And on the 11th Day...

On September 1st Gehrig was 11 days old. The day started out pretty much like all the days prior...Brian and the older boys got to be home with us due to Labor Day. Throughout the day I started to think that Gehrig felt a little warm. I kept his blanket off of him for a couple hours to make sure it wasn't just my newborn Mommy brain overreacting. By late afternoon I continued to think he felt a bit warm, but kept trying to shrug off my paranoid mind. Early that evening, I finally took his temperature just to convince myself I was being a worry wart...except I was wrong. I ended up worrying more because he was running a low grade fever. Still, I tried to tell myself it wasn't anything, but Brian said I'd better call the exchange after hours and see what they thought. Throughout all of this, Gehrig didn't act one bit affected by any of this minus the congestion he'd developed the day prior.

Per the nurse's instructions, we needed to take his rectal temperature...a first for us and since I was the one on the phone and holding him, I made that Brian's job. The thermometer read slightly warmer than the original temperature. It was 100.8. Since it was over 100.4, he needed to be seen immediately (standard for newborns). She said it couldn't wait for the pediatrician's office in the morning. Her urgency made me feel guilty for brushing it off all day and it also put some fear in me. We're pretty lucky that I have such amazing coworkers turned friends. Deb quickly came over to bail us out with watching Nolan and Parker. Like a fool (because I should have learned my lesson after Parker's hospital stay), I didn't bring my pump with me.

When we arrived at Cardinal Glennon they took him in right away. His temperature had gone down slightly by their reading. He really had no other symptoms besides the stuffy nose and temperature...he'd been eating well (had actually gained an entire pound since his 1 week appt Thursday), peeing/pooping well, and sleeping like a rockstar (only waking twice/night)! The doctors agreed those were all excellent signs, but they worry when any babies that young get a fever like that. With that said, they broke the news that they needed to take all precautions because the rewards far outweigh any risks. With that said, Brian and I both broke down a bit. When they told us what that entailed (blood work, catheter for urine sample, and spinal tap) we broke down even more. We asked several questions to several of the doctors and nurses. We felt bad not just taking them on their word, but this was our little guy...we couldn't bare the thought of him having a spinal tap. I left the room while they did the blood work and IV. It ended up taking over an hour while I stood outside the door and listened to my baby cry SO.HARD. I couldn't contain my tears either. They had another nurse come in to attempt because the first one said she didn't feel comfortable trying anymore. Right before that point, I went in and told Brian that I was not okay with any of this. I was ready to pack up and leave...besides, his temp was coming back down. The doctor re-explained how crucial it was to have the full work up in the instance that it would turn up to be a bacterial infection..which could be critical. I left the room again and let them attempt to get a good IV going. This nurse was successful.

The doctor and nurses then came back in to explain all of the procedures for a spinal tap and prep the room. We were then taken to the waiting room for the 20-30 minute procedure...my first time to leave him alone with someone other than Brian. My heart sank and my mind felt so heavy. Feeling helpless while your child endures such things has to be one of the worst feelings in the world. I would have gladly taken his place if I could. It seemed so unfair. While in the ER waiting room I saw this:

It brought so much comfort to me that I reread it several times. The tiny waiting room was so cold and the time seemed to crawl by. Finally the doctor came back and told us the procedure went well and they were able to get enough spinal fluid. They were ready to admit us. That took a little while in itself and by the time we were taken to our room it was 2:00 a.m., but then the floor nurses had several things they needed to do and as for me not bringing a pump along? I was in dire need of one and was finally able to have access to one! It was 3:30 in the morning before we were even able to lay down. Brian was getting up at 5 to go back home to get the boys where they needed to be and get a bag packed for us. The boys spent the night at our neighbors once we realized we were being admitted. There was also horrible storms that night, so I worried about how Parker and Nolan would sleep. I got my answer when Brian called at 5:45 and said Nolan saw him pull in the drive. I don't think he slept hardly at all. Storms are basically the only time he's allowed to sleep in our room because he has a very hard time with them.

We ended up staying in the hospital until late Wednesday. They had to watch his cultures for 48 hours to make sure nothing was growing. By that point, he'd had 2 1/2 days worth of antibiotics because they go ahead and treat for bacterial infection at that age to stay ahead of the infection. Luckily, he ended up not having a bacterial infection, but tested positive for enterovirus...the same virus that had been (and still continues to be) seen on the news for it's unusually high rate in kids this year. Many children on the floor we were admitted to were testing positive for it and several were moved into ICU (mostly asthmatics).

