Kenya Sisters

I've nicknamed my group of buds that I met at the Embassy in Nairobi my "Kenya Sisters."  We had the opportunity to meet up this weekend (thanks Abby for flying down from Cananda and Kendra for driving up from S.C.!)  We enjoyed great food, funny stories, games and enjoyed each other immensely.  Every time we all make it a point to get together, there are always unforgettable times.  It was wonderful.  

This week Jonathan was in Brussels.  He brought back some delicious Belgium chocolates!  Also this week, we celebrated Easter with the kids today since Jonathan was home and we wouldn't be together for Easter.  We colored eggs and had a hunt.  Austin did ask the infamous question while opening eggs filled with goodies, "Why eggs?  Bunnies don't lay eggs."  He also informed me that the Easter Bunny that appeared at our church Easter Egg Hunt was not the real Easter bunny-it was just a costume.  Oh no...my heart panged a bit in fear that Santa and other fictional holiday icons might not have a chance in a much shorter time than I'm ready for!

This week Austin's school had a book fair. Now, I know most schools have book fairs, but I just don't think they're right.  I LOVE Austin's preschool, but he'll come home and have this "wish list" filled out of his first, second and third choice book picks.  Each book is marked up since the preschool gets a cut.  So Austin comes home with the notion that he's going to get one of his books he's picked out and is on his wish-list.  I've bought into this for awhile now, but this time, I gently explained that I would rather take him out to ice cream and he can choose a book at the bookstore when we go sometime.  I just don't think its right that kids can walk around almost like in a toy store and have a wish list, and if they can't/don't get a book due to whatever reason, they're upset because they just don't understand--the book fair does such a good job getting the kids so excited about the products.  Austin took it very well that we don't always have to buy what's on his wish list and that the school does this to raise money.  

Ashley is so funny.  She's starting to do this "tooshie" dance, where she'll spread her legs when music comes on, put her toosh real low to the ground and shake it really quick back and forth.  So funny!  She's also very much in the "I do it" stage.  I could turn a page of a book and she'll stop me and want to turn it for herself.   Or comb her own hair or put on her own clothes/socks/shoes.  If I try to change them because she's dressed like a ragamuffin, I am the one that doesn't win.

I have been what Oprah calls a "Schlumpadinka" this past winter.  I used to wear jeans or slacks, skirts, each morning after I'd shower.  But ever since Christmas ended, the weather's gotten colder and to stay warm I wear a velour track suit about everyday of the week.  Or I keep my workout clothes on from the morning.  Why dress to impress?  I never thought I'd feel this way.  But really the only places I go during the day is to the gym and to take Austin to and from preschool.  So that's what I dress for.  To impress no one and to only be warm in this cold weather and be comfortable.  I must note too that since my hubby is gone most the time I don't feel like I have to get all ready all the time...I guess I might change that if he were home to see me in my clothing slump he'd probably be sicked out.  Anyways, Oprah had a show where women considered themselves as schlumpadinkas and I was fully expecting it to be women who wanted a makeover because they were still wearing clothes from college or wear 'mom' jeans or just weren't in the year 2008.  NO!  Much to my horror, I could have been on the schlumpadinka makeover show.  They re-clothed women that wore hats, and workout clothes just like me! 

A few funnies this week:

Austin: Our home teacher has really blonde long hair and pulls it nicely back in a ponytail.  He came over and delivered a beautiful message with his son and asked Austin many questions and I was so impressed with how much Austin knew about the resurrection and many staples of the early days of Jesus.  (Thanks Primary!)  So our home teachers complimented Austin and that made him feel great.  So I was combing Austin's hair tonight after his shower and I told Austin that this week we had to get him a  haircut and he replied back, "No, I want to grow my hair long like my home teacher.  It's so nice."

Austin: I've been teaching Austin to stop eating when you're full and to "listen to your body", not to eat just because something tastes good.  Well, we were eating pizza and I admit I went back for more than I should and as Austin is patiently waiting at the table to be excused I tell him to wait until everyone's done eating, he saw me grab another piece and his eyes got huge and said, "now Mommy, are you listening to your body?  Are you eating just because it tastes good or are you truly hungry?"  I put that piece back.

Ashley:  "Teletubbies Mama!  So 'cited!"  My daughter has hit the freaky teletubby faze.  She giggles to herself as she watches the little farting creatures.  

