Christmas Part 1

Christmas with Nana and family the week before Christmas...

Christmas Eve opening of the first presents...new pajamas...
Christmas Day. Santa brought Ryan 2 cats and 2 tractors...

More Christmas Day fun...

Christmas Preview

So I was going to just wait until we finished all of our Christmas celebrations to do a "Christmas post", but since our last one isn't until this coming Sunday I figured I'd just break up the posts to Christmas Part 1 and Part 2. Alas...the network was down and I couldn't retrieve the pictures, so I had to work on that. Then...it took over 30 minutes to get all the pictures transferred. So...now I'm only giving you a "preview" of Christmas.

And here he is...
And here is his sister...

NICU Night Before Christmas

This was written by a couple of our friends who work in the NICU Ryan graduated from. I just had to share!

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the NICU house, not a doctor was rounding, not even Dr. Krous.
The fluids were hung in the Smartpumps with care
In hopes that there would not be an infiltration scare.
And momma in her nursin...g bra and baby in it's sleepsack had just settled down for a warm booby snack.
When up on the 6th floor arose such a clatter
I sprang up the stairs to see membranes splattered.
Away in the warmer I flew like a flash
Turned on the suction and prepared to draw a blood gas.
The baby's gestation the mom did not know
So I called for Brooke from A- quad below.
When what to our wondering eyes should appear?
But a twenty-five weeker with only one ear!
With a little butterfly needle, ready to stick
I knew in a moment this pH would make me sick
More rapid than eagles, Dr. Verna and his A-team came
And he mumbled, and shouted, and called them by name
"Now Brooke!, Now Reddy! Now Hunter and Bonnie!"
"On Becky! On Amy! On Richelle and Marie!"
To the top of the hospital, to the front of the hall
"Transport away,transport away, transport away all!"
We called EagleMed, to our team gave a whistle
And away they all flew with the speed of a missile
But I heard them exclaim, as they flew out of sight
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"

--Jessica and Jennifer, NICU lifesavers!

Shopping

Shopping

Not again!

Dear Santa...

...If I pull your beard will it hurt?

Dear Santa...

I don't think Mom would mind......do you?

Evan.

He's almost 6 months old!

Where does the time go?

He's cute.

He rolls.

He has rolls.

He's a bit plump.

He eats.

He loves to eat.

He eats carrots, sweet potatoes, pears, and bananas along with his generous supply of milk.

He smiles a lot.

He coos so sweetly.

He reaches out for his Mommy when he wants to be picked up.

He doesn't like her to be out of sight.

He loves his brother.

He laughs at him often.

He likes animals.

He's very ticklish.

He's amazing!

Feed Me!

Inspiring

...Continued. Ryan.

Snatching. Snatching...cooking utensils, the phone, food...just about anything. The kid steals everything! His most famous and favorite thing to steal is Evan's pacifier. And where does he stash it? In the Christmas tree! I can only imagine what treasures we're going to find when the Christmas tree once again finds the inside of the box. The most regrettable thing he's snatched cost me $5. He pilfered through my grocery sacks after one of my coupon shopping trips and snatched two packages of little smokies. I found them several days later. Boo.

And finally...Story Telling. He tells stories. Really good ones sometimes. It's a good thing SoonerStart warned me that between 3 and 4 the stories would start, AND that it's technically not a lie because to him it's the honest truth. He thought it and it MUST BE real. I think my favorite story lately was when I encouraged Ryan to tell Wade what we had done that day. He told him we went to the zoo and saw pink puppies. Hmmm...we only went to Nana's house that morning and her dog is black and white. Oh well. What he comes up with next is...well...an exciting story!

Along the lines of stories and the things Ryan says I think my favorite right now is the "I told you" lines I've been getting. I guess I use that phrase way too much. And when I think about it I can picture exactly when I use it...usually when he's gotten in trouble or is about to lose a privilege. "I told you not to knock over the trash can." (That one happened this evening and it was followed by a bit of "discipline" and a hard lesson learned...he had to pick it all up...nasty food and all. He really should have picked a better day to knock over the trash can. Like when it wasn't full.) "I told you you can have a ... after you ..." "I told you..." Well now he uses the "I told you" line too. "I told you I want a cookie." "I told you I'm going to jump off the couch." Many times his "I told yous" come after I've told him "no" and he's trying to insist that "yes" is much better. Something like this...Mom: "You really need to take a rest. You have 5 more minutes." Ryan: "I told you I don't need to take a rest. I told you I need to play some more."

