Sydney is (gulp) NINE!

Everyday I'm reminded that I'm getting old. By my children, usually, who point out how many years I am. But yesterday, they didn't have to say a word to make me feel ancient.

Sydney turned 9.

I could write volumes of cliche fluff about how much I love her and how the time has flown. But I won't. I'm morally opposed to cliche fluff.

Sydney is beautiful. She has a caring, outgoing, people-oriented spirit. She loves Jesus, music, horses, fashion, Hannah Montana, and High School Musical--1 and 2. Don't get me wrong--she's not perfect, but I wouldn't trade her. Despite what she sometimes thinks. :)

I think she had a nice birthday and felt special. For our family outing, we went with Jeanne to see some Christmas light displays. Syd's treat was getting to walk around the block with Jeanne by herself while I stayed in the van with the boys.

Happy birthday, Sydney! I don't mind getting older if it means watching you grow up. :)


My feeble attempt at a violet electric guitar. We took this cake to PWOC to share with the homeschool class last Wednesday.


Syd loved her new American Girl beauty products & tote bag!


For her 'real' birthday cake, Syd wanted a pink acoustic guitar. Behind the cake is the paint-by-number plaster model horse she received.


Syd carefully painted the appaloosa model.


I'm not sure the facial expression truly reveals how Syd felt about receiving these nesting dolls from the Czech.

Staying Busy

We've managed to keep busy around here. Last weekend was our chapel's production of The Great Late Potentate. Sydney was in the choir, and I helped the directors with odd jobs and discipline. Apparently I'm really good at putting kids in their place. I sang with the choir on Sunday morning, but Sunday night I was able to sit in the audience and get a few pictures. I'm very proud of all the kids--they worked hard and did a great job. And Sydney, who can be very shy despite what others might believe, overcame her fear of being in front of an audience. She even smiled as she sang!

Back home, we're trying to accomplish some Christmas projects. Just little things to keep the kids entertained. Yesterday we made foam stockings. Eventually we'll do some stamp art and put together foam wreaths. We did assemble our gingerbread Christmas tree, but Brady has eaten all the decorations. I'll have to find 'before' and 'after' pictures.

Barry's doing well in Korea. His schedule's been hectic, but the guys are working half-days this week. I guess their afternoons are full of 'mandatory fun.' Really. They schedule activities the soldiers may or may not want to participate in, then make them. It's not all bad--just kind of a pain when he might have an extra hour to talk to the kids before bedtime but has to be at the bowling alley or something. I don't think he's updated his website recently, but I know he's thankful for all the goodies sent his way. His schedule's been so crazy lately that if he hadn't received snack food from all of us, he wouldn't have had anything to eat! Thanks for all your prayers and care packages!

To quote Bryan: "Mewrry Chwistmas to all, and to all 'night!"


Getting the cast of The Great Late Potentate together for a group picture was, um, challenging.


Justin (our neighbor) and Sydney sang with much gusto!



Sydney was all business during craft time--at least when the camera came out.


Bryan loved playing with the stickers--and the glitter.


Even though Bryce was feeling sick, he thought making a foam stocking was fun.


Brady liked taking the stickers on and off of his stocking.

Happy Birthday, Brady!

Finally, a few highlights from Brady's second birthday (November 29)!

For his birthday, he received the Polar Express train sets, the Cars Spiral Speedway, TMX Elmo, several characters from Cars, and a Mickey Mouse airplane. Perfect for a little boy who loves things that go! I made him a Lightning McQueen birthday cake, which he loved.

On the kids' birthdays, we try to do something special. Bryce went go-carting with Daddy, and Bryan visited the fire station. Since Brady's great-grandparents all sent him money, I chose to take the kids to the zoo. They had so much fun, and they behaved very well. The zoo's being practically empty didn't hurt, either!

So happy late birthday, Brady! We love you!


I love this face!


The Polar Express sets in all their glory!