While I hate that I had another infant hospitalized, I am so thankful for Cardinal Glennon being so close and the awesome staff there. I am also very grateful that both of my hospitalized infants weren't there for very long and are healthy, growing, thriving boys. I do not know how parents that have to face more do. I cannot even fathom the strength they carry. It's a great reminder to hold and snuggle our little ones tight and to thank God for letting us raise them. I pray "for His loving care the most of all."

My Cup Runneth Over

On the morning of Thursday, August 21, 2014, I was already experiencing my longest pregnancy to date. Each morning when I arrived at work, I was often greeted with, "Your still here?" My goal when starting the school year was to at least get a couple of weeks in with my new 4th graders and I had made it! I didn't last too long at school that morning, as I ended up texting Brian to come get me 8:32 am.

When we arrived at the hospital, the contractions that had been coming steadily every 2-4 minutes had started to subside. We decided to walk the halls for awhile before going home to see if they would pick back up. The nurse checked me again and I still had no change (dilated a 3 and about 50% effaced). My OB said he could just induce me if I would like, but I had too many fears with induction after so many friends ended up with c-sections after inductions. We decided we'd just go home. At that point, my nurse said she had to hook me back up to monitor me while she got my discharge papers together.

Out of no where, as soon as she hooked me back up, the contractions rapidly came back. So, at 1:25, we realized we were staying. The contractions were strong and steady. Around 5:00, Dr. Scharff arrived and broke my water (my water had to be ruptured with all 3 of my kiddos). By 5:30 pm, both of our parents had arrived to the hospital and my contractions were getting pretty intense. At about 6:30, I was ready for & requested my epidural and by 7:00 it was in place. At 7:23, I was 80% effaced and dilated to a 6. 

Around 7:45-8:00, I started to get a little nauseous off and on, so I mentioned it to my nurse. As I was saying that to her, I started to feel a little bit of pressure. She asked if I felt like I need to push and I quickly replied no, as I was thinking there way no way since I was just a 6. No sooner had I told her no that I started to change my mind. When she checked me around 8:15, we were all quite surprised that I was 100% effaced and a 10! She hadn't even called the doctor yet. Her exact words were, "It's about to get chaotic in here." She called my OB and he said not to let me start pushing and he'd be there in about 10 minutes. While waiting for him to arrive, I remember the urge to push was getting so strong that my body was shivering and it took more effort NOT to push than to push...it even started to resist my efforts and doing it naturally on it's own! About 25 minutes later he finally arrived. By time he was ready to go, I definitely was. Our baby boy #3 arrived in less than 5 minutes!

Aside from the waiting to push part, this labor and delivery felt like something out of a movie. It seriously just went flawlessly. Brian and I both had that feeling and even recall how we (us, the nurses, & OB) were joking and smiling throughout the whole process. Everyone was sharing their gender guesses. I was still pretty convinced I was having another boy. Brian couldn't make up his mind - he was 50/50. Both of our moms were convinced it was going to be a girl this time. Dr.Scharff was very confident in his guess, but wouldn't tell us what it was before baby's arrival, so to keep him honest I said he had to write it down. He did...on the bed sheet:

Sorry, I can't rotate the image

Gehrig Louis Curry joined our family at 9:00 pm, weighing far smaller than we anticipated at 6 pounds, 14 ounces (we were thinking at least 8 lbs) and 18 3/4 inches.

It's crazy how fast those special days go by. I find myself, like with Nolan and Parker, reliving each hour of that day every Thursday since his arrival. I love everything about the rush of bringing a new life into this world. There's no words to describe the million emotions felt that day and especially in that instant when you hear their first cry and feel the weight of their tiny body upon your chest. I feel so blessed to have these experiences. It's beyond amazing...a tiny miracle. God has blessed us, that's for sure. I cannot wait to see my boys relationships with one another evolve over the years. Three beautiful boys....brothers. Brothers to fill our days playing more baseball (is that even possible?), getting dirty, wrestling, exploring, arguing, defending one another, loving, and growing together. My cup runneth over.

 

BROTHER
Stand in my corner;
PLAY BASEBALL;
WrEsTLe WiTh ME;
Sometimes let me WIN;
BE MY SUPERHERO;
bUiLd FoRtS;
Believe in my DREAMS;

Keep my secrets;
GO ON ADVENTURES;
GET ME BACK ON MY FEET;

PaRtNeRs IN cRiMe;
Share your toys;
Be my BEST FRIEND.

