Indian names

My kids & I got our Indian names over the weekend. My dad & Amy came up for the ceremony/Sundance. They got here Thursday. On Friday I had a meeting & the kids had their last day of Vacation Bible School. Then the kids & my dad had hair cuts. We drove over to Wolf Point to give our Chief tobacco & yd of red cloth & ask for a name. Saturday I had CPR training. When I got home we decided to drive to Williston. On our drive home we stopped off at Sundheim park & went over the bridge & through the tunnel!!





Sunday all of us (Neil, me, the kids, my dad, & Amy) went to Wolf Point for the Sundance Lodge Ceremonies. Jessica said she LOVES this culture!! It was a traditional sweat/healing/naming ceremony. My name is Two Eagles Woman. Jessica's name is Little Blue Grass Girl. Nathan's name is Grizzly Bear Foot.

Today dad & Amy left for home. Neil got up & went to work. Jess started swim lessons. And Nathan is doing a 3-day wrestling camp. Tonight both kids have baseball/softball games.

I'm slacking...again :(

I've let this blog go down the hill. It seems I'm doing "other things" in my "spare" time than blogging. hehe I just need to do better!! Nathan had a good wrestling season. We traveled to Baker 2/19, Glasgow 2/26, Williston 3/5, and Great Falls the weekend of Jessica's birthday 3/11,12,13 for state, and finished in Wolf Point 3/19.

Jessica turned '8' this year. I can hardly believe it. My baby girl is getting so BIG!! For her bday she wanted the same thing as last year - to go to a hotel w/ a pool & swim. So, same as last year, we killed 2 birds w/ one stone. We went to Great Falls. Nathan wrestled GREAT! He lost his 1st match Saturday & then won his next 3. That took him to whatever is before semi-finals. He made it the 2nd day, which is AWESOME!! Jessica was able to bring along a friend Alexa. We all enjoyed our weekend away.

This weekend Jessica has a dance competition. She will dance 2 jazz dances.

In a week or two soccer starts. Both kids are excited & really enjoy playing! They wished they could be on the same team.

Jessica will be getting baptised Easter weekend in Malad, Idaho!! She is so anxious for that day to get here!! My brother will be baptising both Jess & his daughter Brynn 4/23.

I haven't been taking pictures like I should be.

Halloween

It's such a bummer that I have not been posting more here on this blog :(


Wednesday was our church Halloween trunk or treat party. Friday was dress up day at school. I went to Nathan's Kindergarten Halloween carnival. Friday evening me & the kids went up town to Moonlight Madness & they trick or treated at the local business. We went & ate supper at KFC. The kids participated in a costume contest. Which neither won any prizes.

Here are some Halloween pics

Back to School

Suppose I could update!! LOL

Well school started Wednesday, the 25th. Jessica was EXCITED. Nathan not so much. I think he was nervous, well I know he was nervous, because he said he was worried about getting into trouble & getting sent to the principal's office. They were so cute!!

Nathan is in Kindergarten & Jessica is a 2nd grader!!

Pediatric Pulmonologist Appt

This morning I took the kids to school. Went to the gym, which I have been going to now every morning 4-5 days a week. Came home to shower. Got Nate from school. Drove to Miles City. Nathan had an appointment with the pulmonologist. Everything looks GOOD!! He hasn't had any major illnesses. Dr told us he could stop taking his Flovent puffer! He was totally excited about that! Just need to follow-up in another 6 months, sooner if any pulmonary issues.

Nathan has been getting a few ear infections as of late, so the Dr did draw his blood to make sure he doesn't have IGA, an immune difficiency. I believe he has already been tested for all the auto-immune diseases. And nothing came back positive.

Autoimmune diseases compromise the immune system. A defective immune system wreaks havoc throughout the host by directing antibodies against its own tissues. That could've been why his lungs were bleeding, his body was attacking the lungs.

Dentist

Nathan went to the dentist yesterday. He had 4 cavities at his last check-up. Honestly, I have my kids brush their teeth. He sat in the chair for a whole hour. He ended up with 2 caps on his back molars. He was such a trooper!! He really was AMAZING!!

So while he laid there, I snapped 2 shots of him w/ my cellphone.

Sledding

It was warm enough to go outside & PLAY!!

Neil pulled the kids with the 4-wheeler yesterday


And then I helped Jessica & Neil make a snowman

Nathan turned FIVE years old!!

One BIG thing that got overlooked was Nathan turning FIVE years old!! I'm taking a moment to upload some photos from his birthday, which was December 15. He had a family party on his actual bday & a friend party at the Depot a few days later.

He got some wrestling shoes, a fireman's helmet, Harry Potter movie, Indiana Jones game for PSP, Diego bath loofah & soap, a connect 4 game, a book about Pirates, and a Ken Barbie doll (which didn't make Neil too happy).

SANTA 2009

So I registered w/ facebook. That has been taking up my time :-0 My new interest. Always something, right?!

