My Gramma

Today would have been my Gramma's 89th birthday. 

My Gramma's favorite place to eat was KFC.  Nothing fancy, but she loved it.  So today on her birthday we went to dinner at KFC.  It is our tradition cause we know how much she loved that fried chicken :)

I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought of was her.  My Gramma was the most amazing, most beautiful, most loving woman I have ever known.  She and I had a special relationship, whenever I talked to her I felt like she was my best friend in the whole world.  She was always there for me telling me like it is and giving me all the love in her heart.  I think about my Gramma each and every day and I miss her so much.  I know she wouldn't want me to cry, she would say, oh Jennifer I am happy in heaven with Grampa and Pop, stop your crying.  But I can't help it, I just miss her voice and her laugh so much.  Gramma was the BEST story teller.  I absolutely loved hearing all of her stories about her life, she did have such an AMAZING life.  My Gramma was and is so so special in my life.  I know she has shaped the person I have become today and I hope she is watching down on me and is proud. 

Just wanted to share a few pics of her.  She was so beautiful and her smile shined in every room. 

Me and my Gramma Christmas 2009

First time Gramma held Tatum - January 2009

Matt and Gramma in Nashville, February 2010

Gramma LOVED her family SOOOO MUCH!!

Gramma feeding Tatum August 2009

Grammas Birthday September 2009 (we got her boxed wine too!!)

So Beautiful!!

Zoo Lights - December 2009

Gramma and Tatum - March 2009



Gramma, Tatum and My Mom - March 2009



Love you so very much Gramma.  Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween Costumes Bought!!

Since Halloween is just a little over a month a way we figured we needed to get the girls their Halloween costumes now before things were sold out or not in the correct size for them. 

Tatum decided she wanted to be a Princess this year.  I have been asking her over the last week what she wanted to dress up as for Halloween and she kept saying she wanted to be the "Yellow Princess".  I would say ok you want to be Belle, then she would say, "Yes Mom, Yellow Princess Belle".  It was pretty cute.  Then on the way home from school yesterday she was saying she wanted to be Sleeping Beauty and Camdyn would be Belle.  So we knew having her decide might be tough for her!!

I decided against going to Party City or one of those Halloween pop up stores because I thought just walking in there might scare the girls since they are usually so done up with horror type stuff at the entrances.  So since Tatum wanted her and Camdyn to be Princesses we went straight to the Disney Store (or Mickey's shop as Tatum calls it).

We got in there and right away Tatum wanted to be about 5 different things.  She went from wedding Cinderella, to Belle, to Tinkerbell, to Snow White and finally setteled on Alice for herself.  Once she saw the Alice shoes and costume she was set!!  Tatum decided that Camdyn should be Belle this year. 

So we are going to have a little Alice and Baby Belle.  I think the girls are going to just look absolutely adorable on Halloween night.  Cannot wait to see!!!!

Lots Going on

There is a lot going on in our lives these days as usual!! 

Tatum went back to dance class on Monday since she had no class on Labor Day.  And I am pretty sure she loved it even more than the time before.  Once again she was the BEST in the class :). Such a good listener and getting so very good at her shuffles.  They did a new step this week.  Mrs. Peggy taught the girls back flaps.  Turns out back flaps are pretty tricky but Tatum had a blast trying them out.  Tatum had a great time doing the dance to "Animal Crackers in my Soup" this week.  She is becoming such a pro :)

Camdyn went back to the ear doc on Friday.  We were super nervous going into the appointment, but she did great.  Her right ear is completely cleared out and now looks perfect.  Her left ear is looking a little bit better but there is still some blood behind her tube blocking the view of the drum.  And the doc wants it to be perfect too and completely cleared out.  Soooo... doing drops in the left ear for 2 more weeks and then going back to see him.  It was really great going there and getting good news.  Dr. McKenna told us that after our last visit he wasn't very optimistic about her tubes clearing out so he was very very pleased that she was doing so awesome. 

