Day 1: Epcot

Day 1 was a total sucess! My boys had so much fun and the longest we waited for any ride was 20 minutes for Soarin' but most we walked right onto. While on Soarin' Hudson said, "I've been wishin for this for years!" :-) Kendan loved the rides he went on. During our ride in the clam-mobiles to find Nemo, he was clapping and watching everything. Hudson met so many characters, but his favorite was Donald Duck! He was nervous about meeting Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, but was so glad when he did! They were so nice and so beautiful! We had so much fun!

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Here we go...

We are off to a great start. Plane ride was awesome, and the pilot gave Hudson a very special tour of the cock pit as we were leaving. He also gave Hudson his own wings.

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it's official

We have a walker...

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30 years later...

Here is an outfit Josh wore when he was a baby. His mom gave it to me when Hudson was a baby. I love that I have it. Now I have pictures of both of my babies in the outfit. The first picture is Hudson at 8 months and the second picture is Kendan at almost 1 year (next week).

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Precious Baby...

We are asking for prayers for our sweet Kendan. At the beginning of this month I noticed what felt like a ridge on the top of his head, from the front of his soft spot running down the middle of his forehead. It felt like the bones had met and pushed up ^. I took him to the emergency room, and the doctor there dismissed it and said his head felt normal. A week later, I took both boys to the pediatrician due to ear infections, and while we were in there I asked him to feel Kendan 's head. His expression changed, and he said that there was something there and I was not crazy. (His words, not mine, but thank you.) He said he wanted to refer me to the cranioplasty clinic at Scottish Rite. Well, everytime I hear Scottish Rite in the same sentence with my baby my heart skips a beat. I realize they are the best, but I also realize they send you there when it is serious.

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We had to take Kendan last summer at 4 months old because the pediatrician felt fullness in his fontanelle, and Kendan was running 104 F fever. That can be a symptom of meningitis, but also can be a symptom of a bad virus which is what he had after they did a spinal tap and numerous other tests. I was such a wreck that day I got on 285 headed west when I needed to go east. *sigh*

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Anyway, we were referred. So, I called the cranioplasty clinic and left a message on their nurses line. The nurse called me back and based on the description I gave her for the referral (his ridge) she said we actually needed to see a nureosurgeon at Scottish Rite!!!! My heart stopped. It is beating again, don't worry. But I have moved into mommy bear mode and I have been doing all I can to learn about this, document, make appointments, and make people understand the urgency because this is MY baby! The neurosurgeon's office said it can take a week to a week and a half for the doctor to review the medical records and get back to the nurse with how quickly that patient needs an appointment. They had our records for 1 week, and we got a call. I was expecting them to say we have an appointment in June, but they didn't. They said we have an appointment February 23rd! I was relieved at how quickly we are getting in, but also scared at how quickly we are being seen.

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Here is what I have learned so far...I think. :D {I reserve the right to be misinformed on some of this info} What Kendan has is called a metopic suture ridge. It is where the plates in the front of his head fuse together prematurely and extra bone is deposited forming the ridge. Some children have trigonocephaly with the metopic suture ridge, and trig progresses. Meaning the forehead will progressively become more narrow and pointed or triangular. If Kendan just has the ridge, the doctors will probably just watch it. Lots of children have ridges. If he has trig, it is my understanding that surgery will be required.

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I have also learned that there can be developmental delays with this, which Kendan does not have at this time. He is developing perfectly normally for an almost 1 year old! This is part of why I am in such frenzy mode; I do not want to wait until there are delays before we take action if action is necessary.

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There are a few things that have me concerned as well regarding this situation, and are on my list of questions to ask the doctor about. First, Kendan has gone from a baby that slept 10-12 hours every single night from the time he was 3 months until 10.5 months to now he is waking up 3-5 times a night! He wakes up crying, and drinks a bottle. However, sometimes it is only an hour from when he last woke, so I know it cannot be that he is THAT hungry. It is not a normal progression to go from sleeping to not sleeping. On one night last week he was up at 12, 2, 4, and 5:30. My mom asked if maybe there was pressure and sucking relieved that. So, I went to a great website called craniokids.org (great site if you want more info) and sure enough sometimes there can be intercranial pressure associated with it. I'm not saying that is definitely what is going on, but I've exhausted all other possibilities trying to get him to stay asleep! I feel like a new mom...exhausted!

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Second, he has started hitting his forehead on things on purpose. Not extemely hard, but enough for me to notice. His pediatrician said this could be just the age he's at, some kids become head bangers. I do realize that. I also realize that the sleeping thing could be a fluke too, but when you look at the whole picture it makes me wonder if they are related.

