The End of a Great Soccer Season

Brody's second soccer season ended last Monday night, November 1st. Since Colby had strep throat, he and I couldn't go cheer Brody on, but Jason told us he played great and had lots of fun! I think he scored 5 or 6 goals...go Brody!! He is already signed up and ready to play again next season. Brody really loves soccer, and we love watching him play.

The Wednesday night before this last game, the coach held a pizza party at Mr. Gattis and gave the kids their trophies. Brody is very proud of his trophy. It is already up on a shelf in his room next to his trophy from last season.

Brody's coach saying some very nice things about him

Giving the coach five for a great season

My 3 super stars!

Really?!?!? He is definitely a mini-Jason!

Halloween Fun 2010

Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch

There is a church up the street from our house that has a great pumpkin patch every year. It is where we have gotten our pumpkins for the last four or five years. Our neighbors, the Donaldsons, attend church there and invited us to the church's Fall Festival this year. So, we decided to pick out our pumpkins while enjoying the fun of the Fall Festival. I love this time of year!

Lucy and Colby

Colby trying to knock over the bottles with the ball

Brody showing him how it is done

Enjoying a snow cone



My Gym Halloween Party

My Gym held a Halloween Costume party this year on Monday, the 25th. The boys got to wear their costumes for the first time and play at My Gym for an entire hour. They were both in heaven!!

The UPS Man and his package

Brody's Class Halloween Party

Brody's class had a Halloween Pizza Party on Friday, the 29th. I am so happy that Colby and I were able to join him. It is always fun to watch Brody interact with the friends in his class.

Brody was so happy! Pizza, popcorn, and cupcakes...who wouldn't be?

Colby thought he was just one of the big kids

Colby loves his big brother

Brody and Ms. Marianne


Carving/Painting Our Pumpkins

We had so much fun working on our pumpkins this year. Jason always does a great job with the carving, and the boys showed their artistic skill this year too by painting a pumpkin. Brody did great and got most of his paint on the pumpkin. Colby, on the other hand, had just as much paint on him and his clothes as he did on the pumpkin. Oh well...they had fun, and the pumpkins all looked awesome!

So excited about carving the pumpkins

Ready to get started

Halloween Night

Halloween was so much fun this year! We started the night eating chili and hot dogs at our house with a few neighbors, my parents, and Jason's brother and his family. All of the kids looked so great in their costumes, and they were all super excited about going trick or treating, even Colby. I wasn't sure how Colby would do with trick or treating for two reasons...1)he is still pretty young and 2) he had been running a fever all day. Like the trooper he is, though, he was not going to miss out on trick or treating and getting candy. He was so funny walking with the big kids. Every time someone picked him up, he would say "Walk!" and demand to be put down. He even knew exactly what to do thanks to Brody's guidance. He walked straight up to the door, said "chick cheat," and then said "dank da" when they put candy in his bag. I could have watched Brody and Colby trick or treat together all night!

The UPS man and his not so happy package

Kylee, Emilee, and Brody

Emma and Brody

Colby was much happier once the box came off

The first "chick cheat" house

One of our neighbors helped the kids make S'mores

Colby was definitely "Ready 2 Roll"

Emilee, Colby, Brody, and Kylee

Gacky and Colby

Brody checking out all of his candy...and there was a lot!

Brody and Remi

Colby was really not feeling well by the end of the night. I took him to the doctor the next morning about his fever and found out he had strep throat! This little guy doesn't even slow down for strep throat. He is one tough boy!

Brody is one sweet big brother too! He always takes good care of Colby, especially when he is not feeling well.

Feeding Therapy

During Colby's annual check-up with the Neonatal Follow Up Clinic back in August, the nutritionist expressed some concerns with his small weight gain. Since we have tried everything else she can think of, she suggested we go one step further and start feeding therapy. I have to admit that when I first heard this, I was a little frustrated. Okay, a lot frustrated! I just didn't see how this was going to help him gain weight. Furthermore, I didn't see why she was concerned when his pediatrician and cardiologist were not concerned at all. They both agree that yes, he is small, but that may just be the way God made him.

