Random

 Callie and Chase have so much fun playing together.  They have many moments but they do so enjoy each other....planning what to play and playing for hours at whatever random thing they made up.  They enjoy their home time to play.

 Shannon's garden may not have done too well in many things this year but the pumpkin crop was the best yet.

 Sticking out his tongue on command.

 The whole group exploring.

 Planting new bulbs.  Chase was shoveling dirt into his wheelbarrow.

 Chase one night decided he was "reading" his Thomas book to Chief.  He was less than impressed.

 No matter where he went chase followed.

 Cole's new love is Callie's old high heel princess dress shoes.  He LOVES wearing them and will put them on anytime he can.  He is usually then pushing the doll stroller loaded up with whatever he might find to haul.  Such a nice perk to having a big sister ---- hand me down girl toys :-)

 And for such a girlie girl her Daddy has her unafraid of any animal/reptile, etc.

 He mostly just wants ME all the time.  In the mornings trying to get ready if he is up he is clinging to me.  When we get home I have to just forgo getting things done and hold him or he is crying at my feet.  If I leave the room he is upset and following me.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE it but it does make getting anything done a challenge.  I try hard to stop and remember to enjoy it rather than get totally flustered.  Here I had actually had to leave - this is him still at the door after being worn out from his fit.

 Carving pumpkins - this is a Dad project.  Cole and I played in the other room.  The kids both drew their faces on and Callie carved hers.  Chase carved about half of his.  I was so impressed.  I actually didn't believe Shannon that Chase had drawn his by himself and asked callie if she helped him.  No he had done it by himself.  And she even carved hers by herself.  Too big.  They had fun!!!  but Shannon didn't get any good after pics - I will have to try to if they are still going.

 I will post Halloween pics later but here is Cole in his high heels again pushing his dump truck - because of course.

Youth League Cheerleading

Callie was old enough this year to participate in youth league cheerleading.  She has loved it.  She is one a 3rd and 4th grade squad that cheer for the 3rd and 4th grade boys playing football.  They have practices twice a week (you are only required to go to one but she does not want to miss any;-)  It is only for 6 weeks so that is a nice length of time.  Chase has been going with me to watch the Saturday morning games that she cheers at.  Cole has hung out at home with Daddy!

Introducing Chief

Shannon couldn't handle not have a dog.  As much as we knew it would not replace Max, we also new it would be a lovable distraction.  He also thought it would be hard to get a golden retriever that could stand up to the comparison so he wanted a German Shepard.
Saturday, September 14th we met a breeder from the Tulsa, OK area at a fast trip in Coffeyville to look at his two male pups.  Chief came home with us.  All five of us went to see him so I was glad he came home with us.  Naming him was a hard process!  It was kinda spontaneous and I am still shocked we have him.  He has done well and the kids love him.

Yes that is the poor dog underneath Cole's loving ;-)

Hand Foot Mouth Disease

The babysitter called me about 11 on Monday, September 9th that Cole had just gotten sick.  She said he had been fine so she was just going to watch him.  I ran and picked Chase up from preschool for her while she cleaned Cole up.  I had no more gotten back to work and she called to say he was sick again.  By the time I got there he was pathetic - had gotten sick yet again and would do nothing but lay on your shoulder.  We spent most of the afternoon in the chair together, expect for a short nap in the crib.  He got sick several more times but no fever so I thought just another stomach bug - he had just had one in August!  I had a board meeting that night and just as I was getting ready to go, he had a fever - a high one.  I told Shannon that I had to go to work but that if his mom took Callie to cheerleading, his dad watched Chase, he could take Cole to quick care as I was afraid it might be strep.  Not sure why, just thought so.  Cole was lethargic and sick enough Shannon did take him.  He was not impressed with who he saw but got antibiotics for an ear infection - they didn't test for strep as his throat was red but the antibiotics for the ear infection would get it if it was.  John and Linda watched the kids the next day.  When I got home they brought the kids over and said Cole was developing a rash.  It didn't look like a reaction to the antibiotics to me but more like staff infection.  But it was all over  -  Chase had the antibiotic resistant staff infection in his ear so I was kinda freaked.  Off to urgent care this time for another opinion.  We spent most of the evening there they were so busy.  The diagnosis was ear infection and hand/foot/mouth disease - it hadn't been broke out the day before as it was just starting with fever.  They did change his antibiotic to one that was more for staff to treat his ear infection just in case and for the sores.  Nothing to do for the hand/foot/mouth but to wear it out.  I guess it is often not too big of a deal but Cole must have gotten a bad case.  He looked horrible and was so uncomfortable.  Finally on Friday he smiled and acted a little better.  Saturday he acted pretty much fine and it just started to dry up.  He still two weeks later has the spots and his fingers and toes totally peeled off like a bad blister.  These pics do not do it justice.  He went back to day care a week later - the spots were dried up but he looked interesting ;-)  Actually he still does look a little interesting.

