2011

Our family goal this year is to stay healthy healthy healthy.  Is it wishful thinking?  Yeah probably.  We didn't end 2010 so well and passed the stomach bug around a few too many times.  The boys have respiratory colds right  now and I'm hoping and praying it resolves without a need to go to the doctor.  The last thing I want is to expose my sick kids to more germs and the chance of coming down with something else.  Last week Caleb was under the weather.  I knew he wasn't acting himself when I dropped him off at daycare on Wednesday but I figured he was just tired from his all night coughing and head cold.  I got a call before lunch time and his fever was 99.8.  By 1:30 it had increased to 101.8 so I picked my sick boy up and went home.  That evening Caleb was quite lethargic and his fever skyrocketed to 104.1.  I hate when fevers get so high.  The good news is that alternating tylenol and motrin seemed to do the trick because he slept all night and woke up with only a 99.6 fever. 

Both boys are still battling the yucky cough but other than that they seem to be doing well so I just hope that's all they get and no more stomach bugs.  I've actually started taking an over the counter pro-biotic myself and I am getting the boys some chewable ones.  I'm bound and determined to keep the stomach bug away. 

Here's hoping to a happy and healthy 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December, 2010

Wow, I can't believe 2010 has almost come to an end.  It seems like the years just fly by lately. 

December hasn't been the best month for our family.  We've been hit very hard with the stomach virus.  We always get it a lot each year but this has been the worst year by far.  I can honestly say that someone in our family of 4 has literally had the stomach flu every single week since November 26th.  We keep passing it around and I haven't seen an end in site yet.  Poor Caleb was hit with another strain of it right at Christmas time.  He woke up 1:00 am on the 24th with it.  The 25th he was much better and his fever had broken.  I thought he was on the mend, but come to find out he wasn't.  He got sick at Great Grandpa's on the 25th around 10 pm.  I felt so bad for him but at least he was able to enjoy his new toys during the day on Christmas.  He even went outside and played on his new sled with Isaac.  So I've washed, disinfected, bleached, lysoled about everything I can.  I'm just praying I don't get it yet again.  I'd really prefer to be able to work since I've only been there 3 months and have missed 3 or 4 days of work already.

Our first Christmas gathering was December 18th.  Ross, the boys and I were lucky to stay in one of the rooms at West Oaks, above where our party room was.  It was great for the boys.  It had a big jacuzzi tub and the boys thought it was the best ever.  Caleb's already asked me a couple times to go back.  It was really a good time with my extended family.  There are a lot of young ones in the family now.  I believe we had a 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 10, 13, 14, 14 year old.  The young ones participated in a book exchange which was a big hit for my boys.  We read our new books every night.  The adults did the annual  grab bag which was fun as usual.

Sunday the 19th we had Christmas with my parents, brothers and their families.  It was a lot of fun.  The little ones drew names and exchanged.  Isaac and Caleb received the neatest John Deere nap mat from Bjorn and Norah and they love them!!!!  Grandma and Grandpa got the boys a pair of shorts, pajamas, jumbo farm animals and they contributed to their new car seats.  It was a lot of fun with the family.  The only grandchild missing was Josh as he's in Afghanistan right now.  We miss him lots and are praying for his safe return home.  He will be coming home in January on a 2 week leave.  His son will be making his arrival very soon.  Yes I am going to be a Great Aunt-now that sounds old doesn't it?

Christmas Eve was a great day/evening except for little Caleb being sick.  We continued to rehearse with Isaac his line in the program.  He told us he would go up by his buddy Cole and say his line and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  The preschoolers this year were two 5 year olds, a almost 4 year old, Isaac at 3 and another 3 year old I believe.  Isaac was hesitant to go up by himself but his buddy Cole pulled him up front and one of the directors talked him into going up front.  Once he was up there he did great.  He waived at Mommy with a big smile.  He said his line perfectly and sang his song.  When he was done he said "Mommy I did it".  It was a very proud Mommy moment.  My baby is growing up.  After the program my parents, Ross' parents and Ross' brother Nolan came over for pizza and snacks.  The boys got to open a couple presents, it was a great night. 

Christmas morning the boys were very excited for more presents that Santa brought!  The trains were the biggest hit and they played with them all day long.  We took time to take them sledding outside and had a great day at home just the 4 of us.  We went over to Great Grandpa Winter's for supper and more presents.  It was a little different without Great Grandma but still a great time.  The boys got some nice clothes, a truck and blocks.  Isaac loves his guitar shirt and was sure to show everyone!  It was too cute.  We even got a picture of Great Grandpa with all his Great Grandchildren, priceless!

New Years Eve we had our Christmas celebration with Ross' parents and siblings.  Erin made it home which was nice too.  The boys had a great time at cousin Caden's house.  They loved playing football including wearing football jerseys and helmets.  Cousin Caden was nice enough to give his jerseys that were too small to Caleb and Isaac.  It was hard to get the boys to take their jersey's off to eat and open presents.  Too cute.  The boys got a lot of fun things.  They received quite a few farm toys:  hay wagon, ripper, disc, silage chopper.  They got a couple trucks, a ball set of a basketball, football and soccer ball and even a big basketball hoop that converts to a football goal post.

New Years Day we went over to Great Grandpa Winter's house for pancakes (Speckin' Deckin) and french toast.  It was very good, even without Great Grandma there to make it.  Grandma Kooiker did most of the work and did a great job.  We stayed for a few hours and then went home so the boys could get naps in before our final Christmas gathering that night.  We had our extended Kooiker Christmas.  It was good to see family that we don't see very often.  The boys got a small present and had tons of fun playing with cousin Caden and Gabe.