Happy 10th Birthday in Heaven, Brooke Ann!

I can't believe that 10 years ago, we welcomed our daughter, Brooke, into the world!  This day is always very bitter-sweet as we remember the joy of her birth, but have the heartache of never getting to celebrate her birthdays with her here with us on this earth.  Even after 10 years, it is painful.  Luckily, we have great memories of her short time with us, to get us through until we meet her again.  We love you SO MUCH, Brooke!  Not a day goes by that we don't think of you, and your little brothers talk about you and ask questions about you all the time!  We miss you so much, but dream of getting to see you again one day!  Happy 10th Birthday, Baby Girl!  Have fun celebrating with the angels!!

Ice Fishing with Dad!!

One of the things I love about having two boys is the bonding time they enjoy with their dad (and in return, Jeff enjoys it as well)!  I love my boys to pieces, but there is something wonderful about having the freedom to go do what I want to do once in awhile, while knowing they are having a blast with Jeff!  Sure, I like my own bonding time with the boys, too, and we always love to do things as a family of 4, but I love the memories Jeff is creating with them while also teaching them his love for his hobbies!  I am so lucky to have a husband who is so active with his boys!!

Christmas - Umscheid Side

Later in the day on Christmas day, we ventured over to my parents' house to celebrate the holiday with them and my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew, Eli!  We ate entirely too much food, watched the three boys enjoy some play time together, and then the present opening began!  Wow!  We were all a little spoiled this year!  And Santa dropped gifts off at their house for us all, too!  The boys got too many presents for me to list, but they seemed most excited about the new desks and chairs that my parents got for them for their bedrooms!  Since the desks were too big to fit under the tree, my mom wrapped the picture off the boxes that the desks came in for the boys to unwrap.  When Logan opened his, he couldn't really figure out why he had this picture of a desk, but he was very polite and said that he loved it!  We asked him if he would like to hang that picture on his wall in his bedroom, and he nicely said "Sure!"  After a good laugh, we finally told him that he was actually getting what was in that picture, and then he and his brother were both genuinely excited!  LOL!  After opening many presents and checking out all of their new "things," the boys (and Jeff and I, too) were exhausted!  We came home and found homes for all our new belongings, the boys sat at their new desks and drew some pictures, and then it wasn't long before they zonked out!  We enjoyed our holiday time with both sides of our families this year, but we sure missed out on our Christmas with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Bessie.  :(  They were with us in spirit though, and got to celebrate Jesus' birthday with Him this year!  Merry CHRISTmas to all, and to all a good night!

Excited for another Christmas!

Eli joined the fun!

Sitting so nicely for a picture for Aunt Beth!

The kid's table

A new case for his bow!

Now they both have bow cases for their new bows!

Logan's picture of his desk...he thought this was artwork to hang on his wall, so he pretended to like it!  He didn't know he was actually getting the desk that's in the picture!

Landon also said, "I can put this on my wall by my toy box, Mom!"  He is happier to have the real desk, too!

There are the real deals!

His first model vehicle to build!

Hawkeye name plates!

This looks great on his new desk!

The nerf gun that Landon has been wanting ever since Logan got one for his birthday!  Thanks, Uncle Ben, Aunt Alyssa, and Eli!

The cool snowman Mom got from my brother and his family!

Christmas at our House

The boys were super excited, when we got home from church on Christmas Eve, to find that Santa had sent them each a video telling both boys that they had made the "nice" list this year!  Landon never had a doubt that he would be on that list, but Logan was a little nervous!  :)  So, with  the excitement of Santa coming, the boys finally hit the hay at 11:00 PM.  They woke up on Christmas morning, delighted that Santa had brought them the pogo sticks and remote-controlled helicopters they had been hoping for, plus a few surprises!!  They were also super excited about the real bows and arrows that Jeff and I got for them this year!  They can't wait to get out and shoot them with Jeff and Grandpa Mick!  So, while both boys definitely had plenty of naughty moments this year, they are, overall, very sweet and nice boys, and well-deserving of all their gifts!  Those two boys, are all the "gift" Jeff and I need each Christmas!  Christmas is also the time of year that we start anticipating the bitter-sweet day of Brooke's birthday (New Year's Eve), and though it hurts every year to not be able to celebrate with her on this earth with us, I am so thankful for the ONE who died for us so that those of us who believe in Him may have eternal life in Heaven.  I find peace in knowing that we will see our angel again someday!  Thank you, Lord, for our gifts!  Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Seeing all that Santa left for them!

