Seattle Road Trip

The trip started off with a LONG drive to Corvallis (14hours) that actually went fine.  Minus the small scare that our car battery was dying, it ended up being a false alarm.  We met up at my sister Carrie's house.  Steph and her kids were already there so we chilled for an hour and then drove for yet another hour to the coast.  It was beautiful.  Hence, the picture over load.

The pictures with the rocky coast is the tide pool.  We went at a higher low tide, so there wasn't as much rock as at a lower low tide.  Still very cool though.  We also went to the sandy beach for a bit.  This was Newport.

We ate dinner at a local restaurant.  They had the most amazing clam chowder I have ever had.  Way better than San Fran.

We slept in a hotel in Corvallis that night and then drove to Portland the next morning.  In Portland, we went straight to the zoo.

 Then we went to a place called VooDoo Donuts.  It is probably the busiest donut shop I have ever seen.  The line literally went out the door.  They had tons of creative donuts and charged a pretty penny for them.  Vanessa got purple frosting with purple sprinkles :)

 This was across the street from VooDoo donuts :)

We slept in Portland that night and then drove up to Seattle the next morning.  We met up with Ryan that night and went to dinner at the mall food court.  It was actually plan B, because plan A didn't work out.  But it was the most awesome idea ever.  The kids were contained in a very nice kid's area and dinner was actually somewhat relaxing.

Our first day in Seattle we went to the Seattle Aquarium.  It was fabulous.  They had great touch pools with all kinds of sea life.  We touched sea anemones, sea cucumbers, sea stars (aka star fish, though this is an outdated name and everyone should catch up on their biology, haha)

That night we went to a restaurant called Eat At Joes.  They change theme every couple weeks, like menus, decor and everything.  This visit they were a Texas theme.  No one really loved their food, except the kids' mac and cheese was awesome.  After dinner we went to a really cool park right on the coast.  They had fun toys and then down a hill was the ocean.  Pretty awesome.  The shoreline was lined with these huge logs.  Vanessa and my mom took a tumble on the stairs.  Vanessa had a fat lip and scrapes on her poor lips, they healed surprisingly fast.  Like days.  My mom was a little more roughed up however and hers are still on the mend.

 In downtown Seattle we went to the space needle, saw the gum wall and Pike's Peak along with the Farmers Market.  We ate at a fun seafood joint called Crab Pot.  That meal was fantastic. 

 We stayed outside Seattle to be closer to Steph's apartment.  So each time we went downtown, we would ride the Water Taxi and then walk or take public transportation.  It was intense.  But also really fun.  The kids loved riding on the boat and the monorail and the metro.  All different modes of transportation, all new and exciting. 

You may notice Ryan is the only hubby occassionally in some of the pictures.  He had to work during the day and would meet up with us for dinner at night.  But he was the only husband there.  Ben was working and so was Jon.  So that means we had 8 kids (ages 5-4 mos), three moms, and the grandparents.  I don't know if it occurred to any of us just how crazy that was going to be.  But it was a funny crazy and I'm sure we can laugh at the memories for years. 

