tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47528495669182614802024-03-13T06:55:35.734-05:00The Cox Quads.Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.comBlogger476125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-33429334515229609302016-04-17T17:25:00.000-05:002016-04-17T17:49:04.123-05:00March for Babies 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had a very successful 2016 March For Babies walk this past weekend!!! First and foremost - THANK YOU for sharing our page and for donating! Together, so far, we have raised just under $700!! If you didn't donate and want to, it's not too late! Click the "March for Babies, March of Dimes" icon you see on the right of the screen and then on the orange "Donate" button.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yIJ4kbk14Q/VxP3Xtnq8lI/AAAAAAAALbg/6HukBceXWeA5g97NeU-ciro3B1eUPUEaACLcB/s1600/MFB%2B2016%2B14%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yIJ4kbk14Q/VxP3Xtnq8lI/AAAAAAAALbg/6HukBceXWeA5g97NeU-ciro3B1eUPUEaACLcB/s400/MFB%2B2016%2B14%2BN.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: large;">This was one of our smallest teams to walk but we still had a blast! I felt like we had a lot working against us this year but we prevailed! First of all, I was super worried about our ability to complete the 5 mile walk. The quads, now 7 and all just a tad shy of 50lbs are getting too big and heavy for the infamous choo-choo wagon. I knew they wouldn't be able to walk the 5 miles all on foot and I knew we wouldn't be able to pull them the entire way either! Keeping with tradition, we committed to doing it one way or another! </span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: large;">My anxiety about completeing the walk with all of the kids intensified when Bret called from work on Friday afternoon and told me he had been hit with the stomach bug that has plagued so many in our area. </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">I could not believe it. </span></i><span style="font-size: large;">After discussing the situation over with Bethany and our other team members, we decided we would still march on without Bret, again, making it happen one way or another! Lastly, </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: large;">North Texas had some </span><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">very</span></b></i><span style="font-size: large;"> damaging hail storms last week and the weather radar showed possibilities of more storms on Saturday for the Dallas area, because of this, just over half of our walkers opted to play it safe and stay home. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">The 18 of us who walked were armed with a couple dozen umbrellas, panchos and ziplock bags and we were prepared to get wet. Despite the dark clouds that filled the sky, not a drop of rain fell during the walk!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our little Quadlings... Kylee, Korbin, Baxlyn and Brody</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H8z0nuFdfTc/VxP3chrE_NI/AAAAAAAALb0/07aCBkHDxRIJaCplnNMonv0delDESDC3QCLcB/s1600/MFB%2B2016%2B4%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H8z0nuFdfTc/VxP3chrE_NI/AAAAAAAALb0/07aCBkHDxRIJaCplnNMonv0delDESDC3QCLcB/s400/MFB%2B2016%2B4%2BN.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I absolutely loved our shirts this year! Special thanks to </span><a href="http://amyhorton.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Amy Horton</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> for bringing my idea to life and to</span><a href="http://www.prospermarketinggroup.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> Prosper Marketing</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> for graciously donating our shirts so that we can walk in style!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4zsZo7-Wz3I/VxP3hHNtNyI/AAAAAAAALcM/yvAj3mfddgs9mx8cO2pP7N-nFXAY9ovFgCLcB/s1600/MFB%2B2016%2BShirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4zsZo7-Wz3I/VxP3hHNtNyI/AAAAAAAALcM/yvAj3mfddgs9mx8cO2pP7N-nFXAY9ovFgCLcB/s400/MFB%2B2016%2BShirts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUQJoK0XP7U/VxP3STU2xfI/AAAAAAAALbY/2uQ9-A-K15ghacjBtOkLNMp-MUSWlLDlACLcB/s1600/MDF%2B2016%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUQJoK0XP7U/VxP3STU2xfI/AAAAAAAALbY/2uQ9-A-K15ghacjBtOkLNMp-MUSWlLDlACLcB/s400/MDF%2B2016%2B1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">7 of the 12 kiddos who walked/rode!</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wDV2GhMf78o/VxP3cvyybqI/AAAAAAAALb4/icMw7u8gnX4XhF1USjOT4KZbK_RkBzO7ACLcB/s1600/MFB%2B2016%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wDV2GhMf78o/VxP3cvyybqI/AAAAAAAALb4/icMw7u8gnX4XhF1USjOT4KZbK_RkBzO7ACLcB/s400/MFB%2B2016%2B5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Broman. Ugh, this sweet, talkative guy!</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkLKlWqXLgw/VxP3ZolATnI/AAAAAAAALbs/UxFWVQ9vdlw9Mkc7VobH-0S27nExoDT-ACLcB/s1600/MFB%2B2016%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkLKlWqXLgw/VxP3ZolATnI/AAAAAAAALbs/UxFWVQ9vdlw9Mkc7VobH-0S27nExoDT-ACLcB/s400/MFB%2B2016%2B2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alright yall, if you know Kylee, you know this is HUGE! She's made big progress with characters over the past few months! <i>Mention the name "Chuck E Cheese" and she'll run for the hills, but she's making progress ;)</i></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Luke, bless his heart. I think he had the best set up in his cute little wagon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Pemberton Family, seriously one of the sweetest families I know! We are so happy they're committed to walk with us each year in honor of our quads and their 5 year old triplet girls born at 30 weeks...</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p1XSsK3r5HE/VxP6ODwAx_I/AAAAAAAALcw/3dyJUDMG-7Qy-6qi4X7hNIxGZuSFpXWKQCLcB/s1600/MFB%2B2016%2BPembertons%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p1XSsK3r5HE/VxP6ODwAx_I/AAAAAAAALcw/3dyJUDMG-7Qy-6qi4X7hNIxGZuSFpXWKQCLcB/s400/MFB%2B2016%2BPembertons%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not having any other option, we brought our 5 car choo-choo along so that the kids would have the ability to ride as they needed. At any given time we would have 2-4 kiddos loaded down in it and it actually wasn't </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">that </span></i><span style="font-size: large;">bad. Don't get me wrong there were plenty times I could be seen covered in sweat panting like a dog, bit it wasn't AS BAD as I had imagined! I was reallllllly hoping all the pulling would pay off and I'd wake up with buns of steel the morning after, but nope!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0CKobEoGwoQ/VxP6NecDS1I/AAAAAAAALco/wQQRaqhYRz038UqP7lE0p2ulBrnJYaXQACLcB/s1600/MFB%2B2016%2B15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0CKobEoGwoQ/VxP6NecDS1I/AAAAAAAALco/wQQRaqhYRz038UqP7lE0p2ulBrnJYaXQACLcB/s400/MFB%2B2016%2B15.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The kids did PHENOMENAL! Thankfully, they all walked (and ran!) a lot more than I had imagined they would. We didn't have any tears or complaining from any of them. Brody & Kylee, who struggle a bit physically, had to have walked a good 2+ miles. Kylee was limping towards the end but she didn't complain one time and did a great job at keeping up. Seriously, I couldn't be more proud! We walked along side a grandpa at one point and he told me "you know, I've been watching you guys at the walk since you started when they were babies, it's just amazing to see them and how far they've come each year."</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3lZvUGqdKo/VxP6MEhGg-I/AAAAAAAALck/5kfKiSUvaDAi67C6GbqBeOzjAwkOB_LXwCLcB/s1600/MFB%2B2016%2B16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3lZvUGqdKo/VxP6MEhGg-I/AAAAAAAALck/5kfKiSUvaDAi67C6GbqBeOzjAwkOB_LXwCLcB/s400/MFB%2B2016%2B16.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The littles lined up during one of our snack breaks...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Baxlyn holding the quads' Path of Hope sign...</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sCgI19099gw/VxP3R1esGbI/AAAAAAAALbU/8ukQKuJmSfAyJqB6wVGIQv2_tZeus83ggCLcB/s1600/MFB%2B2016%2B12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sCgI19099gw/VxP3R1esGbI/AAAAAAAALbU/8ukQKuJmSfAyJqB6wVGIQv2_tZeus83ggCLcB/s400/MFB%2B2016%2B12.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reagan and Cyndi - Thanks for participating, pretty ladies!</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love seeing all of the Path of Hope signs that are displayed throughout the 5 mile walk. Seeing signs in honor of babies like my own and other survivors as well as signs that are in memory of angel babies is a great reminder of why we walk each year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This sign in particular, stopped me in my tracks...</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_dgb-1m45lM/VxP3aLoS-pI/AAAAAAAALbw/3m2PiCGQVtEXUbnQ22HddOexf2tGnSe-ACLcB/s1600/MFB%2B2016%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_dgb-1m45lM/VxP3aLoS-pI/AAAAAAAALbw/3m2PiCGQVtEXUbnQ22HddOexf2tGnSe-ACLcB/s400/MFB%2B2016%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stopped and showed the kids I had with me at that point during the walk and explained to them that THIS is why we walk. It's hard to tell the size of premature babies in pictures but when an infant is lying in the palm of his mother's hand, there's no question as to just how tiny they're born sometimes. My own babies may have a handful of challenges, they may be weaker than many, they may walk slow...but they're here to walk. For that I am so thankful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">It was right about noon that our team crossed the finish line together. We were very close, if not last to finish but we finished! Thank you to all who walked. Thank you for all who were unable to walk but supported our team in other ways. Thank you to all who read my daily status updates on facebook asking for support and didn't unfriend me! Thank you to all who shared our fundraising page and to those of you who donated to this cause that is so close to my heart. Together, we all had a hand in making a difference and helped get one step closer to being able to give all babies a healthy start at life!</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VIii-3fo0NE/VxP3YMw9AtI/AAAAAAAALbk/zmgANKrBVNMBYRklG8hzXFQtMt2Z6BJpwCLcB/s1600/MFB%2B2016%2B13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VIii-3fo0NE/VxP3YMw9AtI/AAAAAAAALbk/zmgANKrBVNMBYRklG8hzXFQtMt2Z6BJpwCLcB/s400/MFB%2B2016%2B13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-40101354524938771762016-04-12T08:30:00.000-05:002016-04-12T09:00:19.672-05:00Prematurity - Our Journey, Our Battle, Our Victory. {Written by Jamie Stephens}<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've spent the last 6 months watching some of our best friends travel their own NICU journey after delivering their precious twins, four </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(yes, four)</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> months premature. Thank you, Jamie and Tye, for giving us a mere glimpse of your journey and giving raise awareness about prematurity. You and your miracle boys have inspired so many and I know will continue to do so for years to come!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"My husband and I were beyond excited when we found out after several years of fertility treatment we were finally pregnant with not just one but two boys. How exciting to be having twins! All the sonograms watching our boys move and squirm in my belly were amazing to watch as we went to one doctor appointment after the next. From the beginning doctors mentioned this thing called preeclampsia and said I posed a risk caring twins and from an IVF conception. I brushed it off and thought that could never happen to me, I am doing everything I am supposed to be doing (no caffeine, no raw fish, etc.). Then like most women my feet started swelling pretty significantly, something in my gut told me I should tell my doctor, so I did. They said to come in for a routine lab check and protein level check then to see them back in a week. That next week is one I will never forget, the doctor read my chart and told me I need to pack a bag and go up to Baylor Labor and Delivery because I was about to be admitted. At this point I was only barely 23 weeks pregnant; I was just starting to feel my little boys move inside my giant belly. I called my husband and just lost it, this thing they called preeclampsia had hit me early on and I needed to be under careful supervision and bed rest until I delivered. At the hospital I was under constant blood pressure monitoring and protein level checks, and when they were not getting under control they decided to move me to Medical Center of Plano, a level III NICU because I was still only 23.5 weeks.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>My first night at the hospital, the head NICU doctor came to talk to us and basically said I needed to make it to 24 weeks if we wanted any chance of our boys surviving after birth. So that was my goal. My boys were delivered at just 24 weeks and 5 days old on one of the scariest days of my life. My sister, Lacie, made us take a picture on our way to the delivery, I was crying and scared and did not want to take it! But ultimately glad she made me. The anesthesiologist got the “margarita shot” ready in case I wanted to be knocked out after they were born. Trevor was born first and came out screaming for such tiny lungs and then out came Sebastian with his faint little cry. I remember asking my husband if they were ok and he said he watched them get hooked up to the machines and they were doing great, they even wheeled my tiny boys to see me in their incubator before being whisked off to the NICU, our next home for six months. Because of my “condition” I was on a magnesium drip and couldn’t see my boys until the next day. That’s right, after my brisk look into their beautiful eyes on delivery day; I didn’t see my boys for another 24 hours.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jw5u5PXmt1I/VwvoOeipRjI/AAAAAAAALbE/hXuRhBxUl2IDXXxUxoMMJVCD-_GIX0kIg/s1600/ST%2B9%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jw5u5PXmt1I/VwvoOeipRjI/AAAAAAAALbE/hXuRhBxUl2IDXXxUxoMMJVCD-_GIX0kIg/s400/ST%2B9%2BN.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Born less than 2lbs, my boys were hooked up to high frequency ventilators, or oscillators, that made their tiny bodies vibrate. They had monitors stuck to their fragile skin, diapers the size of the palm of your hand, and PIC lines in their umbilical cord. The doctors and nurses would describe everything happening, the tests being run, and their percentage of oxygen they were requiring to breathe. </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I went from knowing hardly any medical terms to being overwhelmed with knowledge of the life saving measures being taken daily to keep our babies alive. They were so little that I was afraid the tiniest of touch would hurt them; all my husband and I wanted to do was look at our precious little babies lying in their incubator. Then soon after that I did my first diaper change through the arm holes of the incubator, was told to lift their hips and not their legs because of how fragile they were. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFoR1iP1BZk/VwvoKk6DgGI/AAAAAAAALac/AiTIvZq5HYEektv_T9poxRehesp8qgH1A/s1600/ST%2B10%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFoR1iP1BZk/VwvoKk6DgGI/AAAAAAAALac/AiTIvZq5HYEektv_T9poxRehesp8qgH1A/s400/ST%2B10%2BN.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WotPbL_R74M/VwvoLQKHk7I/AAAAAAAALak/KekqtUuVAu8a-k2r8xHocC3r0pXlMQJjQ/s1600/ST%2B2%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WotPbL_R74M/VwvoLQKHk7I/AAAAAAAALak/KekqtUuVAu8a-k2r8xHocC3r0pXlMQJjQ/s400/ST%2B2%2BN.jpg" width="265" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Then we starting celebrating milestones most parents couldn’t even imagine. Feeding breast milk through a small syringe down a tiny little feeding tube to their stomach was how we fed our newly born babies. I still watch the video of the first time we dipped a tiny sponge the size of a Q-tip into my milk and Sebastian sucked it from the sponge to start the process of him learning how to suck, swallow, and breathe. Every night they would weigh them and the first night they asked us to hold Trevor up while they weighed him was pure happiness. Finally after over a week I could hold my baby, but only lift him a few inches off the bed and for only a brief moment. These small little moments are what got us through, and the small moments eventually turned to larger ones. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eE2Whxm0Nag/VwvoKAx0ujI/AAAAAAAALaY/kayxhUyoTBYFw_CjFospb6ttS-8YDeNqg/s1600/ST%2B1%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eE2Whxm0Nag/VwvoKAx0ujI/AAAAAAAALaY/kayxhUyoTBYFw_CjFospb6ttS-8YDeNqg/s400/ST%2B1%2BN.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p33wdgXDNG0/VwvoNnSjpBI/AAAAAAAALa8/UoAlsKsmHugGY-5jpDdykD0SGTXRh94RQ/s1600/ST%2B7%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p33wdgXDNG0/VwvoNnSjpBI/AAAAAAAALa8/UoAlsKsmHugGY-5jpDdykD0SGTXRh94RQ/s400/ST%2B7%2BN.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>We watched Sebastian go from an oscillator, to ventilator, to CPAP, nasal cannula, to no oxygen requirements, back to nasal cannula, then off for good! Trevor, my fighter, wasn’t as lucky and developed a bad infection that led to having NEC, a common prematurity based disease, and eventually a surgery when he was only weighing 3lbs. It was a long hard recovery for Trevor and eventually led to three surgeries and an eye procedure on his tiny little eyes. If you met my Trevor now you would never know unless you looked at the scars he wears all over his body. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fPfmD5c-r8/VwvoMIwBqhI/AAAAAAAALas/E6qjWYLhYtw0jcxhB5VM5Rqn5pXw7nihA/s1600/ST%2B3%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fPfmD5c-r8/VwvoMIwBqhI/AAAAAAAALas/E6qjWYLhYtw0jcxhB5VM5Rqn5pXw7nihA/s400/ST%2B3%2BN.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxiVm2LHkzQ/VwvoN0vu9QI/AAAAAAAALbA/z8YACXsUv6or_mqcW6lvaMdHEe5uiAD0Q/s1600/ST%2B8%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxiVm2LHkzQ/VwvoN0vu9QI/AAAAAAAALbA/z8YACXsUv6or_mqcW6lvaMdHEe5uiAD0Q/s400/ST%2B8%2BN.