Ashley: The difference in emotions between girls and boys-its incredible.  When I read stories to Austin when he was 2, he just followed along.  When I read them to Ash she looks at the pictures and takes note of emotions on the expressions of the characters faces.  Before I can even read what's going on, she'll say, 'Oh no' or 'so scary' or 'so happy'.  I know adult men that can't read body language or expressions on females faces and they're 32.....  

Happy Easter!

Angie

It's March!

This week everyone was free of illness!  Knock on wood.  It was great.  I'm just thankful one day at a time.  Eureka!

Jonathan:  He came back from China this week!  He'd been gone all week and endured the 13 hr time change by working the very next day.  Ugh.  Although he did bring me some beautiful black pearls.  Jonathan surprised the kids that he was home by disguising his voice like a character on Spiderwick through Austin's door.  There was silence then a very nervous Austin swung the door open and tackled Dada in pure joy.  Ashley was stunned for a second then very quickly wanted to be in Daddy's arms every second.  She brings books to him to read to her, and booboos are much worse because Dada gives them a ton of attention.   We then went to IHOP together!

Angie: I had the opportunity to go to the temple this week on ward temple day.  It was so nice going.  The feeling I get there, the promises made.  Thanks Robyn and Erika for making the child care so friendly!  I also had so much fun making yummy banana bread with Austin and Ash.  I'm trying really hard to let them help me out whenever they volunteer.  They have so much fun and it teaches me some patience!  I have so many friends that let their kids help them cook, stir, mix, paint, do crafts....thanks for my great examples!  It really is more rewarding when they help.

Austin:  Austin has a trio of sailboat pictures on his wall.  One night I walked in and one sailboat frame was replaced with a picture of Jesus and a boy that I'd had in his closet.  Austin had found it, hung it up himself and put a heart sticker on Jesus.  He was so proud of his new wall-hanging.  He said, "This way, Jesus is looking over me when I sleep."  It will be a permanent fixture in his room.  

On Thursday of this week, the wind was blowing so hard and the temperature was in the teens.  It was so cold!  I had just put Ash down for a nap and I was just about to take a snooze myself (I was so warm and snug under the covers) when the phone rang and it was Austin's preschool.  My heart stopped, because normally when they call, it's because of some sort of breathing problem.  But this time I answered and the lady said, "Austin's breathing fine, but there's been an accident."  I thought he fell and chipped his front tooth or something.

She says, "He went to pass gas, but something more came out.  So he probably needs a new pair of underwear."

"Oh," I say.  Now you have to realize Austin gets so upset at the tiniest little mark on his undies and I just imagined Austin with a tiny millimeter skid and making it into this huge deal. I waited about 30 minutes and belabored my getting up into the harsh elements, waking up Ash 30 min into her 2 hr nap just to give Austin fresh undies.  Isn't that horrible?  I felt like if he didn't have a good sized hershey squirt, I'd be upset!  By then it was 2:30 and I pick him up for the day at 3:30 anyway, he's going underwear-less for the past little while (its not like he's never done that at home) why not wait another hour?  Bad, I know, but true.  I did wake Ash and myself and deliver the skivvies.  The skid was decent, but not worthy of the trouble.  However, I am glad about the school calling me instead of having my child waller around in dirty undies all afternoon.  Sorry Austin.

Ashley: Ash still runs away.  She flees from the scene.  Any chance, she escapes.  This week it was hiding in Target circulars in the clothing section, and running out of Coldstone about 20 feet ahead of me and 20 feet from a parking lot.  She thinks its a fun game and that nothing can happen.  If I can see her face, while I'm running to get her, a couple times I've giggled too because her face is SO excited!  If she only knew how dangerous it was.  I don't giggle when we're near parking lots.  It's when she's running through a Target store, I leave my cart to chase her and her pink little moon boots are carrying her as fast as possible as her fine wispy hair is gathering wind and is in every which direction and her face is just screaming FREEDOM!!!!  

Ash is also all girl in the sense that she hates having her hands dirty, won't eat "finger" food, rather has to eat with a fork or spoon all the time.  She screams when she gets something on her clothes or spills food on the table.  No messes!

One last cute moment:  After the delivery of the underwear, I did have an hour to kill so I got the car washed and let Ash pick a treat inside the gas station.  She picked up a lollipop for herself and then picked one out for Austin.  She said, "me and Autee."  It warmed my heart to know that she's already thinking of her big brother.  I don't remember ever picking out any candy for any of my brothers when I'd go into convenience stores with my dad to get a treat.  I'm glad Ash does that!

