Bickering

Bickering. Fighting. Arguing.

I just couldn't stand it any longer. I had reached my breaking point last week.

It seemed like nothing was working. 

And then, I decided to take away their television privileges.

 They are behaving so much better. And I am behaving so much better.

It's amazing to see the change that has come over them.

They are playing so much better and they are being so much kinder to one another.

They are working together and working things out. 

 Yesterday they played puppies for hours, and they built a secret hide out today.

I know it wasn't really the television that made the change. 

It was a change in them. And in me. I love to hear their laughter and see their imaginations.

Nothings perfect yet, but it's so much better. Love these sweet kids.

Lights

There were jack o lanterns on the porch and Thanksgiving decorations inside,

But we decided to put up our Christmas lights. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

To the mountains

This trip seems like ages ago, but it was really only two months.

It was only hours before loading up the car, that we made the final decision where we were going.

Michael had a long weekend, and we wanted to make the most of it.

So we headed to Sun Valley and the beautiful mountains. 

Sawtooth Mountain Range

We took our bikes along for the ride.

The fringe on Kathryn's handlebars cracked us up the way they were flapping in the breeze.

It was almost like they were super excited for the trip too.

Alturas Lake

  

Feeding the ducks is always a must in the Sun Valley Resort.
As was the jumping spider and bike riding. Oh, and lets not forget eating yummy ice cream.
A lot of shops were closing down for the fall and winter months, so it was pretty quiet.

One of the perks from the condo that we stayed in, was a pass to the local YMCA.

It was truly an AMAZING place!!! We even contemplated moving there just for the gym:)

There was a giant water slide, splash pad and lazy river. 

We dropped Sam off for a while at the daycare center, and took Kathryn and Max swimming.

We all had a blast! Even Sammy loved playing with all the toys.

While we were at the gym, we put Sam in a locker, just because he is so darn cute.

We also made a quick detour to this fine little mineral pool called Russian John Hot Spring.

20 years ago, Michael's brother fixed this little place up for his Eagle Project.

We always have to stop and check up on the place when we are passing by.

This trip was just what we all needed.

Happy Halloween

Alive and well

Max and Sam are recovering from their surgeries.

You could say that they are on their way back to normal. Sam is doing very well.

Maxwell still has his up and down moments of pain. He has the harder recovery though.

All in all, they are doing much better than I ever imagined. 

The ENT found some extra things during Maxwell's bronchoscopy that she had to take care of

(His airway was 30% occluded- subglottic stenosis again, and he had a little laryngomalacia).

Samuel's surgery went the way she'd expected. It was incredible to see the before and after pictures.

She also found so much fluid and junk in his airway and explained that he has been aspirating. 

The ENT has been very cautious about our boys and their airways.

They are both on breathing treatments to prevent any additional airway complications.

We have had so much love, support and prayers from family and friends. 

We are so grateful, and we feel so blessed and loved. Thank you!

A few fall things

1.  The leaves are starting to fall.

2. A trip to the fire station during library story time. 

3. Kathryn dressed up as Cinderella on Fantasy Day during Spirit Week.

4. Our high school had an amazing win for their homecoming game. 

5. A preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch.

Brothers

Oh man I love these boys.  They are becoming such good little buddies. 

Sure, they fight, and scream at each other and wrestle. A lot. But that's typical, right?

I adore them and their big blue eyes and infectious smiles.

 I love to hear them laughing together. 

I imagine that is probably one of the happiest sounds for a parent to hear.

Maxwell is learning to be such a good big brother. He really tries so hard to help Samuel.

They are both going in for surgery next week, as long as they can stay healthy.

They are terrible sleepers, snorers, mouth breathers, irregular breathers and constantly sick. 

It's been a rough three years for all of us. So, we finally took them to our pediatric ENT.

She saved Maxwell's life following his cleft lip surgery at seven weeks old. 

(He had subglottic stenosis and his airway was 70-80% occluded. Needless to say, we love and adore her).

Maxwell is having his tonsils and adenoids removed. She said his tonsils were so infected and his adenoids were so enlarged, it's no mystery why he has croup and respiratory infections so often.

 And Samuel is having his adenoids removed and laryngomalacia taken care of.

When she saw his airway during the scope, it was completely covered with floppy tissue.

She was amazed that he can eat and breath as well as he does.

We are anxious to have the surgeries behind us and to be on the road to recovery.

We hope that it will help solve their health problems.

There of course is a part of me that is expecting the absolute worst to happen. 

Call me a worried mother. It's kind of like I need to give myself a heads up just in case. 

Our boys are fighters though and all will be well.