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8jHqQo8J3w0/VwvoKwuV2LI/AAAAAAAALag/HQD9jvmrztYD4WSUoDYDPLpxFbOJpwYxg/s1600/ST%2B11%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8jHqQo8J3w0/VwvoKwuV2LI/AAAAAAAALag/HQD9jvmrztYD4WSUoDYDPLpxFbOJpwYxg/s400/ST%2B11%2BN.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Sebastian had his own battles with prematurity, as well as his victories. We celebrated him moving from an incubator to an open bed/crib, taking his first bottle, and fighting bad reflux and bradycardia. As a result, his discharge date changed four times because he would keep having slowed heart rate and low oxygen spikes. When he finally was discharged it was such a happy moment to be able take one of our sweet boys home, his stay lasted 123 days but the struggle was not over as we still had one baby boy awaiting the next surgery in the NICU. How amazing it is for these surgeons, doctors and nurses to provide the care they do for such tiny babies. While Sebastian was at home, Trevor remained in NICU and so our time was constantly split. What got us through was knowing what amazing care was being provided by his nurse “buddies” who would watch over him every shift and became his blue mommies. After Trevor’s final surgery he basically was required to be able to consistently take a full bottle each feed and boy was this a struggle. But our Trevor fought and still to this day continues to fight and has overcome so much. He has had more surgeries in his life time then my husband and I have ever had, let alone the average person/baby. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--o9xQgCGuIs/VwvoL7eM9BI/AAAAAAAALao/tzOD3El35GIU8pvAtzwkrv9uLJT3nK2WA/s1600/ST%2B12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--o9xQgCGuIs/VwvoL7eM9BI/AAAAAAAALao/tzOD3El35GIU8pvAtzwkrv9uLJT3nK2WA/s400/ST%2B12.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MKfn3uxdVEc/VwvoNE5gbUI/AAAAAAAALa4/odMXvILT4us5uWc83GXiIJbSdVt9jF6jQ/s1600/ST%2B6%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MKfn3uxdVEc/VwvoNE5gbUI/AAAAAAAALa4/odMXvILT4us5uWc83GXiIJbSdVt9jF6jQ/s400/ST%2B6%2BN.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>We welcomed Sebastian home after 123 days in the NICU...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YjO2tz2cMZc/VwvoMeCTKFI/AAAAAAAALaw/mpatbGuEzlgdhxxiwM5rc4xYnvngtd8Fg/s1600/ST%2B4%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YjO2tz2cMZc/VwvoMeCTKFI/AAAAAAAALaw/mpatbGuEzlgdhxxiwM5rc4xYnvngtd8Fg/s400/ST%2B4%2BN.jpg" title="Sebastian S" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Trevor's NICU journey was 196 days long and we were finally able to welcome him home on April 6th!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rd43gOGt7c8/VwvoM275Z6I/AAAAAAAALa0/bvp286iuCSYA_lO18EgEZPZI5yZvoY7Aw/s1600/ST%2B5%2BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rd43gOGt7c8/VwvoM275Z6I/AAAAAAAALa0/bvp286iuCSYA_lO18EgEZPZI5yZvoY7Aw/s400/ST%2B5%2BN.jpg" title="Trevor S" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Their NICU journey and premature birth has left permanent marks on their bodies; tape scars, surgical scars, IV sticks, you name it but has also made our family so strong. Without the expert care from the NICU staff our babies would not be here with us, and for that we are forever grateful. March of Dimes supports the research and understanding of prematurity and its many causes, along with aiding in the breakthrough lifesaving procedures being carried out by neonatal doctors across the country. Please, help us raise awareness of premature birth and its many causes and effects."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Jamie Stephens</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To learn more about the March of Dimes and their mission you can visit their </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.marchofdimes.org/" target="_blank">website here</a></span><span style="font-size: large;">. If you feel led to donate on behalf of Sebastian and Trevor or the special kids in your own life, you can do so safely and securely by </span><a href="https://www.marchforbabies.org/Fundraising/Team?teamId=408318&teamEventId=2337734&" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">clicking here</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span> </div>
Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-23212787692557537382016-04-10T16:12:00.000-05:002016-04-10T16:32:18.416-05:00Suds & Salvation<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It all started with a melted crayon in the dryer. Some of you who are Facebook friends with me may remember a few weeks ago me desperately seeking advice on how to save a load full of (brand new) clothes that had been stained bright orange thanks to a crayon getting stuck in the dryer vent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was an unusual evening in several ways. It was a Sunday evening, Bret wasn't home, the quads who are typically in bed around 6:30pm on a school night were up late...etc. After tucking them away in their beds I proceeded back to my mom-duties and went to finish up the laundry only to find an entire load ruined. Long story short, Kylee's favorite garage-sale-find lovey was a part of the catastrophe and she was <i>NOT </i>about to go to bed without knowing it was going to survive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Before I knew it, it was hours past their bedtime and the girls and I sat on the laundry room floor talking while I scrubbed, soaked and scrubbed some more. Baxlyn, who I could tell has reallllly been paying attention in Kids Church lately and beginning to truly understand what Jesus did for us all on the cross, brought up salvation. After some lengthy discussion she told me "Mommy, I'm ready to ask Jesus into my heart!" She and I prayed and she did just that! Immediately afterwards she exclaimed "I'll get bath-eh-tized TOMORROW!" We held off for a few weeks and this morning, she finally got baptized with some of our closest friends and family there to witness!</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ODxi73Bsl1I/Vwq8v2kYfHI/AAAAAAAALaE/5nR6jPT0kGEMXLGD0uIIMtPVp-A4tx4Pw/s1600/B%2BBaptized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ODxi73Bsl1I/Vwq8v2kYfHI/AAAAAAAALaE/5nR6jPT0kGEMXLGD0uIIMtPVp-A4tx4Pw/s400/B%2BBaptized.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For those of you who know Miss B personally, you know she is generally a shy, quiet little girl who doesn't like to draw attention to herself. In crowded, busy situations, you can usually find her tucked away under my arm or fighting for my lap. To my surprise, she never, not once, was anxious about being baptized in a room full of people. This little girl knew what she wanted and the idea of everyone watching her didn't phase her a bit. I was also seven years old when I was baptized in the same church, in the same baptismal that she was! </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oi1Om62rq_o/Vwq9GEf6t0I/AAAAAAAALaI/oLO42qAT0Y4FaAHo8nCDB82wG1PAle6BQ/s1600/Bs%2Bbaptism%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oi1Om62rq_o/Vwq9GEf6t0I/AAAAAAAALaI/oLO42qAT0Y4FaAHo8nCDB82wG1PAle6BQ/s400/Bs%2Bbaptism%2B2.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>My Sweet Baxlyn, </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">It's been obvious from day one that God has a special and unique plan for your life. Your daddy and I are beyond thrilled that you made the decision to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and we pray that you will continue to seek His will for your life as you grow! We love you and are so so proud of you!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Love, Mom</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"If you declare with your mouth "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:9-10</span><span class="p"><br /></span></div>
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Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-65416013080632806282016-04-07T18:58:00.000-05:002016-04-07T18:59:56.955-05:00It's Time For.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I'm a little late to say the very least but here goes! We have just over <i><u>ONE WEEK</u></i> before our March for Babies 2016 Dallas walk! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">For those of you who may not know, the </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">March of Dimes has led the way to discover the genetic causes of birth defects, to promote newborn screening, and to educate medical professionals and the public about best practices for healthy pregnancy. </span></div>
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After decades of increases, the rate of premature birth in the United States has now been on a steady decline for the last several years thanks to the research funded by the March of Dimes. This decline – to 9.6 percent today – has saved thousands of babies from being born too soon. Despite this progress, about 380,000 babies are born prematurely each year... four of those babies belong to us which is why we are so passionate about helping make a difference!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is the question. How can </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">YOU</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> help? I've got <b>THREE</b> ways that each and </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">every</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> one of you can help us make a difference...</span><br />
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<b>1) Donate.</b> Yup, we are asking for your money. Plain and simple, without funding, these studies can't be done and we can't continue to help save babies like our very own. Please don't think that because you cannot give a large donation you shouldn't at all. Even $5 can help this great cause! <br />
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<b>2) Walk with us!</b> If you are local and are interested in joining us, let me know!<br />
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<b>3)</b><i><b> </b></i><b>SHARE!</b> <i>Now this one everyone can do! </i>Share this page on Facebook with your friends and family to help raise awareness. Prematurity, birth defects and infant mortality affect so many people and often changes lives forever. <br />
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Here is the link to our 2016 Team Page. Here you can register to walk, learn more about the mission of the March of Dimes and donate safely & securely. <br />
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https://www.marchforbabies.org/Fundraising/Team?teamId=408318&teamEventId=2337734&personId=408318<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stay tuned! Lots coming your way including my first Guest Blogger - eeek!</span><br />
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Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-24740621709552513172016-03-29T13:05:00.004-05:002016-03-29T13:17:30.346-05:00Hope After Heartache, Baby Noah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you've followed our blog for a while, you likely remember Jen & Chris Petersen. Jen was added to our close-knit online support group that is made up of mothers of quadruplets, quintuplets and sextuplets, just over two years ago when she learned she was carrying quadruplets. Not quite half way through her pregnancy, Jen was forced to deliver all four of her precious babies and all four were immediately called to be with Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have continued to watch both Chris & Jen as they've continued to struggle with the loss of their babies and the pain that comes along with the uphill battle of infertility. Despite the heartache that many can only imagine, Jen & Chris never lost hope or took their eyes off of their Heavenly Father or His plan for their life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am so happy to share with you</span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> (with their permission, of course!)</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> that today, Jen & Chris are welcoming home their sweet, healthy baby boy, Noah Petersen. Although I have never met Jen & Chris in person, I can assure you that Baby Noah is one lucky little dude to have them as parents. I'm so excited to watch as he grows and know he has his own little army of siblings looking after him from above! God is so, so good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To learn more about their journey, <a href="http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2014/04/march-for-babies-transparent-view-of.html">click here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"For this child we have prayed, and the Lord has granted the desire of our hearts." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 Samuel 1:27</span></div>
<br />Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-22430824311356594532016-01-21T09:00:00.000-06:002016-01-22T08:28:20.613-06:00All That Medical Stuff....<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ahh, where do I start? It's been a relatively low key year as far as medical concerns go. Thankfully nothing major like last winter (seen <a href="http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2015/01/cast-free-kylee-4-weeks-post-spott.html">here</a> and <a href="http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2014/10/brody-home-sweet-home.html">here</a>) has been thrown our way. All but Baxlyn still see their developmental pediatrician, who we depend greatly on for guidance with overall development, on a regular basis. Thanks to Dr. Roberts, our awesome pediatrician, Dr. Reyes, and the team of specialists we have, our fantastic four are thriving as they grow despite obstacles along the way!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>Celiac Disease</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Many of you know that Baxlyn was diagnosed with Celiac Disease last March after several years of tummy discomfort. Shortly after her diagnosis, Dr. Russo wanted to have all four of the quads tested as they were all at risk for having it. After simple bloodwork at our pediatrician's office, we were told that Kylee had Celiac Disease as well. We immediately started Kylee on the gluten free diet along with her sister. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia";">In November I took both girls back to Dr. Russo to discuss our progress and get results on follow up bloodwork for Baxlyn. Good news we learned that we're doing something right with her diet! Her "number" went from over 100 down to a 9. Ideally we would like it under a 4, but a nine is phenomenal considering where we were less than a year ago. Not so great news is we are STILL dealing with tummy discomfort. Baxlyn went from complaining of her tummy hurting DOZENS of times everyday to only 3-5 times a day, 5 days out of the week. Huge progress but still indicates something is still going on in that little body of hers. I know cross contamination is inevitable sometimes but there are times I am 99.9% sure her meal is free of gluten and she still has issues afterwards. So frustrating! We plan to do another follow up with the GI in a few weeks to discuss further options. We also learned in November that Kylee was MISdiagnosed Celiac months before. He said while one number that is often elevated with Celiac <i>was</i> a bit high, other results from the bloodwork along with the fact that she has zero symptoms, leads him to believe she doed NOT have Celiac. She and the others are all at risk for developing it at any point, but right now, they're all clear. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia";">B and Kylee celebrating Kylee's misdiagnosis at Blue Goose with flour tortillas for Kylee! </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igzEisJrPtI/Vp02H2OePVI/AAAAAAAALXc/DZbX4vwHr4A/s1600/Girls%2BLunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igzEisJrPtI/Vp02H2OePVI/AAAAAAAALXc/DZbX4vwHr4A/s400/Girls%2BLunch.jpg" title="Cox Quads" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Baxlyn continues to amaze me with her great attitude while dealing with Celiac. While I've learned a ton over the past 10 months, I still have a long ways to go in helping her learn to cope and learn to live on the special diet. I try to keep a stock of special treats she can have when the other kids are treated to things such as cupcakes, cookies and pizza. Occasionally we find ourselves in situations where she just misses out altogether, and she NEVER (ever) complains. Seriously, yall, she is one special girl with a heart of gold and I'm so glad she is mine!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>Eyes, Patches and Glasses - Oh My!</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Last<a href="http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2015/04/ay-yi-yi-our-lil-eye-eye-eyes.html"> update I left</a> you on this subject was that Brody was getting glasses and Miss B was instructed to be patched for three months after being diagnosed with Strabismus (him) and Astigmatism (her). Other than taking a hard fall down the stairs on day one with glasses, he's done great and his eyes are <i>slowwwly </i>looking better as time goes on. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lCXXKtAS0dE/Vp08RwuWk7I/AAAAAAAALXs/WEncsT_99vQ/s1600/Brody%2BGlasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lCXXKtAS0dE/Vp08RwuWk7I/AAAAAAAALXs/WEncsT_99vQ/s400/Brody%2BGlasses.jpg" title="Cox Quads" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Baxlyn happily did her daily patching for three months, went back and had made no progress so earned herself a pair of glasses herself. She wasn't too bummed and enjoyed picking out both a pink and purple pair. If it were up to her, she would have a pair to match each and every outfit she had! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Several months into glasses, Dr. Chen is still concerned with Baxlyn's left eye. While she's making progress, it's not at the expected rate. Baxlyn is currently back to patching after school each day, for four months this time, in addition to wearing her glasses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z5CHNyRgNL0/Vp083STzzxI/AAAAAAAALX0/NJvLsnk9pMU/s1600/Baxlyn%2BDr.%2BChen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z5CHNyRgNL0/Vp083STzzxI/AAAAAAAALX0/NJvLsnk9pMU/s400/Baxlyn%2BDr.