School

This will be a huge transition for us all. Like many parents, the decisions we make are made with our children in mind. 

Felix was nine months old and we decided it would be beneficial if I were home more. My current job opened up and it meant I would have EVERY morning with Felix. It has allowed us to enroll Felix into many classes at the community center, partake in Music Together and to just have time together. 

The start of this school year is bittersweet for me. I chose this job because I wanted to be with him, I chose the community center for him, I chose all of our morning activities with him in mind and now he will be gone! My heart aches that my mornings will be without him, but I am so excited for this new chapter in his life, our life! He is so excited to start school and beyond ready! 

Felix Rene, you are gonna rock at this school thing! Have fun, make friends and remember we will always be cheering you on! We love you, Sweet Potato! 

KINDERGARTEN HERE WE COME! 

Tough as an Ox

Today was like any other day. We got up, the boys had some yogurt, Walter and I were getting ready...and in walked Felix. Calmly, he told me that Oscar fell, but he tried to help him. I asked if he was hurt and he said yes. I walked toward the back door and in walked my bloody faced two year old, crying. I was trying to get the story from Felix, which wasn't very easy to understand. The gyst was that we have a slide in the backyard that is waiting to be built, the boys just couldn't wait any longer. Felix was holding Oscar and somehow he slipped out of Felix's hands? And that's pretty much all the info we can gather. We wiped off Oscars face and immediately knew a trip to the emergency room was needed.

We decided to head to Mt Hood emergency because it is closer to our house and we were all kind of frantic. We were checked in and taken back to a room where the nurse and doctor checked Oscar out. The doctor said his lip would definitely require sutures. And that he would need to be sedated in order for her to get in there and actually do it. She explained the side effects and how rare it is for someone to experience them and that the nurse would be right back to get an IV started. They numbed Oxy's little arms and put in his IV, he cried, but it was short lived. Next the nurse explained that when they sedate a child because of the side affects, they always have a pharmacist, respiratory therapist and another nurse in the room to have on hand. I signed the consent as Walter held my scared little baby and they gave him the sedation medication. Immediately you saw his body calm and that was when my worst nightmare happened...the doctor said "get the other doctor in here, he is having tremors" I escaped the room with Felix in hand, crying. They took Oscar from Walter and laid him flat to open his airway and placed oxygen on him to help. For a split second everyone froze, they froze because most of them had not ever seen the side effect actually happen, they froze because they weren't sure if the gurgling noise was him having a hard time or him being a kid. Within three minutes he was breathing on his own and was being stitched up. 

Oscar ended up receiving four stitches and did great. He definitely was hallucinating with the sedation, which made the scary situation a little better. He just wanted to be held and it was the best feeling in the world to have him in my arms. 

I always knew he would be our first trip to the emergency room for an injury, but I never imagined it would be as scary as it was. This little boy is one tough cookie, I am still recovering from what I witnessed. As everyone explained in that room today, you can watch this all the time, but the minute it happens to your loved one it changes everything. So true for me! I watched time and again in the emergency room at Good Sam, but today was different. Today was so very real.

Foxy Boy, you are amazing! 

2

How did these two years fly by? I love who he is as a person, but am so sad it's flying by. 

Oscar is by far the most opinionated, strong willed babe I have ever met! He knows what he wants, when he wants it. He loves to hug, gawk over babies, give kisses and pet dogs. He will stop in his tracks if he hears an airplane soaring through the sky, sees a truck (guck), spots anything cute (ahhhhhh) or if he notices the moon (moon,moon).

His love for his big brother is out of this world! The way he copies Felix, follows Felix and just loves on Felix fills my heart with joy. They are each other's best friend for sure! 

Oscar Vincent, your love for life is incredible! Your dimple cheeks, one little chocolate spot, gappy teeth and love for music make my world go 'round!  I love you so incredibly much and have had such a great (exhausting) time watching you develop and grow. Reach for the moon baby boy! You, Felix and daddy are my heart and soul! 

You are a daredevil (it scares me), just promise you'll be safe! 