SMA Awareness

August is SMA Awareness Month so stay tuned for more SMA facts

6 AM Random

It's 6am and I have been up since 3.  Trust me, I would be sleeping if I had a choice in the matter.  Benson fell asleep last night at 5pm (uh, should I mention it was in the bumbo?!) because I couldn't convince the kid to take a nap.  I tried to wake him up around 6:30, to no avail.  I was nervous he would wake up around 10, like he has done the two other times he missed his nap, and be up til 2am.  When he kept on sleeping, I thought we were in the clear.  Nope, he just decided to wake up at 3am, to keep us on our toes and make sure we still get just enough sleep to keep us functionally cranky.  Fabulous.  Oh, and since we are living in the hotel, he also woke up Brigham.  It goes against his nature to be awake quietly.  I just turned on Finding Nemo and decided I would update the blog rather than lay there and pretend to sleep.  Vanessa, amazingly, can sleep through all the noise.  I don't really know how that skill came about, but I love it. 
Speaking of Vanessa, last night she was wired.  At about 8:30 Jon and I started trying to get her to sleep.  She was just bouncing off the walls like a crazy girl.  She finally settled and asked me to sing her some songs.  I laid down by her and started singing.  After a little while she asked, "Mom, are you waiting for me to go to sleep?"  "Yes," I said. "Oh."  I continued singing for a couple more minutes and then she asks, "Mom, who are you singing to?"  "To you."  "But I'm already asleep!"  Apparently she is just really good at having conversations in her sleep.  After a few more minutes of wiggling, she really did fall asleep.  Then Jon and I had twenty minutes of peace to talk about how crazy our lives are before Benson started talking in his sleep and wanting to be held. 
Yes, you did read that last part right.  We are with Jon.  It's a long story how all the plans came to be made....and re-made....and re-made....oh, only like six times.  But, the end result is a pretty good one.  If we survive the next three weeks in a hotel, in Little Rock Arkansas, while they have the fifth hottest summer on record.
So, backtracking a bit here.  The kids and I drove with my parents up to Oregon and Washington to see my sisters two weeks ago.  That is a post all in itself involving lots and lots of pictures, but I'll save that for next time.  While we were there though, the plans were laid for me and the kids to play out to Arkansas just five days after we got home from our vacation.  That was a little crazy but I was able to get everything together.  And I mean everything, since we won't be going back to Utah.  I was even able to see all of Jon's family to say goodbye and meet a lady who has two kids with SMA.
Friday, August 27th, I set out at 6:30am with my dad and the kids for the airport.  My dad helped us send our four suitcases, two car seats, one car seat base and a wheelchair with the curb check in.  And I headed inside with two kiddos in the double stroller, Brigham in the Ergo, the infant car seat across the top, diaper bag on my back, snacks and blankets underneath, and Vanessa's "suitcase" in one hand.  I was a spectical.  I know I was, because I could hear the comments as I would walk by and see the looks on people's faces as they slowly moved out of my way.  But, surprisingly, the flights went amazing.  No serious breakdowns, no tantrums, and mostly sleeping; at least from the boys.  And we couldn't have been happier to see Jon.  And I think he was pretty excited to see us.  We had a great weekend.  Not that we did anything super special, just that we were a family again.  Brigham has practically become a different baby in the last month and I was so excited for Jon to see him.  Except that, somehow Brigham seems to know we are somewhere new.  He hasn't been as giggly and smiley as he can be.  But he is slowly coming around. Benson is being really needy.  And Vanessa has been exponentially more wired.  But heres to hoping things start looking up and we all adjust to the craziness.  And here's to posts yet to come...with pictures.

God Bless America

I grew up religiously going to the Kaysville Parade and Fireworks.  Every year, without fail.  I love that parade.  For such a small town, they sure know how throw a party.  The past two years we have been in Florida for the Fourth of July.  And they just don't know how to throw a party like I grew up loving.  I was seriously so excited to take my kids to the Fourth of July celebration in Kaysville this year.  Only one thing could have made it better, Jon.

We wandered over to the fire station and got fire hats because Benson was in his wheelchair.  So it isn't all bad having special needs, I guess.  Benson decided there were too many people though and he was too nervous being in his chair so he hardly used it anyway.  Here we all are waiting for the parade.

 At the sound of the sirens, everyone is instantly leaning over the "line" to get a better look.  That line definitely didn't last very long though.

 Everyone liked the fire trucks..... except Brigham.

 I may or may not have gotten slightly teary eyed when my alma mater passed by playing "Dear Ole Davis High School."  Yes, I am completely ridiculous.  But, it was the first time I had felt even a twinge of sadness to be leaving Utah for an unknown amount of time.  It was the first and the last (ok, probably not the very last) time my kids would see the Kaysville Parade.  And I missed Jon.

 The Volkswagen club.  Love it.  I could handle driving a van that looked like this.

