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.

A few pictures

Well I do believe the warm weather is about done for. Cold weather is going to be here this week.  I didn't get many fall pictures as my camera hasn't been taking clear pictures.  I'm hoping to purchase a nice camera after Christmas.

The boys are doing good and continuing to grow.  They were both weighed and measured last week.  They are very close in size.  Isaac is 36 inches tall and 32.4 lbs.  Caleb is 35 1/8 inch tall and 31 lbs.  Caleb is catching up to Isaac very fast!

Both boys have been good at using the potty when we ask but they aren't to the point where they tell us when they have to go.  The other night both boys insisted on wearing big boy underwear.  I let them do it for a little while as bath was going to be soon.  I know Isaac isn't ready to be potty trained yet. He had wet his pants and didn't even tell me.  I found a wet spot on the floor.  Caleb stood up and told me he had to go potty and ran to the bathroom but it was too late and he made a big mess in his pants.  I'm pretty sure Caleb will be ready before Isaac but at least they're attempting.  It's definitely a start!

Well here's some pictures from this fall and a few pictures with all 3 of my "men" in their blue shirts.

Happy Halloween

I had picked a couple Halloween outfits up a few months ago and pulled them out a few days before Halloween.  I realized one was a size 24 months and the other 2T but they looked small.  Thankfully they did fit the boys but Isaac was almost too tall for his.  They were the cutest frog and duck I've ever seen, but then again I may be biased.

I was afraid Isaac wouldn't wear it because of his sensory issues but he was so excited I could hardly get the outfit off of him before bed.  He really got into trick or treating this year.  He would run to the houses yelling "trick or treat" before he even got to the door.  Caleb was shy and stuck by Mommy but loved it too!  The third house we went to was quite scary and we learned our lesson to not go back there again, at least not until they're older.  It was hard to convince Isaac to do more trick or treating as he thought they would all be scary.

It was a good night for trick or treating in Milford and Ross got to go with us which was really fun for us.  Grandma went for part of the time and Daddy finished with us.  What a great night!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISAAC AVERY!

10/20/2010

Is it really possible?  My baby is three years old!  It still feels like we brought him home from the hospital.  Isaac had a great birthday.  We celebrated on the 17th at our house.  We had Papa Murphy pizza, chips and of course cake and ice cream.  Isaac requested a tractor cake just like Caleb had.  My Mom made the tractor cake and Ross' mom made the chocolate cake that Grandma Winter used to make.  We had a lot of fun.  Grandma and Grandpa B, Grandma and Grandpa K, Uncle Nolan, Aunt Gina, cousin Caden, Great Grandpa W, cousin Kim and Emily were all able to make it. 

We had gotten Isaac a jumpolene for his birthday which he loved and played in it at his party.  But we found a hole in it that night so it went back to the store and we replaced it for a big tractor and wagon.

Isaac moved to the 3 year room at daycare and the transition went pretty well.  We had a few rough days at home which happens with any type of transition as it's all related to his sensory processing disorder.  Caleb had a hard time too and was quite upset the first day of daycare without his brother in his room.  They're both adjusted now so that is really helping.  The boys really need their time apart as they're together all the time so it's nice when they are in separate rooms.

Isaac is a busy boy and hyper as ever.  He loves farming and riding in the truck.  He has spent quite a bit of time with Daddy this harvest which is really nice for him and for Mommy.  He's talking quite a bit and telling lots of stories.  He's counting up to 10 and is singing songs.  He knows most of his colors and is doing awesome at matching.  He has his last developmental screening with Early Intervention and he passed all screenings with flying colors!  He's considered "too advanced" to receive anymore services.  We are beyond thrilled about that but that also means we need to look into private occupational therapy for his sensory issues which we haven't done yet.

We're still working on potty training.  Isaac isn't real interested right now and I'm not pushing because everything we want Isaac to do becomes a power struggle.  He may be 4 before he's trained but I know I want him to do it when HE is ready.

Sleeping is still a major struggle and we're not really sure why.  We may do a sleep study this winter but haven't really made a decision yet.  We've been giving him melatonin to fall asleep which works for a few hours but then he needs to sleep with us in our bed which becomes quite crowded.  It's a process and he's still young. 

Isaac will have his check up on Friday so I'll get his official results then but I am sure he's about 32 lbs by now and 36 inches or so.  He's still a small fry and is still in 24 month and 2T clothing.  So much for him passing his clothes onto his brother as Caleb is into 2T already.

On Isaac's actual birthday Mommy and Grandma took the boys to Sioux Falls.  We picked up Isaac's pictures and went to eat at McDonalds.  It was a good time and I think Isaac enjoyed his birthday!

We love you Isaac Avery~ you are the most precious, amazing, smart little 3 year old we know!