Christmas and Anni.

Merry Christmas! We had a funfilled Christmas and celebrated 8 years of marriage....gosh....are you kinding? Yes, we are still married after eight years....from Rodeo Cowboy (living in Texas, to rancher......what will it be next with us). We had a exciting Christmas as well...Tripp was really fun...even though I thought he wouldn't care about it...he got a toy from Santa that is a little car and it sings a song...he loves it! He stops and dances to it everytime he hears the song....he is pretty cute...it could be just because I am the mom. Jett got his 'big pick up and trailer' from Santa which was very exciting for him ....he has wanted it since May. Jett also got a brick house kit that he built two days ago it was VERY messy .....but it was very fun for him. And instead of hanging around enjoying the season I got my wisdom teeth taken out today...so if this post is kinda crazy....just realize I am on some major drugs!

Tripp's Seattle Dr. Appointment

We took Tripp to Seattle to check out his ear problem. The Dr. was great....he told me that cases like Tripp's are EXTREMELY rare. He sees the worst of the worst ...from several states....his recurrent ear infections even after two sets of PE tubes is rare and even he only sees 4 or 5 kids like him in a year. He explained that most babies like Tripp that have recurrent ear infections most often have trouble with pneumonia but he doesn't have any of that. He said he wanted to check his antibodies in his blood in order to check his antibodies. He explained that in extremely bad cases where babies get pneumonia all time they cut a slit back behind their ears to relieve pressure. But that isn't something that he thinks Tripp needs unless he gets lots worse...which probably won't happen. SO...check the antibodies and he said hopefully he will grow out of it! Gosh..lets hope...puss coming out your ears in college isn't cool. As far as adenoids being taken out..he says it may or may not help...so we will continue to go to Dr. Ulnick in Moses ...he is great too....just thought we would talk to someone who sees lots of little people. The biggest thing I learned was that ...the waking up at night isn't ears....it a habit from ears that ...has gotten worse because he likes to be with his Mama. He actually said he needs some tough love....shout! I have been babying him. But best of all is we got to go shopping because we stayed in Seattle the night before the appt. and we saw the Snowflake parade at Bellevue Square...it was AWESOME!!!!!!!!! And we got to go with PENNA shopping...how fun! This picture is not justice to how cool the parade was...it was like a movie!

Another tooth is gone

Jett lost another tooth!

Tripp is Eleven Months Old

My sweet boy has grown too fast. How did this happen? He is now really walking...still crawls when he needs to get somewhere quick but....why do they have to grow so quick? I do not like it! He has 9 teeth! He has gotten two back teeth in the last week or so. He is really starting to talk. Uh-Oh, Jett, Dada, Mama, Tada, Peekaboo, hi and Papa is the newest one...probably cause Jett hasn't quit saying, " My Papa..." since we got home from my Mom and Dad's this weekend. Tripp's favorite things are playing peekaboo and cuddling with his Mom...what mom wouldn't love that? Let's hope he wants to cuddle when he 12.

This one is for you Chi Chi!

Here is a picture of my cousin -- whom my kids call Aunt Chi Chi ....when she went shopping with me -- it was so nice having her help me! She loved this had on Tripp. We love ya Chi Chi!

The true spirit of Christmas.....

Waiting in the car while brother and Dad get the tree!

So I had to a test in Lagrande and Jason needed to pick up our bulls and he had to tie up a few other things....we decided that this would be a great opportunity to take the boys and get a Chirstmas tree. We thought and debated a couple different options and on the way down to Lagrande Jason and I had discussed the 'true' spirit of Christmas with Jett. That Christmas is really about Jesus and not presents....so on and on. As we were driving to get the bulls there was a tree that had been removed by the power company and it was laying there kinda sad --kinda like Charlie Browns' Christmas tree...live what you preach so we pulled over and asked Jett if this tree would be good for our tree -- his eyes lit up and in his eyes that tree was fabulous. I wanted to protest but the problem is that this little tree is very imperfect and so are we as humans but Jett was the only one -- with his innocent to see the trees' value and to him it was perfect ...so in the true spirit of Christmas I have the ugly duckling Christmas tree ...but Jason says, "We are teaching our boys it is not about 'perfection' it is the spirit of Christmas." Well....I still kinda felt like protesting -- but he made me feel petty --darn! So, our 'special' Christmas tree is a sight that is for sure!!!!

We also got to spend the weekend with our friends! And even saw a light parade -- Thanks guys!!!

Happy Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving and Holidays from us! We are so thankful this year and we hope everyone has a Happy Holiday Season!

Ten Months

Okay really late on this -- sorry Tripper. He has seven teeth, loves to pull himself up, taking a few steps at a time, says Jett, Dadda and Mama. He also plays peek-a-boo and patty cake. Here are the boys' pictures from Lisa Dorsing.

Halloween

Tripp and Jett had the best Halloween. They were so adorable. ---Okay, so I am their -- mom. Jason painted Jett's face --it was REAL nice. I am not exactly sure what kind of clown has that face paint. And my sweet elephant wore his elephant outfit all night. It was pretty cute. They didn't win the costume contest -- which Jett was pretty bummed about. But after coming back from Nampa - Tripp and I got swine flu -- so we are home all week. Like Tripp needs one more thing. We are on watch all week. I am so thankful we live in a small town -- it is nice when our local clinic calls to check on our family.

