October Update

October has been a busy month for us, which hasn't left much time for blogging! This post is October in a Nutshell.

Asher turned 4! These pictures were of him before he got to open his present. He makes me laugh.

For his birthday he got a Captain America costume, and we went to the zoo with Baron. The weather was beautiful, and Captain America got tons of attention, which he soaked up!

 Everett had a blast playing in the dirt... directly after we applied sunscreen. Not our best move ever.

Sean picked a billion grapes from his parent's house, and also from our backyard neighbors, Pat and Renee's bush. He went to town and made delicious grape juice. Without adding any sugar, it was the most delicious grape juice EVER. I'm so glad he loves figuring this stuff out.

We really enjoyed the beautiful weather we had throughout the entire month of October. We got out and enjoyed it a lot!

Brayden was showing me how one of his baby teeth didn't grow in. He loves telling people that. We'll see how much he (and we!) like it when he needs braces!

We went to the Pumpkin Patch with the Grahams. I think we've gone with them 3 years in a row now? Definitely considered a tradition at this point.

This was the best Everett would give us. He was not a fan of the camera then!

Grandma and Grandpa Harston and Uncle Will came to visit us for the weekend to come see the Primary Presentation in Sacrament meeting that Brayden and Asher both participated in, that I was in charge of. They came to Grandma and Grandpa Janeway's with us and carved pumpkins with us. It was a blast!

Brayden got halloween makeup from Grandma J and went to town. She let him bring it home...

and this is what he looked like after washing it off! What a goober.


Uncle Will stayed an extra 4 days after G & G Harston left, and we took him to Pump It Up. I can't tell who's having more fun!

Asher is in a Gymnastics class and is loving it. His teacher tells me every week how impressed she is with his abilities, and she absolutely loves having him in her class. He is a fast learner and is definitely coordinated!

We went to the zoo again when Uncle Will was here. We went with the Grahams and the Bushman's this time. It was so fun to get all of these boys together!

We went Trick or Treating out in Banks with Brooklyn, Tyler, and Aaron. We were out for about an hour and the boys got tons of candy. Thank goodness for the red food dye allergy that allowed me to throw over half of it away without them complaining!

Another thing that happened in October, was Ryan and Heidi's precious baby Jordan was born. He was born on October 3rd, 2 days over his due date. The delivery went well, but they could tell something wasn't right. Jordan went to the NICU and still, 6 weeks later, is there. Long story short, the nerves in his neck and throat didn't fully develop. His vocal chords, swallowing muscles, and tongue were partially paralyzed. His ears are shaped a little differently, and he has a hole in his heart. We also recently found out that his kidneys aren't functioning properly. Over the past 6 weeks, his vocal chords have started working, and I think his swallowing muscles as well. The doctors are hopeful that the tongue will follow suit. At the beginning of November, Jordan had a Tracheostomy done. Before this was done, his vitals kept dropping, and the nurses had to keep sucking secretions out of Jordan's throat that he couldn't manage on his own. He struggled breathing through these...it was like breathing with one nostril under water. The trach allows Jordan to breath below the secretions, allowing him to spend his energy on healing, not just surviving. He has made great progress since getting the trach put in, and is scheduled to come home Tuesday. YAY!

He will have surgery on his heart when he's a toddler, and it is possible that Jordan will get the trach removed around his first birthday. It's also possible that the trach could be in his whole life, but we are praying and hopeful that that isn't the case. He is being fed through a peg and aren't sure how long that will be in either.

This boy and his family have been so blessed with miracles, blessing, and outpourings of love from family, friends and ward members. The amount of people that have come out of the wood work to bring that family meals, dessert, and other tender mercies is astounding. I am so very grateful for this Gospel and for the Love of Christ that bring people together in a time of hardship to buoy those that need buoyed.

Get better soon Baby Jordan!