The kids manage to sit still long enough at the zoo for one group picture.


Our edible Lightning McQueen.


Brady always claps for himself when others clap for him. I think it's cute.


Brady shares his spiral speedway with Bryan, who had to keep reminding himself, "It's Baby's toy."


"Look, Mama! Look!" Brady is so proud of himself for lining up all of his Cars characters, much like I'm told his daddy did when he was little. (The band-aid is one of Bryan's Sponge Bob band-aids from his IV incident--Brady just wanted to wear one.)


"Wee!" McQueen races The King to the bottom of the speedway saying, "Speed? I am speed!"

Poor, injured children

The day after the snow was a little dramatic in our house. Bryan woke up screaming that his tummy hurt, and when I looked at this belly, I knew why. The poor boy was retracting, fighting for each breath he took. So I took the other kids to a friend's house (who doesn't hate me for calling at 6:30 a.m.) and took Bryan to the ER. The doctors ordered an IV (lots of fun), blood work, chest x-rays, steroids, and breathing treatments. So the 'gray doc-tor' was mean (the nurse who started the IV), and the 'green doc-tor' was nice (the intern who came to listen to Bryan's chest). When the intern left, Bryan yelled, "Bye, fireman doc-tor man!" That's a huge compliment from this boy! After everything was done, another nurse came in to remove the IV. Bryan screamed at her! But as soon as the IV was out, he was all smiles. "Thank you," he told her. Then he insisted he get band-aids and a purple lollipop. So ended that drama.

That night, Bryce was trying to steal some of the lollipops I'd purchased. I'd promised Bryan, but with 3 other kids, I decided a bag of candy was better. I'd hidden the lollipops in a jar on a top shelf. Bryce successfully snuck the lollipop out of the kitchen (no, I didn't know), then tripped over his feet as he made his getaway. When I got to him, his lip was bleeding and quite swollen. "I'm sorry! I'll never steal a lollipop again!" he cried over and over and over. Wow. That has to be one of the first times I've not had to 'lecture' about why something bad happened. His lip was normal by Friday, which was good since we had our Christmas pictures taken that day.

Bryan giving himself a breathing treatment at home.





Bryce smiling as best he can.

Memories

Syd models her mini-snowman while Brady tries to figure out what all the fuss is about.


This is Barry's favorite Christmas decoration--a spinning Christmas tree.


Syd & Bryce pose in front of our living room tree with a couple early presents.

Bryce's Answer to Prayer (and His First Balloon Ride)

Even though Bryce was the first one up this morning, I was the first to discover the SNOW! So before 7 a.m., the kids were bundled as best we could and out making snowballs. Sam didn't know what to think, of course, but since the kids were frolicking, he joined in. They are HIS kids, after all.

Our marshmallow backyard!


Syd & Bryce were thrilled! (Syd's wearing her old, too-small coat in this picture because our new one is too nice for snowball throwing.)


Sam turned slightly for a picture, but he was more concerned with Bryan than the camera.


Bryan wore his favorite fire truck 'bamas' outside.


Proof that Bryce rode in a balloon: Syd, Bryce, and I pose with Jeanne and a few other passengers before Bryce's first short flight.


We really are in the basket, enjoying the landscape from the air. Everyone should see the world from this vantage point!

For the Grandparents

For everyone:

Last night I told the kids that we needed to get the living room cleaned up so we could get ready for Christmas. Poor choice of words on my part, I know. But I was so frustrated with their not picking up after themselves. Well, the kids immediately picked up their toys & shoes (& socks & pants & PJs from the night before). I started the vacuum, and then noticed a strange yet common sound coming from the hall. You know, that sound of someone getting into something they're not supposed to be in. So I asked Bryce what he was doing. "Nothing, Mom."

Nothing. Right.

He and Bryan had retrieved the Christmas tree from the garage and carried, not dragged, it to the living room.