Landon giving the pogo stick a try...not as easy as he thought it would be!

Logan doesn't do too bad on the pogo stick!

Logan, so excited for his new bow!

Landon can't wait to get out and shoot his bow!

New dart board!  Hopefully they can mostly hit the board and not the poor wall, but I think I know that that would be wishful thinking on my part!  :)

Christmas - Duvall Side

For our Duvall-side Christmas this year, we went to Omaha to Jeff's brother's house.  We actually stayed at a hotel so the boys could do some swimming and such, but we opened gifts, had our Christmas dinner, and sledded, all at Uncle Brian's house!  The boys loved having pool time, sledding time, playing in the arcade at Dave and Buster's, and spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Duvall and Uncle Brian.  They especially LOVED their Christmas gifts from them...Meep tablets!!  They can basically do everything that an Ipad can, but they are made for kids and are extra durable!  Now maybe I can get my Ipad back and actually use it, since the boys don't have a need for it anymore!  :)  Landon found a new favorite restaurant in Omaha, also...Red Robin.  He couldn't get enough and wanted to eat there constantly (although we only ate there once)!  It was a fun couple of days!

They LOVE their Meep tablets!

Enjoying their pool time together!

Logan, swimming outside with Dad in the winter!   Kind of cool!  The water was really warm, you can tell from the steam!

Landon swimming outside with Dad!

Harley game at Dave and Buster's

Motorcycle game at Dave and Buster's

Medical Update on Logan

While Logan does not really enjoy going to all these doctor appointments, he does enjoy some of the cool things to see at "The Castle" where some of his appointments take place!

Well, I know many of you that visit this page truly care to know about how Logan is doing medically, so I thought this would be a good place to post a little update.

I took him back to Sioux Falls today for two more doctor appointments.  One was just a check up, with the endocrinologist (thyroid doctor).  The other, with the nephrologist (kidney doctor), was very "spur of the moment."  The kidney doctor called us on our cell phone on Saturday to share with us that he wasn't very happy about some blood work that came back to him on Logan.  Currently, the kidney doctor is trying to figure out why Logan got a kidney stone at such a young age, and how we can prevent him from getting another one.  Calcium build up in the kidneys causes most kidney stones (Logan's included).  When they tested his calcium levels, he is at a 12.8.  Below 10 is normal, and 14 is the magic number for "dangerous."  Logan's level went from 11 to 12.8 in about 2 months time, which is also not normal.  The doc is not okay with Logan's numbers being that high, because, not only can he be forming more kidney stones as we speak, but it can really be damaging to other parts of the body.  The kidney doctor thinks part of this problem is inherited (from me) and part of this is a problem in the parathyroid.  At least, they are hoping the problem is with the parathyroid, because that could be treated with medicine.  Luckily, the endocrinologist that we see is dealing with Logan's thyroid problem, so it worked out great to see both doctors on the same day.  The docs are waiting the get more blood work back, as well as a urine test, and then together, the nephrologist and the endocrinologist will try to come up with a plan to help Logan's level get back down to a comfortable number.  Of course, all of this means MORE testing in the near future, MORE waiting, and MORE doctor appointments to come.  What is becoming daunting is that these appointments are in Sioux Falls, requiring Logan to miss a day of school, and for Jeff and I to miss work.  We will make as many trips as we need to in order to get Logan "healthy," but it is stressful and nerve-wracking on all of us.  I feel so sorry for Logan to go through all of the poking and prodding and tests that he is being put through, but we know they are all to benefit him, and he is so brave through all of it!  Luckily for us, Logan doesn't look or act "sick" at the time being, which is a blessing.  We are also truly thankful for all the AWESOME doctors that are helping us to get Logan in good "working order!"  The kidney doctor today came in an hour early, before his clinic even opened, so that we could see him on a day that we already had another appointment with another doctor, and not have to make an extra trip to Sioux Falls!  They are REALLY GREAT people that care a lot about their patients - KIDS!  Hopefully we get some results and answers from the tests today very soon!

