Happy Birthday Dakota

Yes, we all know that time flies by as we get older, but it really does seem like yesterday that we brought our little son home from the hospital. He is now 6 years old. He is a joy in our life yes at times he is pushing my buttons and doesn't want to listen and with this SPD life gets hard but I wouldn't trade him in for anything.

I love who he is and who he is becoming. It is the sweetest thing to listen to him remind us at family prayers to pray for a family in our ward who has a sick daughter and this friends dad who is looking for a job, and Jackson who is a friend to get better. Now he doesn't just pray that they will get better but for what each person needs.

I love the faith he has and the wiliness he has to listen to the spirit.

It was his day today and I allowed him to do whatever he wanted. So we watched some TV put together his little box of Lego's (I left the big Lego box for Aaron to put together with Kodi). The only thing I won't let him not do is he had to go to OT today and he loved it, he did a great job and I can already see the difference it makes. He is calmer and more together when we are done. It just reminds me that we need to do more sensory diet during the day. He really does need it.

We than picked up Aaron who had a flat tire on the way home from work let him change and off to Chuck E Cheese for his birthday. All three boys loved it and the place was pretty empty.

It was a good night and a great birthday for him.

His party is on Saturday and it's going to be great, fun he wants a Angry Birds party so that is going to be a great time.

Happy Birthday my son I love you and I am so happy you decided to join our family

HOLY COW IT"S HOT HERE

So we finally got the heat wave the rest of the country has been feeling and man is it hot. We are totally crazy and decided yesterday we should visit the zoo. Yes totally crazy it was great since not alot of people were there but man was it hot out. The best part of the time was we actually got to see the two tigers out and playing. They played in the pool and it was so very cool. Usually they are either sleeping or you can't find them.
The boys played in the fountains at the zoo and we than looked for feathers from the Peacocks and went into the reptile rooms which was nice and cool. Over all we spent 3 hours walking around and drinking so much water. We stayed hydrated and we didn't get sick. The boys did a great job walking around and riding in the strollers.
We than came home and cleaned up the house and watched a movie night, we also watched a very cool lightening storm. Got a good amount of much needed rain and went to bed. It was over a very good day. I love our zoo it's small enough to walk around in about 2 hours and the boys love it. I took KK on Wednesday since Kodi was at a friends house and he loved being in charge of what we do. I want to do a lesson for them on the different animals they love.

And we are OFF

We have been training for our three different races this summer, and actually we just added a 4th race. The First one was last Saturday Aaron and I both did a 5k and Kodi did a 1 mile fun run.

I was so very proud of Kodi he didn't run the whole way but did his best and loved getting the metal at the end.

Aaron was done first before me and I was only about 7 minutes behind him. I am loving my running, I love the fact that we run as a family. We love to run down at Mount Trashmore and the boys will sit in the strollers while we run and their reward after we are all done is to play on the huge playground. Which they love.

Our next race is set for August 13th and this one is an 8k mudd run. I can't wait we are going to be entering as a couple and have to finish together. I know I run slower than Aaron but I am just excited to be able to do the mudd run. Kodi isn't sure if he wants to do the kid mile mudd run. I would love him to do it and try, but he is scared of the mudd. Maybe we can work on this with this OT.

Than at the end of Sept we are taking a disney Disney and will be running two races. A 5k in the morning and than Aaron and I have entered a half marathon relay that night. I am so very excited. Not only have I been losing weight I am getting in shape and I love how I am feeling. My boys notice I have more energy and I am happier.

I have the wonderful shin splints and have had to take some time off from running I bough some wonderful shin sleeves and those work so very well. The heat is taking a huge amount of energy out of me, and with it being so very hot we have not been able to run this week. If it was just Aaron and I running it would be different I would run my 30 minutes and make my 5k but with the kids just sitting and Peyton's breathing we aren't going to be taking any chances. He is doing pretty well we are back to nebing him once a day and allergy meds at night.

But other than that this is the longest he has gone without needing to see the ENT. We are getting excited about moving in January we still only have verbal orders to Indian Head, MD and we can't wait. It looks beautiful and I hear it's great. Not any closer to my family or Aaron's and it looks like we won't be heading WEST anytime soon. Aaron is still planning on going to medical school and has about two years of pre-med he has to do. So Starting this fall he will be in school again. Can't wait for that part to be all over, and the med school he is trying to get into Uniformed Services University of Health Science. It is a long road ahead of us but we still feel that is where the Lord wants us.

