Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Flying Solo

We survived our days without nursing last week, and I've been surviving since Brian headed to Arkansas for duck hunting on Christmas Day. I'm thrilled to have all of our regular nursing back in place, and we will all be excited to have daddy back home on Thursday. Every time the dogs bark, Kennedy asks if daddy is home. She has talked to him every day, but I know she is ready to see him. 

I loved being able to travel to McKinney to spend Christmas Eve day with my family! This was our first trip as a family of 5, and we even did it without a nurse! We had to do a little juggling with feedings for Hayes, feedings for Drake and breathing treatments for Drake, but it all went pretty well. Thankfully we had plenty of willing helpers at Mimi & Poppy's house! I even managed to squeeze in a quick run with Aaron! Kennedy and Jacob were so much fun this year opening presents! They were sweet, thankful and genuinely happy for everyone as they unwrapped each gift. 

We made it home for a Christmas Eve night with our niece, Alyssa, in town from Oregon, Uncle Matt and Papa. Kennedy was excited to stay up past bedtime, but she knew she needed to go to sleep for Santa to come. Surely we aren't the only parents who woke their kids up for Christmas morning! Her beaming excitement brightened the entire room! She had a busy job this year opening presents for Drake, Hayes and herself. She did a good job of showing each of the boys their gifts and telling them what they received. On the 26th, we completed our Christmas celebrations when I took Kennedy and Hayes to visit with Brian's grandparents.

This crazy Texas weather is hard on all of us, but anything hard on the general population is always more difficult for Drake. He spiked a fever this morning, but thankfully his lungs have remained clear! My level of anxiety always rises when Drake shows any signs of illness; however, we gave him Tylenol, extra fluids, and monitored him closely. Whenever I start to feel a sickness coming on, I take extra Kyani so I gave him extra today, too. He was already feeling and looking more himself this evening! If he has a good night, we will continue with his regularly scheduled therapies tomorrow. 

My parents have always said the only present they want is to have everyone together. That has never meant more to me than it does now as an adult. This new year we will continue to pray for everyone to be happy and healthy along with prayers for plenty of quality family time, too!

I love this picture taken by my sweet sister-in-law! 

Christmas morning with our 3 kiddos!

I love this!

Reading with Papa!

Our little Christmas elf!

Minions!

Traveling to McKinney

Hanging out with my loves!

Checking out her new book!

Sweetest gift...Uncle Aaron repaired Brian's baby blanket that his mom made (center) and created a quilt surrounding it with a blanket we used for Drake and one for Kennedy in the NICU.

Cousin Alyssa!

 5 stockings!

Santa's gift...watch out Harlee & Riot!

Drake's stands present!

Looks like a successful hunt! 

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Just Us

Starting tomorrow morning, it will be just mommy taking care of Drake, Kennedy & Hayes. Sadly, Lisa is out this week due to a death in her family, and our nursing agency wasn't able to find a fill in for us. Thankfully, Lindsey worked with us on Monday and Tuesday, and she will be back with us on Christmas Day. Drake has two therapies tomorrow morning and then he will have a little break until next week. Brian, Drake, Kennedy, Hayes and I will be traveling to McKinney for the day on Thursday to celebrate Christmas with my family, and then we will celebrate on Friday with Brian's side here at home. 

Lisa and I are really good about preparing for traveling as a team. This time I will definitely be making a list and checking it twice in preparation for our day trip to McKinney. We are planning our drive between Drake's breathing treatments and Hayes' feeds. Brian and I make a pretty good team, too, so I am sure we will be just fine.

Since we are making a day trip to McKinney, Christmas morning will be just us here at home with our three little munchkins! Kennedy is at a very fun age for Christmas and she is very excited, but I think Brian and I might be even more excited about seeing her reaction on Christmas morning! 

Our sweet nurse Lindsey captured some family photos for us after we brought Hayes home from the hospital, and I am happy to be able to share some of these. 
He thinks this is pretty cool!

