Finally feelin' better!

my boys

Bradley wanted a picture with his dinosaurs

The flu stinks and was NO fun, but I think we're finally over it! My precious Bradley was the main victim with all the horrible symptoms. He had a high fever of 103.7 and felt really bad...especially on Monday. But, each day he felt a little better although going outside for a little while still really wears him out. We were prescribed Tamiflu, but that stuff was nasty and made the kids puke. So, I didn't make them take it. The side effects weren't worth the supposed benefits of lessening flu-like symptoms. Rachel has had a milder case with a low grade fever and a headache. Both kids have had a cough, but have been eating and drinking fine, so I think their little bodies are fighting it off just fine. It was tough having to watch them not feel very well and we're looking forward to a flu-free week next week!!

"Sweet cheeks"

Trent's got 'em on both ends!

We are so thankful for our precious baby boy! He gets sweeter every day and is just a lovey-squishy-smiley-happy-precious boy!!!! I love my Trenty-poo!!

Homeschooling

We have officially started homeschooling. We have a loose guideline for how our day will go, and we adjust as needed EVERY day. We try to be dressed and upstairs no later than 9am. Bradley usually starts playing and Trent gets put in his exersaucer. Rachel and I start working as quickly as possible. We usually start with the calendar first and go over the month, day, year, day of the week, season and weather. Then we practice our days of the week song, as this is something Rachel has been singing incorrectly since last year. Next, Rachel has some handwriting practice by writing her first and last name with correct upper and lower case. We usually try to do our Reading lesson next, which takes about 10 minutes, but sometimes we go ahead and do some math or language arts. We also read a couple of library books. Some days we do a health lesson and/or extra crafts. I have had to learn that it's okay when our day doesn't go exactly as planned and that I cannot be as structured as a normal school classroom. We are enjoying this learning time and will share more as we continue to tweak things.

Trent

Trent's first time in a feeding chair
Trent's first experience with rice cereal...
he's not too impressed!!


My sweet, precious baby boy!

A smiley-happy sweet baby!!

Trent is now 4 1/2 months old! My how the time is flying by, although it does seem like we're in survival mode alot of the time! I recently took Bradley and Trent in for their check-ups together. Bradley needed his 3 year check-up and Trent needed his 4 month check-up. I figured it would be a good idea to take the boys together and only go to the pediatrician once. Boy, was I wrong!!! The inital part went great...the boys were good for the doctor and nurse while they were weighed, measured, checked, listened to, etc... They were in such great moods and very charming with everyone. Then came the shots. Bradley was supposed to get one and Trent was supposed to get 2. The nurse asked me who I thought should go first. I told her Bradley, but he didn't know it was coming. He laid down on the table and she put that shot in his leg. Bradley was devastated...crying lots...inconsolable and wouldn't even take a sucker! Then, while Bradley's still crying his eyes out, the nurse lays Trent down on the table and gives him 2 shots...one in each leg. He was FURIOUS! He cried and cried and cried and just wouldn't stop. So, both boys were crying inconsolably and nothing would make them stop. I tried nursing Trent, but he wouldn't have it! I sat in the room for about 10 minutes thinking that the boys would stop and we'll settle down before we leave...but it didn't happen. I don't know if they were competing or what, but neither boy could get their cries under control. Bradley was upset about his leg...which he said hurt really bad and that he couldn't walk...and he was upset that Trent had gotten shots and was crying. So, I tried to make Bradley walk to the door, but he "couldn't do it" because his leg hurt too bad. I ended up strapping Trent into his carseat and CARRIED both Trent in his seat and Bradley on my hip (since his legs were unusable!). Thankfully, they somewhat settled down while I was checking out. But, they both kept crying and fussing in the car. So, I strapped them in and drove to Sonic to get myself a large cherry coke (MY special treat!). Anyway, it was quite an adventure with two pitiful little boys who were so sad. But, thankfully, they eventually got over it and were much happier in a couple of hours. I don't think I'll ever take them both to get check-ups together again, though, unless I have Nick with me to help!

At Trent's 4 month check-up, we were given the "OK" to try cereal. So, we bought some rice cereal and Trent had his first taste the other day. As you can see, he's not too impressed with this bland stuff. He was a trooper, though, and ate a fair amount. Rachel was so excited that he was eating "food" and wanted to feed him so bad. She didn't feed him yet, but hopefully soon.

