Happy Halloween

Abel working on his pumpkin

Ansel watching

Dad helping :)

The Guts

Our Pumpkins! 

The Force is strong this year...

Ansel- Obi-Wan Kenobi- 1.5 years old
Abel- Darth Vader- 4 years old
Axel- Storm Trooper- 7 years old

Oh yeah.,. and Axel lost another tooth! Now he matches his pumpkin!!

Foot Incident

 Last weekend we had a little foot incident involving the dogs and Brian.  Our mastiff, Big, was giving our little dog, Hank, a hard time over a bag of food.  Brian had to got in the middle of them- and tripped over some thing and hurt his foot.  A few hours after the incident he couldn't put weight on his foot and was in a ton of pain. A midnight visit to the ER and Brian came home on crutches.  They did a x-ray but weren't for sure if it was broken or what. Luckily things have been healing- he is walking on his foot but still a little tender.

The boys :)

                                                     Every one had to try the crutches.

Ansel's face says it all 

Fire Trucks & Ambulance Visit

 Abel's preschool class got a visit from the fire department and the EMS team.  He thought it was very cool and loved that he got to sit in the trucks.  He also thought that he could be a fireman when he grows up because they get to wear a lot of cool gear!

Abel at the end learn all about the ambulance 

Abel- in front with the vest one- it was also picture day :)

A Good Weekend

I was supposed to work this weekend but got canceled two shifts in a row.  It was nice to get a surprise weekend at home- all together.  We went to visit Great Grandma and Grandpa Coughlin and Carol! We went out for pizza late- like 7pm- and even got some house stuff done.  It was a nice weekend :)

Abel & Great Grandpa

Pizza night

Chilling at home

Trip to the park

Random

 Yes, I am still holding on to summer.  I know by putting socks on this morning it's time to transition to fall.  But here is one more look of some random fun summer experiences:

So many wagon walks

Pulling Abel's bike and the wagon home!

Always up for a ride

Love Axel's face on this one- what are you up to?

Watching the phone guy fix stuff

Playdoh

Loves mazes

Walking to the Bakery

All of us sporting our Colorado hats :)

Playing his jam!

Half way point!

I've been meaning to blog about my Graduate school experience more but I seem to always forget.  I just started another class last week.  I am officially at the half way point!  It seems like I've been in school for ever and have a long ways to go, but half way is promising!  I have been taking classes at Augsburg College working on my masters degree in nursing leadership.  My work has a benefit of tuition assistance up to a certain amount each year- about 5,000$.  This covers almost 2 classes per year- so that's what I have been taking.  I want to finish grad school with No student loans.  I know it'll take me longer but anyone out there will student loans could understand not wanting to start that process. (I haven't had any students loans yet and don't want to end with any)  I think one class is enough with working full time, 3 kids at home, trying to find time to be a wife and having 45 hours of practicum to do with each class.
So here I am in my second week of class- stressing about all the work that needs to be done.  I try to cram as much studying in as I can during nap time otherwise I get up early to finish stuff up.  I like to keep our evenings open for hubby and walking dead time:) My class this semester is called:
Nursing Leadership in Complex Adaptive Systems.
course content-  This course examines trans-cultural care systems through a complex science lens and a nursing leadership perspective.
practicum- We get to attend a conference, which will cover most of the hours.  The conference I am attending is a Pediatric Integrative Care Conference.  It's offered in the cities and covers alternative therapies that are available to the inpatient pediatric population.  I am excited to see what other hospitals do and if I can bring any of them into my practice- or my thesis paper. :) Oh and I get to spend a night in a hotel- all by myself.  Should be fun- I can't wait to order a pizza, sit in my Pj's and watch a movie :) (of course after I learn a ton at the conference)

A Seizure

Axel had a seizure a few weeks ago. (on the day of Beth's wedding) We were sitting down at a diner in town with family, Axel was sitting two people away from me.  All of a sudden I see him slumping down to the ground- I thought he was just fooling around.  Then Brian's cousin says she thinks he's having a sezure!? I jump out of my chair and scoop him off the ground.  He is stiff in my arms with his legs and arms stretched out.  He soon comes responsive and is thrashing his arms and saying "where am I, whats going on?"  I sit down with him and start looking him over- he looks pale, sweaty but he's answering questions.  We rush him to the ER in Cannon Falls.  They put in on the monitor, do labs, urine test and a CT of his head. So as an PICU nurse I have so many thoughts running thru my head. What is the cause of this? Will it happen again?  All of Axel's labs and scans come back normal.  (which is great news- but not an answer)  At this point the test can tell us that he does not have a brain bleed or a tumor.  The seizure was not caused by a fever, low blood sugar or an electrolyte imbalance- all of the 'easy' causes of children having a seizure.  We are sent home with appointment to do further testing. 

We ended up going to the wedding that day- Beth is such an important of our family and we couldn't miss it.  Axel was his normal self that night-maybe just less chatty.  The next day we was a little off. We still had lot's of family in town and it seemed to bother him-which isn't him.  He was emotional that day and just wanted to hang on the couch snuggling- which again is not him.  After that day he seem right back to normal and we haven't seen any thing different. 

EEG

Special lunch

And treats :)

MRI

Axel had to get a copy of his scan.  He thought it would make a really cool show and tell.

12 lead EKG

We head to Rochester, Mayo Clinic, to get more tests done.  Axel gets a head MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging- a clearer picture of his brain), EEG (Electroencephalogram- study's brain active) and a 12 lead EKG (Electrocardiogram- activity of the heart).  We have to wait another week to talk to the Pediatric Neurologist.  Total Agony.  We met with Dr. Fine- Ped's Neuro- he gives us all good news.  All of Axel's tests have come back normal.  No signs of any abnormalities in his brain, no seizures on the brain waves and his heart is healthy and works great.  So all good news!  But now we stand in the grey area of medicine- Why did it happen this one time?  Will it happen again?  The Doctor tells us that he has a 25% chance to have another seizure in the next year.  If he doesn't have one in that time the % continues to decrease.  So we just hope it never happens again and just try to move on. What a scary moment.  I love you so much Axel!!!