Brady turns 16

On December 13th Brady turned sixteen!  We were all set to eat at a new pizza joint that night for his birthday meal.  I had eaten there with a girlfriend the week before and the pizza was delicious!  We get there and the place is closed!  Brady had to settle for his second choice, Infinitos.  I had been instructed not to take any pictures, so I didn't.  I still don't have a picture of Brady after turning 16!  I'd say the pizza at Infinitos was pretty good, or at least Brady thought so, he ate THIRTY slices!  They were not little slivers of pizza either!  Because he didn't get to try out the new pizza place, Dale and I are taking  him there sometime this week.  Brady has still not picked out a birthday gift, although I gave him two of his requests, his own pound of ham and a jar of pickles!

 Here's Brady just prior to his birthday, being his usual goofy self.

Brady charmed two young women at church into making him a birthday cake!  Brady photographed the one Ally and Katie made.  His early morning Seminary teacher also made  him a cake!  I waited until those two cakes were gone before making him one from me.

After Brady turned 16 he was interviewed and found worthy to be ordained a Priest at church.  Today for the first time he blessed the Sacrament before it was passed to the congregation.  He had been practicing the Sacrament prayer for weeks!  He was nervous, but it didn't show.  All went well.

Brady is anxious to begin driving.  He'll have my father's truck to use when that time comes.  We would like for him to be further along in receiving his Eagle Scout before driving.  He's getting there!  I have to admit, I'm ready to have another driver in the house.  It is not unusual for me to make six trips back and forth to the schools in one day between Kaden's pre-school, play practice and three kids in basketball!  Perhaps Kassie will learn along with Brady, although she still has no interest in driving at this point.

Happy Birthday, Brady!

Monday work day

 This past Monday I helped my girlfriend continue the task of moving her belongings two houses down.  Her son slept peacefully while we worked.

Kaden and Ellie enjoyed more time playing together outside, even though it was raining!

Again, once I got home I had to take a little nap!  Guess I'm not used to hard work!

Brady had been asking for sweet potato waffles for weeks.  They take so long to make, and I never seemed to have the time!  I know there are quicker, easier waffle recipes, but once you've made them completely from scratch and they taste soooo good, it's hard to make them any differently.  Finally, Monday was the day for Brady's waffles.  We started at 4:30 pm and didn't finish up until after 7 pm.  We have to quadruple the recipe for our family, which gives us some leftovers for quick before-school-breakfasts.

As always, they were delicious!  I'm planning easier meals for the rest of the week!

Oh, that Brady!

During last year's school year Brady had oatmeal for breakfast each morning. Sometimes his oatmeal was plain, sometimes he added other cereals or fruit, sometimes he ate the instant oatmeal with different flavors, etc. Whatever else was in the bowl, it also always contained oatmeal. He got out of this oatmeal habit over the summer, but with school in session again, he started it back up. On the morning of school day number two (yesterday) he informed me that the oatmeal from yesterday gave him terrible gas. He said oatmeal does that to him, but once he gets used to eating it every day, it will no longer have that effect on him. In the meantime he said he would just take this bottle of liquid antacid with him to school! He placed the bottle in his pocket and proceeded to walk away as if headed to the bus!
Of course, he was joking... what a nut!! He is his father's son!

First five before seven

There was a sudden silence in the house after the first five of my seven children got on the bus this morning shortly before 7 am. I'll be thinking of them throughout the day, hoping all is well. Avery and Bryson both woke up in tears claiming to have not slept all night! I told them that was normal first-day-of-school jitters. After breakfast and showers, they seemed fine.
Avery

Bryson

Ashton and I found this skirt for Kassie yesterday at Kohl's while school shopping. (On clearance for $8.00) She loved it, and had to wear it on the first day!

Brady refused to take a lunch today, saying he didn't know anyone in his lunch period. Last year he didn't eat lunch for two weeks before becoming comfortable with the new school year. I couldn't even convince him to take a protein bar.

Here's Ashton sporting one of her "new" outfits from a yard sale! I actually found seven shirts to match this one pair of shorts, and she loved all of them! Her "new" Billa Bong back pack was a bargain too for only .50 cents! The Converse sneakers were something she just had to have when she saw them at Kohl's. They were on sale for $30. Not a bargain in my book, and she didn't need them, so she had to help pay for them.

Here they are, my first five before seven.

Waiting for the bus.

Couldn't help but take this embarrassing picture!! Aren't pictures of your children getting on the bus only for the elementary grades? LOL! I'm sure I'll hear about this when they get home this afternoon. It didn't help that this was also garbage day, so that's in the picture too!

Time to get Kenzie up and ready for her bus coming around 8:15 am. Look for pictures of her later!

What's for supper?

