Relief

I am a little late in updating this but I wanted to have all of this for their "baby" books. Two weeks ago, Reed had his heart catheritization and a bronchioscope. For those of you who have no clue what a heart cath. is, let me explain. It is the insertion of a catheter through his groin area that goes up into a chamber or vessel of his heart to get a great look at everything. Reed had one at 1 year post transplant, now 3 years after and will be required to have another one in 2 more years. At that time, he will not have to have them as often. 

I like to consider myself relatively calm, but on these days I am a little bit of a worrier. If you don't believe me, just ask Ryan! I can tell myself a million times, this is all in God's hands, but I guess the mother/human side of me takes over and lets my mind go a million places usually thinking of the "what ifs". Not good!! 

Reed was also getting a bronchioscope to get a good look at his lungs to see what is causing all of his congestion and reoccurring pneumonia. 

Well, Reed was his little trooper self and just went on back with no tears with the doctors. I, of course, shed a tear or two or three! Even though we are "used" to this, it is still hard to see your little child being taken back. After an hour in surgery, the pulmonologist came out to talk to us. Long story short, he has to have his tonsils and adenoids out February 15th. He will also do some treatments to help get his congestion out so it will not be a home for bacteria to grow. His right middle lobe is a little weak but this is not uncommon with what he has been through. So good report! 

Then a couple of hours later, the cardiologist came out. I couldn't stand the wait and just said "Tell me Dr. if it's good news or bad so I can listen to what you are saying!" He said "His heart looks perfect!" Praise God!! Once again, I had that feeling of a weight being lifted. I guess that weight was really just worry though.    The Dr. then proceeded to show us this really cool video of Reed's heart and all the plumbing that works perfectly.

When we finally got to see Reed, he was pretty ill. Who can blame him though. The rest of the afternoon was just spent holding him until he could be released. When the cardiologist came by before we left, we spent some time talking to him. Ryan asked the Dr. what his feeling was about heart transplants(this was not Reed's transplant cardiologist), and his response was "They are little miracles...look at him...he IS a miracle!"   He then proceeded to tell us that he truly believes that Reed will outlive us with how much things have changed. Now, that may mean that he has to have another transplant on down the road or maybe not. Who knows....the big man upstairs is the one in control of this crazy little life!!! Thank you God for granting us with our wish of a heart transplant for Reed. It was 3 years ago yesterday that we got the best call of our lives. We are so grateful for the family who gave us this blessing!

Cold Weather Days

What can you do to kill time with the kids when it's freezing outside...bake cookies!

Even though it's really cold, we still have to get out side on these days. Otherwise, we go stir crazy! The boys absolutely love driving their gator. Kylie rarely gets to ride in a seat. The boys will say "Come on Ky, get in the back" and she will crawl right in.

 Braden taking a ride in Kylie's stroller.

We went to Craig and Tina's one afternoon to play. It was supposed to be great weather but it was far from that. I don't think that cold weather even phases the kids. I need their thick skin! 

One of Craig's friends got Charley a pony for Christmas. His name is Chili. Isn't he so cute?!

Poor Kylie gets a fair dose of being picked on by Braden and Reed. They know how much she loves her paci so that is the first thing they go for to get under her skin.

Who can resist giving this little face what she wants?!

Reed doing a little bit of bribing to get Kylie to give him her popsicle. It worked! 

Happy Holidays!

This is what shopping with 3 kids looks like! I don't usually go to Kmart but they had the best deal on little bikes. They were $29.99 for Disney Princess bikes (usually $65), and this is what Charley wanted for Christmas. I also got Kylie one for Easter.
It was on this shopping trip that Braden got his black eye. If you ask him how he got it, he will tell you that "Reed did it...he threw his milk cup at me!" It looks awful.
Kylie Reese at 20 months old. Where in the world do the days go?! The boys were pretty entertained by the static.
Papa horsin' around with the boys. Their expressions are priceless.
Ryan reading Kylie a book before bed. My poor kids have been lacking in the sleep and nap department this past week with all the holiday fun! This picture needs a video with it. The kids were sitting on the bookcase and would run and jump on papa on the couch. The boys were hitting their heads against the glass and I told them to stop but should have made them stop. The next thing I know is my mom's breakable things on top of the bookcase fell off and glass ornaments shattered everywhere.

The one thing they are allowed to do when Uncle Craig comes around.

Putting our pajamas on for Christmas morning. Thanks to Aunt Janice for giving these to the kids on Christmas Eve at my parents because I failed at buying any new pj's!

Can you tell that the kids were worn out? Our kids are not used to staying up late especially till 10:30!

This is a picture of the boys bringing me a present that their papa bought for them to give to me. They bought me a Snowbaby that they recorded their voices on for me....I love it! The reason that my dad bought this was because my mom has a tree in their bathroom full of Snowbabies and the boys always told them that they wanted to buy one for their mom!

Christmas Morning at our house!

The stockings were hung from the chimney with care

Kylie, Braden and Reed sitting on the steps waiting anxiously to see what Santa brought them.

The kids were so excited with what Santa brought them. The boys basically got tractors and Kylie got a new table and chairs, makeup, baby stroller and clothes.

Daddy and Braden

Ryan, I mean Santa, filled my stocking with some goodies. Santa knew that Ryan lost his wedding ring in the woods hunting so he kindly bought me another wedding ring to give to Ryan!

After we did Santa, we went to church then came over to my parent's house to do Christmas with them and Craig and Tina.

My dad bought the girls their own John Deere tractor and painted the hood of it pink so they wouldn't have theirs taken by Braden and Reed. If you asked Kylie what she wanted from Santa, she would always say "Tractooor"

Charley and Kylie loving on each other
Isn't Charley such a doll?
Let's just say that my Nanny is not very happy with me for putting these pictures on here! I asked if she would rather the kids remember her as a really funny nanny or boring?! My brother and Tina bought Nanny these boxer shorts. I think these might reappear next year!
Nanny is totally naive. I told her to go pick up some paper that was lying on the floor...needless to say, it made a really funny picture.
Reed and Braden opening some more presents

Tina and Charley

Uncle Craig opening the 50th tractor the boys got:-)

Nana with Kylie and Charley Ryan and I bought the boys a Gator for their present. That's pretty much all they got from us and they LOVE it!!!
Kylie and Papa watching the boys driving...the boys do a really good job driving.
The Christmas madness
Granny and Nanny are such good sports for all the chaos on Christmas. I am so thankful for the two of them.
Me and Tina
The kids can't go a day without a Popsicle
Reed being silly with a chair on his head
The pictures do not fully explain how funny this was. I was laughing hard at Braden and when Charley saw me, she started mocking me. She would laugh then throw her hand over her mouth then bend down. Tina called me yesterday and said Charley was still doing it!
My sweet grannies reliving their childhood..did they have playdo back then?!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families. I cannot help but to be reminded of how much we have to be thakful for...mainly for each person that we have in our lives!