Neleh : Good bye Tonsils and Adenoids!

Surgery day! Neleh is so tiny, her normal sized anatomy was too big for her tiny structures. She snores and has had sore throats that almost completely close her airway. I decided it was time for her to BREATHE! We planned the day so she would have enough time to recover before starting Kindergarten. We went shopping for the perfect outfit, all her soft food favs, I even broke down and bought her a "Squeezy Freezy" for $15- don't get me started.

  The hospital outfit complete Disney Princess from head to toe

 She even found a little chair to sit on while she waited

Hospital pjs and coloring pages, plus her own bag of wonder she packed by herself

 See you soon baby girl!

 All done! Even Baby had surgery. Her ENT said her adenoids were HUGE! Definitely a good choice to have this surgery. Now we hope she can breathe and have a healthy winter.

 Going home!

ps her Kindergarten Teacher came to the house to meet her shortly after we arrived home.

wood hunting... a new family tradition

I have fond childhood memories of wood cutting. I wanted Johnathen to have some similar memories. Because Grandma and Grandpa heat their house with the wood burning stove for most of the winter we decided to go help get some wood . And because Severin is NOT on oxygen this year we hope to have more fires in our fireplace too!

 

Grandpa making sawdust rooster tails

Cardiology Appointment July 29, 2013

WARNING PICTURE OVERLOAD BUT HE IS SO CUTE I COULDN'T JUST POST ONE!this is the bug craft he made while waiting for his Xray* proud*

and then I showed him we could curl it's legs

Happy kid with a curly bug!

He was so brave for Xray- no crying, hopped right up and said "CHEESE"!

He loves it when he gets to push all the buttons, and this time he was big enough to reach them- he has grown so much this summer

Patiently waiting for his Echo

Picture taking is the choice for entertainment during the *boring* echo

playing while waiting for Dr. Su

And the results are...... Severin is AWESOME, Echo was AWESOME, Blood pressure was AWESOME, O2 sats were AWESOME, Energy AWESOME, Growth was AWESOME. We are so thrilled with our little guy!

It was the first time in over three years his Dr. let out a sigh of relief. He never let on that he wondered if all this was going to work out for. But today I could tell he was very pleased with Severin's outcome. PHEW!

And the best part? Severin has been moved to the ONE YEAR plan! We will not see Cardiology until NEXT July.

I told Sev we can bring cake in for his birthday because that is the next time he will be there. He says "yes cake for everyone for my Happy Birthday!" and then skips down the hall punching his fists into the air.

Cardiology Appointment Eve July 28, 2013

You know what I was doing three years ago? I brought my baby home.
After 21 days in the hospital, one MRI, one Open Heart Surgery, incision, stitches, wound care, two feeding tubes and then only one, intubated for 10 days, more "pokies" then anyone can count, oxygen tanks, nasal cannulas, tender grips,  pulse ox, feeding pump, feeding bags, syringes, meds, feeding schedule, high cal formula and the recipe, stethoscope, miles of tubing.
 And tonight I sit with anxiety about his appointment tomorrow. I do not expect any surprises. He is doing so good. About 5 days ago I was really emotional, and sensitive. I though it was just the holiday, lack of sleep, lunar calendar, tide, or whatever. Then I get the message on the answering machine " Hello ...reminder call... "Sev AIR in" has a cardiology appointment.." clunk goes my heart into my guts. Oh yeah my kid still has that jacked up heart. So as I check on my kids for the umpthteen time tonight I am thankful for everyday of memories we have been able to make as a family. Three years I have been given to see his personality form, hear his voice, get his hugs and kisses. Three years of being the little brother, wrestling, teasing, singing, and dancing. Three years ago I didn't know if any of this would ever happen. I am so thankful!

Little Heros Basketball Camp

Johnathen had a blast at basketball camp this year

 NSP sponsors the Travis Hansen Basketball Camp. It is fun to see him play sports because he isn't afraid to "get in there", and that usually means he takes some hits, but he keeps going.

Sevie Birthday Party!

I wish I could record how he says "Jake and the Neverland Pirates bike" and put it on here so you could all hear how cute it sounds. Loves his new bike!