I took the kids to Billings last weekend to see SANTA!!

Here


Click on pic to get up close & personal with my little cuties!!

Can you say diarrhea???

I'm sure you can, but do you want to?? NO!!!

Nathan has diarrhea. He has had it since Friday. Poor baby boy. Last night he threw up after I tried to get him to eat some mac & cheese. Today he threw up after Neil heated him up some pizza. Nathan's tummy ache could be the tamiflu medication he was on last week. The kids were running fevers 2 weeks ago & I took them to the DR. It was just assumed that they had H1N1, because that is what is going around. He was given tamiflu, an antiviral medicine. When Nathan had is first two 'episodes' I said "Oh Honey, you have diarrhea" He said "what's diarrhea?" To which Jessica replied "it's when your poop is watery".

Neil is feeling MUCH better! I DO believe he had H1N1. He stayed home,from work, for 3 days. He was running fevers & felt lousy all week.

Jessica came home from school on Thursday with an ear ache. She still has is today (Sunday). Fortunately I have some ear numbing drops. So between Tylenol & Motrin & the drops she is barely surviving this probable ear infection.

There wasn't any school on Friday. Friday was Nathan's last day of taking Imuran!! YEAH!! He was pretty stoked about it!!

Even though they weren't feeling really good, on Saturday the kids went to their grandma Connie's to make apple cider donuts.

Today I woke up feeling kinda yucky too. I threw up & have felt nauseous all day.

Last night I rented Princess Protection Program & Monsters VS Aliens. Last night we watched Princess Protection Program. This morning the kids & I tried to watch M vs A & both kids fell asleep.

Today as Neil was flipping channels, he came across some racing, Nathan asked if it was "Nascar or "Nashcar"? Neil told him it was Nascar. Nathan asked why? Is it "Nas-car" because they get all nasty?? LOL That was funny!!

Today I put some fake finger nails on Jessica. They are cheap & keep falling off.

I will be taking both kids to the DR tomorrow.

Halloween 2009

Here is my Prince






Here is my Princess



Here is my Princess & nephew Xander Scarecrow




I let Jessica pick her hairstyle, I gave her 3 choices, she chose this basket weave. At first I wasn't excited about it. It was harder than I thought. But when it was done it was awesome!



Here I am "The QUEEN"



Here are our jack-o-lanterns - Neil carved the cat silhouette in the moon for Jessica & I carved Chewbacca for Nathan

Eating WORMS....EwWwW...

Another late but NOT forgotten summertime moment. This summer the kids found some worms. I'm not sure whose idea it was to taste these gross things but both kids put one in their mouths. I had to run & get my camera. So here is 2 videos. Jessica just didn't want to give up on trying to get this slimy creature down. Watching Nathan react is just as funny as seeing Jessica slurp it up. So you MUST watch both videos!!

Visiting teacher brings her horses

This summer one of my visiting teachers brought her horses to my house. We were at church when she asked if she could come over to visit & she would bring her horses too!! Of course I said YES!! So, she lives 10 miles out of town. She saddled & loaded her horses. She & her dogs parked across the street in the lot. She unloaded her horses. Jessica & Nathan got to ride a horse with her & along side. She is a LOVELY lady!!! She has 2 dalmation dogs & an appaloosa horse that she shows & rides in events. Her dogs listen to her commands & follow along side the horse. It is just neat! Here is pictures & video of the FUN.

Sick & Happy Birthday

So it seems I'm always posting about illnesses. Everyone except ME (knock on wood) is sick. Nathan has been running a fever & coughing since Sunday. Jessica started running a fever last night. Neil thinks he was running a fever yesterday. I kept Nathan home from preschool yesterday. Jessica was SO upset that she had to stay home from school today. As today is her teachers birthday. She threw herself on the floor & just cried. ;( She usually doesn't cry, that is one way I know she is not feeling well, she cries. I mean I'm sure she is sad that she wont get to see her teacher & sing happy birthday to her. Neil did check his temperature this morning before going to work & he was 103!! Guess what?!?! He STILL went to work. Die Hard. I tell ya he is a DIE HARD!! Work-a-holic!! Gotta LOVE him!! And God Bless him!! So after being on the phone for an hour this morning, calling Nathan's pulmonologist & pediatrician, & public health nurse, & ALL my friends, I am gonna get them seen this afternoon in Poplar.

Pray everyone in my house gets well soon!!

Happy Birthday to Jessica's teacher, Mrs. Beyer!!! :)

Just a quick

Couple of things....

Today is Jessica's show & tell. She took her cat that she got for Christmas last year. That is what she took for her show & tell last year in Kindergarten too. She was excited to take it but then at the last minute tried to change her mind, because some kids already saw it last year. I told her that it was ok.

Jessica got her ears pierced last Thursday. I still need to take a picture to post & develop. She LOVES them!! She was wishing her show & tell would've been earlier in the week so she could've showed her EARS!!