Mom Life

Being a mom is the hardest step I have taken in life, but with 100% confidence I can say I am a great mom to my babies. This has been, hands down, the hardest year of motherhood for me. Looking back on it, I put up a dang good fight! I am proud of the mom I have become, this year taught me a lot! I am proud to have proven to myself that I do have a little fight in me. I am proud to be my boys mom. 

And to my mom and sisters, you have no idea how thankful I am for all your support! You all help in my fight and I love you so very much! 

FIVE

We woke up to a FIVE year old! What a whirlwind of a year it has been! Many ups and downs, many great memories made, many hugs and kisses shared! 

I have loved watching Felix develop into a confident little person. He has gained a lot more independence and is more comfortable trying new things. This year was a lot of work, this year we all learned a lot, this year we all shed a lot more tears then the ones past, but this year I wouldn't trade in. Felix is my continual shining light, my happiness and my dimple face! 

Felix Rene,

You are resilient just like your daddy! You have taught us the true meaning of life! We are beyond proud of you and think you have such a special place in this world. We cannot wait to watch your journey in life. We love you more than all the stars in the sky. Keep shining Baby Beluga!

"My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to 

astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness." -Maya Angelou

Children should be seen and not heard?

People love babies, people love children that are calm and quiet, people do not love children who are opinionated, passionate and expressive (Oscar).

Try raising a child that most people in public roll their eyes at or judge because they think the parents aren't parenting correctly. 

This morning was rough. Oscar, is my child who is opinionated, passionate, very determined, yet so loving. He is my child that is judged because he yells, screams and says few words (he is 19months), he is LOUD! When I say loud, it's an understatement. He does embarrass us, he does make us feel uncomfortable, but just like the parents of the quiet children, he is perfect for us! 

This morning at indoor park, he screamed, he yelled and one mom muttered something under her breath. It took all of me not to say anything because we were around Felix's friends and their parents. It's a horrible feeling, but believe me, Walter and I are on our children. If we see behavior we do not like, we are there. Time outs happen, but they are only for a short period when dealing with a year and a half old. He is wild, but he is also just a baby himself. 

Thanks to the dad at indoor park that yells right along with Oscar, that is teaching his daughter that just like her, Oscar is practicing his voice also. That his voice is just a little louder. It is people like him that make this world go round! Oscar now will seek him out in the gym just to have a yelling match and in all honesty, it makes my heart smile! 

Oscar is completely different than Felix was at this age.  It took some adjusting for us, but my gosh his passion for life is something powerful! He is worth ever ounce of uncomfortableness we ever encounter. 

Oscar Vincent, you are so special. You make some days very hard, but we wouldn't trade them for the world! You have a strong personality, you have so much to give and we love you! 

So remember when you are judging that innocent little person with a loud voice, his/her parents are watching and his/her parents are also feeling judged. These are future adults we are raising, these are people that we are teaching to be tolerant and caring individuals. Please have compassion. 

Ok...and it starts

Five years ago, I was pregnant, I was puffy, I had sausage toes, I was exhausted, but still had 7.5 weeks left.  Music is a necessity in my life and is my comfort when I'm not in my healthy/happy place. 

Walter and I saw the most amazing video on the news one evening. Providence St Vincent made a cancer awareness video, employees and patients wore pink gloves and danced along to a popular song that was regularly played on the radio. We were hooked! Walter picked his favorite dancers, as did I. We even started figuring out who we would use for Legacy's video. We watched the video on repeat, I swear! I mean we learned every word to the song, every word to Lil Wayne's rap, we lived this! I was proud of St Vincent's to have thought of something so awesome, something that went viral and spread awareness! 

I was admitted to the hospital early and had an awesome nurse. Walter and I played the video for her, she LOVED it too! She had a great idea how to recreate this on 5West! At the hospital we listened to the song and watched the video, it made our stressful time so much more happy. 

Once Felix was born, it was the song that helped calm him down, it was the song that he loved to fall asleep too and to this day is the same song he will say is his favorite. The minute the song starts he is bobbing his head! Music is amazing! He was born loving music, loving this song and this just proves that music is universal and good for the soul! 

Enjoy the video, our family can't get enough! 

http://vimeo.com/69200264