%2BChen.jpg" title="Cox Quads" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>CP/Botox/Physical Therapy</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">If you've followed us, you know Brody and Kylee have had routine Botox injections for several years now in an attempt to help with their tone issues linked to Cerebral Palsy. I have a love/hate relationship with Botox and always have. We've had times, in the beginning where we didn't see much difference and on the flip side, we've seen it work.... almost too well which tends to cause more harm than good. While Kylee has been allowed a break over the past year thanks to her SPOTT surgery, Brody was scheduled for another round in October. Long story short, after discussing history, concerns and seeing how utterly terrified Brody was to go through it yet again, Dr. Acosta decided to let Brody have a break from Botox and suggested we try an alternative treatment for his CP, an oral medication called Baclofen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">After doing some research, talking with some of our other docs and our fabulous physical therapist, Bret and I opted against the new medication. For that and other reasons, we decided to get a second opinion from Dr. Delgado, a highly recommended neurologist at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. We had seen Dr. Delgado when they were toddlers, but it had been a while. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Here Brody is before the doctor came in "I'm gonna go ahead and stretch so the doctor doesn't say I have to have surgery." Break my heart :(</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bn6K6VxUCbg/Vp1FegVAIFI/AAAAAAAALYg/WbIfZGBIiQA/s1600/Brody%2BDr.%2BDelgado%2BNov%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bn6K6VxUCbg/Vp1FegVAIFI/AAAAAAAALYg/WbIfZGBIiQA/s400/Brody%2BDr.%2BDelgado%2BNov%2B2015.jpg" title="Cox Quads TXSR" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">I was blown away with the initial visit we had with Dr. Delgado re</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";">garding Brody in November. They spent hours evaluating him <i>(sure that sounds like a huge hassle, but believe me, it's so reassuring to me) </i>and everything was checked from his balance, his tone, his reflexes, flexibility, strength, response to vibration stimulation...etc. They took multiple videos of him as well, walking, running...etc. Dr. Delgado wanted to hold off for a few months and then bring Brody back to reevaluate and repeat everything we did in November to see how he changed and if he weakend at all with the extended amount of time between botox injections. Brody is scheduled to go back the first week of February where we will decide the next plan of action. If the neurologist feels like Botox may be beneficial, we will have the injections the following week. *I'll explain more on that if we decide to move forward with injections.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Meanwhile, we are working hard at home with Mrs. Ashley, our physical therapist. I CAN'T say enough about this sweet lady and the love she has for my kids. My heart will shatter into bits and pieces if she ever leaves us, no doubt. We've had a lot of great therapists in our years but none that have ever connected with my kids like Ashley does. There's something to be said when your child asks EVERY day after school if Mrs. Ashley is coming.... hate the therapy, love the therapist! Currently, Brody and Kylee have (in home) PT twice a week. Love this picture of her and Kylee after she drove out to watch Kylee cheer at one of her football games!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OnBIdm7LTT4/Vp1GfcsFrAI/AAAAAAAALYo/7pqrIiETXBU/s1600/Kylee%2Band%2BAshley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OnBIdm7LTT4/Vp1GfcsFrAI/AAAAAAAALYo/7pqrIiETXBU/s400/Kylee%2Band%2BAshley.jpg" title="Cox Quads" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Kylee and Dr, Mayfield, her orthopedic surgeon. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pEk28Srx3ys/Vp1HZh2CWmI/AAAAAAAALYw/vsh71aL4wOc/s1600/Kylee%2BDr.%2BMayfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pEk28Srx3ys/Vp1HZh2CWmI/AAAAAAAALYw/vsh71aL4wOc/s400/Kylee%2BDr.%2BMayfield.jpg" title="Cox Quads Dr. Mayfield" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Kylee has her follow up with Dr. Mayfield at Cooks in July, her little left foot is looking GREAT! Since her surgery, we can see a big difference in her strength, her speed and ability to run, jump...etc. Her surgery (linked at the top of this post) has been nothing but successful and we are SO glad we made the decision to go through with it, even though some believed she was too little and young for such a big surgery. For now, and hopefully forever, she is doing good without Botox and is cleared until July when she goes back for a follow up. Dr. Mayfield wants to keep a close eye on her as kids with CP often face new challenges as they grow and develop. Regardless of what happens, I know this girl is in the best of hands with Dr. Mayfield!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>Neuropsychology</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Both Kylee and Brody had another neuropsychological evaluation before first grade started. They had evaluations last year before kindergarten and it gave us great insight as to where they were and potential challenges that could come with school as well as some great tools we can take moving forward into the classroom setting to help them succeed. Something I've yet to mention "publicly" is that our little Brodster was officially diagnosed with ADHD last year. Our sweet guy isn't an overactive, hyper kid like many associate with ADD/ADHD kids, but he struggles... <i>a lot...</i> with focusing. He struggled quite a bit during the first semester of kinder and we ended up trying a medication last December. It took some tweaking and a change of medicines but ultimately we have seen some very positive changes in his ability to focus and complete tasks that are given to him at home and at school. Since starting the medicine, our only struggle is appetite. Unfortunately when he's had his meds, he loses his appetite altogether so we're keeping a close eye on his weight gain. Below, a picture of giggly Kylee and Brody before a long day of testing...</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vgYhY3QYFqI/Vp1I0ek8uQI/AAAAAAAALY8/Lt2qQUi7m_E/s1600/Brody%2Band%2BKylee%2BDr.%2BColaluca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vgYhY3QYFqI/Vp1I0ek8uQI/AAAAAAAALY8/Lt2qQUi7m_E/s400/Brody%2Band%2BKylee%2BDr.%2BColaluca.jpg" title="Cox Quads" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Several local news reporters interviewed us in November in honor of Prematurity Awareness Month. You can read two online articles <a href="http://starlocalmedia.com/planocourier/news/life-after-nicu-collin-county-quadruplets-thriving-despite-premature-births/article_715d9236-8ee8-11e5-af09-4f87aaf37ceb.html">here</a> and <a href="http://planoprofile.com/2015/11/20/november-is-prematurity-awareness-month/">here</a>. I love being able to share our journey and to hopefully inspire families who find themselves walking a similar road all while raising awareness about prematurity!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zgK7hVG8yr0/Vp1P-RJ5zSI/AAAAAAAALZM/FRUA8j1PDCw/s1600/Quads%2Bin%2BPaper%2BNov%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zgK7hVG8yr0/Vp1P-RJ5zSI/AAAAAAAALZM/FRUA8j1PDCw/s400/Quads%2Bin%2BPaper%2BNov%2B2015.jpg" title="Cox Quads" width="225" /></a></div>
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Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-3267237082503747462016-01-19T08:30:00.000-06:002016-01-19T11:36:04.141-06:00All about Blade!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Our sweet Blade turned THREE at the end of October! This boy <i>(for the most part)</i> is at such a fun age. His vocabulary is huge and his perception of the world at this age is adorable...yet trying at times. He's "big nuff" to do it all and has no idea he's the youngest of the bunch. To think that the quads were this age when he was born is insane. I felt like we had a decent age gap between the four and Blade but now, sometimes I look at Blade and can't imagine having FOUR his age and about to welcome a fifth...he's just a baby himself!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R29r3DVScjg/VpwP3ShYMKI/AAAAAAAALVc/FxKo9a9gP_0/s1600/Blade%2Band%2BBrooke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R29r3DVScjg/VpwP3ShYMKI/AAAAAAAALVc/FxKo9a9gP_0/s400/Blade%2Band%2BBrooke.jpg" width="281" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">The summer and fall brought some big things for our little guy. You probably remember the quads' beaming with pride when they encouraged and successfully coached Blade in climbing out of his crib <a href="http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2014/08/this-just-happened.html">a while back</a>. We ended up dropping his mattress to the floor after that and finally transitioned him to an actual toddler bed when his siblings got their new beds over the summer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Another huge success was....POTTY TRAINING! I did the <a href="http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2011/11/potty-training-scoop.html">three day method</a> with Blade, just like we did with the quads and he was a total rock star. Having just one toddler to train, we altered our approach a bit this time. We didn't quite put our entire lives on hold like we did last time (who can with four other kids?) and we didn't feel the need to tarp the entire house like before! A potty, a sticker chart and some skittles was all he needed and before we knew it, we were diaper free and never looked back. Like his siblings, Blade didn't night train at the same time, but did on his own within a few months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The girls were sick at the time, but here are all three boys enjoying some bowling at a friend's birthday party...</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dWYoH9jepvg/VpwP3jJ6sQI/AAAAAAAALVg/e44r4pHlQIQ/s1600/Blade%2Band%2BBrothers%2BBowling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dWYoH9jepvg/VpwP3jJ6sQI/AAAAAAAALVg/e44r4pHlQIQ/s400/Blade%2Band%2BBrothers%2BBowling.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Blade's three year stats:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Weight: 33lbs (70th percentile)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Height: 40 inches (95th percentile)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">He passed his hearing and vision with flying colors and is one healthy little dude, which we won't take for granted ;)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-04V9xYYCYjQ/VpwP2MebXNI/AAAAAAAALVQ/QWMRqrp8N90/s1600/Blade%2B3rd%2BCheck%2BUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-04V9xYYCYjQ/VpwP2MebXNI/AAAAAAAALVQ/QWMRqrp8N90/s400/Blade%2B3rd%2BCheck%2BUp.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Another first for our lil dude was the movie theatre! We saw Inside Out... it was the best nap he ever did have ;)</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GRBChP4Rk1Y/VpwP37ov-jI/AAAAAAAALVo/BdJ8qee_7jc/s1600/Blade%2527s%2BFirst%2BMovie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GRBChP4Rk1Y/VpwP37ov-jI/AAAAAAAALVo/BdJ8qee_7jc/s400/Blade%2527s%2BFirst%2BMovie.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">To celebrate his big number 3, we rented several bounce house/obstacle course things and invited friends over to play. He still LOVES "Mouse" <i>(not Mickey Mouse, it's just "Mouse")</i> and so that's the theme we went with. He loved seeing all the balloons, piñata and party loot just for him! </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kc9BbONGemo/VpwTp2S4r1I/AAAAAAAALWU/vGbdD71N3Uw/s1600/IMG_7158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kc9BbONGemo/VpwTp2S4r1I/AAAAAAAALWU/vGbdD71N3Uw/s400/IMG_7158.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bJD2M7VtgY/VpwU0Aa7X9I/AAAAAAAALWg/ejHWHbuus8g/s1600/Blades%2B3rd%2BBday%2BMom%2Band%2BDad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bJD2M7VtgY/VpwU0Aa7X9I/AAAAAAAALWg/ejHWHbuus8g/s320/Blades%2B3rd%2BBday%2BMom%2Band%2BDad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Some of Blade's favorite things:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">-His little pink blankets <i>(yes) </i>also known as his "mimis". He is attached and can't be without one at all times. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">-He eats just about anything...with the exception of tomatoes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-Like his siblings, he loves rain boots, being outside, anything that goes and playing in the creek.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-Like mentioned above, Mouse. The dude would watch Mickey Mouse 24/7 if I allowed him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-He has a slight obsession with smelling things (like his blankets, for example) and he encourages others to use their sense of smell as well. He is constantly asking people to "nose it" when he wants them to smell something.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">At three, I'm thankful he's still a faithful napper. Due to the quads being in school, he's up by 7am and takes a 2 hour nap or so after lunch and goes back down around 7pm. I'm SO thankful God gave me some good sleepers :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Blade and Korbin</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WyOVa_4KKzY/Vp0Y-klVaXI/AAAAAAAALW4/TGnlZ3gFwA4/s1600/Blade%2B%2526%2BKorbin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WyOVa_4KKzY/Vp0Y-klVaXI/AAAAAAAALW4/TGnlZ3gFwA4/s400/Blade%2B%2526%2BKorbin.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love this sweet boy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejy7AGihrp8/Vp0aISa8T7I/AAAAAAAALXE/gBH_b2VDxIE/s1600/Blade%2Band%2BMommy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejy7AGihrp8/Vp0aISa8T7I/AAAAAAAALXE/gBH_b2VDxIE/s400/Blade%2Band%2BMommy.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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Now if time could just slow down a bit, that would be great!</div>
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Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-34589451794701826502016-01-18T09:30:00.000-06:002016-01-18T09:30:11.209-06:00First Grade... Then & Now<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Like I mentioned on the previous post, I had every intention of getting back to blogging once the quads' started school. Here's the post I wrote the morning I dropped them off for their first day of first grade! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Segoe UI; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe UI;">*********************************************************************</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Seriously. Where does the time go?
I JUST dropped them off for </span><a href="http://coxquads.blogspot.com/search?q=Pride"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Kindergarten</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> yesterday!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x51e8hJC8N8/VpqQ78Psp0I/AAAAAAAALQI/dYtpufe9D58/s1600/Quads%2BFirst%2BDay%2BFirst%2BGrade.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x51e8hJC8N8/VpqQ78Psp0I/AAAAAAAALQI/dYtpufe9D58/s320/Quads%2BFirst%2BDay%2BFirst%2BGrade.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I’m happy to report there were NO
tears out of the quads or myself during the drop off this morning. Mr. Blade had
a harder time. “I big nuff” he told me over and over, he insisted he would stay
and color like the rest of them. Luckily the dude can be easily lured by food
and I got him to walk out of the school at his own will with a promise of a trip
to the donut shop on the way home. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qnbXpVtvSr4/Vpqh2igqxrI/AAAAAAAALQk/DsyCkrLzg7E/s1600/Blade%2BFirst%2BDay%2BQuads%2BFirst%2BGrade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qnbXpVtvSr4/Vpqh2igqxrI/AAAAAAAALQk/DsyCkrLzg7E/s400/Blade%2BFirst%2BDay%2BQuads%2BFirst%2BGrade.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Many have asked if they’re all in
the same class again this year and what our reasoning is behind the decision
we’ve made. Yes, they are. For all you non-Texans, it’s a law here that it’s the
parent’s decision to split their multiples or not. Like mentioned before, they
were all together in PreK (there at the same school). They did well so the
teachers all agreed they would do fine in kinder together. Towards the end of
their kinder year I discussed the option of splitting them with several of the
teachers and other staff and was assured once again that they did fine together
(they didn’t cling or depend on each other…etc.) and nobody saw any reason to
split them up if I didn’t want to. Although it’s legally my decision, I’m so
thankful for a supportive school that doesn’t “ strongly urge” me one way or
another. After much consideration, Bret and I decided to put all four in the
same class again. The way I see it, they will have the rest of their lives to be
apart. As they get older, they’ll naturally go in their different directions,
but I’m not looking to rush it! Keeping them together makes things MUCH easier
on me when it comes to school schedules, volunteering in the classroom and
communication with the teacher. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here’s Mr. Brody, a little nervous,
but ready for his big day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe UI; font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tv0Icg0iLXY/VpqkEAhfhKI/AAAAAAAALQw/0MltivwsiCE/s1600/First%2BGrade%2BBrody.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tv0Icg0iLXY/VpqkEAhfhKI/AAAAAAAALQw/0MltivwsiCE/s400/First%2BGrade%2BBrody.jpg" width="300" /></a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Miss B. This girl was born to learn
and having a coloring page there waiting at her desk made her all the more ready
for the new adventure!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe UI; font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eEwpKbI7m2I/VpqkJcSvzaI/AAAAAAAALQ8/Wy-Mh79gVXk/s1600/First%2BGrade%2BBaxlyn.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eEwpKbI7m2I/VpqkJcSvzaI/AAAAAAAALQ8/Wy-Mh79gVXk/s400/First%2BGrade%2BBaxlyn.jpg" width="300" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Kylee Mae. Slightly annoyed at my
picture taking and need to squeeze and kiss all their cheeks before leaving.