Pumpkin Patch

During the 'break' I got from my mom I took Jett to the neatest Pumpkin Patch. It is out in the country outside of Woodburn. Jett needed some attention from me -- so this was something that I could do to make him feel like everything isn't about Tripp. It is on a tiny island that you have to take a ferry to -- which is neat because Jett and I had never been on a ferry. It is a fabulous pumpkin patch -- my parents' family friends own it and it is simply AWESOME. IF you ever have a chance go to The Heiser's Pumpkin Patch. Thanks Heiser's Jett is still talking about it!

update

Thanks for all the concerns and thoughts! I have some really great friends and family that I am soooo thankful to have! Tripp went into surgery on friday after having a fever of 103.7 all night and that morning. Several different aspects of his health were assessed and they decided that it would be best to have surgery because if he had an ear infection behind his eardrum that wasn't detectable through just looking at his eardrum then -- it would be worth taking the chance that his eardrum would burst. If his temperature was any higher he simply would have been admitted because of his temp...scary! Anyway, they did surgery and he starting feeling better after he got Mortin and Tyenol. He threw up during the night but now is on the mend will be 48 hours without a fever in the morning. So...I am going back to work in the morning. I went to my mom's house and she watched Tripp a few hours to give me break. So, my mom took Tripp a few hours to give me a break and help with Tripp. Jett and I went to the pumpkin patch. Jett needed my attention for awhile.

Surgery

Yesterday was Tripp's appointment with Dr. Ulnick. He had a hearing test. They are not sure if he hears out of his left ear or not. Sorta scary but that is all in God's hands. So I am not going to worry about that today. We are having surgery to have his second set of ear tubes put in. This is highly unusual to have a second set of tubes. Only about 10 to 20 percent of kids have to have a second set. Dr. Ulnick is worried because the ear infections have never subsided. He has had 4 ear infections since May. Ear infections with tubes are supposed to be reduced by 80 percent. But apparently not for Tripp. They are replacing his tubes tomorrow but this is not the last step. If the ear infections continue they will have his adenoids taking out after his first birthday. Sounds like no big deal -- just the fact that he is so little and where they go to take the adenoids out is extremely close to the brain. That has me a little concerned. Because of this unusual case the the fear of him getting immune to anti-botics -- I having him go to Seattle in December. I hoping someone there has the answer to solving his pain and hopefully saving his hearing. That is the biggest concern is saving his hearing. SO ....I was feeling a little sorry for myself and my son yesterday -- because I am home doing all this without Jason and -- then I remember -- GET OVER IT!!! We are praying for better results this time but still knowing all of this is in God's hands.

Tripp's first fall

Here are some pictures of my sweet boy playing in the fall leaves.

Happy 9 months Tripp Allen

Tripp is nine months today! We went to the doctor today and he was 22 1/2 pounds and 29 inches long. Tripp plays 'patty cake,' waves good bye, gives kisses and has six teeth. And loves to play with Jett's barn when he is gone!!!! Don't tell Jett!

Fall at the Ranch

The ranch in Lagrande is beautiful in the fall...but I have to say...I am glad this last weekend was the last time I will be there for the season!!! It is way too cold! While at the ranch Jason and Jett Henry found a wild apple tree. There is something about wild mountain apple trees that are just soooo good that you can't get from a domestic apple. I grew up on 'ranch' apples. We had several apple trees on the ranch in Wallowa and there is nothing better in the fall than riding by an apple tree and picking a few and putting them in your pocket! Yum Yum! Jett picked several and feed a few to the horses. He is getting good at keeping his hand flat!

Hoofprints

Jett is on his way to driving --okay, not really but is sure feels like it. Yesterday, he passed his big milestone as a little cowboy he rode to Nany's from Grandma Shirleys without an adult seems small but when I followed him five minutes later all I saw was hoofprints. And it is a big deal for Jett's Dad because he is following in his Dad's footsteps by riding on his pony and visiting people on the ranch. Well, Stewart's watch out there will be hoofprints on your lawn!

Vampire?

I have not slept a whole night for 2 weeks!!! Tripp has had ear infections and so I thought well must just be these colds going around and so on. Well, I had to take him for a check up on Wednesday for ear infections. I was in the Dr.'s office explaining how he screams for like three hours a night from about 11 or 12 until like 2 or 3 and I am so tired etc. So, she checks his ear -- they looked great after the round of antibiotics. Then she checks his mouth -- wow! she says...I am like, "What?" and she says, "His eye-teeth are poking through." His top fronts are not in so we have a vampire on our hands -- who is apparently nocturnal -- which all vampires are,right? So, she explain usually this doesn't happen -- we are both laughing at this point because she has told me this several times through the course of Tripp's very short life. Usually, they don't get ear infections at 6 weeks, usually they don't gain 2 or three ounces a day, usually they don't get ear infections after they have tubes the list goes on! So, apparently he must be a vampire!!! This is him sleeping at lunch -- because vampires don't sleep at night!

Toothless wonder

Jett has been complaining of his bottom teeth hurting -- I was like well -- it must have gotten bumped. Jett has a loose top tooth but this morning -- I wiggled the bottom tooth and pop out came the tooth and we were both shocked! On further inspection he has three other really loose teeth. We could have a Jack-o-lantern by Halloween.

Pendleton Round up

Tripp was so happy and Jett was getting little tired (notice the thumb).

Jett and My Brother Kip!! He was sport and went with us. By the way the best brother ever!!!

Jason always spends the full week at Pendleton for the rodeo. This year was different experience because we did a lot of the 'kiddy' stuff that we have never done before. One of the things we did is go to the PBR and the Happy Canyon ( an old west show). Jett loved it! The best part was the Indian horses and the cowboys shooting guns!! He loved it so we will be doing every year!!! We went one night to the PBR which is the bullriding!! He loves bulling riding! Here is a family pictures...