4:30 a.m. When Sleep Won't Come...

So, here I sit at 4:30 in the morning having been awake since 1:00 a.m. For those of you that know me well, you know that this is so not me. I've tossed and turned and tried to shut off my mind, but sleep will not come. It's not even like there's one single thing keeping me from that peaceful shut eye...it's a million of the most random thoughts ever. Normally this ensues the night before I meet my classroom full of new kiddos, but even then, I get some good rest in  between those random "must-do's" and endless "to-do's."

Tonight, we had Meet the Teacher night...tomorrow morning brings our annual start of the year, Teacher's Institute. I cannot believe I'll be entering my TENTH year of teaching. It's crazy. My first group of 4th graders graduated high school this past spring. However, even that's not what is keeping me up entirely.

The boys are in Effingham with my parents. Probably sound asleep and kicking each other as they flip and flop about the bed as usual. My mom has been dealing with Shingles for about two weeks now and I know the last couple of nights she's had a difficult time resting...am I having sympathy pains?

Even Gunner, our 7 month old puppy, is sound asleep in his own bed.

I'm 37 1/2 weeks pregnant with Baby Curry #3. By this point, with Nolan, I'd already had a newborn for 4 days. With Parker? I'd have him in about 4 more days. The last couple of months I have had a difficult time sleeping soundly, but I at least get some rest.

So, here I am...debating whether to wake Brian up and try to talk him into an early morning breakfast date (my favorite meal of the entire day).

I don't know, maybe it is all of the above stirring in my head. I've never been absent at the beginning of a school year, both boys were spring babies and all of, most of, a large part of my important teaching has already concluded by April & May. Perhaps the anxiety of coming back after a sub is weighing a bit on my mind. Not to mention the last couple of years of teaching has changed so drastically that I worry I'm going to be so far behind and struggling to catch up (and connect) with this group of kiddos upon my return at the end of October/beginning of November. Even then, I know once baby is here I will not (hopefully) worry too much about it. Maybe I am hoping my Mom is getting some good rest tonight and feeling better quickly. I know the boys can be quite demanding and keep their Meemaw & Papa in full swing, go-go-go mode. Not to mention, it's important to me that she's able to be at the hospital when this little one arrives. Perhaps I am even a little worried about our new puppy adjusting to another crazy Curry kiddo ;) And maybe, just maybe, I'm still stuck in limbo between trying to soak up and enjoy every last minute of this pregnancy (which I am) because I know how incredibly much I am going to miss this experience...this miracle; yet, I am also anxious to see if this is a boy or girl (I'm still going with boy), see his/her face, go through my last labor and delivery, and smell, kiss, & love on this newborn baby that will grow much too quickly despite my efforts to slow it down and photograph it in my mind.

This summer was fun, but it was also different. Nolan and Parker are both so incredibly used to being around other kids and on such a routine/schedule that it made me realize I better develop a semi-structured schedule for next summer regardless of my own desire to be sporadic and spontaneous. With that said, we did keep busy: Six Flags, the zoo, the Arch, races to see their favorite racer and cousin, Levi, many ice cream trips, baseball games, Raging Rivers Waterpark, annual blackberry picking, several Cardinals games, and the splash pad. Did I mention at-home baseball games that took place several time a day? Or, the numerous, almost day long baseball games played in Meemaw & Papa's backyard (Papa even made a diamond in their yard with a back stop)? The daily arguments over who got to be Yadi...Nolan usually won this battle and Parker tends to change day-to-day between Adam Wainwright, Matt Holliday, and Matt Carpenter. Oh, and watch out if you mistakenly call him the name he was the day prior...he'll have no problem putting you in your place.

We've been quite busy creating memories...memories as a family of 4 that I will cherish forever, just as the ones I cherish and hold near to my heart as a family of 3. How is it that those first precious memories as a family of 3, that I do hold so closely, almost seem like a dream? It's so hard to even picture what that was like sometimes. It's so hard imagining life before Parker and all that he brings to our family. It's funny, because I can easily recall some silly feelings and worries I was having about adding #2 to the family at this point in my pregnancy, yet I still stand amazed how he just fit right in. I am, indeed, anxious to let this third baby fall right into place and see how quickly Nolan and Parker embrace him/her and find that this one, also, will fall right into place where he/she belongs. A family of 5.

