The Zoo

The boys had a great time at the zoo today. Their favorite part of our zoo trip was brushing and feeding the goats.

Jamma

Okay...we were officially going to update everyone on the 5th since that is his 3 month "surg"iversary, but since people have been asking, we'll update a little early. I have a picture of 2 months after surgery, but am trying to figure out how to get it out of the internal memory on my camera. We will post a 3 most post operation picture on the 5th. He has lost 59 pounds so far. He is feeling great. He is able to eat normal foods. He's having fun playing with the boys and having an active summer...we'll update more later...

Aiden

Well...we got some of the results of the blood testing today...and they were pretty good. Everything was at normal levels. His liver appears to be fine. He does not have Hepatitis. Thank goodness! They noticed something in his white blood cells. It showed that there was either a food allergy or a parasite that was causing him to be sick. For right now we have to watch what we give him carefully until we figure this out. We have to remove dairy from his diet for a little while. If he ever has a BM they are going to do more parasite testing. The funny thing is...every day for the last several weeks he has had normal bowel movements. Usually one to two a day. On Thursday before going to the doctor's office, he had about 10. They sent us home with some vials to collect stool so that he they could test for parasites and wouldn't you know it??? He just won't give us what we need. Our guess is that he will have one at 11:45 tomorrow. We won't be able to use it then because the lab closes at 12, which means we won't be able to collect anything tomorrow or most of the day Sunday. I think he is secretly laughing inside knowing that he is in control right now!!! Anyway, the news we got today was good...nothing major was found. Now we just have to watch his diet again, which we are used to and we have to get our stool sample. Wish us luck!!!

Happy Birthday Uncle Ted

Riley and Aiden wanted to take some pictures to post for uncle Ted's birthday today. I took the first one and they both looked at it and said that I needed to take another one because I didn't get ALL of the stuffed animals in the picture...so...Happy Birthday Uncle Ted! We hope you have a great day!!!

Aiden

Aiden with cousin Linnea's puppy Gus

Well...we thought we were out of the woods (health wise) with the boys, but today Aiden confirmed we are not. (Sorry for the graphic details you are about to read)! He woke up again with NASTY diapers!!! He then started screaming OWIE OWIE and threw up. For most if the morning he was leaking threw his diapers and laid on me saying that he was so tired. I called the doctor and they said to bring him in. There is a strand of the flu that is out and started this week...so they said it could be that, but because he had his last eposide on June 2...so close to this one, they wanted to do more tests. Today they tested for more parasites (one that they did not test before) and for a strand of Hepatitis. Riley was soooo helpful when we were trying to get a urine sample. As I was holding the cup for him, telling him to pee...Riley went and turned the water on. He said, "There, this should help you Aiden". How funny...we used to turn the water on for Riley when we were potty training him. We are really hoping that they do not find anything...but then again...we just would like to know the cause. Generally today he has been very happy. He has been running around this afternoon and appears to be feeling okay. We'll let you know when we find out the results of these latest tests!!!

Fun Pictures

On Father's Day we went out to Grandma and Grandpa S's house. Riley loved climbing trees in their front yard.

It's hard to tell from this picture that Aiden was having a hard time at Riley's soccer game on Tuesday. It was soo windy and quite chilly. Aiden had a sweatshirt on his body and one on his legs. He had his head buried in Daddy's shoulder the whole time.

Riley and Aiden. Aren't they sooo cute???

Bubbly Pop

First you take a drink of pop...

Then you open your mouth....

And you see how long you can burp.....longer and louder is better...

I bet you are wondering where Aiden learned this new skill. I think I am wondering too??? Today when Aiden was having a drink of my pop he came over and asked if I could smell that. I asked, "Smell what?" He said, "My nose." He then told me that when he was drinking his pop it went into his "NOSE TUBE". How funny!!!

