April 2014

 Since I'm extremely behind, I'm resorting to posting a month at a time.

Here are the happenings for April in a nutshell.

Brody felt the need to revert back to sleeping in a crib. . . Ryker's crib in the boys' room.  (Ryker sleeps in a crib in our room for the time being).

It only lasted a few nights though.

Our smiley, happy baby is growing at lightning speed it seems.

In April, our little super hero had to have surgery to remove his tonsils, adenoids, and take one ear tube out.  The other ear tube fell out on its own, but since the 2nd one had been in for over 2 years, the Dr. decided to take it out while Brody was under anesthesia for his tonsillectomy.

 As parents, we were more apprehensive about the surgery than Brody was- he obviously had no clue what was about to go on. He only knew he was somewhere he didn't want to be because strangers were talking to him, and touching him (not OK in Brody's book). 

Brody had GIANT tonsils-- literally huge balls that looked as if they blocked his entire throat.  He would have apnea at night-- episodes where he would stop breathing momentarily, then wake up kicking, confused, and mad.  The only remedy was to remove those suckers, no matter how much we would have rather avoided sending our child under anesthesia. 

When Brody came out of the anesthesia, he was "madder than a mashed cat."

Brent and I, were waiting in his recovery room for him to come out of the surgical suite, and could hear him crying and yelling,

"NO TOUCH ME!!!

I WANT MY DAD!  WHERE'S MY MOM?!

LET ME GO!"

He wouldn't stay in the bed to let them wheel him to his room, and he wouldn't let them carry him.

He was insistent on walking out, and didn't want any help either.  However, his little sea legs couldn't hold him up, and he was stumbling, and dizzy. 

The poor nurses finally got our distraught little guy to us, and then he got sick.

It was a real fun time.
As soon as he was safe in his dads arms, he passed out again, and continued to drift in and out while intermittently shoving his fingers up his nose.  The nurse told us the anesthesia can make your nose itch like crazy!
When we got home, the real battle began. The post-op nurses stressed the importance of not letting pain meds lapse, but Brody wanted no part of taking any pain reliever.  We tried hiding it in pudding, milkshakes, pop, his favorite foods, but he could always sniff it out, and refused it.
We tried bribing, reasoning, sympathizing, and even resorted to the "hold 'em down, and plug 'er nose."  It didn't work, the little stinker managed to spew it out like a fountain.  It was brutal for us and for him.
Strong-willed he is.  We will channel that strong will into something amazing one day. 

He had a rough few days, but was back to feeling like normal within no time.

(This photo was before he was taken back to the OR- he refused to put on the hospital gown, so they took him just like this. . .)

Brody is his dad's number one pal, and best ranch hand.  He LOVES to go with his dad to work, and frequently calls him and asks, "When you gonna come get me?"  Some days it works out for Brody to go, and other days not (depending on what kind of work Brent is doing that day).

On this day Brody had called his dad and Brent told him he'd be there in an hour or so to pick him up.

His reply was, "I'm gonna just wait for you."

And he did.

He sat on the back step, faithfully watching for his dad's pick-up to pull in.

Family date night at our favorite steak house.

Getting geared up for Easter by making a "project" . . .

I can hardy handle how they turned out!  Pretty funny in my opinion.

And of course, dyeing Easter eggs.

Easter morning.

All ready for church.

How I love these two handsome boys.

Easter dinner.

It's definitely spring time at our house-- babies galore.

Puppies and kitties!

Here is our all time FAVORITE baby,

now 4 months of age.

Ryker's Big Weekend

On April 12th, 2014 we loaded our little family in the car, beginning the most special day of all.  This was the day we drove to the temple in Twin Falls, Idaho to have our sweet Ryker boy sealed to our family for eternity.  

Our closest family and friends joined us for this very special day.

As we entered the temple as a family, dressed in white, we felt such love, and peace, and happiness surrounding us.  The sealings of our boys are days I hold nearest and dearest to my heart.  

There is no feeling that compares.

Pure joy.

As Brent and I were walking down the hallway of the temple to join our close family and friends in the sealing room, I could feel a strong presence of family members who had passed on, there with us.  I felt as if they lined the entire hallway, and they were there to rejoice in that special day with us. 

I swear Ryker is throwing his fists in the air in this picture as if saying, "We did it!"

He was totally adorable during the sealing ordinance.  As the sealer was speaking to us, Ryker was staring up at him as if he understood what was going on, with a huge grin on his face, and flapping his little arms with excitement..

The sealer looked down at him and said, "This one's going to enjoy life. I can tell!"

All of the temple workers who stayed with Ryker in the nursery as Brent and I were getting dressed in our temple whites, commented that he was the best baby they'd ever been around.

He truly is a gem, and pure sunshine in our lives.

There is truly something about our little guy-- he literally radiates happiness and joy to all those around him. 

The following day, at church, Ryker was given a blessing by Brent in Sacrament meeting.

April 13, 2014.

It was another amazing day full of love and support from our close family and friends.

After Ryker's blessing, the bishop was speaking at the pulpit and commented, "That is one well behaved kid, and sure a cute one!"

We couldn't agree more!

Following church, we held a big dinner with about 75 friends and family members.  There are so many who love and adore Ryker, and have welcomed him into our family.

Brent with his uncle, Lyle Jones

Jared and Bailee

Brent's sister, Janet, and her family.

What an amazing weekend, and how we love our little family.