Happy 7th Birthday Jackson!

Merry Christmas!!!

December in Arizona: Part 2

With only a few more days until Christmas, we've tried to cram some more fun holiday activities into our already busy schedule. This past Monday night, we went with our friends, the Wrays and the Hobbs, to see the Mesa Arizona Temple Lights. It was a little odd that we didn't have to bundle up like in previous years (to see the Salt Lake Temple lights), but it was kind of fun to see the all the different lights and arrangements at this temple. They had even strung lights throughout the citrus trees on the grounds. Pretty cool.

Last night, we joined our friends again so the kids could make gingerbread houses. This was something I've always wanted to do, but for some reason we never had (probably because I didn't want to clean up the mess!). The kids had a BLAST creating these little houses and they actually turned out pretty cute.

Top Left: Alora's, Middle Front: Jackson's, Back Right: Noah's

Mesa Arizona Temple

Alora, Jackson, and Noah with their friend, Jensyn, at the Mesa Temple lights.

The Little Boy That Could

Max is INTRIGUED by the red balls on our tree. This boy LOVES balls and he can't resist grabbing them off. As a result, he's broken almost a dozen of them. We've had to resort to blocking off the living room the best we could, but this stinker can find all the little gaps and still get through.

December in Arizona

This is our first winter in Arizona and it definitely does not feel like it. The weather has recently been in the low 80s so we haven't really got to wear our long sleeved clothes yet and definitely not our coats. It's kind of sad because you associate Christmas with snow and we just don't get that here. We're lucky if we even get a little rain! Despite the lack of Christmasy feel, we've tried to help the kids get in the mood by participating in some of the local events. Maybe the big guy himself will surprise us with a powdery white surprise Christmas morning (one can wish, right?).

Alora with her friends Halle and Bailey at their preschool Christmas performance.

Jackson with his friends Luke and Kristopher at his class Winter Craft Activity.

Max at our church's Christmas Party. What a thoughtful Santa we had... he gave out little hard candies for all the kids!

Alora with her friend Bailey at our church's Christmas Party. Alora LOVES this little girl and is always talking about her.

Our community hosted a Winter Festival and brought in some snow. Even though it was fake, the kids had fun making snowballs and playing in it.

Alora, with her friends Finley and Isaac at the Winter Festival.

The boys' school presented a winter concert called "Paint the Town December." Each grade sang their own song and then collectively for the last song "Hearts Around the World." Noah's 3rd grade classes sang, "Lights of Kwanza."

Jackson's 1st grade classes sang, "Paint the Town December." (Sidenote: If I have to hear that song one more time, I'm going scream!)

When I Grow Up...

Noah's 3rd class did an awesome project recently. Each child was given the assignment of writing and illustrating what they wanted to be when they grew up. Afterwards, the teacher sent the completed papers off to a publisher, who bound it. The end result looks like an official book, hard cover and all.

Noah's Submission:

Did you know the people in movies,they are called actors. I want to be an actor one day because I want to be famous and make a lot of money so I can buy special stuff in my room.

I would get married and have 2 kids. Hopefully one boy and one girl. I don't know what their names would be. My back up plan would be the richest guy in the world. So I can buy a mansion and my friends would be jealous. In my mansion I would have monkey statues, a swirly slide, and a pool.

My family would live in Hollywood. The boys in my family would wear a suit and all the girls in my family would wear dresses. I will practice acting all through school. I want to be just like David Henry [actor on Wizards of Waverly Place}. I would go to the University of Phoenix for six years to get my masters award. I hope it comes true so I can be awesome.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hospital School and a Dog Named Tiger

When Noah was told he could probably go home today (a day early!), he was excited because he thought he'd be able to go back to school. I informed him that he wouldn't be able to and he was kind of bummed. That's when a Child Life Specialist walked in and told him about the hospital's school. Noah of course wanted to go down immediately, so off we went in his first wheelchair ride out of his room. (Side note: He got a roommate last night around 1:30 a.m. Our already cramped room is now even more cramped!!!)

Once at the school, a teacher named "Big Mike" got Noah started making a Thanksgiving craft. A few minutes into it, a volunteer named Greg brought in a cute little dog named Tiger. Noah was super excited. Ever since seeing pictures online of dogs visiting the patients while in the hospital, he's been asking if he would get to. Child Life pulled through again. Greg sat Tiger on Noah's lap and had him perform a couple of tricks. It was awesome to see Noah light up and it helped that the dog just chilled there.