Growing up way to fast

It seems that my kids won't stop growing, Peyton is getting big but at the same time is only in the 22% for his age my little bug is so small. Kingston is HUGE he is so tall, he come up to Kodi's chin. I have to remind myself he is only 3 and not 4 or 5. Kodi is also tall and skinny he is wearing 6/7 pants but the waist doesn't fit him.
Kingston is now potty trained and loves being a big boy. We are working on not fighting, so I came up with a sticker chart for the both of them and if it's full by the time our Disney trip comes in Sept than they will get to build a light-saber, which they are both excited for.
I seem to be getting older as well I can't believe it's that time again for my birthday and well when I was younger it seemed like "forever" for my birthday to come around again and now it takes no time at all my birthday to come again.
Yesterday was a great day, my lesson in primary was a Big hit with both senior and junior primary. Junior was into a little more than senior but either way we learned about the temple and how important it is to be sealed to your family.
I found a great idea on sugardoodle.net and used it. I had a picture of the temple under a blanket and told the kids it was a gift from Heavenly Father and they had to guess what it was. Once we figured out it was a the temple they told me why it this gift was so very important. Than I had a handful of kids come put and we made a family we had a and the kids linked arms and they had to walk around together they were "sealed" together. Of course jr thought it was so cool and Sr. well the it was " I don't want to touch girls" of course they were all good sports and did it anyway.
Next I had a ziplock bag and I put in "Lifesavers" the bag and told the kids it was their family and than I dumped the bag on the floor and the family wasn't together anymore. Picking up the family I put them back into the bag and "sealed" the bag shut tried to dump out the family again and couldn't because the bag was "sealed", I asked the kids if they wanted to be sealed to their family and made the kids bags of family and we sealed them up too.
So much fun, I loved being in primary and teaching the kids.

Running and Running

We have been spending a lot of time playing and running outside. We have been taking turns at night running at the park while the kids play. Now that we are down to 11 weeks until our Big DISNEY run we are training together and the kids have to sit in the strollers so we can get used to pushing the strollers while we run.
I can't believe how much I like to run, I thought I wouldn't but I do, I love the feeling of it's just me I don't have to worry about anyone else. I put my music on and I just run, and run. We have a 5k coming up this next weekend and I am so very excited about it.
Kodi and KK even run next to us, we have been training with them so they are ready for their run at Disney. We had a wonderful 4th spent time with Aaron and home and even got KK his bike for completing his potty chart, we are now officially potty trained. It's great and he is doing a great job, and loves going potty.
Peyton is being Peyton and is turning into a character, we love how he laughs when his brothers laugh and will play along with him. We are enjoying his humor very much.

Summer Time

I can't believe that summer is finally here, school is out for Kodi and we are able to finally sleep in and not worry about getting up and ready for school. We have put up darker shades in both boys rooms and they both sleep until around 9 which is nice I can get a few things done before they get up or I can sleep in. I had gotten up and went running once this week, but yesterday morning it wasn't happening Peyton didn't go to bed until 11 and KK was up a little later than that. I was able to get in a little run last night and will tonight go running. We are 18 weeks and counting until our big race down at Disney and training is setting in.
I love running, I love how I can just let everything go and just run, be along with no one wanting me to do anything. I just run.
We are running three time as week and with two days at 30 minutes and the third day longer. It's a great way to stay in shape and lose weight. I am feeling great and love how I am losing my weight.
It was very sweet this morning my mom called to see if the boys wanted to talk to Haleigh who was in the car with her, but the boys were sleeping so I talked to her and just at the end kodi woke up and was able to say hi and how he missed her. They really miss their cousins and family back in MN as do I.
We have been enjoying the warmer weather here and have been watching the storms come across America and are getting ready for Hurrican season, I am putting together our 72 hour kits and teaching our boys about them. It's pretty fun and I am blessed to know why the Lord as asked us to be prepared. I am doing my best to be ready for anything that comes our way.