This girl is growing up too quickly. 6 going on 16, I’m afraid :/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe UI; font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KdTCItv_u94/VpqkdJcV8GI/AAAAAAAALRU/zGQCrJV8qsQ/s1600/First%2BGrade%2BKylee.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KdTCItv_u94/VpqkdJcV8GI/AAAAAAAALRU/zGQCrJV8qsQ/s400/First%2BGrade%2BKylee.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Korbin, my handsome dude, was
luckily enough to be seated next to two of his friends from his kinder
class!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Segoe UI; font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3YTo1myPes/VpqkYRbjtNI/AAAAAAAALRI/1BFmcg5SqFs/s1600/First%2BGrade%2BKorbin.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3YTo1myPes/VpqkYRbjtNI/AAAAAAAALRI/1BFmcg5SqFs/s400/First%2BGrade%2BKorbin.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KdTCItv_u94/VpqkdJcV8GI/AAAAAAAALRU/zGQCrJV8qsQ/s1600/First%2BGrade%2BKylee.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Korbin, Kylee, Mrs. Lane (their new
teacher) Baxlyn and Brody at this year’s Meet The Teacher!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xrJB30p4LC4/VpqkqOWBfkI/AAAAAAAALRg/2sE7AgSy560/s1600/Quads%2Band%2BMrs.%2BLane.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xrJB30p4LC4/VpqkqOWBfkI/AAAAAAAALRg/2sE7AgSy560/s400/Quads%2Band%2BMrs.%2BLane.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: Segoe UI; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Good Luck, my sweet first
graders!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">“</span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Don’t worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank
him for his answers. If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is
far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your
thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Fast forward about 5 months and they're all LOVING school, as am I! We were so blessed with an awesome teacher last year, I was afraid nobody could measure up. I was wrong. Mrs. Lane is not only a fantastic teacher, but she truly cares about these kids in every way. Nothing puts a mama's mind at ease like knowing her kids are cared for when they're away from her!</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles8A3BB/MraLane3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles8A3BB/firstgrade23.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles8A3BB/firstgrade33.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles8A3BB/firstgrade13.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles8A3BB/firstgrade64.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I watch a couple of other sweet boys a couple days a week but Friday's are just Blade and I. When we have nothing else going on, we like to go up and volunteer at the school. I go from classroom to classroom helping teachers with sorting, making copies and filing papers while Blade tags along or hangs out with his favorite librarian, Mrs. B.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here's Brody who was named Top Cardinal last week! My sweet boy was recognized for his leadership and for setting a good example!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AhMTXdkTyuo/VpqpCyq-znI/AAAAAAAALRs/C9dkfChmpC8/s1600/BRody%2BTop%2BCardinal%2BFirst%2BGRade.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AhMTXdkTyuo/VpqpCyq-znI/AAAAAAAALRs/C9dkfChmpC8/s320/BRody%2BTop%2BCardinal%2BFirst%2BGRade.jpg" width="240" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So hard to believe this school year is already more than half way over. I'm trying so hard not to blink. Before you know it, Blade will be off for kinder! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Happy Monday!</span></div>
Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-54064103059372802772016-01-17T14:49:00.000-06:002016-01-17T15:05:36.941-06:00Hello....Hello... Anyone Out There?!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles8A3BB/MraLane3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles8A3BB/firstgrade23.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles8A3BB/firstgrade33.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles8A3BB/firstgrade13.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4752849566918261480" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles8A3BB/firstgrade64.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hello out there! It's been a (long) while, I know. First I have to say is WOW, you guys sure do keep me in check on the whole blog thing. Over the past few months, I have received your comments, emails and voiced concerns to Bret and other friends at work. We are all fine and doing well, busy as most people are these days. You'd think life would free up when four of your five kids go off to school, but in reality, I think you get busier. Crazy to think I haven't blogged since MOTHER'S DAY. I had every intention of getting back to blogging when Brody, Baxlyn, Kylee and Korbin went to first grade (what?!). I came home after dropping them off on day one, wrote a post, went to publish and Blogger threw me for a loop with some techy stuff. Ugh. That post, along with an added school update, will be up next! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'll play rewind for the next week or so to share (and document!) some of the things that went down over summer and fall in our house! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Dr. Reyes, our beloved pediatrician, spoiled us once again and sent Bret and I to the Kenny Chesney/Jason Aldean/Brantley Gilbert concert. Talk about a fun, kid-free date night!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-356TAUQJ5B0/Vpqu_zCifrI/AAAAAAAALR8/hCGzfaSUZV8/s1600/Concert%2BDr%2BReyes.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-356TAUQJ5B0/Vpqu_zCifrI/AAAAAAAALR8/hCGzfaSUZV8/s400/Concert%2BDr%2BReyes.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAtpl_ZFoC0/VpqvmCoXMsI/AAAAAAAALSI/1hMuKGnD_0E/s1600/Concert%2BDr%2BReyes%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAtpl_ZFoC0/VpqvmCoXMsI/AAAAAAAALSI/1hMuKGnD_0E/s400/Concert%2BDr%2BReyes%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Brody, Baxlyn, Kylee and Korbin had their first field trip AND first trip on a school bus to the Dallas Zoo to finish up their kindergarten year. I was able to attend as a chaperone and enjoy the day with them!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i5PDgtDbEN4/VpqxJ8p63TI/AAAAAAAALSU/u2A-96rE-fo/s1600/Kinder%2BFirst%2BZoo%2Bfield%2Btrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i5PDgtDbEN4/VpqxJ8p63TI/AAAAAAAALSU/u2A-96rE-fo/s400/Kinder%2BFirst%2BZoo%2Bfield%2Btrip.jpg" title="Cox Quads 2015" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">L-R Brody, Baxlyn, Korbin and Kylee at their Kindergarten end of year celebration</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Our small town offers sport camps during the summer. We let each of them pick one camp. Brody chose basketball. He had fun, bless his heart, but it was a challenge to say the least. Kylee chose softball, another challenge but an accepted one! Korbin & Baxlyn were brave enough to endure the Texas heat during a week of outdoor soccer. I'm not too sure any of our little quadlings will be an all-star athlete, and that's ok :) Here's a pic of Kylee, who was awarded "Best Attitude and Hardest Worker" for the week! (Yup, they spelled her name wrong, she didn't notice.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zJG6OqC_Qpk/Vpq6Ug7D0TI/AAAAAAAALSg/FnWmjvxxN9M/s1600/IMG_4309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zJG6OqC_Qpk/Vpq6Ug7D0TI/AAAAAAAALSg/FnWmjvxxN9M/s400/IMG_4309.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Fourth of July fun!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZdzrokpqPA/Vpq72Mq1PhI/AAAAAAAALSw/yO69kuLW2gw/s1600/IMG_4667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZdzrokpqPA/Vpq72Mq1PhI/AAAAAAAALSw/yO69kuLW2gw/s400/IMG_4667.JPG" title="Cox Kids 2015" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">One BIG deal this summer was (finally) transitioning out of their toddler beds. </span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Yep, our kids were in their cribs/toddler beds until just before first grade</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">. We bought the convertible beds that would go from crib, to toddler to full sized beds but decided we didn't want to take up that much of their floor space in their rooms with two full beds in each. I wanted something that didn't take up all of their floor room, that would grow with them and offer them some personal space as well. After debating for a longg time as to what type of beds to invest in and getting input from other moms of multiples, we finally found what we were looking for at Nebraska Furniture Mart. Each quad now has their own twin bed that has a dresser and shelving built right in! Having the dresser drawers under the beds allow us to eliminate the need for a dresser (or two) and the shelves are perfect places for "THEIR" stuff.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YbCqrBaQVNI/Vpvu2u4BuWI/AAAAAAAALTA/cFptKr0iXZ8/s1600/Boys%2BNew%2BBEds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YbCqrBaQVNI/Vpvu2u4BuWI/AAAAAAAALTA/cFptKr0iXZ8/s400/Boys%2BNew%2BBEds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">One of my favorite parts of the bed is the extra storage space beneath them! There are doors on either side of the bed that allows kids to crawl straight through. As you can see, ours are pushed against walls but the kids love going under there and having yet another space to put their own things. I added one of those battery operated push-to-activate night lights under each one which makes it that much more fun. They love to hide out under there, color...etc. I swear after the beds were delivered, I didn't see a kid for like 3 days ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We, of course, spent many days of our summer swimming. We put in a pool last summer and goodness do we love it. So many people told us a pool at home isn't worth the maintenance, SO not the case at our house! </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPXouzc4hjg/VpvzH6pGJtI/AAAAAAAALT4/HQP2DyVgjZU/s1600/Cox%2BQuads%2BSummer%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPXouzc4hjg/VpvzH6pGJtI/AAAAAAAALT4/HQP2DyVgjZU/s400/Cox%2BQuads%2BSummer%2B2015.jpg" title="Cox Quads 2015" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Although they're getting close, they're not quite swimming yet in the deep end with no puddle jumpers. This past summer was the first summer I've felt comfortable taking them all into the pool by myself. Baxlyn can jump into the deep end and swim across but it still scares the crap out of me. Slowly but surely, they'll all get there!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Kylee Mae and those sweeeet freckles!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Baxlyn, oh dear Baxlyn. I went into her room one day and my mouth about dropped when she turned to ask me a question. She could NOT understand why I didn't believe her when she said she didn't cut her hair. LOL! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">A</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">nother exciting adventure this summer/fall was CHEERLEADING! Kylee mentioned last year that she wanted to be a cheerleader. Having been a cheerleader myself through Jr. High & High School I was TOTALLY onboard with the idea! Not only did I sign her up, I somehow got roped into coaching the squad of 32 girls ranging in age from 3 years old through 2nd grade, along with a few other amazing moms. Miss B ultimately decided she wanted nothing to do with being a cheerleader. If you know Baxlyn, you know she would rather stay low, color, organize and clean. Although very strong and independent, she wants nothing to do with performing or being in the spotlight. This whole being a quadruplet thing has brought her more than enough attention as far as she is concerned. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here's a picture of the adorable cheer buckets the other cheer moms and I made. While they're gear included embroidered bags, these buckets worked well for carrying their needed items AND we added a padded seat/lid which allowed the girls to sit without burning their little rears on the hot Texas ground.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cPU13GeV8VY/Vpv7UE5ImmI/AAAAAAAALUo/B8xxePTe7Og/s1600/Kylee%2B%2526%2BMommy%2BCheer.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cPU13GeV8VY/Vpv7UE5ImmI/AAAAAAAALUo/B8xxePTe7Og/s400/Kylee%2B%2526%2BMommy%2BCheer.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ETr6lXeUvpo/Vpv7UT-5w2I/AAAAAAAALU0/aIKiOIXAhAg/s1600/Kylee%2BCheer%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ETr6lXeUvpo/Vpv7UT-5w2I/AAAAAAAALU0/aIKiOIXAhAg/s400/Kylee%2BCheer%2B2015.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The girls had one practice a week and cheered each Saturday for the tackle football team of little boys their age. It was SUCH a fun season cheering on our boys and watching our girls grow! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'm excited to say that Baxlyn had a change of heart once the cheer season began. Once she realized many of her friends were cheerleaders and that she was great at doing the cheers herself, she decided she wants to join next year! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">For now I'll leave you with that! Over the next few days I'll catch you up on school, all the updated medical stuff and more details on our sweet number 5!</span><br />
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Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-26413638074168023412016-01-16T11:42:00.000-06:002016-01-16T11:42:19.661-06:00Test test....<div style="text-align: center;">
............... did you get excited? :)</div>
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Stay tuned!</div>
Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-48338056113089911412015-05-10T20:14:00.000-05:002015-05-10T21:22:34.130-05:00Mother’s Day 2015<p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Due to some CrAzY TX weather including tornado watches and some MAJOR local flooding, we opted to stay home sweet home this year for Mother’s Day. Bret spoiled me Friday evening by taking me to get my nails and toes done and treating me to a fabulous, kid-free dinner at LaHacienda Ranch while my sweet mom and sister stayed with our crew. A decent group picture of all 6 (or 7) of us is next to impossible these days so I snapped some selfies with each kiddo this evening…</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">My sweet girls, Baxlyn & Kylee</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zJJwvdjEhzI/VVAPeK9O3zI/AAAAAAAALOw/outsu90cKjI/s1600-h/mothers%252520day%252520girls%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="mothers day girls" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="mothers day girls" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sMOGRYhSvK4/VVAPezUYt6I/AAAAAAAALO4/eMw3uHsj3CQ/mothers%252520day%252520girls_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="464" height="265" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">The boysss. Brody (is he not the cutest in his new specs?!) & my handsome Korbin</font></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AFV2P7MFlPs/VVAPftagVeI/AAAAAAAALPA/Rb9FGN8l_VI/s1600-h/mothers%252520day%252520boys%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="mothers day boys" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="mothers day boys" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pBLD0QOyheg/VVAPgu5miJI/AAAAAAAALPI/JI6v5A0CStA/mothers%252520day%252520boys_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="464" height="234" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">And then we have Blade. This little one is every bit of 2 years old right now. He wasn’t in the picture taking mood, CLEARLY. God love him and all the ‘tude he packs sometimes!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z20r4C3OOt0/VVAPhSeww9I/AAAAAAAALMA/-xHysfhpzh8/s1600-h/mothers%252520day%252520blade%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="mothers day blade" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="mothers day blade" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r5IWVj8g9KY/VVAPiNcz00I/AAAAAAAALMI/DXDNudccJa8/mothers%252520day%252520blade_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="302" height="310" /></a>  </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">I was happy to discover each of the quads made their own “Mom” book at school to bring home as a gift. THIS is what it’s all about, y’all, and I’m lucky enough to have FOUR of these gems to look through. So sweet, sometimes surprising and very entertaining, these kindergarteners!</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">First up is Brody’s book. Love my lopsided hair and facial features going on…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B4XEVclM4Ug/VVAPjHHcTvI/AAAAAAAALMQ/aoFy-Z-QIGs/s1600-h/md%252520a1%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="md a1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="md a1" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qHDCllOTCz0/VVAPkL25_EI/AAAAAAAALMY/A8fo0gM9EFY/md%252520a1_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="437" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">One of the pages read: To relax my mom likes to…. “Let me ride on her back.” </font><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"><em>Yes, buddy. Because after riding you (and the rest of the kids in line across the living room) this mama who’s got some serious abdominal separation, hernia & daily back pain feels SO relaxed!</em></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kJrkDhGHYhA/VVAPk6TnFfI/AAAAAAAALMg/C6C-vntYTIA/s1600-h/md%252520a2%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="md a2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="md a2" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u2xwfbEh7ps/VVAPl62b2aI/AAAAAAAALMo/ntxTQxRQo0k/md%252520a2_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="438" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Baxlyn’s cover page…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wEiyObTl12Q/VVAPm09LgcI/AAAAAAAALMw/Fp384e6u3u0/s1600-h/md%252520b1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="md b1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="md b1" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B5i-SdHXOpA/VVAPnVW3ZmI/AAAAAAAALM4/5w4a05McQ6A/md%252520b1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="437" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">I found this picture of hers entertaining. “I love it when my mom…helps me and helps me get down.” Clearly her picture shows me helping her get down…. off of the ROOF via a ladder. Not that I wouldn’t help her if the occasion should arise, but it’s yet to really happen!