under the weather

We are all under the weather and it's looking like it will last through Christmas.
Brandon's had a horrible, and I mean HORRIBLE cough for over 4 weeks. The first week the doc just prescibed a cough syrup, then week 2, without doing a chest xray, diagnosed him with bronchitis and gave him an anitibiotic which did nothing. The third week he was still coughing and the doc called in another cough med, none of touched the coughing a bit. When he was still hacking the weekend before this last one, I called the doc Monday and they couldn't get him in (even though this has been a persistent cough lasting FOUR weeks now) until this coming Tuesday! I had no choice but to take him to the ER this last Friday and after a chest xray, the doctor and radiologist diagnosed him with pneumonia in his lower left and right lungs. fantastic. His lungs looked awful and he sounds equally as bad. They gave him a breathing treatment while we were there and it helped a lot. He in now on a steroid, an antibiotic and cough syrup with codeine. He just cannot seem to shake this cough though, I am really afraid that he is going to end up in the hospital.
Brandon is the worst off but all of us at our house are ill, just with colds.
I would just love ONE Christmas with no sickness, it just gets more serious each year it seems.

first grade Christmas concert

Last night was the first grade Christmas concert! Brandon has a really bad cough STILL, going on for about 2 weeks now, so we were not sure, even 30 minutes before he was supposed to be there, if he was going to go. He was just hacking away but really upset at the thought of not being able to go so I had him sing 5 or 6 songs for me just to see how he would do. Well what do ya know…he sang all of them without a single cough. So Ryan and I decided to let him go and he did awesome! I was so proud. The students presented music representing all faiths and each class performed a song while the rest of the first graders stood on the risers and sang along. Brandon’s class was the only class that did not just stand on the stage and sing. His class performed a song called Hanukah while going around in a circle. It was a cute thought but it didn’t fare well for pictures, as all we got was his back or side. It was a nice program and he had a good time and we were all happy that he was able to attend.

part of the first graders...Brandon is the fifth from the left on the top row

'round and around

singing

Overall, I think the kids enjoyed the circles rather than singing

Christmas breakfast party!

Blaine, Britton and I attended Brandon’s class Christmas party this morning for a breakfast! It was a lot of fun and we all had a great time! The kids had donuts, sausage balls, pigs in a blanket, cupcakes and punch. After eating they all gathered on the carpet and went through their stockings. (Each student was asked to bring 20 of something for their classmates) Brandon got all sorts of fun little gems, play dough, go fishing game, pencils, a CD, some activities and lots of candy of course!

clean face

Brandon was so sweet and let Blaine sit with him!

Britton thoroughly enjoyed himself...

what did we get????

playdough was a popular item...

Brandon and his buddy Garrett

Brandon "fishing" and Blaine is eyeing that toy for later...

special delivery

Brandon and Blaine received a package in the mail today from Papa and GranGran! It seems that GranGran recently visited the North Pole for a teacher’s workshop and left with a couple of souvenirs. The boys each received a serving of reindeer food to sprinkle on the grass on Christmas Eve as well as a bell on a Christmasy ribbon. Brandon was most excited about the reindeer food because apparently, from the way he exclaimed about all the goodies in the bag, I don’t offer him as much stuff to put in his that he makes each year. Blaine loved the bell and didn’t want to take it off for bed but I assured him that he could wear it as soon as he woke up in the morning. I have a feeling it will be quite a chore to get him to take it off each night.

Thank you Papa and GranGran for the little Christmas trinkets!! We love you and look forward to seeing you!

I love the way they are sitting, so anxious to see what's in it...

slacker

...that is what I feel like right now…

Back in November when plans were made for all the Christmas parties I was relieved that the get-togethers were going to be spread out throughout the month of December. They started the 13^th with my mom’s side of the family, then this Saturday with Ryan’s huge family, my mom the next day and then wrapping everything up Christmas Eve with my dad and Day with Ryan’s parents, instead of cramming them all in the week of Christmas. I thought that it would be easier to get things done and I wouldn’t be so rushed….well I thought incorrectly. I have yet to finish wrapping and I need to fix dinner for new parents in our Sunday School class and a dish for this Saturday’s party and two for Christmas Day, bake cookies, Jesus’ birthday cake (which Brandon reminds me of daily!) and monkey bread Christmas morning. The first graders have their Christmas concert tomorrow night, which Brandon was a little bitter about since he has been wanting to learn how to play the guitar since he was able to talk but he isn’t big enough yet and the teacher gave a little solo to the kids who play an instrument. We have explained that once he turns 8 he can start lessons so now he is counting down the days, less than a year and a half! I have wanted to take the boys to see Santa but I am not sure it’s going to happen and I highly doubt that the younger boys will sit on his lap.

