Christmas

Christmas was really fun this year because Grant actually "got it." He did a great job taking turns while everyone opened presents. His favorite gift was a kid-sized blender that actually works. (The blades are dull.) Kate mostly just wanted to climb all over everyone and stand on boxes.

Snow Days

The four of us went to a field near our house on Sunday and played in the snow. Grant made a snow angel and told us it was the angel Gabriel coming to tell Mary about Jesus. Kate mostly wanted to play in the slush in the street. You might notice a bandage peeking out through Grant's hat. It is because he ran into the corner of our kitchen counter the other day and split his head open. He felt left out because Kate went to the hospital and without him last week. :)

Grant's 3rd Birthday

Sharing a gift

Grant's wonderful babysitter, Peggy, gave him a special puzzle for his birthday. He was playing with it on Saturday morning when he said to Jim, "Dad, I think I should give this toy to a boy or girl who doesn't have any toys." (The two of them were getting ready to go to Open Hands Food Pantry and had been talking about why people go there.) Jim said, "Grant, I think that idea was from God, so when we get there why don't you ask God who to give it to." A few minutes after they arrived Grant pointed out a young girl and told Jim that was who God wanted him to give it to. And he did!

Health Update

Kate battled a high fever over the weekend and today the doctor tentatively diagnosed her with roseola. Roseola symptoms include a high fever and a rash when the fever breaks. 10-15% of kids with roseola have febrile seizures like Kate did. Kate is still on antibiotics and motrin/tylonal around the clock. Please pray that her fever breaks!

Grant was diagnosed with pneumonia last week. This is a pretty big deal for Grant because of his lung condition. He's on breathing treatments 5x/day and his third round of antibiotics. I'd forgotten what it is like to have to wake a child in the night for meds and have a mini NICU in my living room.

I know it could be much worse but it feels really overwhelming in the midst of it. There is something about spending so much time in doctors' offices and hospitals that really stirs something up in me. I am trying not to be shaken. God continues to be my Rock.

Thank you, Jesus!

Today was one of the scariest days of my life. Around 3pm Kate woke up from her nap crying. I went in her room and she was covered in throw up. We took her temperature and she had no fever. I put her in a warm bath to calm her down and clean her up. About 30 minutes later Jim got her dressed and when she was in his arms she started having a seizure. He yelled for me and when I saw her her eyes were rolled back and she was convulsing. I called 911 and they were there in less than 5 minutes. That entire time she did not stop seizing.

When the paramedics arrived they gave her oxygen and started an iv. She stopped seizing after about 6 minutes total. Jim and Kate were ushered to the ambulance and rushed to the ER. By the time she reached the hospital she had a fever of 104. The doctors explained that it was probably a febrile seizure, cause by a quick rising in body temperature. Kate had tremors for an hour and eventually fell asleep. They got her temperature down to 100.4 and sent us home.

Apparently about 5% of kids have them under the age of two and they tend to run in families. We're supposed to keep a close eye on Kate and check on her throughout the night but she appears to be fine. For all those of you who prayed for us throughout the day, we can't thank you enough. We felt the "peace that passes all understanding," the peace that only Jesus can give.

Christmas Program

Grant was in a Christmas program through my Community Bible Study. This video was captured before he tried to knock down the projection screen and pull the cord out of the electrical outlet that played the music.

Happy Birthday Grant

Last night Jim and I were playing "remember when" in Grant's life. It went something like this:
Remember when...

Grant got life-flighted to U of M,
the oxygen guy came to our house to set up Grant's tanks,
we had to feed Grant with a medicine dropper bc he wouldn't take a bottle,
he got taken by ambulance to U of M bc he was retracting so much,
he was taking medicine 12 times a day,
we had to feed him through his nose,
he wasn't allowed to go to the grocery store for fear of germs...

Remember when...
Grant's doctor took him off oxygen,
Grant started taking a bottle,
Grant graduated from physical therapy,
Grant's chest xrays were referred to as "good",
Grant stopped all medications and breathing treatments,
Grant started gym class with other kids his age...

Wow. God is faithful. Grant has come so far. He is full of life and joy. We are beyond thankful.

Bedtime

All kids have bedtime quirks. Kate loves to take her blankie and rub the bottoms of her feet. She is in a horribly uncomfortable position to make this happen, but she is giggling as she does it.

Sometime between putting Grant down for bed and morning he takes his socks off his feet and puts them on his hands like sock puppets. When I greet him in the morning he yells, "I'm sock man!" The other night when putting him down Jim was concerned that his feet were getting cold in the night so he put a pair of socks on his feet and another pair on his hands. Problem solved, right? Kind of. When I went to get Grant in the morning he had taken the socks on his hands and put both socks on his feet.