"We're helping, Mom. Now we can put up the Christmas tree!" Then he saved the angel from her position on top of the book shelf and insisted he place her on top of the tree.

So our Christmas tree is up. So is the angel. And since the tree's pre-lit, so are the lights.

The tree box, by the way, was converted into a 4-man bobsled. I wish the camera had been there.

For GranMary & Papa Rod:

I've neglected posting or emailing pictures of the kids enjoying their swingset (an early Christmas present). Having it has been fun for the kids--they certainly enjoy it!

Bryan's & Brady's favorite things are the swings. They're so cute! (The boys, not the swings.)


Bryan loves pushing Brady who usually has no complaints.


The tower has been a clubhouse, a tent, a rocketship, and a hot air balloon. The sand (and potting soil) bags are helping hold the set in place. Barry found driving stakes into rock a bit difficult.



For Nana & Papaw:

Yes, I remember eating oleo by the stick and being made fun of for it. However, I don't remember stealing sticks from the fridge. Maybe I did, though, since that's what Brady does. So if anyone questions whether Brady's really mine (since everyone says he looks & acts just like Barry and not a bit like me), these photos should cast aside any doubt.

Does unsalted butter taste good?


Yep. Brady's licking his lips! (Sam soon stole the butter from Brady's hand.)

Bryce's Prayer

"Mommy, I'm going to pray. Dear God, please let it snow so we can make snow angels for You. Amen."

Ten minutes later after watching the sky, Sydney said, "Bryce, I know it's not cold enough to snow. Mommy told me so." Please note that my kids define 'cold' as 60 degrees.

"Mom, it didn't work."

"Well, Bryce, sometimes God doesn't answer our prayer right away. But He likes it when we keep talking to Him. So if you really want it to snow, keep asking Him to make it snow. Maybe it will. Probably not today, but maybe someday."

"OK. Will you pray with me?"

(I kneel down next to him, trying to hide my smile.)

"Dear God, please let it snow next week so we can make snow angels for You. Amen."

So for my boy's spiritual development, we may be making a trip to Ruidoso to make snow angels sometime this winter.

Bryan: Three Years Later

Exactly three years ago today, we started the infant botulism journey with Bryan. We had no idea what was wrong with him; we just knew he was desperately ill. My first clue that his illness was serious came when the pediatrician at Beaumont told me he didn't move or cry during a spinal tap to test for meningitis. After staying at Wm Beaumont AMC for 24 hours, we traveled via ambulance to Providence. As soon as we arrived, Bryan had a seizure and was intubated. Some of the worst words a mother can hear are, "Get the crash cart!" when a doctor is talking about her child. Even today I have to talk myself out of crying when I think about it. We later found out that strep pneumonia had caused Bryan's body to go septic and seize.

On November 10, 2004, after being questioned about possible abuse, enduring several CAT scans and EEGs, Dr. Canales diagnosed Bryan with infant botulism. No, we hadn't fed him honey, but yes, construction was happening behind our house. The Texas Department of Health took a soil sample, and sure enough, botulism was present. Sydney & Bryce were old enough to fight the toxin, so they weren't in any danger. That day, Providence ordered Baby BIG, the anti-toxin for botulism, from California. The one dose of Baby BIG cost Providence about $45,000. It saved his life.

During our stay at Providence, Barry's mom, my mom, and Kari flew down to help with the kids. After Mary & Kari left, and a few weeks had passed, a generous couple from our home town bought my dad a plane ticket. Having family to help with the kids certainly eased our stress. We had no worries about what was happening at home. Barry's commanders made sure his place of duty was Providence so I didn't have to be alone. And military family, most of whom we'd never met, brought meals to us and raised money to help defray the cost of living in a hospital. That was in addition to the money friends and family back home sent. God took care of us, and we're still overwhelmed with gratitude for the kindnesses shown to us.

