Braden's First day @ First Friends

Well today Braden started his first day at First Friends. It is a 2 day a week program on Tuesday and Thursday from 9-2:30. He had a breakdown when we first left, but Ms. Sharyn and Ms. Anna were able to calm him down and he enjoyed the rest of his day. He even said he is ready to go back. Here are some pictures that we took before we headed to school. and then one of him walking into the school! I can't believe my little boy is already old enough to start doing these kind of things. It is going by WAY to fast!

swimming!

 

so I'm a slacker....

I'm a slacker in the blog world. I feel like I have been running in circles for the past couple of months with little time for myself which means NO time to sit down and blog. SO this is what you have missed:

Kasen is crawling...

Kasen has a tooth...

Kasen said "bye-bye" & "dadda"....

Braden growing like a weed...

Braden went to Bible School and loved it...

Braden went to Six Flags and loved it...

Neither one of my kids enjoyed the 4th of July...at all...

I'm sure I missed something, but you get the idea...a lot has gone on since I last posted. I'll be sure to add some pictures later, today is my day to catch up on things that I enjoy while I pretend that the kids are not tearing up the house!

And I promise I will post more often from now on. This is a good outlet for family to keep up with us that don't live near us!

WOW

So I know it has been a LONG time since I last updated this thing. Things have been busy for us and we have been spending all of our free time enjoying the warm sunny weather!

Alot has happened since I last updated, and it is late, but I do have one REALLY funny story to share tonight.

I went to go have some "me" time...ok tanning...but it counts as me time! Anyways, while I was gone there was an accident at the house. When I got home Billy says "Braden, tell mommy why you are in trouble" Braden: "I peed in the floor, because I didn't feel like peeing in the potty"

Billy said that he was on the phone with his cousin and he heard what sounded like somebody pouring water in the floor. He turned around and there was Braden with his pants around his ankles peeing in the FLOOR!!!! What a crazy kid....

They got the mess cleaned up and Braden has promised that he will not do that again.

I know it isn't funny because he was peeing in the floor, but his excuse takes the cake!! I love it, but I did reinforce the fact that we pee pee in the potty, not in the hallway floor!!

6 month check up

Well it has been a little while since I have posted anything, just been super busy with work and keeping up with the boys!

Kasen went for his 6 month check up on the 6th and he weighed in at 17lbs. 5oz and was 26 inches long. He is not near as big as Braden was at 6 months (25lbs!), but he is just as cute!!

We have been doing really well with his band, and we are actually on the downhill side of it!!! This past Thursday they told us he only has about 2 weeks left and may actually get to come out of it this Thursday (YAY!!). His head has changed tremendously and I can't wait to post the before and after pictures so you can see the difference!

He has started rolling everywhere and getting into everything! You can lay him down in the floor and in less than 5 minutes he is on the other side of the room. Braden just thought he wanted his brother to crawl and now we hear "MOM, Kasen is messing up my trains." The fun is just beginning! Kasen truly is a joy to be around, he is always happy and smiling and can make your heart melt with his toothless little grin...I LOVE IT!!

totally drained....

this post isn't going to have much in it....

i'm exhausted....

i'm tired....

i'm taking Kasen to the doctor tomorrow instead of thursday....

(yes...I am working tomorrow until 2:30 and then leaving to go to Dallas....)

i've had a headache ALL day....well actually ALL week....

we are going to bartlesville thursday to watch Jeff play in his final baseball games as a high school senior...and staying for the weekend...

I hope it is a relaxing visit.....because I desperately need it

but I DO have the CUTEST kids EVER......

laughing boys!

Here is a video of the kids laughing at each other. When one of them starts laughing the other laughs too. They are so funny together....and I can already tell that when they are older they are going to be CRAZY together!

DOC band pics

Here are some pictures of Kasen in his DOC Band. When we got it, it was just plain white. We put stickers on it first and then had it painted this week while we were in Dallas for his appointment. He now matches Braden & Billy and has a Boston Red Sox "hat." And he is SUPER cute in it!! There is also a pic to shows him sleeping in it, and it does not bother him at all!! (Thank goodness)

pictures

*Braden being silly*

*bath-time!*

*cutie-pie*

*found them sleeping together like this*

-notice they are laying the same- *sweet baby*

Life in fast forward

As you can probably tell from the title of this post our lives have been busy...to say the least! Between work and driving back and forth to Dallas for Kasen's appointments I feel like the last 2-3 weeks have just flown by....and I don't like it. The boys are getting so big, it is really hard for me to believe that Braden will be 3 next month, even though he acts like he is 5 most of the time! We have been having some discipline problems with him and I really think it is still from me starting work. He is just having a harder time adjusting, but I just keep telling myself that he will get there. I also have to keep reminding myself that is he a 3 year old and that is just how they are.