It's been a while

So it's been while since I last blogged, I am going to try and do my best for posting more. We made it back home and while it was good to be home for 2 1/2 months, it was also really good to be home. The boys really loved coming home and seeing all their things. We got home around 11 and KK was so excited to be home and be with all his toys. I finally had to tell him it was bed time and to go to bed. Kodi started back at school and now today is the last day of class. He loves all his friends at school and is already making plans for this summer with all of them and has invited all of them to his birthday party this summer.
KK is still being KK and testing my limits, he loves waking up, and letting me know how much he loves me. He has started to learn his letter and colors. We also have noticed that he is not seeing well and we are looking for an peds eye doctor. He loves playing with Peyton and Kodi, he is becoming a very fun loving brother. Just like Kodi he wants to make sure Peyton is included. He also doesn't always like having Peyton in his toys, but is learning to be nice and give Peyton options.
Peyton is being Peyton, he loves to pinch his brothers while they sit in the car, but neither one wants to sit in the back sit, away from Peyton nor do they want me to move Peyton. He is a huge climber, the chairs at our table are once again up so he can't climb up on them. He is growing like a weed, but at the same time is smaller than my other two boys. He is so far staying healthy and we haven't seen any breathing problems.

Peyton and surgery

Yesterday Peyton had surgery and he did such a great job! We had to be down at children's at 6:45am and surgery was at 8:15, he did a super job of not crying while waiting. He walked down the hall talked to all the nurses and played with them. I love how each Doctor we have met with and had interaction with has always had Peyton's health concerns in their best interest. The anesthesiologist wanted to all the history of Peyton's breathing problems and about his Stenosis, and than reassuringly me he wasn't going to intubated all the way down. He didn't want to make more damage on his trachea. Which put my mind at ease. We just got a clean bill of health from Dr Tibsear and I didn't want to have to see him again for more stretching. Dr. Tibsear even came and checked on me to see how I was while Peyton was in recovery and said he had checked on Peyton as well. I feel so very blessed to have such Doctors looking after my son. Yesterday we weren't even Dr Tibsear's patient and he took care of Peyton like he was.

While we were at the hospital my Mom was watching the boys and had made plans to take the boys to the zoo, needless to say the loved it. I was home before they left and they came home around 6 last night. Telling how much fun they had. Kodi even told me "we have to take Daddy to the zoo"

Tomorrow Aaron flies in :) We thought maybe he would have to work so we booked him the last flight out but he doesn't have to work so we is going to the airport in the morning and will try to go standby to get home at a better time. It's been a great trip, stressful for me at times, but I am grateful we got what we came here for and much more!

Friday one more week

We have one more week until Aaron comes to spend the week with us and than we are off back VA again. He is so very happy to join us and we are happy for him to be back with us. The boys are so very excited to be seeing him. We had an okay day, I was planning on taking the boys to see HOP but as we were getting in the car Kodi decided to have a fit and so that made our plans go out the door. He was not happy about not seeing the movie. Kingston really didn't seem to mind either way, just as long as he was able to spend some time with me. So as Kodi continue to have his meltdown I took KK outside in the backyard and let him swing and than we went for a walk. We found some birds and squirrels, and KK thought he heard a frog.

By the time we got home Kodi had settled down and was sad we did go and see the movie. We did have a good rest of the night, we had pizza and watched Tangled. I also was able to brush him, which was great. I am hoping to get more brushing in tomorrow, going the whole program again which is every two hours for the first week and than back it off to every 4 hours for another week and than 6 hours until it's just down to 2 times a day.

Peyton is super crabby and not sure why he has a moler coming in not sure if that is it, but all he wants is me to hold him. I love my little boy who seems to be growing up way to fast. I wish they would stay small a little longer.

Good News

I am very happy to say that Peyton is cleared from his ENT and has a clean bill of health from him:) That makes us very happy, now the catch 22 is that if he gets croup that puts him back to see the ENT but right now he is great! We have schedule his surgery with the urologist for Wed morning and than we should be go to go.

Today was the last day of school for Kodi, next week is spring break and than the week after that we will leave. I didn't see the point of paying a whole month worth of tution for 3 days. Kodi was happy to know that it was his last day for that meant daddy is coming soon to get us, and he is so ready for daddy to come and take us home.

KK is being KK and having a trouble listening to me. I don't know if it's because he is three or if he just doesn't want to listen to me at all. either way it drives me crazy.

It was a very slow day at home and we did n't do much of anything. I did get to workout and train some more for my up coming runs which I love. The boys love going to the club and playing in childcare, which is always great for me. I hate working out and wondering if they are going to be coming to get me because Peyton is crying. But he cried for just a little bit and than was playing as I walked by to get my things out of the lockers when I was done.