Bryan finally pooped (the sign he was in full recovery) on December 15. It was a really big poop. I had never been so happy to see such a mess! We left that afternoon, with much fanfare, and returned home to receive the home healthcare equipment we needed to take care of Bryan at home. Bryan started occupational and speech therapy with the therapists visiting us weekly.

In mid-January, Bryan pulled his NG (nasal-gastric, a.k.a. feeding tube) out. Dr. Tremper, the pulmonologist (and the only specialist TRICARE allowed us to continue to see), told me I could try feeding him without it. I started charting what he ate and when (per the speech therapist's recommendation), and we narrowly avoided a permanent tube. Instead, Bryan was prescribed some heavy-duty laxatives. Bryan was discharged from speech therapy and home occupational therapy in mid-February, and in April he started occupational therapy at Providence. On August 2, Dr. Noel, the gastro-intestinal specialist who flies in from Brooke AMC to Wm Beaumont AMC every month, discharged Bryan. He said, "He's a normal, healthy boy." Which meant no more laxatives!! Two days later, OT at Providence discharged him. Bryan was officially recovered!

Most people who see Bryan would never guess he'd been so sick. He's a typical 3-yr-old boy.

Since our experience with botulism, we've been contacted 4 times by the California Dept. of Health's Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program regarding other families in our area dealing with the illness. We've helped one other military family in El Paso. Well, "helped" may not be the right word. But we did our best to encourage and educate them. Today, their little girl is perfectly healthy.

If you're reading this and you supported us in any way during this time, know we are still grateful. Bryan's life is a miracle--as all our kids' lives are. But without the prayers, support, and wisdom of our family, friends, doctors, and nurses, he might not be here today. How amazing that God's uses willing people to heal others. How thankful we are that Bryan is one of the healed.

Providence's hospital photographer took this photo of Bryan on November 12, 2004. It was one of the first official photos taken of him during his stay in the PICU.


This is just one of the many Bryan stunts we have to watch for. He wanted to eat naked and in peace, so he set up his dinner on Syd's dresser--then locked her bedroom door.


We visited the PICU to get some new photos of Bryan with his caregivers. Bryan had no problems going to Dr. Canales, but he wasn't about to cooperate with the paparazzi (a.k.a. Mommy & Miss Jeanne)!



Dr. Canales followed Bryan into Oceanville's waiting room and observed him for a few minutes. "Does he walk?" Dr. Canales asked. "Walk!" Jeanne exclaimed. "That boy runs!" (Oceanville is the regular peds wing, one floor up from the PICU. We had to do some traveling to find Dr. Canales!)


Dr. Canales picked up Bryan so we could get a picture with both their faces visible.



Claudia (one of Bryan's day nurses) and Maria (one of Bryan's night nurses) smiled while Jeanne held Bryan. Truth be told, though, Claudia wanted Bryan to herself!


Jeanne (behind Bryan's head) and Belen (the floor's nurse practitioner) tried to get Bryan to smile.

Says It All Saturday

(Most) Characters Welcome

We don't usually go trick-or-treating. For one thing, I despise most Halloween decorations, and the kids are scared of them. I get tired of explaining that scary costumes are just costumes and the tombstones and dummies hanging from trees are fake. For another, do they really need candy? No.

So we have been going to Ft Bliss's Hallelujah Festival the last few years. Our Protestant Director of Religious Education works hard to make the evening a fun alternative to trick-or-treating. The kids play carnival games and get prizes--real prizes, not candy. Bouncy houses and slides are set up outside our chapel--right next to the food tent where supper is free.

What I dread, though, is taking all 4 kids some place where all 4 will want to do individual activities. Needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to taking them this year. But Syd & Bryce insisted, and I definitely didn't want to trick-or-treat, so we went.

