While writing about our new Pittsburgh cousin last night, I had no idea that he would be born just a few hours later!! Congratulations and welcome little baby Malcolm!

Our family was suffering serious cabin fever from being kept in by illness. We decided to head up to the snow. We ate lunch at this little cafe up in the mountains. I had to walk across the street to try to take a picture of the “snownados”. The wind was really blowing and whipping up big swirling funnels of snow in the fields. Of course, it wouldn’t do it while I stood there freezing with my camera in 20 degree weather.

Who’s kid is that in the window?

Oh

Good lunch

Big snow plows!

The boys dressed up like big walking pillows again. The forests are so beautiful in the winter.

Drawing a batman in the snow

Really fierce wind and blowing snow

Done

Trevor was cold but didn’t want to go

Loading up to get out of the wind

It was a good adventure and we came home to much warmer temperatures. Bill even got to pull a deeply stuck truck out of the snow on the side of the highway. There is a reason to always have a tow strap in the truck.

The boys should have been exhausted but didn’t want to go to sleep!

Merry Christmas too all!

We have had an uneventful week. Brendan came home on Monday and is doing well. We still have antibiotics and breathing treatments and he still needs some oxygen all day long. Keeping him on the string is challenging. But he is recovering.

Thanks to Gramma, aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends, the boys had a bunch of presents to open. Starting on Wednesday, I would randomly put a present under the tree when they were out of the room. They would notice and get all excited. Brendan said, “Mommy!! The Christmas tree farted out a present!” Whenever they were near the tree, they were watching it.

They got some awesome fast new slot cars with loops.

This morning, the rest of the pile appeared.

Almost 500 pieces to put together! The instructions said to allow 4-6 hours to build. It took about 2 and a half, with the boys “helping”. They were so eager to play!

Brendan has been asking for this for months. He was so happy to see the box. This also took a couple of hours to build, but it was awesome. One of my favorite Lego models so far – and we have lots!

The boys had a fun time. What kid doesn’t like to get awesome new toys? We missed our families and wish we could have been with all of them for the holiday. The last few weeks are a real blur and it is hard to believe it was Christmas day. I will probably start my gift shopping Monday. Better late than never!?

Extra love and hugs go to Pittsburgh tonight, a new baby cousin is only days away (or less!). I am glad Gramma arrived before he did!

Pseudomonas is a bacteria that is typically found in trach tubes. It is not usually a problem and does not typically infect healthy people. But if a kid like Brendan is compromised by another illness, the pseudomonas likes to join the party and can cause a serious infection in the lungs.
Brendan’s trach cultures revealed a pseudomonas infection and so he is being switched to a different antibiotic to knock it out.

He is slowly making progress on his oxygen weaning and made it down to 30%. Regular atmosphere at sea-level is about 21% oxygen so he has more improving to do. We are hopeful that he can come home on Monday.

He is feeling more like himself. He is going crazy that he is confined by short tubes and wires and really wants to roam. We are trying to keep him busy.

We are lucky that visitor restrictions are not in place so Trevor is able to come to the room when Bill and I trade shifts. Trevor made Brendan an artwork on the nurses’ dry erase board.

He even signed it with a “T”

Brendan has a distinct disadvantage in games of hide and seek.

Knock knock!

They are fascinated with this closet.

We have put almost 100 miles a day on our vehicles going back and forth to the hospital and Trevor has done every mile. While Bill stayed with Brendan yesterday, I took Trevor to his very first movie. We went to see “Minions” at the local cheap theater. Trevor lasted about 45 minutes and then wanted to leave. It was just too loud for him and the movie was not that good.
(sorry, really bad cell phone pic)

I have to rant for a moment. All the hospital stuff and illness and everything aside, one thing is really getting on my nerves. With rare exception, every single new person every day that enters Brendan’s room says, “ooh, where does the red hair come from?” It comes from magic red hair land. I don’t know. A leprechaun visited me in the hospital and waved his magic wand. I told a nurse yesterday, “I don’t know” and she says, “why, is he the mailman’s kid?” *wink* *wink* REALLY??! When the uncomfortable moment had almost passed, an RT walked in and said, “Where’s that red hair from?!” and they had a good laugh.
I know they are trying to make small talk or break the ice. It is annoying.
I don’t reply with, “Where did your freakishly large nose come from?”

Anyway. It is easy to feel more offended by things when you are exhausted. I hope he comes home soon.