And this was Benson's view for the majority of the parade.  Brett was such a good sport.  Benson absolutely loved it.
After the parade we were too exhausted to go to the carnival.  That evening we went and BBQ'd with Jon's family for his mom's birthday.  And then went back to Kaysville for the fireworks.  Gotta love fireworks.  Vanessa danced, Benson watched and Brigham slept.  It was a great night.

May and June Recap

I haven't been updating our happenings.  So from longest ago to most recent.  Here is what we have been up to:

The end of April, the kids and I moved from Logan to my parents.  This is a picture of Brig around that time, so I'm adding it.  I have no idea why it looks like he has a cone head.  It's a very round head but apparently this was a weird angle.  But isn't that the cutest belly you've ever seen?!

 A month later, Vanessa turned THREE years old. Holy cow, have I really been a mother for three years? Why am I not any better at it then?! We had a fabulous birthday for the most crazy, lovable, sweet little girl around. It happened to be on a Sunday so we went to church, then came home and opened presents. Benson got a present too so he wouldn't feel left out.  They were flip flops.  I know, super lame.  But it was something he wanted and it was the 2/$5 sale at Old Navy.  Jon told Benson "Happy Vanessa's Birthday."  Ha.  I thought everyone did that.  But it was actually really cute.  Vanessa started opening them before I had pointed out that they had "twinner" gifts.  So mid-opening, I stopped her and gave them to Benson and gave her the pair for her to open.  She didn't care, but every gift after that she asked who it was for.  I adore the innocence of a three year old. 

 Brigham chilled nicely in the shade and was actually happy.  Bonus!

  I had the brilliant idea of opening presents on the deck, but it was actually insanely hot. But here is all the loot. Obviously, the most important gift was the bike. Which she has learned to ride and really enjoys it. When she wants to go ride a lot of times she says, "mom, I want to go practice my bike."

 After gift opening, we went to Jon's parents for dinner and then cousins came over for cake and ice cream.  Another cute story.  As she would open each gift from cousins, I would tell her who it was from.  As she went to open one gift, I told her it was FROM Brooklyn but she thought I said it was FOR Brooklyn.  She quickly jumped off her chair and said "I'll go give it to her."
This is the fabulous cake made by my talented sister-in-law.  Vanessa's favorite color is purple and her name means "butterfly".  Could it be any more perfect?

 Meanwhile, Brigham is still doing much of this......

 But also much of this.....

So we forgive him and are madly in love with the little man.

On May 30, we saw the pulmonologist for Benson and got the all-clear.

On May 31, we had the funeral for Jon's aunt who was killed in a car accident a few days previous.  Aunt Marlene had been living with Matt and Shauna the past year or so and it was really hard on everyone.  She was buried in the Salt Lake Cemetery next to her parents.

June 8 & 9 we had the Brady Family Reunion.  We had a hot dog and smores night on Friday and then Saturday took this party to the zoo.  I feel like we should have some kind of superhero music for this picture

The kids had a blast and were completely wiped out.  Jon and I also had a good time trying out our new lens.  It was a splurge Father's Day/Graduation gift for Jon.
The following week on Wednesday, I packed the kids up by myself and headed out to stay at a cabin with my sister-in-law.  We stayed from Wednesday-Saturday, with other people coming and going.  Tommy was there the first day and night and then Jon came the last night and day.  Kind of random.  We had fun single-mom-ing-it together and the boys learned that polygamy is NOT that great.

People tell me quite often that I am going to break my back carrying two kids.  But I feel like I have down-graded since Vanessa always wanted me to carry her when I was pregnant.  That was carrying three babies.  But I will admit my back is pretty messed-up.  Although I would also like to point out that most people's are.

 While at the cabin (and I use this term loosely, it was more like a house in the woods) Vanessa and Brooklyn put goo in their hair.  It took everything I had to keep calm, especially as she was screaming about how I was hurting her, trying to get that stuff out.  I thought for sure we were going to have to cut it.  It came out, amazingly.

Benson loved throwing rocks in the lake or river.  He literally asked to do it any time that wasn't what we were doing and cried when we took him away.

