Easton's first trip to Buhler

The last weekend of October we made the trek out to Buhler. Daddy had to work, so we were all a little nervous about how Easton would travel, as this would be the longest road trip you had been on.

We left Friday, October 25, at 12:00 (nap time!) and this was my view the entire people way! You both slept!! Eliana woke up when we got to Inman, which is just 15 minutes from buhler. 

When we got there Elijah wasn't so sure about Easton. He kept a good distance, and. If we tried to get him to look at Easton he would run away. 

So, enlisted Elijah to help me bake Bekkah's cupcakes.

He was a good helper! 

Elijah slowly started to warm up toe Easton.

When we arrived at mimi's house Aunt Jami, Rebekkah, and Eliana headed to town to buy stuff for Rebekkah's party. So, when Eliana arrived home Elijah and Eliana were inseparable. These two are going to get into lots of mischief as you grow. 

They followed each other everywhere.... :)

I, of course, was busy decorating Rebekkah's peacock, barbie cake. My three helpers didn't last long...but it was fun to have the help :)

Rebekkah is so in love with Easton. She is very conceneds about you and always checking On you, and loving on you!

Of course one of the best parts of the morning is interrupting papa's coffee time! First thing Eliana asks  when she wakes up is to see papa and Mimi! This trip was my first night with both of you kiddos without daddy. We put Eliana to sleep in the playroom on her mattress and Easton slept in my room with me. Of course, Eliana woke up at around 1 a.m and came into my room. No big deal, I Let her get in bed with me. Then, Easton woke up and I fed him. He was almost back to sleep and Eliana screamed in her sleep....this started the back and forth wake up calls, until three! Eliana got out of bed,went and sat in front of the bathroom door and threw a royal fit (in her sleep). We finally ventured upstairs where Mimi heard us. She offered to keep Eliana upstairs to sleep and that is what we did the remainder of the nights! I was so thankful Mimi helped with nighttime duty, because it was impossible on my own!

Giving papa big smiles!!

First smile caught on camera!

On Sunday Easton went to Hoffnungsau Mennontie Church for the first time. Easton got to meet so many people that watched mommy grow up. You also got to meet our church family, grandma Sonja, grandpa Rob, and Aunt Ashlynn. aunt Danika was in ottawa....she came to ottawa for college like mommy and daddy. Sonja and Rob were mommy's youth group sponsors...and they of course became like second parents. 

Grandma Sonja

Aunt Ashlynn...she is so good with kids

Grandpa Rob

Of course during our visit we attempted other get good photos of all four cousins...this is quite a task...not just to get you all to sit still  and smile and look at the camera...but also to make sure you all are happy at the same time!

  After our photo shoot we headed to the corn maze/pumpkin patch! They have a great playground. This year we didn't end up riding out to the pumpkin patch....but we had fun on the playground :)

WV

Such a cute photo!

Eliana was 3 ft tall!

After playing a while we decided to do the corn maze. You kids are too little for the corn maze and we won't do it again for many many years! It's just too long! The kiddos ran for the first 10 min, then whined the last 20.

I'm pretty proud...I walked through the entire maze feeding Easton!

Everyone want to ride....

On Monday night we went trick or treating at grandma and grandpa great's house!m

It was lots of fun!

Easton's first of many trips out to Buhler was a good one!  We enjoyed all the time with our family!

Love you,

Mommy

Easton's journey: club feet

I'm a week behind on these posts (I guess that's what happens when I go back to work and I'm so exhausted in the night I doze off while feeding you instead of posting) 

So, this is October 30th and November 6th post together!

October 30th appointment

You were the calmest, most content baby at this appointment! I don't have a lot to write...it was the same as the past. We got in, we removed your casts, then we got new casts. You did the best at this appointment! So calm, so peaceful, you didn't even need to eat!!

Your feet after the removal of the fourth cast.

We waited quite a while between when your cast was removed and the new one put on...you just laid on the table, enjoying your freedom!

Getting your KU casts wore you out!!

I was very excited about this last week of casts...though, it did feel like a long week. So, the first week of casts felt the longest, then the last week felt long too!

November 6th

We waited over 40 minutes in the waiting room...and you were all smiles! The entire time! I thought you were pretty excited to be getting your last cast off! (Or, maybe you knew your aunt' sweater was breaking and your cousin was on her way...because unknown to us that's what was happening while we were in the waiting room! Happy birth day Ellie!!)

Lots and lots of smiles!

I love this smile!

Then, right as we were called back you spit up all over me and in my hair...and from then on your screamed! You cried the entire appointment! It was very overwhelming...you cried as your cast was removed, you cried as dr. Jarka examined you, you cried the entire time! 

So, we barely talked with dr. Jarka, and then she goes, any questions?

So, I ask, are you going to show us how to use the boots? And, she said we would go to a different office for that.

So, this surprised your daddy and I...we were expecting the dr we had worked with and trusted to teach us. So, we took you, our screaming child down to a different office. 