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0C4wXrWOt9M/VVAPn1K8FeI/AAAAAAAALNA/74Il0l30g3w/s1600-h/md%252520b2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="md b2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="md b2" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TbKKKVC-yiQ/VVAPo4HfBjI/AAAAAAAALNI/LcY6FoOWw1A/md%252520b2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="437" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">While unpacking their folders on Friday, I was a bit concerned when I came across Kylee’s book (and then more so to find Korbin’s looked very similar). What at first I thought was a serious case of acne, turns out to be “ALL of my freckles”. In reality, I’m not sure I have even one freckle on my face, but I appreciate the detail they were aiming for… </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UtLXt-smvig/VVAPppZukJI/AAAAAAAALNQ/B1CdfmaX_yY/s1600-h/md%252520c1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="md c1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="md c1" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YsoWsIpED6Y/VVAPqW-hi3I/AAAAAAAALNY/yqIbgCMTHOc/md%252520c1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="437" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">“I love it when my mom… goes out of town so I can spend time with Daddy.” #ouch</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g4NBIL8jqEE/VVAPraX87uI/AAAAAAAALNg/65lWyuYHCNw/s1600-h/md%252520c2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="md c2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="md c2" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cp1RIICS1wo/VVAPr5ZTuvI/AAAAAAAALNk/XFdg5OlWK80/md%252520c2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="437" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Korbin’s cover, again, so proud to show me the freckles he drew…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9iDtxCB5mAc/VVAPsftkqpI/AAAAAAAALNw/nOmcyjiz2fM/s1600-h/md%252520d1%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="md d1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="md d1" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-voPUayJZt18/VVAPtOFH_0I/AAAAAAAALN4/AHv1_xhcEcA/md%252520d1_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="437" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">“It bugs my mom when….I talk too much.” Let’s face it, he was right on the money with this one. Notice he added the “I like my mom.” at the end so no hard feelings ;)</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UEFbhEcplBc/VVAPt8n9o-I/AAAAAAAALOA/7lfLhxo-znw/s1600-h/md%252520d2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="md d2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="md d2" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oKL4d1f4H1g/VVAPuXBWJ0I/AAAAAAAALOE/y6deUGB3RKM/md%252520d2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="437" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Some more cards they all worked on while staying with Nana & Aunt Beth. Korbin’s (the green standing in the back) has markers glued to it and it reads “For Mother’s Day. Dear Mom I know you hate laundry. I can do some laundry for you.” He’s yet to touch any laundry during the 10 loads I did this weekend, but the thought was sweet!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8xiTMpM6czE/VVAPvnqZ6QI/AAAAAAAALOQ/YG3-SPrptQQ/s1600-h/md%252520cards%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="md cards" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="md cards" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kFRZ8Qw3AxU/VVAPwJV8pCI/AAAAAAAALOY/SmC7pvnWU7M/md%252520cards_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="342" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">A super special Mother’s Day to my own Mom and Mother in law! Thank you two for ALL for you do for us and for being the best Nana & Mamaw to our crazy bunch! Love you so much!</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OT_3RyPYlI0/VVAPwydD21I/AAAAAAAALOg/0OBtYEYb_Ac/s1600-h/nana%252520and%252520mamaw%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="nana and mamaw" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="nana and mamaw" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ybSHFTXCh7k/VVAPxggo1YI/AAAAAAAALOo/6tVsyTAfW4A/nana%252520and%252520mamaw_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="319" /></a></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-35267440977533949862015-04-13T08:00:00.000-05:002015-04-13T08:00:12.414-05:00Because…<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pzx_f7pczFk/VSlRv8_cGOI/AAAAAAAALLE/JNAvycWB8Lo/s1600-h/kylee%252520nicu%252520brets%252520ring%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="kylee nicu brets ring" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="kylee nicu brets ring" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Vf6MiWch4YI/VSlRwY01rdI/AAAAAAAALLM/4BFmANifPsQ/kylee%252520nicu%252520brets%252520ring_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="342" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><em><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">…because no father’s wedding ring should slide up to his daughter’s shoulder.</font></em></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"></font></em></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"><em>Please help us fight against prematurity:</em></font></p> <p align="center"><a title="https://www.marchforbabies.org/march/s_team_page.asp?seid=2222840&mfb2015=1" href="https://www.marchforbabies.org/march/s_team_page.asp?seid=2222840&mfb2015=1"><font size="4">https://www.marchforbabies.org/march/s_team_page.asp?seid=2222840&mfb2015=1</font></a></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-89526261848771936952015-04-11T11:00:00.001-05:002015-04-11T11:04:12.740-05:00March for Babies – 2015 – We Need YOU!<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eJU38BtfIfU/VSlFNNb33wI/AAAAAAAALKs/yrCmvp1DjIE/s1600-h/Help%252520Us%252520Save%252520More%252520Babies%252521%252520%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Help Us Save More Babies! " style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Help Us Save More Babies! " src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pBL3GOjtZFY/VSlFN7MlhmI/AAAAAAAALK0/goQTrWO633Y/Help%252520Us%252520Save%252520More%252520Babies%252521%252520_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="189" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">First we want to thank all of you who placed Younique orders during our awesome <a href=" http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2015/03/have-beautiful-lashes-help-save-babies.html">fundraiser</a>! Together we were able to put $120 towards our March for Babies fund! Congrats to my fellow quad mama, Courtney Larson, on winning a set of the 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara!</font></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">We have just ONE more week before we participate in the Dallas March for Babies walk. If you haven’t already, please consider donating in honor of the kids in your lives. Being a family who has personally seen the benefits of the research done by the March of Dimes, I can tell you that your support is so greatly appreciated. Because of people like you who donated and helped raise awareness, OUR babies are here today. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Together we can help save lives. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Together we can offer hope in hopeless situations.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Together we can fight for tiny babies who cannot fight for themselves. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Together we can make a difference.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Although close, we have not yet reached our goal this year. With your help we can go above and beyond like each year in the past. A donation, of ANY amount is appreciated by so many. You can give online, safely and securely by clicking on the March of Dimes icon on the right of your screen or by clicking <a href=" https://www.marchforbabies.org/march/s_team_page.asp?seid=2222840&mfb2015=1">HERE</a>! Either option will take you straight to our Team Page. Once on our team page, simply enter the amount you wish to donate to the right of your screen. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">We are also excited to have many friends and family join us at the Dallas walk. It looks like we will have beautiful (fingers crossed!) weather and would love for you locals to join us! To join our team, click on our Team Page (above) and click “Join This Team” and register!</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Lastly, if you are unable to walk with us or donate this year, please pass along either this blog post OR the link to our Team Page so that others may have an opportunity to help this cause that is so close to our hearts. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">THANK YOU!</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">**Those of you who have joined our team this year, I will be contacting you within a few days with event information including shirt orders, times and locations :]</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"> </font></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-83094136027921960642015-04-01T13:18:00.001-05:002015-04-01T13:18:29.308-05:00Ay Yi Yi… Our Lil’ Eye, Eye, Eyes!<p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Another Day, Another Diagnosis…. <em>oh wait, did I already title another recent post with that? </em></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">I mentioned that Brody & Baxlyn failed their eye screenings at their 6 year check ups. They had their appointment with Dr. Chen yesterday for a thorough examination and to see what was up. Turns out Miss B has astigmatism going on, in her left eye especially. Astigmatism is caused by a difference in the surface curve of the eye. Instead of being a perfect sphere shape, Baxlyn’s eyes are shaped like footballs. She {confidently} got most of her letters wrong when reading the eye chart with her left eye.  Dr. Chen said she likes to avoid glasses with kids at all costs so the plan is to patch her right eye for 4 hours a day for 3 months and do a follow up to see if it helped strengthen that left eye. If you know B, you know she isn’t a complainer. She wasn’t thrilled to wear the patch but did it without a fuss. I’m telling you this girl is the sweetest, most compliant child I have ever met and I am so glad God gave her to me! </font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WgQgiNv-iGI/VRw2Xr5Z1bI/AAAAAAAALJA/ACj19CZQ7GU/s1600-h/eyes2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="eyes2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="eyes2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QuSPDj3KLN8/VRw2YUH5CTI/AAAAAAAALJI/jWYqF63P9Sc/eyes2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Dr. Chen hooked her up with this slightly boyish looking dragon patch for the first day but she’s happy to have a variety of girly patches being mailed to her this week :)</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TeGCIb25Xpw/VRw2ZI_VckI/AAAAAAAALJQ/5ypAfAma6_c/s1600-h/eyes4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="eyes4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="eyes4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dkf_oBxnL70/VRw2Z9EKMbI/AAAAAAAALJY/w6zwcNpihzo/eyes4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yQr4yi9vRUs/VRw2azkVfSI/AAAAAAAALJg/haQxlPl01xs/s1600-h/eyes1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="eyes1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="eyes1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Srv7XAybADU/VRw2bT5OtmI/AAAAAAAALJo/wWaPkmTBp3s/eyes1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="383" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Our Broman has quite a bit going on as well and unlike Baxlyn, didn’t escape a MAJOR need for glasses. For a while now, I’ve noticed Brody not being able to look me straight in the eye. It’s as if he were looking just a few centimeters off of my eyes when trying to look at me. We’ve never noticed him squinting and have never seen anything that indicated he couldn’t see clearly but the actual focus of his eyes has been really off. This, along with other “weird” things is one of the reasons we took him in a few weeks ago to be checked for shunt malfunction. Dr. Chen said he has extreme Hyperopia (is far sighted) and also has Strabismus and needs glasses yesterday. She was able to show me during her examination how his eyes crossed inward to focus on a fixed object and how both eyes couldn’t focus on the object at one time. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Strabismus is a fairly common condition affecting nearly 4% of all children in the US. It is especially common in kids born prematurely and who have disorders that affect the brain such a Cerebral Palsy & Hydrocephalus… both of which Brody also has. We always knew he (and Kylee) were at an increased risk for eye problems but being six years in, I hoped we dodged that bullet. Apparently not! </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Although the news of glasses didn’t bother Brody, I personally wasn’t too thrilled at the idea. Keeping up with five kids is hard enough and adding a pair of breakable eye wear to the mix doesn’t exactly sound like my cup of tea. Nonetheless I’m glad it’s nothing more serious. It’s just <em>one </em>more thing added to an already full plate, <em>one</em> more doctor to add to our calendar on a regular basis and <em>one </em>more medical condition I’ll be forced to learn more about in more detail. Thankfully, despite the silly-sad face in the picture, Brody is excited about getting glasses. Kylee was livid that <em>she </em>didn’t fail the eye test at their 6 year appointment and isn’t happy at all that Brody “gets” to wear glasses and she doesn’t… “<em>No Fair! MY eyes are bwurry, they are so so bwurry so I need gwasses too!” </em>I can only hope they’re as excited about braces when that time comes around! </font></p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LE5KtehUVp8/VRw2bwDCByI/AAAAAAAALJw/fLQW_TyaSyc/s1600-h/eyes3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="eyes3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="eyes3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oe1gbaIGXUc/VRw2c8AZ_nI/AAAAAAAALJ4/RRHKdYusGAw/eyes3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Broman will get his glasses ASAP and will follow up with Dr. Chen in 2 months while Miss B will have her follow up in 3 months. </font></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-81459539424993767462015-03-25T12:00:00.001-05:002015-03-25T12:41:02.053-05:00Have Beautiful Lashes & Help Save Babies!!<p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">It’s that time of year again and we are gearing up to March For Babies! This will be our 6th year supporting the March of Dimes and their efforts to give all babies a healthy start at life! Many of you have donated and/or walked with us over the years and here is yet another great way you can help! You can visit our Team Page by <a href=" https://www.marchforbabies.org/march/s_team_page.asp?seid=2222840&mfb2015=1">Clicking Here!</a></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">By now, I KNOW you’ve heard about Younique’s 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara. If you know me, you know I love love mascara and am rarely seen without it. For years and <em>years</em> I used Maybelline’s Volum’ Express Falsies and loved it. I was happy to pay my $6-$7 once a month on what I considered was a great, reliable product. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-a2rl9kc48Mg/VRLpih7MpqI/AAAAAAAALGk/ewGMjLbFd3c/s1600-h/falsies4.jpg"><img title="falsies" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="falsies" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OKfrXUeNd1s/VRLpjCSNGiI/AAAAAAAALGs/UWOZ5nmqvaE/falsies_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="293" /></a> </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">I started hearing people talk about this new mascara… this “3D” mascara that was supposedly unlike any other out there. I won’t lie, with all the talk, I was interested in trying it to see what the fuss was all about. After looking to order, I could NOT bring myself to pay $29 for a mascara, <em>especially</em> since I had already found the perfect one for me. You know the old saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Yeah, that was my take on it. Over several months, my curiosity grew as I continued to hear more and more about Younique’s 3D Fiber Mascara, yet I still stuck to my guns. </font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-R-Ksryw_VrE/VRLpj4AdZII/AAAAAAAALG0/1rr-7T3leHA/s1600-h/seven4.jpg"><img title="seven" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="seven" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CZO-vPVaXfw/VRLpkRuxCfI/AAAAAAAALG8/Ap-ctKuUPvM/seven_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="270" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">In October my curiosity ended when I ended up winning a set of the 3D mascara at our local MoMs vendor night – I was stoked and was so anxious to try it out the next day. Although the application process, which includes applying both a transplanting gel & the fibers, took a few days to perfect, the results were amazing! It’s been five months since I tried the 3D lashes and I have not picked up a tube of Maybelline since. The <em>BEST PART</em> is that during those five months I have only re-ordered <u>ONE</u> TIME. Seriously, one set lasts SO much longer than my old mascara. I was spending almost as much on multiple Maybelline tubes over the course of several months as I have on the one set of Younique’s. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">I went out and bought a fresh tube of Maybelline to show you the difference between the two. I personally don’t put any mascara on my bottom lashes as they’re wayy too long but here is a nice look at my top lashes all done up… </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">No mascara.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1mwG8PUK6vo/VRLplMq4uRI/AAAAAAAALHE/lC6fvJ3Wq7c/s1600-h/four4.jpg"><img title="four" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="four" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l5htd7v7n90/VRLplqfqBpI/AAAAAAAALHM/WGAtYMG0ph4/four_thumb10.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="135" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Left, no mascara. Right, two coats of Maybelline.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YD5unYHKe8A/VRLpmGfj1SI/AAAAAAAALHU/MBJ9pcdr1xk/s1600-h/five3.jpg"><img title="five" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="five" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-apGNi6TZdQ0/VRLpm9adRAI/AAAAAAAALHc/QtiSCwMfO0c/five_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="100" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Left, two coats of Younique’s 3D Lashes. Right, two coats of Mabelline.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-A_-adqVYRgc/VRLpni8lQKI/AAAAAAAALHk/37_p9uBGJVs/s1600-h/three3.jpg"><img title="three" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="three" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dJnln_PiUtc/VRLpoBfjRoI/AAAAAAAALHs/EHzavRCe9sU/three_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="135" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gUpowUoA_R4/VRLpoh-IOQI/AAAAAAAALH0/AwO1fpgCtME/s1600-h/two3.jpg"><img title="two" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="two" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i9fihadqQi8/VRLppLiDC_I/AAAAAAAALH8/X4FigjvHBbU/two_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="108" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IAYDt29GVBk/VRLppzLs9mI/AAAAAAAALIE/JE6q94Z8F24/s1600-h/one4.jpg"><img title="one" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="one" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TB4TZf5vc7I/VRLpqR9NYeI/AAAAAAAALII/kzVHZvVkDp8/one_thumb11.jpg?imgmax=800" width="373" height="121" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">As you can see, quite a difference! Maybelline offers great results but Younique’s 3D Fiber Lashes takes it to a whole new level! </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Out with the old…</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8V5ZtxUx0Zs/VRLpq4a9ItI/AAAAAAAALIU/tRj_6TLhRjE/s1600-h/younique204.jpg"><img title="younique20" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="younique20" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oHblv_Bzpec/VRLprtL8v_I/AAAAAAAALIc/LXmUfxEn1bI/younique20_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="362" /></a> <font size="3" face="Segoe UI">In with the new!</font></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-I9b4YDjDM_E/VRLpsQQ1HlI/AAAAAAAALIk/b0zewLbtTd4/s1600-h/LASHES304.jpg"><img title="LASHES30" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="LASHES30" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DHM4f8MinCM/VRLpszSjayI/AAAAAAAALIs/nU_guZnkvlw/LASHES30_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="304" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Nicole Baca, one of my fellow multiple mamas and a Younique Independent Distributors, has offered to donate 100% her proceeds to the March of Dimes on ALL orders placed through our blog for the next 10 days.  