Hudson's big day

Hudson has been having some serious issues with his digestive tract. If you remember, Hudson was taken by Life Flight when he was 2 yrs old to a Children's hospital in Spokane. They were concerned that his bowel had ruptured. After 5 days in the PICU and many tests, we decided to take him home and continue the testing from there. However, after returning home, Hudson seemed to be better. Things were great for a few years and then in the past year he began to have the same issues. (I won't go into them on the blog for his sake) Anyhow, it was decided that we needed to have a quick look around inside. The findings made us overjoyed because our biggest fear (Cancer) was not found. We are now deciding what to do about what they did find. (*It's nothing life threatening. Just something he will deal with for the rest of his life. We are looking into ways to make it easy for him to deal with.)

In the first picture, Hudson is a little concerned, but he has his blankies (Bow & bow 2 & new blue bow) and he is thinking about the food he will soon be able to eat.

In the second picture, Hudson is still smiling. (Although, he hates the hospital PJ's he had to wear.)

The Third picture is Savannah playing nurse to Hudson.

The fourth picture, Hudson is being wheeled to the surgery room.

Last picture, It's lights out! Although it didn't really go that quickly. Hudson got a little panicked when they put the gas mask on his face. We requested they do that before starting an IV. We thought this would make things less scary. We thought wrong! Now Hudson keeps asking why I pushed the mask down on his face? They allowed me to stay until he was asleep and I tried getting him to accept the mask, but he wouldn't fall for any tricks. So the process was very disturbing to both Hudson and me.

Why do's I gotta cry, Mom?

After surgery, Hudson's first thoughts were of the food everyone had promised him. He had gone 2 days on a clear liquid diet and now he was ready to cash in on some real food. The first picture is Hudson reminding dad of his promised food. The nurses had promised Goldfish crackers and apple juice and that was great because that was his favorite treat. However, as seen in the second picture, Hudson is upset because he can't quite get a hand on his Goldfish crackers because his hand is wrapped really big to prevent him from pulling out the IV. In the third picture, Hudson can't stop crying (poor baby, he looks so pathetic.) and he asks us over and over, "Mom, Why do's I gotta cry?" The side effects of his anesthesia made him really emotional and everything made him cry. The recovery room was one big room with 15 other crying kids who were all struggling with the same problem. It was somewhat funny when Hudson would stare at these crying strangers who all seemed to be sharing his problem. Hudson would then ask us, "Mom, Why do's they got-sa cry too?" Then he would start crying because he felt sorry for their situation! Goldfish were going everywhere but into Hudson's poor mouth and he didn't want any help. Finally he figured it out and managed to get a few in his mouth. He then demanded another bag of backup fish crackers for when the first bag was gone. All the sugar made his BP and heartrate jump for a few minutes, but the nurse assured us all was well after watching it closely. Hudson was up and running an hour later. He wanted to get back to the hotel where he knew there was a suitcase full of presents!

Homework comes first

This is what happens at our house everyday at 4 pm. It can often last late into the night for Addy. I can still help Hudson, although I did learn that the shape I once knew as a diamond is no longer that. It is now a rhombus! I still manage with Savannah because even when I have no clue about what she is asking me, I just give her a very long answer with huge words and she has no clue that I made it all up. Either that or she feels sorry for her obviously confused mama and she is just leading me to believe that she thinks I'm still smarter then she is. Things are easiest with Addy. She and I both know that I have absolutely no idea about what she is learning and there is no way of faking it either. She is clearly smarter then me and there is no denying it!

The Happenings in Vanna's life

WOW! Another year gone by and another daughter to attend the churches annual ball. Savannah was so excited to attend the ball this year and I was happy that big sisters dress would fit her with only a few minor changes. I can't believe how much she has grown up. She becomes more beautiful with each day. (I'm at a loss for words. I keep staring at the picture and reminding myself that this is my baby girl.) love you, Vannie.

In other pictures, Savannah got her face painted at a local event. She and her BFF Hannah, talked me into attending the event and I'm glad they did. It was so much fun. I only wished I had taken Hudson along with us. Nonetheless, I made sure to get a bagful of freebies for him to enjoy later. A special thanks to Hannah for telling us about it.

The second pic proves that no matter the age you never grow to old to play in the snow! Addy and Vanna couldn't wait to put on a few layers of snow clothes. Instead they ran out to play in their PJ's at 5 am.

Busy School Days for Addy

Addy has been super busy with several school projects. In the top Picture, Addy was chosen to attend the NHD event up at Eastern Washington University. She and her friend, Brooke, presented their NHD project to a panel of judges. They both designed a website with graphics (pictures, slide shows, and videos) about the Ku Klux Klan. They did an awesome job, but sadly they didn't win :( Addy had other things to worry about, like forgetting her coat and nearly freezing to death during a sudden blizzard!

