braden and Blake searched the entire house and looked in all of their favorite hiding spots for hide and seek for their baskets. They finally found them in our downstairs bathroom shower where the Easter bunny hid them.

Then we had some family over for a yummy breakfast and egg hunt for all the kiddies in our backyard. We let Blake and Tate out for about 30 seconds so they had a shot at getting a few eggs before we released the wolves!

Tyler, Tate, Hunter, Alexis, Jaycie, Blake, Braden
a little hard to get a pic when I place them all with sun in their eyes! (oops)