Leaves!

The boys have been sick this week.  A low grade fever, sore throat and a cough.  Max had a horrible horrible cough that was keeping him awake and he kept saying his tongue hurt.  After several days of it not getting better I took him to the doctor.  He was put on a short stint of antibiotics for the junk in his chest but otherwise he was fine.  I had to bring Will and Levi along as well since I had nobody to leave them with.  I was dreading it, but it actually worked out well because since they were all fever free they were able to get their flu shot.  They were not happy about it.  They were all kind of run down yesterday and kept saying their arm hurt and they didn't like getting a flu shot.  While the were resting the mowing crew came and surprised us by leaving a big pile of leaves in the front yard.  Although they were whiny and still not feeling the best, the leaves cheered them up.  We played in the leaves for over an hour.  And within that hour the temperature dropped at least 20 degrees.  We went from short sleeves, to winter coats in a few short minutes.  It didn't take long for the boys to start throwing the leaves at me.  I became the "Leaf Monster" and would throw them in the pile.  They thought it was hysterical which is why they have some mischievous looks in a few pictures!  The boys had so much fun (and so did I) in the leaves that we will be doing it again very soon!

Levi 

Will 

Will 

Levi 

Max

Max, Will and Levi 

Running to the pile!

Max, Levi and Will 

Levi, Max and Will 

Levi, Max and Will 

Levi and Will 

Max 

Will, Max and Levi

Max

Levi 

Will, Levi and Max 

Will 

Max 

Max 

Levi

Will 

Levi, Max and Will 

Levi, Will and Max 

Levi, Will and Max  (although you can't tell!)

Will 

Max 

The Pumpkin Patch!

On Tuesday afternoon we finally made it to the Pumpkin Patch.  We went to Pumpkinland at Thiess Farm in Maryland Heights.  We didn't pick our pumpkins from the field because it had just rained and was very muddy, but I don't think the boys minded.  They were pretty happy being able to cart their pumpkins around in their own wagon or wheelbarrow.  They had a lot of fun and keep asking to go back, although I am not sure we can fit another trip in before Halloween!

Will 

Levi 

Max

Will, Levi and Max 

Levi 

Will 

Will 

Max 

Levi, Max, Dale and Will 

Max 

Will 

Levi

Max, Dale, Levi and Will on the hay ride! 

Dale put a funny gourd around Max's neck! 

Will, Max and Levi walking their pumpkins to the car! 

Max, Will, me and Levi

Levi

Will

Levi

Max

Will, Levi and Max

Will loved the hay tunnels!

After Will had been through the tunnels several times, Max finally tried, but I had to go with him!  It's not really made for adults!

This is as far as Levi would go in the tunnel!

A Fall Boat Ride!

We love going on the river in the fall and yesterday was a perfect day for it.  We took a long boat ride up the Illinois river to have lunch in Hardin, Illinois with Grandpa and Grandma Hackmann, Aunt Megan, Uncle Bill and Baby Jacob.  The foliage was beautiful and it was a great day to enjoy the river while we still can.

Papa and Baby Jacob

Max 

Will 

Max, Will and Levi looking at Lady Bugs! 

Will 

Levi and Dale 

Max and Dale 

Levi 

Levi, Dale, Max, Me and Will 

Hay Ride!

On Saturday we had a Hay Ride and Bonfire at our shop.  The boys have been looking forward to it all week long.  The boys had a blast playing with all the other kids, eating lots of goodies and of course going on the hay ride. 

Caiden, Max, Hunter, Baylen and Xander playing in the dirt! 

Levi and Gavin on top of the mulch pile! 

Will digging in the mud! 

Gavin, Becky, Grant, Levi, Parker, Hailey, Colton, Hunter, Will and Baylen 

Dale and Max 

Hunter, Colton, Peyton, Xander, Landon, Trey, Brandon, Michelle and Cayden 

Bill, Megan and Baby Jacob

Max

This post is all about Max and how wonderful he has been lately (sarcasm)!  For over a year now I have thought Max has had allergies.  He snores frequently, always has a runny nose, and doesn't sleep well at night.  He is always tired and when he is tired he is a real bear.  For a year I have been talking about taking Max to a sleep expert or allergist but always got talked out of it.  In the beginning of September Dale finally said something is wrong with him, take him to the doctor.  He was always tired and he threw tantrums like crazy.  The littlest things would set him off.  I took him to the pediatrician and she said he was fine but told us to increase his Claritin to 1.5 tsp. over the regular 1 tsp.  I was hoping this would help, but his tantrums and behavior just kept getting worse.  He always swallows like his throat hurts, he snores, his nose always runs, he wakes up frequently through the night just crying, and his has tantrums about everything.  I would say if there were less than 4 EXTREME tantrums a day, then it was a good day.  By extreme, I mean at least 30 minutes of not being able to console him.  We getting ready for school one day and Max didn't want to go, which had become a daily thing at this point.  I told the boys to get in the car and Max screamed he didn't want to go to school and ran upstairs.  I told him good-bye, closed the door, and went to buckle Will and Levi in their car seats.  I went back inside to find Max going potty.  He looked up at me with a smirk and said "Mommy, I peed on your bed."  Sure enough there was a stream of pee on my bed.  I was in shock which I would say was lucky for him.  I carried him to the car where he refused to put his seat belt on.  I finally managed to hold him down enough to get him buckled.  He then continued to scream and kick my seat all the way to school.  When we got to school he refused to get out and kept screaming.  I had to pull to the side where his teacher and I had to try to coax him out for at least 10 minutes before he went screaming.  He screamed for another 10 minutes there then went on about his day as usual.  This was my breaking point.  I called the pediatrician and she just gave me a number to a therapist.  This did not make me happy.  I don't believe that all of Max's behavior is because I think something is medically wrong, but I think that we need to find out what is wrong before I can figure out his behavior.  I am not against seeing a therapist, I just wanted to find the root of the problem first.  So I called an allergist.  I explained to the allergist everything that was going on.  He tested him and Max is not allergic to anything, but the allergist said I should take him to the ENT to have his adenoid checked.  I immediately made an appointment with the ENT that put his tubes in.  He said Max's tonsils and adenoids are huge.  We are getting them removed on November 9th.  He told me that often times kids with this problem are thought to have ADHD (I have thought this often).  When the adenoids are large they can block airways and cause sleep apnea (I am no expert this is just lay man's terms) and when kids are tired they don't function normally.  He also told me that often times these kids are bed wetters.  Max wakes up soaked every morning, even through a night time pull-up.  He said I should see great results from this and Max will be feeling better and sleeping better.  I still think Max will have more behavior issues than Will and Levi because that is just him, but I am relieved to know that he will hopefully start feeling and sleeping better.  I am also glad I stuck with my instincts and took him to see specialists.