Jen's Baby Shower

The hosts plus the mama to be

Erin's pretty diaper cake

Cute umbrella cake...from Sam's

a special surprise was when Laura Ingalls Wilder made an appearance! :)



My sweet best friend!

Rachel has always loved Jen-Jen!

It is an extremely exciting time for me as I get to see my best friend experience the joy and unpredictability of pregnancy. She's one of those pleasant, happy pregnant people who doesn't complain but just enjoys the changes...the fun ones and the uncomfortable ones. Anyway, Jen's having a baby girl, Amelia Kate, in September. Well, I am so happy that I got to give her a baby shower and mom, Deb and Erin were kind enough to help. We had a great time and the food and decorations were great. Erin showed off some of her talented sewing skills and made a pennant banner and diaper cake in Jen's shabby-chic theme. Mom and Deb made some awesome food, like chicken salad and tomato pie. We had a great time celebrating Amelia's upcoming arrival and are just so happy for Jen!! She is my oldest and best friend...a friend that I have maintained a close relationship with for 16 years!!! We have always been able to pick up where we left off no matter how long it has been since we have seen each other or talked. Thankfully, she lives in Athens now, so I'm able to see her lots and talk to her even more! I am SO excited that Jen and Micah are about to become parents...they are going to be wonderful parents who I know will love EVERY minute of their challenging, rewarding, blessed new job!!

Love you Jen...Can't wait to meet Amelia!!

The Redmond's Pool

the slide was so cool!

Rachel's got some air!

Bradley's favorite thing about the pool

R&B enjoying a ride as Nana floats them around

While the Redmonds were away, mom and dad fed their dogs and they allowed us to use their pool. It was fun swimming in a pool with a slide AND a diving board...2 things that we haven't ever tried before. Rachel loved them both and was a little pro at doing them by the time we left. Bradley wanted to do them both, and tried the slide. But, without Nick there, I was really afraid that we'd both drown in the deep end of the pool. Thankfully, he didn't try the diving board, because, again, I was afraid I would drown him!! Bradley's favorite thing to do was lounge on the floating lounge chair. Nana was kind enough to float him around the pool.

Bradley turns 3!!!

opening up a cool remote control car from papa and gege
Rachel's sassy pose...don't know where she learned this one!

the cool shark that Bradley got

work that remote control, buddy!

still workin' it

(and looking like my daddy)

the MOST delicious dinosaur birthday cake ever!!!

from Sam's

the gang watching Bradley open presents

time to go splash around in our HUGE pool!!

(but we loved it!!)

I'm so happy with a dinosaur, a shark and a kiddie pool!

Thomas thought he needed a float in the kiddie pool! :)

just woke up...about to open my presents

(I think I look my handsome daddy did when he was a young boy!!!)

Birthday morning opening family presents

trying out the defective tent...it wouldn't stand up

Birthday afternoon...after a nap and with a new tent

Rach trying out the tunnel

Bradley in the new tent

It's hard to believe that our sweet Bradley is already 3 years old!!!! He has certainly become quite the charming and funny big boy! We had two celebrations...one with grandparents and cousins and one with just us. He got all kinds of great toys that he loves!! We bought him a tent that we ended up taking back because it was messed up. The one we replaced it with has a tunnel and the kids LOVE it! I think Bradley's favorite present was a cloth covered, battery operated triceratops that moves it's head and makes dinosaur noises. He still hasn't stopped carrying this one around! We ended up with a dinosaur cake (AGAIN) this year, but it was Bradley's party, so we didn't care. We were confused about what kind of cake he wanted about a week before the party because he was going back and forth between dinosaurs and pirates. But, we weren't even sure he knew exactly what pirates were, so we were afraid to go with that theme. Thankfully, Bradley was very excited when he saw his dinosaur cake...so excited that when he and Rachel went with Nick to pick it up, he was obsessed with it and wanted to open it, eat it, look at it, touch it, etc... It was very hard for him to wait till the party to eat any. As a result of his "patience" we did presents and cake first, then dinner. :) Hey, how often are you 3 and think things should go in this order?! :) His party was small this year...just family, which I think Bradley preferred. He loved getting to spend time with his cousins and grandparents and he wasn't overwhelmed by a huge crowd. We love our precious big boy so much and are so blessed to have him as our special middle child!

Happy 3rd Birthday sweet Bradley!!