Oh Elizabeth!

We have had an interesting year with Elizabeth.  She is definitely a happy baby, as long as she is not sick.  Just these past few months we are have grown.  Elizabeth's whole first year of life she was completely healthy.  We never had to go to the doctor because of sickness.  However, the weekend before she turned one it all started; diarrhea,  diaper rash, teething, RSV, stomach bug, reflux, and ear infections.  I'm sure I have left something off because I know we have gotten just about any small sickness.  We are currently antibiotic free and happy.  Because of her being sick with RSV I had to stop giving her milk for about 1 1/2 weeks.  When I decided to introduce milk back in her diet I decided it was going to be cold (as apposed to warmed) and from a sippy.  I wasn't sure how I was going to do it but it worked great.  No more bottles!
Yet those things may seem sad we have more happy moments.  Just about a month or so ago Elizabeth dropped eating baby food.  She got to where she wanted whatever we were eating.  I learned that if it went straight from my plate to her she would eat it just fine.  She loves ChickfilA nuggets and macaroni and cheese, but then again who doesn't. 
Each time Elizabeth would have her well checkup at her doctor's office I would mention to the Dr about a cough that we have heard from Elizabeth since she was 2 weeks old. Finally around her first birthday we were able to get it recorded so the Dr could hear it.  Immediately she said I want her to go to a pulmonologist because there is a possibility she has some blockage in her air way.  It does not seem to bother her but it sounds horrible.  On Jan 7th we will be going to East Tennessee Children's hospital to have an Upper GI test done that will hopefully give us some answers.  Prayers appreciated.
For about the past year on a regular basis it seemed as if I was having to rock Elizabeth during the middle of the night because she would be crying.  We are now done with that.  It took a couple of "cry it outs" but we are now all sleeping great at night. 
Since the end of 9 months for her, Elizabeth started walking.  We are pretty sure she realized she needed to start walking to keep up with brother.

We are definitely happy to have a happy little girl.  Please be in prayer at the beginning of January as she will be having the upper GI test done.  

He's 5 now!

I am embarrassed at how awful I am at blogging.  I would blame it on the fact that I have a year old who keeps me busy; however, I have a friend on here who also has a 1 year old and posts.  So I will blame it on........life.  Is that negative....no way!  Life is great but life is also busy.  We are on a new journey as we are now a family of 4.  Sometimes I feel we are still transitioning day by day.  I want to catch everyone up on what is going on with us so I will start with Hayden and finish with Elizabeth tomorrow. (cross fingers I can)

I still cannot believe that I am the mother a wonderful 5 year old boy.  He's not suppose to be in school already!!!  Hayden is doing great!  He is in Kindergarten and he absolutely loves it!!! He has a male teacher which we thought was kind of odd at first but we heard only great things about him.  Hayden loves him. As a matter of fact he said today, "Mr. Myers is the bestest teacher in the whole wide world." I mean what other teacher do you know plays the guitar and sings in class to help learning more fun! Hayden is constantly coming home telling us what he has learned.  Sometimes we have to ask each other if that is normally something they learn in Kindergarten.  One day he said they were learning impulse control!  Those are big words for his age.
Hayden is enjoying doing numerous amount of things; some being things he didn't use to like doing.  He will sit and build with his legos.  He loves to sit down and color, play with his stuffed animals, plays with animal figures, read, read, read, and plays outside (sometimes with the neighbor dog Leroy).  Something that Hayden has learned this year is to ride his bike without using training wheels.  Just this afternoon Joey took him riding.  He said he is still working on getting himself started but other than that he is doing great.  His first time to ride by himself without training wheels was on Elizabeth's 1st birthday.  He definitely loves riding his bike.
Hayden has been a great big brother.  He loves to play with Elizabeth and make her laugh.  He truly loves his little sister.  In the morning while he waits for the bus to school, he will occasionally turn to me and say, "tell Elizabeth hi when she wakes up." I think it is getting more fun for him since Elizabeth is more mobile and able to play with him.  Can't wait to see them in a few years together.  

What a fun journey we are on with him; I can't wait to see whats in store for him next year!

A Lesson Learned

This story I am going to share with with you is about a lesson that was learned.  Right now in life you would think that the lessons being are learned are for Hayden; however, this lesson was for me. (Katy) 

On this particular evening Joey was gone for a meeting so I was home with both of the kids.  When Hayden was getting out of the bath I told him he could watch one of his Bible Story videos while I took a shower.  Lately I have been just taking Elizabeth into the bathroom with me and would sit her in her bouncy while I took a shower.  I had not told Hayden this was my plan as Elizabeth was still in her swing.  Hayden had just sat in my chair and I started his video.  He then asked me to pause it.  My first thought was he needed to use the restroom or get one of his stuffed animals.  I asked him what he needed and he said, "I'm going to stand in front of Elizabeth."  I asked him if he was going to do that so that I could take a shower.  He gladly said yes mam! Wow!!  When I got out of the shower Elizabeth was still happy and Hayden had gotten his booster seat (turned upside down) and was reading books to Elizabeth. 

Hayden has always been a helper.  Sometimes if he doing something he wants to do and I need him to watch her he has a hard time drawing away from what he is doing to tend to her.  We don't let him watch much tv so when he gets to he is usually "all in."  The face that he wanted me to stop his video to help mommy (without me asking) was huge!!  

I told Joey about what he had done and knew we needed to treat Hayden to something very special just for him to say thank you and to show him how proud of him we are.

We decided to take Hayden (he did not know where we were going til we got there) to a place called "The Track."  They have kiddie rides as well as lots of go carts.  One particular go cart ride is for Hayden's size only!  He loved it and wanted to do this over and over.  Joey and I were pretty shocked at our son's ability to drive.  He very rarely hit the sides and if someone else did or wrecked....Hayden would steer around this person.  Where has he learned to drive?!  Even other parents were commenting on this.

Hayden had so much fun as well as mommy and daddy!  Elizabeth of course was enthralled by what was going on as well.

Here is a photo of Hayden's great driving skills

As I pondered this great behavior, something hit me.  (not literally)  I am currently in a Beth Moore Bible Study about the book of James.  We are learning to Live It.  Do what this book says.  Help others, do things for others, be there for others.  This particular week our project for the class was to do something helpful for someone.  As like all my weeks it gets crazy around here with two kids, family activities; that each week I just barely finish the homework that goes with the class.  My son taught me during this week how simple it was to say, "I'll stand in front of Elizabeth and watch her while you shower."  The task may not have been huge but it meant a lot to me and was very helpful.  For me to help someone it does not have to be huge but it can also be something small that will help someone else out.  My son showed me how to do this when I got caught up with everything else in life and did not do my project.  

I was then able to explain to him what I am learning in my Bible study each week but also told him that he taught me how to "Live It" and actually do what I'm learning.  Thank you Hayden for such wonderful behavior and being a great helper to mommy and daddy!