Trip To The Dentist

Today we had Cooper and Braedyn's routine cleaning and exam. Jordan's is coming up this week too. Braedyn came out of his appointment with no cavities and no issues.
Cooper on the other hand is a different story....

He has 7 cavities. Yes, you read that right, 7! My mouth dropped wide open. How can he go from 0-7 cavities in six months. How does this happen? What can be causing this? Now what do we have to do? My biggest question was, how am I going to explain to Cooper what to expect.

Let's just say he doesn't have the best non-sugary diet but what 6 year old boy really does...I try.

Poor thing was asking me questions about it after his dentist appointment because he felt really bad. Everybody was having birthday cake at the table and he was crying. I asked him why and he said, "because I can't have any cake". So they must have talked about what to eat and not to eat. He was already in tears also and telling (more like yelling) me he was not going to go to the next appointment. He has so many cavities and it is so much work to be done, if he was any younger the dentist had said she probably would have to do it in the OR. Well, hopefully they don't have to and he puts on a brave face and isn't to scared. He has to do it in two appointments with four being done one day and then return and to do the other 3. He will have a sore mouth. I feel bad for him. It will not be fun!

I looked up on YouTube for a video maybe telling him about the procedure like I had done for Braedyn for his MRI. There really wasn't one out there. I actually cringed when they turned on the drill. I remember getting a cavity filled -just one- and how I hated that. He's going to get 7 done and also seal the permanent ones coming in. If anyone who reads this post can offer any suggestions to me or what to expect that would be great!

He can watch a movie and they give him laughing gas to relax him and he can watch it during the procedure. I am not sure when we go back he is going to let her get anywhere near his mouth. Hopefully he doesn't bite her!

The appointments are in a couple weeks to return. Please keep him in your prayers, it could get interesting! Because when they cry, I cry!

A Birthday Snow Day

Happy Birthday Braedyn!

I know you wanted a Gator Cake and that is hard to come by in North Carolina!

All those days watching my Grandma Nelson baking cakes rubbed off on me and I didn't know it!

 

mom's creation

 

This is what we woke up too!

So a birthday present of Legos was perfect as we were "snowed in" today. A snow day in North Carolina on your birthday. It hasn't snowed yet and it came last night! Enjoy!!!

 

building day

 

 

Nine Years Old!

My sweet little boy turns 9 today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAEDYN CHARLES!



2 days old just home from hospital!







Seems like just yesterday when we were blessed with this beautiful baby boy to bring home. It was the start of our family! A day I will never forget! My first day as a new mom being worried, scared, and excited.  Did the babysitting of ALL my little cousins growing up, going to prepare me for this task?

It was a freezing January day, as he was born on the coldest day of the year, January 18, 2004. We kept the newspaper from the hospital to remember that day. That reading seems strange now living in North Carolina! Our First Born! I will never forget that night as we drove to the hospital, I don't know who was more scared me or your dad! It was a long 13 hours and you entered the world with a ton of black hair and eyelashes that wouldn't quit. They are still the longest eyelashes I have ever seen.
He was a miracle child and with that start in life, has proved just that! I now know, God had a plan for me all along and that was to be a mother. Again, I had went back to college and he was born during my last semester. I thought I would work in the sport industry one day, but as soon as that baby was placed in my arms, I knew I could never leave him with anyone else. So did I finish college? The answer is no. Seems like every time I have gotten close to finishing a degree, something happened. I did get a an associates degree a long time ago, but my four year plan never worked out... First time I tried at Winona State University, I got pneumonia for two months and never went back, and this time at the University of Minnesota, I was close again but this was much more important to me than any schooling could ever provide. My dreams have changed over time or shall I say in a blink of eye that day. Being a mother in a child's life is the most important job of all and I didn't want to miss a single minute. Luckily I have a wonderful husband who can provide for us, so that I was able to do be a stay home mom.

I am thankful for all the time we got to spend together when it was just Braedyn and I. We had all day together at home to play, go for walks, and go to the park. We would find interesting places to visit or drive to Grandma and Grandpas house. I treasure all those firsts and memories from the first steps, first words, first swim, first time fishing, and watching the excitement and joy when he realized what was happening. I was looking back at these pictures and remembering all the fun times!

Baptism and dress is over 100 years old! A treasure in our family passed down thru generations, I wore it and my mother and grandmother wore it!



First Push up

Swimming, loves to splash around

just hanging out with mom

Six months old

reading the sports page already!

cheese

first time at the pumpkin patch

First Timberwolves game

First time in snow with daddy

first time fishing with daddy (I think this was at Yankton, SD)

we are moving!

