Update on Braxton

Well we went to the allergist on Wednesday and got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the Braxton's food allergies have really gone down quite a bit. He is no longer allergic to milk - there is still a hint but not like before. The egg allergy is still there and because of that we can once again not take the flu shot. Most of the other food allergies were gone except for peanuts. The peanuts one is a bad one because it will never go away and it will only continually get worse over time. I am going to have to keep a better eye on that one.

Brazos saying cheese - sorry this one is blurry!
We were glad to hear that the food allergies were better but at the same time we were sadden to hear that the airborne allergies were off the charts. He is allergic to everything that they tested him for. The doctor said that it was one of the worse cases of allergies that he has ever seen. To top that off he also confirmed that the asthma there and we will continue treatments for that. The doctor wanted to see him when he is at his worse so he will know what the plan of action should be. He said that we are coming into the good time of the year for his allergies and that the spring was going to be bad. We had an appointment in the early spring so that can put him on preventive medicine to help in get through the spring and summer.

Well although thing did not go the exact way we had planned we did come away with some promise. The vent is helping and we will continue all this expensive medicine while it continues to work.

A concern and a laugh

Friday was an eventful day all the way around. Braxton has not been feeling very well. He had two ear infections back to back and a round of steroids for his breathing. So when the whining continued after yet another week I thought we should make another trip to the doctors office (we are on a first name basis with a couple of the doctors). We saw a different doctor this time because we called on such short notice. Although he is not one of my favorites we saw him anyway and this time I am glad we did.
Braxton got a clear check on his ears and I was very thankful for that. However, he was still wheezing and not breathing up to par. So they started us on a twice a day breathable steroid plus another medicine that he takes through the machine as well that helps with the wheezing. Braxton is getting much better at being attached to the machine multiple times a day an I know that it is helping, the sad part of all of this is that it will continue for a long time. We got a 6 month prescription for both meds. So we officially have asthma.
We will go to the allergist on Wednesday and do a test for the flu shot and also see what food allergies we still have he will also need to be tested for airborne allergies but we may wait so that we do not have to do it all in one day.
So I will keep you posted on this.


Oh the things they say - While we were on the way to the doctor on Friday we passed Andrea in the car and here was our conversation:
Me - Waive at Andrea
Braxton - Where is Andrea going
Me - She is going to the doctor
Braxton - I want her to go with me to the doctor
Me - she can't go with us this time - she needs to go to the doctor for her baby
Braxton - Mom, where is Andrea's baby?
Me - in her tummy
Braxton - Mom, it is not nice to swallow babies
Me - No, your right Braxton it is not nice to swallow babies.

My father in law sent me an e-mail this week, and below is the content thereof. I think he was trying to give me a small glimpse of my future! So I thought I would share it with all of you as well as some pictures of my precious boys!
For those who have sons & those who are happy that we don't. This is for you!

And you also find out interesting things when you have sons, like...
1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. Ft. House 4 inches deep.
2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite. 3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. Room.
5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old Boy.
11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12. Super glue is forever.
13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15. VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20. The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.
21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24. 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
25. 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

The boys on my bed watching CARS - look at those smiles
My attempt to get a picture of them in their Halloween shirts
Me and the boys
Brazos trying to clean up!
Need I say more!!!

Cooking with mom

This past weekend we had a fall festival at church and things went well. I have more pictures to post from that later. On Thursday after school the boys and I made some brownies and cookies for the cake walk. Here are some pictures of the boys helping me cook (clean up).

Braxton and the brownie batter!

Both boys having fun trying to clean up





Brazos helping me make icing (and enjoying some along the way)

A Few More Pictures

Here are some pictures from the last couple of weeks. The weather here has been beautiful. We have been enjoying a lot of time outside and the boys are eating it up. A lady from church gave us this play set and we are getting some use out of it.

Braxton on the slide

Brazos on the slide
Getting ready to go - look at that tongue
Cheese - All smiles
We played in the yard and raked some leaves - the boys had more fun playing in the leaves and running through them than anything else. Here is some of our adventure
Brazos stomping through the leaves
Braxton pausing for a minute to smile
Run and Jump!
Brazos in the leaves
trying to get a picture of them together
Throw the leaves!

Play Day and surgery

I am actually getting something done today. So here are some of the pictures that I said that I would post. I took Braxton back to the doctor today as I was pretty sure that he still had an ear infection. The doctor said that his ear was still infected so we get to do another 10 days of antibiotic along with 5 days of steroids. The breathing treatments are working but he still sounded "rough" so hopefully the steroids will work.

Brazos is doing great. He is happy and full of energy. He is growing and really starting to put words together.

Brazos all smiles while Braxton was at school
Cuddle time with dad before bed
Braxton playing with his trucks while taking a breathing treatment
Rosa preforming surgery on Braxton (yes that is a drill)
Braxton preforming surgery on Rosa.

School again and more pictures

Well life is an adventure and we learn lessons everyday. I am so thankful to all of you for your sweet comments on Braxton and his school. Today we had another tough day but it did go better than Tuesday. We started mentally preparing for school on Tuesday as soon as we got home so that we would be ready for today. This morning he was ready. It was green day at school so last night we got out our green shirt, out John Deere hat, and our green cup. We were ready. This morning he told me he was happy to go to school. We got there and put out things away and were still all smiles then it was time to go in and the water works started again. We talked about green and about being happy but he was not having any of it. The teacher came and took him away. I stayed at the door (on the outside) until he stopped crying - approx 30 seconds. Brazos and I left and came home. I guess this is just something we are going to have to work through. He loves school. Tuesday when I picked him up I asked him if he had a good time and he said yes and stared talking. So for now we will take one day at a time and see if we can conquer this drop off stage.

I have not had my camera near the computer in a while so I have a lot of pictures to catch up on. I put a few out today and will try to follow suit for a couple of days.

Braxton playing king of the mountain at the zoo - my kids love to climb
Brazos hanging out in the stroller - just wait Braxton - he will catch you in no time
Rosa - all smiles at the zoo
The boys playing trains in the living room. This has been a favorite the last couple of weeks. Where is Rosa? Poor thing has to play dolls by herself!
Braxton and Brazos playing tackle in the front yard.

Brazos sporting the suit that MeMe made for dad (Andy) when he was a little boy.
Here is a picture of our congregation. These people have really kept us going. Our family away from home.
Brazos working on dad's computer at work - future tester for John Deere
Braxton was doing testing of his own - in the toy department.
Rosa and Braxton on the bridge at the zoo. These two kids are a hoot.