Not very creative today so....no title!

Just stuck on a couple pictures taken on a really nice day this fall. I've not had time to download any recent ones. The past three weeks have been simply unbelieveable, and is the major reason I haven't updated for awhile. Hmmmm.... let me see if I can even remember....

I had my yearly appointment with my hematologist. I always look forward to it. Partly, because we really my doctor, and he gave me quite a bit of advice on raising 3 boys. Thanks!!! Also, since I've never really been quite normal since my transplant ( especially on paper : ) ) it is a good reminder for me to really live every day and not worry about the details.

Then, Travis went out of town and left me with the boys for 6 days. He returned home the Tuesday before last, and we were so very glad to see him. The next day we found out the my sister-in-laws two nephews had been in a serious car accident leaving one dead and the other in very critical condition. This particular family lived in a nearby town and we had known them through my sister-in-law. Her nephew is now in Rochester for surgery and trauma care.

My parents came for a visit on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. The boys had a great time and talked Grampa into taking them to the grocery store. This is a tradition for them and they always come home with special treats. They told me before Mom and Dad got here....'Grampa really likes kids, and Gramma really likes kisses.' My parents visit got cut short when they were called in the middle of Friday night (early Saturday morning) that my dad's brother passed away. They left for home that morning so they could help with funeral plans. My uncle and his wife had moved to Colorado a few years ago, but the funeral would be in our home town where my uncle had grown up. My cousins and aunt arrived at my parents on Sunday and Monday. Andrew and I flew to ND on Tuesday morning for the funeral. Of course, all funerals are sad but this one included a lot of laughter as well. My cousins asked people in the congregation to share memories and stories. My uncle always managed to get into some crazy scrapes which, of course, leads to some really great stories. Uncle Allie was like a second dad to us. He and my dad were close in age and they lived near each other until their move to Colorado. My cousins were close in age to us and we spent quite a lot of time together. They were more like brothers. I even have a twin cousin!! They were all boys which is probably why having 3 boys has never really seemed so scary to me. I was well schooled on 'cops and robbers,' sword-fighting, and could make roads in the garden for matchbox cars with the best of them. My 'twin' and I had the most fun riding the ponies through the woods and playing cowboys and Indians. Not so appropriate these days, but quite acceptable when I was 8. Andrew and I got to stay for Thanksgiving dinner which my sister had at her house. And we flew home on Friday.

Andrew is having a horrible time resettling into a regular routine and is needing a lot of comfort at night. It doesn't help that he's getting another tooth. He picked up a few new words while we were gone which include the oh-so-approrpiate words for a baby; pop and chip. Thankfully, he's also saying 'wa-wa' and 'eat.' We're not sure what happened with him since he's seldom read to. It must be the brothers who never stop talking. He's also loving to play 'chase' with the big brothers. This has the brothers crawling around pretending to chase Andrew while he tries to 'run' away. Yes, he is trying to run....and jump which usually ends in him sitting. He'll be 14 months old on Friday. We had a nice visit with my great-uncle and his wife this evening. She is here for diagnostic tests and treatment. Now it is time to return to the real world and start preparing for the holidays.

And update for Dad!!

So far...all has gone well with my by being home alone with all 3 boys. They spent part of yesterday at Ja Neal's which was a godsend because I got some housework and laundry done. Friends with kids the same age as Henry and Charles came last night for pizza and movie so the boys were so tired they absolutely crashed at bedtime. This morning we went out for breakfast which was a request of Henry's before Travis even left. They were very good at the restaurant and then Henry had his tae kwon do test this afternoon. He did great!! He broke his board on the first try with a step-behind-sidekick. Andrew got to see his very best friend, and Charles crawled back and forth under the chairs pretending he was a train going through a tunnel. At least he wasn't disrupting anyone. We're having a quiet night tonight with spaghetti and playing. Henry is busy drawing right now and CHarles is playing with the Little People. Andrew is sleeping. Tomorrow is church and then I don't know what else. Henry this afternoon dressed up at Spiderman
At the test this afternoon.
Charles making a scary face
Last week, Andrew helped Dad install the baby gate at the bottom of the steps.

THis is Henry's form, tae guk il jong.

Happy belated Halloween!!

I have become terribly slow about updating the blog and adding pictures.... oh,well. Here, finally, are the Halloween pictures. The boys were so wild that day that we barely got them to eat supper. Travis headed to the store to buy some extra candy (you never know if you'll have a lot of kids and run out. Even if you don't have many trick-or-treaters the candy never really goes to waste now does it?) Charles had had a Halloween program with his preschool at the Charter House on Monday. That is always a lot of fun and the kids did a very nice job. Charles even held the microphone and told his name and age. When the lady asked who he was dressed up as, he said, 'Just Charles.' Henry had a Fall Festival parade (apparently, they can't really say they'll have a Halloween parade at schools anymore either) but he brought his costume and the rest of the classes dressed up and they had a parade around the school. He was so excited it was like trying to talk to an empty bucket. Just imagine....18 kids all putting on Halloween costumes with the excitement that can only be shown by 5 and 6 year olds on Halloween. It was incredible! We FINALLY got our pumpkins carved the day before Halloween....after the boys went to bed. I tried to do it while they were still up, but it is awfully hard to cut a face into a pumpkin with a sharp knife and three faces within inches of the pumpkin. And, let me ask....who ever got the idea to hollow out a pumpkin and cut a face into it?

Andrew as Tigger, Henry as a Clone Warrior (from Star Wars), and Charles aka Buzz Lightyear.
Here is my little Clone Warrior!!! Who couldn't be proud of their 6 year old, machine gun toting son?
Here is Just Charles. He managed to make it to quite a few houses before I had to carry him home.
And, Tigger!! All the boys have been Tigger for their first Halloween. We certainly couldn't break the family tradition this year.

Henry didn't have school on Friday and went to Ja Neal's with Charles. He has been wanting to go so he could play with his friend, Mikka. She's in kindergarten, too, but goes in the afternoon. They had a great time. Min and I spent awhile in the social security office applying for his social security card, and at the Credit Union opening up a savings account. Now, we just have to get him a passport and we should be set. On Saturday, we went to the Park Institutes open house and demonstration which was a lot of fun. Henry, actually all of us, enjoyed seeing what the instructors can do, along with the older kids. Of course, this meant that Henry spent the rest of the afternoon trying to break boards with punches, kicks, and yes....even with his head...though only one time... along with about 20-30 runs through his form. Thankfully, we talked him out of trying to break a glass bottle. We managed to get quite a bit of wood cut for the fireplace. And, the boys started practicing for the Christmas program at Sunday school. Life is going to be VERY busy from now through Christmas. Travis leaves early Thursday morning to travel back to ND for hunting. He won't be back until the following Tuesday. I will be home with the boys. If anyone feels inclined to pray for my sanity during these 5 days, I'm sure the boys, and I, would very grateful : )