First Birthday cake from Great Grandma Nelson, he still doesn't like to get his hands dirty!

Cousin Jonah reading to him!

WE LOVE YOU!

Braedyn is our sweet, beautiful, caring, loving, nurturing, artistic, thoughtful, creative, and emotional little boy. Over the past 9 years we have watched him turn into such a wonderful young boy. I am honored to be his mother. He is the perfect big brother. He is definitely a first born with the qualities he possesses such as being driven, the perfectionism, he is a care taker, and the responsible one (well, so far). He is always helping with his brothers, teaching them new things, and trying to get them to follow the rules, even if they are his rules! He's so very sweet and loves to cuddle with mom whether we are on the couch watching TV or in the morning still watching cartoons. Sometimes I find him cuddling next to his brothers.... I will take it while I can!!! He loves to watch sports with daddy at night when he should be going to bed for school the next day. When Braedyn looks at you with those puppy dog eyes, he is hard to say no to. So if you come under his spell with that look, it is quite powerful! When Braedyn looks at you with those puppy dog eyes, he is hard to say no to.
The boys fight like your typical brothers do which can come to blows and that is because of their strong personalities. I don't know where they get that from! They usually end up apologizing then hugging it out. Cooper and Braedyn's friendship has gotten even closer and it is a wonderful thing to see them be such best buddies. He takes care of his brother Jordan and watches out for him. He is patient with him sometimes more than I find myself to be.

Jordan fell asleep with his brother

 

having some fun with Grandpa's Halloween wigs...it's Axel Rose and Michael Jackson!

playing ball

Best Buddies!

Lean on me Always

Cooper was losing his best buddy during the day~ His first day of Kindergarten

never far behind!
 

It was very apparent to me one day when I was in bed with the flu and it happened to be over Christmas break when they were home, that he has grown up.... He told me I could stay in bed and he would take care of everyone....I thought it wouldn't last long but he did. Daddy had called from work and asked him to help and he sure did. When Jordan or Cooper needed something he took care of it even the potty. He would say don't go in there mom is resting.

I know God has wonderful things in store for you. We watch in awe as you grow and you realize your different talents and personality. You amaze me everyday at the things you are learning and your creativity and artistic abilities. There is so much in store for you. Me and daddy believe in whatever you do because you have the heart to achieve what you set out to do. I am excited for what your future holds!

You will find Braedyn singing always! I think he knows every song that comes on the radio! He got to go to his first concert this fall to see one of his and our favorite local country artist and he got to meet him...Jason Michael Carroll. He knows all of his songs by heart.

Jason Michael Carroll with Jordan and Braedyn at the North Carolina State Fair October 2011
(the Orange thing is a stuffed animal Braedyn won for Jordan by making 3 baskets in the basketball shooting game)

 He had started playing guitar and it had been to much with baseball so he had to take a break from it but now wants to start back at it. Luckily, for us, his new music teacher at school is going to start giving him lessons again. He loves music! This is the first year he has not been in church choir since he was three years old. He is artistic and always drawing something. He loves his Pokemon cards and his Skylanders Wii game. He loves baseball and football. His new passion this year was helping dad on his fantasy football league. He amazed me~he can name every quarterback in the NFL and what team he plays for and also alot of the wide receivers! He even can tell you their stats! His passion for the orange and blue has grown since our trip to the "Swamp" this year. He is looking forward to going back again. He cheers on his brother Cooper at all his hockey games and is his biggest fan! He plays hockey more with Cooper in the driveway than playing/practicing baseball for himself. He is a good student and I can always count on him to be accountable for his school work. The other night he was doing his writing and I checked on him and he was going through his dictionary making sure he spelled the words correctly that he didn't know. Also last night, he showed us his power point presentation on the computer that he created for his presentation at school for his research project -on what else but ~Alligators! It was amazing. I don't think I made a power point presentation until I was in College!

Tailgating at the "Swamp" with the Orange and Blue Men

I love you more than you ever know little buddy. You came into my life and changed my world and the ways I view the world. Some days you still give me a perspective on life which I need. As you turn 9 years old, I flash back to when I was 9 and I can vividly remember those days. So I need to remember that as your mother! I want you to be a kid, have fun and do what 9 year old boys are supposed to do. 
I am so lucky to be your mom and watch you grow into a baby, toddler, boy to be a young man.
This birthday is your last birthday in single digits! Another reminder my babies are getting older!
Happy Birthday and I LOVE YOU!
~Your Mom


Happy Birthday To Me!

I had a wonderful 37th birthday!  Wow, closer to the big 4-0!
Mom and dad flew in on my birthday and are staying until Monday. So we are having a great visit but it goes by fast especially when we are busy....