Brandon has his part done, his letter sent and now he’s counting down the days.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!!

fresh air!!

After the last few days of cooooold weather the sunshine and mild temps today were very welcome at our house!!! We took advantage of the awesome weather this afternoon and played outside for 2 hours!! Britton is really only big enough for the swing and that is perfectly fine with him, he LOVES it. I pushed him almost the entire time while he said "weeeeeeee!" Blaine went from the swing to the trampoline to the slide over and over and over. I was only able to get pictures of him on the trampoline since he requires me to hold his hand as he goes down the slide and then he doesn't like me to step too far away from the swing so I can get a good picture... so the trampoline was it as I stood on the sidelines watching nervously as always.

one year, where has the time gone...

Britton went for his one year well check this past Friday and weighed 23lbs 11oz. I just cannot believe that a year has gone by already. He has not been the easiest and most pleasant baby, actually the first several months (close to a year) were filled with screaming and more screaming. But amid all the screaming he still had qualities that we enjoyed. When Britton is happy, he is so happy and so cute with his little dimples. His smile can light up and room and simply melt my heart. He watches Blaine like a hawk and does exactly as he does, it's so cute! He is learning a lot that way, which could be a good or bad thing, the jury is still out on that one. I have come to the conclusion that food is the way to the boy's heart which isn't hard to believe when you see his belly!

And getting back to the attitude/temper that I mentioned, I told the doctor that it's as if he is already going through "terrible 2's" and she informed me that with each kid the tantrums start sooner.......GREAT. So Brandon didn't start his until 3, Blaine started his at 2 and now Britton is having "terrible 1's." That doesn't sound good at all, the term doesn't even have a ring to it. But it fits and now I am just praying that Blaine and Britton's "stages" end in a year.

Britton can really hold his own when it comes to Blaine being rough. Blaine was laying on his back kicking Britton in the face yesterday and when I went to Blaine to make him say sorry he wouldn't so Britton just popped him in the cheek. Blaine said "owwww" and looked at me. I don't have to worry about them because Blaine is beginning to realize that Britton will hurt him back each time he hurts him. The biggest battle between them is sharing, which is common but I work on it nevertheless.

Each son certainly has their own personality...Brandon is my sensitive one, Blaine is really my passive, happy-go-lucky one and Britton is my impatient, tempermental one. I wouldn't trade them for anything though.

I want to say a HUGE "thank you" to my BFF Ashley for fixing the pictures!! She enhanced Britton's eyes (among other things which I don't know) and I LOVE them!! Thank you, thank you! You are AWESOME!

the fab five

I wanted a family picture taken for our Christmas card this year, easy enough right??? WRONG! Last year I just had a picture of the 3 boys (Britton wasn't even a week old) announcing that Christmas came early for the Kelleys but this year I wanted all 5... yeah right! 200 pictures later there wasn't 1 good one of the "fab 5." After many attempts, Ryan's good friend Brian took some of just Ryan and I and I am quite pleased with those and so excited because it has been since engagement pictures that we have had a picture of just the 2 of us.

GOOD ONES!!

my three sons!

Ryan and I!

Thanksgiving Day/Day of Britton's birth!

I know I am really behind with this post but I have been trying to get the house all decorated for Christmas.

Britton's actual birthday was on Thanksgiving Day. I think it was very fitting considering the boy weighs 26 pounds as of two weeks ago and looks like he's missed very few (if any) meals! He had a great day and ate a lot, as did we all!

We went to OKC on Wednesday evening and spent the night with Papa and Grantee (GranGran according to Blaine.) They fixed an awesome dinner and the boys had a blast playing and enjoying chocolate chip ice cream! Thursday morning, mom and dad were given a most generous gift of sleeping in while the grandparents played with the boys! They fixed cinnamon rolls for breakfast since lunch would be so big and since it was Britton's birthday we sang to him and lit 1 candle in the roll!

He is bored with all the attention...

Blaine was more than willing to blow out the candle...I think he was really ready to eat!

Thanks Dad and Tiffani for dinner, allowing me to bake in your kitchen, tolerating the noise and clutter, breakfast, just being so great!

For lunch we went to Mimi and Pappy's house!! I was looking forward to seeing my stepsisters, Whitney and her son Aeden and Meleia and her husband Steven since I never get to see either one of them. We had an awesome lunch, very tasty and enjoyed fellowship with my aunt LaFreda, cousin Kendall and his daughter, Melody. It was a lot of fun!

As Britton's dessert I cut a piece of my aunt's chocolate pie and put a candle in it and he was sung to once again...

Despite his face in this picture he really did like the pie...

We had a great Thanksgiving surrounded by family!

Thank you to my mom and Rick for hosting us, feeding us, entertaining the boys and being so awesome!

We love you all!