Camdyn had a terrible night on Friday.  She and I were up basically the ENTIRE night.  She would fall asleep for about 5 minutes and then wake up crying.  It was awful.  Then in the morning she had a little tooth that had popped through.  It was her bottom left middle.  It is just through a little bit but it is there.  But after Friday night we are guessing getting teeth is going to be really tough for her.  But we can't wait to see her mouth full of teeth!!  Camdyn also got a big girl car seat this weekend.  Babies R Us was having there 25%off carseat trade in and we had a 15% of coupon.  So Camdyn got a new a carseat for Daddy's car and Tatum got a new carseat for my car.  Tatum was very excited about her new carseat because the one she had in my car (that Cam is going to use now) didn't have cup holders and this one does. Pretty darn cool for her :)

Big girl carseat

Guess Camdyn had a big week this week.  She is starting to wave at us when she sees us which is ADORABLE.  And we are pretty sure she is going to be crawling within the week. She is so darn close.  She gets up on all 4's and rocks then splats to her belly.  She is a pro at scooting on her toosh that is for sure!!  And she sat in a high chair at dinner in a restaurant (Rustlers Roosts) for the first time!!  She is just growing up sooooo FAST!!!!

Restaurant High Chair

Football season is in full swing and we are enjoying it in our house!!

Cams Ears

Well on Friday I took Camdyn back to the doctor to check and see if her ears were doing better.  They weren't :(

Dr. McKenna said she still has blood behind her left ear drum and the tube in the right ear is completely corked.  So in the right ear it is like the tube is not even there and it is messing with her middle ear pressure.  So all this explains why she has been having trouble eating her bottles and sleeping.  It is good to have a reason for her discomfort but this was not good news. 

The doctor said he used the tubes he did because he knew Camdyn had a lot of gunk in her ears and these tubes very rarely get clogged.  But guess Cam's didn't want to go with the norm and clogged anyway. 

So he told us to do a high dose of ear drops through this week and hope that the ear drops can wash/push out everything the is in her ears.  If that doesn't happen she will have to have another surgery to put different tubes in. 

We are staying super positive and hoping the ear drops work their magic and she doesn't have to get a surgery again.  I know it is supposedly a "simple sugery" but I do not like putting her under the anesthsia at all!!

Keep sending good thoughts Camdyns way!!  Her appointment is on Friday afternoon, so hopefully it will be good news to start off our weekend :)

Cam wearing her swim cap in the tub to protect her ears from all the splashing she & Tatum do!!

Gramma's In Town

We had so much fun with Gramma being in town and staying at our house this past week.  We got to do all sorts of fun things!! 

We went bike rides/walks and played at the park. 

On the Slide.

Such a fun bike ride.

Tatum LOVES to slide.

Tatum and Gramma getting ready to head home.

We got to go swimming over at Gramma and Grampas house this weekend.  Camdyn didn't like swimming the first day we went but she loved it the second day.  Tatum had a great time of course.  She got to practice blowing bubbles, putting her head in the water, kicking, and even jumping into the pool!!


Tatum splashing around.



Love Tatums smile!!

Gramma and her girls.

Such a cutie

Having fun in the sun.

Tatum practicing her jumps

Camdyn fell asleep in a little ball.

Going under the waterfall

We got to do some shopping.

We of course watched the PACKERS WIN!!!!

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We supported our ASU Sun Devils on Black Out Day!!

We had a super fun morning at the zoo.

And we spent this morning at the Park, enjoying the beautiful weather. 

We had to take Gramma to the airport this morning and we miss her already.  She did so much for this week and we love her so very much!!

But in just a few minutes we are heading to go pick up Daddy at the aiport and we are all SOOOO EXCITED!!!!!  His 3 girls missed him like crazy and can't wait to see him!!

The first ASU game of the season was on Thursday and of course ASU killed it!!  We had a lot of fun tailgating.  It actually turned out not to feel to hot while we were tailgating because we were in the shade and there was a bit of a breeze.  Tatum had fun running around and playing bag toss and Camdyn just enjoyed being outside.

Sisters at the Tailgate

Tatum rockin her shades

Camdyn enjoying her first tailgate.

Tatum and Daddy having a drink.

Camdyn looking cute.

The 4 of us.

Woah, close up!!

Tatum and Uncle DooDoo

Camdyn and Uncle Andrew.