He's growing up SO fast!

A mermaid princess!

Our sweet girl!

A little fun outside in this spring like weather!



Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Find Your Happy

Happiness & success depend completely on how you see the world around you. There are people with tons of money and countless awards who are sometimes battling sadness and depression. While on the other hand, there are people with very few worldly possessions who are sometimes the happiest individuals you will ever meet. Sure, this is not the case for all rich and all poor; however, I do know that money doesn't buy happiness. In my experience, I believe money makes life easier, but happiness is a choice. I heard a statement today that I love...you can't chase happiness; you've got to find it where you are. 

There is no denying that our sweet Drake is one happy little boy! Anyone who spends time with him can attest to that. I would imagine all any parent wants for their child is for them to be happy. That's our hope for all 3 of our children, and if we can manage that, we must be doing something right. I'm excited to say that both Speech and Occupational Therapy are going to be focusing on communication for Drake! He is going to be moving from having one button to having two. Once he accomplishes the two bottons for communicating, he will move up to a 4 button system!  

We had such a wonderful weekend! Kennedy, Hayes and I traveled to McKinney so that I could attend a "Going Away" celebration for one of my dearest friends. This was an overnight trip & we were able to celebrate Mimi's birthday the next morning! Brian stayed home to be here with Drake and take care of trach care with his nurse. Kennedy stayed with my family and Hayes attended Girls Night with me. I honestly can't remember the last time I stayed out so late! We were having the best time just hanging out, catching up and playing games! I absolutely love how even though we are not able to get together very often, every time we are together it is as if no time has passed. 

I love how even though we were missing Brian and Drake, I could still see the happiness in my mom's eyes having the rest of us there on her birthday. She is constantly going above and beyond for everyone around her (she never has been able to say no to a request). It warms my heart to be able to turn the table and do something special for her.

I'm far from rich when it comes to money, but my family fills me with happiness! No matter what life throws are way, we can always find our happy right here at home! 

1st time to see Santa at the mall!

Love! Love! Love!

Listening to music!

Happy baby!

Building a gingerbread train with cousins!


Matching jammies!

Sweet boy!

Fun time with friends! 

Love these girls!

Love finding this!


Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Quick Trip

GNO!!! That's right...Mommy got a much needed Girls Night Out! I went for my first painting adventure to Pinot's Palette with a few friends. The best part...I had fun and daddy survived at home without me! When I walked in at home, the house was quiet and the only one stirring was our night nurse. I think I may take Brian up on a few more of these evening outings! Maybe we can even manage a date night out together at some point. 

On Saturday our sweet Hayes turned 2 months old! Yesterday I took him for his 2 month check-up. His length has improved and is right on track at 23" (30th percentile) but his weight needs some work. He weighed in at 9# 11oz (2nd percentile). He has been strictly breastfeeding, but now we are supplementing 3 bottles per day. It is nice that he and his daddy can bond over bottles now. He is scheduled for a weight check in exactly one month, and in the mean time we will work on packing on a little weight! 

Our Sunday began bright and early loading the car for a roundtrip day-trip to New Braunfels and back. Yes, that made for a very long day in the car with a 3 year old and a 2 month old; however, they both did really well for such a long day of traveling. Not only did we get to have lunch with Brian's family, but Kennedy even caught a ride on her cousin, Hannah's, new toy! I wish New Braunfels was closer so that we could do this more often! I also wish Drake could have traveled with us, but a full day in the car would have been too difficult for him. I'm sure he enjoyed a quiet day at home with his nurse! 

I have to admit that I was really looking forward to getting out of the house on Sunday, but after a full day in the car, I was ready to be back home!

Giggles! 

Our sweet little 2 month old!

One with his grin!

Road Trip

Stander time

Girls Night Out!

Two of my sweeties hanging out with daddy!

My heart smiles :) This is what I found when I got home

Catching a ride on Hannah's new toy with her friend!