Our Courageous Valentine

* Due to the graphic nature of this post, this may not be suitable

for those who don't like looking at people's mouths or teeth.

Today we went to have Kelsey's tooth with the fistula removed. I want to wait until the Spring but it looked like the fistula was actually getting bigger. After reading some information on the Internet on it, I decided I better get it taken care of before the problem got worst and damaged the permanent tooth.

You can't see the fistula very well but it's in the upper

right hand corner of her gum above the broken tooth.

Kelsey before the tooth removal.

John-David had suggested that I go to a pediatric dentist for the procedure but I said no. I think in hind sight that going to a pediatric dentist would have made the experience a little less traumatic. Our dentist is very kind, but I don't think she is use to taking out the teeth of three year olds' on a daily basis.

Kelsey before the mayhem.

I stopped taking pictures at this point for two reasons 1) It involved needles and blood (not my favorite things) and 2) I was needed to help hold down Kelsey in the chair. She wasn't too keen on the large needle "pinching"her gums. She was a very courageous little girl and despite all her crying, she let them finish the extraction. Afterwards, she got to pick a prize and they gave her a little box to put the tooth in. I got her a frosty to help her feel better and after about a half an hour she was her old self again......just minus a tooth. I know it seem so superficial but I have had really hard time coming to terms with her tooth coming out. I have to remind myself that it's not like she was loosing a limb but I think we put a big focus on how we look. I know I certainly do (although half the time you can't tell). Despite everything she is still cute little Kelsey.

Kelsey after the removal of her tooth.

The tooth.

The tooth in the treasure box the dentist gave her.

January

Hard to believe that we already have gone through one month in this new year! We have had a lot going on, so it has flown by. We started out the month learning that our renters in Ohio would be moving out which means we have to find new renters. Anyone looking for a place to rent in Columbus, OH? We took our car in for a few repairs and we were told that we needed some additional, very expensive repairs. John-David didn't believe them and I wanted some price quotes so to many a long story short, we found out that our car had cheaper problems. Whew! This was some definitely positive news.

In positive news, Kelsey decided to be come princess of the porcelain throne or in other words potty trained. She had been very resistant to this idea and almost defiant but one day dad came home from work and really coached. The next day she could have careless about the pep talk dad gave but then the next day she decided maybe dad was right, diapers aren't that fun. She has made the conversion and has done wonderfully with it. Way to go Kelsey!

In a not so happy note, Kelsey is going to have her right front tooth removed. When Kelsey was about 22 months old, she fell from a platform at the play ground and broke half of her tooth off. She went to the dentist for the first time in January and they said the tooth has a fistula above it, or an infection. If the tooth is left in, it could damage the permanent tooth. I know it's trivial and it's not like she is having a limb removed but I am sad. The permanent tooth will eventually come in but in the meantime she gets to look like a pumpkin. I guess she'll still have her adorable crooked smile.

While some people at our house are losing teeth, others are gaining some. Bryce is currently working on adding three new teeth to his smile. He too is going to be looking like a little pumpkin. At least Kelsey won't be alone in this look.

Dad and I went on a semi date and this was such an amazing event that it actually made the newspaper. We went to the perspective new resident social, where we talked to people who are interviewing for the program John-David's at. That's why I call it a semi-date because we mostly talked to other people all night long but it was without kids so I am counting it. The paper came to the place it was at and took pictures of people hanging out on a Friday night for some article they were writing. We found out the following week that the picture they took of John-David and I made the paper. Apparently the Morning Call thought it was a big deal that we were out too.

We have received a lot of snow this month. On the days that it hasn't been too cold the kids have gone outside to enjoy it. Bryce even has gone out and really actually enjoyed it.

We have had this blue sled and blue snowsuit since Jackson has a baby. All the kids, boy and girl, have worn this snowsuit. I came across this picture of Jackson(below) in the snowsuit and on the sled just like baby brother Bryce(above). It's fun to look at them in the same outfit. You can't see here very well but one of the two is about ready to bust out of the outfit. Bryce is about 1-2 inches taller and 1-2 lbs heavier than all my kids at this age. We think there might be Miracle Grow in the formula we have been buying:)

Jackson at about 1 years old

The three Amigos enjoying sledding down our hill in the front yard.

Bryce really likes the snow and who doesn't like those cheeks.

Kelsey

Silly Snow Bunnies

At the place the girls take dance, they have a couple weeks during the year when parents can actually come into the dance room and watch. I can see why they don't normally let them in because the kids were very distracted by all the spectators. Despite the extra chaos, it allowed us to take some pictures of our budding dancers.

I think this dance pose sums up Kelsey's dance style. Where Jocelyn is very into her ballet and graceful moves, Kelsey is all about the funky dance moves.

I am not sure why she does this but this is what she does all the time.

Kelsey on the prowl.

Jackson had the camera most of the time for Jocelyn.

He took some interesting photos, very interpretive.