You did briefly fall asleep, but that didn't make you any happier when they messed with you. The dr taught us how to put your boots and bar on and then we were off to figure it out...

We left the office and headed to the parking garage. We stopped in the main lobby to put you in your car seat, because it was quite cold that day. I'm glad we stopped, because your brace was too wide and you did not fit in your seat! Have I mentioned this day was very overwhelming? This about pushed me over the edge....

We went back to the brace doctor and they said we had two options...to put you in with one foot hanging up over the car seat, or with both up over it. My response was, which one is safest? They just shrugged..So, we have chosen to have both feet up...but boy do you hate the car seat now!

Here were your feet when we got home. They said you almost had rocker bottom feet....where the bottom of your foot almost curves like the bottom of a rocking chair...but luckily you don't. 

When we got back to town it was your sister's turn to see the dr....she has a bad cough, runny nose, and an ear infection. So it to was a long day of dr appointments for our family!

When we got home from that we gave you a bath...because your feet were STINKY! I was so looking forward to this moment and you hated it! It was the fastest bath because you screamed the whole time! So, it's Sunday, and I haven't bathed you since Wednesday...

The bracing has been a little more stressful...with the casts the dr put the on and then we just watched your toes. With the brace we out them on and have to watch all of your skin. So, day one you did pretty good putting them on, but when I got to sherry's to pick you up after work my heart sank, because your heel had slipped upward (the boots have little windows at the heel so we can keep an eye on them) your heel is supposed to be completely flat to get the best treatment, and to avoid blisters. So, when I got you home I took your brace off and luckily your skin looked okay. But, then when I put them back on I was able to get them tighter than the dr did!! 

So, I got on facebook and no asked questions. I found this wonderful support group on facebook and there are toons of mommies who have gone through this with their kiddo, so they were able to tell me what to do. They said that the leather on your boots will stretch and I should make it as tight as possible! 

They also told me it takes about two weeks for your heel to completely sit flat in the shoe, so that made me feel better too! It's funny the things the doctor doesn't think to tell us because they do it all the time. 

So, we are slowly adjusting to your new brace. You Hate to get your shoes put on, but once they are on you settle down pretty quick. You hate the car seat. Your heels are getting pretty red...we are pretty concerned about your heels...but no blister yet. 

It is a very overwhelming to be in charge of your boots. But, I think we will adjust. 

Nursing hasn't been too difficult...but your brace does get in the way if I sit in too small of a chair. I have to just keep telling myself it could be worse...we only have to do full time wear until February 12, 3 months, so we will survive. 

Currently I'm just praying you will adjust and that we will NOT get any blisters!!

I haven't taken any good pictures of your brace yet...so this is the best I have. You and Eliana were playing in the leaves!

We go back Wednesday to make sure you are responding well to the brace! So hopefully we will have a good report! 

Love you,

Mommy

Halloween 2013

Eliana, you are at such a fun stage where you are understanding holidays! You understood a lot about Halloween, and I couldn't figure out why...because we don't really talk about it here, then I realized that all of your disney shows were Halloween shows. :) 

Every time we went to Walmart in the month of October ewe had to go see the witch. That was the first thing we did, was go to the Halloween aisle and look at the larger than life blow up yard displays. We would go and look at them and then you would be happy and ready to shop. :)

So, yor daddy and I found this adorable raggedy ann outfit that we bought you for Halloween....then, you decided you wanted to be a witch. Apparently you are now old enough to make your own decisions.... So, we let you be a witch the Saturday before when we saw grandma and grandpa great. But on Halloween I convinced you to be raggedy ann.....your daddy you tubed raggedy ann videos the night before, which helped your enthusiasm. :) 

So, Halloween morning they were having toddler story time at the library...so, I bravely took you and your brother. I decided you will be going to story time this summer....you need that structure. You sat through one story on the carpet, then you decided to run through the crowd...oh my. I finally got you to sit down again...but it was hard to control you because I had Easton in my arms. So, I have decided you need that structured story time to learn to sit. After the three stories we went and made a candy corn craft at the table. It really was fun....when you were behaving. 

Raggedy Andy and Raggedy Ann

You were so adorable!

Ha! Easton wasn't a huge fan of his wig, and he was tried and hungry.

My raggedy ann and andy! Love this photo!

You two were so adorable! I'm sure next year  eliana will be old enough to pick her costume, I won't be able to coordinate them. 

Love!

We first stopped by the Scott's house to take pictures. Yeah...that didn't work out so well...

So, then we headed off to trick or treat. We first stopped by Sherry's house.then we drove to another house we knew...then to another, there was a lot of driving. You were confused why trick or treating was so much driving...and after three houses you said you wanted to go home. Luckily Sherry told us about a neighborhood where they block off the roads, so we headed there todo some door to door trick or treating, instead of driving to homes we knew. You were so cute going door to door! You would never say "trick or treat" but you always said thank you! :)

Raggedy and headed up to the house

Trick or treat!

Halloween with Sherry 

OUr family headed back to our car after a great night trick or treating!

Next year will be fun too because you'll be even older!

Love you 

Mommy