Eli's Bike Riding! (With Pneumonia!)

This lasted weekend we decided to go and get some bikes.  Isaac desperately needed an upgrade, and Eli needed a bike for his size.  

Eli had been riding a balance bike for 3 months straight.  We wondered how he'd transition to a regular bike (we didn't even put on training wheels).  

HOLY SMOKES!  ELI IS AMAZING!  It seriously took him less than 10 seconds to get the hang of riding a bike.  He was a pro within 30 seconds: 

Isaac had been wanting to try and skate board.  He and Matt picked one out, and they were able to practice a bit.  After a bit Isaac WANTED to ride his bike.  That is a big deal, for he typically cries when we bring up riding bikes.  I think seeing his younger brother have so much fun with a bike and be so confident in just one day, gave Isaac the boost he needed.  

The rest of the Saturday was spent playing with the sweet new gear, and then having one of Isaac's friends at school come and play for a few hours.  SO FUN!

However on Sunday we noticed that Eli was pretty pale.  I decided to stay home with him from church, and Eli ended up taking a 3 hour nap.   Matt came home after hour 2 because Isaac was crying over his achy ears--and then Isaac took a nap.  The rest of the Sunday was spent chilling out and having dinner with our neighbors.  Our boys seemed well, maybe just a bit tired. 

Monday morning Isaac wakes me up at 6am and he's crying and clutching his eye because of pain.  I kind of freak out inside, but I'm able to set up an appointment for him.  After I drop Eli off at school I take Isaac to the doc's.  Ends up being allergies, but we get some good info about the swabs taken from Isaac the precious week:  he has a non contagious form of throat infection. 

And the chest X-ray Eli had on Friday?  Show's signs of Pneumonia!  Um… WHAT?!  Eli had been on anti-biotic since Thursday for "just in case," so he wasn't contagious and he was healing… But, he really did have Pneumonia.  Wow.  He got his oxygen levels taken later that day and it was sitting at 92 to 93.  When he'd breath deep it got up to 95.  So he's pretty good, and just getting better.  (We'll having another chest X-ray in two weeks to check that everything is cleared, along with another oxygen check.)

SO.  Here are pictures taken of Eli and Isaac riding one their first day with their new awesome stuff!  Pneumonia and throat-infection included! 

Introducing Matt's Guitar

It's pretty epic.  

And pretty beautiful, actually.  

We formal welcome the newest member of Matt's body:  his GUITAR!   ESP LDT Deluxe EC-1000

As Promised, Matt and Isaac CRASH

As I promised a post or two back, here is the crash which happened between Matt and Isaac:

It was kind of tragic when it happened, but very quickly the boys wanted to watch the video over and over again.  It's pretty much a classic in our home… They want to show everyone!  Haha.  

Days and Days of "Family Time"

Last weekend was Presidnets Day weekend, and Matt and the boys happened to have a 4 day weekend.  Holy fabulous!

We went to Bama and had a wonderful time with my parents; and a short visit from my brother-in-law was even included (he came down from Idaho to Bama for an interview for a graduate school.  FYI, he got into Auburn!).   Oh, Matt and I were able to stay the night at a hotel--ohlalala! 

A major highlight from the Bama trip was Matt being able to get a NEW guitar.  Freak out!  It's an ESP, with active pick-ups, and 24 frets... Which is awesome, right?! ;)  He says angles sang when he picked it up, for it's that amazing.  (He found it on his third stop at a music store.)

Note: This is not the guitar he picked out.  That's a whole post on its own.  

PS: I always love going into Five Guys and seeing that the potatoes are from Idaho. Happens almost every time (in the handful of times we go there each year). 

And on the way back to Savannah from Ba we stopped in ATL for a "quick trip to IKEA."  Um, when is a trip to IKEA ever quick?!  

We were also able to stop at a place for some fabulous New York style pizza joint called "Big Pie in the Sky."  It has been featured on the Man vs Food show.  Oh man.  So good!  Matt had been craving good New York style since Afghanistan.  Pretty sure it filled that craving--and then some!  So much good pizza. 

Once we got home we were able to set up out IKEA finds:  a new rug and an ottoman/footstool.  They're both amazing!  Love it, love it, love it.  

And that night we realized that the boys probably shouldn't go to school the next day: coughing galore, runny noses, and hints of fevers.  Well dang!  

This whole last week Eli and Isaac only went to school once.  Finally on Thursday they went and saw the doc (Isaac was up half the night on Wednesday with an ear ache).  Isaacs ear was clogged, so he got drops.  

But Eli was a bit more worrisome.  I had a feeling his oxygen was low, especially with his total lack of energy he had the last few days.  Well... His oxygen levels were around 90, sometimes 89 and one time peaking at 92.  I mean, we've seen a lot lower from Eli but that was before his last surgery.  This is probably the lowest recorded in 2 and a half years.  Me and the doctors were a bit concerned, so she put him on anti-biotics for a "just in case,"  then doing a swab to see if he had RSV or the flu,  and finally getting a chest X-ray at the army hospital to make sure the lungs were clear.  All came back good!  Just a cold!  (However it is concerning to me that "just a cold" can really knock him out... Ya know?)

So just a lot of family time this week!  I was able to take Eli by himself to Target.  One on one time is rare, especially for Eli!  And then when Matt would get home I would take Titus to the park to get some wiggles out (being home with two sick brothers made him crazy! Haha).

FINALLY!  The boys got a somewhat well on Friday.  After so much indoor-ness we needed some outside and run time.  We had a great family fun time outside, playing tag under the street lamps.  (Bikes and scooters make "tag" so much more interesting!). 

Our Family Photos with Matt's Sister

Guys, we are so lucky to have so much talent in our families.  It's so awesome to say: "Don't buy us anything for Christmas or birthday, just PLEASE take our pictures!"  Matt's sister Marcie did that for us this Christmas.  (To visit Marcie Meredith Photography click HERE)  Well it was actually her idea to do the photos for a gift, but we had NO problem with that idea :)

I really can't decide which ones to share or not to share, so I'm putting them all up here.
We were able to take them in a park in Downtown Savannah, and pretty much have the place to ourselves.  It was a chilly morning, but we were able to do get it all done in less than 30 minutes.  Titus was about to have a come-apart at the end, but luckily his photos still portray the happy boy he usually is.

I also dressed us in Florida Sate University themed colors on purpose ;)  We did a Boise State University color themed photos already, and since FSU was going to the National Championship this year it was my turn, haha.  I don't think the colors are too contrived--just a hint of Seminole Nation!  Go NOLES!  (Click HERE to see the Boise family photos.)

The dog wanted to join our family.  Sorry, pup!