Other things about Ryan...
He weighs 31 pounds now.
He eats basically nothing. Okay maybe not nothing, but his palate is definitely limited to...oh say...about 3 different things. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and ravioli and meatballs. He won't eat anything green or orange. He has even resorted to picking things off pizza if it resembles any vegetable colors. If he's not careful I'm going to start hiding veggies in things.
He usually goes to bed around 8 p.m. and wakes around 7 or 7:30.
He is jealous of his baby brother at times. Evidences...he wants me to feed him. He screams and "cries" like a baby when he gets hurt (even just a little hurt).
He is super sweet and the most loving, ornery, crazy and wild little boy. He is one of the greatest joys in my life.

And that about sums up all the things I can think about for Ryan today. It's after 8 you know. You should feel privileged to have this extra 47 minutes of brain power.

If the kids let me I'll talk a little about Evan tomorrow.

Excuses and More!

It's been a long time since I've written. I have a lot of good excuses. I really do. Oh...okay...I'll share a few. Ummm....it's the holiday season and my mind has been wrapped around all the festivities, activities, responsibilities, and dare I say...gift giving...that comes with this time of year. Thankfully ab out 99% of my Christmas shopping is done (and most was done online). I only have a few loose ends left, a few packages yet to arrive, wrapping and more wrapping to do. Did you know wrapping presents with a 3 year old around is much like wrapping presents with 3 or 4 kittens around. Speaking of kittens. Ryan wants 2. That and a puppy. I'd like to accommodate. I really would. Okay...back to the excuses.

#2: I've had sick kids. Three out of the four of us were hit...no plowed over...by the stomach bug the Friday after Thanksgiving. Yes...we thought it could be food poisoning, but we were the only ones to get it until several days later. Oh it was awful! Puking until you can't puke no more. And the scoots to boot. Wade and I recovered within a day or two. Unfortunately Ryan is still battling the scoots. (Oh poop how I hate thee!) Our world has been wrapped around poop for way to long now. I took Ryan to the doctor (hoping for a pill or something to "fix" the problem) and the doc said she felt it wasn't quite necessary to send him to the hospital for IV fluids. What?!?! I'm glad. That wasn't even on my list of possibilities. So she said take him home and try to make him drink and eat as much as possible. Did you know that there a few things you just CANNOT MAKE a kid do? I can think of 2 major things right now...eat...and use a toilet. We may be on the upswing of this nasty virus (trust me it's nasty!). Ryan is having less episodes and *gasp* he's actually eating a little now. As for the potty training...yeah right!

#3: I have 2 small kids, and they both tend to think they need me full time. I love it! Don't get me wrong I'd love a little more *me* time now and then but I'll take the time with the boys over *me* time any day. I sure hope Ryan stays in bed for a while longer this morning so I can actually finish this post.

#4: By the time the boys have both gone to bed in the evening I can't think straight to save my life. Did you know that I actually purchased something from Amazon the other evening and did not remember it at all until my mom said something about wishing she could find something? That something ended up triggering my memory about the previous evening's purchase. Ugh! I guess I expend all my mental energy during the day. So just so you know...my mind is open for service from 6a.m.-8p.m.

So now on to the boys and off the excuses (especially since I can't think of the other ones).

Ryan.

I just love that boy. He's funny, cute, ornery, sneaky, playful, wild, loud, ornery, sweet, loving, and ornery. He's a good boy. Lately he has gained an interest and desire for money. Thankfully right now he doesn't have any concept of currency. He just knows that money is needed to buy things, and he wants a bunch. A dozen pennies over 2 dimes any day! I have a jar full of loose change a drawer in the kitchen that has some too. He tries to raid them both but he knows his options are limited to the drawer. (Loose change adds up and I'd rather him not scatter money all over the house). Have you ever read the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?" Well here's my version of a new one...If you give a boy a penny...he's going to ask for more...and if you give a bunch...he's going to want a place to put them...noticing his pants don't have pockets...he's going to ask to change his clothes...and if he changes clothes....

Ryan thinks he's funny. And he'll tell you so. "I'm funny". Well, in fact, he is. His latest comedic acts include sneaking, snatching and story telling. Let me explain. Sneaking: Ryan loves to sneak around the corner and "do" or "get" something he thinks is off limits. If you catch him you're eyes will be met by a mischievous grin and a sneaky little laugh.

To be continued...