Happy First week of March!

Angie

Long Winter Week

Did this week seem to last FOREVER to you?  It did for me for the following reasons:

1. It's February and the 4th month of winter in Virginia.

2. Its been gray outside ...blah.

3. The upper airway disease in the kids fight the cold air (again for like the 4th month in a row) and it seems we've been hooked up to a nebulizer every 4 hours...(for like the 4th month in a row)...

4. The anticipation for spring is in the air, but no spring in sight except for in the Target candy aisle.

5.  Friends were in the ER this week.

6.  The kids have been stuck inside bored of their toys, getting into things which equals getting into trouble!

Enough of that.  There have been lots of positives this week as well!  In fact I made a top 11 list of great things about this week.  And the positives far outweigh the winter blues.

1.  Brigg LaBarbera got a name and blessing in Jodi's ward in San Diego!  Uncle Rocco in LA was in the circle too!

2.  Austin and I went on a date this week and I got a sitter for Ash.  We saw  The Spiderwick Chronicles.  Ever since the Cheerios box had a paperback Spiderwick book in it, he's been so looking forward to the movie!  It was good, however a little violent and mature for a 5 year old.  After our movie, we went to Austin's favorite restaurant that he picked  which is Cracker Barrel.  After perusing the toys for 45 minutes, we got seated.  After they sat us close to the smoking section and Austin coughed himself into a bronchial/gagging spasm and people were staring at us across the restaurant, we finally ordered.  He ordered a "big boy" root beer.   That means we want it straight up-served in the bottle!  After a few manly swigs, he poured some for me in my cup and asked, "Would you like a cup of Joe?"  What?!? It was hilarious! I  don't know where he comes up with this stuff!

3.  Uncle Grant (Uncle Julio) received two very competitive job offers this week and accepted one with Frito Lay.  Congrats Grant!  He'll be based out of Miami as a Marketing/Sales Leader.  Bienvenidos a Miami Granny!

4.  Ashley did her Munchkin Movers tots class.  She loved it!  Although she seemed  to be the biggest one, there were 11 kids and Ash enjoyed every second of being around other little tots!  Her favorite activity was the 'cuckoo clock' and we throw her in the air when the clock strikes a number and yell 'cuckoo'!  She would say More! More!

5.  Jonathan came back this week from the African trip.  One of his stops was Tanzania and there he bought me some JEWELS!  Some beautiful deep blue/purple stones called Tanzanite that are mined directly there in Africa.  They're beautiful!  I can't wait to set them.

6.  He was home for 24 hours and now he's in Beijing, China. Sniff sniff.  The man's been to  14 COUNTRIES IN 6 WEEKS.  And is Condoleezza slowing down? No.  

7.  Austin scratches my back and tries to massage my back with his little pudgy fingers when he gets something good.  It's like that's how he says thank you-a  little back scratch!

8.  We had the opportunity to play with Lottie Crowley on Wednesday when Gabe was at her class.  It was fun being with her.  Ash called her Blottie.

9.  With the kids getting what I call 'cabin fever' we've played  TON!  Dart-tag, all of our board games, hide and go seek, PSP, building blocks, imaginary games, dress up, the list goes on!  It's been great actually doing all these things with the kiddos instead of having them build blocks by themselves and then showing me what they've made as I'm busy doing something upstairs.  I wish I would have done this more.

10.  On Monday it was actually a beautiful day.  We got Wendy's and went out on the deck and enjoyed a picnic lunch.  Very fun!

11. Almost 3 years ago when we first moved back from Africa, there was  nice little dwarf that worked at Target that Austin was quite afraid of.  This week as we were leaving, he looked at her on his way out (and I thought, oh great-don't stare) but Austin finally said 'she looks beautiful'.  At first I chuckled all the way out the doors, but then on a mature note, I thought I wish I had the childlike quality of seeing people for who they are and not just what they look like or how tall/fat/short/ they are.  It made me want to be more like our Savior.  Don't children always bring out that side? 

Let's pray for some good old sunshine this last week of February!

Love,

Angie

Valentine Week

This week was filled with candy hearts and a red hot fever.   Last Valentines week Austin had the stomach flu.  This year he had a 4 day fever of 103.  As soon as his broke, Ash's started. Yeah!  