Happy Birthday Severin!!!!

Can you believe this little goof ball is three!?

 I got him all dolled up for church and took him outside to get some Birthday picts and this is what I get.

 

Johnathen's first Cub Scout Day Camp

He is so cute! What a big boy, yes mom is freaking out just a bit... He was up bright and squirrely and ready to GO!

LLAMAS!!!

Serious, anyone who knows me, knows I have a secret obsession with llamas. Yes, I walk past the farm of them here, Yes my kids have the Llama books, Yes I found a picture of a man who looks like a llama and it makes me laugh every time I see it- I will have to post that sometime. He is what I think of when I go to my happy place. So you can guess how excited I was to see llamas at the gas station we stopped into on our way home!

Look at his cute little head popping up over the cage

Awe and the Llama friends!

so of course I spent way too much money on llama puppets they sold inside the gas station, you know to thank them for letting us use their one and only bathroom- I am really excited can you tell? I am hiding them from the kids while telling them I have a really big surprise!

TA DA!!! Johnathen seems to be computing faster then the other two. Neleh isn't quite sure, and Sev is totally WTH!

Yep that is what driving through the night does to some of us.

Washington- just a little more before we go

We love Washington!

Thanks Uncle Wil! We had a blast, see you soon!

Washington Trip - Part Six

MUD RUN!!! A mud run is on my "runs to do list" We  accomplished the 5k mud run with 22 obstacles, rinsed, drove to Uncle Wils, showered, when to dinner for Kalliyan's sweet 16 and then drove for 16 hours. My arms were so sore I could barely put them down out of the 10 and 2 steering wheel positions. And it goes without saying how the rest of my beaten body felt. But all so worth it!

I love his little finger is pointing at me in disbelief that I intentionally got that muddy!

 

The "crew" before....

My Muddy Buddy Natalie, thanks Nats!The "crew" after....

MUST RUN LIST:  CHECK!

Washington Trip - Part Five

Our Auntie Ry is an A maZing cook! She was always in the kitchen making something wonderful. My palate has been tainted forever. Sometimes I could sneak in and help and watch in hope of recreating the deliciousness when I got home. The kids had so much fun meeting their "new" cousins. Ny took us out on his boat around Lake Stevens.

This was pretty much Johnathens face the whole time he was in the water, he is such a fish.

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We even had a movie date night with Rim and Natalie. Have you ever heard of the movie theater called The CineBarre? Nope it has nothing to do with cinnamon rolls. I know I was disappointed. It is a theater with movie seats but in front of you is a narrow table. We could order snack foods- no more just popcorn and sprite. The lobby area is like a bar with pool, games, etc. It is 21 and over so no screaming babes, but maybe a few drunkin' fools.

Washington Part Four or so....

I found these picts on Thoms phone, and how could I NOT post them!Auntie Annie Marie playing her harp for us it was Heavenly!

Of course we had to stop by and see Uncle Jim at the shop before heading south. Quist Violins in Bellingham, WA. Johnathen BEGGED to play

And then Uncle Jim found this tiny little violin just the right size for Sevie and Neleh

They loved making music! So blessed to be apart of a musically talented family

Washington Trip- Part Four

Sevie and Uncle Jim

Seriously can this kid get any cutier, really?

Washington Trip Part Three- Uncle Bobs Beach

That is what the kids call it, "Uncle Bobs Beach/Ocean" They love their Uncle Bob!

We have grown Beach Bums!!! They thrive at the beach!

Washington Trip Part Two- Birch Bay

Two little boys+rocks+water= tons of fun!!!

Best cousin buds Sevie and Ethan

Johnathen "practicing" his skills with his new wrist rocket

Neleh finds sea shells wherever she goes- can she get any cuter?

Washington Trip Part One- Highland Games

Johnathen trying his luck with a mini caber toss

Sevie loved this ginormous cow

Neleh just giggled the whole time she sat on the tractor

Uncle Jim taught a fiddling class in the old barn, Aunt Ry cooked yummy food and we met Uncle Wils family and friends