Visiting with Santa!!

Landon told Santa that he wants a remote-controlled helicopter.  Then he was mad at himself because he forgot to ask Santa for a pogo stick...looks like we'll be writing him a letter, to, as a reminder.

Logan told Santa he was wishing for a remote-controlled helicopter, a pogo stick, and a guitar.  He had his list well thought out and didn't forget to tell Santa any of his items.

Logan's 8th Birthday!!

Eight years ago, Logan Michael was born a few days before Thanksgiving and we left the hospital on Thanksgiving Day.  This year, Logan's 8th birthday fell on Thanksgiving, so it worked out nicely to have his birthday celebrations with both sides of the family since no one had to work!  We started our day celebrating Thanksgiving/birthday with Jeff's parents, and then we had Thanksgiving/birthday with my side of the family (just those living in Milford) that night.  With both celebrations, Jeff cooked huge Thanksgiving feasts!  As usual, Logan was spoiled with many gifts!  The gifts shown in the pictures below are just some of them.

In Logan's 8 years, he has truly been a blessing to our family.  While somewhat shy at school and in public, he can be pretty bold (sometimes down-right naughty) at home and with those he is most comfortable with, and we wouldn't trade any of that for anything.  Even through some of his naughtiness at home, Logan has a gentle and kind heart, and he cares about everyone - even those who are not very nice to him (this includes some kids at school that give him a rough time).  Through all of his problems, health-wise, he has shown us just how strong and brave he can be (and he's had to be strong and brave more than any 8 year old should have to).  He works hard at school, and he comes home and works hard at his hobbies (right now, that would include football, building Legos, drawing, helping his dad with anything and everything he will let Logan help with, and now, I'm sure, skateboarding), never giving up on something he has his mind set to.  

Logan, we love you forever, for always, and no matter what!

XOXO

Mom and Dad

The cool cupcakes Grandma and Grandpa Duvall brought for their birthday celebration with Logan

The boys with Grandma and Grandpa Duvall

I wonder what G and G Duvall brought for me?

Real football shoulder pads!

From Landon

From Landon

Logan's Birthday celebration with the Umscheid side!

He FINALLY got the skateboard he has been begging for for almost 2 years!!  Jeff and I broke down and bought it for him (along with a helmet and pads which  must be worn at ANY time he is on the skateboard)...I hope we don't regret it!  His reaction to getting it was priceless, though!

Cool Nerf dart gun from Uncle Ben, Alyssa, and Eli!

For the 2nd year in a row, Mom accidentally (not really an accident this year) wrapped an empty box!  Oops!  You don't like that, Logan?  :)

An AWESOME light sketcher that Logan has had his eye on, from Grandma and Grandpa Umscheid!

Look at these cool lights for Logan's new Hawkeye room!  The one on the left is from Donna, Dallas, and Ryan!  The one on the right is from G and G Umscheid!  So neat!

Nothing will EVER beat the original Christmas Story movie, but Logan was totally excited to get A Christmas Story 2!  We are going to give it a whirl today and see how it is!

The cool Hawkeye cake for Logan's Umscheid birthday celebration!

Logan couldn't think of a wish, so he made a "thankful" as he blew out his candles on his Thanksgiving birthday!