Jonathan is in Africa with the President and Sec State.  Dar es Salaam, Tanzania today and tomorrow he gets to go to our old haunt-Nairobi!  He will be at the Embassy and is looking forward to seeing some of the FSI's that are still there.  We left and Austin was only 2!  Jonathan's going to show pix of how our little guy has grown.  It's amazing how even 3 years ago, how much simpler life was.  Before we had Ashley, before we knew of any illness Austin had.  Wow.  I told my brother Grant that while I was in Nairobi for those 2 years, it was like a 2 year volunteer camp.  The amazing things I got to see, do and people I met.  Then Grant said, for you Ang it was like a 2 year fat camp (since I'd lost about 50 lbs of baby weight that I'd gained with being pregnant with Austin while I was in Africa!)  Leave it to Grant.  

We keep in touch with a lot of friends we made there, we keep in touch with the locals there as well.  Phanice our househelp/nanny and Michael our driver/gardener.  Even people from the church there.  In fact, the Sitati family from our branch in Nairobi are mission Presidents and were the ones that translated the LDS temple sessions into Swahili.  Even though there's a lot of political unrest in Africa and specifically Kenya right now due to the re-election, I love the people.  I feel bad for them, the situation they're in, and know that due to the parliament and government that rules, the people really can't get ahead.  I pray for them and hope all the aid the US gives will go to the right places/people.  

The kids' favorite babysitters in the whole wide world are Maggie and  Megan (whom we adore!)   Megan sat the kids on Valentines and Ashley got all dressed up like a princess and of course Austin got all decked out as a Pirate to show off.  

Austin loves to help me cook, set the table and run little errands for me.  Ashley loves to be mommy's "helper" and assist me in tasks around the kitchen,  laundry etc.  A lot of the time I am hurrying to get dinner ready and cleaned up and when the "help" it normally means spilled food, a huge mess, half the silverware out and dirty and sometimes glasses broken.  But I just need to remember that I won't have a 5 and 2 year old that want to be with mommy all the time.  

I will miss these times when they're older and don't care to be around mom at all, much less help with dinner/setting the table.  Over the past little while I have been savoring the time I have to be with  my kids.  I love being a stay at-home mom.  I love it that my kids always want to know where I am-even inside the house (yes, that includes even when I'm going potty).  I used to get bugged.  But why?  They think I'm the best thing in the world.  I know they'll grow up and that's the Lord's plan.  Life is short and I'm savoring every second of motherhood.  I love my job.  

Angie

2 quick Austinisms:  "Stay out of my puberty Ashley!"  (instead of "property")

Also, he was tormenting Ashley the other day and suddenly she retaliated and started chasing after him with a pretend sword screaming bloody murder.  He actually looked fearful even though she's a quarter his size.  He was yelling mommy!  But I shook my head no.  As he's running circles in the living room away from Ashley he says, " I guess I deserve this don't I."

I had to chuckle.  

Surgery Date

We received a date for Austin's surgery.  April 8.  

Mid March I'm going to visit family in  Charleston and Florida and my mom is driving back with me and will stay with Ashley while we're at the hospital with our little buddy.

We will be at DC Children's Hospital.  Austin will be in ICU the first night (due to his tracheomalacia-to make sure he's breathing okay after his stomach surgery) then in the pediatric unit for the next 4 nights.   Please continue to keep him in your prayers during that time.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  

Love,

Angie

Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day!  

I love Valentines Day.  The treats , making the cards, the boxes for the kids, it's all so sweet!

I have the opportunity to help out with Austin's Valentines Party today at school!  There will be treats, games, and prizes.  The only downer is that my little Valentine is under the weather.  He has a nasty little cold.  He gets breakfast in bed whenever he's not feeling well.  We'll see if he feels any better to go later today.

Jonathan and I are going out to dinner at our favorite celebratory restaurant, Ruth's Chris steakhouse to celebrate the lovey dovey day.  He  surprised me with 3 dozen red long stem roses delivered to our home!  He is quite the romantic--especially  for a man with the name of Duane!

Enjoy your Valentines Day!

Love,

Angie

The New Beast!

We turned in my leased BMW X3 last week.  Sniff sniff.  It was such a fun little sporty SUV to zip around in.  But, functionally, it wasn't that great for me.  It was very small.  So on Friday... we bought a 2008 Honda Odyssey! It's black, tan leather interior, EX-L, capt/bucket seats front and back, navigation system, DVD, 6 disc cd changer, heated seats, and all the bells and whistles the mini's provide.  I've gotten so much hassle about buying a mini-van over a Tahoe or other type of SUV.  But I just figure your car is only as sexy as the person driving it!  And I LOVE my minibeast!  So do the kids.  Austin throws on his headphones to watch movies, Ashley kicks her little feet without bumping the back of my seat, they have their own air/radio controls back there.  It's great!  