It's been a long time since my Christmas Eve present to Brian announcing this little one was on the way, but it's also flown by.

PS: I may be slightly worried that I've lucked out with the other two never being awake in the middle of the night to "just be awake," they nursed and went right back to sleep with zero problems. I'm hoping this insomnia is not foreshadowing of what lurks ahead. But, if so, someone remind me that this too shall pass, and it'll pass quickly. ;)

"These are the days we will remember. These are the times that won't come again. The highest of flames become an ember and you gotta live 'em while you can. So take 'em by the hand, they're yours and mine. Take 'em by the hand and live your life. Take 'em by the hand, don't let them all fly by...days go by." -Keith Urban

Parker's Almost THREE

Tonight, the eve of you birthday, all that keeps playing in my mind over & over again is the Taylor Swift song "Never Grow Up"

"Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight.
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light.
To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that...

I know that I start oh so many blogs this way (when I'm actually using my time blogging), but it's true...where has the time gone? I remember when I was little my Uncle Lynn (whom I always felt an extremely close kinship with) would tell me "you're old much longer than you are young..." Of course, at the time, I thought he was just crazy. I'm sure he's smirking from Heaven right now about me even typing that. Well, I'm slowly beginning to see with each passing year just what he meant. Time passes so quickly and absolutely no one is immune to it. It seems like yesterday Parker was ready to make his somewhat scary debut...not just 3 short years ago. Neither Brian nor myself knew I'd be woken at 2:00 a.m. thinking my water broke...and that was only the very beginning of a roller coaster of emotions. The many ways Parker makes us smile on a daily basis is far more than I could have imagined. His personality is completely and utterly infectious. His smile lights up a room. He loves making anyone smile and the things he thinks of cracks us up. Wise beyond his years that one...an old soul.

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple.
I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

I wish I could say I wouldn't let anyone break his heart. The truth is there's too much to be gained from having a broken heart...lessons, molding, and the building of strength & character. So, instead, I'll just say to endure the heart breaks when they come and it won't last forever. Just around the corner you'll have brighter days that you can't possibly see coming. YOU, Parker James, are one of those very exact brighter days that keep on shining. YOU remind me that things will always get better.

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off.
At 14 there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots.
But don't make her drop you off around the block...
Remember that she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your pj's getting ready for school

It's hard to imagine either of my boys in the teenage years, but that, too shall come too quickly one day. I pray when you're teenagers that you don't think your Dad and I are near as dumb as I once thought my own parents were (sorry Mom & Dad). However, as the time continues to pass, you'll realize that maybe ole Mom & Dad weren't so crazy & stupid and perhaps they did know what they were talking about. Again, another piece of advice from my ole' Uncle Lynn.

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up.
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
No one's ever burned you, nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to, just try to never grow up.

Before bedtime when I put you down tonight, Parker, I asked you..."Will you just please stay 2 for Mommy?" You put your hands on my cheeks the way you so often do and said, "Noogie-Noogie-Noogie" and started cracking up laughing, then quickly said, "I have to grow up, I'm gonna be free tomorrow!"

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room...
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home.
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone
Favorite songs...that's you, too. Music is one of your very favorite things right now. You love all types and even your babysitter insists you know every single song that comes on. You instantly grab your guitar or microphone and put on daily concerts for anyone that will listen. This is a memory I know I will keep tucked inside and for many years down the road it'll bring me even more smiles and joy...who knows....perhaps even more smile & joy than now (if that's possible).

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off.
It's so much colder that I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on...

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
I could still be little
Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even though you want to, please try to never grow up
Oh, don't you ever grow up
Oh, never grow up, just never grow up

Happy, Happy 3rd Birthday tomorrow, Dear Parker. I love you as high as the sky & as deep as the ocean! Although a part of me doesn't want you to grow up...there's another large part that can't wait to see the good you will do and the man you will become.

Easing Back in with a Survey to Break the Ice

So, I asked the boys the following questions (Nolan's done the survey on here before, but this is Parker's 1st time). The questions were phrased as "Mommy" or "Daddy" vs "us/we," but I typed them this way to save time! The first answer is their response for Mommy; the second answer is their response for Daddy.

