I love to see the temple

I'm one of those who updates occasionally (but when I do it's often a few updates at a time!!)

This summer has been busy, and much different than planned. Thankfully we got a much needed temple trip last week! We usually leave the kids with someone so we can go in together but this time we took the kids up and then took turns.  I like the kids to get to see the temple and develop a love for it (even though I do usually prefer for Cody and I to  go in together! I think these trips are important too :)

We have spent much of the past month in the hospital with my sweet Mom who was diagnosed with advanced endometrial cancer. She had a pretty major surgery to remove the main part of the tumor( as well as places where it had spread) but life has been pretty much day to day as this all is getting figured out.  She remains positive about things and that is good, though I know she is beyond wanting to get out of a hospital already! They have not yet begun chemo but that is in the very near future.  It has  been an adjustment for the kids as well, all the back and forth and staying with others. I'm grateful I have other sisters too who have been a great help with all of this. With Eli's surgery and recovery now it's been a few days since we've been back to see her. Taking a day to go to the temple though was a good day for all of us. I'm so grateful for the peace we find there and to be renewed with strength to go forward with our lives.  We're so lucky to have a temple much closer these days (just a couple of hours to KC!) I also saw several family friends that day (from different areas and times in our lives, two families of whom I had actually had thought of that morning and had thought it would be great to run into them.  Heavenly Father really is involved in the details of our lives and has a plan for each of us. 

Another tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy..

We apparently grow large and problematic tonsils/adenoids in this family. Ansel had his out in kindergarten (after having strep 5 times that year!) in January I got a peritonsilar abcess (after many years of chronic step/tonsilitis) and then got my tonsils out the end of February (and spent most of March recovering! Awful.. Awful.. Awful! They absolutely were not kidding when they said adult tonsillectomies were horrible to recover from! I spent nearly 3 weeks in a recliner just trying to exist until it was over and pretty much lived off ice chips and pain meds even though they didn't really touch the pain! Usually I have a high pain tolerance but I felt like a big baby after this one! The dr said I even had adenoids left so they took those too (often those are gone by adulthood)  Anyway, after having mine done this year I found myself much more nervous about Eli having his out than I was when Ansel had his out!!

Eli's on post op day 4 now though and has just done amazing. He's been extra tired and rests a lot, and has woke up with ear and throat pain a few times but after a few sips of water and a Popsicle or something he perks right back up for the most part. He even was getting rid of scabs by the end of day 2 (which didn't start with me until at least a week out!) He's also been able to sleep a lot (which was also a big relief as if I fell asleep for more than 20-30 minutes at a time I would wake up in unbearable pain from drying out.. Even with a humidifier going nonstop!).  I remembered that Ansel seemed to be fine a week after surgery but I still was so nervous for Eli after mine. It's been such a huge relief to see him doing so well for the most part. On the way to his surgery he was just singing away! Coming off the anesthesia was probably the worst part for him. (By that point he was saying "I don't like my surgery! I don't want to come here again!" (I can't say I blame him!) He's been a champ though! Love this boy :) 

Addilyn's second birthday

A few belated pics from Addi's 2nd birthday! ( and a few other pics) We love this funny, sweet, smart girl so much!

This girl..

I haven't updated too much on Addilyn but she is such a fun part of our family! We love her so much and she keeps us on our toes! She loves climbing and outdoors and language is definitely her strong point! (Seriously by 14 months she had over 80 words and 2-3word phrases and could count to 10. By 18 months she consistently spoke in 5 word sentences (and had probably at least 10 songs or so that she sings the whole song of.) Also around 18 months she started showing us that she knew her letters and even some of their sounds! (I was trying to work on them with Eli and apparently she was taking it all in too! She came over and said " look mommy, an O!" (And then proceeded to point out as many as she could find!) The boys were pretty average on language and each had their own area of interest.. It's so interesting to see each kiddo develop and show us their different strengths and interests! Very fun! Oh and she also loves hanging from bars and trying to do pull-ups.. So cute! 

Here is a link to a video I attempted to get of her singing a song. I can't ever catch it on video because the second she sees my phone she rushes over to get my phone to "see the baby" (videos of herself hah); She usually sings the whole song with cute little actions but I think this is as good as I'll catch on video for now! Still cute though :) 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153988271755253&l=8697122573896387649

4 years old!

My 'first day of spring' baby turned 4 this past week!  Eli's such a character, so fun and fun loving! (when he's not in a bad mood and screaming hah) He has an adorable and very contagious laughter and sings all day long. It was cute when he was opening his presents.. He hopped from theme song to theme song with each one he opened (humming Star Wars, Batman, Lego ninjago, etc.) He's also a great snuggle buddy and loves to give hugs! Sure do love him and so grateful I felt such strong inspiration that he would be part of our family :)

Preschool!

 

Mr. Eli had his first day of preschool today! He was super excited and it sounded like he had lots of fun today! I think it will be so good for him. He was barely two years old and trying to climb on Ansel's bus. He has such an adventurous spirit and loves to try new things and be independent (and of course wants to do everything Ansel does!)  he also gets to ride a bus so he's pretty excited about that too ! I will miss my morning snuggle buddy but this will be good for him. He will also get speech therapy twice a week since he tends to do "fronting" (for ex.  c/k sounds become t's since he doesn't use the back of his throat as much to make sounds. Ansel had the same issue, although after he got his tonsils removed he didn't need speech therapy for much longer! (I think Eli might have issues there too...) Apparently we tend to have big tonsils in our family! I actually have to go have mine removed at the end of the month due to having a peritonsilar abcess after strep last month.. :/ ) Ansel had strep 5 times the first 6 months of Kindergarten and was missing so much school which is why he had his removed, but his ENT said his tonsils and adenoids were way too big for him anyway. Also Ansel's hyper gag reflex seemed to calm down after his tonsillectomy as well, so it was probably for the best!) 

With the boys at school, Mommy and Addi went shopping (and I must admit it was a much easier store trip! Addi was in tears this morning with everyone leaving, but she perked up when she got to be a big girl and walk instead if ride! 

I get a little sad seeing my kids grow so fast but it's also very fun and rewarding to see their progress!!

Almost done playing catch-up.. Halloween pics since they were too cutenot to share!