Go Blue!

As you can see the kids dressed up as a football player and cheerleader this year. They even learned the fight song despite yesterday's (and last weekend's, and the weekend before that's) defeat. Tonight Grant saw a Michigan State football player trick-or-treating and got in his face and shouted, "go blue!" I don't even know if he knew what he was doing but it was really funny.

Speeding Ticket

10:00am I was going 42 in a 30mph zone. :(

6:15pm Jim walks in the door. Grant says, "Dad, mom made a mistake today. She disobeyed and got a ticket, but don't worry, she said she's not going to jail."

Pumpkin Carving

Every year grandma and grandpa Koss have Grant and Kate over to carve pumpkins. This year they also decorated cookies and decorated the house with spiderwebs. Oh, and the best part was that they had a sleepover! I asked Grant what his favorite part of it all was and he said, "Well, it had to be when grandma woke me up with a nice warm pot of coffee."

Saturday Night Fun

On Saturday we went out to dinner at Miguel's Cantina in Rochester and to Yates Cider Mill. The kids had fun at the petting zoo, eating donuts, looking at pumpkins and checking out the port-a-potties. In fact, most of my time with Kate was spent with her saying she needed to go potty, followed by me sanitizing the potty and then her saying it was gross and she wasn't going to use it. In the end we had to drive to the McDonald's down the street.

Cider Mill

Time Out

Me: Kate, do you know why you are in a time out?
Kate: Yes, because you love me through and through, yesterday today and tomorrow too.

Hot Tummy

For the last couple of weeks Grant has been complaining of a "hot tummy." (He complained of us in June, but then stopped.) Last night his hot tummy kept him up until 10:45pm! I took him to the doctor today and he was diagnosed with acid reflux. She said it is not uncommon for cardiac babies to have reflux issues. This was no news to us since he had such bad reflux as a baby, but we assumed it went away. She said it is a great sign that it has been off and on so we can probably get it under control quickly. He'll do previcid for 6 weeks and then we'll move to apple cider vinegar. Considering the rough start Grant had we know it could be much worse than asthma and acid reflux. But in the Bible it says God wants to give us more than we could ask or imagine. So, we are asking God to totally take away both asthma and acid reflux. Pray with us if you will.

Visiting Oliver

We went to Detroit to have dinner at cousin Oliver's house last night. The highlight was when uncle Josh took Grant for a ride on his tractor. Kate said she wanted a ride too, which was surprising because she hates loud noises. The picture here was taken just before the lawn mower was turned on and she burst into tears. The next picture is her clinging to Jim afterward.

Grandma and Grandpa Ned visit

We had a wonderful (but too short) visit from Grandma and Grandpa Ned. The kids loved every minute of it. Grant and Kate had Grandma sitting in their make-shift restaurant while they fixed her food. Grant was so excited to show Grandpa how he could ride a bike. The day after they left Grant asked, "When can we go to Florida?"

Alarm Clock

I'm happy to report that I'm finally starting to feel better! Unfortunately, Jim is still not well. Keep praying. During my bought with mono I discovered the best invention: "It's Okay to Wake" Alarm Clock! This lovely clock looks like a standard kids alarm clock but it has one extra feature- it lights up green at whatever time I set it to. So, I can tell the kids that they are not allowed to wake up until the clock turns green. And, guess what?! They are obeying! It is the coolest thing to know that I'm not going to hear them yelling for me until 7:15 am. I wonder what would happen if I set it to 9:00am...

Cleaning

I was glad to see that in the midst of an intense day of dusting and mopping Grant stopped to play with his trucks...until I heard him saying that it was a sweeper truck cleaning the street!

Wake up Mommy and Daddy

Unfortunately, Jim caught mono. Our biggest prayer request is that Grant and Kate would feel loved by us despite how little time we are spending with them these days. It is so hard for them to understand why we seem to constantly need a nap. I should be turning the corner soon- it has been 6 weeks since my first symptoms.

Interview

Grant did an interview the other day for a group called "Inspiration Through Art." (more on that amazing organization later) Here's what he said:

Q: What is your favorite thing to do?
A: Ride bikes

Q: What makes you a hero?
A: Because I'm special

Q: What is the hardest moment you have gone through during your journey?
A: Getting shots and waiting so long at the doctor's office. Oh, and obeying my parents.

Q: If you could have one wish, what would it be?
A: To go to the zoo and play with mom's vacuum all day
>
Q: What would you like to tell other children born with a heart defect?
A: You don't need to cry. it's going to be okay.

Special Moments

Mono has hit full force. I'm only out of bed for about 2-3 hours a day. I'm so tired I feel it in my bones. The doctor said to let my body lead so I'm trying really hard to not over do it. But, during the few hours of a day that I do have energy I'm really trying to make the most of it.

In the midst of this I've had some really special moments with the kids. Kate recently started singing all the time so today she kept bringing me different musical instruments and instructing me to sing songs she learned from Barney. I did such a terrible job that it just made her laugh and laugh. It was so precious.

This afternoon Grant really wanted to walk to town (less than a 1/4 mile) so I agreed. When we were about half way there it started to rain. He suddenly turned around, grabbed my hand and yelled, "run!" We giggled in the ran holding hands the whole way home.

In spite of being in bed most of the day I feel really close to my kids and really close to God. Instead of fighting being in bed I decided to embrace it and read my Bible and pray as much as possible. If you have prayer requests feel free to send them my way!

The Monkey

Doctor

Kate and Grant's newest thing is to play doctor. They play on each other, on Grant's stuffed dog and on Kate's baby (that she named Oliver). Their favorite thing to do is look in each other's ear and say which animal is hiding in there. Grant's pulmonologist does this and Grant thinks it is so funny.They are doing a great job playing independently these days.

Mono

Big bummer- I seem to have caught mono! My doctor said to let my body guide me so I'm alternating between resting and playing with the kids throughout the day. Please pray for a quick recovery.

Oh Happy Day

Sleeping

Grant: Mom, who are you sleeping with these days?
Me: What?
Grant: I know you used to sleep with dad, but you don't seem to be sleeping with him anymore so I wondered who you are sleeping with?
Me: (brief explanation about how dad goes to work before he wakes up)

Flying High