ALL PROCEEDS, YA’LL… not 10% or 50% but <strong><em><u><font color="#400080">100%</font></u></em></strong>, how awesome is that?! If you are like me and hesitate to spend your money on an unfamiliar product, I encourage you to try it. Not only may you be as surprised as I was, but you’d also be helping a GREAT cause and  funding research being done to help babies everywhere! If you are not completely satisfied, no worries, Younique has a 14 day love it guarantee. If you are not happy with your order, you can send it back for a FULL refund!</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Segoe UI"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="5" face="Segoe UI">To learn more about the 3D Fiber Lashes or to ORDER some for yourself, </font><a href="https://www.youniqueproducts.com/NicoleAnnBaca/party/1621416/view"><font size="5" face="Segoe UI">Click Here</font></a><font size="5" face="Segoe UI">! We appreciate you ordering and helping babies, like ours, have a better chance at survival if born prematurely!</font><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Still not ready to order but want a chance to try Younque’s 3D Fiber Lashes?! I will be giving away a <u>FREE</u> set of 3D Fiber Lashes to one lucky follower! Each person who comments under this post will be entered for a chance to win their own 3D Mascara – all you have to do is comment! If you don’t have an account to sign in with, leave your email so we can contact you! Winner will be drawn at random on April 5th and will be notified immediately, you will have 72 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"> </font></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-92003627911566693342015-03-19T10:44:00.000-05:002015-03-19T11:17:15.216-05:00Quads – 6 Year Check Up!<p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-quIrHpyax90/VQr2YVOImJI/AAAAAAAALEo/9GvCXMyNmvg/s1600-h/6yr10%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="6yr10" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="6yr10" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cc-fNa3SElc/VQr2ZfDACMI/AAAAAAAALEw/KdpvK1GNt3g/6yr10_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">I’ll start by saying thank you ALL for sharing your experience with Celiac Disease, I got an overwhelming amount of support and have so many great sources now, thanks to you guys! We did hear back from Dr. Russo and he told us that last week’s biopsies did confirm Celiac Disease in Baxlyn. We switched her to 100% gluten free (the best to our knowledge, anyways) as of Friday. Our game plan is to do another blood draw in six months to check her numbers again. In the meantime, we will hope that the GF diet will eliminate her tummy pain and constipation issues. We’re almost a week into her diet and she still has continuous discomfort but we’re told it can take up to several months for it to go away completely. Luckily, our kids are overall great eaters. Baxlyn has liked 99% of what she’s tried so far and hasn’t complained ONE time of not being able to have what the others have. A super special thank you to our physical therapist, Ashley, for being so thoughtful and bringing Miss B this fun basket full of GF goodies!</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kPuYNRTkgyE/VQr2afxDdMI/AAAAAAAALE4/tcFTi-7iH7E/s1600-h/baxlyn%252520gf%252520basket%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="baxlyn gf basket" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="baxlyn gf basket" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-anC9yKF52so/VQr2bcU6XPI/AAAAAAAALFA/HDg09UiSS08/baxlyn%252520gf%252520basket_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Our pediatrician’s office never ceases to amaze me. From the moment we walked in the door the nurses tag teamed and immediately started their assessments. Due to being born early, we continue to check their hearing and vision at every annual check up. While everyone’s hearing checked out just fine, our eyes were a different story. Dr. Reyes believes Baxlyn may have an astigmatism and Brody has divergent eyes. We’ve noticed A LOT going on with Brody’s eyes, which causes great concern for his shunt. He, Bret and I had a “date night” (his words, bless his heart) at the ER Monday evening undergoing a CT and Xrays to make sure all was well. Thankfully, he checked out just fine! We will be adding yet another doc to our team and following up with a new pediatric ophthalmologist in a week or so. </font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OqFFbjTWRk8/VQr2cEHYzLI/AAAAAAAALFI/k5NcWDQIGlg/s1600-h/6yr11%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="6yr11" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="6yr11" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BpJ-aBd4vQw/VQr2c0AjATI/AAAAAAAALFQ/QvoMA41eyYU/6yr11_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Six Year Stats:</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Brody: 43lbs 3’9in</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Baxlyn: 42lbs 3’10in</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Kylee: 44lbs 3’11in </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Korbin: 43lbs 3’9in </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Quite a difference than the 2 & 3lbs they started at!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z2iBEtkKB14/VQr2dYQrXII/AAAAAAAALFY/DtMEcWLglIA/s1600-h/6yr4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="6yr4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="6yr4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7naWhL8xXgY/VQr2d9o4a-I/AAAAAAAALFc/fkLkNyPhPek/6yr4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wdvN5Qdtf5g/VQr2esMHi8I/AAAAAAAALFo/KhR1M6psM6o/s1600-h/6yr5%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="6yr5" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="6yr5" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uNpOx-pUoU8/VQr2fPbSVgI/AAAAAAAALFw/TZxAlIQTRf4/6yr5_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Kylee, Korbin & Brody were champs while getting their blood drawn to check their numbers that would indicate Celiac Disease. We should know those results by early next week. Below, Brody showing Dr. Reyes how strong his legs are :)</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AqLXZk3oVoM/VQr2f4Vij6I/AAAAAAAALF4/3fhQ8Dparrg/s1600-h/6yr1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="6yr1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="6yr1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yEoMcS53aX0/VQr2gVxrkgI/AAAAAAAALGA/3dS-6GwN5qA/6yr1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> <font size="3" face="Segoe UI">The one and only, Dr. Reyes!</font></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aFGM4bM9S28/VQr2hPvP9tI/AAAAAAAALGI/FcXEBTLDT_g/s1600-h/6yr2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="6yr2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="6yr2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HvE9f372EJw/VQr2iHk8w1I/AAAAAAAALGQ/xkE7LUl2xLc/6yr2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-9340753412242776382015-03-12T10:51:00.001-05:002015-03-12T10:51:06.678-05:00Baxlyn’s EGD (Upper GI, Biopsy, Scope)<p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">4am came early this morning and we headed to Cook Children’s Surgery Center. Just like her BFF, <a href=" http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2014/11/korbins-recovery-abdominal-hernia.html">Mr. Korbin</a>, she didn’t show any nerves before heading back for her procedure – such a champ :)</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BhCwWAYDX-k/VQG131NBHnI/AAAAAAAALEA/IhVGU5T-Eg0/s1600-h/b%252520biopsy%2525201%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="b biopsy 1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="b biopsy 1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-d4WW-5MjqDc/VQG14X8vnnI/AAAAAAAALEI/7tIPqqR1T-A/b%252520biopsy%2525201_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">The procedure itself went well and only took about 15 minutes. Dr. Russo wanted to do the biopsies to confirm what he believes is Celiac Disease (<a href=" http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2015/03/another-day-another-diagnosis.html">see previous post</a>). We were expecting to go in, have it done, the doc come out and say “OK, we will wait for results!” While we did hear that, we also learned of yet another concern Dr. Russo has. As he entered through her stomach to get to her intestines, he notice her tummy had food in it. She hadn’t eaten for a good 12-13 hours therefore there shouldn’t have been any food in there. He said what was there was rather large, nothing he could suction out. Really abnormal. He said she *could* have some motility issues going on in addition to what *might* be celiac. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">We now have three things on our radar 1) Blood work which indicates Celiac Disease. 2) Chronic constipation. 3) Food in tummy.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">He said right now all we can do is wait for results on the biopsies. Although he is going to push to have them tomorrow, it could be next week before we know anything. Dr. Russo did say that he could see that the lining of her small intestine had “carpet” (the villi that I talked about previously), the biopsies will show us if that carpet is “shag” or “berber”, we want shag carpet. He said if we do get 100% confirmation of the Celiac Disease, the gluten free diet should fix everything from her tummy pain to her constipation BUT it doesn’t explain why there is food hanging out in her tummy.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Bret and I left a bit more confused than when we were when we went in and are anxious to hear the results from today’s scope. We do feel confident tho that Miss B is in great hands! Please continue to pray we can alleviate her abdominal pain sooner than later! Thanks for the support and will keep you all posted!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rV1IfzZTfa0/VQG15CD6bcI/AAAAAAAALEQ/1WRQoMjw6_w/s1600-h/b%252520biopsy%2525202%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="b biopsy 2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="b biopsy 2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OE_E9-2rm4A/VQG157_EQeI/AAAAAAAALEY/FfwNm7E_8pM/b%252520biopsy%2525202_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-88699472901122588702015-03-10T08:02:00.000-05:002015-03-10T08:18:19.541-05:00Another Day, Another Diagnosis…<h3 align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lKlngAXP7UE/VPzyTSJG2cI/AAAAAAAALDY/-iN9rGxd5sI/s1600-h/f0940652%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="f0940652" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="f0940652" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FJYtknxAx3o/VPzyUD113yI/AAAAAAAALDg/lEH9qcpZlQg/f0940652_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="315" /></a></h3> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Many of you who I am friends with on Facebook know we’ve been asking for prayers for our Sweet Baxlyn. Here’s the scoop. Baxlyn has dealt with tummy discomfort for quite some time… for years, actually. She has mentioned her tummy hurting since about the time she could talk. In the beginning she would say her tummy hurt a couple times a week for a couple of weeks and then we wouldn’t hear anything from her for several weeks/months. She then would complain just a bit for a little while and then nothing for a while. Over and over. All the time she said her tummy hurt, she still acted normal. She always played, ate and was as active as she was when it seemed she was not in any discomfort. She, and the other quads, have always dealt with constipation, which is a very common long term problem for preemies. Miralax has been a regular in our house for years. We always chalked her “discomfort” up to being constipated and never looked deeper into the issue as it never affected her other than an occasional complaint.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Over the past 6 months or so, Baxlyn’s discomfort has gotten much much worse. Everyday she tells me “Mommy, my tummy hurts.” Lately, I’m hearing those words <em>dozens </em>of times a day. I took her a few months back to be examined by our wonderful pediatrician and we decided to be more aggressive with the Miralax, again assuming it was constipation. After a few weeks of no change, our doctor send us for abdominal X-rays which confirmed she was “FOTS” (full of toddler stool). Again, we were told to up the Miralax. With her discomfort only becoming more frequent and beginning to bring her to tears at times, I knew something just wasn’t right and that Miralax wasn’t the answer we needed. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Our pediatrician sent us to a gastroenterologist (GI). Dr. Russo met with Baxlyn and I last week and we talked and talked and went over her history. After a manual exam, Dr. Russo wanted to do blood work right away. Friday, Dr. Russo called me and said…</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"><em>“I’m afraid Baxlyn has Celiac Disease</em>.” </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">What? I was stunned. I asked him exactly what Celiac Disease was and he explained it’s the “gluten thing I hear so much about”. People with Celiac Disease have an autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. There are Villi that line the inside of the small intestine and in people with Celiac, the gluten in foods damage those Villi which keeps the person from being able to absorb the nutrients needed to grow and live a healthy life. It is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide. I was told many people choose a gluten free (GF) diet as it makes them feel better in general. However, it is essential for people with Celiac Disease to have a GF diet. Good news is that because so many people are choosing to go GF, stores are starting to carrying more products that are safe for people with Celiac. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">Although based on her blood work alone, he feels 99% sure Celiac Disease is what we are dealing with, Dr. Russo will be performing an EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) this week to confirm the diagnosis. He will take several biopsies of her small intestine. He said the walls of the intestines are supposed to look like a shag carpet and with Celiac, they often look like tiles. He also said, due to being a quadruplet, he thinks there is a good chance the other quads will have it as well. After we confirm Celiac in Baxlyn, he will go on to test the others. I’d imagine that needing to go all GF for Baxlyn, we would automatically go GF for all of them (us). That being said, it is very important to know if the others have it as well for overall health reasons as it can affect many other areas. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">I feel overwhelmed, to say the very least. The condition is treatable with a strict diet but it will mean a HUGE lifestyle change for our family. I personally couldn’t read a food label to save my life and have never been on any kind of diet. For now I’m depending on the good ole’ internet to learn more about the disease and what all comes along with it. I’m hoping to connect with other moms who have a child with Celiac to learn more. Our doctor will also be setting us up with a dietician to help direct us as well. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">For now, please continue to pray for us. I feel like we juggle SO much these days and it seems as time goes on, more and more “medical things” are thrown our way. You are all aware of the surgeries three of the four underwent just before Christmas but there have been other things we’ve been faced with that we’ve chosen, for their own privacy, not to blog about for now. Now this…. which isn’t something that will “pass” like many other things. Since NICU, Miss B has had the “easiest ride” as far as long term doctors go. While check ups, procedures and trips to hospitals are a regular occurrence for Brody & Kylee, a lot of this is new for B. She’s a very brave little thing, that’s for sure, but I know she’s nervous about what is going on and I’m trying to explain things the best I can to her, especially for not understanding it all myself. She will be going in super early on Thursday morning for her scope. She will be put under anesthesia and the procedure itself will only take about 30 minutes. We’ve been told not to change anything in her diet just yet, not until we get results from her EGD. In the meantime, I’d love to hear any experience YOU may have with Celiac Disease, especially in children. I have so many questions, I don’t even know where to begin!</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">In the end we know and trust that God has it all in His hands and he has a perfect plan! We also know that He will be with us every step of the way, regardless of any challenges we face! I’ll keep you all posted!</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="Segoe UI">(Photo credit: <a href=" http://amyhorton.com/">Amy Horton Photography</a>.)</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"></font></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-47625700168851430232015-03-09T08:33:00.000-05:002015-03-09T08:33:00.085-05:00Quads 6th BirthDAY!<p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Bret and I surprised our squad with lunch at school on the day of their birthday! We’ve never done visited them for lunch at school before so it was a nice treat for all of us! We stopped by Subway and patiently waited in the empty cafeteria for their kindergarten class to arrive. When they walked in, they literally walk right by us and didn’t even notice we were there. It was all of their little friends who gasped, smiled and told them “hey isn’t that your mommy and daddy?!!?” They were so surprised! We enjoyed hearing about their morning thus far and spent nearly the rest of the time waving to the other little kindergarteners across the room from our private little table. So fun seeing them in their school environment!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DHM69Aqa6sU/VPzcTQSFc6I/AAAAAAAAK-w/krfT_vCbq3U/s1600-h/6th%252520birthday%252520quads%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="6th birthday quads" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="6th birthday quads" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6dtVHxINeck/VPzcUmaqbEI/AAAAAAAAK-4/4kO8jYXkE4w/6th%252520birthday%252520quads_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center">  <font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Like their Mama, these kiddos love to go out to eat. We had a second surprise in store for them that evening! We told them we were going to take them to eat at Lahacienda Ranch for their birthday dinner but they didn’t know that most of the family would be there to surprise them! Everyone was there, seated before we walked in and yelled “surprise!!” as we entered – so fun!</font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r0VJ3JUM9E0/VPzcVoN4R1I/AAAAAAAAK_A/tEKOzPFfIEU/s1600-h/IMG_9792%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9792" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9792" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wqWNYgoPQEY/VPzcWagN4pI/AAAAAAAAK_I/_ib8RuaTzUM/IMG_9792_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-suQDBX6M9Bw/VPzcXYOh4yI/AAAAAAAAK_Q/hRd5m0RCxpI/s1600-h/IMG_9790%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9790" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9790" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lUWbEVOPHZs/VPzcYh92jcI/AAAAAAAAK_Y/Sm553royJFE/IMG_9790_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OJiTFySKNsg/VPzcZ0N7xEI/AAAAAAAAK_g/ctfprlhr-Vk/s1600-h/IMG_9798%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9798" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9798" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7tIQWueBr4I/VPzcaxE_DXI/AAAAAAAAK_o/lBsd3StxGec/IMG_9798_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Rk_L_Dsht1Y/VPzcbgx6x1I/AAAAAAAAK_w/AMBlhf0KLl4/s1600-h/IMG_9815%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9815" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9815" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xqHKUZclUPE/VPzccWcgeOI/AAAAAAAAK_4/JU2YdLff7B4/IMG_9815_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GtMmV8kX7E8/VPzcdGBthmI/AAAAAAAALAA/wPalstXxkwE/s1600-h/IMG_9840%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9840" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9840" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZNeuvhBwshQ/VPzcd1O0mMI/AAAAAAAALAI/TWXURuqpLvk/IMG_9840_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fQHxcS8xqHE/VPzceYspZkI/AAAAAAAALAQ/eyizKPygRuw/s1600-h/IMG_9822%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9822" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9822" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LSCSMDVIEUU/VPzcfT3PPbI/AAAAAAAALAY/bY4mRDfxr-I/IMG_9822_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uQ4vFPpexRI/VPzcgdF0S8I/AAAAAAAALAg/FnVUn4KRM10/s1600-h/IMG_9828%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9828" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9828" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2cK7oBtk2RQ/VPzcg02U6-I/AAAAAAAALAo/4y1lbjS7L0A/IMG_9828_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p align="center"> <font size="3" face="Segoe UI">They especially loved when the staff came out and sang Happy Birthday to them and brought them a birthday cake!