Happy Thanksgiving 2011

We kicked off our morning with an early breakfast, and the Macy's parade. William remembered how much he enjoyed watching it last year, and this year there were no exceptions. Jack loved it too, but he loves just about everything...of course, except for dinner! After spotting our favorite characters and Santa Clause, we decided it was time to get dressed into our very casual, but very nice outfits. Soon after, our mini photo shoot began and surprisingly enough, the boys cooperated without any complaints. I took so many pictures I had to leave out a few, but let me share with you some of my favorites. I think turned out really good!

I bought this turkey smocked outfit for Luke's one year old pictures. Unfortunately, his pictures were schduled around the same time he got really sick. We had to cancel the session, and this cute little outfit sadly only got used this one time! All three boys are now scheduled for pictures exactly one week from today. I'm so excited!!! She's an amazing photographer and I can't wait to see her work her magic with my boys!

After goofing around, we decided it was time drive over to Nana's and Papa's. Spending Thanksgiving at their house is always fun!

They love Aunt Amy so much!...

And also, their Aunt Angie!

Luke was so happy to be at Nana's! He played with his daddy most of the time!

love

 our comedian!

smooches!!!

 love this one too!...

My new favorite!

Wave hello, Luke!

 Don't go up the stairs, Luke!

I made a scrumptious appetizer. Crab Stuffed Mushrooms...after cleaning and smelling the mushrooms, I have decided never to eat or smell one again... but they were good.

Luke helping unload the dishwasher. He helps everyday at our house!

Watching an old documentary about airplanes. Seriously, I don't know who had more fun, Will or Papa!?! ha ha!

                    

 After a few hours, it was time to eat a delicious turkey that Adam smoked! It was AMAZING!!! We all made casseroles and Nana made a delicous oven roasted turkey. The food at this house is always good! Nana made her delicious stuffing, personally one of my favorites! Needless to say, we are one very blessed family!

Luke ate his first Thanksgiving dinner...and he approved!! He ate everything on his plate!

After dinner we played outside with the boys and that made it so much better!

Luke going on walks with Papa.

This horse is from a swing set that Adam played with when he was a little boy.

It's play time!

Our not so great family picture but I still love it!

After we had enough with all the leaves, we headed in for a delicious homemade pumpkin pie made by Nana. Later that evening the boys watched 'Charlie Browns Thanksgiving'. They love Snoopy and laugh hysterically everytime he comes on. That same night, even though it was late, Adam, Will and Jack put up our  Christmas tree. They both ended going to bed late, but they had two big smiles on their faces! The night couldn't have ended any better!

Give thanks...

 I wish I could list the million different reasons why I'm thankful. Some of these pictures are out of order, but I also wanted to add a few recent ones that were just too cute for me to wait to share.

If you remember, as I mentioned on my previous post, Luke had a  recent follow up with his pediatrician. This visit was very helpful and very relieving, considering all of the stress that we've been under due to his health. Luke is what I guess in "medical terms" they call a viral wheezer. The chronic wheezing began two months ago when he apparently got sick with a cold. This head cold triggered bronchitis, and unfortunately his poor little body has been trying to rid of it ever since.  As for now, he's on Pulmicort and Albuterol (a steroid and a breathing treatment to open up his little lungs), for a consistent 3 months, twice a day.  So far he's been responding to the treatments really well. Now, if he could only lay sweetly and happily still for 5 minutes every day! That would be helpful.

1. I'm thankful that Luke is responding extremely well to the treatments.

2. I'm thankful for the time alone that I get to spend with my loving husband.

 3. I'm thankful for these two sweet faces growing to love football.

4. I'm thankful for the times Luke is able to go outside to play. It doesn't happen often since the weather is usually too cold or too moist.

5. I'm thankful for sweet moments like these.

6. I'm thankful for the cutest little pilgrims that I have ever seen!

6. I'm thankful for the sweetest K-5 teacher ever!  William is so happy that he gets to see Nana everyday!

7. I'm thankful for SBK(Second Baptist Kindergarten). Mrs. Aspinall has been a sweet teacher to both of my boys.

8. I'm thankful for Jack loving his school and friends.

9. I'm thankful for all the sweet blessings and prayers that William gives.

10. I'm thankful for all the cute crafts both boys make at school and get to bring home to me.

11. I'm thankful for the sweetest things that Jack is thankful for each day. Even if they're silly! :)

According to his school paper, Jack is thankful for his mom, dad, Will, Luke, toys, and fish.

12. I'm thankful for all of the good laughs that I share with my boys! Inside was the cutest and funniest things that Jack has brought home to me so far...

This is the outside of the card...

this is the inside of the card...