Cupcakes

Okay...so Aiden really wanted me to buy these cupcakes last time we were out shopping. He wanted the ones with the most colorful frosting. Personally, the colorful frosting makes me wonder...but kids love it...so we got them. Yesterday the boys picked out the ones they wanted and started to "eat" them. Hearing lots of giggles, I wondered what was going on. Well...the frosting turned out to be finger paint...or should I say face paint???

Summer Fun

Riley's biggest soccer fans.
Riley loves soccer!

Riley can really hit a ball during T-ball.
Riley floating on a mat at a friends pool.

Daddy and Aiden

Mommy and Aiden

Aiden sleeping with his monkeys.

Riley fast asleep.

This summer is going by quickly. We have soccer on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. This week it sure was hot. It was even hotter when Aiden insisted on sitting on my lap. He doesn't understand that he is a heat radiator! Riley finally did his stretches with the rest of the kids. It only took 4 practices to make an attempt. The funny thing is, he does them at T-ball without any encouragement!!! He loves being in sports and was awesome at hitting the ball during T-ball practice.

Riley and Aiden love being in the pool. This week we went with a friend to her parents pool. They had a great time. Riley is starting to be able to get across the pool in the shallow end. He also learned not to panic when he falls in. Three of the kids were on the floating raft and all went to one corner at the same time and fell in. Riley used what he knew to get to the side. He had a little help! Aiden screamed. He was very panicked!!! Thank goodness for life jackets!!

We have been sickness free for two weeks now!!! Yeah. All the results came back negative, which is a good thing. Every once in a while Aiden will ask if something will make him sick if he eats it. Poor thing!

Aiden's other newest thing that he is always saying is, "Do you wonder how...I got my shoes on?" Or, "Do you wonder what I am thinking?" I am never quite sure what I need to wonder next.

Both the boys also discovered KNOCK KNOCK jokes this week. It's funny to hear what they come up with.

It's been a fun summer so far. Hard to believe 1/2 of June is over!!!

Good News!

We finally got the results of Riley and Aiden's lab testing. Everything is coming back negative which is a good sign. They have not been sick since last Saturday. Hopefully whatever it was is gone!!! We can finally enjoy summer and leave the house without worrying about one of the boys getting sick while we are out. Yeah!!! They are happy they get to go to the park again to play!!!

Two months later

Just thought we would update you on Jamma's surgery. As of today (two months after surgery), he has lost a total of 49 pounds. He is feeling good and eating small meals. We'll hopefully post a picture tomorrow.

Is it T-ball or "Baseball"?

Aiden was tired, but came to watch his brother play T-ball tonight.

Riley didn't get to practice hitting the ball at T-ball, so he hit some balls when we got home.

Riley has a pretty strong arm. He enjoyed throwing the ball to his partner. The balls didn't always go in a straight path in front of him though...


Tonight was Riley's first time playing T-ball or "Baseball" as he wants us to refer to it as. After soccer practice this morning, I was pretty worried about how he would do. He was pretty shy for soccer and didn't really do everything the coaches wanted him to do. I felt bad for not putting him in preschool, thinking maybe he should have had the opportunity to play more with other kids. He did well in soccer after he warmed up, so I was a little more relieved. So...tonight before T-ball we went through the list of things that T-ballers do...

#1. They stretch when the coaches ask them to stretch.
#2. They follow the rest of the kids in line.
#3. They leave ANYTHING on the ground that belongs on the ground instead of putting them on their heads.
#4. They stand when the coaches want them to stand and they DO NOT do sommersaults on the field.
#5. They stay with their team and don't run around the field (except when they are suppose to run around the bases).

Most of all they have FUN!!!

Now we were quite worried when we got there, wondering if he would be shy again, but HE DID AWESOME. We breathed a sigh of relief when we saw that one of his coaches tonight was the same one that he had in the morning. Now the fact that she saw him and remembered his name right away...hmmm...I had to wonder what that meant (maybe because it was said at least 20 times in 1 hour this morning)! Riley did great. He lined up with the rest of the kids and did his stretching exercises instead of watching the whole time. He also stayed in line and did everything he was suppose to do! He got to practice throwing and catching the ball. He has a pretty strong arm, even though the ball didn't always go in a straight path. Most of all HE HAD FUN!!!

