Trick or Treat

Our gorilla and his banana...Bob had to go to the BSU game on Halloween so we just hung out at home for the day. Adam and Beth came over for dinner (KFC - the guys choice). There was lots of trouble sharing between Austin and Tye but we managed to get through it. Some days are great and others just aren't. After dinner we went over to the Miller's for trick or treating. Tye warmed up quickly after realizing what he was getting at each door. We took a break for awhile and had snacks and watched the game. Then Marty and Bob took the bigger kids back out. Bob said Tye was running from house to house saying, "thanks" at the house. Then he would instantly say, "next house". It was a good Halloween!

Brody was precious as Yoda. His big brother was superman.

Showing us his treats.

Brooke enjoyed Trick or Treating.

Gannon went as a rock star like his Uncle Tyrone and Channing went as a Jaguar's cheerleader.

Tye and Gannon giving Brooke kisses.

Pumpkin Patch

We visited the pumpkin patch this year with the Engroff's. The kids had a good time but it got cold at the end. Tye was actually shivering so we went to have BBQ.

Tye & Austin

Watching the pig races.

Tye loving on his sister!

He has done it alone before but this time mom had to go with him.

Bo

Bo sleeping so close to Brooke he was touching her feet....he is such a good boy when it comes to the kids! He has become good buddies with our next door neighbor's dogs. He used to just stay in our driveway when we were out playing but now we open the door and he runs nextdoor. He actually will scratch on their front door until they let him in:)

Tye's picture book

I was putting dishes away the other day and realized that it got really quiet in the other room. I was wandering what Tye was up to as I walked in to the living room. He had gotten out his most recent photo album oma sent him, and was sitting on the couch looking through it while having a snack. It made me sad that he was probably missing all of his cousins.

Tye's new scooter

Tye got a new scooter this week...he was interested in working on it with his tools rather than riding it! He chose spiderman!

Brooke update

Brooke is now 5 months old and growing and changing very quickly. She was 12 lbs. 5 ozs. a week or two ago at the Doctor's. She has been in the 15 percentile for weight and height for her age group without any corrections for her prematurity. She is still showing discomfort with her reflux at times. She is on prevacid and zantac....we tried to drop one dose of zantac a day but she instantly started having issues. Once we put her back on that dose it took awhile for her to be back to normal. We won't do that again! I am doing a load of bibs and burp clothes every other day to keep up with her spitting up. My clothes don't even have a chance!

Other than the reflux Brooke is such a laid back happy baby. It's a good thing with Tye being so active right now. She still is sleeping most of the night in a a mini crib in our room. She usually sleeps 6 hours...eats...then sleeps another 3 hours. We will probably move her into her room when she is 6 months old (that is what is recommended right now to reduce SIDS). We'll see at the end of the month.

Yesterday was the first day that Brooke rolled over. She rolled from her stomach to her back, of course I had left the room for a minute when she did it. Luckily, she performed for me several times today!!! She has also started to giggle. Two days ago Tye had her laughing like crazy. So precious!! He really loves his sister 90% of the time, I'd say.

Tye Update

Tye is doing pretty well now that he is adjusted to Bob traveling. The first couple trips he was very naughty since he was not getting one on one attention all the time. He has made comments if Brooke or Bo are crying that they want Daddy. It's pretty cute!

Tye is in the third percentile still at 24 lbs. 7 ozs. (last time at the Dr.). He is gaining at the same rate as other kiddos his age...he just started lower. It may not sound like much but it is an accomplishment for him. Our feeding therapist is getting ready to discharge him in the next few weeks. He is eating well at home without reinforcements and starting to try new foods. We are still participating in a feeding group and will continue until Tye is 3. It is with a birth to 3 year program with Health and Welfare (like my mom did). It has been really great for Tye to see what his peers are doing, and for Bob and I to see that he is not the only one in our position. He is not the best off or the worse off in the group and all the kids have different challenges. Tye especially enjoys the gross motor activities at the beginning when he can play with all their toys. His favorite would be stacking big soft blocks up to my shoulders then jumping onto a huge pillow. He also likes to ride the car backwards down a track.

Since our last trip to Michigan his language is probably the biggest change, except for his eating. He has conversations now with me...it's crazy. He can say anything and has the best come backs. He is in to saying Why? or Why not? right now. It is definitely keeping me on my toes thinking of responses that are true but not too complicated. Like the other day he was asking why it was raining. He also is very two and testing, testing, testing. I know that it is exciting developmentally but very tiring for mom and dad!!!!! Oh yeah...quickly reading another book on discipline for ideas!!!

Last weekend we traveled to the other side of the state to spend time with our friends Adam & Beth at their beautiful cabin near Ashton, Idaho. The cabin was just finished being built so they were working hard at getting it furnished and stocked. The boys loved the wrap around porch and played on it the entire time.
Austin is just a few months younger than Tye and Brody is a few months older than Brooke.



Ashton, Idaho is about 50 miles from Yellowstone. We took a day trip into the park to enjoy the wildlife and turist attractions. We saw a bald eagle, bison, elk and a coyote....pretty cool! The first picture here is walking around many geysers.

The last picture is where Evel Knievel attempted to jump the canyon. Bob is a big fan so we ventured on a hike with the double stroller not knowing it was all uphill and quite far.

Tye & baby

Tye already loves his baby sis!

Okay...I couldn't have a completely uneventful pregnancy. I was heading down the stairs at my mom & dad's and tripped on my foot which ended up tangled underneth me. I had a sore foot but the baby was moving so I was not too worried. My doctor told me to go to labor & delivery to get monitored to be safe. Once there and hooked up to the monitor I started contracting every 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 minutes. I had seven in the first 35 minutes but could not feel them. An IV was started to give me a large amount of fluids in the first hour. Not too long after that I started to feel the contractions and they were not slowing down. I was given a shot to relax the smooth muscles which includes the uterus. That seemed to do the trick and I have been fine ever since.

Trip to Michigan

The Welton family

Chase Alan Anderson, our new nephew, was baptised while we

were visiting Easter weekend in Ludington, Mi.

Tye's NICU buddy, Cameron, came to visit us in South Haven. Marisa and my due dates were within a couple days, but Cameron was born at 29 weeks, a week before Tye. They are within a half of pound of each other and have both suffered from reflux. It is great to have Marisa....no one can truly understand unless you have experienced it!

Uncle Scott
Tye had a great time playing cars, rough housing, and riding around
in his Uncle's golf cart.




Snuggles with oma and Elliot.




My favorite picture.
Taylor, Tye's cousin, can get the best smiles out of him.
She is always a huge help when we are visiting!



Uncle Rich & Aunt Tracey's boat
Tye is obsessed with all means of transportation these days, including boats!






Tye colored Easter eggs for the first time at his grandma's house. He was very
neat and cautious, the opposite of his cousin, Jordyn!

Jordyn and Chase with their Unlce Bob.

Aunt Tracey with Tye on one of his five Easter egg hunts.

His mom got a ton of candy, bummer!

Tye's first Easter egg hunt at Oma's with Taylor,

Trevor, and Colten. He had to find all the

football eggs and caught on very quickly!

Our new nephew, Chase. Isn't he a cuttie?

Line of Cars

Lately, Tye has been in to lining toys up. He makes a line of cars on the coffee table or couch or floor. It has been freaking me out a little but my mom assures me that it can be typical behavior for a toddler. I will be keeping an eye on him!

26 Weeks

Okay Bob took the third picture of me and told me it was hard to tell what my belly looked like with the dark shirt, so I lifted my shirt for the next pic. Tye then wanted to show off his baby in his belly! We thought it was so darn cute!!