We are going to celebrate with them Sunday after Cooper's hockey game my birthday and Braedyn's birthday by eating out somewhere...

Here's to 2013 and being 37...and a good year!

Sure is nice to have some family around!! It comes about every 4 or 5 months or so...

A Hole In My Heart

Was working on this in thoughts of those recent kids that passed away in that horrible school shooting and the car accident over New Year's weekend because if I had lost a child I would have A Hole In My Heart Forever!

There's a hole in my heart
There's a hole in my heart
That keeps on tearing me apart
There's no light in the dark
No light in the dark
Can I pick up the pieces
Where do I start

I lie here at night
raising my hands
to the sky
looking for the answers
to questions
that are so hard to find

wishing I had one
last smile
one last time
to take your hand
and walk that mile
As long as the river's nile
is a mother's love for her child
wishing I could hold you for awhile.

I wish I could hear your voice
hear you sing
but now my angel with wings
don't worry about a thing
you are with your king
but I can't help but miss you and think

Cuz there's a hole in my heart
a hole in my heart
a hole in my heart
I just want you back in my arms
heaven's to far
to far, to far
for me to reach
until the day we meet.

there will forever be a hole in my heart.....

Learning to Write

Jordan has taken an interest in drawing alot lately. Yesterday, I was doing the dishes and he said, "look mom". I turned to look and he had written his name. (only a mom could figure that out). He almost had it. So with a little help we worked on it together yesterday and he is so proud he can write his own name now.

He wanted to do it over and over again!

NHL is Back!

The day the NHL got things rolling and set out a tentative deal we were going to a Charlotte Checkers hockey game. It is the minor league team for the Carolina Hurricanes. Jordan has never been to hockey game besides his brothers. Braedyn and Cooper haven't been for a couple years.
They were so excited and we had so much fun. We went with some friends from Cooper's hockey team. I forgot how much I enjoyed it as well.
Cooper's old skate instructor who he also calls Coach Mark since he "coached" him since he was around 2 1/2 -3, was refereeing the game. He works in the AHL system as a ref. So Cooper thought that was pretty neat. We haven't seen him since we made the switch to RYHA with the Junior Hurricanes organization.
He watched the game very closely. The kids loves hockey!

 

 

Coach Mark!

 

Pooped Out

This is what staying up late and not catching up on sleep will do to kids when they get in a car!

 

I got to the parking lot at hockey and thought that it was pretty quiet. I looked back and everyone was out and hunched over. Jordan was snoring. Cooper had drool coming down his chin. Braedyn woke up after awhile and the other two I let sleep since we got there early.

 

I thought this was too funny I had to snap a picture. I was also was thinking that hockey was going to be rough but maybe he should take a nap every Thursday on the way. That was the fastest I had ever seen him skate!

 

Update on Braedyn's Headaches

Braedyn has been doing very good and has only had one headache episode since December. He felt better after finishing up that antibiotic of 21 days. Fortunately, we also backed that up with some pro-biotics so he didn't have the awful side effects of being on an antibiotic for so long.

The Dr.s believe it has something to do with his allergies. I found a pediatric allergist in Durham which we will go and see. He had allergy testing done along time ago in Minnesota when he was 3. He needs to be retested because it probably has changed and also things are a little different in the south then in MN as far as environmental allergies.

I think if we get his allergies under control the headaches will not come on again. That is also what the Neurologist told us. She sees kids that have allergies are a lot more prone to getting migraines and if you can control that then you will be able to control the headaches.

Speed Kills~A Hard Lesson Learned

Unfortunately, another tragedy took place in Orange County over the weekend involving teenagers.  It's something we can all learn from and remind our children that speed can kill.

Two young lives were taken in a tragic car accident that could have been prevented. It was neither texting or drinking that caused the accident but illegal street racing. Now two beautiful teenagers, a boy and a girl, 16 years old, are gone and two others are in the hospital and another 17 year old is charged with involvement in the crash because he was also racing. The charges that he may see are heavy and he has to live with the nightmare over and over again. We live in a smaller community and everyone is connected somehow it seems. The boy who died went to elementary school with my neighbor's daughter and the kids were pretty popular and loved at their school. I am sure it is a shock to the school. I remember when we lost some kids at Byron High School when they were Seniors to a drunk driver and it shocked the town and the school. Then a year or so after we graduated we lost two boys in our class from driving to fast. It is something that no one ever forgets and as parents to loose a child so suddenly is something I don't think anyone can get over but you go on with your life with a whole in your heart. You get by with support from friends and family. They were so young and innocent just starting into the exciting times in their young lives. It was cut too short. 