Our baby is growing up...way to go Riley!!! We are so proud of you! We know that you can do anything that you want to. All that matters right now is that you are having fun!

Soccer Star

Riley had his first day of soccer this morning. He was very shy at first and just watched the other kids as they were doing stretching exercises. He learned how to stop the ball, dribble the ball and throw the ball over his head! During the last 15 minutes of practice they played a mini game. Riley kicked the ball in the goal 2 times. He got right in there and knew what to do. It was so much fun watching the excitement and determination on his face as he was playing!!!

An angel was watching over Aiden...

This is the electrial outlet that Aiden stuck the key in. The metal is burned and there are holes where the key was touching. The corner was chipped out. The carpet was also charred.

This is the key he stuck in the outlet. It is burned on the top and bottom. The metal is chipped out and does not fit into the ignition of the car anymore! The ring next to the key is also charred.

We had quite the experience today and lessons were learned by both the boys. Aiden loves to play with my car keys. He plays with them and pretends that the keys are people. He makes them talk to each other. Today he was doing this as he was sitting on the steps. I was listening to his sweet voice as he was talking to the keys and making them talk to each other. All of a sudden I saw a bright flashing light and heard a zapping sound. Then there was screaming and a thud. I ran over to the stairs and Aiden was against the wall. He had taken one of the keys and stuck it in an electrical outlet. I picked him up and he held on to me so tight screaming. Jamma turned off all the power and we got the key out of the outlet. Aiden held on to me for at least a half hour crying, clenching his fists as tight as he could. We checked him over and didn't see any entrance or exit marks on his body. We didn't see any burns. After taking the advice of friends and the nurse line, we took him into the ER just to have him checked over. After seeing the electrical plate and keys, the doctor decided that he wanted to do and EKG and some monitering on Aiden. He was amazed at the amount of current that went through the keys and plate and was even more amazed that Aiden was not hurt at all. He was happy and normal in the ER. When asked if either of the boys will stick things in outlets again they both respond, "NO!!!" We are so thankful that Aiden is alright!!! He had an angel watching over him!

OUR DAY

It's been a long tough day!

Making mud pies!!!

Just running around! You would have never guessed that Aiden was so sick in the morning!!!

Well...I can say that we are still wondering what is wrong with the boys. They have both been sick on and off for several weeks. This morning Aiden started it and Riley must have felt left out...because he joined in. They are both consistent on the days they are sick...both getting it on the same days with days off in between. We are now collecting samples for the lab to do some tests. They are going to check for parasites (possibly from the swimming pool that we were recently in) and for food poisoning. We hope that we get answers. It's so hard on Aiden. He was begging for us to make it stop this morning. Riley is becoming a pro and knows just what to do...doesn't even phase him anymore. What gets us even more is that they get so sick in the morning for a few hours and are better by around 11:00 a.m. Then they are running around the house like nothing happened. Today they were running around outside making mud pies after the rain. Aiden did say he was tired and took a short nap...but they have appeared to be very healthy. Riley has not lost any weight since he was in 10 days ago, so that is good news.

Another update...

Well...we officially thought that both boys were done with the flu. Haven't had a case of anything since last Sunday...we were on cloud 9. Well...that bubble was burst at 2 a.m. Aiden woke up really sick AGAIN!!! Riley was staying at Aunt Becca's house. He came home sick as well. Now we are going to the doctors to try to figure out what is up. Any ideas???

To make matters worse...my car is in the shop. It's been overheating. Turns out that it looks like the head gaskets are all leaking. Won't have my car for over a week. Yuck.

To top that off...Jamma came in this morning and said, "I think God is testing us." HIS engine light came on too. He took his car in and they will be taking it Monday and giving us a loaner!!!

We keep thinking...what next??? Anyway...I feel like I am not the happiness fairy!!!! Send us some luck PLEASE!!!