|
Dear Friends and Family,
|
|
|
|
|
We came home from School and Lauren had found this leaf, the leaf spent some time being used as various objects everything from an airplane to paper. It finally found its end purpose as a lovely hat. I commend Lauren on her creative imagination for taking tree trash and turning it into a fashion statement. 
Thanksgiving at our house was really nice, very quiet, and full of GOOD food! Someone requested that I make their two daughters Thanksgiving outfits, so naturally I had to do the same for mine. I made Lauren a shirt, pants, and even did a bow to match. The Boys got shirts that had a turkey on them, made out of the same material that Lauren's outfit was made out of.
Zeke smoked a turkey and while I am not a fan of smoked meat in general, this was very grand. It was so juicy and DELICIOUS! We stayed at home and it was just Zeke, the kids and I. Alex was feeling a bit under, as we had just got out of the Hospital, so we stayed home. The week before Thanksgiving Alex was hospitalized, because his Red blood (HgB) was low at 5.4 (normal is 10-12). By the time they admitted us, Alex's HgB was 4.8. They were unable to find an exact match with Alex blood type, due to the antigens that he gets with his bi-weekly IVIG treatments. So they put us in the PICU to monitor for any reactions. They gave Alex Two blood transfusions over a longer period of time to not to overwhelm his body. Alex did really well, no adverse side effects. They checked his HgB level, and it was 6.6, so they did another transfusion. His Hgb went up to 7.8, so we were moved out of the PICU. Then they were able to do some genetic testing to see if Alex has any underlining immune deficiencies. It will take 15 weeks to get those results. They should come back the second week of Feb. 2016. We were fortunate enough to be released out of the hospital in time to be home for Thanksgiving.
On Thanksgiving we made paper turkeys, and the kids did really well assembling them. I enjoy seeing how they each set out to finish a task. Lauren plans out where each feather is going to be, then she glues. Carson is more of the - I will glue this here, and that there, and hope for the best. Alex screams with excitement when it goes how he wants, and screams with anger when it does not.
|
|
| Christmas break 2014, we torn out the bathroom in my bedroom. When we moved in, the tile had been painted, and the paint was flaking off the tile. I removed the paint with a razor knife, then I realized that a little bit of baking soda and vinegar would do the job in half the amount of time the razor took. The one on the left was taken when we moved in and the one on the right was taken after we finished the shower. |
|
|
| Just before Christmas of 2015, we finshed the bathroom. It turned out a lot better than I thought it would. It was one of those projects that just seems to go on and on. The one on the left was before, and the one on the right was after. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Love, Zeke, Mylinda, Lauren, Carson, and Alex |
Carson turned 6 years old, and he wanted to have his party at a Skating rink. It was lots of fun. He had Mario on his cake that Alex commandeered it as soon as he saw it. It is a good thing that Carson is a Great big brother and doesn't mind sharing.
Around Christmas this Hospital puts on several parties for the kids who frequent their facility regularly. We attended a party, and it was like stepping into a musical. People were singing, dancing, and everyone was passing out toys. I had no idea what it was like and thus, I was unprepared. I walked in with a diaper bag, and three kids walked out with a wagon of goodies. Alex was fascinated with a man dressed as an ice-cream cone. He just laugh, and laugh, then the ice-cream cone would dance, and wiggle. Anytime we would walk away from it, he would ask to go, and find him again.
Elsa even sang to Carson, while we were there. The hospital did a really nice job of having people who could act their parts really well.
Zeke's Mom sewed the boys, matching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle vests, for Christmas. They are just darling on Sunday, sitting in church in them.
For those who don't know....I had some surprise visitor's come right after New Years. Nathen, Sabrina, Piper, Symantha, AJ, Brittney, and Dad came to stay the weekend with us. It was great to have them! Didn't get one single picture of the visit, but it was so fun to get to visit. When I have gone out to AZ and stay with Mia, every morning as soon as I wake, it doesn't matter the time, Mia has taken a shower, and is ready to serve me food. I tried to do that while everyone was at my house, and found that it too much to do. But while I'm not as good as Mia, it was nice for them to come and see us. Poor Nathan and Dad, had to sleep on the floor, but it happens. After they left, Zeke's Dad came out, and we went to a museum full of rocks. I was sorry that I didn't take Dad while he was here, he would have liked it. I didn't manage to take a picture of any rocks, but I did take one of stuffed chickens that were on display. Because really! Why wouldn't you take a picture of that!
Jan 22, 2016, Alex had a tube placed in the right ear drum, and his adnoids removed. He did really well. There was some breathing issues when he woke, and he was miserable the rest of the day. When he woke up the morning after, you would not know that he had anything done. He has had so much energy, and has been going non-stop. His last labs showed his Hgb 12.4, so he is doing really well. We are so thankful that it went smoothly, and he is feeling better.
We started doing science projects at our house, and our first one was to make slime. It was super easy, and wasn't even a complete pain to wash it out of the carpet. It did not last more than five days before it was too sticky to play with, so really it was the perfect toy. One we created with common house hold items, not too bad to clean up, and as soon as the kids are bored with it, it's time to throw it away.