~One last hoorah & The first week of Surgery Rotation~

As a final hoorah before sending Travis into his surgery rotation, and the final 12 week count down before our FREEDOM (12 week surgery rotation is awful, plus at the end of it Travis takes his final Med school boards exam and will be completely free from studying at home -Mostly- and we'll FINALLY have Travis back!) 

So we tried to stalk pile as much time as we could before going on a our last 12 week drought.

First thing in the morning we packed the car up and headed through New Jersey (which by the way, I now understand every joke ever made about that very ugly state ;), and into Pennsylvania where we visited Valley Forge. The drive there was pleasant and went quick. The boys thoroughly enjoyed each thing we saw while there. Maddix now talks a lot about George Washington, the men that froze that winter, and if we could please go back and visit it again; I think the best moment for Travis and I, as parents, was when we were leaving and Maddix said, "Wait we're going? But there's more I want to see, I haven't had enough time here!" :) We'll definitely have to go back. The journey back home proved... interesting. All Travis and I could figure was that our phones really wanted us to see all the back country that Pennsylvania had to offer because we didn't go back the way we came, and we didn't hit a freeway most the way home! And as we continued to follow directions from the phone I kept getting frustrated as our estimated arrival time increased, and our miles left increased... tell me how it works that we would drive 5 miles closer to home and yet we would have one mile added on to our total miles left............. Travis was a doll just saying to enjoy each added minute and mile we had left together before the next day when we wouldn't have that anymore; I love him.

Philadelphia Skyline 

Philadelphia Temple

 Valley Forge Information Center

Good ol' George

George Washington's Home

~Back to the City~

As if we could have fought it, Surgery started and Travis has been doing night floats to begin with. Now he works all night, sleeps all day, eats like a zombie, and tries to study; pretty fun, right? Thankfully, night floats will only last a few weeks then he gets to do his 14hr shifts during the day... better? Ha ha. 

We went about our days routinely. The highlights from the week were getting together with Whitney and Camden, and celebrating Nala's 6th Birthday. The low moment was Thursday just after we had excitedly gone out and walked Travis home from his night shift.  I was trying to change Aaron's bum, he kept trying to scoot himself away and when I pinned his legs down, this seemed to make him pretty mad, mad enough to trigger his breath holding spells again. I could tell that he wasn't going to breath so I picked him up and rushed him downstairs to be near Travis, just in case. 

-I don't know if I ever wrote about the results we got from Aaron's neurologist. He said there is somewhat of a neurological problem that causes him to hold his breath, and no matter what you do you won't be able to make him breath once he reaches a certain point; it's a reaction in his body. When he holds his breath and passes out, it causes his body to restart, like a computer who's cord gets unplugged and it shuts off. When Aaron's body tries to "restart" it goes into a "false" seizure, completely real other than it doesn't touch his brain. He said it's totally normal and it's a malfunction that his own body should correct on its own within a few years. In the meantime, we're just supposed to leave him on the floor where he can't hit anything when he has the seizure and then just make sure he's still breathing.-

As he went into his seizure, I felt like this one was different. I just wrote all the details from it and realized, it does't need to be said; just know it was the worst one for sure, and all I know is I am so grateful for tender mercies like Travis having come home just minutes before I tried to change Aaron's morning diaper. If I'd been alone, I'd have called the ambulance for sure. I'm also glad for the blessing of Travis's medical training. After this seizure he didn't wake up right away, in fact he stayed completely limp and wouldn't respond. Travis was so calm. He stayed so calm and just seemed to know what to do and what signs to follow. Once we could get Aaron to respond he just laid on my lap and fell asleep; if anyone knows Aaron, you know this is very out of character. He stayed there for about an hour before waking up with a major head ache... that was that. Then later he banged his mouth into the bar of his bed and bloodied his face up. He also threw a fit and hit his head into a wall.  The baby needs to wear a helmet, I swear. 

So then to end the week we made it to Maddix's soccer practice which turned into one of those moments that all mothers hate to have in public where Maddix was throwing a fit and I had to carry him off the field to the stroller, where the dog was whining/barking/jumping like a psycho, and Aaron who had been clawed on the cheek from the crazy dog so he was bawling with milk running down his face, all while like 10 people had come over to introduce themselves and their children to us...

.... Ugh...

Practicing and training

Training in his own way

Exercising

My Goofs

Daddy's way of being with the boys AND trying to get some rest

 ~Nala's Birthday~

Despite the cold we went over to the park early
so we could catch the "doggy hours" where they
can run around off leash and play with other dogs

We even moved her bed upstart so she could be comfy while
being with the family

I've been dying to try out a recipe from my Blendtec book for homemade
dog treats and her bday was the perfect time.  

Wearing daddy's hats

Spring is starting to make its presence. Not on our street yet, but
I'm sure it's on its way.

This boy.... I love him. 

~Weeks 6 & 7~ Possibly better than the rest.

I've misplaced my journal and therefore been unable to write down all the things we've been up to, the amazingly cute and funny things my boys say, and the random New York things that still catch me off guard... sad day.
Spring is FINALLY here and in between the days and days rain we have the most gorgeous sunny days and I can hardly wait for the trees, and flowers to be in full bloom!!

