The unclouded mind

at dinner...
Mom: So Noah, what did you do in "discovery" at school today?
Noah: (enthusiastic) We played a game!
Mom: (after no apparent elaboration was on the way) What kind of game?
Noah: (excited) We got to draw cards and then tell how they the two cards are the same.
Dad: ?
Mom: How were your two cards the same?
Noah: (hopping and cannot share this story fast enough) I got two cards, Abbey got two matches and ...(the story turned left)
Daddy: How were your two cards the same?
Noah: I won, I won
Dad: gives up
Mom: How were your two cards the same?
Dad: what were your two cards?
Noah: A cow and a pumpkin
Mom & Dad: ? (the same how?)
Noah: (matter of factly) well, they both grow
Dad: in dazed disbelief
Mom: (wide eyed) scary huh?

Awards assembly

Noah with his medal around his neck and trophy in hand.



The winners from his class.

All the winners from Kindergarten.

Science Fair 2008

Congratulations to Noah for winning first place in his individual class as well as winning first place in the entire Kindergarten division. He now will go on to compete in the District science fair.



Noah came up with the idea of finding out which batteries were better, expensive or cheap. He tested Dollar Store AA batteries and Energizer AA batteries using a toy car to run the juice out of the batteries. He found out that Energizer lasts the longest (four times).

Noah's school consistently has the most entries for an Elementary school in his district and that was evident last night as we walked around and looked at all the entries. Everyone did such a great job and there was quite a few Kindergarten entries (15-20).

One of the grand prize winners tested cell phones (in use) up against hamburger meat. The meat started to cook on the outside while the phone was in use. Pretty scary for all you cell phone users out there. Gives us something to think about.

We are so proud of you Noah...you did a fantastic job!!!!

Watch out there is a new sherriff in town!

Santa delivered Camden's much anticipated police scooter this week. It is way too cute with lights and a siren! When he walked into the living room and saw it he said "Oh bananas! Santa's been here!" Santa, of course, had help from the big brown truck (because his sleigh only runs on Christmas Eve and is resting because it is so tired). Camden is convinced that the big brown truck had wings and a "pointy thing on top" that helped it get down the chimney. We may never know.




My spring cleaning has started for the year. It usually does after putting the Christmas decorations away. Noah's room has stressed me out every time I walked past it for the past 3 years. In the above picture, several of us all worked together to get it cleaned and organized. It is better, but still has a long way to go.



My kids have been begging to go outside for the last several weeks despite the freezing weather. Well, last week they got out and raked leaves and jumped in the pile. Noah was so desperate to be outside, he even shoveled s*&#!!!!. Thanks, Noah!

We had our trip to the dentist yesterday. I have never changed dentists from growing up and still drive to Mesquite. Happily, we found out that in March he will be relocating to Plano!!! Yippee!!!!! I was frightened for Noah, his teeth looked horrible and I was convinced he was going to have a mouthful of cavities. (This comes from eating tons of Halloween candy and not brushing his teeth for a month. Yeah gross, but that is life!) Anyway, his teeth were fine and he even has a few loose teeth. We were told that we are going to have to "help" several of his bottom teeth become loose because they probably are not going to come out on their own before his big teeth come in. Not looking forward to that.

Noah has his science fair open house tonight...we will let you know how he did. We are so proud of him for trying and doing his best.

Just some funnies

Camden and I were sitting at the table yesterday. The washing machine was running in the background and when the water siphoned out it gurgled up in the kitchen sink. Camden looked at me and said, "Mommy, you must be very hungry, I just heard your tummy."


Driving home from school today with Camden - "Mommy, the kids teased me today when we played outside". Me- "what did they say?" Camden - "they said I was a giant" Me- "I thought you were a big guy" Camden - "I am NOT a big guy, I am NOT an enormous giant like Daddy!"


After 2 1/2 weeks of not venturing outside of the house (due to sickness), I was ready to return to work on Tuesday. As Camden and I were leaving the house, I turned around and saw the most pathetic "You can't possibly be leaving me here by myself" look from the dog. It reminded me of the depression commercial with the sad looking dog. For 1/2 a second I felt compelled to stay home one more day. I apologized to her and then thought to myself "my relationship with the dog is out of control!"

Slow and steady

Camden is doing awesome with his recovery. The swelling has gone down enough that the freight train snoring that we listened to for 5 days has been replaced with silent quiet breathing!!!! He hasn't had any pain medicine in several days and is almost back to eating the quantity of food he ate before the surgery. He is still on soft foods and is handling Spaghettio's, yogurt, eggs, bananas, apple sauce, etc. like a champ. He probably still has about a week until back to normal.

