trying them on for size...

Remember these beautiful blue eyes???

Well, we had them checked today to see if they take after mommy or daddy. It appears as though they take after Daddy and will most likely need glasses.
Ben is definitely farsighted. There is a slight, slim chance that they will correct themselves. The eye specialist is giving them three months to do just that. She may give them more time if there is any improvement after three months. If they get worse he will get glasses at that point. If we notice his eyes starting to get worse at home we will have to bring him in sooner and he will get glasses even sooner.
So, I decided to see just what these eyes will look like in glasses.

Pretty stinkin cute if you ask me!

I really hope he proves the doctor wrong and his eyes improve but if they don't he will still be pretty darn cute!!!

adorable gray, white and orange shirt...

About four years ago my second born monkey, first born son, wore this adorable gray, white and orange striped shirt....

Yesterday my fourth born monkey, second born son, wore the same adorable gray, white and orange striped shirt...

The funny thing is that Connor was 18 months when he wore it and Ben is just 9 months. Connor was such a peanut!

One thing I just love about having two boys and two girls is that I can pass down clothes. I love seeing the younger one in the same outfit that his or her brother or sister wore years before. It brings back such sweet memories. Sometimes I even look back at pictures just to compare, as I did with this picture of Connor.

Yesterday I had such joy reminiscing about when Connor was a really little guy as I looked down at Ben wearing the gray, white and orange striped shirt. The same adorable gray, white and orange striped shirt that Connor wore four years ago...

Flowers...

Remember the flowers that my sister brought me on Thanksgiving? Well I am just obsessed with the absolute beauty of them! Because of that I am also quite obsessed with taking pictures of them.

The colors are just amazing...

I am still in awe of how the colors just POP out!

I am also obsessed with how beautiful they look when my girls are holding and smelling them!

Thank you Stephanie, I am enjoying these beautiful flowers so very much!

A visit with Santa...

We went to see Santa today! He seems to be doing well, although Connor thought he was too skinny to be "the real Santa". We explained that Santa doesn't fatten up until right before Christmas because it wouldn't be healthy for him to be that big all year round.



Katelyn was very excited to finally get a chance to tell Santa that she desperately wants a cage for a Guinea pig! She is really hoping that Santa will bring her the stuff she needs in order to go get a pet.

Maggie was a bit shy and forgot to bring the picture of the baby with her to show Santa exactly the one she wants. He said that wasn't a big deal, he already knew the one!

Ben did very well with him although he was in complete awe over this strange guy holding him.

Connor was the most shy of all and didn't really say a word to Santa. Santa told him that he could just write a letter and let him know what he wants.

The group picture didn't come out as well as I would have liked but that is fine. The sun was shining in the window so there was a bit too much back light. Oh well!

We were all happy to get to see Santa and we didn't even have to wait in line, yay!

Even more...

Yummmmmy, these pancakes came out so good....

And, fllllluufffy, as Connor would put it. (I wish you could actually hear him say it!)

Ben seemed to somewhat enjoy his first Thanksgiving dinner, you know, as much as Ben enjoys any food...

My wonderful sister, Stephanie, came over for dinner and brought us these beautiful, colorful flowers that I just love! I can't get over how bright they are and how the colors just POP out. Like I said, beautiful!

Speaking of Stephanie, I am so thankful to have her living so close by! We are so very close and there are days I don't know how I could do it without her!

Here is a rare picture of me! Chris grabbed the camera and I will tell you, I am very thankful for that!

God Bless you all on this wonderful day! It was great! Ben and I even took a little nap together while Chris took the other Monkeys, ahem, Turkeys to the park....

Breakfast

I am Thankful that my husband loves spending time with his children! I love that he is letting them help him make Thanksgiving breakfast!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our monkeys have been acting like a bunch of turkeys lately!

I am very thankful for these turkeys today and every day! I am also thankful for all the wonderful blessings I have been blessed with. An amazing husband who works very hard to take care of his family. Being able to stay home with all my monkeys, ahem, turkeys.
I am also so very thankful for all of my wonderful friends and family! Thank you for being YOU!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

A day in the ER with Ben

Yesterday morning brought back with it many memories of when Ben was just two weeks old.

He went to bed on Saturday night with a cough and woke up Sunday morning with some pretty bad wheezing and chest retractions. I called the urgent care and made an appointment for 12:45. It didn't take long before I realized that waiting too much longer would be a bad idea. I called back and they said that I could bring him in right then but would have to wait a while there. I'll tell you though, I didn't have to wait. The nurse took one look at him, listened to him and went to get the doctor right away. The doctor came in, also took one look at him and said he needed to head to the hospital. He was pretty sure he would be spending a couple of days in the hospital. His breathing was very worrisome! We didn't need an ambulance but we were to not take our time either.

