Summer came and went in a blur, which meant only one thing.... FOOTBALL!!! I enjoyed dressing the twins up on Saturdays to show our support. Rylee even learned how to ring her cowbell by the end of the season. Reid and Rylee supported the Bulldogs through a tough season. They knew all along we could pull off the most important game of the season!!! Go DAWGS!
We have joined a new church in Greenville called Refuge. It is a "come as you are" church and we love it! The 1st Sunday in October, we dedicated Reid and Rylee to God and asked the church to help us raise them in Godly ways. Brent is in the band, Megan and I help in the nursery, and Reid and Rylee are loved dearly. I am so happy that God is in control of our lives and has opened this door for my family. What a blessing!
The 3rd week of October, Reid had a terrible cough. I took him to the Dr. and was told it was his allergies. By Wednesday, he was wheezing with every breath. After a breathing treatment and steam shower with no improvement, we headed out to the emergency room. He sounded so bad that they rushed us back and immediately started breathing treatments. They also tried 5 times to start and IV, and each time he screamed louder and got madder. After the 5th try I told them that was enough! Not long after I blew up, all his test results came back and we found out he had RSV. Last year they were given shots to protect them against this terrible virus, but since they are over 20 lbs now (YAY!), we don't get the shots this year. So we spent 2 nights/3 days in the hospital under the oxygen tent.
Rylee stayed with her daddy one night and her Pappie the next. She was well taken care of, but I missed her like CRAZY! The following week she started coughing. Luckily the Dr had already given us an antibiotic for her and instructed me to do breathing treatments.
October 28 was a very emotional day for me. I could only describe it as bitter-sweet. It was bitter because my babies turned ONE!!!! But it was sweet because they have come so far! I am amazed even today to go back and look at pictures from a year ago. As I write this, my emotions overflow, because a year ago we were still in Jackson. God is so good.
On Halloween, the twins had their 1st birthday party. It was so much fun. We had pumpkin cakes, painted pumpkins, pumpkin shaped jello... you get the point. Pumpkins were everywhere. I have never known why, but their Aunt Brooke has always called them the "pumpkins." Still today, when she texts me, it is "How are the pumpkins?" How appropriate!!!! Below are before and after pictures of the cakes. Neither one of them were shy and enjoyed every minute.
The day after our 1st birthday, Reid and Rylee got to go buy new shoes from the mall, then we went to Wal-Mart for fun stuff! This was their first time to ride in the double cart. We quickly decided they aren't quite ready.
After the very eventful October, November was somewhat calm and I am thankful for that. We finally made it to the zoo in Memphis and that was so much fun!!! The kids really enjoyed it. Reid noticed every animal, and Rylee noticed every person. She is a little on the nosy side, OK... A LOT! But we really enjoyed that day. Megan and her boyfriend went with us. Other than the babies screaming on the way there, I think it went good.
The first week of November I took Reid to the Dr and the tube in his ear was blocked. The next day we went to Jackson. Pretty much, I drove 2 hours to get there, we were there for not even 20 minutes, then came home. The tube was TOTALLY blocked and they told me to put peroxide in it twice a day for 2 weeks then come back. So we did.
The next Monday, after school, Mom texted me that Rylee had a fever over 100 so I rushed to get her. We took out to the Dr and they said her tonsils were terrible. Within 2 days Reid had it. It was not a fun week at our house. I decided to go ahead and make Rylee and appt. with the ENT in Jackson when we went back.
We went back to Jackson and they said Rylee was perfect. Ears, nose, and throat looked great!!!! Reid on the other hand.... Well!?!?! His tube was still totally blocked. It looked no different. The Dr gave me 2 choices. 1) Keep doing what we were, but no improvements were promised. 2) Put peroxide in it, let it sit, and try to pull the clot out, with the chance of the tube coming out. If the tube came out, since the hole was already there, it shouldn't be a problem getting a new one back in. I chose to try to get it out. Pappie took Rylee to the waiting room, and that was probably best! We soaked his ear for about 5 minutes, then the fun began.