Once we got to the game it was HOT.  It was SO HOT!!  Don't remember a game in the last few years that it has been so hot!!  Tatum was absolutely terrified of the fireworks and the first half of the game was very rough for her.  She was so scared she was shaking.  So we spent a lot of time away from the game, in the store, walking around with her Daddy.  Thought maybe this year it wouldn't be so bad but she was just so super scared.  Anyone that has any suggestions on how we can calm her fear of the sound, I would love for you to share them!!  Camdyn did great at her first ASU game.  We just put some cotton balls in her ears to protect them and she seemed to just be taking it all in. 

Camdyn taking it all in.

Camdyn at the game :)

**Update on Cam's ears**  On Friday her left ear was bleeding quite a bit so we took her back into her surgeon.  Turned out she has blood pooling behind her ear drum.  I guess he sees it happen about 2 or 3 times a year, so lucky us poor Cam is one of those :(.  Basically it just needs to be flushed out so we have to up the amount of ear drops she is getting.  We will go back into see him on Friday afternoon for him to check and make sure that everything looks good.  She still doesn't seem to be herself.  Don't get me wrong she is the happiest baby ever still, but she just isn't drinking very much and all of the sudden will start crying like she hurts or something.  Luckily cuddle time with Mommy helps her feel better quick :).  Will keep you updated on how she is doing.

Matt left yesterday for Wisconsin with the Kahler men and he will be back a week from today. So Gramma came out to spend the week with us girls and we are excited for all the fun we are going to have!! We are missing Matt like crazy already and Tatum has asked me about 40 times where her Daddy is.  She knows he is in Wisconsin, but guess she just doesn't know how long a week is, haha.  Luckily we have skype and can talk to him all week that way.  Good luck catching all those fishies!!!!

See you in a week Daddy.

Our good friends Tom and Allison Ekren had there baby girl yesterday, Bridget Elizabeth Ekren. We are so super excited for them and baby Bridget is absolutely beautiful!!  Just wanted to give them a big Congratulations!! Great job Mommy and Daddy!!

Camdyn's Ear Surgery

Camdyn had her ear surgery this morning and it went great!!  I woke her up last night at 11:30 to fed her and make sure her belly was nice and full since she was not allowed to eat after midnight.  She was in a great happy mood this morning and we got to the surgery center about 7:15 and got all checked in.  We were taken back to a kids room and Camdyn got to play with a few toys while we spoke to her doctor and anesthesiologist.  We gave Camdyn to the nurse and we were sent back out to the waiting room.  Camdyn and I both immediately started crying.  By the time I had stopped crying and read one page of my book, Camdyn was all done.  The surgery took less than 10 minutes!!

Camdyn's cute feet with her hospital band on.

All smiles before surgery!!

Waiting to talk to the doc.

Cam got in some play time before her surgery.

Fun toys!!

The doc said Camdyn did great and he got her ears all cleaned out.  He said they were both full of mucus and infection.  So that is her 5th ear infection!!!!  Dr. McKenna was able to get everything all cleared out so her ears are looking good.  He popped the tubes in and she was done. 

Doesn't her ear look great ;)

Camdyn was not a fan of coming out of the anesthesia.  She was all dangly and screaming her head off.  Her heart rate was up to 192 beats a minute at one point because she was screaming so much!!  The whole time we were back with her in recovery, about 20 or so minutes,  she screamed.  I got her to drink about 2 ounces of her bottle but that was it.  As soon as we got her in her carseat and got her out of there she fell asleep.  She is now sleeping, well snoring I should say on the couch. 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... snoring away..........

We have to make sure she has lots of fluids today because of the anestesia and he gave us ear drops to give her for the next five days.  She has to wear ear plugs from now on when she bathes or is around water.  And other than that we just have to be really aware of sound level.  Camdyn's ears are going to be very sensitive now because she will be able to hear so much better now that everything that was in there is cleared out.  So guess we better tell Tatum no more screaming in the house, haha, don't think that will happen ;)

We are just so glad that Camdyn's ears finally have hope of clearing up and she will be able to hear so much better now.  Thanks everyone who sent her your extra love and prayers.  She definitely got them all!!