After about 45 minutes of sitting in his chair, Noah decided he had had enough and that his butt hurt (I think his leg was probably starting to bother him, but he didn't admit it because he doesn't like the taste of the medicine). He's now resting back in his bed while we wait for his walker to arrive. Then, hasta la vista Phoenix Children's, we are going home!!!

What a Champ!

Noah underwent hip surgery again this morning to correct the position his leg had healed from an earlier surgery. His surgery only took about 1 hour 40 minutes this time compared to the almost 8 hour surgery 4 years ago. This time the surgeon cut his femur in half and rotated it to the correct position and then secured it into place using a couple of screws and a plate. He also loosened the tendons around his groin area to allow better movement. It is expected that he should be in the hospital 2-3 days, but if all goes well, he might be coming home Thanksgiving morning.

Noah is such a champ... physical therapy already visited and explained about the walker and wheelchair he'll be using for the next 6 weeks. He then surprised us all by getting out of bed (with our help) and using the walker from his bed to the bathroom and back again. That of course wore him out, but how awesome it was to see his determination. Hopefully once the anethesia starts to wear off he won't be in too much pain and will be able to sleep well tonight.

Noah's Hip: Looking Back

Four years ago we found out that Noah had hip dysplasia in his right hip. Even since he had learned to walk, he had a slight limp. Our family doctor reassured us he was fine, but when we switched to a pediatrician, he discovered it right away. His right leg was shorter than the left and after numerous x-rays with a pediatric othopediac specialist, it was determined that he would need surgery to correct it. So in October 2006, just 2 months after Alora was born, Noah underwent an almost 8-hour surgery at Primary Children's Hospital (Salt Lake City) where his femur was shortened, his hip socket carved out, and bone was grafted into place. He was left to recover in a full body "spica" cast for the next three months. A year later his hardware was removed and we thought all of his hip troubles were over.

We were wrong.

About two months ago, we took Noah back in for his yearly hip check-up and x-ray; this time with a new specialist here in Phoenix. We thought everything would be progressing as normal, but the specialist informed us his leg was not rotating properly in the socket. After more x-rays and a 3-D cat scan, it was determined he would need surgery again. This time, however, the surgery isn't supposed to be as complex and his recovery should be much easier. Poor Noah has to report this coming Tuesday, November 23rd for another hip surgery. His femur will once again be cut, turned the proper direction, and then secured in place with some plates and pins. Hopefully all will go well and his hip heals how it should.

One of the first things the pediatrician did was compare Noah's legs side by side. You can see the discrepancy in height.

He also stretched out Noah's legs to check the length. The discrepancy is again very noticeable.

Halloween was just a couple of weeks after his surgery. My mom customed-made Noah's pants as well as this cowboy costume. (Because of his full body cast, he was unable to wear normal pants.)

January 8, 2007: The removal of cast #2! Wa-hoo! Goodbye annoying cast, wearing diapers, and having the most horrific wheelchair!

August 8, 2007: The area where his hardware was removed.

Just a Big Ole' Teddy Bear

Max is definitely our chubster! At his recent 15-month check-up, he weighed in at 27 lbs!

Homemade Apple Pie Filling

While my sister was visiting from Colorado, I thought it would be fun if my mom came up and helped us can apples. We had over 70 lbs of granny smith apples and managed to make just over 60 quart sized jars in just a days time. Thanks for helping Mom and Kenya!

Apple Pie Filling

4 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup cornstarch

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp salt

3 tbsp lemon juice

2-3 drogs yellow food coloring

5 1/2-6 lbs tart apples (cored and sliced)

In large pan, blend sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Stir in 10 cups water. Cook, stirring until thickened and bubbly. Add lemon juice and food coloring. Pack apples into clean, canning quart jars (wide-mouth work best) leaving 1" at top. Pour hot syrup over apples. Use knife to help distribute syrup in jars. Adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath-- pints for 15 minutes, quarts for 20 minutes. Allow to fully cool 24 hours. Makes about 6-7 quarts.

Alora's Big Lie

Alora came downstairs to us, holding something behind her back. This automatically alerts us that she must have done something naughty.

