Miles is Seven!

Playing outside and trying to get the "biggest bubble ever!"

Lost your first tooth in February.

My baby. Wow

You have come so far in the last year.

This year you:

• ·         Really learned how to read. In six short months, you went from sounding out words to reading chapter books on your own.  You love reading the Stink books and Juny B Jones.
• ·         Got addicted to the iPad. No really. It’s an issue. When you wake up on the weekends (at about 5:45 a.m.), you have a couple of hours before anyone gets up. You sit and play My Singing Monsters and watch videos on the iPad the entire time. Then, you just keep going! If I gave you a day to do whatever you wanted, you would probably play on the iPad for 90% of the time.
• ·         Accepted Christ. Like really. It blew us away. I hope that someday you can look back at this blog and see how God has worked in your heart from the time you were a child. I know you will have many faith questions coming your way. Working out your salvation is hard and your dad and I will do the best we can to walk you through it. But I will forever look back to the day in my car that you confessed Christ as your own. It is one of the best days of my life.
• ·         Started playing football. Wow this scares me still. It was so good to see your dad out there coaching your and your team. You guys had a blast together and that made all the mom fears worth it. I don’t know when (or if) the football craze in you will die down, but we’ll try to keep up with your interests in all sports. Basketball is next on your list.
• ·         Embraced brotherhood. I can’t tell you how heartwarming it is to see you with Drew. Your brother idolizes you and you try so hard to take care of him. It’s adorable. Our running phrase is, “Brother see; brother do,” and you take that responsibility to heart.
• ·         Made some good friends. Seth Aubin and Kade Hand are the boys you love to hang out with the most. They are the ones we call and have over and vice versa.
• ·         Want to be a “world leader” when you grow up. You don’t really know what that means but your main goal is to “fly around the world and make sure people are safe.” I feel like God is going to use your life for big things, little boy!

• 

  Student of the month at school for showing Justice. Miles is in the back row in red and blue plaid.

  
  

I say it all the time, but we are so proud of you. You’re doing so well in school, are growing up so handsome, and are trying so hard to develop your own character. Happy seventh birthday baby!

Miles' School Singing Program

Yesterday we went to Miles' program: Olympic Harmony. It was 150-200 1st graders on risers singing for 30 minutes.  Tons of cute.

Loyal supporter Drew sat nicely through the whole thing.

Just a portion of the 1st graders

Each class had something special to do during one song. Miles' class played handbells during "Land of the Silver Birch Trees" -- the song for Canada.

This is what you ACTUALLY see when you go to these things.

Some of Miles' friends -- Jack, Grace, Kade and Hunter are all in the same class together.

Let's Talk!

Tooth Fairy Time

One tooth down!

Look at that smile!

Miles has had his front four teeth loose for a few weeks. 

The 15th was the big day. 

Drew had been eating pizza-flavored Goldfish crackers and spilled a few on the table. Miles, thinking nothing of it, popped a few in his mouth. 

Mr. Temper was FURIOUS that Miles at two of his Goldfish and started stamping his feet and screaming.

Miles swallowed the crackers.

Drew started reaching into Miles' mouth to PULL THEM OUT. (really kid?)

And when he drew back his empty hand, he pulled out Miles' tooth.

Drew pulled Miles' first tooth. Can we just let that sink in for a minute?

That kid!

The tooth fairy visited and brought a sparkly $5 bill. The first tooth is special, after all.

Miles took one look at that bill and said he wants to donate it to his Jump Rope for Heart this week.  Love this kid. Such a big heart.

Big boy bed!

My new bed!!

Hank was thankful for "his" new bed. Drew didn't fight it. He just tucked him in.

We'lre still working on not falling out and rolling around.




A friend from church was getting rid of their toddler bed and let us have it. We switched his mattress over and left his crib up, just in case. So far he doesn't fight bed time and stays in the bed. Nap time is another story. We'll see!

Poor, sick baby

Daddy and Drew hang out in the Children's Wing at St. Anthony's on Feb. 3.

It was a challenging week.

Poor Drew.

