Pictures!

I dropped my camera and broke the screen last week.  I was so mad at myself.  But... Then I ordered a new one and am loving playing with it.  Just need to have some more time!  So hopefully I will have pictures to update soon.

Next weekend all of my family is going to have professional pictures taken.  The entire family together, then each individual family, and then our kids.  It will be 5 days before Cole turns 6 months old so hopefully we get some good pictures of him.  The photographer is great - she is a friend of Alisha's.

After we get the pictures back it will be time to make Christmas Cards!!!  I am already ready for the holiday season!  I think this year I am going to order my cards from Tiny Prints.  Check them out -  Holiday Cards - I am so excited.  They have a special offers page also.
(I am receiving a promotion from them for this post.  However I do LOVE their cards!)

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Last week our babysitter's husband had eye surgery so she was off Wed-Friday so the boys got to stay with Grandma Linda and Grandpa John.  Nice for them and nice for me to leave them at home in PJs and go right home after work to them. 

Callie had a terrible staff infection on her stomach right at her waistline.  It was a tough week for her and finally on Friday I left her at home with John and Linda.  I got her in to the doctor late in the day.  We picked Shannon up after school and went over.  After a traumatic appointment we did a little shopping at Kohl's and Gymboree then went to Buffalo Wild Wings to eat, just Shannon, Callie and I.  The boys were still with Grandma and Grandpa. 

Saturday we headed up to Mom and Dad's house for the Kincaid fair.  Callie was feeling pretty tough still but managed to have fun by afternoon/evening on the rides.  We ate lunch at their house, went in to the parade, visited, rode some rides, then Shannon and I took the boys home for a rest while Callie stayed a little longer with mom and dad.  Tom's family was at the house so not much resting was done but it was a nice break.  After supper we headed back in for more rides and ONE game.  Callie happily brought home the stuffed turtle she won and Chase was attached to the crocodile a teenage girl gave to him.  Grandma spoiled them with light up swords too.  We went back to mom and dad's to get PJs on and feed Cole a bottle before heading home.  I had to drain Callie's sore so it took way longer and was again traumatic.  We didn't end up leaving till 10 or so. 

About 3AM Shannon started getting sick.  Since school started he has had strep throat and the pukes once already.  Now AGAIN!!!  By Sunday at 8PM he was still getting sick every half hour or so.  I had called John and Linda to help with the kids on their way home from church.  So after I got baths done and Callie's sore drained (it was getting much better and she did it and it was much less traumatic) I took Shannon to the ER.  He got fluids and anti-nausea meds.  Bloodwork showed nothing so just a bug.  It was a fast ER experience and we were home before 11.  A tired start to the week for me.  Shannon was home Monday and Tuesday but was feeling better by Wednesday.

Cole is getting up in the night once to eat and sometimes another time that I rock him back to sleep.  His 2nd tooth appeared beginning of the week!

Wednesday was early release for Callie so she spent the afternoon with Linda.  She didn't get home until close to bedtime so it was just the boys in the evening.  I wanted to get a shot of Chase rocking the pink tricycle because he is so cute riding it and one of Cole smiling.  Neither really happened!

I didn't know until after I took this that Chase was back!

Gone again on the bicycle!

Turning around and coming back.

You can line up your wheels when you have an older sister, 5 older boy cousins, and a garage sale Grandma.

Cole - 5 months!

I had great plans with this photo shoot but Cole had other plans!  This was all I got.  Trust me he is adorable.  He turned 5 months on Tuesday and got his first tooth thru on the bottom the Friday before that.  He has been fighting a runny nose, etc for a week or better - not sure if it is a cold (Chase got antibiotics for a sinus infection) or the tooth or allergies.  His great sleeping regressed the last few weeks and he was always getting up at least once to eat in the middle of the night.  Monday night he was up a ton!  But then Tuesday he was much better so maybe getting that tooth in will help.  I know some of it is he is not eating as much during the day.  Cute little man! 

Dedication

Sunday, September 9th we had baby dedication at church.  Cole did great.  Chase was tired and had a hard time being still upfront.  Afterwards my parents, Shannon's parents, Brett and our family went to eat chicken.
I love that we are right next to Brandy's family.  And if you can see in the full picture Chase and Levi (11 days apart) are both having trouble and the parents are looking at them.  Cole and Parker (3 days apart) are just hanging out!

More catching up

Callie helping Chase with his new "computer"

Daddy's idea when you can't go outside!?!?

When we went school clothes shopping for Callie just Mom, Callie and I went.  She tried on tons of clothes in Justice.  And she got a lot of clothes since she had outgrown most ALL of her clothes from the end of school!  Since the boys had stayed home I wanted to bring Chase something and I knew how much he wanted to play on the computer so I thought the train computer would be perfect.  He loves it and would gather his "work" together to do on it (all kinds of cards, papers, etc).

One day when we couldn't go out I think cause it was crazy hot, Shannon made Chase a play area out of....kitty litter.  It did sweep up fine and he loved it so whatever I guess.