After school today, Brady went to a friend's house. While he was still there our family ate supper. After picking Brady up from his friend's house, he went with me to run errands. Once we got home Brady went over to our neighbor's house to tend to her dog. By the time he was back in the house he was more than ready to eat! So, he asked the age old question, "What's for supper?" I told him what I had made for supper tonight, "Taco salad". He informed me he wasn't hungry for that, so I offered leftover burritos. He wasn't hungry for that either, so I offered more leftovers -- heavenly hamburger casserole. (A family favorite.) Again, he wasn't in the mood for that. I left him to fend for himself while I came downstairs to download some pictures from my camera onto the computer. Minutes later as I'm walking up the stairs with my camera in hand, this is what I saw! Last night Avery, Bryson and Kenzie were bored so I gave them a "bunny house" kit leftover from Easter that I picked up at Aldi for a mere .49 cents! While I was at church with the three older children, they assembled the house. I guess I should have known it wouldn't last long in this house before being eaten!

Wisdom teeth

On Friday, December 11, 2009 Kassie and Brady both had their wisdom teeth removed. Brady's were further impacted than Kassie's, so he had a more difficult time recovering. Kassie missed school the following Monday. Brady missed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. His swelling would just not go down. Then a month later Brady developed a post-op infection and had to go back two more times to have that taken care of. We chose a surgeon in Camp Hill, PA because they took our health insurance. We weren't to thrilled with having to make more trips to Camp Hill, but that's the way it goes!
Some how Brady's excuse for his three days missed never made it to the school so he has been labeled truant. I've called the doctor's office to have them fax another excuse, but still haven't heard if it's been taken care of. Just another hassle to deal with!

Finger update

Brady had his pin removed on November 24th. The next day he started physical therapy. He'll be going three times a week to Gentile Hand Clinic in Hanover. They are all so very nice there. The receptionist behind the counter reached out through the window and shook my hand saying how nice it was to meet me. Never had a receptionist do that before. We were then offered drinks. I had water, Brady had a Coke. I don't even think we waited one minute before the therapist took us back to a small room and began Brady's therapy. Brady now has exercises to do three to five times a day, is wearing a much smaller splint and can still not participate in gym class.
I must be toughening up in my old age. I photographed Brady's finger without getting sick! I did feel a little queasy though while massaging cream onto his scar!

Surgery over and done, now the recovery

Brady had his surgery yesterday. We arrived at the hospital at 5:20 am. We didn't wait long before he was taken back to a room. I waited there with him while they did pre-op procedures and all the different doctors and their assistants came to talk to us. Surgery was scheduled for 7:15 am. I waited in the waiting room watching The Today Show until the surgeon came out to talk to me at 8:30. They did have to cut him open after all. One pin was placed straight down the center of his pinkie finger after the bones were lined back up. Brady was in recovery for about an hour. During that time Dale brought in Kaden, just before 9 am. Now I had company to wait with me! By 9:40 we were able to see Brady in one of the same day surgery rooms. He was doing well. The nurse gave both he and Kaden a Popsicle. When the nurse asked Kaden his name he said, "KadenMichaelEyler", as if all one word! The nurse got a kick out of that. It wasn't long before Brady was getting anxious to go home. He was able to leave by 10:40. We then had to stop at Wal-Mart to get his antibiotic and pain medications. We were home shortly after 12 noon. Brady laid around the rest of the day watching TV and movies. (He didn't want his face shown in these pictures, having a bad hair day after surgery!)

Brady is having some pain. His main complaint is that it throbs. He went to early morning Seminary today, but won't be going to school. It takes 24 hours for the anesthesia to get out of your system, plus he needs a full day of antibiotics today and I don't want to have to deal with that if he were at school. Brady sees the doctor in 8 days, the pin should come out in 4 weeks, healed by 6 weeks, physical therapy after that, knuckles/joints swollen for months afterward. You know how men are when they're sick or injured... hope he and I can deal with this for the next several months! LOL!!

Brady's visit to the orthopedic surgeon

I tried to upload a picture of Brady's finger, but Blogger isn't allowing that to happen right now. (UGH!) I took Brady to the orthopedic surgeon yesterday. The doctor took one look and said, "When did this happen?" Brady told him yesterday, to which the doctor replied, "Why didn't anyone call us? You should have been seen yesterday. I can't understand why the doctor you went to didn't call us. We are usually always available, especially in cases like this where the finger is bent." I don't know what happened, but we were told to go home after the hospital x-rays, that they would get us an appointment to see the orthopedic the next day. The top part of the bone was completely off to the side of where it broke off from. Because of waiting a day, tissue had now formed under the broken bone. Brady was given three shots to numb the side of his hand/finger. The nurse then held down Brady's arm while the doctor pulled, twisted and tugged trying to get the broken bone back in place. No, I didn't watch, but I did glance over once or twice... that was enough for me. Brady said he couldn't watch either. More x-rays were taken. The doctor then put a splint on Brady's finger, put it in a bent position, and taped it for further stability. The tendons in his finger are pulling the bones apart. Keeping it in a bent position helps relieve the pull of the tendons. We go back Monday for another appointment and more x-rays. If this is working, great. If not, Brady will have to have surgery. In the meantime, the doctor will be consulting with a hand/finger specialist. The orthopedic surgeon told us,"What I did was very difficult, it was very hard. I don't know if it will work." Following this procedure Brady was in a great deal of pain. Shortly after coming home Dale and Brother Art Reid gave him a Priesthood Blessing. Regardless whether or not Brady has to have surgery, I just pray the outcome is a completely healed finger with normal functioning.