The Dr came in with the nurse practitioner. The NP held his head while I held his arms. He started out doing pretty good, until the Dr did suction. I don't know if it scared him or hurt, but my baby boy has NEVER screamed like that. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. They got the clot out, but the tube came out also. It wasn't a problem to get a new one in, but he was still screaming. It took us getting out of the entire clinic for him to calm down. He screamed out in his sleep with flashbacks for over 2 hours. I never want to do that to him again.
I had the entire week of Thanksgiving off, and it was wonderful!!! I have Mrs. Stella the week off and enjoyed my babies to the fullest extent. We got our Christmas tree up, decorated the house, and just enjoyed each other. I felt like this was their first Thanksgiving since they were still in the hospital last year. We had Thanksgiving with our Refuge family that Wednesday night. Thursday morning we watched the parade, then went to Nana's house. After that, we all needed a nap, then headed to Grandma's. This year I understood the meaning of Thanksgiving more than ever before. I have so much to be Thankful for. A wonderful husband, two beautiful kids and a beautiful niece, a great family, a new house, and I could keep going. God has opened my eyes to how much I have to be Thankful for.
Last weekend another miracle entered our lives. Our good friends, Brian and Sulee Blansett, welcomed their son, Jackson Adam Blansett. He is perfect! Jackson is exactly 13 months younger than Reid and Rylee. I am so excited about watching them grow together. Please pray for them. Jackson has jaundice and has been in and out of the hospital. We think he is on the downside of it, but please lift him up. Also pray for Sulee. I know it can be overwhelming as a new mom, especially when you are worried about their health.
We are getting ready for Christmas!!! My favorite time of year. Our anniversary is December 16th, which is also the night of our fireman's Christmas party. I guess I know how I will spend that night. Santa received our lists and I think he will bring everything they have asked for. Below are a few of our pictures for Christmas. The first one is Christmas Eve last year. I am AMAZED at how much they have changed in a year!
I have tried to include all of our highlights (and LOWlights) from the past few months, but I know I'm leaving out stuff. I didn't realize how much people check my blog until recently. I had jury duty in October and a girl looked at me and said, "You are Blocker Babies!" I asked what she meant. She went on to explain that she follows my blog and was ready for an update. Then last weekend at the hospital, Brian's sister told me she follows us, and it was time to update.
A physical update on the babies... they are both crawling. Reid "army" crawls, but gets where he wants. If he is only in his diaper he will get up on those knees, but he fusses the entire time. Rylee was immobile one day and literally gone the next. She is pulling all the way up and wants to walk. She just doesn't understand that we still need to help her. She is also my talker, AKA my mockingbird. Don't say anything around her that can't be repeated because she will sure try.
Reid is still behind her a little. He tries to pull up, but hasn't mastered it yet. It will take Rylee walking for him to want it. He defines "Momma's boy" and I love it. He is my lovable child. Like I said, Rylee is nosy and is too busy to see what's going on to snuggle some.
They are both on solid food now, still with some baby food. We have made the transition 100% to whole milk. It wasn't as bad as I thought, but I did it the week they were on antibiotic. They were suppose to have diarrhea from the medicine and constipation from whole milk, so I figured it would all even out, and it did! Now we are slowly letting go of bottles. They aren't even suppose to be a year yet, so I'm taking this slow.
Megan is my joy! She made all A's and 1 B on her report card. She is trying out for the school play. She has a boyfriend. She has Cotillion in a week then state dance competition the next week. Needless to say, she keeps me busy, but I love it! I am so proud of her.
I'm adding a few more pictures below. Please leave us a comment so we know you came!
We love you all!!! Merry Christmas.
Rylee knows how to open presents!
Reid's FAKE smile
I love you sister!
Pig Pickin' 2009 at Delta State
Click on the video to watch Reid crawl
Rylee will do anything Megan tells her to... and usually it's not good.