In the middle picture, Addy and her teammates pose for a picture for their power point presentation in which they built a light bulb. Addy attends a STEM school (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) which is a very progressive and forward thinking school. They challenge the students with very high standards and then expect them to set goals for creating an even higher standard. Simply put: They have SO MUCH HOMEWORK! Addy just amazes me at how well she is handling this all. By her second week of school, Addy built a reed switch motor after designing it on a CAD program called, Solidworks. She is currently building a circuit board. I don't know what it's for (probably for a NASA space shuttle!)

And finally, I stole this last picture from one of her social network sites. (How else am I to get these pics?) Way to go Addy. I am so proud of you.

Merry Christmas

Yes I know, our Christmas tree is pathetic. We were late with decorating and I didn't want to waste money on a real $70 tree when it would only be enjoyed for 2 weeks. Next year we will make sure to get the decorations out by Thanksgiving. I hope everyone has a good Christmas and an even better New Year.

Oh the joy of presents!

And then.... Clean up time :(

X-Mas Morning Pics

Can you believe we all slept in until 10:00 am. I set my alarm for 8 am and figured that at least one of my kiddos would be shaking a few presents, but to my glorious surprise... they were all sleeping. So I went back to bed too. We tried to get a half way decent Christmas morning pic, but it was such a challenge with all those presents waiting to be opened. Merry Christmas!

Hudson's photo shoot

Hudson always loves his time in the spot light :)

6 years old!

I can't believe my baby is already 6 yrs old! He practically doesn't even need me anymore. He has his own style of hair and clothing and an attitude to fit each one. When I walk him to his bus stop he quickly leaves my side and joins his friends and they laugh about things that I'm no longer privy to. And worse yet.... the eye rolling thing has already started. When I ask him what is so funny, he rolls his eyes and says, "Never mind Mom!"

First day at school #3

This is Hudson's first day of kindergarten at another school for the third time that day! His smile is quickly fading and when the principal informed us that there was no room, Hudson stuck his bottom lip out and said, "Ohhhh you don't wanna take me eee-verr (either)?" Break my heart right there. Well, they don't know what they will miss. I told Hudson. We get back in the car to return to school #2. Hudson says, "They just got-sa take me. They just got-sa."

First day at school #2

This is Hudson's first day at kindergarten at another school for the second time in the same day! This is school # 2 and the school he is now a student at. However, we were sent to another school after this one and later returned back an hour later :(

First Day of Kindergarten at school #1

This is a new adventure. We home school our children, but this year Hudson will attend a few months of Kindergarten to get a little extra help in speech and reading. This picture was taken on his first day of school at school #1. Yes, number one. There were two other schools he had a first day at and all in the SAME day. At this first school we were ready to go. Hudson had taken his kindergarten entrance tests and had met his teacher. He arrived on the first day and was greeted by his teacher. He received his name tag and started his first day of kindergarten. Then 10 minutes later as I stood in the office to get his bus schedule, I was notified that a mistake had been made and that new school boundaries had been made. He was at the wrong school. WHAT? I was surprised at how well I took the news. I got Hudson from his class and told him that his first day at this school would be his last. We got into the car and drove ACROSS town to school #2. Apparently they are busing kids across town due to overcrowding. At school #2 I wasn't to thrilled. It's not in the best neighborhood and its rather old. Even the Principal thought it was odd that we would be bused all the way over here. She said that we should be at yet another school. So off to school #3. We arrive and talk to the Principal. Then we wait and wait and wait for them to decide what class has enough room. I decide to teach Hudson his kindergarten teachers name. It took a week to teach him the name of his first teacher, so I decided to get started. HOWEVER, news arrived that there was no space at that time at school #3. So back to School #2 we drove. This is the old school in the bad neighborhood. I seriously sat in the car and debated rather I should just home school him instead, but he was so excited with his new school clothes on and his backpack filled with color crayons and glue. So in we walked AGAIN into this school. They quickly walked us down to one of the kindergarten classes and I really liked the teacher. Hudson quickly made friends in under 3 minutes. The one good thing about being at a school with so many low income families is that there are many more programs available because they get more funding. The classroom size is half (15 kids verses 31 kids) the size of the ones at the other schools and there is a lot of one on one help from specialist at this school. The only bad news is the fact that there is NO BUS! I'm not joking. I've never heard of a public school with not enough buses for everyone. Again do to overcrowding they simply don't have the space. So I have to drive him across town every day and return to pick him up 3 hrs later. He is on the waiting list for a bus. Were keeping are fingers crossed because this current "Mommy Bus" isn't going to work much longer.

Pics on my phone

One of my favorite things is to find these pics on my cellphone. They really liked this car and wanted to snap a few poses before we left the mall. It's hard to believe that Addy will be getting her permit in a few months. My girls are growing up. Although I'm really not ready for this to happen, I enjoy watching them develop their own likes and dislikes and personalities that are so different from each other. Yet, they remain the closest of friends.

Turning 13 yrs old in a few days!

Sorry again for the blurry pics. They are courtesy of my cell phone. Savannah really knows how to have fun and she didn't mind all of the strangers standing there staring at her either! That's what I love about this girl. She's growing up, but still keeps it real (as real as it can be!)