It was also my buddy Gabe's 30th birthday this week!  Happy B-day Gabers!  Awesome party! We love you!

One of the best parts about my new car, I have my personalized Goose plates. :)

Munchkin Movers

So Ashley signed up for this class called "munchkin movers" and it has been cancelled twice now.  But every Wednesday, we get dressed up ready to move and groove.  She has more princess/ballerina/"shay shay" clothes as she calls them (?) and she loves to wear them all day long!

Austin had lots of his buddies over this week to play.  He was finally over his respiratory problems and loved playing outside (it got up to 72 degrees!)

Brigg LaBarbera, (Christian and Jodi's son is now 2months old.  Happy Birthday big Brigg!

I had Bunko this week and won a little Valentine heart!  It's so cute!  And learned how to make truffles and toffee at our enrichment activity.  Fun week!

Smokin' Hot

Austin is doing great this week.  After a solid 24 days of the horrible respiratory issues, he's no longer coughing.  We're still working to get a specific date for his surgery in April.  I will keep you posted.

This week has been filled with funny little sayings by the kiddos.  The things kids say!

Austin: (While playing an eye spy game at a restaurant) looks around and sees the tortillas smoking.  He says, "Eye spy with my little eye something smokin' hot."  I say, hmmm, the tortillas!  He said, "No, my mommy is smokin hot!"  Is it sad that it gave me the biggest ego boost?  Anything you want for Christmas dear.  It was just so funny to hear those words come out of my sons mouth.

Austin: During the testing before a parent teacher conference at his preschool, the teacher asked Austin to read a sentence.  He said, "Mrs. Burch, what are you thinking?  You know I can't read!"  Luckily I found out that Austin was in the top third of his preschool for reading.  Phew!

Ashley: We have a new picture of Jesus on our wall and whenever we walk out, Ashley looks up and says Jesus!  It's really sweet.  Well, sometimes if I get upset I'll say "Oh Gees."  But Ash thinks I say something else.  So when she gets upset she'll yell out "Jesus!"  All the time!  

Ashley:  She loves to do anything Austin does.  Color out of the same book. Use the same crayon.  Pee in the same toilet he just used.  Eat the same snack, same color, etc.  Austin is patient 90% of the time, the other 10% he's had it.

We feel very fortunate to have a week free of illness.  Also, that Austin bore his testimony today in chuch.  

We're saddened at the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley this past week but know he's in a better place with his wife and our Savior.  

We hope Jodi and Brigg have a wonderful stay in warm San Diego the next few weeks!  

Love,

Angie

SCARY Week

So this week has been extremely stressful for

 the Toler's.  Austin  stopped breathing on Wednesday night.  He was in the middle of one of his coughing spells and just stopped coughing and grabbed as his throat like he was choking, and he was.  His eyes were bulging out of his head, and he was writhing around like he was drowning on his bed.  It was horrible.  Jonathan was in South America and I was about to call 911, but realized before he passed out I had to do something.  I carried him downstairs and we went out on the deck and the freezing air opened his throat and he started coughing hysterically again.  I gave him more steroids and many steam tents.  The next day the Dr. needed to see Austin and we also went to our pulmonoligist.  Both Dr.'s TOLD me that Austin HAS TO GET THE SURGERY that will stop his relux.  What is happening is that Austin's upper airways (lungs are fine) but he has such inflammation on his upper airways and scar tissue from having erosions and burns on his esophagus due to servere reflux that whenever Austin gets any kind of respiratory cold/anything, his airways close up it's like trying to breathe through a straw.  Then his cough forces even more stomach acid up and he aspirates the acid into his bronchial tubes.  So what he had the other night was a layrngospasm where the acid has inflamed the larynx/vocal cords too much and the throat just slaps shut!  It was horrifying.  I never want to go through that again.  I called Jonathan the next day and he was on the next flight home from Bogota, Columbia.  All the Dr.'s said that at this point, we can't "not" do the surgery.  It's now a life or death situation and we've prayed about it and feel good about it.  It's not fair that a 5 year old boy is going through this much.  On steroids every month whenever he gets any kind of cold, his airways are like straws, not to mention Austin's infamous "cough" that he does chronically.  We know there's a risk with the procedure, but at the same time, they say we're making him worse by not doing it.  And if he has another laryngospasm it could be acute death sydrome.  

