Nutcracker Ballet

Erin and I had the opportunity to go see the Nutcracker Ballet together. Ever since she took dance last year she had been wanting to go see it. It was so fun to be able to spend some time with her. She is getting so grown up and often times doesn't get the attention she deserves with her two younger siblings taking a lot of my focus right now. It was a great mommy/daughter date night. I love my Erie girl!

Primary Children's

This is what started it all. November 15, 2010- I caught Katelyn napping on the floor. A very unusual occurrence, so I thought I should take a picture. Little did I know what a journey this would take us on...

After two weeks of Katelyn taking a nap (or 5) every day, I took her into the pediatrician (Friday). This just wasn't her normal behavior. She never takes naps, and if she happened to, she wouldn't go to bed at night. But she was sleeping lots and still begging to go to bed at night. The doctor checked her for some normal things that would cause tiredness like anemia and a bladder infection. Both tests came back negative so the next day (Saturday) he send us to the lab for some blood work. Her results came back all negative- even for mono.

Monday she developed some new symptoms. I noticed when I got her out of the bathtub that she seemed a little wobbly. Unsteady on her feet. By the end of the day it had worsened. The next morning I was really alarmed when she was still doing it and her speech was not always clear. We immediately went to the doctor (Tuesday). He was quite concerned and sent us immediately for an MRI. I later found out he was looking for a brain tumor. SCARY! But the scan came back negative. So now we knew what was not going on, but not what it was. He sent us home while he did some searching and calling. Wednesday I talked with the doctor on the phone. He was still searching and wanted K to be seen at Primary Children's Hospital. So we made a plan to head up the next morning to the ER there.

December 4, Thursday morning we left. I picked up Jeff on the way at his office. Mid drive the doctor called me. (Jeff was driving.) Change of plans- go to admitting. OK. We had packed a few things in case we were admitted, but we weren't really prepared. Ryan (2 months old) was with us too.

We were admitted. The parade of doctors began. Pediatricians and Neurologists, all wanting to hear the same story again and again. It was decided that they would perform a lumbar puncture on my sweet Miss K. :( So she couldn't have anything to eat or drink since they would be putting her under. She dealt with the IV insertion amazingly well considering she had already had that done once for the MRI and had been poked for blood draws 3 times already. They did the procedure in her room as Jeff and I were in there too- pacing in the little corner that wasn't occupied by all the doctors and nurses. The results came back perfect.

Ryan can't bear to watch the LP. Neither can mom or dad.

Later that night Katelyn got all hooked up for an EEG to monitor her brain waves while she slept. The doctors were looking for seizures. She got an awesome hat and about a gazillion wires stuck to her head for the night. The next day the results look normal.

K sleeping soundly in her bed. Rice Krispie treat still in hand.

Friday morning comes. The doctors are deciding whether to run more tests or not that require anesthesia. Katelyn is begging for food. They finally let her eat at 11am when they decide the plan for the day. A few more blood tests and more waiting. In the afternoon they convene and decide on a diagnosis.

Post-viral Cerebellitis-
They put it together like this- she had a virus (no symptoms other than tiredness). The virus settled in her brain. Her body is fighting the virus, but also her brain. Swelling occurs in the cerebellum impairing her motor skills (ataxia) and her speech. There is nothing they can do but let her body recover on its own. K should be better in 3 weeks. They will keep her another night for observation and we go home on Saturday.

Ethan and Erin come up for a visit. They think the playroom is the best and want to come back soon. Me- not so much. Two nights of no sleep with a 4-year-old and newborn are not so great.
K gets to ride in the wagon on the way out. She was so happy to leave!

Two Months

We went to the doctor today-

Ryan's 2 Month Stats

Weight: 11.44 lbs. (42 %tile)
Length: 24 inches (84 %tile)
Head Circumference: 15.1 inches (15 %tile)

Looks like tall, skinny and a Petersen head for sure. He is a happy boy and is consistently sleeping for 6-8 hours at night. He has barely started handing out smiles. He loves his baths and doesn't mind getting his diaper changed at all. He really likes to be naked. Mommy is really enjoying having such a great baby. We've never had one like this before!

And some catch-up pictures from the last month or so...
November 2, 2010- 5 weeks old. One of the few times he was in the swing. Definitely not a swing baby.
Relaxing on daddy's shoulder.
November 6, 2010- Almost 6 weeks
November 18, 2010
7 1/2 weeks

Hanging out, being cute.
He's thinking, "Would you stop it already mom?"

Having some daddy bonding time.

Ryan's Blessing

We were able to bless Ryan in our church on Sunday, November 28. We woke up that morning to lots of snow. We were worried it would stop everyone from coming, but they all made it. Ryan was a happy guy during his blessing. Afterwards, we had a luncheon hosted at grandma Petersen's house. She was gracious enough to let us use her house since ours is too small and outside wasn't an option. It was a wonderful day to be with family and friends!

I was able to capture a smile that day. He had only just started to smile a few days before.
My handsome little man.
The family all together on Ryan's special day.

One more family photo. Ethan had already shed his tie, but we are all together!

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year. We broke tradition (by not going to the Petersen's) and opted for an intimate dinner at home. My sister Heather and her family came, as well as my little brother, Cameron. I was in charge of the pumpkin pies, turkey, sage stuffing, olives, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes. Heather made the rolls, yams, green bean casserole, and a chocolate pie. Everything was delicious, and there was plenty of yummy leftovers! Since Heather and Jordan are local only for a limited time, I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to spend some holiday time together. That's what it's all about, right? Family.

5th Grade Program

The fifth grade presented a patriotc program called "We the People" on November 11- Veteran's Day. Ethan is a great singer and really enjoys music. I hope he can keep it up over the years. It is a great talent to have.

Ethan signed up to be one of the dancers. This picture is blurry, but he is twirling the girl in the red dress. I love that he is not afraid to try new things.

It's Tradition

Halloween came in stages this year. First, there was grandma P's famous Halloween party. All the grandkids love it! The weather was warm and perfect to be outside.



Grandma reading the kids some Halloween stories.









My sister gave us a tip on a fun train ride. We decided to go and the kids had a blast. I didn't get any pictures, but Ryan slept the entire time, which was amazing. On the way home from riding the Halloween train Ryan was starving and crying in the car. Katelyn commented, "Mom, his middle name should be Hold Me Guy." So true! He is definitely most happy when being held by his momma.

We had lots of fun carving pumpkins again this year. It is kind of Jeff's thing, so I help out where I can. This year Ethan, Erin, and Katelyn all designed their own. Ethan even carved his all by himself. Ryan got a teeny sugar pumpkin with a face drawn on.




Ryan just chilling out in his Halloween jammies.


















The most official picture we got of K in her purple fairy costume. (A repeat from last year- all the better for mom.)


At the school Halloween parade, Erin's Ipod costume was the "most famous in the whole school" according to her.

(Thanks Dallas for letting us borrow it- you are so creative!)


Ethan came up with the idea to be a Ghostbuster. Good thing he has a very creative dad to help him. The Proton pack was created by Jeff for about $5. Amazing!

Ryan aka Bone Man- taken at the ward party.

One more picture of Ethan (Stantz) and his Ghostbuster partner Trey (Venkeman). Ethan convinced Trey to be one too and then Jeff made both the packs.


The candy haul. Ethan wanted to go trick-or-treating with friends this year. I reluctantly let him go, realizing that my baby is growing up!

Erin was my buddy and hit the streets with Katelyn and I while Jeff passed out candy at home with Ryan.

As soon as she had her candy, the costume was off.

Ryan has some awesome "firepower" in his skeleton costume. Also known as "Bone Man" by Katelyn.