December Update

It's been so long since I have written that I don't even know where to start! Sorry about that. We are just busy living life here.

I will start with Cohen, since he's the baby and all! Hard to believe he will be 2 YEARS OLD this month. Time has really flown. He is doing great, we have had some trouble with his G tube this fall. It had been infected for over 60 days, and we were worried the surgeon would have to move it. Thankfully, its really improved in the last 2 weeks. Since then, he has had croup pretty bad. He can't sleep and coughs so much. It's a cough that hurts your heart. I feel like today he is some better. Hoping he can feel 100% better soon.
Cohen will have a swallow study at Vandy December 19th. We are already hoping and praying for improvement and some good news. We also are taking him to Cincinnati Children's Hospital in January for some 2nd opinions. This has been a long process to get approved and actually an appointment, but we hope to hear some different views and options for his swallowing and overall health care needs. I am super excited and dread this visit at the same time. They will repeat his MRI, broncoscopy, do a sleep study, and lots and lots of other poking and prodding. In the end, I think it's worth knowing we are doing everything we can for him.

Ames is now 3 1/2. He is a busy little boy and talks non-stop. He even talks in his sleep. He loves Cohen so and they really play and have fun together. Watching the bond of brothers grow stronger daily warms my heart. He is SO excited for Santa to come visit and is asking for a garbage truck. Everywhere we go people mention his red hair. He is really funny about it. In the grocery store yesterday a lady said "look at that hair." Ames told her "ya, ya, I know, it's red." I couldn't help but laugh.

Calee is doing great, she is the busiest of all of us between dance and school. Her Christmas recital was last weekend. She was beautiful and it was fun to watch her. This week she visits nursing homes 3 days with her dance group. I am thankful for her big heart and her love of her little brothers. I think she is more excited about Christmas for them than for herself!

Here is a few pictures from the dance recital and around the house. Enjoy!  Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!!!!

Calee singing and dancing!

POSE!

Calee in her performance group

Love Cohen's face here

Ames and Cal

If I could only get all 3 to look!

Cohen winking!

My little Monster, Dragon and Cutesy Witch=)

I could not get the dragon to look!

Witch w her kitty

Cohen and Ames like to push the wagon instead of ride in it!

Home from Paradise

We just got home from a little trip to Paradise! It was so beautiful and relaxing. Exactly what we needed. Hope all of you are having a wonderful fall! I will update soon!

Family Randoms and Happenings!

While I was typing this post, Cohen crawled up and pushed the power button and turned it off!!! No wonder I never get an blogging done anymore!!!!

My favorite time of year has finally arrived.....cool weather, beautiful leaves, college and high school football. How much better can it get?

Fall so far has been as busy as ever. Calee just finished up her first Middle School Volleyball season, first Middle School Homecoming, and the boys and I are well into 2-day a week Mother's day out (MDO). Justin has also been super busy with fall food plots. You can check out his website here.

Calee loved volleyball and learned alot. I will post some pictures below. Ames and Cohen had fun going to watch her and playing with little brothers and sisters of other volleyball players.

 Calee is excited to get back into her dance class routine this week. We have waited to start her fall classes until the season was over.  She has missed it!

Cohen has been doing wonderful. The MDO has been a big adjustment to him. After crying most of the day the first couple of weeks, he is finally starting to play and enjoy it. I am SO thankful his teachers are friends of mine and super patient with him. I would have been nuts if I had been them!!!! He was definitely "that" kid!!!!! As far as my class goes, I have the younger 2 year olds. They are seriously precious. I had no idea it would be this enjoyable.

We are heading to the beach again for fall break with some friends. The kids and I are super excited about that.

Here are some recent pics. Enjoy and I promise y'all will hear from me soon!!!

Working on her serve

Ames and his little buddy Drake waiting for the homecoming parade

Boys loved the parade!

Ames and his little friend Kade playing at the VB game

Calee on the 6th grade float

Cohen being a BIG boy at school!

Volleyball diva=)

Ready or Not....here we go!

Cohen is having a great few weeks! I am so happy with the progress he is making. This is our last official week of summer. Next week I will start working at a Tuesday/Thursday school and Ames and Cohen will go with me. I am so excited and still so nervous about this! Ames has attended the school for the last 2 years, and it has been such a blessing for us. I know Cohen will love all the interaction and benefit from the structure, I just pray he can stay healthy and well!

Cohen has made some major strides in his PT recently! He is standing up and really close to cruising! The new braces make it so much easier for him. Our PT is absolutely wonderful and such an encouragement to me. Feeding therapy is also going great. He is eating about anything he can get his little hands on, with alot less choking and gagging. Still a long way to go but I can tell a major difference.

Calee has started middle school this week! She is loving it so far. I am looking forward to fall weather and fun! Here is a little snapshot from my phone of Cohen during PT today.

Bad Blogger!

Sorry I have been such a bad blogger. I actually had to look back and read the last post to even see what it was about! Ha!

We have just been busy living life the last few weeks. Cohen is doing great, he is getting his casts off tomorrow (Friday) and get his leg orthopedic braces. We are so excited about this. He will be able to take them off to bathe and swim and sleep! This will be a HUGE improvement from the cast.

Cohen has come along way with his eating lately as well. He is now able to eat crackers, bread, puffs, etc. Still no liquids by mouth, but still making major headway. He loves to eat, and its fun all being at the table and everyone being able to participate in dinner.

Calee got her braces off, so that is another big development we have had. Ames turned 3 on July 24th. He is as funny and wild as ever!

We are going on a vacation next week and are super excited about some fun in the sun.

I promise to do a more detailed post when we get back. Thank you all so much for your love and concern for us. We love you all=)

July 4th!!!!!

Even though Cohen is still under the weather a little, we managed to get the kids dressed and take some pictures. We even got all 3  almost looking at the camera and smiling! It was nothing short of a miracle!

On this July 4th, Calee is 11 years old, Ames 2, and Cohen 18 months!!! People look so funny when I say I have an 18 month old and a 2 year old! My sweet Ames will be 3 July 24th=)

Almost all looking!!!!

C and C

Sweet kiss!

The boys saw something shiny! haha!