Don't touch the tree

Background: My kids are loving the Christmas decorations around the house, malls, grocery stores etc. Kate broke two bulbs on our tree the first day we put it up (we've since moved all the bulbs up)and Grant has now made it his mission not to let Kate touch the tree. The other day he called grandma Ned in Florida and asked for her help in keeping Kate away from the tree. However, Kate always seems to find a way, climbing up on the couch and lunging for the top branches of the tree if she has to.

Grant: Mom, what is a catastrophe?
Me: When something really bad happens.
Grant: Oh, like when Kate touches the ornaments on the tree?

It's all relative! :)

Play dough time

Grant and Kate are slowly learning to play independently. The other day I got the play dough out for them and they sat at the kitchen table and played for one hour. I got the whole dinner prepped. Unfortunately, Kate didn't eat much dinner because she had ingested so much play dough.

Thanksgiving

This year we enjoyed Thanksgiving with Jim's side in Midland. I wish we took more pictures, but I guess we were just having too much fun. (The picture of Grant is with his cousin, Amy.) Grant got to sit at the "kid table" for the first time with all of his cousins. He had a blast following the gang around all day acting like a real big boy. When we were getting ready to eat we all held hands as aunt Jill said a prayer. Everyone was quiet when Grant looked up and asked loudly, "Is this Thanksgiving?" Kate was a little more pensive, observing the crowd and occasionally letting someone else hold her. She mostly enjoyed trying to grab the dog's tail.

A Heart to Heart

Jim hasn't seen the kids since Thursday because he's been really sick and in bed. Last night he was feeling a little better and really missed the kids so he came out of his cave to put Grant to bed. Before he laid Grant down in his crib he was feeling all sentimental and started telling him how much he loved him, how he would always be there for him, how he wanted to raise him into a strong man of God etc. Grant turned to him, put his hand on Jim's cheek and whispered, "You need to shave."

Quote of the week

"Dear God, thank you that you are Santa. Amen."

P.S.

Grant's cold never went to his lungs. He's on the mend. Thanks for praying!

Biter

Kate is starting to get a very strong personality. She is not quite as laid back as she used to be. The other day Grant had a broom that she wanted so she went up to him and bit him really hard in the arm. (This has continued to happen several times since- we're working on it!) Grant became hysterical but when I finally got him to calm down he asked me, "Mom, why did Kate bite me?" I said, "I think she wanted your broom." He answered, "No, I think she thought I was her food."

Grant started a basketball league for 3 year olds last night. He's the only 3 year old in the class who can't dribble. Do parents of 3 year olds really teach their kids to dribble a basketball? Jim felt like a failure of a dad (not really) so they are going to work on it this weekend. Gosh, this whole sports competition thing starts young. I swore I'd never be a part of it and I only signed Grant up for it so he'd get some exercise. But, now I feel like I'm being sucked in. The weirdest part is that there was a group of moms on the sideline who brought juice boxes and snacks for all the kids as they came off the court. I remember that happening after tennis matches in high school, but a 30 minute 3 year old basketball practice?! It was a nice gesture but the whole thing weirded me out. But, I'm sure we'll go back next week.

The Learning Tower

Lindsay bought this thing called "The Learning Tower" at a garage sale for $15. This is such a steal because it is usually around $200. Oliver is a bit young to use it so she let us borrow it for a little while. It is basically a structure that allows kids to participate in the kitchen helping cook, doing dishes etc without the risk of falling off a chair. My kids love it! Kate played in the sink the other day for two straight hours! The floor (and kids) end up quite wet but it is worth it.

Get Well Prayers

Grant seems to have come down with a cold/cough in the last few days. Last time this happened he ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. We are hopeful that it is just your average cough, but with Grant's lungs it always risky. Please pray for healing for him and that everyone else stays healthy. Thanks!

House Guests

Jim's best childhood friend, Corey, and his family came to visit us last weekend. Corey and Katie have infant twins and a two year old. In case you haven't added it up yet that made 5 children under the age of 3 under one roof! We had an absolute blast. Kate and Grant were intrigued by the babies. Grant is still talking about his new friend, Gavin. We hope to make it up north to visit them one day soon!

Taking a break

Grant: Mom, tell me the story about when I was a baby. (for the thousandth time)
Mom: Actually, my mouth is taking a break.
Grant: Again?? Your mouth already took a break today.
Mom: Well, it looks like it needs a break again.
Grant: Oh. My mouth never needs a break!