1. What is something we always say to you?
Parker: Love you; Go in timeout
Nolan: I love you; Don't play your iPod in the morning

2. What makes us happy?
Parker: Don't pee in your pants; Bowling
Nolan: Being good; same for dad

3. What makes us sad?
Parker: Hamburgers; Gunner
Nolan: When I make you have to yell at me; Same for Dad

4. How do we make you laugh?
Parker: Those guys; Those guys, too
Nolan: Hide and jump out and scare me all the time; Farts

5. What were we like as a child?
Parker: Toot; Drink milk
Nolan: You watched "Full House" and "Brady Bunch" a lot; He watched Woody Woodpecker

6. How old are we?
Parker: 2; 3
Nolan: I forget..give me a hint...28?; I know this....38

7. How tall are we?
Parker: big; little
Nolan: middle; tall

8. What is our favorite thing to do?
Parker: Play bowling; play basketball
Nolan: Sleep; Spend time with me

9. What do we do when you're not around?
Parker: cry; um...cry, too
Nolan: Make messages under my pillow for me to find and read; FaceTime us

10. If Mommy/Daddy becomes famous, what will it be for?
Parker: Him; Huh?
Nolan: Getting sick the most; being a good baseball coach

11. What are we really good at?
Parker: Um...basketball?; Um....football
Nolan: Making cakes; uh...making dinner

12. What are we not very good at?
Parker: Tennis, but not me; ummm soccer
Nolan: Playing basketball; running as fast at me

13. What do we do for our job?
Parker: Edwardsville school?; outside
Nolan: teach; teach baseball

14. What's our favorite food?
Parker: strawberries; blueberries, I think
Nolan: Nachos; Pizza..wait, no...peppercini's!

15. What makes you proud of us?
Parker: Gunner; um...you?
Nolan: Laying with me; him playing with me

16. If we were a cartoon character, who would we be?
Parker: The monster, maybe; baseball
Nolan: Um...I don't know; I don't know

17. What do you and Mommy/Daddy do together?
Parker: Hug people; funny
Nolan: Cuddle; play basketball

18. How are you and Mommy/Daddy the same?
Parker: Happy; He spits it out then plays football
Nolan: We both like white sauce on our spaghetti; by eating peppercini's

19. How are you and Mommy/Daddy different?
Parker: flowers; cardinal bird
Nolan: I like playing basketball and you don't; He likes red pepper on his pizza and I don't...too spicy

20. How do you know we love you?
Parker: A lot; ice cream
Nolan: Because you always give me kisses and say it; he spends time with me when he gets home

I intend to add a couple more blogs this week, but am not planning to attempt all the fun times I've missed blogging about! It makes me sad thinking about what I missed documenting!

Wow.

Wow. Has it really been that long since my last post?! I'm not even going to make excuses. I keep telling myself I need to get back to doing this on a regular basis for my children. My plan is to make this blog into a book...a keepsake for them, and in order to do that, I need to keep adding to it rather than holding close to all the thoughts, laughs, and memories inside my own head because I want them to recall them and have them to cherish as much as I do each and every day.

 

So, with that, I am going to vow to do some catching up over the next couple of weeks.

Tonight, I am feeling an array of emotions. I tucked both boys into bed and had a couple of hours to myself to do absolutely nothing but get absorbed into my DVR'd shows and fill mind head with distractions. Tomorrow, I am going in for another surgery to remove the remaining cancer in my lymph nodes/neck. After my last dose of unexpected radiation treatment in April, we discovered that my body and my cancer have both stopped responding to radiation. I am so ready to have this surgery and move forward. I am more than ready to close this chapter of my life and my boys life. I hate the time and energy it strips away from my family and me, but in the same token, I'm completely grateful for my prognosis...especially when this past year, we've lost so many young friends and co-workers to this evil, nondiscriminatory disease.

Over the last year, we have talked openly and honestly with Nolan regarding the "c" word. We asked him if he'd ever heard of it and what he knew about it. We felt it was very important to clear up any misconceptions that he may have about cancer and more specifically my cancer. We decided that it wasn't going to do him any favors if he builds up and learns about cancer from the outside world when it was so close to home that it is actually in his home. We want him to be comfortable with coming to us, learning from us, and asking us questions. However, we also don't force the issue or force him to discuss anything. We provide him with the basics, ask him if he has questions, and move on from there. We have come to realize that his version of cancer and our version of cancer is so very different. His world hasn't been deeply impacted by it. His vision hasn't been completely jaded like ours has from this horror. He is more in the moment and he has never been one to openly discuss his feelings and wear his heart on his sleeve. He has always liked to put on a strong front.