This is my favorite photo. I actually took it although it's fuzzy,

I was able to get her jumping midair. Look at those straight arms.

Her class does 15 minutes of tap, 15 minutes of ballet and 15 minutes of jazz.

It's a lot of stuff in 45 minutes but I think it keeps their attention better.

Jackson takes this role as big brother to Bryce very seriously. Now that Bryce is a little older he has begun teaching him things that big brother do. He also likes matching with Bryce. My mom gave all her grandsons matching pj's for Christmas. Jackson was insistent that we got a picture of them in their jammies.

Jackson teaching Bubba how to play soccer.

Jackson teaching the young Jedi how to fight with light sabers.

He actually had a hold of it a few times.

Jackson always wants in his photo taken too.

We can't get enough Stars Wars at this house.

This month we also got the girl's haircut. Jocelyn got about 4 inches and a few layers. Kelsey got about 4 inches or so cut but obviously it made her hair a lot shorter. I like it a lot and she doesn't look like a rug rat as much. She hates her hair being combed.

Kelsey in her typical outfit for the day. She has been seen walking

down the street to pick up Jackson from school in such attire.

This is a random bath photo. We usually do baths of gender now that we have two of each but Kelsey hops in a any chance she gets. Bryce thinks she is absolutely hilarious in the bath because she loves to splash as much as he does much to his mother's chagrin. But I do have to say I have never seen Bryce laugh as hard when the two are together in the bath. They are quite the pair.

You may have noticed that I have not made any crawling announcements about this little guy.

Bryce hasn't shown any real signs of crawling which I hadn't been too concerned because of his prematurity. When Bryce was born there were 3 other ladies who were also expecting. We all had our babies within about 3 months of each other. One Sunday in Relief Society, these four babies were all around each other. Two were walking a around, the other was crawling around and pulling himself up. I looked at my little guy just sitting there making no attempt to move and I thought, "Hmm, maybe we have an issue here". All my other children were earlier but they all did things pretty much when they were suppose to. I know each child is different and you can't compare but also as mother you also recognize when your child isn't showing signs of going in that direction. Bryce isn't doing any of the typical signs for crawling. After talking to a friend who had a baby with some delayed issues, it sounded just like Bryce. She wished that she had started the process to get him help sooner. To make a longer story shorter, a social worker we'll becoming in February to evaluate him to see if he needs physical therapy. This is a free service provided by the state for premature babies. He was evaluated before at 2 months but they don't do a whole lot at that stage so they didn't find anything that they should be concerned with.

None of my children really liked tummy time but they all crawled on schedule so I was never concerned that Bryce hated it. We would put him on his belly but he always cried immediately. Now we are working with him daily to get him on the floor, for as long as he can stand, multiple times a day. This was hard at first but then we discovered he likes cars. We just give him a car now and he pushes it around. It's so cute. He can push him self up on his hands but then he drops to the floor and puts his head down. It takes a lot to hold that head up. He has yet to bend his knees into place. I tried forcing them but he just cried. That will come with time.

Love the Bubba smile.

At Jocelyn's 5 year appointment we had some concerns and her pediatrician suggested that we do a sleep study. We decided that there was no harm in doing that so we decided it wouldn't be a bad idea. Jocelyn was actually excited for it. Dad went with her on her special night and got to sleep in a chair in the room! They really go all out for the parents of children doing the study:( She had to be hooked up to all these wires and microphones. I don't know how anyone would be able to sleep with that stuff on but Jocelyn didn't seem to mind. She got a special bear named "Halo" when the study was all done. We already got the test results back and they she is just fine.

Jocelyn getting ready to sleep.

One weekend dad didn't have to work so we decided to take advantage of the snow and we went sledding. I think mom and dad had just as much fun if not more than the kids. Bryce even really enjoyed it although he was rather tired from his short nap it took. I think he was going to fall back asleep.

Since we have had a lot of snow this month, school has been cancelled a lot. We haven't had a full week of school since we started school at the beginning of the month. They cancel school for the silliest snow storms sometimes.

This is a picture from our front door after one of the many snowstorms.

This pictures was suppose to go with sledding pictures at our house.

Just love those cheeks.

With all the snow days we have had, we have gotten creative with what we do with all the time. Jackson kept himself busy with making himself a Honey Nut Cheerio Diaper Former. It's his version of a Transformer.

Jackson with it as an air plane.

Now as Honey Nut Cheerio Diaper Former. You appreciate it more if you have watched a

Transformer show or played with one of the toys. Jackson is big on making things from cardboard boxes and toilet paper rolls.

We also have played the Wii to pass the time. This is Kelsey playing golf of all things. She didn't want help and as you can see from her stance she didn't do very good but she was entertaining to watch. I personally love how she wears headbands. If only she had her leg warmers on and then she could have been a true child of the 80's.

This is our performing troop. Puppet shows have also sprung from our homebound prison. They are great group with some interesting puppet show, all original of course. Unfortunately, there is more snow in the forecast. I guess this is good for our puppeteers.