Jessica had a check-up dr appt & chest x-ray. She is clear from the pneumonia.

Tuesday both kids got shots. Jessica got the influenza seasonal shot. Nathan got the H1N1 flu shot. Nathan & I already got the influenza seasonal shots a few weeks ago. Jessica can hopefully get the H1N1 in the next few weeks. It is only being given here to those aged 6 months to 4 yrs.

Yesterday Nathan had blood work, he got poked twice :( we have been weaning him off his medication. So the dr wanted to check his levels & make sure everything is ok.

Neil, me, & the kids went out for supper last night.

Dr appt update

Well last Thursday, Oct 1, Nathan had a DR appt in Billings with the Pediatric Pulmonologist. They still know nothing more than I know. No answers as to why he got as sick as he did last year. Nonetheless, it was suggested that we begin a wean off the immunosuppressant medication that Nate has been taking for the last 16 months. And after 3 weeks he will need his blood drawn. If we could get prayers, for Nathan during this time, they would be greatly appreciated!! We will follow up with the PP in 3 months, if not sooner.

In the meantime, I am going to be looking into replacing the carpet throughout our house. As I'm realizing how much allergens could be in this old carpet, that was here in our house when we bought it. And the people before us did have pet(s).

Injured & Not Injured

I HAD to post this!! I wanted to post the picture of Nathan a while back but didn't have the picture of my dad & brother. Well, my dad just emailed me this picture of him & my brother.

This year my dad fell and injured his right leg, it was suggested he wear this boot to help with his healing
This summer my brother broke his ankle, sliding into base while playing baseball, he had surgery & it was recommended that he wear this boot



We went to visit my family while they were wearing these boots & when we got home THIS was Nathan for a few weeks (he is wearing an inner boot to some skate we have) pretending to have a "hurt" ankle.

Some pictures

This summer we went to the Yellowstone River to enjoy the outdoors/sun, search for agates, & the kids brought buckets & shovels to do some digging





Here is Nathan his 1st day of preschool
1st one taken at home NERVOUS about going

2nd one taken at preschool CRYING

So I'm falling

It seems I am falling behind. I still haven't posted pictures of Nathan from his FIRST day of preschool. Which wasn't as traumatic as I thought it would be.
But here is a picture of Nate & Jess for his 2nd day of preschool.

Monday will be Nathan's 5th day of preschool. I think he WILL march right in there & NOT feel bad about being away from ME for 3 hours!! Once I pry his hands off of my arm & leave, he does just fine & is actually LOVING it!! I'm enjoying listening to him sing the songs he is learning - such as I'm a little tea pot, 5 little monkeys swinging from a tree, & thumbkin. I'll have to get him to sing them for me on camera!!

Today we went fishing didn't catch anything worth keeping - here is my baby holding the baby fish I reeled in on Nathan's pole - he threw it back.

Come & Gone & now kids are SICK

Jessica's first day of 1st grade has come & gone. I took pictures & had every intention on posting about it. But yet I haven't done it. Nathan doesn't start preschool until Sept 9th. Jessica really LOVES school. Her teacher is Mrs. Beyer. She has a few good friends from last year in her class. Jessica was coughing a week before school started. I was thinking it was allergies. Not really sure she has allergies - just guessing. I'd been giving her benadryl. Well she isn't getting any better. And in fact she was running a fever. So I made her a DR appt yesterday Wednesday, Sept 2. She has pnuemonia. The PA heard it in her lungs & it showed in her chest xray. It is probably viral but he still gave antibiotics. We are also doing nebulizer treatments. She is going to miss the rest of the week of school to get some rest. Last night Nathan started coughing. So he is going to start nebs as well, before he gets any worse.

It is just frustrating. Pnuemonia. That was Nathan's diagnosis before he got sick & was sent to Children's Hospital in 2008. He was hospitalized twice with "pnuemonia". And now here this is Jessica's 3rd bout of "pnuemonia" in less than a year.

Totally off subject, I floated the Missouri River this week with my church friends. Nathan was upset about going to a sitter. BUT one of the mom's I floated with, her husband volunteered to watch ALL our kids!!! Crazy??!!?? He watched Nathan, Zander, Howie, Anna, Brian, & Daniel. PLUS he had his one (Callista) home too. All 7 are under 4 yrs old. We plan on floating again as a group with our families this next weekend. I'm hoping the sun will be shining bright on that day for us. The sun kept going behind clouds making for a chilly time. It took 2 1/2 hrs to float probably 2 1/1 miles. My innertube was a little small for my butt but I managed. I had never done that before & now I know what to expect for next time!! Looking forward to it. I will post pictures as soon as I get some.

Yesterday was my brother BRIAN's 29th birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU!! BRIAN!!

Today is Neil's brother CHRIS's ? birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU!! CHRIS!!