We missed out on going to the Kincaid Fair this year as Cole was still so sick.  We had planned to go up Friday and spend the night but that just wasn't going to happen.  The kids took it well.  They could even see Cole was pathetic and understood.  It also helped that I took them on Saturday evening to the school carnival.  They had a great time there while Cole stayed home with Daddy.  They had no idea at the time, actually neither did we, but we ended up getting Chief that Saturday too.  I probably missed the fair and getting to see everyone more than anyone else.

New Beginnings

 Shannon went back to work on Monday, August 12th.  I went back to full time then too (after enjoying my vacation time while working longer days on M-W so I could have T-F off this summer!)  My mom ended up coming down to watch the kids on Monday since Linda had a kidney stone.  Tuesday John and Linda watched Cole while Callie went with Chase to the new daycare.  Chase and Cole started at the new daycare on Wednesday and Callie started 3rd grade.

Chase was fine when Callie went but when I left them the next day he was NOT happy.  He like it though and has had no trouble since.  In fact by the second week he said he wished he could stay and play longer when I picked him up. YES!  Cole still cries when I leave him but Christy said he is fine before I am even out of the driveway.  All she has to say is want to eat - he loves his food!  He is fine then the rest of the day.  And so far has been napping great too!  I think it is going well and am so relieved!

Callie got several of her friends, including her two best, in her class as she was happy.  She really likes her teacher and the three most exciting thing right now are: music when working, shoes off if you have your socks on, and a class pet frog!

Chase started preschool on Wed, Aug 28th but he got to visit the last week of summer for a few hours while I ran in to work on a Thursday.  He was NOT excited and did NOT want me to leave.  But he LOVED it and has been asking when he gets to go back to Ms. Lori's ever since.  He got to do so many things and brought papers home.  He loved showing them off and being such a big boy.  He has been wanting to work on his letter/ numbers ever since.  I was not sure the visit was a good idea as I thought he would worry more about it then but it was a great idea.  It was so nice to have him looking forward to it rather than not wanting to go.  He visited again the week before it started and walked right in.  He was nervous wondering if Christy knew where to pick him up:-)  He did great and we thought we were good to go.  Oh course not.  On the first day he was tired and did not want to go - he just wanted to go to Christy's.  We dropped Cole off at Christy's house and headed to preschool.  I had to pry him out of the car and carry him in kicking and screaming.  It was a fit - he wasn't crying, just screaming.  He has had a lot of changes and I think was just testing to see what he could get away with.  Lori held him while I left and she said he was fine within minutes.  Today was the second day and he was not happy about going but did not throw a fit either.  I would like to be able to drop him off but Christy will if that is the way we have to go.  She picks him up when it is over.

I don't have my camera to download the pics I took of him his first day but here they are on Callie's first day.

Summer Wellness Visits

Cole had his 15 month visit on August 2nd.  No shots so he didn't mind!  He was 31.9 inches (73%) and weighted 22.1 lbs (38%).  He had been on

Chase was 4.5 on the 4th of July but he had his 4 year wellness visit on July 11th and his preschool/kindergarten shots.  He was NOT happy but was fine once it was over.  His height was 42.4 inches (68%) and his weight 43.2 lbs (82%).  He continues to fight ear infections - since he still has him third set of tubes they drain out but the left ear continues to be infected.  It rarely hurts him but does bug him and he doesn't hear well.

Callie is only a few months from 9 but she had her 8 year wellness visit when Chase had his visit on the 11th of July.  Callie had grown so much -which we knew!  They did a quick eye test and said we should get her into an eye doctor.  She went to the eye doctor beginning of Aug and got her glasses just before school started.  Having new glasses to show off made school starting exciting for her :-)

Max

Max passed away during the night last night.  He had been failing since the beginning of August.  We got Max on Nov 11, 2001.  His birthday was August 6, 2001 so he had just turned 12 years old.  He was such a part of our family and we are going to miss him dearly.