Christmas 2014 - The Year of the Train

If I could use one word to describe Christmas 2014 it would be Trains. 
Max has been obsessed with everything Thomas the Train. 
I even found Train Christmas PJ's. 

It was magical.  The boys were really excited to open gifts.  Max though asked "Where Emily?" at the end of opening all the gifts.  Emily didn't make it until December 30th. Max knows the names of ALL the trains, and can easily list them off.  His favorites are James and Emily (of course!)

Will had the flu and bronchitis the whole time, so our usual McGuire Christmas Eve didn't happen this year.  I still want to get our McGuire Christmas Picture. 

Dexter of course loved the boxes.  He would open the gifts and then put them back in the box and dump them out.  He is in the dump out and put away stage of toddler-hood. 

Dexter was very happy with his new stack of books.  He has already had us read them a few dozen times.  I am glad to have a new story or two for our collection of favorites. 

 Max refused to put on pants the whole day.  So during the Winter Storm we went to visit Uncle Matthew in a PJ top, a diaper, and boots.  Perfect.  Parents of the year!

Merry Christmas 2014

Christmas Visit from Poppi

My Dad came out for three days over Christmas.  He arrived late on the 26th and stayed until the 29th.  We had so much fun.  Max was so excited to see "Poppi" and kept asking for him over and over.  And the reunion of Poppi and Max was the sweetest.  Max ran right up to my dad and gave him hugs.  He knows his visits are special and short, and I am so lucky that my Dad can come out to visit!  I am also very grateful for Facetime.  It has really helped Max and Dexter stay in contact with my Dad. 

 We went to Provo Beach Resort and played games.  Then visited the toy store and bought candy. 

 Framing this one ^^^

 We built so many train tracks with Poppi. 

 We went to the Discovery Museum in Salt Lake.  The boys loved it. 

 

The coolest thing was the outdoor helicopter.  Dexter loved all the buttons.  It was donated by Primary Children's Hospital. 

Then came the snow.  Oh boy did we have a lot of snow.  The boys loved it.  It was also my Dad's first time visiting Utah in the Winter.  He was really excited about all the snow. 

Thanks for a GREAT visit Poppi.  We sure love having you here in Utah. 

Mr. Curious

Dexter is so curious. 
He loves life. 
He loves being right in the thick of things. 
He especially loves to be right next to Daddy when he works. 

The Hero Sleeps

Our Link must get some sleep every once in a while. 

Dexter has been an awful sleeper since day one.  When he was born the nurses were amazed at how alert and awake he was.  He hardly slept.  Fast forward 17 months and he still doesn't sleep well.  He slept through the night for the first time last week, and I woke up about 6 times making sure he is still alive and well.  Why does that happen?

He wakes up about 2 times every night, hungry and worried Mom isn't there.  I always am, but just to make sure to touches my face, rubs my belly, and gives me wet kisses.  He then touches Will's back, and finally falls back asleep. 

He will get better, he already has.  He has been through a lot in his little life, and a few extra snuggles at night don't bother me.  And no, we don't do cry-it-out, I can't.  I won't.  I will just be patient.  He will sleep.  He already is better. 

Our little Dexter is just so loveable. 

Santa Called

On Sunday night Max and Dexter got a call from Santa.  A surprise call for all. 
Max wanted nothing to do with the call.
Dexter was a little worried. 
I am a true believer in Santa so I think I get the award for being most excited.  I mean really, Santa called our house?

Thank you Santa. 
We hope you call back again next year. 
I think we will be less shocked. 

(And to be fair, this Santa had a funny Jersey Accent)

Running Link

If you have the chance to dress your kid in a Link Outfit, you should do it. 
Dexter is pretty much adorable. 

Dexter's 15 month check up

Even though he is almost 16 months, he went for his 15 month check up. 
At 12 months he was in the 1% for weight and 7% for height.  My little guy. 
But in three months he has gained 3 pounds, and grew 3 inches.  WOW!! 
And he is still nursing a ton, and doesn't look like he has any interest in stopping. 
All wonderful and happy things. 

Dexter is 23 pounds (50%)
And is 31.5 inches (30%)

Still a little guy, but a happy and chubby little guy. 

Elder Andrew Pettit - Called to Serve

Elder Andrew Pettit was called to serve a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He is going to be serving the people of Japan, in the area of Fukouka and will learn the language of Japanese. 

We are so proud and excited for him. 
Andrew is such a great example to our family and we couldn't be more happy of the choice he made to serve a mission.  He is an example to Max and Dexter and someone they will always look up to. 

On Wednesday Andrew entered the Missionary Training Center where he will spend 8 weeks learning the language of Japanese and learning how to teach the gospel.  The MTC is in Provo so we got to see him before he left.  Andrew will not have contact with his family for two years except on Christmas and Mother's Day where he is allowed a phone call home.  We can send letters, packages, and emails to Andrew while he is in Japan.  His primary purpose is to serve the Lord and the People of Japan for two years. 

I know that mission work is a blessing from the Lord.  I know that the Gospel is true and that it can bring so many blessings to your life.  I know that Elder Pettit is going to enrich the lives of so many people and I so proud of him and his desire to serve the people of Japan.  What a wonderful experience this is going to be for him and our whole family. 

Dexter Andrew and Elder Andrew Pettit

Uncle Matthew, Elder Andrew Pettit, Me, Dexter and Will

I LOVE this picture!!

Dexter Update

It seems like we do a lot of updates about Max.  And we do.  But Dexter is improving and deserves an update. 

Last month was a hard month for our little man.  We tested him for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and bunch of other scary illnesses.  It was heart wrenching to watch the nurses up at Primary Children's conduct the tests.  Dexter hates doctors.

Dexter does have ear tubes and got his adenoids out in July.  Since then he has ruptured his eardrum, again, and had three more ear infections.  This isn't good and is so frustrating.   He has been tested for everything under the sun.  So we need another avenue, because being this sick for this long isn't normal.

We at first got a postive result for the CF test.  Then two hours later the doctor called and told me the nurse read the results wrong.  Holy S*&T are you kidding me.  Who reads those life threatening results wrong???

He follows the following pattern:
2-3 weeks of being sick, and then a week of improvements.  But he is so dang happy.  He doesn't sleep well at all, but when he is up he is happy. 

Three weeks ago we saw "Dr. House"!  Yes they exist.  Karin Chen specializes in rare disorders and we love her.  She was so patient with us, examined Dexter and we now have a plan.  I am so grateful for her and for Primary Children's in Salt Lake. Dexter does has a rare strand of bacteria growing in his ears, that is problem number one.  And the bacteria grows off of antibiotics, so all those antibiotics we have been giving him.  Not good.  We are waiting on blood test results right now. They are testing for rare blood disorders and genetic issues.  Doctor Chen knows something is wrong and she said that she will figure it out.  We have another appointment with the ENT that did his tube surgery on Tuesday.  Dexter is most likely going to have a scope of his tracheal in the next month to make sure things are functioning properly.  The ENT will perform this and also check the status of his tracheal malacia that he was born with.

Patience.  Lots of Patience. Prayers.  And more prayers.

Never a dull moment in this house.  Never.