Today, was a bit exhausting. Brian was sick all day long and found out he has strep, so I took the boys out solo today to stay away: 1.) So he could rest & 2.) So I don't catch anything prior to tomorrow. Parker only took about a 20 minute nap in the car and Nolan barely "rested" (he no longer 'naps'....he "rests" and falls asleep immediately watches a movie). I was so glad to have a day out with my boys, but wished Daddy could have joined us as well. Nolan and I talked just a tiny bit about tomorrow, what the rest of his week is going to look like (thanks, Meemaw & Papa), and what he could expect when he comes back home. He seemed to take it in, but then quickly changed the subject, as usual.

Tonight, when I was tucking him in...he was a little bit teary eyed, but holding them in and asked me what time Grandma & Grandpa are coming tomorrow because he didn't want to be sleeping still. I asked him what was wrong, and he just quietly said that he didn't want me to leave without telling him goodbye. I quickly assured him that I would not leave for the hospital without telling him goodbye and that I would never intentionally leave him without telling him goodbye. He was very happy to hear that and again changed the subject by informing me that he had boogers in his nose. Ahh...boys! :)

Tonight...I pray that my boys never, ever have to deal with cancer on such a close surface again. Sadly, the older I get, it seems to be more and more common and surrounds me everywhere. I hate that. I wish I could forever shield my boys from all the hurtful things that this crazy world has to offer. It's easy to focus on those hurts and forget how much good is in this world, too, and right now...the best things in my world are wrapped up with their blankies, raggies, & bunnies dreaming comfortably in their beds awaiting one more secret hug, kiss, and longing gaze by their nightlights. I love you as high as the sky & as deep as the ocean, Nolan & Parker.

I watched this video a day after he passed away and bawled my eyes out through the entire thing...but in such a good and moving way. Cancer is awful & very unfair, but I do believe that the good and positive in people like Zach far exceed anything that cancer can do or bring to the table. It comes to destroy...and in a way, it does, but cancer isn't what he and the millions of others will be remembered for....it's the GOOD that always shines through in the end. This was too touching not to share. (Remember to scroll down and pause the music player on my blog first).

Update of the Boys

They are good at making me proud to be their Momma! :)

Nolan is learning so much in Kindergarten this year...I just simply cannot believe how much he's learned and how well he is doing. He is reading level D books (which I know for my non-teacher friends probably doesn't mean a whole lot, but it's what they want 1st graders to start in -- yes, that's my bragging Mommy moment)! He's developed some good friendships and we hear about these friends nightly (it's so weird for me not putting faces with names for the first time ever in his life). He truly loves going to Miss Cindy's house before school and a couple of times a week after school, if needed. In fact, when we get there, him & a girl from his class, Rhea (not even sure if that's how she spells it) beg for him to be able to stay for just a little while longer. He's beginning to learn to tell time. Math is currently his favorite part of the school day (I'm very shocked he didn't say recess or lunch). He is still very obsessed with basketball and about to start Coach Pitch baseball again soon. He also lost another tooth in early February at Great Grandma Mac's Surprise 80th Birthday! Great Uncle Bruce pulled it out...Nolan was a little bit bummed (but he quickly got over it) because he wanted to pull it himself again & because once again, it wasn't at school for him to get a tooth necklace. Ha! We are STILL trying to stop the finger-sucking and I'm beginning to become hopeless...or just set on the fact that some major work is going to have to happen to his new teeth someday. He also still sleeps nightly with his blue bunny that he's had since he was born. It has definitely seen better days and is getting to the point that I'm afraid to wash it. I love this boy as high as the sky & as deep as the ocean.

Parker is also learning SO much! He can count to 5 and attempts to sing his ABCs, it's just hard to tell what he's singing unless you start the song with him! He talks ALL. THE. TIME. I simply cannot get over how much more verbal he is at this age compared to his brother. I think he's trying to keep up with Nolan. He loves dancing and singing. But, more than anything, he LOVES to get into everything & anything...he often goes from one thing to the next looking what to get into. This, too, is completely opposite of his "Bubba." If he gets a boo-boo, he has to have you kiss it, then he's completely better. He is great at communicating with words what he wants. He also loves basketball and to shoot. He has been going potty right before bathtime for a couple of months now and is so proud of himself when he does that he walks around saying, "I potty!" He still has to have his raggy for bedtime, security when he's upset or somewhere new, and in the car. It smells horribly because he still sucks on it, but I guess it is better than those fingers?! I love this boy as high as the sky & as deep as the ocean.

These are the moments...