After a lot of thought and discussions with his pediatrician and cardiologist, Jason and I decided to let him try the feeding therapy. Both doctors basically agreed that as long as it doesn't frustrate Colby, then it can't do him any harm. It will probably not help him gain lots of weight, but maybe it will at least help him to develop a more well balanced diet. Like any toddler, right now he is especially fond of hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and sweets.

Our first visit with the feeding therapist was Friday, the 22nd. After this appointment, I was ready to forget the whole idea. I liked his therapist, Katie, but the whole concept annoyed me. We had to fill out a sensory profile on Colby, and she wanted to watch him drink to see if he choked when he swallowed. I basically left there feeling as if they thought I was completely unaware of what was going on with my own child, which really upset me. I mean, if I had noticed any sensory issues or choking problems, I would have signed him up for feeding therapy a long time ago!

After lots of prayer for guidance and peace, though, I did take him back for his 2nd session last Friday, and I am so glad that I did! Colby responded really well to Katie, and he seemed to enjoy his time with her. He ate much better for her this time...the first time, he wouldn't eat anything. He just kept telling her "no." She definitely saw his strong will during that session. Katie even encouraged him to try eating a couple of bites of grits, pepperoni, and hummus, all of which were brand new to him. She is really good with him and moves slowly to get him to first touch the food, then kiss the food, then lick the food, then eat the food. After each step he receives a reward. During this session, she used bubbles as his reward, and he loved that!! Who knows, maybe after his time with Katie, he will be good about trying new foods and eating more vegetables. That would make the weekly therapy sessions worth it, even if he doesn't gain a pound!

Bite of grits...

...reward of bubbles

No More Pacis

During Colby's dentist appointment last week, Dr. Swauger suggested that Colby stop using his pacifiers. He only uses a pacifier when he sleeps, but that is a scary thing to stop! Jason and I had actually discussed letting him keep it through his next surgery, but in order to do what is best for Colby, we decided to give it a shot and get rid of the pacis.

That day before nap, Brody asked Colby if he was ready to give his pacis to the paci fairy. To our surprise, Colby said "uh huh." The paci fairy visited Brody a couple of years ago during a nap, took his pacis, and left him a big prize. Colby seemed pretty excited about getting a big prize, so he told his pacis "bye-bye" and put them in the hall outside his door. I was shocked! I was even more shocked when he went right to sleep and took a great nap without crying a single time for his paci. When Colby woke up from his nap, he had a note from the paci fairy and some money to pick out his own prize (the paci fairy didn't have enough warning to shop for a prize!). We went to Target the next day, and Colby picked out the movie Ice Age 2. We have the first and third, and he has been wanting the second. Now he has it...thanks to the paci fairy!!

Colby's First Dentist Appointment

Colby went for his first dentist appointment last Monday, October 25th. Since Colby does have a severe heart defect, he is at high risk for developing bacterial endocarditis during dental cleanings/procedures. Basically, this is just an infection in the heart from bacteria usually found in the mouth. To protect Colby during his cleaning, he had to take a dose of antibiotics one hour prior to his appointment. This will be something he will always have to do. His high risk for endocarditis is the main reason we decided to start seeing the dentist so early. If we can create good dental habits now, then maybe we can cut down on problems and extra dental procedures in the future.

Colby did an awesome job during his visit! He loved laying there in the dental chair with his headphones on watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He opened up great for the hygienist to count and clean his teeth, but unfortunately, he bit down great too. She learned very quickly to get in and out of his mouth as fast as possible! The hygienist and dentist were both very pleased with Colby's teeth. Colby left that office so proud of himself for being such a big boy. He couldn't wait to pick up "Bubba" from school and show him his clean teeth.