</font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wdhV6L2v1WU/VPzciEYJ8ZI/AAAAAAAALAw/65R0P8d6n40/s1600-h/IMG_9838%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9838" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9838" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-68GWT1SojFg/VPzcim88f5I/AAAAAAAALA4/3C9HIaru9xo/IMG_9838_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fw_6LcTEHB4/VPzcj4aeyfI/AAAAAAAALBA/YTWEG7VrkSk/s1600-h/IMG_9834%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9834" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9834" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FTlmk0obfxw/VPzckrMffaI/AAAAAAAALBI/p3hjj_e1d_0/IMG_9834_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9iGHHYjhbTg/VPzclgDUpCI/AAAAAAAALBQ/pjxFGnTEj3g/s1600-h/IMG_9845%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9845" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9845" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rS0la43z3NU/VPzcmoDCvfI/AAAAAAAALBY/0PIYrFcVbXw/IMG_9845_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oJTPD_l5SWM/VPzcnY8fRaI/AAAAAAAALBg/AguSbPMJ9nE/s1600-h/IMG_9852%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9852" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9852" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mY-wr6baimY/VPzcoKFiI9I/AAAAAAAALBo/yI5OPOoEvGE/IMG_9852_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Of course the *reason* this is one of their favorite places to come… the horses. We spent a small fortune and stood in the freezing cold weather for some time so they could all ride the horses dozens of times but the giggles and smiles on their faces made it all worth it!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BS6EwWLxMq8/VPzcox97yyI/AAAAAAAALBw/X6gaB7SdDys/s1600-h/IMG_9859%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9859" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9859" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-40P4hcbdiWc/VPzcpvFn_UI/AAAAAAAALB4/wWm1zvcoFzw/IMG_9859_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kT6EW_ZfAyA/VPzcqDxv3LI/AAAAAAAALCA/XPU5Ibz0sj0/s1600-h/IMG_9860%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9860" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9860" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K9PHOolQIPk/VPzcq8emTRI/AAAAAAAALCI/y4OT5K5N3Gg/IMG_9860_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xZ6N4z0EHg8/VPzcrlgnYNI/AAAAAAAALCQ/pu7uEZ5_C9U/s1600-h/IMG_9872%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9872" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9872" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a2yvsqX-T4M/VPzcsY-dZ2I/AAAAAAAALCY/XUEk7hp56oI/IMG_9872_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-k_oe2w4Iv08/VPzctBgY47I/AAAAAAAALCg/fIEeIMD07qU/s1600-h/IMG_9883%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9883" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9883" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-R0w4fuD_i5Y/VPzct3oIjDI/AAAAAAAALCo/eD1wMhyCDZw/IMG_9883_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bOiZEJuEuQc/VPzcudrIt1I/AAAAAAAALCw/NFW3G0V7wk8/s1600-h/IMG_9893%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9893" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9893" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ObvuFIyxdO4/VPzcvEdfE2I/AAAAAAAALC4/7IU4AivFln8/IMG_9893_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OHcUR2rmHYs/VPzcwVYMoGI/AAAAAAAALDA/Yfj2Yk2L4RA/s1600-h/IMG_9897%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9897" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9897" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-otg6FqYrvxk/VPzcxVdZjYI/AAAAAAAALDI/0HAvtapdsT4/IMG_9897_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a>  </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">A special thank to all who came out to celebrate with us! Stay tuned for a glimpse at their PaRtY!!!!</font></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-42431329826312990522015-03-08T17:46:00.001-05:002015-03-08T17:46:40.893-05:00Snow Days in Texas<p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Long time, no blog. My intentions are there but the time it takes and the “down time” it requires….not so much. Lots to share a lots to catch you up on over the next week or so! Here in north Texas we were blessed with beautiful weather during January and most of February. For a while there, I swear every weekend’s weather was sent straight from Heaven above. Just a few days after their, again beautiful, birthday party weather, the winter was upon us. Here in the south you just NEVER know with weather. 70s one day and an ice storm the next. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Our first day off school was technically an “ice day”. Despite the pictures looking like snow, this was really a mixture of sleet and ice. Nevermind a select few children in bath robes. It’s Texas, we don’t have all the get up you notherners do and work with what we got ;) The pictures below is of them attempting to slide down the hill leading to our creek behind the house. Uncle Chris was a champ and showed them ummm “how it’s done” while Bethany and I stood back laughing.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JuonPd_xzxY/VPzQ2Z8fBdI/AAAAAAAAK5I/SHYC5r96Ahs/s1600-h/sd1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="sd1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="sd1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MBjjurzRokM/VPzQ2_4cIBI/AAAAAAAAK5Q/affrIHfY5N4/sd1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Well prepared wearing his football cleats, Chris spun the kids around in circles on the icy driveway using a large tote. They LOVED it! We won’t talk about the one kid who leaned and went flying out of the bucket…and we certainly won’t show the video clip we got of the incident…whoops.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oHSZgWOMXhQ/VPzQ3nCibGI/AAAAAAAAK5Y/zWq8PfZ5LsA/s1600-h/sd2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="sd2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="sd2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DwxfRbMWtrs/VPzQ4W7Y6YI/AAAAAAAAK5g/qypkodlTg9A/sd2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jTesw58c_S8/VPzQ5DfRzNI/AAAAAAAAK5o/yrpSLQxPg_4/s1600-h/sd3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="sd3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="sd3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Gpb6S-OShg0/VPzQ5pq0KwI/AAAAAAAAK5w/hDnzJES2KGg/sd3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">The first TRUE snow day we got, the school called and said Mrs. Kylee wasn’t feeling well. I ended up picking all of them up early. Kylee collapsed under the covers of our nice warm bed while these three goobers played outside… </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">L-R Korbin, Baxlyn & Brody</font>   <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4aOWDj-_of0/VPzQ6XMBcoI/AAAAAAAAK54/nD6HwaWMH8s/s1600-h/IMG_9905%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9905" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9905" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eDBoMlE5KqU/VPzQ637LBbI/AAAAAAAAK6A/9JuI3h-AbLM/IMG_9905_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="529" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">I absolutely LOVE how everything looks when it snows. We are surrounded by huge trees that are just gorgeous when covered in the snow!</font> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mds0b2b3CRE/VPzQ7zOYz8I/AAAAAAAAK6I/zKUkhR1kVNE/s1600-h/IMG_9913%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9913" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9913" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GrMikyyXobU/VPzQ8kQXp7I/AAAAAAAAK6Q/AO2WodGRteM/IMG_9913_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--dW8RecAg3Q/VPzQ9AwBQpI/AAAAAAAAK6Y/QKLeD3IsRZI/s1600-h/IMG_9922%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9922" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9922" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Jg-25W4Ba6g/VPzQ92QM7bI/AAAAAAAAK6g/fuVqcvJDK1Y/IMG_9922_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GjShylUO_Xc/VPzQ-XLBoQI/AAAAAAAAK6k/N-mTzRS4B7M/s1600-h/IMG_9926%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9926" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9926" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xqnT_Tnd6rc/VPzQ-7p3krI/AAAAAAAAK6w/0HEEkkiNXzw/IMG_9926_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RBgAqV_YZMw/VPzQ_vkQxlI/AAAAAAAAK64/9g8Do-J0wq0/s1600-h/IMG_9939%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9939" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9939" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6D21Yc9U0_w/VPzRASkm5oI/AAAAAAAAK7A/mAM2mMYx4J8/IMG_9939_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u1WXPy_oHi0/VPzRA4dj1pI/AAAAAAAAK7E/UUGl2fsDNHQ/s1600-h/IMG_9946%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9946" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9946" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i2feF3fNMdc/VPzRBoUL2dI/AAAAAAAAK7M/PTNrou55a9Y/IMG_9946_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">To my surprise the three actually stayed out for a while. Every time it snows I spend 45 minutes getting everyone dressed and ready only to have them come to the door crying and frozen after 93 seconds of play. Must have been the hot chocolate that kept them out longer this time ;)</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NBe6IaS5Uz4/VPzRCH65g5I/AAAAAAAAK7Y/M7kmkI6XwTk/s1600-h/IMG_9964%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9964" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9964" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-67uQW8ZLFTQ/VPzRCvDf_lI/AAAAAAAAK7g/RIigbx5r2vw/IMG_9964_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Korbin lasted the longest at about an hour. He was SO excited about the “real” icicles he found around the property and collected them all in a box!</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hMKD9H6elcA/VPzRDaId2kI/AAAAAAAAK7o/DsRTmyZ4CRw/s1600-h/IMG_9974%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9974" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9974" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TBX88L7UOVg/VPzRD7fNjDI/AAAAAAAAK7w/v3D0BqfbHW4/IMG_9974_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">This is later that evening. Uncle Chris came over to help them build a snowman. Side note, I assure you Brooke is not a vicious dog, we caught her mid-bark ;)</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9P3Zc8lsSAs/VPzREzQASnI/AAAAAAAAK74/xOFVqMhFH9E/s1600-h/IMG_9983%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9983" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9983" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MKAT9S5A1XQ/VPzRFjNi-8I/AAAAAAAAK8A/0fp-P0W07_Q/IMG_9983_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a></p> <p align="center"> <font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Apparently this particular snow was not “snowman friendly” and wouldn’t stick. We ended up using their plastic tub to mold our snowman’s body and gave him a round head…</font></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RTUT0qohLn0/VPzRGcBiv0I/AAAAAAAAK8I/1sgJr_SPz1g/s1600-h/IMG_9995%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9995" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9995" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nsU-vpk3vaU/VPzRG3ONlUI/AAAAAAAAK8M/ZRd2BkYYfKY/IMG_9995_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">We had another snow day this past week and opted to stay nice and warm inside. I was seeing lots and lots of “homemade ice cream” pictures on my Facebook feed so we gave it a whirl. 6 cups of fresh snow, 1 cup of milk, 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/2tbsp of vanilla all mixed together actually made some pretty good ice cream! The kids had fun making it and to my surprise, it was pretty yummy!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iIEKWjx4XYc/VPzRHpbwBHI/AAAAAAAAK8Y/bgfCTnn_0KU/s1600-h/IMG_0004%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0004" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_0004" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sCPEq9gz0AQ/VPzRIIL6pHI/AAAAAAAAK8g/gqaCYAKitLk/IMG_0004_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-u-z4fW89V6E/VPzRI7SYSrI/AAAAAAAAK8o/K9XZCGzX27c/s1600-h/IMG_0015%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0015" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_0015" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MRJOtYYFbAs/VPzRJSJbc8I/AAAAAAAAK8w/jjGa95qmbE4/IMG_0015_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-boxytu84Dxs/VPzRKL5j5uI/AAAAAAAAK84/quTLmVFzOvU/s1600-h/IMG_0017%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0017" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_0017" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uA3OFXyYqfE/VPzRKzjYGmI/AAAAAAAAK9A/1xLl-WQxtGk/IMG_0017_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YCqIGn7Msqw/VPzRL9EoG9I/AAAAAAAAK9I/Bv4eDPqW5jo/s1600-h/IMG_0026%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0026" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_0026" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X2v2uS9FWEE/VPzRMtR3XZI/AAAAAAAAK9Q/apkn6SJQaIM/IMG_0026_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oP4J06BFH-g/VPzRNencI3I/AAAAAAAAK9Y/AbEU4olv0Bg/s1600-h/IMG_0024%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0024" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_0024" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OxGMC2Qqq2c/VPzROHkEByI/AAAAAAAAK9g/iLpV47HLc2U/IMG_0024_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CpPInR35OWU/VPzROygTIDI/AAAAAAAAK9o/pHFPFrsfVJI/s1600-h/IMG_0008%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0008" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_0008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WBxjBQc8NGc/VPzRPrNUYwI/AAAAAAAAK9w/6EmPqWQsXz8/IMG_0008_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>   <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0OxGtREHyCg/VPzRQbH-ZTI/AAAAAAAAK94/VcEBIvN2kHY/s1600-h/IMG_0031%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0031" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_0031" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-M81VPdXmx3U/VPzRQ67YHgI/AAAAAAAAK98/CNtuS8ODnhE/IMG_0031_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pL9fscZTtFg/VPzRRRXqolI/AAAAAAAAK-I/Crf4qsnxQps/s1600-h/IMG_0044%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0044" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_0044" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nZqbpvY1ydc/VPzRSK9YauI/AAAAAAAAK-Q/RF5EmlUvWjc/IMG_0044_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CKOelJSM1Ws/VPzRSxOoOOI/AAAAAAAAK-Y/N1lEPxOM_Iw/s1600-h/IMG_0036%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0036" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_0036" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8ZqiGzfyjiM/VPzRTguG6WI/AAAAAAAAK-g/3Pj53DAN-0I/IMG_0036_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="454" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Thankfully it looks like beautiful spring weather it’s is our near future. The snow is fun for a day or two, but we are MORE than ready for our green grass and flowers! </font></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-51050195477307874442015-02-19T11:18:00.001-06:002015-02-19T11:18:49.379-06:00Brody {Six Years Later}<p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Six years ago today was without a doubt the scariest day of my life.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">We were asked that evening to leave the NICU so that the doctors could work on Brody. Our wing of the NICU was blocked off and Brody’s isolette  was surrounded by partitions. His "23 weeker" lungs were failing and his brain was swelling and hemorrhaging more each and day causing numerous issues and leaving him hanging onto his life by a thread. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Completely overwhelmed and still trying to take in everything that had happened the last few days I remember my OB taking my hand and telling me "these next 12 hours will make or break Brody. Right now you need to pray."</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">It was a Wednesday night and our church stopped service, joined hands and Baxter lead the congregation in prayer for our Brody.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Brody had the doctors “backed into a corner with nothing else they could do…” His last hope was a gas called Nitric Oxide and thankfully, Brody made a turn for the better and responded well to the treatment. I remember the neonatologist coming to Bret and saying "I don't know what you’re doing, but keep doing it".</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Brody showed us all that day just how <em>tough</em> a teeny tiny premature baby could be.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Although it wasn't all uphill from that day forward I knew my Brody wasn't going to give up without a fight. My heart ached as I watched him each day struggle. I watched his body swell and his tiny hands clinch tighter as the pressure on his brain worsened and I watched more and more machines surround him as the days passed. I watched as his tiny body was poked and prodded with multiple IVs, chest tubs, broviacs, tubes and monitors. with.  As badly as I wanted to hold him to speak to him to love on him, I was also terrified to over-stimulate him and make things worse. There were times all I could do was crack the window of his incubator and softly encourage him to hang on. So many tears I wiped off of his bed as I prayed and begged him to stay strong. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rvu26DEL6ic/VOYa7mPb8KI/AAAAAAAAK4M/axrzShg8LiU/s1600-h/swollen%252520brody%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="swollen brody" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="swollen brody" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iMCQQrvdxek/VOYa8FJPC0I/AAAAAAAAK4Q/ny4Uaa12FiY/swollen%252520brody_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="342" /></a> </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Six years later… look at my boy now…</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3euiCKisTWk/VOYa81DpL8I/AAAAAAAAK4c/8ryC4UwAZvE/s1600-h/IMG_8715%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8715" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8715" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UDu7wwn67SI/VOYa9mFhEmI/AAAAAAAAK4k/IoStZyrxiJQ/IMG_8715_thumb%25255B21%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="493" /></a> </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">All parents are proud but I’m certain you don’t get any more proud of your child than I am of my Brody. I am so thankful to God that he is allowing Bret and I to raise this pint size, country music lovin’, southern accent talkin’, blonde haired, blue eyed boy.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"><em>I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27 NIV</em></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"> </font></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-14375220900915211902015-02-16T08:52:00.001-06:002015-02-16T08:52:47.071-06:00Happy Birthday Brody, Baxlyn, Kylee & Korbin!