Our deepest appology

To the Stuffed Animals in Braylon and Kaden's Cribs,
We would like to sincerely appologize for the torture you indure during your time with the boys in their crib. It was not our intent to place you there so you could be swung around by your tail, legs, or ears; or your heads banged against the matress or crib railing.
We can only imagine the pain and fear you must feel when you are one-by-one suspended over the railing, above the floor, and then dropped to the floor only to land on your heads.
We are unable to bring this torture to an end, as you provide so much entertainment to our sons. We hope that one day you will find it in your fluff filled hearts to forgive us.
Our deepest appology,
Bryan and Ashley

Where the Wild Things Are

These picture were taken by Papa George during the boys visit Tuesday evening. As their hair gets longer it just gets crazier (although, I think it may have had a little help here :) ) Kaden's manages to stay pretty tamed but Braylon's looks like this most of the time.

Braylon left, Kaden right

Braylon

Lately we have been working on weaning the boys. They will be one year old soon and can start having whole milk. It hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be but I do find that they tug on my shirt at some pretty awkward times.

The bedtime battle continues as we try different stratigies to get the boys to fall asleep and start sleeping through the night. Nothing has worked so far.

We have also been busy planning the boys first birthday. I cannot believe how fast this first year has gone by. I have to be honest, it makes me a little sad and I have shed a few tears over it.

Another busy part of life these days is the decision to put our house on the market. Although our house has been a great starter home. We out grew it the day we found out we were having twins. We currently have an offer in on a house that would be ideal for our family, but do not know if they will accept our offer. In the meantime, while we wait, we will be showing our house in hopes of speeding up the process if the bank decides to accept our offer on the other house. Keeping a house clean enough to show has been a very difficult task when you have babies.

Our ultimate goal is to find a home that allows for single level living and the ability to grow. This house we have an offer out on fits that perfectly so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

We are 11 months old today!

Pictures of the boys from this past weekend's visit with Grammie B

Kaden Strong Baby Contest

Kaden

Braylon Strong Baby Contest

Braylon's 1 arm pull-up

Boys at play (Braylon left, Kaden right)

Howlands vs. Insurance Company

After over a month long battle with our insurance company we got approval for the boys RSV shots, FINALLY!!! They originally denied coverage of their shots because they said they were “too old”. I think they were hoping that we would just accept it for what it was and not challenge them, but they were wrong. They obviously don’t know how persistent Bryan and I can be when we feel strongly about something.
I got fed up enough that I called the nurse whose name was on the denial letter myself. I don’t think she realized she was speaking with someone who has a medical background at first. She kept rambling on about how the boys didn’t meet all of the criteria and I politely explained to her that I didn’t really care about their criteria, the shots had been ordered by three different doctors who have a pretty good idea of whether or not they are necessary and if they denied them they were going against three different doctors orders. And to make a long story short we both got off the phone pretty frustrated with each other and I was told my statements were going against 5 different physicians, who made up this criteria, expertise.
I have to say that if Bryan and I didn’t feel that the boys needed these shots we would not have pushed the issue because they are very expensive and we will pay a decent chunk of money for our co-pay for these shots. We feel so strongly about this that we are willing to put forth the money in the best interest of the boys.
I then called our pediatricians nurse and explained my conversation with the insurance company to her and she agreed that the boys should have qualified for the shots regardless of their age because they were diagnosed with Respiratory Distress Syndrome when they were born and Kaden has what they call Chronic Lung (which after reading their list of qualification should have automatically got him qualified) which means that his lungs would be more sensitive to illness and he would not tolerate a respiratory illness as well as a full-term baby and could have lasting effects as a result of a major illness like RSV.
After many phone calls and help from the pediatrician’s office, who had to resend all of the boys documents, from the time they were born to now, to our insurance. The insurance company called on Wednesday and told us we had been APPROVED for 5 doses each baby!!!
For those who are not familiar with the Synagis shots, they are administered once a month for several months during RSV season. This year RSV season started in December so the boys missed out on the first round but the season usually lasts through March or April so they will be covered for the rest of the RSV season. We will have to take the boys to the pediatrician’s office every month for their shots until RSV season is over.
I am not looking forward to the extra pokes for the boys but we can rest assure that we have done everything in our power to keep them healthy.