Kasen is doing really well with his DOC band. At his appointment (or should I say 2 appointments) they said that his growth looks excellent and that at our next appointment next week they will be able to give us a better estimate on how long he will have to wear it. They make "headsicles" (a mold of his head on a stick) to judge their growth by. We will have a mold of the before and the after when it is all over with! He has rolled a couple of times, but we are still working on that area. He is doing Physical Therapy (PT) once a week and it seems to be helping. But I have noticed that he has been tilting his head a little more the past 2 days than usual. I personally think it is from being stuck in the car seat for 2 days (after his appointment on Thursday I had to drive back on Friday because he had a strawberry the size of a quarter on the back of his head). Driving down there 2x a week is already old, and hopefully we can get in the routine of checking his head before we head home on days of his appointment to try to cut out on the double trips.

As for Billy & I, we are doing great. Just working hard and trying to keep it all together during the busy weeks! I came across a quote in a magazine tonight and I think it pretty much sums it up:

*As a couple we don't lead and follow. We stumble forward together*-unknown

a story in pictures!

*A Day Out With Thomas the Train*

*SOOOOO excited*

*Waiting on Thomas!*

*Watching Thomas arrive @ the Station*

*Riding Thomas the Train*

*The boys riding the train*

*Look I got my ticket punched*

*Mommy & Braden
*Daddy & Braden*

*Braden & Thomas*

As you can probably tell from the pictures our Day Out with Thomas was LOTS of fun!! Braden really enjoyed it and I could put 85 more pics of it on here, but you probably don't care to see that many pics!!

Dallas x 3

This week was so crazy!! It started out with taking Braden to ride Thomas the Train on Sunday. We went to Grapevine, TX and first stopped at Bass Pro Shop so that Billy could "look" and they actually had an easter egg hunt while we were there so Braden enjoyed that. But he would NOT get his picture made with the Easter Bunny...he said it was "scary." After the Bass Pro Shop we headed to Grapevine for "A Day Out with Thomas", there were quite a few people there and it was cold and windy, but other than that Braden had a blast. His favorite part was going to the tent were they had a HUGE track with probably 5-10 toy trains running on it, so we stood and watched that for a while. We then headed to the tent were he could play with the Thomas train sets, he liked that Ok I guess, I think he would have liked it better if there were not 200 other little kids that he had to share with! We then had a corn dog for lunch and boarded "Thomas" for our 30 minute ride. We took Braden to do it last year, but he really understood everything so much better this year. He now thinks that everytime we go to take Kasen to the doctor in Dallas that he is going to get to ride Thomas.
We spent the night Sunday night and then headed to the Doctor for Kasen on Monday afternoon. We got there and the DOC Band did not fit him right so they re-took the
3D pics and we headed back home. Tuesday and Wednesday I worked and then Thursday we took Kasen back down to Dallas to get his band. It did fit this time and it really doesn't seem to bother him at all. When they put it on his head he just smiled and laughed like he always does! (Thank goodness he is easy going!) We did a little shopping Thursday and then headed home. Friday morning when I got up and fed Kasen and we took the hat off there were some red spots on his head (which are normal) so I did what Micheal (the Dr.) told me to do. I took the Band off and timed to see how long it took the spots to go away. If they went away in an hour we could put it back on and not worry. WELL....3 hours later we still had red spots, so I called down there and they wanted me to bring him back in so they could evaluate and adjust the band! So we loaded up and headed back to the doctor! If you are keeping count that makes 3 trips to Dallas this week!
Needless to say it has been a long exhausting week, but the boys handled it well and Kasen doesn't seem to mind his band, so I think it was a GREAT week because of that!!

I will post pics later, I've got to get this house clean!

no Band today

We went to get Kasen's band put on today, but it didn't quite fit the way they wanted it to. They are making him another one (actually the lady that invented the DOC Band and owns the company is hand making his). We will be going back on Thursday to pick it up. I should have taken some pics of him with the one on today but we were talking to the therapist and I never got out the camera!! So we will just have to wait until Thursday to post some pics!

what a crazy week

Well I started work this week in the Women's Center and I love it. The first day was hard on my because I could not sleep the night before, I think the last time I looked at the clock it was around 3 a.m. and my alarm went off at 5:15 a.m. So I was totally WIPED before I even got to work. By the end of the day I had a headache like no other and was ready to crawl in bed. I slept really well Monday night and Tuesday at work was so much better, because I was actually rested and feeling good. I haven't done much yet, just learning where everything is and how everything works, but I already love it. I am just so happy that I am finally getting to use everything I learned in school....and glad that I remember it all!!