<p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Six years ago today, nearly 3 months before their due date, Brody, Baxlyn, Kylee & Korbin were born and began the fight of their lives. A day of happiness, a day of fear, a day of guilt and a day of thankfulness all in one. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Brody Coleman 6:14pm 3lbs 15in</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3vfEmFDqXsY/VOIEJ90DxpI/AAAAAAAAK20/2Bpfd1WjcJE/s1600-h/brody%252520born%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="brody born" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="brody born" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-shDeHQNueAs/VOIEKX25S9I/AAAAAAAAK28/O-2HuSKnbqo/brody%252520born_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Baxlyn Hope 6:15pm 2lbs 10oz 15in.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zwWOsh5gn7o/VOIELEUnbLI/AAAAAAAAK3E/4rYiWRNQia8/s1600-h/baxlyn%252520born%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="baxlyn born" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="baxlyn born" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3FN4iU0MzVU/VOIELTZ1HvI/AAAAAAAAK3I/RUlvGjGDqFc/baxlyn%252520born_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Kylee Mae 6:15pm 2lbs 7oz 14 1/2in.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j2FpqvztFRI/VOIEL03qMLI/AAAAAAAAK3U/Ot8r5NJg7SA/s1600-h/kylee%252520born%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="kylee born" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="kylee born" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ok_jbFqf_MI/VOIEMZ4hSZI/AAAAAAAAK3c/ytZ7gcUAjGE/kylee%252520born_thumb%25255B14%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="396" height="311" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Korbin Lee 6:16pm 2lbs 11oz 14in.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wP8DFYMGUf0/VOIENSswF4I/AAAAAAAAK3k/G6fYNLgHmoU/s1600-h/korbin%252520born%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="korbin born" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="korbin born" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8GwRUYxw2js/VOIEN5nS_iI/AAAAAAAAK3s/ZGgS1fqPVoc/korbin%252520born_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Brody, Baxlyn, Kylee & Korbin… Six years, SIX YEARS! I can’t believe it’s been that long yet I remember the day like it was yesterday. From the disgusting meatloaf I ordered for lunch, the moment Dr. Leveno said today was the day, the crowds of people surrounding me in delivery, hearing a couple of you make a tiny whimper as you tried to clear your tiny lungs and seeing your tiny, red bodies for the first time…. moments I’ll never forget. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Your Daddy and I are so incredible proud of you and have enjoyed watching you all grow and thrive since your rough beginning. We are so thankful to God that He chose <em>us </em>to be your Mommy & Daddy. Happy 6th Birthday, our sweet babies. We love you more than you’ll ever know!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tzc1qRKTGPY/VOIEOhJr4vI/AAAAAAAAK30/i6k6GKEaRjw/s1600-h/6th%252520bday%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="6th bday" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="6th bday" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PDyCTheaDe4/VOIEPe8nAPI/AAAAAAAAK38/eQI9bOtkRug/6th%252520bday_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-10660801515176784622015-02-05T14:51:00.001-06:002015-02-05T14:51:18.203-06:00Kylee: 2 Months Post-Op!<p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Our sweet girl had another follow up today with Dr. Mayfield! For those of you who missed her 4 weeks post op post which included some amazing before and after pictures, <a href=" http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2015/01/cast-free-kylee-4-weeks-post-spott.html">click here</a>! She had a major case of the giggles today with Dr. Mayfield…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9WnQ_6UdY-8/VNPXtq9d8PI/AAAAAAAAK1M/0bLxPvkmZfI/s1600-h/kylee%2525202mos%252520PO%252520dr%252520mayfield%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="kylee 2mos PO dr mayfield" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="kylee 2mos PO dr mayfield" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xVjDyzvSJKU/VNPXuUIeNmI/AAAAAAAAK1U/0Z9eMmH6mIo/kylee%2525202mos%252520PO%252520dr%252520mayfield_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Her incisions are looking great and are healing nicely. She’s been cast free for a month and boot free for about 2 weeks now. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9S9ufEm-M8w/VNPXvJGzoQI/AAAAAAAAK1c/HJ1KY5khb5Q/s1600-h/kylee%2525202mos%252520PO2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="kylee 2mos PO2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="kylee 2mos PO2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wYXHXdlLuoY/VNPXv6xX8wI/AAAAAAAAK1k/x_pXxL19E2A/kylee%2525202mos%252520PO2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="303" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OZPrMjpzxgw/VNPXwriwtdI/AAAAAAAAK1o/3L4gNCRLOAE/s1600-h/kylee%2525202mos%252520PO3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="kylee 2mos PO3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="kylee 2mos PO3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Fpn65-e6i8I/VNPXxHdmgcI/AAAAAAAAK10/Ew3x5LZaHsg/kylee%2525202mos%252520PO3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Kylee has resumed her twice weekly physical therapy and her WONDERFUL therapist is doing a great job at helping Kylee adjust to her “new foot”. Having nearly never put weight through her heal or walked in what’s considered a “natural” position, it’s taking some getting used to. We’re currently working on major stretching and walking heel to toe, especially on that left leg/foot. Kylee was also released to participate in PE and recess again at school – yay! For now, she doesn’t have to be fitted for a new brace, which is also great news for her! She’s THOROUGHLY enjoying being able to wear her cute boots which she was never able to do wearing a brace!</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">We’ll go back in two months for her next check up and update then!</font></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-37936166392995146532015-01-28T10:06:00.001-06:002015-01-28T10:06:14.706-06:00Quad Quotes: Marriage.<p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Everyone knows the old saying “Out of the mouths of babes”. Having four five year olds, you can imagine I hear my fair share of ridiculously cute things on a daily basis. I love hearing what comes out of their mouths <em>(most of the time!) </em>and watching how they comprehend the many different things they’re learning. I’ve been horrible at stopping and writing down the cute things they’ve said as they’ve grown but this one, I wanted to record and share.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Last night on the way home:</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"> <em>Me: Do any of ya’ll think you’ll get married one day?</em></font></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Baxlyn: No. Some people don’t wash their lips.</font></em></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Me: You can marry someone you fall in love with.</font></em></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Baxlyn: I already fallded in love wit you, Mom, but you’re already married.</font></em></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Korbin: I’m gonna marry Baxlyn.</font></em></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Me: Well, you can’t marry anyone in your family.</font></em></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Korbin: Whatever, Mom. I’m gonna marry B.</font></em></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Brody: YALL… You just look at their hand. If they ain’t got a ring, you can marry them.</font></em></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"></font></em></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yHGYsFoRmLw/VMkI8YwXLkI/AAAAAAAAK0w/g2cED2j2hhg/s1600-h/LAM_6998%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="LAM_6998" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="LAM_6998" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-riSSfhr-UEE/VMkI9I2GzCI/AAAAAAAAK04/1FyveQMdDFc/LAM_6998_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271" /></a></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4752849566918261480.post-3251290427341042932015-01-07T14:35:00.001-06:002015-01-07T14:38:31.643-06:00Cast-free Kylee! {4 weeks post SPOTT surgery}<p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Our <a href=" http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2014/12/update-kylee-is-out-of-surgery.html">Kylee</a> is now cast free! She ended up being able to get it off 1-2 weeks early than we had anticipated – yay! I have to take a moment to brag on this little girl. She has made this entire process seem like a piece of CAKE. Seriously, she is such a brave, tough little girl and continues to amaze me as she grows! </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">I mentioned a while back that she happily starting crawling the day we brought her home from the hospital <a href=" http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2014/12/kylee-home-sweet-home.html" target="_blank">after surgery</a> as it was much easier than being wheelchair bound. It was within 2 weeks she started applying pressure and walking on her left foot. Took us all (including her doctor) by surprise but she insisted she was fine and her doctor gave the OK as long as she tolerated it. Because of her smooth sailing recovery, Dr. Mayfield decided to take the cast off a bit earlier than planned.  You’ll notice her cast is no longer neon yellow and she is sporting the caution orange color here. Somehow she <em>(ahem…Daddy)</em> got her cast wet during one of her baths so had to have it re-casted which is where the orange came in. Bret and I took her this week to have it removed for good! She walked right in there like she owned the place and was happy to get the show on the road…</font></p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WhWZJe28bwM/VK2YJjRQZFI/AAAAAAAAKxU/G2q4cZfKaX8/s1600-h/KPS4%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0UNrK69e1Bs/VK2YKoBTUVI/AAAAAAAAKxc/ctp3yPY-y9w/KPS4_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="379" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2XN_K3LV5-0/VK2YLHPQbCI/AAAAAAAAKxg/ELH_OA95xYI/s1600-h/KPS2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IPQi5xIiIpQ/VK2YL2V8D7I/AAAAAAAAKxs/KZJuMCj2WeM/KPS2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Below are pictures of her incisions… if you don’t handle stitches, incisions and a little dried blood very well, here is your warning to leave and come check the next blog post….</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">.</font></p> <p align="center">.</p> <p align="center">.</p> <p align="center">.</p> <p align="center">.</p> <p align="center">.</p> <p align="center">.</p> <p align="center">.</p> <p align="center">.</p> <p align="center">.</p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Dr. Mayfield did a total of 5 incisions. Here are the first three on the inside of her foot. He started at the bottom, took a teeny tiny tendon, sliced it in half (length ways) and then proceeded to transfer it up and around the back of her leg using other incisions to help guide the tendon to the desired spot on the other side of her foot. The pink arrow is the incision where he did a gastroc release to help with her tone issues.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DWBhbBZhYQ0/VK2YMiSVAHI/AAAAAAAAKx0/zw2o0jBTDzQ/s1600-h/KPS6N%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS6N" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS6N" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MkiqDRLzjE4/VK2YNc6PDwI/AAAAAAAAKx8/3C1-XRQsZr0/KPS6N_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Here is the outside of her foot. You can see the tendon was brought around the back of her leg and again “weaved” under the skin where it was attached to the spot that the middle arrow is pointing to. You can see where the outside of her foot is calloused from walking on on it for so long. Her doc is confident over time and walking in a more natural position that it will all heal itself.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hhAwxx8_SK0/VK2YOT_zi_I/AAAAAAAAKyE/lD94J0XCRuU/s1600-h/KPS5N2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS5N2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS5N2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZRvPbkjd3lg/VK2YPHnRbwI/AAAAAAAAKyM/NHQd9Q9Cau8/KPS5N2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Kylee is now wearing a boot to help protect her foot a little longer. We’re unsure yet as to if she will go from this into a regular shoe or if she will still need to have extra support from an SMO (brace) of some sort, like she wore prior to surgery. She will go back to Cooks in 4 weeks to check her progress and to discuss the next step. Obviously we would love for her to FINALLY be brace-free but understand there may be a few more hurdles to jump before we reach that point, and that’s ok! </font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8zkAgR3-8fY/VK2YRkpoesI/AAAAAAAAKyQ/AIBWM-ataRg/s1600-h/KPS3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DuQdpw48VOg/VK2YST9zkNI/AAAAAAAAKyY/a5kW641kPf0/KPS3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z3zoMwySrkc/VK2YS0K7ISI/AAAAAAAAKyk/Y3GnR6r9u88/s1600-h/KPS13%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS13" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS13" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3ci8jP1ljD8/VK2YT4y_8XI/AAAAAAAAKys/Q4T6eDcWG80/KPS13_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Now… some before and after pictures! Here’s a pretty typical picture of Kylee’s foot before surgery. This one was taken in <a href=" http://coxquads.blogspot.com/2014/11/quads-first-dallas-cowboys-game.html" target="_blank">October</a>. </font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IpFqYBbaKOI/VK2YUgDPgdI/AAAAAAAAKy0/ZCjF1C4YN64/s1600-h/KPS10%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS10" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS10" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2nHi26UYlCw/VK2YVbn_ffI/AAAAAAAAKy8/sNx28t4fgB4/KPS10_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="455" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">This one was taken at the hotel the night before her surgery. While we could physically manipulate her foot to (somewhat) point it forward, it always went back to this position. Walking, running, standing still, with a brace, without a brace, with or without wearing shoes THIS is what she dealt with 24/7. Although she has never seemed to mind, it was painful to watch and unfortunately, it was only getting worse as the months passed.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rQzZ9VwEqyQ/VK2YWOs9oCI/AAAAAAAAKzE/s_Rix6isfFo/s1600-h/KPS9%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS9" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS9" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OtmhKVmhhFs/VK2YXLYjPRI/AAAAAAAAKzM/yfDJwjtcrUM/KPS9_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Ready for this?! Kylee’s foot as of yesterday…</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uz9YhiC7oVQ/VK2YXgck-KI/AAAAAAAAKzQ/4X-glxkZk3A/s1600-h/KPS7%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS7" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS7" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YfrDR6RqLl8/VK2YYVY92VI/AAAAAAAAKzY/lMi5k2_ftt0/KPS7_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="337" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Seriously. Look at how freaking great she looks! This is NO manipulation at all and is all her. Although she is walking well in her boot, she’s still very hesitant to walking barefoot. The first time she stood without her boot she cried and sat back down immediately. I’m not sure how much of it is pain and how much is just that weird sensation of not having your foot being held in one position because of the cast. Dr. Mayfield said we can expect it to be tender and sore as things loosen up again. I’m very anxious to see once she <em>does</em> start walking on it how everything looks but for now, Bret and I are so please and even more so thankful we have amazing doctors that help our babies thrive!</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XHnlQGfHso0/VK2YZA46ksI/AAAAAAAAKzk/GL1B4Vjwhz8/s1600-h/KPS8%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS8" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS8" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-m_VPF-ALwtE/VK2YZy6iovI/AAAAAAAAKzo/3uSBFbmB564/KPS8_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="337" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Here are a couple of shots from the back BEFORE surgery. This is a good representation of the best position we could get her foot into before..</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s--w6ndA4oQ/VK2YaTTR17I/AAAAAAAAKz0/JLrJxuQ5j7k/s1600-h/KPS12%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS12" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS12" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KCoCVUUu7uk/VK2YbBIDveI/AAAAAAAAKz4/aUVqbCdo6hk/KPS12_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="337" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ILBUQNJRh70/VK2YbsVkhbI/AAAAAAAAK0E/5eEfaYzoK2Y/s1600-h/KPS11%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS11" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="KPS11" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RSf1lFnddx4/VK2YcU7nt2I/AAAAAAAAK0M/5HkIwHWpHGI/KPS11_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" height="337" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">…and a look from the back post-surgery!</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zJPJ-_egErs/VK2YdKJrJkI/AAAAAAAAK0U/4asqTzJRUYk/s1600-h/KPS1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="KPS1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="KPS1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ME1LU0jt3yA/VK2YdpGyi5I/AAAAAAAAK0Y/jshJFpkeOyg/KPS1_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" height="271" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">There have been several times over the past few weeks, while in her cast, that we notice her leg/foot still turned inward. Her neurologist and surgeon are keeping an eye on the rest of Kylee’s left leg. We’ve had several doctors think she has a mild case of tibial torsion (where the tibia twists abnormally) going on while others don’t think it’s an issue. One thing that is certain is that kids with hemiplegia cerebral palsy are at a very high risk for abnormal bone development on their affected side. We’ve been told over time, there’s a good chance Kylee could develop other issues further up her leg that we may need to address. All of that, of course, depends on her growth and the results we see from this surgery. While it seems obvious her foot will be MUCH better from here on out, what we don’t know is how much of that twisting was her actual leg and not just her foot.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Before we left Dr. Mayfield’s office she let him know she was “ready for him to fix her left hand”. Bless her heart. Makes me sad but also happy at the same time knowing she feels that safe with him! He explained to her that he doesn’t work on kids’ hands but his very good friend did and that as soon as we finish up her foot, he would be happy to introduce her to Dr. Sherman. One thing at a time, baby girl!</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Segoe UI">Thank you all for your support through this surgery (and the others we just had!). We greatly appreciate all of the prayers, the cards, the meals and the extra help with the kiddos. Bret and I are so so blessed to have so many people who care and who back us through whatever is thrown our way!</font></p> Bret and Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03898295384030154442noreply@blogger.com3