Not long after we arrived Ben was hooked up to the pulse/ox machine. He wasn't too bad but lower then they like to see. Actually a few times he was at 89% which is exactly where he was when he had the RSV. Before the breathing treatments he was between 89% and 93%. Once they gave him the treatments he went back up to normal at around 98%.

He was tested for RSV and the flu in addition to having a chest x-ray. All of the above came back negative, yeah! I really thought he had RSV again, this is one time I am glad I was wrong!

He had two breathing treatments, one shot of steroids, and a dose of tamiflu (which I am not sure was necessary). Many hours later with 4 prescriptions in hand we left the hospital and headed to the pharmacy.

I am so thankful that the breathing treatments worked! I am so thankful that he didn't need any oxygen! I am so thankful that we didn't need to spend three days in the hospital! I am so thankful for health insurance too!

Yesterday brought back so many memories but luckily this time things were much better then the last time!

Uh-oh, he's back!

If you happen to be PURPLE you better RUN!

Because our Purple People Eater is back! Remember when he was hungry for purple people here and here? Well, he's back, and he's got 4 teeth. So, if you're purple you better run!

Lesson of the day...

Lesson of the day....

Some days you just have to make the best out of what life gives you...
(After dropping Connor off at school we came home to see this in the neighbors yard. Maggie noticed first and I just had to run in to get my camera.)

What's Ben doing at 9 months???

Today is November 15th, 2009, which means Ben is 9 months old. Already. How does time go by so fast? I know I have said that so many times but it is so true!

So, I will fill you in on what Ben's up to, now that he's 9 months old...





His grin is no longer toothless. You can't really see the teeth in the picture yet though. He has broken through three teeth and has one that will pop through any minute. So far he has his bottom, middle, left tooth along with the two top side teeth. And, his bite, it hurts!



He still hasn't decided what he thinks about the whole food/eating thing. Actually, he has decided, he doesn't like it much. He will eat a few small bites now and then but that's about it.

His favorite food, and I use favorite very loosely, is Cheerios. Look at those adorable chubby fingers reaching to grab a cheerio!



He loves playing hide-and-seek. I hide and he crawls around to find me. His face is so adorable and his happy screech is priceless when he finds me. I love it! A simple memory I will always cherish!

Crawling around outside in the grass is always fun.

Hanging out with his brother and sisters is definitely a good time. He would prefer they don't always pick him up and move him but he does love playing with them.

The other day I put up a gate at the bottom of the stairs so he can't climb up. He spent the next 20 minutes trying his hardest to go UNDER the gate.

If the gate gets left open Ben can spot it a mile away and speed crawls over to climb up the stairs. He is very good at climbing UP, however, down needs a lot of work.
He started letting go of things and standing up unassisted just two days ago.

Mr. Benjamin loves exploring all over the house now. He recently discovered that there is more to the house then the living room, dining room, and kitchen. When he gets on the loose he quickly checks out everything, everywhere!

That's all the good stuff, unfortunately there is some bad stuff too :o(....

He has had a double ear infection that doesn't want to go away. He is currently on the second round of antibiotics for that. And, the nasty thrush is back. He also had to take a few days of steroids because of wheezing. I think he is finally starting to feel better but the thrush is still going to take some time to get rid of. Once he is done the antibiotics I will start the gentian violet again...

I think that about sums up where our baby Ben is at 9 months old...

Shaving cream...

Playing with shaving cream is a fun, learning adventure.

It offers a great tactile medium.

Plus the perfect opportunity to practice writing.

Or, painting dinosaurs...

Or, just plain having fun with...

Tid-bits...

We're busy over here! Not with anything unusual, just our normal busy selves....
Maggie just yesterday learned how to whistle and has been whistling all over the house. And, of course, she's been eating birthday cake and making letters in shaving cream!

Connor worked hard this morning, along with his assistant Maggie, to come up with an orange juice concoction. Fresh, half eaten oranges, lots of water and a tad of sugar was what he used.

Besides hiding under the table with a cookies-and-cream milkshake so she didn't have to share it, Katelyn also lost her 8th tooth last night! Not to mention, but I will, that she was lucky enough to share a carrot with Ben.

Ben got to mouth, drool on, and bang the table with a carrot last night. He thoroughly enjoyed it! As usual, he wasn't happy that we took it away, LOL.

He was kind enough, however, to share with me and Katelyn, yummy!
Chris, as you know, had a birthday this week. Other then that he has been busy playing an almost perfect game of bowling on the WII and snuggling with his kids!
As for me... (Sorry, no recent pictures, I am the one that takes them.) I have been busy with raising four monkeys and trying to track down the key to the craft cabinet. I hid that sucker in a safe place!

Chris' birthday...

I'm a little late, but.....
Happy Birthday Chis!
(No, I wasn't late celebrating, just blogging!)

We had a mini birthday cake for desert.

Daddy got hugs and kisses from all his Monkeys!
We sang happy birthday.
We enjoyed the yummy, mini, birthday cake.

Happy birthday Daddy! We love you!!!