Mrs. Aspinall asked Jack what he would make for Thanksgiving dinner and this is what he said...

Apparently, my kid likes Chik-fil-A too much! hahaha!

Our first Halloween

 Ever since Luke has been sick I have tried to stay at home with him for most of the time. With the exception of when I have to take Will and Jack to school. We promised the boys a while back ago, that we would make a trip to a pumpkin patch. It just felt impossible to make it out any day with the kiddos feeling sick. Finally on Friday, since it did get warmer than it has been, we decided to make a quick run to a nearby pumpkin patch. The boys enjoyed it very much. They even got to play for a little while.

Luke was so happy to be out of the house :)

We made good use of these shirts the entire month! ha ha ha!

 Later the evening, we had a little party!

 sooooo yumm!

 Jack only likes the icing...

 Now moving on to carving and...

 painting!

Luke did not get to paint, but he did love beating up this pumpkin!

Finished product~ By. Will and Daddy

he did most of the work ;-)

 Now is time to pose!

 This morning, the boys found a goody bag in the kitchen.

Happy Halloween!

This evening, they were all ready to trick or treat :)

From left, Jack (Commander Cody- The Clone Wars), Luke (Yoda the wise- Star Wars), Will (Clone Trooper-TheClone Wars)

Getting ready to trick or treat!

If you read my last post, you probably remember that Luke had a follow up appointment today.
I will post about it more tomorrow to let you know all of the details. Luke only stayed with us for a little while. Adam had to take him back to our friends house to keep him warm.

This was just the beginning. They each got tons of candy!

 Will and Jack had so much fun with their friends. They played and laughed so hard the entire time we were there. I think they had a fun first Halloween.

So Sick!

 You've probably heard by now how sick our two boys felt this past week. Last Saturday morning Jack began showing symptoms of a bad cold, and later in the day Luke did too. To make the story short, Jack and Luke ran a fever of 102 for a few days. After a few days Jack began feeling better and his fever broke. He was able to return to school this past Wednesday. He looks so much better, but on occasion he does go on coughing spells, and just appears miserable. As for Luke, the symptoms lasted longer and appeared to be worse. Monday evening Luke just looked terrible. His fever spiked up to 104 and he wanted nothing to do with eating or drinking. By Tuesday, the coughing went from worse to terrible. He wasn't able to hold down food and his eyes were so sad, and puffy.  Without a single sound Luke could tell you how awful he felt. The fast breathing and wheezing began so quick that Adam and I were terrified about his oxygen levels. That evening, after cooking dinner, I rushed Luke to the after hours near our house. Thankfully they are open until 10 p.m. and we were able to avoid the ER (well, so we thought!). One of doctors immediately checked his oxygen levels and they were horribly in the high 80's very low 90's. I could seriously feel my heart beating so hard just looking at the doctors concerned look. He immediately ordered the nurse to put him on a (nebulizer) breathing treatment. While Luke just laid there sweetly and quietly, the doctor informed me of possibly checking him into the hospital for possible pneumonia. I almost fell to the floor in disbelief of how serious his condition had gotten. He ordered a chest X-RAY that same night and after staying at the doctors office for a little over an hour his oxygen levels read 97, thank God! I returned home around 10 p.m. and swapped places with Adam. We both couldn't take Luke to the hospital since both boys were in bed asleep. Adam had to take Luke to the hospital for his X-RAY, while I, anxiously cried my eyes out the entire time that they were gone. Adam and Luke got home around 12 a.m. and we later found out that he was clear of pneumonia. Best News Ever!!! Even though Luke had a mild case of bronchitis he still had to be looked at by his doctor until his oxygen levels were back up to normal. By Wednesday night, Luke's fever broke. Thursday morning he woke up happy again and begging for breakfast just like he would normally do. Even though his congestion still sounds bad our little Luke looks 10x better! This Monday he goes back to the doctor for a follow up. Until then I still have to continue giving him his breathing treatments every 4 to 6 hours. God is great, and we will continue to praise him in the good, and in the bad times!  Thanks to everyone for all your prayers!!!

Luke and daddy at the doctor's office.  Luke had just finished a breathing treatment.

Luke knows how to wipe his own nose now! LOL!

He absolutley loves this dog!( thanks aunt Amy for this gift). He cuddles it and hugs it every night! :)

Luke Is Walking!

There's nothing sweeter than watching Luke's growth and development. He can walk all by himself now. Yay!! To be honest, I sort of panic every time he tries to walk since he tumbles a lot too. I follow him around the entire house just to make sure he doesn't get hurt. I just love watching him reach a new milestone.

Here's a video of Luke walking to daddy.