Back to Badminton...

The boys are back up to full energy for now and they insisted that today was a good day to play Badminton!

Flag Football...

Flag Football games have officially started for the boys!

ER Visits...

There are several words that I could use to describe the last three days, but none of them are very positive... So, I have been trying to think of how I want to describe our two boys that bring such love and happiness to our lives.  They are smart, funny, kind, energetic, full of life, excited about everything, loving, curious, friendly, and so much more, but maybe, most importantly, they are fighters and survivors at such a young age.  They see the good in so many situations, that I, as an adult, struggle to do.  When an obstacle is placed in front of them, they look past it quickly and figure out ways to get around it.  They are nothing short of amazing and I am just so lucky that I get to call them mine.  

On Sunday, Conner was having breathing problems.  We tried everything we could, but we just couldn't stay ahead with meds and breathing treatments.  I took him to the ER and after some oxygen, more meds, and more breathing treatments, his blood oxygen level  increased enough that we were able to go home that night.  He charmed all of the doctors and nurses and he walked out of there with a few new toys and a brand new nebulizer!  He stayed home from school on Monday so we could continue the breathing treatments and so he could get some extra rest.  

On Monday afternoon, while I was home with Conner, I got the call I have been dreading for three years.  Ben had a seizure at school...  We are so extraordinarily lucky to be surrounded by people at school that truly love our boys and would do anything for them.  I feel awful that the people closest to Ben had to witness something so scary.  I raced to school with Conner, and someone immediately grabbed him and kept him busy while I watched Ben try to wake up from something that I had hoped would never happen again.  I was able to ride in the ambulance with Ben because I knew that Conner was taken care of.  Nick arrived before the ambulance left so he got Conner and they met us at the hospital.  Ben finally woke up really good in the ambulance when we almost got to the hospital and I was so relieved that he was able to recognize me.  The doctor wasn't able to find anything else wrong with Ben, so we will be adjusting his medication dosage, hoping that will take care of the issue.  It was hard to see Ben like this again, especially since it has been so long.  It was a very scary day, but Ben is doing great for now.  He keeps telling me that he's fine and I know he is wondering why I keep asking him!

Thank you to everyone for all the thoughts and prayers for our boys.  We appreciate all of the support! Both boys are doing good and we are hoping for no more ER visits for a while!!!

Thursday...

Conner requested a picture this morning before school, so here are Conner and Ben ready for their fourth day of school.  They have been having a lot of fun at school and I am just so proud of them!

Day 3...

By Wednesday, after school, it is obvious that we are all getting a little tired!  The boys opted to lay on the couch for a while when we got home.  I don't blame them...

I did get them to practice some sight words on the Ipad tonight.  Dad had to work late and I was doing the dishes, so they tried to quiz each other!  It worked for a little while...!

Day 2...

Ben and Conner are ready to go for Day 2!

First Day of First Grade!

Monday morning is here...  Conner, Mom, and Ben are ready for school!  Conner and Ben will be starting first grade and I will be working full time at their school in the Autism room.  We are all excited and nervous this morning... but we are ready to tackle this brand new school year!

After school, the boys filled out their First Day of School sheets that I had them do last year!  I just can't believe these two are in first grade!!!

The boys had a great first day of first grade!!!

Haircuts...

Conner and Ben got new haircuts for school that starts tomorrow!!!  It's the shortest their hair has ever been, so I was nervous, but I think they look pretty awesome!

I just had to show that Conner still thinks he can fit in their little wheelbarrow...  We enjoyed our last Sunday before school starts!

Reunion!

On Saturday, we traveled to Denver for a family reunion at my uncle and aunt's house!  The boys love going to Jim and Caroline's house and playing in the tree house and enjoying the outdoors!  Here are Conner, Ben, and Keira hanging out!

We also had a watermelon seed spitting contest, so Conner wanted in on the action!

After the reunion, Nana and Gramps got to spend the night at our house, which is always a good time!  We were pretty tired from the day and I was pretty tired from starting work this week so the partying was a little more mellow, but it was still a great time!  Thanks to Jim and Caroline for hosting our fabulous day and thank you to Nana and Gramps for taking us and spending the night!

Kite-tas-trophe...

Conner has been begging to fly his kite lately so I thought this afternoon would be perfect.  We walked over to a nearby park with our kites and let them fly!  Conner loved it!  He had that kite up in the air the whole time.  Ben also loved it, but he loved chasing the kites more than actually holding the string of the kite (not enough action for him!)

Here they both are, with their kites in the air...

I don't even know how long we spent with those kites in the sky... watching our boys giggle with huge smiles on their faces was the highlight of my day!  Unfortunately, as I was turned toward Ben, Conner lost hold of his kite!  I heard him start screaming and as I turned toward him, he took off running for the trees!  Conner was yelling, "I let go, I let go, Help!"  Ben took off running after Conner, but Ben was holding his kite so as Ben entered the tree line, he got his kite caught in some trees.  Meanwhile, Conner's kite had been snagged by not 1, not 2, but 3 separate trees!  We really put on a show for the neighbors!!!  I rescued Ben's kite, but we had to abandon Conner's because it was caught so high up in the trees.  Here are Ben and Conner in front of the first tree that the handle of Conner's kite was stuck in, very near the top!

Here, you can see Conner's kite flying, while attached to another tree!  The boys were full  of ideas on how to get it down.  The first thing Conner came up with (in a panic) was to tie himself to Ben's kite and fly up to get his kite...  I was finally able to talk him out of that one.  Ben was convinced that if we just called Gramps, he could bring his "tree cutter" and just cut down the branches that the kite was snagged on... I told him that we weren't allowed to cut the trees in the park.  They wanted me to go get the ladder, too, but I told them both that wasn't going to work either...   

After the drama of the kites, we needed some playground therapy!  Conner showed off his monkey bar skills and then Ben decided he needed to do that, too!

After we had grown tired of the playground, we started to walk home.  We walked on the trail and, again, said farewell to Conner's kite!  It was very hard for him to part with!!!  I had the best day with my guys!  Perfect way to spend our last day of summer together!  I will miss these summer days so much...

Last Day of Summer...

This is our last day of summer!  Tomorrow I will have to go to work all day and our boys will get to go to Mama and Papa's house!  Can't believe our summer vacation is over.  We wanted to make the most of our day, so after a quick appointment this morning, we spent the rest of the morning outside, mostly riding scooters!  We thought McDonalds would be a fun treat, so we headed there for lunch.  The boys were awesome and when we got home, they were ready for some more fun!  The afternoon deserves a blog of its own, so here are a few pictures from our morning!

Saturday Smores!

Saturday was a great day to be outside whether it was spent helping Dad with the yard, as Ben did, or just being silly and riding around like Conner!

With the start of school being mere days away, we wanted to get in a little campfire so the boys could make smores.  They didn't sit still and enjoy the fire for too long... they preferred to run around the yard.  But when it came time to make those smores, they roasted their own marshmallows and both requested another smore before they were even done with the first one.  They were thrilled when they spied some lightning bugs, so they chased those around for a while, too.  It was a great reason to keep the boys up later tonight and they really had fun!  I will really miss these days and nights of summer!

Happy Monday!

It is so nice to have these guys home!!!  It was a happy Monday!