We also had a surprise visitor literally walk right beneath the deck of the cabin.  Benson still talks about this moose.  He says it looks like a cow and says MOO too.  Actually, I may or may not have told him the moose says MOO.  I didn't know what else to say.

The following week, Carrie and Ben came into town. We were so excited to see them, finally! We haven't seen them since we went to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving. We were almost a whole family except Steph and Ryan are in Seattle. Seriously, it's tough these days. While they were visiting, we went on all kind of day excursions. 

We went swimming at the Roy Aquatic Center.

Spent an afternoon hiking, throwing rocks in the river, and cooking hot dogs and smores in Mueller Park Canyon.

Riding Croslands new Pony, Rio. 

 Benson even rode!  And he must dream about this because he has woken up from several naps telling me about riding Rio.

 Cody and Macey also showed Vanessa how to search for peas and strawberries in the garden.  And, the best part was that she actually ate them!

 We also busted out the slip'n'slide and kiddie pool in the backyard.  As well as continual play in the sand box.

We ended the month by giving Brigham a name and a blessing on June 24.  Jon gave a beautiful blessing, as he has always done.  We wanted to get some awesome family pics but this is about all we could muster out of the kids.  Never mind the kiddie pool in front of us, we'll crop that out one of these days.  And also never mind that Brigham NEVER looked at the camera.  Or that I'm barefoot.

 At least he smiled in this one.

 Brady tradition is to make a cake that says "Welcome Brigham" (or whatever the baby's name is) and then stick the baby's hand in the cake.  I have no idea where this tradition came from, but it's kind of cute and so we play along.

It has been a crazy couple months and we are still going strong.  July and August are going to be just as crazy.  Then, September might bring some R&R.  Though I won't lie, the busy craziness of life is the zest of life.  It keeps things interesting and makes it fun.

Brigham's Stats

I finally made my way into the doctor's office for a well child check.  It took Brigham coughing and a few family members having been sick recently to get my behind in gear and make an appointment.  Don't worry, he wasn't actually sick.  But the shear panic of whooping cough was enough.  I am the only one suddenly paranoid of whooping cough?  All the recent outbreaks and horror stories of babies dying.  Someone is doing their job, if that job was to scare the public back into vaccinating.  Anyway, so here are some stats.  On June 20, 2012 Brigham was

Twelve pounds five ounces (37%)

          Twenty-three and one-half inches (31%)

Sixteen inches head circumference (34%)

I would call that a rather evenly proportioned baby if you ask me. 

