Tagged

Here are the rules...

1.Post the rules on your blog
2.Write 6 random things about yourself
3.Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4. If you are tagged, just do it, and pass the tag along!

1. We raked leaves this morning and Payton and I filled 10 "big" bags full of leaves by our selves. It seems like it has been forever since him and I have done any kind of activity together - other than school work. It was really nice... I miss that.

2. 3 boys.... YIKES!!!!

3. I agree with Kitsie... I can't believe that Payton is 6 years old and is reading, writing, and doing arithmetic. You can't even spell out the "naughty" words and they know what you are spelling or what you are wanting to say. They are just too quick.

4. Officially 2 more months until Santa comes... I have no idea what to be getting for presents this year.

5. I am still on maternity leave and loving it... I am off until Dec. 1st. I will be excited to see the kids again... as I can't believe how big they have gotten in just the last 2 months.

6. When I went to college 11 years ago (man that seems so long) I started out in nursing. I changed 2nd semester as I didn't think I could do it. There was too much partying and socializing to be done. I now sometimes think that I would like to go back and I really think that I could do it. Sorry... Jenny and Kitsie - you guys gave some good "randoms" to think about.

I tag... Angie M., Nikki K (just write yours in my comment section), Erin O., any anonymous people who read my blog can certainly comment on here w/o having an account. Just sign in anonymously and make sure you type your name at the end of the message.

Baptism

Braxton has officially been welcomed into God's family through Holy Baptism (Sunday 10.12.08). We had an awesome brunch following church at our house with our families. My sister Nicole and her husband Dan were two of Braxton's sponsors as well as Craig's brother Jason and his wife Tambi. It worked out well as they were here visiting from California (with their sons Joey and Sawyer). It was an awesome autumn day with the leaves coming down in full force.

New Pics of Braxton...

Well... here I stand with the camera trying to get some decent pictures of Braxton for the birth announcement. I finally had to just settle or it would probably be another month before I would have gotten them ordered. He has started smiling and cooing - quite a bit. Craig just thought it was the cutest thing when he just sat and cooed and every now and them gave him a "quick" little smirk. It's hard to believe that he is one month old already - you would think I would know how fast time goes as well as how fast they grow now that this is the 3rd baby. But I have seem to have forgotten. Craig's brother Jason and his wife Tambi and nephews Joey and Sawyer are coming this Friday. We are having Baptism on Sunday as Jason and Tambi are two of his sponsors. Payton is super excited to see his cousins again... they seem to enjoy eachothers company.

Duck Opener 2008

It's hard to tell... but this ducks eye is popped out of it's head.

Duckies say "Quack quack"...

The boys' trying to line all of the ducks up for pictures.

Payton had been counting down the days all last week as to when he would be able to go duck hunting. The opener for duck hunting was this last weekend and he had a blast. Craig takes Payton along and they get their gear and decoys ready for when the ducks come in.
Craig's college friend Tony W. comes from Mankato along with his (Tony's) brothers, cousin, and nephew also join them.
Payton's main job is to sit quiet (if that's at all possible) and call the ducks in with his own duck calls. He too is decked out in camo - however by the time I had the camera ready he had changed into dry, clean clothes. Payton has never been a morning person - unless... there is something in it for him... like hunting. Saturday morning Craig went down to get him up and he popped his head up and said "are we going duck hunting... shhhh... don't wake Brooks up". He flew out of bed and was upstairs and downstairs and outside in no time.
They hunted all morning and when they came in - he couldn't stop telling stories about this duck and that duck or this goose and that goose, whose dog did what, who shot the most, who missed the most, how good he called the ducks, etc...
Brooks really enjoyed picking up the ducks and throwing them around too. Before we know it he will be out hunting too and Braxton will be the one throwing the ducks around.

Brotherly Love...

Well the boys have adjusted really well to having a baby in the house. Sometimes I feel like things are a little chaotic - but I think it's just me. For those who know me - I am pretty anal when it comes to a clean house and having things go "perfect" if there is such a thing. Here are some pictures of the boys with their brother and a couple of just Braxton. Have a Super Great Weekend... Tifanie

Yeah... I am going home!!! Dad wasn't too impressed with the yellow outfit.
Payton couldn't get off of the bus and in the house fast enough to see his brother.
Mom says I look a lot like my older brother Payton - time will tell.
Brooks was actually singing "twinkle twinkle" to Braxton last night.
It was homecoming this last week - Payton was pretty proud of his face paint and white hair.

WE ARE HOME!!!!!

Not sure if I could possibly put enough exclamation points behind the title of this post. It was such an awesome feeling today leaving the NICU - yet I will miss the very important people who helped to heal Braxton. Each and every dr., nurse, cardiologist, resp. therapist, lab tech, case manager, social worker, clergy, (can't forget) lactation specialist, x-ray tech, and the list goes on... Here is the link to his cradle roll picture through Sioux Valley - I will add a couple more once I upload them to the computer. http://www.sanfordhealth.org/CradleRoll/BabyList.cfm?CradleRollParentId=24241

Thanks A MILLION for all of the thoughts, prayers, offers, food, gifts, etc... Craig, Tifanie, Payton, Brooks & Braxton

Soon To Be HOME...

Braxton should be set to come home on Tuesday. YEAH!!!! Payton is super super excited for Tuesday.
He was taken off of his oxygen on Saturday morning and has done awesome without it. He has been taking a bottle like a trooper and is on an awesome schedule. We will definitely just have to work on the nights. He is back up to birth weight of 8 lb. 15 ounces.
He will be having this little "procedure" done tomorrow morning so hopefully he doesn't get too stressed out and need the oxygen again.
I was finally able to dress him in clothes today. By the pictures it's hard to see why he is in the NICU - compared to the pictures from a week ago.
Thanks Again for the continued thoughts, prayers, food, offers, etc... I don't know what we would do without all of you.
Have a great week... Craig, Tifanie, Payton, Brooks, and Braxton