The boys are adjusting ok I guess, Kasen doesn't really know the difference but Braden on the other hand is NOT liking it at ALL. Monday when I got home he didn't really say much, but Tuesday while Braden, Billy & Kasen were waiting on me to get home Billy had told Braden that I would be home pretty soon and his reply was "I don't care what time mom comes home." When I got home he told me to take off my nurse clothes because our house is not a nurse house it is a NORMAL house. He will adjust soon I'm sure....we all will. It seems like everything has been turned upside down this week with all of the adjustments...but it will all straighten out soon!

Diapers!

Billy and I just wanted to say Thank You to everyone who bought us diapers as gifts when Kasen was born, we have not had to buy diapers yet!! (and he is almost 5 months old!!!) We will however be buying some this weekend, we are on the last box!! So thank you thank you thank you for all of the diapers!!

DSI Imaging

Yesterday went well at the doctor in Dallas, Kasen was a happy little guy like always and just smiled and laughed. We went to have the 3D image made of his head and from that they will make the mold for his Band. They thought they might have to do it the old fashioned way and make a plaster mold because of his torticollis (head tilt). But he did GREAT and held his head up like a champ so they were able to do the 3D imaging!! yay! Also I just wanted to say that I am VERY thankful that he is a healthy baby and that this is just a minor issue that we have to deal with. I know that there are many other health issues that we could be dealing with other than this. We will be getting the Band on April 6th, so 10 days from yesterday.

DOC Band

We took Kasen to see a specialist about the shape of his head in Dallas at a place called Cranial Technologies. The took a lot of pictures and measurements and from that they recommended that we get a DOC (Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty) Band to help correct his plagiocephaly (the side of his head that is flat). We are taking him down there tomorrow so they can make the 3D image of his head and then make the Band to fit him. We will be getting the band on April 6th. I have had some mixed emotions about it, I know that it will be better for him to have it now and correct it rather than ignoring it and him being made fun of later. His measurements were pretty severe so it's not like we are doing it because his head and not perfectly round. They told us that positioning alone will not fix it, and it can later cause vision, hearing, and speech problems. They are made of foam with a plastic outer covering that can be painted so that it doesn't look all medical. It only weighs
6 oz, so it will not be to heavy for him to wear.

If you want to read more about it and see some pictures of them you can go to their website at www.cranialtech.com

They said he will wear it for a minimum of 12 weeks and he might possibly have to have 2 bands since his measurements were so bad. It just really depends on how quickly his head grows. We will make weekly trips to Dallas so they can re-measure and adjust the band as needed, so this is going to be a long exhausting process but it will all be worth it!

first days of work

Well I started working this week, on Monday and Tuesday I went in for orientation finished that all up and I am starting really working on Monday. I am really excited that I am actually getting to use all of the knowledge that I acquired while in nursing school....and I actually remembered it. During orientation I had to take 2 tests that tested on the medications and dosages and all of that kind of stuff...and I made a 95 on both of them! I was rather shocked because I felt like I didn't remember any of it. Braden however isn't liking me working at ALL. Monday I just wore street clothes to work because we were just watching videos all day, but yesterday I wore my scrubs and I didn't have to be there until 9. So I walked into the living room to get him ready to go and he said "mommy...are you a nurse today?" me: "yes, I have to go to work today and be a nurse" braden: "but i don't want you to be a nurse, I want you to be my mommy..." and he started crying. I feel so bad for the little guy, we have been at home together since June, and he has just gotten used to spending all of his time with me. He didn't even go to his BSF Bible School this morning, he just starting crying saying "i don't want to go anywhere, I want to stay here with you." Hopefully he will adjust soon....I really don't like it when he is upset.

Bradens blog

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So I was getting to write another post and had to get up for something. When I came back this is what braden had written.... I thought it was cute so I'll leave it!

new job!!

So I start orientation Monday for my new job!! I'm going to be working in the Women's Center as a scrub nurse for c-sections and in the nursery!! I'm really excited, but really nervous. I feel like I have forgotten everything I learned in school, I have been studying and it is all starting to come back. I'm sure it is going to be hard to leave my kids, Braden and I have been together everyday since mid-June. He told me the other night, "mommy, i don't need you to go to work, i need you to stay home with me and Kasen." So he isn't looking forward to me working, but at least it is only 3 days a week!

School Pictures

Here are the pictures of Braden on his first day of school, he even had on his little backpack....so CUTE!!! The other one is of him walking to the car with Mema....he absolutely loves going to school. He talks about it ALL the time and is always asking when he gets to go back.