It's Not All Rainbows and Cupcakes

I try my darndest to stay positive these days.  I am learning, by fire, that my attitude has SO much to do with how well my days go.  But honestly, this has been darn near the hardest year of my life.  Let's recap a bit.  Last August, we left Florida (insert tears, as I left all my friends).  Move #1.  We were in Utah for a week before Jon left for Kansas City.  Two weeks later the kids and I moved to Kansas City.  Move #2.  From Kansas City we drove the three hours to St Louis and parked here for three months.  Move #3.  While in Kansas City, we started PT for Benson and set up appointments at Primary Children's with the neurologist.  This appointment was scheduled in October and set for January!  We really enjoyed St Louis, but Jon finished out his rotations and we headed back to Utah for Christmas.  Move #4.  The kids and I stayed in Utah through January to get to all of Benson's appointments.  Jon flew out on the weekends to visit and was able to make it to the "big" appointment, or Benson's EMG.  In February, while awaiting genetic test results for Benson, the kids and I moved to Denver to be with Jon.  Move #5.  The doctor called me one lonely day in the hotel to confirm Benson had tested positive for SMA.  I can't say hold glad I was Jon was coming home that night and not the end of the week.  Even though we were already pretty sure, it crushed all possibilities of being something else.  After February, we headed back to Utah.  However, Utah wasn't ready.  So, unsure of what to do or where we would be going we stayed with Jon's parents for a bit.  Move #6.  After three weeks of waiting around for clinicals in Utah to get going (or to have a baby) we moved to Logan.  Move #7.  On Jon's first day I went into labor and ended up having Brigham the following day.  Longest labor ever!  But at least it was off and on, right?!  After staying with a friend for six weeks in Logan, we decided we might be wearing out our welcome with three kids, three and under.  So the kids and I moved in with my parents.  Move #8.  Jon is still staying in Logan and coming down on the weekends.  How is handling three kids, three and under; with two who can't walk?  All I can say is I am pretty sure there is only one set of footprints in the sand these days, and they aren't mine.  You would think living with my parents would make things entirely easy, but my parents have been out of town more than they have been around.  It's their right, being retired.  We sure appreciate their help when it's here, but we do our best to survive most days.  I have given up on a "perfect day."  A day when Benson gets in all the physical therapy that he needs.  A day when I never lose my temper, never say anything I wish I could immediately retract.  A day when Brigham doesn't have to scream for five minutes before I can get the kids settled so I can sit down for twenty minutes to nurse him.  A day when bedtime happens before 10pm.  A day when all three meals are healthy, with lots of fruits and veggies and not just crackers and cheese. 
Brigham hit a bout of colic around two weeks.  A mother who has never had a colicky baby does not understand what colic is.  Colic is not a baby who fusses occassionally.  Colic is a baby who cries, constantly.  And oftentimes, it is inconsolable crying.  Brigham, luckily was consoable in one way, to "wear" him.  Thus began our very close relationship of Brigham always being worn.  He still is, almost always, in either the Ergo or the Moby.  It makes it easier to carry Benson anyway.  But honestly, if he isn't in the carrier, I almost feel anxious.  Like he could explode any second and then it will be thirty minutes before I can calm him down and get him to sleep.  I am starting to lose that anxiety as he is starting to grow out of his crying.  He is slowly becoming a very happy baby.  He has absolutely adorable whole body grins.  And he is also doing the baby ooohing and ahhhing.  I adore this phase.
Benson is still our talking genius.  You can literally sit and have a conversation with this 20 month old.  He is so amazing.  We went to the pulmonologist yesterday, who gave the all clear for us.  His breathing still looks great.  He recommended we put him on the pulse oximeter for a couple nights and print out the readings.  We can send them in to the doctor, who will look them over and make sure he is doing as well at night.  It was a relief to have it confirmed by a doctor who is familiar with SMA that Benson is doing great.  We were also extremely happy to see that he had gained two pounds since we were at the doctor just 1 1/2 months ago!  That is such a HUGE relief to me.  He is finally back on the charts in the 1%!  I couldn't be more proud.  Thank you Pediasure!  Benson is still losing a lot of strength but we are working hard to maintain as much as possible.  I wish I were able to give him more, but I am doing my very best.  We are working on getting an electric stander to help with bone density and also improve muscles.  He has lost his ability to scoot :(  But he does have his new found independence and freedom with his wheelchair.  He is starting to like it more and more as we learn to adapt things for him.  We are even slowly starting to conquer our bedtime dilemma.  Benson has always been such an easy little guy to get to sleep.  A couple stories, a couple songs, boom, he's out.  Once Brigham was born, no more.  It has been a CHALLENGE.  But, ever so slowly, I am learning how to work with all three of them and get them all to sleep without having to leave anyone to cry.  That's really important to me.
Vanessa is three now! She still loves purple, Princesses, her animals (a.k.a. Littlest Pet Shop), Dora and Diego.  For her birthday (post to follow) she got a bike.  She is doing great learning how to ride it.  She also loves to find rolly pollies and worms.  Bees terrify her.  She recently fell on the sidewalk and scraped her knees.  She literally could not walk for the rest of the day and into the next day.  It took some serious effort to convince her she was going to be okay.  I have the most hilarious video of her walking around, bent over like a little old lady, trying to move her knees as little as possible.  She cracks me up constantly and also amazes me with things that she is able to understand that I wouldn't have thought she could. 
Every once in a while I will have a moment where I can't help but let a few tears roll for Benson.  How I love that boy and how my heart hurts for him.  I wish that I could make it better and take it all away.  It is a pain I can't possibly explain to watch your son's body slowly give way to an unseen disease.  How I hate it!  But, I know that Heavenly Father has a very special plan for Benson and I know that Benson agreed to have this body.  A body that would only limit him so much as he will allow it.  He is an amazing little boy.  I will say that while this past year has been inexplicably challenging, it has also been inexplicably rewarding.  I have learned and grown so much.  We have been blessed in so many ways, over and over again.  Things have just "worked out" in ways that were better in the end, even though in the beginning I thought I would go crazy.  Things like getting a rotation in Little Rock, Arkansas for July and August.  Springfield is only four hours from Little Rock, where we will be working after graduation.  We FINALLY get to make our last move.  Move #9, it's going to be fine!