I went back to the doctor this week and had a chest x-ray. I am finally headed in the right direction and am feeling a little bit better each day. I am still pretty weak and I am not enjoying the side effects of my "not friendly" antibiotic that I am on. It will take a while until I have my energy back and he said that I may struggle with Reactive-airway through the spring. I am definitely taking it easy because I do not want to relapse. Four weeks is long enough for me to be down!!!

Other things that have happened this week....

Laundry has piled up...
The house is filthy...
The washing machine is leaking water all over the floor...
The garage door broke a spring and we all thought someone had run into our garage...
Santa still hasn't delivered Camden's scooter and he is not happy...
Camden has already had Mommy write another letter to Santa because he "didn't bring what I asked for on my list!"
Noah has found the world of Webkinz.
Camden is not happy that Santa did not bring him a Webkinz. (Ooops!)
Noah is finishing up his Science Fair project (yeah, I know... they do those in Kindergarten)
Brian has been an angel all week with sick people, working and picking up the slack. We love you!!!

Hope you are having a great week!

Someone is on the mend

Camden is feeling much better today. He had a hard day yesterday with the pain, but today is a new day and he is a happier kid.

I found out that I have pneumonia and I don't feel so great at all. I am on my 2nd round of antibiotics and hope they make the difference. Along with the Pneumonia, I also am having asthma problems. So, Camden and I will be making our home on the couch during the next week.

Brian and Noah go back to school on Monday and Camden and I will miss them!!!!

A model patient

Camden came through his surgery beautifully. He was his usual, "not a care in the world" self. He took everything in stride. He had no problems when he awoke from surgery and we were asked if they could clone him because he was an excellent patient. His only tears that were shed were when he came home to find Noah gone and he cried because he missed his brother. The doctor said his tonsils and adnoids were huge and he will have a much easier time breathing and eating now that they are gone!!!

The recovery is 7 days with ice cream and soft foods and lots of rest. We have already seen this is going to be difficult in the short 3 hours that we have been home. He doesn't understand why he can't have "normal" food and he has spent little time on the couch resting. He also was back to yelling and rough-housing which we have repeatedly explained is a "no-no". To please his desire to "play", daddy has built him a fort to rest in on the couch (see above). Camden has not once complained about pain and we are shocked but thankful that he is not suffering too much.

Thank you for your calls and prayers, we appreciate them!!!!

Prayer Request

Camden will have his tonsils removed this morning. Please keep him in your prayers. We will update later.

Thanks!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day!

slowly improving

Here are a few updates:

Camden has improved enough to go back to school and cause major havoc around the house (in other words, he is back to normal). He still has the nastiest thickest stuff in his nose, so he is on round 2 of antibiotics. His surgery has been moved to the first week in January, due to us having much better insurance starting on the 1st.!!! Woo-hoo!!! But that also means that I now have another week to try to keep him well. UGGHHHHH!!!

Noah went down with a terrible ear infection over the weekend. He literally screamed and cried all Saturday night. We were all in pain with him. He says the pain is better now but he is wheezing and has the same yucky stuff in his nasal passages. So, he is on an antibiotic and fighting me everyday about blowing his nose! Have I ever mentioned that he HATES to blow his nose. It takes an act of congress to get a Kleenex near him!!!

Well, you can guess what happened next. I came down with same 2 week virus that the rest of my family and the DFW area has. I feel horrible. Tons of coughing, rumbling in the chest, etc... The doctor said I might feel better by Christmas, we will have to wait and see.

I am just about finished with my shopping, I only have 3 gift cards to buy! YEAH!!!! Almost everything is wrapped and under the tree. Brian hasn't even started shopping and since he only has one person to shop for, ME, I am not real thrilled with him waiting until the last minute. Oh well! We will be starting our Christmas with family this Saturday night and the kids are soooo excited. We are looking forward to getting together with Mark and Tiffany, exchanging gifts and baking cookies.

I am off to lay down and rest for a few minutes.

Still sick

Camden has improved but still has a very nasty cough. Noah has come down with a fever and a very ugly cough that we can't seem to get under control with the Nebulizer. Of course, neither his Ped. or his Pulmonologist are open today!!! This is week two of illness with at least a week to go since Noah just started with symptoms.

Today, Brian stayed home and I was able to get out and exercise and attend my Christmas lunch at work. I love that I am able to stay home with my kids, but the walls have been closing in on me over the last week and half of being in the house constantly.

Please keep my kids as well as so many others who are struggling right now with illness.

Preparing for Christmas

I haven't had much time to update with Camden being sick. He went back to the Dr. on Friday and he confirmed early Pneumonia. He had a really bad night last night reacting to an oral steroid. There wasn't much mom and dad could do to help him, we are praying that it leaves his body quickly. He is improving with the Pneumonia, but slowly.

Here are some pictures of the kids singing at church and a Gingerbread house that we made. It was our very first time to make one and I think they did a great job. However, no one will be enjoying eating this house due to the fact that Noah coughed all over it and Camden licked every one of his candies before putting it on the house.



