Birthday pics

Matthew's birthday was pretty low key. It was the big kids last day of school; so we picked them up and pretty much just hung out at home all day. It pretty much rained all day; so we stayed inside. For supper we grilled and had my brother and his girlfriend over. It was a quiet evening with lots of "happy birthday's" sung. It's Matthew's favorite song; last year we spent his birthday in the hospital due to the fact he had spinal cord detethering surgery, and we sang that song to him a million times. This year he proved he still loves it!

Singing Happy Birthday to Matthew!

He was all smiles most of the evening

He joined us a the supper table for yummy food!

Because he's our angel; he got an angel food cake for his birthday; topped with whip cream and strawberries. YUMM!!

Happy Birthday, Matthew !!

{More pictures to follow Monday!}

Matthew's new hang out

Matthew has a new place to hang out. Last year for his birthday, we bought Matthew and Ikea Ekorre swing. It's kinda like a hammock, and a swing all in one. Steve finally got around to hanging it in the house this weekend (almost 1 year later) and Matthew LOVES it!

It hangs right in the middle of our living room.

Here's a picture from a distance so you can get an idea of what it looks like. It's held up in two studs with 5" lag screws.

I expect many happy hours spent swinging and hanging out by Matthew!

My teenager!!

Look at this handsome boy! I cannot believe I now am a mother to a teenager!

I get very nostalgic on birthdays. We pull out the photo albums for the bigger kids (and the external hard drive for the younger ones...we don't print off pictures like "the good old days")

I scanned in three of my favorite pictures from the 1st album (birth to about 18 months)

Micah and I- I think he was two days old

Family picture-Micah was about 6 or 7 months old

About 18 months old

I just realized all of these pictures I picked as my favorites were taken in my parents home. How interesting.

Happy, Happy Birthday Micah!!

The first of May

Just a quick update for everyone. Matthew is, well, Matthew. He got a cold 2 1/2 weeks ago; which we managed at home for about a week before he developed pneumonia. He got a trip to the local ER, and ambulance ride to the Children's hospital. The ambulance ride turned out to be a little traumatic for all parties involved when he decided to stop breathing in the ambulance shortly after we pulled out of the hospital. The episode was short lived; but the ambulance driver drove ALOT faster after that. I think Matthew didn't think we were going fast enough :)

He only spent 24 hours in the hospital (thanks to some really great IV antibiotics), and was dismissed to recover at home, since we have oxygen, and IV supplies at home. He was on oxygen about a total of 10 days; and is almost fully recovered now.

We have gotten approved by the state for more nursing hours; and I am now able to sleep ALL night 5 nights a week. TRUE BLISS. I am now a spoiled girl. I LOVE it. Matthew's night nurse is fantastic and takes great care of him. We are getting "day" care 2 times a week too with the same nurse we've had for over a year; so we are truly enjoying the wonderful team we have.

The other kids are counting the days till summer break (3 weeks) and I am looking forward to it too!

In 5 days I will have a teenager. Oh MY. I am not ready for that.

Hopefully the next post will contain pictures of my growing chubby boy and his adorable siblings. Happy May day!