Kasens 4 month check-up

So I took Kasen to the Doctor friday for his 4 month check up. He is doing fine growth and eating wise, but we really are having to watch his head. He is really flat headed on his right side of his head, so she told us to be sure to lay him on the left side and do lots of tummy time and she showed me some stretches to do on his neck. I agreed with her and also told her that I had already been doing what she was telling me but that we would continue to do so. So she said that we would wait until the 6 month check up and go from there. The name for what he has is "mild torticollis / plagiocephaly." The torticollis has to do with the muscles in his neck, one side is stronger than the other so he turn his head to the strong side rather than the weak side. The plagiocephaly is the name for his flat head. Sometimes the plagiocephaly has to be fixed with a helmet or band that he would have to wear for 23 hours a day anywhere from 2-6 months or longer depending on the severity of it. So we are praying that we can fix it by laying him on the left side of his head and with physical therapy. Even since we have been doing the stretches since Friday and he seems to be able to move his head more to the left than he could before. So hopefully it will all work out!! Other than that he is a happy little guy, we started on cereal on Thursday and he LOVES it. I made him some this morning and I couldn't feed it to him fast enough, he is a little piggy like his brother!!

His measurements were: 14 lbs. 2 oz and 24 inches long! He is getting so big!!

Happy Birthday to Mema & Papa Hank

Yesterday was Mema's birthday and Papa Hank's birthday. Braden wanted to sing to them so here it is....in his own version of the Birthday song!!

*Kasen in the bumbo chair*

Today Kasen is 4 months old....I can't believe that he is already so big. He is really beginning to be really vocal and he is so funny. When you change his clothes he cracks up, I guess it tickles him, but he really likes it!!

just some old pics

I was looking through some old pics today on the computer and thought I would post some pics of Braden at about the same age that Kasen is right now. I really thought they looked alike...but really they don't....it's crazy!

*Kasen @ 3 months*

*Braden @ 3 months*

"Mom....I want some polyphenols"

So yesterday I was in the kitchen trying to figure out what I was going to fix Braden for lunch and he comes running in and says "Mom....I want some polyphenols".....me "You want WHAT?"....at this point I'm a little confused until I remember the Welchs Grape Juice commercial. Braden: "I want polyphenols" me: "Like they say on the commercial for grape juice?" Braden: "yep, can we go get some polyphenols?" So now grape juice in our house is called "Polyphenols" My kid cracks me up......how many 2 1/2 year olds really pay attention to the commericials to pick up on that kind of stuff. It's not like he was just sitting there staring at the tv, he was running back and forth between his room and the living room getting trains and toys, and we were sitting in the floor playing not even paying attention to the tv. Guess we better be careful what is on huh?

RSV

So I took Kasen to the doctor on Friday and found out he has RSV. He started the coughing and sneezing and runny nose on Wednesday night, he never ran fever and he wasn't having difficulty breathing or wheezing. I woke up on Friday thinking, I bet it is just a cold I probably shouldn't take him anyways, BUT I already have the appointment so we will go anyways. We got there and she said "I think it's just the cold that Braden had last week, but lets do the RSV swab just in case, I really don't think that is what it is, but lets be safe." So they did the swab, and she came back in and said "well, we were both wrong, he has RSV. But thankfully we caught it early and he isn't wheezing" So we are doing oral steroids and hoping an praying that it kicks it and we wont have to do breathing treatments! He seems to be better today, he is still coughing pretty bad but is a happy little guy today!

early birds

So this morning BOTH of my kids woke up around 6:30....they NEVER do that. We fed Kasen and put him back to bed, he laid in there and plaid for a while and then fell back asleep. Braden on the other hand took lots of coaxing to go back to sleep. He first had to have an apple and some milk and I had to read him a Thomas book. So after all of that I'm proud to report they are both still sound asleep...YAY!!! I can get some mommy time in........=)

Bradens 1st day of BSF Bible School

Well this morning I sent my baby boy off for his first day of school. It is only once a week, he is going to BSF Bible School with his Mema on Wednesdays. She took him over yesterday to check out the building and the classroom that we was going to be in. He kept asking me last night, "mom is it time to go to school yet?" He was so excited last night about it, I just really hope that he had a good time today. I can't wait for him to get home and tell me all about it!!! I was going to put up a pic that I took of him before he left the house, BUT for some reason my USB ports on the computer are not working.....I'll try again later!

Just some pics!

*sleeping in the car seat*

*not real sure about this hat thing mom*

*playing cowboy, wearning moms boots*

*check out my tie...I'm so handsome!*

*playing trains...what he does best!*

A day in the woods

Sunday we decided to go out to the farm where Billy hunts and put up his deer camera and just drive around the farm and see if we could see some deer or something for Braden. Braden had lots of fun, he got out with Billy and helped him put the camera up and they walked around in the "forest" as Braden called it. Kasen and I sat in the car, he slept and I read a magazine. It was pretty nice to just get out of the house and do something different for the day. Braden took his pop-gun with him and everytime they got out of the car he had to take it "just in case he saw a deer." It was really cute. Here are some pics!

*sunset as we were leaving*

*Braden playing on the hay*

*walking in the "forest" with dad*

*looking for some deer*

*helping daddy*