Winter Web

 

 

 

I never knew how pervasive frost could be here in the Frozen Tundra until I came across this spider web underneath our deck.  It looked so lacy and delicate (yet strong enough to support the weight of the ice/frost) that I decided to share it.

And the Viking horn blows

 

Braxton is NOT a Vikings fan.  He is the anti-Vikings fan in fact.  He will root for anyone playing the Vikings and since today that was the Cowboys (and it hasn’t been all that long since we were Texans) he and I were on opposite ends of the couch so to speak.  He does more than his share of “trash talking” and goaded me into a bet sometime during the first quarter.  He would pay up $5 if the Cowboys lost if I would pay up $5 if the Vikings lost.  I reminded him that he didn’t own $5.  I decided that another type of repayment would be necessary.  If the Vikings won (and of course they would) he would be forced to wrap himself in my Vikings snuggie, have his picture taken and then posted for all the world to see.

 

Well, a bet’s a bet!

3%

 

 

What do you see when you look at the picture above?

 

A.  A little over 4 inches

B.  Almost 11 centimeters

C.  The unbelievable amount of growth Cayden has experienced in just

       6 short months

 

well the answer is……

 

D.  ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!!!!!!!!

 

Cayden had a six month checkup with the endocrinologist today.

The endocrinologist is thrilled beyond words at the progress he has made.  His growth is well beyond expected growth for a year and we are only half way through the year.

 

As of today Cayden also achieved another important milestone.  Height (and weight) in childhood and adolescence are plotted on official growth charts.  Cayden has never been on any chart.  We have aspired to be on a chart, we have gazed longingly at a chart, we may have even uttered a few not so nice words at a chart.  Today his height now officially puts him at the 3% line of the growth chart!!!!!

That means that he is now TALLER than 3% of his peers.  Not much, you say?  Well, I say, we’ll take it!

 

Cayden is doing so well that the doctor even decided to increase his dose of growth hormone slightly.  So take a look at my son because…..

 

 

              next time you see him, you may not recognize him.

Streptococcus pyogenes

otherwise known as strep throat, has taken up residence in my baby’s throat.

 

 

Braxton is never sick.  He has the immune system of a small nation.  This, however, attacked with speed and force.  Twenty four hours ago he was kicking his way through Taekwondo, six hours later he had a raging sore throat and a fever of 102 degrees.

 

Unfortunately for Braxton, streptococcus bacteria are a bit more problematic for Cayden as they are known for spreading to shunts and heart valves.  So, any time the boys are in close contact,  Braxton will have to wear the mask.  Good thing they are typical brothers who don’t spend much time that close.

 

It’s worth noting that Steve is working in Denver this week.  It never fails…weeks like this always seem to be full of more than our share of challenges.  If a huge snowstorm blows in, the A/C goes out, the car won’t start or one (or both) of the boys get sick you can be sure it will happen when only one parent is home :(

 

I’d appreciate it if you would pray that Braxton would recover quickly with no side effects and that Cayden’s immune system would remain strong enough to fight off a possible infection.

 

I hope you and your families are doing well.

Hallelujah, it’s a HEAT wave

Prayers must work.

 

 

Notice the car’s thermometer.  That is 17 above zero for once.  A heat wave like this (accompanied by a bit of sunshine even) allowed us to hit the sledding hill today to let the boys run off all their excess energy.

 

 

 

As expected, the sledding hill (or sliding hill as they call it) was busy.  Everyone else in town had the same idea.  The hill runs along the back end of the river dike.

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 

 

                

 

 

                       I think crashing is at least half the fun!

 

 

 

               OK, so maybe it got a little cold towards the end!

God I Love North Dakota!

Maybe it doesn’t transmit, maybe you can’t see it but those words are just dripping in sarcasm.

 

We got 22 inches of snow Christmas Eve through Christmas night and it has been bitter cold many days.  By bitter cold I mean highs in the teens below and lows in the low twenties below.  If I am being honest, it has been a relatively mild winter thus far.  HOWEVER, I just want some sun.  This bank robber look is getting old on Braxton and if you look at this picture, it was taken in the middle of the afternoon….no sun!  Now we have another 3-6 inches of snow coming tonight and lows forecast in the thirties below for the next few nights.  The Lord is showing no mercy on this sun starved girl.

 

 

 

 

 

Max doesn’t like to be alone…at all.  The other morning I got my coat out of the closet so I could take Braxton to school but I had to run back upstairs.  When I came back Max was lying in the middle of my coat and refused to budge.  This morning I was running late of course and Max upped his game.  I couldn’t find my keys anywhere.  I am pretty OCD so I always keep things in the same place so it was driving me crazy looking for them.  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something shiny on the floor.  Max had taken my keys to a place he holds near and dear, one where I wouldn’t soon look.  I have an extra key, that wasn’t my problem.  I was much more upset to lose my AutoStart for the car.  I don’t know what I would do without it.  Almost every North Dakotan has one.  On any given day in January you can walk the parking lot of any grocery store or Walmart and find at least half of the vehicles running, with no one inside.  Thirty below isn’t so bad when your car is nice and toasty.

 

 

    

 

 

After uploading this next picture I realized that it appears to be the butt end of a raw chicken.  However, it is actually my hand.  Worse yet, my entire body looks identical.  Winters are always harsh on my skin but this year has been particularly bad.  My skin is cracked, raw, and bleeding.  I have tried every lotion and potion I can find.  Does someone, anyone have a solution?  I practically bathe in lotion.  Help!  I will try whatever you suggest.

 

 

Full

We were lucky enough to be able to fly back to Amarillo for Thanksgiving this year.  We had a wonderful trip complete with family, friends, turkey, pies and beautiful weather.

 

I was even more blessed to be able to spend 2 whole afternoons with my very best friend Tina.  Although we talk at least once a week on the phone, we never get to see each other and that is one of the things I hate most about being across the entire United States from “home”.

Tina is the most wonderful friend and honestly a better person than I could ever aspire to be.  She’s shaking her head “No” about now I would guess.  One of the nicest things she has done for me though is to make me an “aunt” to John.  I may be biased but I think he’s just about the third greatest kid ever (behind mine of course…lol)

 

        

 

The best word I could come up with to describe John is FULL.  John is full of love for Tina…you can see it in every look, every breath, every smile.  The only other thing I saw John more excited about than his Mom was trains.  John is full of excitement and wonder about anything trains….toy trains, real trains, pictures of trains, heck, just the word train brings a smile.  Like any good toddler John is also full of independence and full of energy of course.  He was able to wear Braxton out at the park and that is no small feat.  John is also full of praise for his Lord and it is a beautiful thing to see.  John is actually so full that I wonder how any more goodness could fit…funny though how God always finds room for more.

 

Well buddy, Aunt Laura is full of love for you!  Give your Mom a hug from me.