Two Steps Forward...One Back

We've made some really great progress with Brady's swallowing over the last week. Such great progress that as of now (knock on wood) no scope or surgery seems to be needed to correct it. It seems perhaps Brady has just been slow to outgrow it. I'm really grateful for Brady's pulmonologist that really believed in his heart of hearts Brady would outgrow it and kept putting off the scope. Although, I guess the downside to that news is, one, he won't already be put under anesthesia so we can't coordinate surgery for the three hernias he has to be done simultaneously. I was hoping we'd have the opportunity to fix those before Brady is at the age to remember. But, for now I'm going to be thankful for no procedures and no surgeries. And the other downside I guess if you want to call it that is we're back to the drawing board with Brady's other stuff.
The first relatively minor issue... the thickener aside from serving as an aid to swallow correctly apparently is also an aid with reflux. Brady has been off his reflux meds for months now, but with the thickener out of the picture since Friday, reflux has reared its ugly head. Back to the meds, hopefully temporarily.
The bigger issue that WONT GO AWAY...So in June Brady had made a steep (for him) climb on his growth curve and both me and Brady's two specialists were all doing the jig. Finally, we thought, Brady is perhaps on his way... Perhaps all he needed was to stay away from illnesses and have the opportunity to thrive. However, we found out at this morning's pulmonologist appointment, Brady has not gained any weight from beginning of June until end of August. *cue my heart sinking* Pulmonologist was pretty concerned, puzzled, etc etc over the no weight gain thing. Brady got three vials of blood taken this morning *cue my heart breaking* to see if any red flags surface that could maybe, possibly, explain what's going on.
Now more waiting. Something I'm used to but still not great at.

RHOD

Last weekend Brad and I spent an “adult evening” with three of my close friends from high school. I’ve known these ladies for practically all my life and we hadn’t all gone out since before our babies entered the picture. Whenever we get together we laugh and laugh some more and its just comfortable…like family. Love it. So as we started the planning process and it went from all hanging out, to pre-dinner cocktails, to a nice dinner out, to bar hopping and then a limo entered the picture. We started joking we were like a Dallas season of The Real Housewives. Also, we may or may not have made a mixed tape CD with our old cruising music and may or may not have chosen a Real Housewife and pretended to be her on and off throughout the night.

I’m lazy, so go here to see Breck’s blog recap and photos! Also, special shout out to my parents who watched to boys on their 35^th wedding anniversary and through not feeling well. They are the best.

Random thoughts and pictures

The beginning of September will mark six months since I've joined the stay at home mom ranks. There have been good days, bad days, good weeks, bad weeks. Its the hardest job I know I'll ever have. But the one with the MOST rewards. I've been on both sides, the working mom of two and the stay at home mom. I have so much respect for moms of both sides. Both come with their own set of hardships and sacrifices. For me, there is not a perfect scenario. I can't have my cake and eat it too, with being able to work and be at home with my boys. But that's okay. Being a mom (or dad) is full of sacrifices. And sacrifices that I'll gladly make. Because the love and joy my boys bring me is worth anything I'd ever have to give up. I'm so insanely proud and grateful to be a mom to Blake and Brady. The hardest of days with my boys is still better than the best of days at a 8-5. Don't get me wrong though, if my loving husband didn't give me nights out to have dinner with girlfriends or my Friday nights to play hockey, the hard days at home would be WAY harder. I am grateful for the ability to be home with my boys right now, grateful that Brady's health has improved leaps and bounds over the almost six months (which is why I left my job) and my relationship with both boys has strengthened beyond words. Brady's health alone tells me I made the right choice for my family.
Now for pictures... random pictures over the last two weeks via the greatness of the camera phone.

The boys got their hair did last week... They both cheesed it up for the camera!

The other night, Brad gave me a much needed night with a few of my girlfriends and he took the boys to dinner for fast food tacos. Brad sent me this picture...Brady's first time to eat not being in a highchair. Growing up so fast!
Blake on graduation day at swim class this week.

And today we hit up the library. Here is Brady on the kid computer listening to the headphones. This boy is such pure joy. I LOVE it.

Fun for Children of ALL Ages

I still remember when I went to the circus for the first and I think only time in my life, as a four year old girl in Virginia Beach. I remember the rush of excitement and being in total awe and thinking just how awesome the performances were. Twenty six years later I felt the exact.same.way. We took the boys to the "Greatest Show on Earth"...Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus! They loved it too...especially Blake. I love that being a parent of little ones allows you to be a kid yourself every now and then too. We had SO much fun as a family today. I think its so special and extraordinary to create happy memories with our boys together. I can't wait to go back again!

If you get to the circus early, you can go down on the floor level and see some of the performers up close and they had one of the elephants, Kelly Ann, painting a picture. She used her trunk to hold the brush. Incredible.
I loved the elephants. If you ask Blake what his favorite part was, he'll say the elephants too.
The elephant below is holding a dog in a basket!

And of course there were tigers!
The tiger tamer (is that what you call him?) going in for a kiss with the tiger...
And of course lots of cool acrobats and cool tricks. Every time one would do a great one, Blake would clap and cheer and say hip hip hooray! So cute. Loved spending this time with him!
Blake soaking it all in...

The "greatest show on earth" did not disappoint! Can't wait to go back again next year!

Cousins

One of the hardest parts (for me) of having my brother and his family live in Chicago is not having our kiddos see each other often and me not getting to love on my nephew often. Thankfully for us, Adam's best friend from Dallas got married this past weekend, so him and my sis-in-law and nephew hopped on a plane to Dallas for a few days last week. Never long enough, but we loved the little time we had together. Now that the boys are older and all walking they were able to play together, unlike the last time they were here. I LOVED seeing them run and play through my parents house together and pretend cook in the play kitchen. Especially Brady and Trent because even though Trent is 6 months younger than Brady, they are just about the same size (I cried on the inside on that) and it was SOOOO cute to watch the two of them play together and on the last day they gave each other some sweet hugs. The downer is with three boys they NEVER stayed still long enough to get good pictures of the three of them. As shown below....

Isn't my nephew such a cutie? Blond CURLS and big blue eyes. Love him and miss him so much already.