Heavenly Father is watching out for us and we know it.  I think he was really trying to tell us that Austin needs this procedure after we'd already made up our minds we weren't going to do it.  Jonathan and I both agreed that we'd give him the surgery if it came down to a life or death situation.  And unfortunately it came to that.  

The surgery will be at DC Children's Hospital and will let you know when it's scheduled.

To close on a positive note, we're so thankful for our kids and for our Heavenly Father.  Times get rough, but they're rough for everyone.  We're thankful for our gospel and the truth and closeness it gives us.  In times of adversity it's easy to throw in the flag but that's not what the Lord wants us to do.  We're thankful for our friends and family and the support you give us and our kids.  

THANKS YOU GUYS!!!  

Love,

Angie

Middle East

Jonathan got back from  a long trip with President Bush and Sec Rice.  It was the first time he'd been in Iraq and thank goodness all was well.  The first day in Riyadh rockets were fired at the motorcade.  Yikes.  During the trip they went to Dubai and pictured is him on top of the hotel where Tiger Woods launched golf balls and Andre Aggassi played a tennis match up there.  There's no fence at the top!  I'm glad he's back and I have him home for....uh ...3 days.

This week Austin sings the beach boys song "Help me Rhonda, help help me Rhonda" But Austin's lyrics are, "Help me momma, help help me Momma".  It's so funny to hear him sing that when he needs me!

We went to the House of  Bounce this week with our friends and enjoyed expending energy and having fun.  While we were there, we looked outside it was a crazy wintry snow fall!  Total surprise!  The kids had a ball playing in it the past few days.  Austin gets all bundled up and goes out for 20 min.  Then comes in and sheds all clothes, only to want to go back out 10 minutes later.  The process repeats itself over and over.  Ashley of course has to go out too.  She hates wearing hats and coats.  Just hates it!  So she'll go outside, shed her clothes and gets cold and sits and cries and waits for me to get her because she's freezing.

Ash went poo on the potty a few times this week!  I haven't started potty training yet but it's great that she'll tell me when she needs to go!  On Friday Ash and I had a mommy-daughter outing and we went to the Freedom Center for a free swim time with our friends Gabe and Lottie!  Such fun!!

Austin developed a cough the night we got home from the House of Bounce...it's always fun when he gets a cold.  Because with his GERD, a cough lasts for 3 weeks instead of 3-7 days like a normal kid.  Such fun! 

 

That's the excitement around here.  It's getting chilly...our consumption of hot chocolate has gone up 100% around here.

Stay warm!

Love,

Angie

Memoirs of a Geisha

The Geisha to the left is outfitted by her Uncles and Pop!  Thanks guys!

Jonathan flew out on Air Force One  this last trip.  He's in the middle east for the past week and will be until Wed.  No fun.  Those are the trips I worry about.

I have been trying to eat better since the holidays.  That's no fun either.  But it is a nice feeling when your cute jeans fit instead of feeling like Wranglers.  Dr. Phil once said something and it stuck with me (as I'm holding a Reese's pb cup...)  "Nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels."  So true!  I don't normally like to tout Dr. Phil, but this quote has helped me out in my darkest dieting moments.

Austin and I went down to Children's Hospital on Friday and had a consultation with a GI surgeon there and we chatted about the pro's and cons to the stomach surgery that would take care of Austin's reflux problems.  Unfortunately, the morbidity rate is 10-15% and that's something that I just can't swallow.  I called Duane in Kuwait and we both felt that right now it's not time.  The surgeon definitely thought he needed it, given his history, the amt of meds he's on now to take care of the reflux.  But I just didn't feel like it was a slam dunk.  I was very surprised because for a couple years, we were heading in this direction.   He's doing great on his new medicine right now even though it's an extremely high dose.  So it's like we either fix it with surgery, or keep him on these meds all his life.  Which is the greater evil?  It's so hard.  

Austin started a little pee wee football class on Friday as well.  He now loves to run with the football cradled in his hands and I try to get it out.   He doesn't like to be tackled, but he likes to tackle me.

Ashley has been a funny little munchkin this week.  She loves to kick a foam soccer ball around the house (a birthday present of Austin's -thanks Shelese and Mandi!) and Ash thinks its hers.  Today we went to Long Park and played ball and ate a picnic lunch.  We had a great time!  Although is was quite cold.  The weather is getting chilly here.  

Much love,

Angie