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Please pray for him as we go to the Neurosurgeon Feb. 23. Please pray for God's protection over him. Please pray for the doctors we are going to see. Please pray for Josh and I that we would not let worry or fear take over. We know that God has a plan, and He is in control whatever the outcome may be. We know that He loves Kendan even more than we do, and therefore, we trust Him completely.

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I have a lot of friends that I KNOW are prayer warriors, and I am asking you to pray for my baby. I want him covered in prayer. Thank you from my home to yours.

Tie Dye

I wanted a picture in their tie dye shirts we made. The mickey ones did not turn out well even though the picture I posted looked like they did. We have one cute one for Kendan that has a mickey head and an okay one for Hudson. But the ones in the picture are just regular tie dyes, and they are adorable on them. We had to wrangle Kendan to sit still for a picture, so this was the best I could do. :)

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Family Time

After date night we took the boys to Yogli Mogli's for some frozen yogurt. We realize that it is freezing outside, but the place was packed so we aren't the only crazy ones. Kendan was crazy about some yogurt! We love days Josh is home!

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Date Night

Kids were at the gym...they even fed them dinner! We enjoyed time together. I love my husband, and I love when I don't have to share his attention. :-)

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2 Peas in a Pod

Hudson got a DS for Christmas, and he is perfectly content to watch us play rather than play himself. He has Super Mario brothers, and it is very much like the one we used to play on the old Nintendos. Super fun. And perfectly enough, the DS will save 3 games...Hudson's, Josh's, and mine. :-) People get fiesty when you play their game around here.

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Music Maker

Kendan playing with the maracas Haley brought us back from Puerto Rico.

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Our Week

This week has been pretty low key after the fun of our snow week last week. Here are some pictures of my boys. We are gearing up towards our Disney trip coming up VERY soon!!!!

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Joshua's fun in the snow

Joshua was home with us today, and we had a good time in the snow. He said it was fun. The video makes me laugh. I so love him!!!

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For 'Ma...

Here is a video of Kendan for you.

He was pushing this great walker he got for Christmas from his cousins, Anna Kate and Lucas, while we were talking to 'Ma. So, I thought I would post a video for her to see. :) Our phones have been SO worth every dime!!! I can upload pictures and videos so quickly!!! I love that my boys' grandparents can keep up with them from many miles away.

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My turn...I survived.

Scary, but I made it. Fun! I am not as young as I once was. *sigh*

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Hudson Sledding

Hudson sledding behind our neighbor's house. :-)

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Hudson sledding

Lots of ice today. Hudson went sledding on the neighbor's skim board.

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Redneck Fun in the Snow

Sooo fun...but made me really want a boat, tube, and warmer weather.

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Snowpalooza

Snow day. Awesome. So much white stuff.

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Sledding

Fun morning. We woke up to a blanket of white!!!!

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11 in 2011

I decided to join in on listing goals for this year. I may not do these things every day/week, but as my friend says, "it's what you do most of the time that matters." Hi, Drena! :-) So, here are my goals.

1. The first came from a challenge in our lifegroup at church. We were challenged to think about what we would give God this Christmas. It should be something that cost us something...not trivial or flippant promises. He has given everything for me...what could i give Him? The first is personal...a promise between Him and I. The second is something I have always thought about doing but always felt overwhelmed. I want to read the Bible this year. The entire thing! So I printed this reading plan and it is very managable even allowing 5 days each month to slack. :-) Awesome!

http://www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/15074%20BRP.dj.pdf

2. My Christmas present this year was a years membership to a gym. I love going, but haven't had a membership in a while! Goal is at LEAST 3 times a week I work out.

3. I want to have another successful year selling Premier Designs jewelry. Goal is to work my business to book parties.

4. I want to Christmas shop all year. So, as I find good deals I want to put them away for Christmas so that we spend a little all year instead of a lot all at once. *This will not replace Black Friday shopping though.

5. I want to spend 1-2 days every month cooking a lot of something and then freezing it for dinners later when I don't feel like cooking.

6. I want to spend one night a month that is just time with my husband. My gym offers date night from 5-8 one Friday a month for *FREE* so we will be using that for sure!!!

7. I want to really focus on my time home with my boys. I get so caught up each week trying to stay on top of cleaning and laundry. I want to play with them more.

8. I want to recycle. We don't. *gasp* I want to start. I think it will mean I take the stuff to recycling bins. I am going to have to research this more.

9. I want to have a fruitful garden again this year. I love having and eating fresh produce from my garden.

10. I want to get caught up on my boy's scrapbooks and DVD's that I make for them.

11. I want to serve others more. This Christmas we sponsored a family going through hard times, anit was so rewarding to give and especially for my entire family to be involved. I want to find other ways we can serve others as a family. Maybe we can collect items when they are BOGO to donate to food banks. This one, too, is going to require some research.

That's it. Those are what I am striving toward this year. 2011...wow...remember when we were going to party like it's 1999?

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