Brigham Smiling

Brigham started giving those "unconscious" smiles at 10 days.  He started grinning really big at around four weeks. I have yet to catch one on camera. He started to throw in the coos at around 6 weeks.  At 8 weeks, he is following us all over with his eyes and making great eye contact.  It's so encouraging as a parent to watch your child develop and hit all their milestones.  We are still working on the tummy time thing.  Most of his life is spent in a carrier so he still doesn't pop up on his elbows.  Though I think his strength is adequate he could do it if we practiced, and he didn't cry so much :)

Kids Say the Darndest

Benson grabbed his nipple, squeezed, and proudly declared "MILK!"

Benson started shouting at me out of the blue "potty."  So naturally, I asked if he needed to go potty.  He said yes.  I asked him if he wanted to go sit on the potty.  He said yes.  I shrugged, picked him up and took him to the potty.  He sat there so proud.  Telling me over and over.  "Sit potty."  "Sit potty."  He didn't want to get up.  I finally suggested we move it into the other room where everyone else was and he agreed that would be okay.  I set the potty down, put Benson back on and he sat there all proud again.  Vanessa walks over to me pouting.  "I can't ever share my little potty because it's special."
Ensues potty dance.  After a minute I decided she really did have to go so I moved Benson.  Vanessa sat down and sure enough, went a little peepee.  After being de-throned.  Benson was upset and started whining to me.  I asked Vanessa if she was done.  She told me, "No.  I'm pretending I have a lot of peepee."
*Post edit:  I put Benson's diaper back on when I took him off the potty.  Once Vanessa decided she was done pretending, Benson wanted back on.  I just left his diaper on but sat him on the potty.  He stayed there for a while and then proudly declared.  "All done."  I nodded at him and said "all done?"  I just kept on doing my thing for a few more minutes as he continued to say "all done" over and over.  I finally went over and sure enough, he had pooped.  Course it was in the diaper, but he definitely knew he had to go and definitely wanted to go in the potty.  Smart kid I tell ya.

Someone handed Vanessa a plastic cover piece that hooked into a circle.  They told her she could play with it and she declared it was a necklace.  She continued to say that she would wear her necklace at her wedding to get married and she would go to the temple.  She walked a few steps away, said she was now at the temple and needed Benson to come stand by her so they could get married.

Whenever we are playing pretend, Vanessa likes to give everyone fake names.  She usually will make up random syllables, that are never the same.  Nana, shelala, niniayla.  Most of the names sound identical if we are named right after each other.

Vanessa told me when she grows up she wants to have a big bum too.

In the store, walking past a really large woman, Vanessa said, "Mom, she has a big bum too!"
*Note: apparently my daughter thinks I have a big bum

Jon was looking at some pictures we had printed up.  Vanessa walked over and asked to look too.  Jon told her she could but he would hold them.  "Do my hands have germs?"  Vanessa asked.  "I go get han sanisizer." 

Vanessa was mad because I had told her no for some random thing.  She walked over to me and mid-cry, touches Brigham's head and said, "He's so cute."

We took Jon's motorcycle to Florida, but ended up selling it while there.  This was a year ago mind you.  Vanessa told us the other day that she wanted a ride on dad's bike.  We told her we left it in Florida.  "I want to go back to Florida and ride dad's bike."