Other fun things we have done lately:
We met the Clevengers at Lakeside for a picnic lunch and play.  It was fun but that day ended up being crazy hot again.
Last Friday a storm went thru about 3 PM and knocked out power.  We didn't get it back on until shortly after lunch on Saturday.  So Friday evening we loaded up and went to Joplin to Chuck E Cheese.  The big kids had a blast and Cole strolled around in his stroller like a champ.  We got a snack and changed in to PJs before the trip home.  However with no power they all got woke up getting into the house so it was a late night.  The next day was beautiful weather so we played outside or opened the blinds and played inside then went out to lunch and came home to LIGHTS.  We had already told the kids they were going to Grandma and Grandpas in the afternoon/evening so we had to keep that date!  They went and played while Shannon hunted and I cleaned and napped!!!!

4 months

Cole was just over 15 lbs so between the 25-50th percentiles.
26 inches so in the 75th percentile.
He got two shots but did great with them!

We got out the jumparoo and he loves the lights and noise on it.  He really loves for Callie or Chase to sit in front of it to play with him.  Both have done this and he will laugh and laugh!!!

Notice my mess - I am selling stuff at a consignment event!

Power was out for 24 hours due to a storm - I had Callie hold Cole while I was getting stuff around.

He really loves his feet!

 

Update

Swim lessons were over two weeks before school started which was a nice break if you ask me.  Maybe not if you ask the kids.
The big kids went to the CR Co Fair one morning with Shannon to see the animals.  They played at John and Linda's with Shelby (Callie spent the night).
Mom had Tom's two boys, Dennis's three boys and Callie spend the night.  They had fun!!!  We went up and spent the day, going home in time for Cole's nighttime bottle.  Chase thought he wanted to stay too but we said next year.  Mom and Dad brought Callie home the next evening.
One day we went to Lakeside to feed the ducks, fish, and play on the playground.  Cole loves being outside.  So I just walked around the lake pushing him and he was happy.  Thankfully the terribly hot weather we had in July broke and made all of this enjoyable in August.
On Shannon's birthday we went to Joplin to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings and then took the kids to the jump place, Macaroos, in Joplin.  They had fun and it was easy for us to watch them while sitting and playing with Cole.  Observing them at places like that I always think how different it is for Chase since he has Callie to follow and play with.

The last few weeks Shannon has taken Callie and Chase down to our almost completely dry pond in the evenings.  The LOVE it.  They take in all the snakes, frogs, birds, etc.  Hike, get dirty, whatever.  I load Cole up in the stroller and we go on a walk.  Cole is so happy outside.

Yes he is wearing play goggles on his head.

Yes this is my girlie girl.

Who could not enjoy exercise when looking down at this the entire time!

On August 20th Chase had his 3rd set of tubes put in.  The beginning of summer he got sick - sinus infection, ear infection, cough.  After a couple days on the Amoxicillan he broke out in nasty hives.  So just like Callie he had developed an allergy to it.  They switched his antibiotic and after 10 days he wasn't completely well so another 10 days of antibiotics followed.  Then we really began noticing that he couldn't hear and he talked so loud.  Had to wait for an appointment with the ENT.  After waiting and bugging them I got an earlier cancellation appointment.  Tubes not working but maybe plugged so try drops to unplug them for two weeks.  Back to ENT, still not working so scheduled to get the 3rd set in.  They drained a ton of think yucky stuff out (I'm sure that is the exact terminology that the ENT used) and placed a different type of tube in to hopefully last longer.  It had only be 8 months since set #2 was placed and they hoped they would last 18-24 months.  These should last 2 years but we will see!

Arma homecoming was Aug 18th so we went to the parade in the morning and back for the rides in the evening.  They had a blast and once again Cole was happy in his stroller until we went back to John and Linda's.

On Wednesday, August 15th, Callie started 2nd grade, Chase went back to Mary's, and Cole went to Mary's for the first time.  Wow!  Callie is loving school.  Chase is happy at Mary's house and is even doing good so far with getting up, dressed and out the door.  I'll take it while I can but doubt it will last.  Cole has had some eating issues there but is doing fine.  I took the same bottles but disposable liner ones and he would not eat out of them.  After I took the bottles from home he was fine.  Poor guy was starving himself at first!!!

Cole is still sleeping great by my standards.  He goes to bed 9:30-10:30 and sleeps till 4ish sometimes, 5:30ish normally, and even longer sometimes.  So I think he is doing great.  Even when he gets up at 4 to drink his bottle he goes right back down.  Then I just don't have to get up as early since he has already had his bottle.   He has just done so well compared to my other kids.  I am amazed.  I know by this age Callie was sleeping great too and all of that changed when teething started and it was a long haul again.  So I am enjoying this right now but aware that it could change at any time.  Even good things are just a phase!

I love it when Cole "talks" to us, he loves to grab his feet, chews on both hands at once all the time, chew on his feet, rolls to his side but his arm gets in his way, is grabbing things, chews on everything, drools a lot, is eating cereal twice a day, taking 5 bottles in 24 hours, loves to stand, tries to sit up in his car seat and bath tub, and likes to hit the music/light/fish thing in his crib!!!  Callie thinks he is so cute. Chase does too sometimes ;-)