Peyton has become a climber and won't leave his feet on the ground which means we are in trouble.

Another day

Yes it's Monday and another start to a week. The boys are still at times driving me crazy, but that is my life. I was happy to hear back from the lady from the Department of Education in Virginia I have been emailing her about how we can get Kodi into a different public school. They have some laws about Military and schools and I wanted to know what she knew and if she could help us out. She was out of the office today but I did receive and email this morning from her asking for my phone number so she could call and talk to me. Let's pray it's good news and we can figure something out.

No word yet on when Peyton will be having surgery again for his little man parts, his

testicles have not dropped and we need to get that fixed. Poor kid he just can't seem to win. KK is still on meds for his ears, we go and see Tibsear next week for his ears to be checked again. I think this is the 4th ear infection for him and they get pretty bad. I caught this one a little earlier than usually which is great.

We are starting to count down the days until we are back with Aaron next Friday is when he flies in and than sometime that week we will leave to go back home. It will be a bitter sweet leave. We have had a great time there and very grateful for being here.

A Great weekend

It has been a wonderful weekend for us, Friday night we spent at the Hawks house while I watched all the kids. My two favorite girls came over to see us, we love Emilie and Ali, it was great to spend time with them and the kids.

Saturday we went to the children's museum and played and plays for about 4 hours. All the kids did great. We had a total of 9 kids and 4 adults, it was busy but not to bad. We spent a lot of time at the Legos exhibit which was a lot of fun, they played and played with the legos.

We than went into the Woods exhibit that one the kids would have spent the whole day in. They loved seeing and touching the turtle I think if I would have let KK he would have spent the whole day looking and touching the two turtles they had out. In the room there is an ant hill the kids can play and run under the hill through tunnels and slides. It was a blast for them Peyton even got down and ran around.

We than stopped for lunch, ate a little bit and headed back into another room. It was the little city the twins had a great time in the grocery store and Peyton played in the mail room, the big kids ran around and did the rock star room, drove the bus. We left the water room to the end, of course it was a huge hit. Peyton loved playing in the water as well as Leo and Max. There are 4 tables they can play in, and than a bubble table.

All I can say was it was a blast and all the kids had a wonderful time. Kodi did not meltdown and did a great job with all the people around.

Today was a good day at church, I was able to listen in RS which I don't ever get to do. I only have two more Sundays until we are back in our ward and back in Primary. We than came home and the boys have been great. A little tired for yesterday but it was all good today. I got all of them in bed and sleep by 8:30 tonight. Only two more weeks until we see Aaron and than go back home.

Doctors and more Doctors

We finally saw Dr Tibesar yesterday for Peyton's check up it's been about 1 1/2 months since we had the surgery and he is thinking that was the last one! Yesterday was the best check up, he said that is the best sounding he has every heard Peyton, we are so happy to hear this. Of course with croup that will always set us back, but so far he hasn't had any croup and we hope that we won't.

We know where to find Dr Tibesar if we need him again. We are so very grateful for him and how well he worked on our son and how well he took care of him.

Now we just have to make the appointment for his surgery for his little man problem and we will than set to leave in April. We have the OK by Tibesar and just need the OK from his Pulmonolgist and we will be good to go.

We are still looking for a good school for Kodi to attend this fall, Virginia doesn't have open enrollment, so if you are zoned for a bad school than you have no choice to get your kid into another great public school. Have I said how much I HATE Virginia. Education is a huge part of life and I want all my children to succeed in what they do. They need to have the best education I can give them. Homeschool is not an option for Kodi, with his speech-language he needs to be around other children. Plus he and I just don't mix like that. I would love to homeschool him, but we have a hard enough time getting through the day at times, I don't know how I would get him to do school work.

Kingston is pushing all my buttons, being 3 and not listening has landed him in a lot of time to think and be away from everyone else. Let me tell you doesn't like it but he needs to learn, what we are telling him is not to be mean but to help him and keep him safe. My mom keeps telling me I was just like him. I guess that is only fair that I got a kid just like me.

We have a fun filled night ahead so a quite day at home, I am watching Tara's kids while they go out, so I hope KK and the twins will play nicely. Our time here is coming to an end, I am sad and yet I am glad to go back home. I miss my best friend and my own space.