Sunday night after the Super Bowl, Drew's little voice sounded hoarse. We didn't think much of it and even laughed a little.

When we went to bed at 11 that night, he sounded weird sleeping. We were a little nervous about it so we turned on the baby monitor which had been off since Miles moved in to the room.

By 3 a.m., he sounded awful and could barely breathe. We called our doctor, which I'm sure he loved at that hour, and he said it sounded like croup. If a steamy bathroom didn't help significantly, we should take him to the ER.

By 4 we had tried and failed with the shower trick, dropped Miles off at my parents and walked into the ER at Saint Anthony's. Luckily there was only one other patient in the whole place.

The doctor signed off on typical treatment -- a steroid and a breathing treatment of adrenaline.

He said it works on 98% of people.

He said he'll be fine in about 15 minutes.

Nope.

When he didn't respond to the breathing treatment, they called his regular doctor, whom we LOVE. They decided together to admit Drew for the day and administer more treatments

I was petrified of having to entertain this wild man for a whole day in one little room but he was not up for much action. That's how we knew he was bad off.

At 8 a.m., our regular doctor came in the room. We were surprised. He said with such a little guy struggling to breathe, he decided to leave home early to just check on us. (Did I mention we love him?)

By noon he had his last treatment and we had to wait several hours for it to wear off and see if he'd still be OK. His doctor came by AGAIN (said he had nothing better to do on his lunch break -- but it's a 20-minute drive each way. LOVE HIM). We were released at 6 and all flopped into bed at home.

Tuesday we sent Miles to school and stayed home since we hadn't slept much. We were warned that he would get worse again at night. He did but the steamy shower helped. Had a follow up doctor appointment and was cleared.

Wednesday we had a snow day. All four of us at home. Drew was... FINE. Running, laughing, fine.

Thursday we thought we'd take him to day care. We didn't have to get up with him overnight at all. We threw him into the car still asleep at 6 a.m. and he sounded ok.

By the time we got to Miss Becka's he was breathing hard again and she (luckily) turned us away. I had to scramble to get a sub and get stuff ready at school. We popped into the nurse's office. He had a 100 degree fever. Lovely.

We head home and get another doctor appointment.

This time:

Croup still around but only minor

Ear infection

RSV

Awesome.

RSV is highly contagious and can actually kill babies. We hunkered down and did breathing treatments at home. Dustin and I traded off taking off work.

By Tuesday (yes, eight days later) he was checked again and sent to daycare.

Longest. Week. Ever.

So glad he's feeling better!

Dustin makes himself at home in the hospital bed and starts surfing the kids movies.  :)

Drew at 21 months and 1st hair cut!

Drew's first hair cut was at home during the Super Bowl.  ;)

My friend Traci cuts hair and she hates football so she set up shop in our bathroom. Six people got haircuts during the big game.

Before

Before. When it was wet, his hair went halfway down his back.

He sat on my lap -- just after my hair was cut!

He was super still, thanks to my phone.

After. So sweet!



After

At 21 months Drew:

• Weighs about 30 pounds
• Can go up and down one stair without anyone holding his hand
• Can say only 6 words: Uh-oh, No, Dada, Please, Thank you, Bye
• Is starting to nod his head -- reluctantly
• Is an extremely picky eater. Well, maybe it's more that he just knows what he wants and wont' settle for anything else.
• Throws tantrums. Lots of full-on screaming and kicking on the ground.
• Loves daycare. When we arrive, he claps in the car. When we show up to make him leave, the tantrums begin.
• Is obsessed with electronic devices.  Oops.
• Loves to be held
• Giggles himself to sleep with his brother
• Loves to give Hank treats
• Loves the Backyardigans, Barney, Toy Story 3 and SuperWhy
• Loves to put CDs or DVDs into something. We found a bunch of them shoved into the VHS opening
• Gives kisses
• Has started to love books, especially open-the-flap books
• Can point to Head, Eyes, Hair, Cheeks, Chin, Ears, Nose,  Mouth, Hands, Feet, Arms and Legs