Results from the sleep test

Well, we met with the sleep doctor today. I wish I had come out of that meeting feeling like everything would be OK--but I am really not sure what to think. He said Gavin has severe Central Sleep Apnea and he wants him to meet with a Pulmonary Specialist in Salt Lake. He showed me the results of the sleep test which were so absolutely incredible! Who invents stuff like this? Anyway, he wakes up 17 times an HOUR. He will breath for 3 breaths and then skip 3 breaths. The amount of info was astonishing! I have been reading a little bit about CSA and cannot get any real answers as to what it is and how it is treated--most people that have it are either old people with heart failure or people on narcotics. We will meet with the specialist on Dec 3 and I will have a little more info. In the mean time, he has Gavin sleeping with oxygen to see if we can get the oxygen levels to be consistent throughout the night. One thing he did say that gave me some encouragement is that this condition could be the origin of many if not ALL of the other symptoms Gavin has had: lack of energy, shortness of breath after very little exertion, week lungs, chronic conditions like pneumonia and coughing, lack of attention span, small stature, etc. So in that sense I was a little relieved. FINALLY we have SOMETHING of substance! I have always thought his breathing wasn't really asthmatic. We have tried several asthma medications, which have seemed to help a little with the boogers--but never completely cure it, and his breathlessness has never changed. He also said people with sleep apnea don't really produce this growth hormone, and that once the problem is solved they experience a big growth spurt! Wouldn't that be something! All in all--I feel hopeful that we can finally get some answers. I'll let you know after December 3!

BIG NEWS!!!

After MONTHS of trying different things to get Jenna to give up her beloved binkys, today we made some MAJOR progress! Binkys have been a nap or night time thing for about 2 months, but lately I have really regressed. It became such a "special" thing that at moments when I really needed her to sit still or be good--I would let her have her binky. She would just sit there so quite and suck her binky and savor every moment...AHHHH....SILENCE! But, today on our jog I didn't bring it along and we had a great chat about the sad little babies who didn't have binkys. I told her how we could give the binkys to the Binky Fairy and she would take the binkys to all the sad babies and then the babies would be happy! I have tried this before (yes, the idea came from an episode of Super Nanny!), but today Jenna really took this to heart and wanted to help. I JUMPED on this and when we got home we put all the binkys in an envelope and sat out on the porch waiting for the mail man! It was so dang cute! Well, SHE DID IT!! I had to lay by her at nap time and bed time and there were quite a few tears, but she did it! The Binky Fairy will come tonight--but here are the cute ones of today and a very cute video of her after she gave the binkys to the mailman!

Here is Jenna eyeing her binkys one last time--she wouldn't take her eyes off them!
Here is Jenna with her letter for the Binky Fairy Here is Jenna waiting for the mailman (she LIVES in dress ups, from the moment she wakes up until the moment she is forced into pj's at bedtime!) And the big moment! Bye, bye binkys!!! Here are some very cute videos. Check out Jenna at the 43 second mark--I think she went into a little potty break daze for a second and then got a chill when it was all over--HILARIOUS!! I hope you can play it!

And finally, proud little Jenna!

The Binky Fairy came! After a long night where Jenna didn't give 2 cents about any sad babies...we made it to morning...well 6:00am anyway. She LOVES her new big girl dress up of her very own! We will see if nap time and night time are a little better today!

Gavin's sleep test

So, this is one of many tests we have done for poor Gavin. This kid has had every test in the book--but still no cure for the cough and boogers... This test was for sleep apnea. G has always been a slow breather at night and it wasn't until he slept over at Liz's house that I realized it probably wasn't all that normal! You cannot breathe with the kid or you will pass out! I guess Liz and Rob had a sleepless night just trying to make sure Gavin was still breathing! Anyway, the test was easy. They stick about 50 sensors all over his body to test brain activity, body activity, breathing (or lack of), eye movement, cheek movement, dream sleep, etc. It took about 1 1/2 hours to put them on and Gavin was asleep within 5 minutes of laying down! We'll get the results on Monday! These pictures are grainy because they were taken from my phone, but still cute.

Random, funny moments...

Every year the change in the weather makes me a little crazy. I have finally figured out that it is because our house is so small and it takes a few weeks to get used to us all being on top of each other-ALL DAY again! Some days we drive each other CRAZY! Luckily, as my kids are getting older they are becoming more and more creative in finding things to keep themselves busy....and drive mom crazy!

Jenna found my make up....no wonder she was so quite for so long! I had no idea she knew what mascara was for! She was more than shocked when I showed her what she looked like in the mirror! I took a lesson from my mom and didn't show her until AFTER I had taken a picture!

Gavin decided to re-decorate his bed. He found a book of about 100 Lightning McQueen stickers and...well....I guess I will invest in some Goo-Be-Gone!I let the dogs sleep inside when that really cold snap came through. Sadie is still a puppy and not completely trained, so I tied her up by the door during the night. I thought this was a hysterical picture of the two of them sleeping! They are obviously not the best watch dogs--I walked up and snapped a couple pictures and neither of them budged! The sleeping indoors days came to an abrupt end when Sadie chewed up one of my benches and peeled off a HUGE chunk of sheet rock off the wall.....cold or not, they are OUTSIDE!

This was a fun day. The kids came up decked out and started dancing! They love to dress up!

Kesley--the toothless wonder!

So two years ago Kesley bumped one of her front teeth. The tooth turned brown and never did turn white again (Gavin had done the same thing, but his tooth turned back to white after about 6 months.) Anyway, the dentist said it would never fall out on it's own and needed to be pulled to prevent some problems, so.....here's Kesley!

She was soooo nervous until the nitrous started pumpin--then she was laughing, chatting the dental assistants ear off and having a great time!Try smiling with a numb, fat lip! I could not stop laughing!Get used to this toothless smile! When do top teeth grow in? And...nothing beats the first visit from the tooth fairy! Congratulations Kesley! We love you!

Mom & Dads Birthdays!

Brent & I had great birthdays! As you get older the highlight is definitely on the cards and presents the kids come up with. I had to document these awesome cakes and cards for the scrapbook!

This is Brents cake--notice the #2 & @1 candles (2 + 1=3) and the 5 ballerina candles (for 5)! I know, it was a stretch--but I was able to use candles I already had!

I had the best cake ever--and the best part about it was that most of the Halloween candy was used up decorating it! Is there any candy that is NOT represented on this cake? Delicious!

Halloween!!!

We had a great Halloween! We had fun decorating outside (although our house is pretty spooky anyway!). The kids made these really cute ghosts that we hung all along the walkway and we have these really realistic spiders that creep me out every year. It was fun. Gavin's two headed monster!

Gavin was a pirate, Kesley was Analiese from Barbie Princess and the Pauper, and Jenna was a ballerina! I put on my ugly cowboy contest outfit for fun, but ended up feeling pretty ridiculous, especially at the ward trunk or treat where there were not very many adults dressed up! I think people thought I was serious--one lady even asked me if I really had been a rodeo queen! Yah! Next year I think I will stick to the witch...