Braxton Turns 11

This sweet, tender-hearted, always-wanting-to-help, loving boy turned 11 on Tuesday. He is our last birthday in August! I made it through another August! This boy is so compassionate and so sweet. His heart is so tender. Did I tell you that about a month ago, he told me that he bought me something from Fresh Market with his own money? He told me that it would be in my room when I got home. When I got home, I ran downstairs to see my new surprise.... drum roll please... the surprise was red Christmas lights taped around my tv on my dresser. Sweeeeeeeet! Love this boy.

Exhaustion!

This is Jackson. Last night. First day of Junior High + Football Practice = Exhaustion. Pads, cleats and all.

Jackson Turns 13 & School Starts

Yesterday, Jackson turned 13. And, yes, he really IS that much taller than me. I love my Jackson. He is a GREAT teenager. He has chosen really good friends. He is smart and dedicated. He loves his mom. He is funny and fun... a little uncoordinated... but that adds to the fun! He started 7th grade today. He didn't seem nervous at all, but I sure am. I HATED 7th grade, and 8th and 9th... anywho, he walked to school with his good friends this morning. Ug....

The other boys also started school today. They were all so excited. They were up bright and early with their backpacks and BRUSHED TEETH. Hallelujah for them thinking brushing their teeth is important... finally. I have a 7th grader, 5th grader, 4th grader and 3rd grader this year. I love my boys. I SO hope they have a great day!

Celebrating my Boys' BIrthdays

Sunday afternoon, we went to the ballpark. We sat in the shade and enjoyed a ball game with family. Papa, Grandma, Nana, Grandma Leeann, Uncle Brandon, Aunt Carrie, Uncle Colton, Papa & Nichole all joined us. The kids all got to see their names on the big scoreboard, with a little shout out from the ballpark announcer. It was a perfect day at the ballpark! Love my boys.

Colton

Sweet Colton struggles. He has for a long time, maybe forever. It doesn't help that he was eight weeks early, or that he has me for a mom... any who, after getting in contact with THE BEST pediatrician, and in turn a FANTASTIC psychologist, we have a diagnosis and a plan. I feel like it was a huge blessing to find the pediatrician we did. She is amazing. She calls me at least once a week, just to see if I am hanging in there. She has been very thorough and has taken her time, including his psychologist on everything. Colton has been diagnosed with ADHD and Anxiety. He has been on a sleep-aid for about a month, which is helping his sleep drastically. That will continue. He is also in therapy with the psychologist to treat the Anxiety. He will have counseling/therapy every other week for a while. He will be put on some ADHD medicine within two weeks of starting school. The psychologist wants to get some paperwork from Colton's teacher before the medication is started. The ADHD is pretty severe, therefore medication really isn't even a question, it's a must-have. My hope for Colton is that once we are working on all cylinders with medication, counseling, routine with school, etc. he will feel much better. He will feel smart and funny and in control. He doesn't feel those things about himself right now. I want him to feel that about himself. I want him to feel "good enough." I want him to feel like an all-star! I want him to be able to concentrate in school and therefore be able to understand the school work. I want his brothers to be able to enjoy him and not always be so angry with him. I want to be able to enjoy him and not always be so frustrated! I am grateful for answered prayers, for excellent doctors, for health insurance, for modern day medicine, for Colton.

Boys!!!!

Holy cow, I have boys. Somedays, I am reminded of that in an I-need-extra-medication kind of way! Yesterday was one of those days. I ran home to pick them up for a quick run to Dairy Queen for ice cream to celebrate Kaydon's birthday, a quick run to Target for school supplies (thanks to Auntie Paula), and a quick run to football practice so that we weren't late. The quick run to Dairy Queen included Colton laughing up his chocolate shake through his nose. I hollered, "HEY!!" really loud and got some head-turns. Then, we left and went to Target for a quick school supply shopping. They were out of control. When we finally got to the register, the lady working looked at me and said, "Four boys?! All yours?!" YES THEY ARE ALL MINE!!!!!! She said, "Oh, I am so sorry." You know it's bad when other people notice that things are not hunky dory! Then, football practice. Lord, help me! There is currently a LARGE dirt/clay pile at one end of the football field. WHY OH WHY are my children drawn to that dang thing??!?!?!?!?! To say that they were dirty is a drastic under statement. Then, they think it's totally awesome to run through the water. I wanted to hurt them! It was an I-need-extra-medication kind of day and I didn't have any extra medication and I haven't been drinking any soda or caffeine and my toe nail polish is completely chipped and wearing off and I'm going through Ryan Lochte withdrawals and I just wanted to crawl in a hole and hide from the mess that my life appeared to be yesterday!!!! The end.