Finally, we did venture out over the weekend to ride the North Pole Express in Grapevine. One word... Magical. I don't think Camden ever realized that we weren't really on the Polar Express. When the conductor asked to punch his ticket (like in the movie) the look on his face was priceless. Santa also made a visit on the train ride and the kids just stared in awe! They made an ornament and went up stage to sing with all the other kids "Jingle Bells" as loud as they could. Noah and Camden each took a turn in the microphone singing "Rudolph". There were some really great memories made that night that my kids won't soon forget.

Under the weather

Camden is one sick little boy at the moment. 103 degree fever, coughing and wheezing, maybe RSV the Dr. said but didn't test him. I am hoping the antibiotic is going to help. Please keep him in your prayers. He also is going to have surgery after Christmas to have his tonsils out... we ask for prayer in this situation as well.

So, we have been taking it easy the last couple of days. Camden and Noah have been watching the Christmas classics on T.V. (Rudolph, etc.) Camden is eating very little and Gracie (the dog) has helped herself to his breakfast and lunch so far today. Great, now I will be up tonight with a sick dog as well!!!

We are decorated for Christmas and have even been out to look at a few lights. If Camden is feeling better, we are going for a ride on the North Pole Express this weekend. The kids will wear their P.J.'s for the train ride and drink hot chocolate...just like on the Polar Express. They are excited.

I have done very little Christmas shopping and am starting to panic about when I will even get to start. Brian is playing in a musical every night this week and with a sick child, it looks like it will be the beginning of next week before I can get out. I don't like to wait and am considering doing all of my shopping online this year.

Since Thanksgiving, we have been busy visiting with Brian's mom and Ross who were in town for almost two weeks. Then we were involved with Dickensfest at our church last weekend and Noah sang in our Chrismon service on Sunday. With soccer games and birthday parties there hasn't been a whole lot of time to blog about our adventures.

Story time

Last night before bed, Noah read Camden and I the story "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". It was a total role reversal from the days I would read to him. It has been amazing watching him learn to read. He has picked up reading very quickly and has very little trouble with even big difficult words. We are so proud of him!

Brian and I do not remember learning to read. Do you?

A dino-mite birthday party

For Noah's 6th birthday party we went to the Heard Museum to see the life-size animatronic dinosaurs. We walked along a 1/2 mile trail and saw about 12 dinosaurs. The weather was awesome with the temperature in the 80's that afternoon.




A group picture beneath T-Rex.







The look on Camden's face is price-less in this picture as he waits to see what the dinosaur is going to do. Noah, Colin, Tate and Aayush all know that it is going to spit water on them and they can't wait!




Noah blowing out his candle on the cake Mommy made for him.




Noah opening presents and Camden waiting patiently for the right time to "borrow" one of the "prizes" for a while.




Noah on his new scooter.

Dear Noah,

I can't believe how big you have gotten in such a short time. You amaze me with how fast you can run and how strong you have become. I am so proud of how well you are doing in school and am often left speechless when I watch you read and re-tell what you have learned that day. You are a very compassionate, helpful and loving young man. You are such a wonderful big brother to Camden and I love how you make sure he is always included in what you are doing. My heart fills with joy when I hear you talking to God and asking questions so that you can get closer to knowing him. I love you so much!!!

Happy birthday big guy!!!

Love,
Mommy

Noah's 6th birthday celebrations

Noah celebrated his birthday at school last Thursday with juice boxes and dinosaur cookies that Mommy had made for his friends. He was soooo excited when he got to stand on a chair ( a total no-no any other time) and have his friends sing Happy Birthday to him.

Giving Thanks

Today, I had the pleasure along with my dad, of joining Camden at his schools Thanksgiving dinner. The teachers provide the turkey and the parents bring the sides. This year I took a pumpkin cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory and it was delicous! Camden made his placemat and Indian headband along with a noodle necklace. It was a wonderful time to sit down as a family and with other families at his school.


My wild Indian...

A lazy Monday

Yesterday, both kids were home sick with sinus infections. They have been brewing and building in intensity for several weeks and I finally decided to take them to the doctor. Noah had kept us up Sunday night coughing and I was starting to worry that this was the beginning of "asthma season" for him. To my surprise, Noah sounded clear and open and Camden was the one doing the wheezing. So, the Nebulizer a.k.a. the cloud machine, is running at our house several times a day for a few days. They are both starting to feel better with antibiotics running through their systems.

While at the doctor's office, I asked if there was a shelf life for Nebulizers because ours smelled like it was going to burst into flames at any moment when running. So, now we are the proud owner (with a large price tag) of a new, much quieter cloud machine. YEAH!!!

It was nice to just be lazy yesterday and watch movies and cuddle with my boys. One of those days that I will cherish.