It hits close to home as a parent when you hear of accidents like this. As a mother of three boys,  I am terrified of all of them getting their license one day. So many things can happen and it is out of our control as parents. They also have so far to drive to school in the morning. Can they ride the bus all through High School??? I have 7 years before the first one is going to be at this age to drive. I have awhile to work up to that. By that time, you hope they can make the right decisions. I also pray that there will be a little guardian angel watching over them.   I have a feeling my faith will become even stronger as kids enter their teenage years. You can't control what they do and you must have faith in them as they walk along that path to who they will become.

So the litany of things to remember to tell them what not to do when you are driving, adds yet another item and unfortunately an example of what can happen if you do not obey that law. They were speeding and not wearing their seat belts. If they were going the speed limit and wearing their seat belts it could have been avoided.

I pray for these families and their friends as they are going through this difficult time.  I cannot imagine the pain and loss they are feeling.

Buckle Up and Drive Safe.....

Last "Day" of Christmas Break

I woke up and it was 8 a.m. and I thought , "wow" come Monday I would have already dropped off kids and on my way to get a morning run in for the day. It sure has been nice to sleep in and enjoy coffee in bed and cuddle with the boys watching some Disney cartoons.  The boys have been staying up a little later and watching all the football games that have been on at night. They love watching football with their dad.

You don't realize how busy you are until you have time to think about it! Then if you think about it, it exhausts you before it begins. I am gearing myself back up for Monday to arrive.
Although it is nice to have some downtime, it will be nice to get back on schedule. I don't mind being busy. I think I tend to even get more done. Just keep moving....

We will enjoy some time at the park today with friends as the sun is finally shining. I kind of was feeling guilty because the break wasn't filled with trips to parks, museums, and to see friends. We were down with the flu and then when everyone was feeling better it was kind of nice just to be home since we are on the go all time. You can fill their days with things to do but sometimes all they want to do is just hang out at home with mom and dad and they are fine with that. Charlie had taken a nice chunk of time off over break.

Well, Back to the grind on Monday and the taxi will be rolling.

Wednesday can't be here quick enough as my mom and dad are coming to visit for my birthday!!

A Silent Prayer This Morning and Pause to Remember

Today the kids in Newtown go back to school. It isn't at their school they used to feel safe in but a neighboring school which had sat empty.
I can't imagine the anxiety the families have this morning as they drop off their children for the first time since this has happened.
My thoughts are with them this morning and the teachers and staff that they are able to make the kids feel comfortable on their first day back.

Psalm 27:1 (NIV)The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

Do not be afraid...It may seem like a dark time but he is the light in that darkness. He will be with you and watching over you as you take those first steps in the door.

Some Christmas Photos

I went to download some pictures from Christmas but we were lucky to even get to church on time on Christmas Eve so I didn't get any pictures from that evening and I was still a little under the weather so I just let them wear whatever they wanted which was Wild Hockey jerseys (at least they were Christmas colors). Then Christmas morning the boys just had undies on except for Jordan. Most of the pictures they are in their underwear.... actually they are always running around in just their underwear.

Here are some of them that I could actually post :)

They all got light sabors -doesn't every boy need one of those!
Cooper does have underwear on! He was playing with their nerf guns...

remote control 4 wheeler...they have been begging for a four wheeler this is as close as they get right now!

some new cool sweatshirts, ready for Florida games!

Why do I do this every year....I should take it out and put batteries in it then wrap it up!

working on Legos they got for Christmas

Cooper's new bike

Jordan's new bike

I think the funniest part was Charlie trying to put together Braedyn's gift. We got him a pitchback net and I come out to the garage to check on Charlie and he is cussing at this contraption. The net was not agreeing with him. Wish I had that on video!

Hockey Photos...

Got some hockey photos...
Cooper played in his first holiday tournament of many to come I believe....It was played in Wake Forest.
He had a great time and played really good considering the teams in the tournament were 8U Advanced Teams and his is 8U Intermediates. So the advanced teams are mainly made of kids in 2nd and 3rd grade so between 8 and just about to turn 9. Cooper is in First and is 6 and a lot smaller than some of those guys out there. I had to laugh at one point when he got called for a penalty because he took out the biggest kid on the other team and got called for tripping. He was just going after it! He was really aggressive Friday night, Saturday morning and then Saturday night and Sunday morning you could tell all the kids were really tired.
Now back to our normal schedule of just Sunday morning games.

Here are some photos of some recent games...I forgot the camera for the tournament...here are some from the month of December.