Me: Alora, what's behind your back?
Alora: Nothing.
Me: I see something. What are you hiding?
Alora: (quickly shows me a flower and butterfly and then hides it behind her back again)
Me: Alora, did you break that off the Laugh and Learn house?
Alora: No, Max did it.
Me: Max? Max didn't do it. He's asleep (and has been for 2 hrs).
Alora: Yes he did. He woke up and broke it and went back to sleep.
Me: How did he get out of his crib then?
Alora: He grew taller and taller and broke it.
Me: Alora, tell us the truth. Did you break it? Don't lie.
Alora: (sad look on her face) I broke it.

What a stinker! She totally made up the most ridiculous lie especially when it involved her sleeping little brother. It was kind of funny though, because she tried to be convincing even though she wasn't at all.

Alora the Ballerina

Alora attended a 4th Birthday/Halloween Party for her friend Halle today. They had to dress up and since I didn't want her to ruin her real Halloween costume, we bought her another costume that she could probably reuse later on. She was so freaking cute and even let me put her hair in a bun!

Noah Is A Wolf!

Last night Noah received his Cub Scout wolf patch as well as a gold arrow point and two silver arrow points. Way to go Noah!!!

Arizona State Fair

Today was the opening day of the Arizona State Fair so we decided to check it out since it was only a buck admission to get in. Too bad the rides were a major rip- the kids would have loved to go on more.

They pretty much deep fried everything, even balls of garlic butter!

Jeremy trying the deep fried twinkie.

Aunt Jen and her deep fried twinkie.

You can't go to the fair and not eat a funnel cake (f.y.i., mine are much better). Yum!

Picking Pumpkins in the mid-90s

The past couple of years when we've visited the pumpkin patch, we've had to wear jackets. This year, now living in Arizona, we didn't even have to consider jackets. We needed sunscreen! Despite being a little hot, the kids still got to try the corn maze (we gave up after 20 minutes or so), pet the farm animals, and find their perfect pumpkin.

Noah in the corn maze.

Poor baby chicken! Some kid told Alora it was really an ostrich.

Here is an actual ostrich. This animal was NOT friendly in the least!

Aunt Jen petting the horses. She's visiting for a week from Florida. At least she's used to the heat!

Max thought he had found a giant ball, his favorite thing.

Alora with the pumpkins. Can our kids pick any bigger ones?

Jackson picked the hugest pumpkin. He couldn't even carry it.

Here We Go Again

Today at Noah's yearly hip exam (he had major hip dysplasia surgery when he was 4 1/2) the surgeon said the socket has flattened out and his leg doesn't properly rotate. What that means is he'll have to have surgery again to correct how it healed from the first surgery. Poor Noah had the hugest meltdown at the doctors office... and who could blame him? This is not something to look forward to. After some research, the following is what I found that sounds like what the surgeon explained today.

In children older than 18 months, the problem may require additional surgery to change the acetabulum (socket) in addition to the femur (thighbone). The problem has been present longer and the anatomy has grown more distorted over the longer period of time. Your doctor may recommend surgery to change the way that the acetablum is aligned in this situation. There are many different types of pelvic osteotomies that have been designed and are still used.

Next up is a 3-D cat scan at Phoenix Chidrens Hospital and then we'll know when his surgery will be.

The Ole' Grand Canyon

This past weekend we went camping in the Grand Canyon with my parents and older brother. It's been several years since we last went camping, so this was something the kids were looking forward to. The weather was much cooler than here in Phoenix, so that was a nice change. We even got to experience a couple of thunderstorms!

Jeremy and Jackson preparing the fire the first night.

Alora, Jeremy, and Jackson at Kaihab Point (no guardrails!).

One of the park's residents. These chipmunks sure weren't shy.

Another resident of the park, the mule deer.

More mule deer just hanging out.

Jack and Noah.

Grandma and Grandpa Frye.

Me and Alora.

Noah.

Views of the Grand Canyon...

Me and Jeremy.

Noah and me at the campsite.

Jack, Alora, and me at our campsite.

Max, the little stinker. This cute face only slept about 1 1/2 hrs the first night. No wonder the coyotes kept howling near us, they could hear Mr. Max crying all night!

Noah tending dinner. This camping trip put him closer to another arrow point for Cub Scouts.

Who wouldn't want this "little" guy and his buddies running through their camp? Talk about creepy!!!