Once again we have snow

Last night as I was driving back from Target the rain was turning into ice and than when we woke up we had a very nice fresh looking blanket of snow. Of course the roads were awful and Kodi cough wasn't getting any better so like a good Mommy I try to be I got him an appointment this morning, thankfully he doesn't have anything and he cough is clearing what is in his chest :) I really don't need anymore sick kids.

So we braved the roads and made it back home and I had the boys just rest until I was time to get Kodi to school. This time the roads were a little better and we wasted no time in playing in the snow. Kk was coughing so hard he wanted puked "Mommy I need to puke outside" so I took him out of his carseat and let him try to puke in the snow. Thankfully he didn't, but we got back in the car and off to school.

I am so very thankful more and more companies are coming out with natural ways of putting coloring into foods. Kodi is not suppose to have Red or Yellow dyes and so he doesn't get the fun treats, but as we were looking for snacks I saw that the colored Goldfish are now use all natural ingredients for coloring the fish! He as so very happy, we also found some popsilces that use natural ingredients another plus for us. The sad part for Kodi is that he loves Orange soda and that has both in so I just have to remind him that we don't get those dyes because they are so very bad for us.

Peyton is being Peyton climbing and everything and getting into everything. He is back in the yellow zone for his Asthma and I am back to nebbing him 3 to 4 times a day. I am grateful because he really does a great job of using the neb and doesn't fuss to much.

I am finally getting more sleep, Kodi is back in his bed and I am able to sleep much better. I am gearing up again for the Cinco de Mayo run and I can't wait. I had so much fun training and running the 7k. I was very proud of my family for all of us running it. I can't wait to do more, Kodi and KK are very excited about their race they will be doing at Disney. Kodi is all about training and exercising for it.

Staying well

I am not sure if my family will ever be well, it seems that we get over something and we catch something new. This time the whole family has a awful cough, that keeps us up at night. Peyton is wheezing but that is because of his Asthma, and now I took KK in for his ears. He told me that he had ants in his ears and ladybugs. He has been pulling on them and didn't say much if they were hurting, but I thought might as well. Sure enough he has double ear infections and the Doc heard KK cough and checked out his lungs and he has broncitis. Thankfully he goes to see the ENT in the next couple of weeks to recheck his hearing and his tubes. He sure is keeping me on my toes he is 3 and doesn't let me forget that.

Petyon on the other hand is in store for another surgery, his testicles have not come down and so we saw the Urogoloist yes in fact this is a problem for Peyton. So we will be having the surgery after he see's his other Doctors just to make sure they don't want to do any other dialations on his airway and if they do than we will do all the surgeries together.

I really love Children's and their wonderful doctors.

Kodi is doing great did a great job at school and his teachers are sad that we are going back to VA at the end of April.

Some Updating

I didn't check the last time I updated my posting so I was sitting here watching the boys play outside and thought I might as well update. Things in Minnesota are great, we had to move up Peyton's surgery from the end of Feburary to the Beginning of Feburary, the surgery went well and we go back on thursday to see what the Doc thinks and how many more if any he will have to have. We are also finding out that Peyton has Asthma which is one reason why we couldn't get him to stop wheezing, we are now getting that under control.

Kingston turned 3 while we are home and he loved his pool party and playing with his cousins. He is a typical 3 year old boy, who believes he is right and doesn't want to listen to anything I say. Thankfully I can call Aaron to help me and back me up on what I am telling Kk. He is so very happy, we are also getting his ear check again for hearing since he is so very loud again and didn't pass his hearing test on his check up. I have to say we love our ENT so very much.

Kodi is in school and loves being back in Teach Gail's class, he went the first day we got here and I was told it was like he never left. Which was great, we have had some meltdowns but for the most part he is doing great. We also have him working with a friend who tutors kids who have Dyslexia and he does a great job with her. As for therapy our insurance won't cover The Therapy Place and we weren't able to get into the clinic that accepts our insurance so he is taking 2 months off.

We are doing Oils for Kodi and I found some good Omega 3 he will take and keeping him off the red dyes.

I just ran my first 7k and loved it. We are now getting ready for other 5k's when we get back home. I love it so very much it was a blast and felt so very good when I crossed the finish line.

We are going to DisneyWorld at the end of Sept for the Halloween 5k and than Aaron and I are doing a relay for the half marathon. Yes that is right I can't wait. We are starting to train now and the boys are even going to be running a little race for kids while we are down at Disney.