More Christmas Photos

Braylon wrapping his brother

Kaden

Braylon

Braylon

Kaden

Christmas Village Display

Bryan and Brenda started the collection when he was little and now we are continuing the tradition


Handmade Toy Boxes From Grammie M and Papa Mike McDonald



Christmas Night at Locomotive Park

Our 1st Christmas

This years Christmas was the most special by far. You truly rediscover the World through your children's eyes and it is the best thing ever.

We started off the Christmas celebration the weekend before and Grammie M and Papa D-D's. The boys got to open their very first presents. They loved ripping open and of course chewing on the wrapping paper. We all got camp chairs from Cabelas, mommy and daddy got the kind that recline and the boys got little camo ones. They also got a few toys, sippy cups, their own plates, and new winter hats just to name a few. We are excited to use our camping gear this summer.

This year we had Christmas Day at our house and our families came to us. We shared Christmas Eve with Papa Mike Howland and had Christmas Eve Chili, relaxed and watched television, and drove around looking at Christmas lights and ended the night by decorating cookies for Santa. Great Grandma Betty, Great Grandpa George, Great Uncle Terry, and Fendi stopped by to see our Christmas Village display and wish the boys a Merry Christmas.

We woke up early the next morning and the boys got to open their first gift from Santa with Papa Mike. It was actually surprising how into they were. They are beginning to understand how to open gifts already and the squeals and giggles were especially fun.

Later that afternoon the rest of our families showed up. The boys got to open their stockings and the rest of their gifts. The boys received two very special gifts this year that they will cherish for years to come. Grammie B and Papa Mike McDonald handmade the boys their very own toy boxes with their names on them. They are absolutely beautiful (I don't have pictures loaded to our computer yet but I will post photos of the toy boxes). They also got rocking horses that make noises and move when you push the button on their ears, which they will spend hours on when they are a little older. Mommy and Daddy also got a canvas print of one of our favorite photos of the boys.

They got antique toys that are replicas of toys their Great-Grandpa George had, from Great-Grandma Betty and Great-Grandpa George. They also got bath toys and bath towels from G-G Cloann.

The boys were very spoiled by Santa and our families this year. I wish I could list every gift they opened but the list would go on and on. I guess they were extra good this year.

Bryan and I must have been extra good too because we received the best gift ever only ours came before Christmas, on March 1, 2010.

The boys' cookies for Santa, with a little help from Dad and Mom

Kaden getting into the presents

Braylon wearing his Christmas jammies

The boys with Papa Mike (Braylon showing off his new obsession, screaming! and Kaden doing the fist pump, take note of Braylon's bed-head too.)


Braylon getting into the presents, he just couldn't wait any longer

The boys in front of the tree (Braylon left, Kaden right)

The boys opening gift from Great-Grandpa McNall

The boys playing with their gifts from Santa

Braylon

Kaden

Better Late Than Never, Right!?!

Sorry for the late Thanksgiving post. I hit the wrong button so it did not actually post it just saved it.
Also, sorry for not posting as often. The boys have been extremely busy these days. They are crawling and into absolutely everything so we have to watch them constantly. Along with everything else life has thrown our way. I also have been picking up quite a few shift in the Emergency Room which has been great but exhausting too. The extra money is quite nice though.
I recently discovered that the lens to my really nice camera is broken and explains why a lot of the pictures I had been taking wouldn't turn out. I got out and charged my smaller camera that I carry in my purse and have been using it and getting pictures from Brenda too.
I will post a blog a pictures of our very special First Christmas with the boys very soon.