Rollin With It!

Well, we met with the sleep doctor today. I wish I had come out of that meeting feeling like everything would be OK--but I am really not sure what to think. He said Gavin has severe Central Sleep Apnea and he wants him to meet with a Pulmonary Specialist in Salt Lake. He showed me the results of the sleep test which were so absolutely incredible! Who invents stuff like this? Anyway, he wakes up 17 times an HOUR. He will breath for 3 breaths and then skip 3 breaths. The amount of info was astonishing! I have been reading a little bit about CSA and cannot get any real answers as to what it is and how it is treated--most people that have it are either old people with heart failure or people on narcotics. We will meet with the specialist on Dec 3 and I will have a little more info. In the mean time, he has Gavin sleeping with oxygen to see if we can get the oxygen levels to be consistent throughout the night. One thing he did say that gave me some encouragement is that this condition could be the origin of many if not ALL of the other symptoms Gavin has had: lack of energy, shortness of breath after very little exertion, week lungs, chronic conditions like pneumonia and coughing, lack of attention span, small stature, etc. So in that sense I was a little relieved. FINALLY we have SOMETHING of substance! I have always thought his breathing wasn't really asthmatic. We have tried several asthma medications, which have seemed to help a little with the boogers--but never completely cure it, and his breathlessness has never changed. He also said people with sleep apnea don't really produce this growth hormone, and that once the problem is solved they experience a big growth spurt! Wouldn't that be something! All in all--I feel hopeful that we can finally get some answers. I'll let you know after December 3!

The Binky Fairy came! After a long night where Jenna didn't give 2 cents about any sad babies...we made it to morning...well 6:00am anyway. She LOVES her new big girl dress up of her very own! We will see if nap time and night time are a little better today!

So, this is one of many tests we have done for poor Gavin. This kid has had every test in the book--but still no cure for the cough and boogers... This test was for sleep apnea. G has always been a slow breather at night and it wasn't until he slept over at Liz's house that I realized it probably wasn't all that normal! You cannot breathe with the kid or you will pass out! I guess Liz and Rob had a sleepless night just trying to make sure Gavin was still breathing! Anyway, the test was easy. They stick about 50 sensors all over his body to test brain activity, body activity, breathing (or lack of), eye movement, cheek movement, dream sleep, etc. It took about 1 1/2 hours to put them on and Gavin was asleep within 5 minutes of laying down! We'll get the results on Monday! These pictures are grainy because they were taken from my phone, but still cute.

Every year the change in the weather makes me a little crazy. I have finally figured out that it is because our house is so small and it takes a few weeks to get used to us all being on top of each other-ALL DAY again! Some days we drive each other CRAZY! Luckily, as my kids are getting older they are becoming more and more creative in finding things to keep themselves busy....and drive mom crazy!

Gavin decided to re-decorate his bed. He found a book of about 100 Lightning McQueen stickers and...well....I guess I will invest in some Goo-Be-Gone!I let the dogs sleep inside when that really cold snap came through. Sadie is still a puppy and not completely trained, so I tied her up by the door during the night. I thought this was a hysterical picture of the two of them sleeping! They are obviously not the best watch dogs--I walked up and snapped a couple pictures and neither of them budged! The sleeping indoors days came to an abrupt end when Sadie chewed up one of my benches and peeled off a HUGE chunk of sheet rock off the wall.....cold or not, they are OUTSIDE!

This was a fun day. The kids came up decked out and started dancing! They love to dress up!

She was soooo nervous until the nitrous started pumpin--then she was laughing, chatting the dental assistants ear off and having a great time!Try smiling with a numb, fat lip! I could not stop laughing!Get used to this toothless smile! When do top teeth grow in? And...nothing beats the first visit from the tooth fairy! Congratulations Kesley! We love you!

I had the best cake ever--and the best part about it was that most of the Halloween candy was used up decorating it! Is there any candy that is NOT represented on this cake? Delicious!

Gavin and Jenna have been inseparable this week! They have done everything from riding bikes to playing house--it's been hysterical! It's usually Gavin and Kesley with Jenna running to keep up, but Kesley has been playing dolls by herself this week. It's been fun to watch G and Jenna just hanging out by themselves. Have you ever snuck up to your kids playing and just listened in? I wish I could plant a microphone on them somehow and record the conversations, especially between a 6 year old and a 2 year old! I do wonder, why do their parents always have to be "dead" when they play house? Weird. Anyway, here are two cute pictures of G and Jenna hanging out.

Gavin had the best birthday ever! It started off on Saturday with just me and Gavin taking a road trip to Wendover for an airshow. I hadn't ever been to an airshow, so I didn't know what to expect. We had a blast walking around looking at vintage planes and a large assortment of U.S. Airforce planes. The airshow was fun (a lot of waiting for a flyby and a wing dip--but fun). Here are a few highlights:

As if this birthday could get any better, I let Gavin invite the 3 other boys from his kindergarten class to go bowling. I picked them all up from school and we met dad at the bowling alley for lunch and a lot of fun!

Gavin had the best day ever--and mom's day got easier when the cake for the bowling party went un-eaten. Turns out one of the kids was allergic to chocolate???so I nixed making the fancy car cake I had planned (I had no idea how to go about that anyway) and we ate up our store bought special!Gavin's "biggy" present was a new soccor ball and goal post that he has wanted for a long time. Here he is kicking his first goal!

I hope you had a great birthday, Gavin! We sure love you!

My little lady turned 2 on Sunday! I was so worried about getting everything on video, I forgot to take pictures! No pictures of opening presents. No pitures of blowing out the candles. ...dang it, DANG IT!! But, it was a great day. Here is the one picture I did take--Jenna in her birthday shirt with a neck full of jewlery. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNA! We love you!

I just sent Gavin off to his first day of school! I never thought I would be one to cry dropping him off, but I just couldn't help it! What a milestone! Congratulations Gavin!!!