Snot

Are you running low on snot? Isaac would be happy to share some of his. He's not feeling well, and when Isaac isn't feeling well, we all pay the price. Walter and I have been trading time laying in bed with Isaac and reading books to him. Of course we went over to my parent's house and he played for the first time since Friday. Kids, they make us out to be liars.

Last week felt long and tedious, hence my first post in several days.

Isaac wanted me to open a "na" (banana) for him. I dared him to take a bite. He preferred waving it around. You've probably noticed that Isaac spends a fair amount of time sitting on our kitchen counter. That's his happy place if I actually want to accomplish anything in the kitchen.

Wednesday we had his Craniofacial Team appointment. Isaac was amazing during the three hours we were in this room. Unfortunately, nothing productive came of the appointment. The ENT did call yesterday, and said we may push up the date for orthodontics (who knows when. I'm sure it will still be a few years.) and we will probably try a CPAP for sleep.

Practicing running...

Also, we got Isaac's orthotics, which is a drawn out drama that I'll try not to complain about too much. Finding shoes to fit these darn things in was nearly impossible. Isaac refuses to stand while wearing them, and until Friday, refused to even scoot while wearing them. This is especially frustrating because he just started walking and I feel like we are going to go backward until he gets used to them. I think we'll just take it slowly, and still enjoy the fact that he is walking, but hopefully get enough use out of them before his foot grows and he has to be casted again for a new pair.

Isabella has been the best big sister. She cheers for Isaac when he has his braces on, and tells him how cool he is. He has yet to agree with her.

We have so much to look forward to this week! My grandma is coming for Thanksgiving, and my brother is coming home from college, and my parents are getting their new dog. It should be a great week! Next time, I'll share Isabella's list of things she is thankful for.

Goodnight,

Sierra

Leaving the nest

This week my brother will go off to college. Unfortunately, I can't be there to help him move in and offer a proper send off, which makes me very sad, but we have a chance to meet the family that is paying for all of Isaac's therapy, and it's an opportunity we cannot miss. 

Josh, whether he agrees or not, had the privilege of growing up with three mothers: my mom, my sister, and I. We all bossed him around and told him what he should and shouldn't do. Although, I don't think any one of us bossed him around more than Jesse. He was her slave.

I was ten years old when Josh was born. My sister and I were at his birth, which meant that I missed health class on the day they discussed reproduction for the first time. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that viewing a baby being born was a bit more educational.  

Josh was often parked in our room to "play school". He was our student and you'd better believe we made him listen to every word we said. He was left with us while we practiced our instruments and entertained him with our musical talents, or made his head hurt. He accompanied us when shopping for homecoming and prom dresses, and later, a wedding dress. He had to sit through countless band and orchestra concerts, recitals, graduations, etc. He was often sent into the family room to check up on Walter and I. Trust me, he wasn't very discreet about it: "Mom and dad just want to know what you're doing?" 

Jesse with her pupil

Man am I glad dad got a hair cut and new glasses

Josh and I

 Josh and Jesse

 Hmmmm

Mom, are you crying yet?  

 Mom and Josh

Until Josh was born, I was the favorite (I'm totally kidding. At that point Jesse and I were probably neck and neck for first place). Since then, he's trumped all of us. Because he got all A's on his report card one year, he was rewarded with an XBox. Jesse and I were rewarded with a hug. A hug. Don't even get me started on his curfew. He probably even got more mental health days than we did. My dad's a psychologist, he believes in mental health days...it's a day you get to take off from school when you're feeling overwhelmed. You're jealous, aren't you. 

Well, in all honesty, he probably deserves "the favorite award". He's a great guy, how could he not be with two older sisters to boss him around, and he's super smart, and pretty good looking...this is turning into a personal ad for my brother...

Anyway, these are some pictures I took as part of Josh's senior photo shoot. Mom, don't get too excited, I only picked out a few to edit, so they aren't done yet. 

I bet she's crying by now.

 Isabella took this picture, and Josh was told to hold up the star fish...

Good luck, Josh. We'll miss you but we know you'll have tons of fun. And you're only two hours away, so we'll come and bug you plenty of times.

Love,

Sierra, Walter, Isabella, Isaac, and Stella

p.s. All the cool people transfer after their freshman year. ;)