Good pass, not so good catch

Today toward the end of gym class Brady's teacher threw him the football. Brady attempted to catch it, but instead broke his finger trying. It's the fifth finger on his left hand. The school nurse called at 2:30 pm. She didn't want him to take the bus home, so I went in to get him. First thing he said to me was, "You don't want to see this." My son knows me so well! I think he just didn't want to be embarrassed by his mother passing out in the high school nurse's office! The nurse agreed. She said Brady showed it to one of his teachers, who happens to be pregnant and she backed away and "almost lost it." I called our doctor's office from the van and took him right in to have it examined. Next it was off to the hospital where it was officially declared broken. Tomorrow we see the orthopedic surgeon. We're hoping for a simple fix and quick recovery. I would post pictures, but then I'd have to look at his finger, and that ain't happenin'! Not yet.

Almost in trouble

I still can't download pictures, so for now I'll have to journal without them.

Last Thursday the phone rang at 2:50 pm. It was the Littlestown School District Transportation Director. She explained to me that Brady got on the bus of a friend hoping to be dropped off at the friend's house. The bus driver didn't notice when Brady got on, but did notice when he tried to get off at Aaron's house. She could not let him get off. Instead, he had to stay on the bus until all students were taken home, she would then bring Brady back to the school bus yard where I was being asked to pick him up from. When Brady was not allowed off at Aaron's house, Aaron said he too would not get off, but would go back to the school with Brady -- another no-no. So, Aaron went home and Brady went back to the school bus yard. I arrived to pick Brady up at 3:10 pm and they were waiting for me. When the transportation director approached me the first thing she said was, "You have a very well mannered, polite son." She told me how Brady apologized to her and the bus driver. The transportation director explained again how what Brady tried to do was not allowed, all about the liability, etc. I completely understood. I knew Brady planned on going to Aaron's after school, I didn't know he planned on hitching a ride on Aaron's bus! I thought they were walking to Aaron's, as they've done in the past. The transportation director told me that because Brady apologized and was well behaved she would not do a write up. Had she done one, Brady would have had district detention!

Later Brady told me he was mad at the bus driver for not letting him off, so I asked what made him apologize. He told me he kind of thought he wasn't suppose to do what he did, and thought he better tell the driver he was sorry for causing all this trouble. By recognizing his wrong and giving a sincere apology, he saved himself from further trouble. I like to think the Holy Ghost whispered to Brady that day, and I'm glad he listened!

He's now a Teacher!

I can't go too much further without going back and mentioning Brady's birthday. He was born 14 years ago on the 13th of December. We celebrated that night with pizza from LaBella's -- Brady's favorite.Kaden became very upset when he wasn't the one blowing out the candles, so Brady re-lit them to let Kaden blow them out.
Every year Brady asks for the same cake -- cherry crumb, so that's what he got. We originally planned on celebrating Brady's special day the day after his birthday, but at the last minute Brady decided he wanted his "party" on the actual day. Ashton helped me to quickly make the cake. We had it done in time, but it was still very hot. In fact, the candles melted on both ends! LOL!!

Brady opens gifts from his siblings.

Earlier in the month Brady picked out a pair of sneakers that cost more than I typically spend, so they were a particle birthday gift. He also got the shirt he had been wanting, a new Moroni tie clasp and a large bag of his favorite candy.

The Sunday after his birthday, Brady interviewed with the Bishop and was found worthy to become a Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood. He had completed the required goals in his Duty to God book for Deacons. He was ordained a Teacher on December 28, 2008 by his father. The following Sunday he was recognized in front of the congregation. I was so glad that by then he had gotten his hair cut! (I'll try to get an updated photograph so you can see his new and improved look!)

Happy Birthday, Brady Boy!

Boys and their toys!

Last weekend Brady did quite a bit of yard work around the house. He mowed the front and back yards, did the trimming, trimmed the hedge along with several other bushes and did a few other odds and ends. In working with the leaf blower at one point, Brady questioned just how powerful this "toy" really was. With the help of his three brothers, he decided to find out. When held close to the face the force of air coming from the blower was very intense, and I'm told a bit painful! The sacrifice was worth the laughs!
Avery

Avery

When Brady took his turn for the camera, I noticed he didn't hold the blower as close to his face as what he did for Avery and Bryson!

And of course, Kaden had to get in on it too! At least at this point they thought of using eye protection and stood further back!

If it looks like Bryson is in pain... well, he is! Oh, yeah, the leaf blower also played funny tricks on the stomach!

Boys will be boys!

Too cool for the pool!

So far this summer Brady has only gone to the pool with us one time. While everyone else was having fun with their friends playing in and around the pool, Brady stood back and watched.

He eventually ventured in with Kaden, and in time made his way to the deep end for a short underwater swim, but that was it.

When we first arrived at the pool he was greeted by a girl from his class. Then later while Brady was spending time over by the fence, two other girls approached him. These girls were having fun talking with Brady and ewing and awing over his adorable baby brother! With all of these girls looking at Brady he didn't dare go in the pool or be seen with his brothers and sisters, besides Kaden of course. My thirteen and a half year old son is now far too cool for the pool!