The evening started off rough. Bryan had taken a nap, and of course, was quite cranky. "I NOT be Diego!" he screamed at me over and over. I dressed him anyway (mean mommy, I know) and told him he didn't have to be Diego. He could just be Bryan. He wasn't buying it (the kid's smart). So I offered to buy them small fries from McDonald's. Bryan stopped screaming long enough to say he wanted fries. All the McDonald's employees were dressed up, and the guy who gave us our food was in a purple striped suit with a matching hat & a few bracelets. "Who's he?" Bryce asked. I thought the guy looked like Elton John, but I wasn't sure. When he gave me our order, I asked him who he was dressed up as. He lowered his voice and said, "A pimp, ma'am." Allrighty, then. Never mind. He must've been embarassed a little--he found cookies to give the kids. Fortunately Bryce didn't ask about the costume again!

Cranky children fed, we headed to chapel.

The festival always starts with praise & worship geared toward kids. Brady screamed the entire time. When we broke for games, I found out (after wrestling with him outside while trying to watch the other 3 run through the crowd--not fun) that Miss Sara, Miss Wanda & Miss Raquel were in the nursery. I love these ladies--they are Watchcare providers (ministry partners, really) and work with me on Wednesday mornings at PWOC. As soon as Brady saw them, he stopped crying. I think Wanda & Raquel spoil him. "Ah, come here, my Brahhdy," Wanda always says. And Brady runs to her without question. Every time.

With Brady taken care of, the remaining 3 and I played a few games and ate supper. Then the kids discovered the bouncy houses and slide. We spent the rest of the evening there. Bryan had a blast! And bonus for Mom: they slept very well last night!

The festival always ends with praise & worship, too. This time the HOPE Chapel praise band led us in several upbeat, fun songs--like "Big House" and "Pharoah, Pharoah." Bryce & Syd just sat and played with their prizes. But Bryan, who earlier had been determined to not have fun, sang and bounced and clapped the whole time. He yelled "Whoo-hoo!" and even waved his arms--no one else was. It was so cute and made my night. As we left, each child received a bag of candy. Not too much, though--just the right amount.

Afterwards, we stopped at Wal-Mart. And the greeter was in costume. "He a monster, Mommy!" Bryan yelled. Again, we managed to embarass a well-meaning employee. He said, "Sorry, ma'am." I just told the kids he was pretending, but the looks they gave the guy successfully communicated they did not approve of his costume choice. This told me that we have done a good job handling Halloween. Costumes don't have to be scary, and dressing up is always fun. And the night isn't even about candy. For my kids, Halloween means they get to pick out new dress-up outfits (that they'll wear every day from now on until they're too small) and go play games with their friends.

So we had a great night. My only question is this: When is it too early to put up the Christmas tree? *

* This is a rhetorical question. :)


Our naked cowboy is much cuter than NYC's!


Brady wouldn't stand up because I was sitting on the floor. I stood up to get him to stand up, then squatted to take the picture. He sat down with me. Oh well.


When we take pictures, the kids insist they get to see the shots immediately. When Brady saw this one, he said, "Look! Baby go!"



Bryce was thrilled to be James this year. But everyone at chapel called him "Thomas." He was quite offended and proceeded to educate people: "NOO, I'm NOT THOMAS! Thomas is blue! I'm JAMES, see? James is red!"


Our characters sit still long enough for one picture: Hannah Montana, Cowboy BT, Diego, and James.



Here is Hannah Montana minus the wig. Syd took the wig to Miss Wanda to put in Brady's backpack. Instead, Miss Wanda, a Latino, wore the wig and posed for a picture that Miss Sara took. Wanda showed me the picture, saying, "Don't I look like Britney Spears?" in her heavy Mexican accent. I wish I had a copy of it!


The Slippery Slope was Bryan's favorite activity. Miss Cindy had to help him up the rope ladder and catch him. She works in Bryce's PWOC class as a ministry partner and co-teaches Bryan's Sunday school class.



Miss Carrie, one of Bryce's Watchcare ministry partners (aka teachers), came as a grandma.


Miss Jennifer (another of Bryce's ministry partners) dressed up as a can of worms, name brand: Mischief.