• Some Things I'm Learning: I thought I was all for recycling, until I moved here; you must sort out into three separate bags for disposal, as well as wash all containers clean so they don't attract rodents. 
• Don't leave the garbage anywhere within reach/climbing ability of the squirrels or they WILL raid the bag and strew it across the yard. 
• You can't feel bad for EVERY hobo you see sleeping on the subway or you'll be sad all the time. 
• People with big dogs can be found anywhere before 8:00am then there are nothing but "rat dogs" the rest of the day. 
• People will children don't surface until 3:00
• And if you ride the subway between the hours of 9:00-4:00 you won't ride with "normal" people, you'll ride with all the "mole" people! 
• You're not allowed to make a right hand turn on a red.
• There is NOTHING you can do to avoid being honked at... NOTHING. It's like as necessary to New York Drivers as breathing. 
• Everyone things mormons are "those polygamist group out in Utah." 
• Old people LOVE Maddix and Aaron. 
• The most angry of people will soften as we walk by and Aaron offers his adorable, "Hi!" that he does to everyone. :) 
• New Yorker's smoke like Chimneys and dress like they're from an 80's music video.
• Manhattan isn't actually that big or scary. 
• Hole in the wall diners are the best places to eat! 
• New York beaches aren't "wanna-be beaches" but they're actually beautiful.
• People rarely see a run of the mill, good ol' fashion American family like ours so we sand out like a red rose in a white rose garden. 
• Walking anywhere will get you there almost as fast as driving... and parking costs $30/half hour in Manhattan!! 

There is more, but I can't think of it, so we'll revisit the New York things I've learned at a later time. For now, I'm going to drop an overload of photos because the past two weeks have been amazing! As the weather has improved our days have just been sunnier :D 

~Family Nights~

This one was to an Authentic German Restaurant where we ate the closest to German Schnitzel we've had since being in Germany! 

 When Daddy leaves each morning we mope, then we find ways to entertain ourselves:

 Our Daily walks are always a unique experience; this day Maddix was concerned with Aaron getting too close to the cars and insisted that he hold his hand while they would go running. Then he needed a rest and while laying... on a random tree... he decided to yell at the cars with all the lines he hears from Travis and I when we are driving :)

He is getting sneaky with getting on to Maddix's bed; he also likes to turn it into a pirate ship

 Friday my friend Whitney babysat the boys for us so we could catch a Subway into Manhattan to catch a session at the temple... that we missed by 10 minutes. So we decided to grab a quick lunch at a random little diner that happened to be a top rated pizza joint with photos all over the wall of celebs' signed by themselves raving on the pizza. However, it was taking so long we ALMOST didn't make it back for the next session, of which only I ended up doing the session because Trav's recommend was actually expired... lame, so he went and studied.

 Lots of friend's time :) We're so grateful for Whitney and Camden

Homemade Cafe Rio!

Stake Conference and my boys looked dressed to impress. Conference was a new experience. It was over at the Astoria ward and was half in English and half in Spanish. Aaron had a full blown melt down and we couldn't leave early because our car was in the middle row within a grid full of cars. So Travis took him for a walk while Maddix and I put on our headsets to try and catch one thing being said. 

We took a wrong turn and ended up in a slight ghetto while looking for a sports gear store

 Playin' Around

Hopped out of the bath and grabbed
a fruit drink; he instantly became my vampire baby

 An amazing day at the park. Made friends. Watched a ball game. Met a little boy one day younger than Aaron, twice his size, and wearing the EXACT outfit:)

 A Day with Whitney and Camden: Fun Toys, Hours at the Park, and otterpops while watching the Gummy Bears cartoon.

This spot was an AWESOME area; the kids
could take chalk and color on the floor, walls, and even
the ceiling.. if they could reach ;)

Maddix was about 8ft off the ground and bravely walked the railing
around the sunken in park and was doing great... Until this other mother
rushed over because she was very afraid he'd fall :) 

morning snuggles

Our new family Metz gear. We live on
Metropolitan (and I could never be a Yankees fan)

Our Italian neighbor, Maria made us these
traditional easter/passover treats from Italy because she thinks
we're such a "Belle Family"
But we're not supposed to tell anyone because "she no cook for them anymore."

Learning to ride a two wheeler! 

While learning, Travis told Maddix about when his dad taught him to ride to inspire him to keep going after each fall. That night when we called Grandma Lori for her birthday Maddix brought the story up in conversation with Vaughn and Travis and I just melted over how cute it was. 

Being a big boy

Trying to keep up:) 

 Family movie night: Star wars! While he wore his new Star wars shirt.

 First day of Soccer Season! The first sport he's every really done. I'm so excited! He did awesome!

He won the cone gathering
competition

Afternoon at the Beach~ 

My Soul enlightened the moment we stepped out of the car and I could smell salt in the air. 

When we saw the pier, I almost cried. 

I've always called the New York Beaches "wanna be beaches," but Long Beach was actually pretty great. 

The sand was so soft, the weather was wonderful, and there was hardly anyone there since it's only April. This beach was easy to get to, and only 45 mins from my home and I think we just found our new pastime for this coming summer! 

Pure Happiness! 

"Beeeh!"
(Beach)

Cool Guy

This guy... :) 

Dinner with the classmates from Poland