Kaydon Turns 10!

For those of you who have known Kaydon since he was in my tummy, you know what a miracle it is that he made it to 10! This little guy fought for every day of his life for the first three years of life! He had 13 operations. He had multiple tube placements, mostly by his mommy because he hated having the NG tube. It was much better when the GJ tube was placed! He had physical and occupational therapy. He was a fighter! He still is. He loves his mommy. He is starting to love school. He LOVES animals. But mostly, he loves his Brooklyn. They have the sweetest little bond! I love this kid. He is a firecracker!! Happy happy birthday to my KK!!!!!

Happy Birthday Colton!

Colton turned 9 on Saturday! All of my boys were born in August, so this is a crazy month with birthdays and sports and school starting... but I really look forward to it. Colton was born at 32 weeks. I had to be in the hospital on "hotel stay" for two weeks because the docs couldn't get those blasted contractions to stop. I was given the lovely steroid shots at 30 weeks, so thankfully his lungs were developed. He was in the NICU for three weeks with a feeding tube and in the incubator. Once the docs finally realized that I already had one little guy at home on a feeding tube and I was pretty much an expert at all things "sick babies" they let me take him home! Colton loves his friends. He loves horses, always has. He loves to be loved. He is going to be starting the third grade this year and is so excited for that to start! We went to the Bees game to celebrate his birthday. The Bee signed his new hat and he was stoked! Love that little guy!

Brotherhood

Football is beginning to be hard. For Jackson. And for Mom. Last night was the first night that they put pads on. They tackled last night. They pretty much beat each other up last night. Tough. It's Jackson's first year playing. Every other kid out there has been playing for 5 - 7 years. Jackson is learning. Jackson is trying so hard. But, last night sucked. Within the first ten minutes of practice, the coach got in his face and just started screaming at him. I sat quietly in my chair and watched. Jackson didn't say anything, he just kept battling. Then, they did a drill where one kid had to run through the rest of the team. Jackson went up against kids that weigh 100 pounds more than him. I sat in my chair and cried as I watched him just get pummeled. When they broke for water, I walked out onto the field right to my son. I didn't care if that "wasn't the right thing to do." I put my hand on his helmet and my face right into his face mask. I talked through tears as I told him how proud I was of him... how he was doing everything right by not giving up, by doing what was asked of him. He was sobbing. Just crying so hard. I walked back to my chair and sat down, not caring what anyone thought. Then, a coach walked over to him and reminded him that he had never played before and he just went up against the biggest, most experienced kids out there. Then, a guy from our neighborhood, who Jackson loves, walked over to the practice and just sat with him, talking to him, listening to him and then walked him back over to the drills and stood with him for a while. When we got home, his tears flowed non-stop. Braxton walked over and pulled his cleats off gently, then undid his belt for him and pulled his pads off of him. Then, he got him some clean clothes to change into, set up some pillows for him, made him some mac and cheese, got him some ice packs and made sure he was comfortable. I cried with Jackson. Sweet, sweet Braxton being the brother that every brother should be. I was so proud. Jackson cried himself to sleep on the couch, and I slept right next to him. Tonight is another practice, then tomorrow, then Saturday... A few things I know for sure: Jackson will struggle, but he won't give up; I will love him through every step of it; His brothers will ALWAYS, ALWAYS be by his side and carry him when he feels he can no longer walk.

My Job

Yesterday, our Division had an open house. We have acquired two new areas under our Division, which is about 85 more people that we (Ryan and I) are responsible for. It's been a really tough, chaotic month or so since we found out. Ryan is the best boss I could ever ask for. He is a man of integrity, class and dignity. He said the nicest things about me at the open house yesterday. He made me cry. I am grateful for my job. I am grateful that I work full-time in order to support my kids and I. I am grateful for the people I work with and the work that I do. I obviously wish that I was a full-time mom, at home with my children. But, for me that is not an option. I believe that the work I do outside of my home matters. I am grateful for that. At the end of the open house, Ryan, me and our full-time staff members got our photos taken. They will be displayed on the College website. Mine is below. I am posting it so that I can remember this time in my life. It is a time that is HARD. Full time mom, full time administrative assistant, full time daughter of God. It is important. It is worth it. It is all good.