February 2024

We took Blake to Iowa City for his 2 year seizure free EEG!  Blake did SO amazing!  We went to Iowa City the night before since we had to sleep deprive him.  He loves these days because he gets so much one on one time with Mom and Dad.  We stayed in a hotel and got to go out to eat and swim in the hotel pool.  The EEG went well so now we just wait for results.

Claire and Naomi have loved playing at the boys basketball game.  They are so cute together!  Then one of the games all of their cousins came, except Carter, and they loved playing together!  Claire and Chloe loved running around playing.  She loved Chloe chasing her. 

We made birthday cards for Nana and Grant requested Taylor Swift music.  Grant is very excited for the Super Bowl and the Kelce/Taylor Swift drama.  Nana's birthday is on the Super Bowl so we are celebrating a week later but we brought her cards for her on her actual birthday.

We had fun watching the Super Bowl as a family.  We made brownies and I cut out chiefs.  It was a good game and we let Grant stay up way past his bedtime so we could watch the whole thing, even the overtime.  Chiefs won so Grant was very happy!

We got together with the Youngs on Grandpa's birthday and celebrated.  Grandma gave the kids their bears with Grandpa's shirt on it.  I also printed out the picture of Grandpa holding them in those shirts.  They are very cute and loved them!

Grant got strep the next weekend.  He came into my room crying because his throat hurt and I knew instantly it was strep.  He was so sad because he missed his last basketball game and his friend, Theo's birthday party.  He was feeling back to normal by the next day.  We brought his ipad to urgent care and he listened to Usher since he watched him at the Super Bowl halftime show.  He is liking the same music I loved when I was younger!

Blake and I went to the Mom/Son dance at Hope Elim!  We went with out neighbors Ashley and Carson and had a blast!  Blake did not like the actual dance because it was too loud.  They had other crafts and activities for the kids to do.  Then we went to dinner afterwards and the boys had a blast!  It was fun being able to spend time with just Blake.

Grant has been very into reading his Epic Athlete books he has been given.  He is sitting up in his room reading in the morning and before bed.  I love watching him find books he loves to read. 

We didn't go to church one week because of Grant's strep throat and Blake being weaned off his medicine.  We watched it on TV and were surprised how well the kids listened and then played while Greg and I listened.

Daycare taught Claire how to make a heart with her hands and she loves doing it.  It is the cutest thing to watch her do it so I had to get it on camera!

My coworker gave me some swim suits and Claire found them when she got home and HAD to put them on right away.  Then she told me to take a picture and posed for me.  So sweet but definitely turning into that threenager already.

Greg had the kids make me a video for my birthday and it was fun to watch.  On my birthday I picked up Claire from daycare and she wouldn't move her left arm.  I ended up taking her into the doctor and I think it was just nursemaids elbow.  The doctor popped it back into place and she was good as new like nothing happened. We even made it to basketball to see Blake's last game and were able to do cake once we got home.  It was an eventful birthday!  Barb came over a few days later so Greg and I could go out to dinner.  We were going to go to a concert at the new Waukee center but Claire was not behaving for Grandma so we came home.  Greg and I will get a night out in a few years when they are out of the house, I guess!

Blake had his last night of basketball on my birthday!  He loved basketball and was very good at it!  He scored so many baskets and had so much fun!  That is a sport we will continue doing for him.  His friend, Jack, was on his team too.  He also made a few other friends on his team.  Greg coached and actually had a great time coaching this season.  The kids were all well behaved and he had good co-coaches with him.

Grant had his friend, Amir, over after an early out day.  They seemed to have a good time playing together!

We have had some really, really nice days this month!  It has been to nice to be able to go outside and play in February.  Some days even got nice enough to wear shorts!  I will take this weather all spring long.  Now, lets just hope it sticks around.

Blake had a couple special days earlier this month since we are now weaning his medicine and the mother/son dance so it was time for Grant to have a day also!  He wanted to go to Wendy's and then bowling.  It was a fun afternoon and it is always nice to get one on one time with each kid.  Grant loves quality time so he was so excited to have time alone with Mom.

Blake is 2 years seizure free!!!!!!  Man, we never thought this day would come and now we are here.  We are SO thankful we have made it this far and get a chance to wean off Blake's medicine.  His EEG showed no seizures or spikes, thank the Lord!!!  He does have some brain slowing which I was nervous about but my doctor clarified that it was nothing concerning and is not something that needs to be followed.  It might be there forever or it might go away.  The slowing can show up on an EEG from anyone with issues with migraines, ADHD, autism, seizures and so many other brain disorders.  We have started weaning Blake's medicine so we will see what the next few months bring.  He will be off medicine (if all goes well) mid April and we will have an hour EEG 2 weeks off medication to see if there are any spikes or seizures.  If all that goes well, the highest risk of the seizures to come back is 6 months of medication.  It is going to be a long, worrisome few months but we have made it so far in this journey we are just celebrating every positive milestone that comes our way.

Grant plays well with Claire!  One evening when I was gone, Greg said Grant and Claire played tea party together.  The boys dont always play well together. They mainly just wrestle and fight so it is nice to see siblings get along.

We watched Migration on TV the other night and Claire wanted to fly like a bird.  She loved Daddy flying her around with her arms stretched out like a bird!

Greg got some good cuddles from Claire the other night.  She does not give us good cuddles very often so we take what we get when we get them.  She is our last kid so we definitely love the cuddles since our cuddles are numbered.