Fall festivities!!

A big hello to my loyal readers.  As always, I will start right where we left off.  I went to the University of Iowa for my check up on August 28th.  I weighed 38lbs 5.8oz and was 3 feet 7 inches tall.  My weight has been steady but I am not gaining like I should. Daddy thinks maybe we should try an appetite stimulant medication to help me gain weight.  They did not do the bronchscopy as scheduled because my nose was stuffy. Instead they put me on a new medication called Qnasl.  This is a steroid nasal spray to help with inflammation.  They will try the scope again in the spring when I will hopefully be healthy. 

Also that week, Brynn caught a stomach virus and had to stay home from daycare.  Lots of popsicles for her.

On August 31st, we traveled to Maquoketa to celebrate Grandma Kris's birthday.  We also celebrated Grandpa Bob's because his was the 22nd.  We brought a cake and sang happy birthday.  Brynn couldn't come because she was battling a stomach bug so she stayed with Grandma Ann and Grandpa Bill at their house.

While we were in Maquoketa, we had tickets for the Quad City Airshow.  We braved hurricane Isaac's remnants and went on Sept 1st.  It was a cold, windy and rainy day but we made the best of the situation.  Here I am enjoying fries and chicken tenders.

Unfortunately, a pilot lost his life while flying at the airshow.  Mom snapped this picture shortly before the crash.  The pilot on the left later crashed across the airstrip into an alfalfa field.  It happened so quickly and we were so shocked.  We weren't sure what to do so we went to our car to make a decision whether to stay or go.  We later decided to leave.

We also took a weekend to go camping at Eden Valley. Here is Brynn by the fire.

 

We also hiked to the tower and the swinging bridge several times.

Our friends, Ava and Caleb Petersen came out for a visit too!

October 14th we took Grandma and Grandpa Ottemans camper and traveled to Minnesota to visit Grandpa Larson for the weekend.  We had a great time playing golf, bowling, swinging and sleeping in the camper.

And of course, lots of four wheeler rides. We always have a good time in Minnesota.

On September 25th, we welcomed another niece into the family.  Evangeline Anna Rose Larson was born.  I hope we get to meet her soon! Unfortunately, Brynn also came down with croup this day.  She had a 105.2 temperature and she had to go on steroids for a week.  She got better but I caught a cold from her :(
September 28th, I got tubes in my ears.  They did the procedure at Mercy Hospital because of my CF. It was quick and painless and we were home in no time.  I had a little pain in my right ear when we got home but a little Ibuprofen was all it took to help with the pain.  Bad news is, I got an ear infection the next weekend and have since had another one since I have had my tubes.  We know the tubes are still in because my ear drains when I do get an infection.  I now have to wear ear plugs whenever I am in or around water.  Dr. Dempenwolf gave me two different pairs and they are blue; my favorite color!

Grandma Ann turned 60 on October 8th.  We had a little party at our house the day before. Lasagna and cheesecake for everyone!

Mommy and Daddy came to my school conferences on Oct. 8th.  Mrs Ryder said I am doing well and in fact I excel in math!  My only down fall is rhyming.  Mom found some rhyming books and we read them often.  I'm starting to understand rhyming words but we continue to work on them.
Brynn and Mommy went to Bloomsbury Farms on Oct. 20th.  I decided I didn't want to go so Dad and I stayed home to clean the garage.  She got to sit on a giant chair.

And measure herself with the giant measuring stick.

Jumping on a huge inflatable pillow was a hit!

The pig races were next. Brynn thought they were funny. She then took a ride on a "train".

Last but not least, they took a hay ride and got "lost" in the corn maze. 

They brought pumpkins home for us to carve. Here we are with our pumpkins before Mom and Dad carved them.

On the 28th, we went to Maquoketa to trick or treat with all the Grandparents.  Brynn and I had fun handing out candy at Grandma and Grandpa Eaton's house.  On the 31st, Kenley and Kyanna came over and we went trick or treating in our neighborhood.  Here we are all dressed up.  I was a doctor and Brynn was Minnie Mouse.

I'd also like to share with you our newest member of the family.  His name is Gil and he is our guinea pig.  We love to take him out of his cage and pet him.  Dad also bought Gil a playpen to run around in and then we can also get in with him.

Here are a few random pictures of us.  Here I am hanging out.

Dad also bought me a Spiderman shaving kit! He taught me how to shave.

Here are Brynn and I having suckers in Daddy's truck.

Sissy was sick so I had to give her a once over.

Here Brynn is showing us her turkey hand prints at preschool.

I sometimes get tired when I do my treatments.

Brynn and her crazy style :) The cowboy boots use to be Grandma Kris's when she was little.

And last but not least, Brynn and I sleeping together in Mom and Dad's bed.  Proof that we really do love each other :)

That's it for now.  I'm pooped!  Until next time.

Love and hugs to all,

Luke William and Brynn Elyse

Hello everyone, time for another quick update.  We took a family vacation out to Colorado at the beginning of August.  We stayed with our friends Sol, Erin, and baby Josie!!  We drove up to Estes park for some racing fun.

Next up we hit the golf course.

 Brynn's favorite part of the day was the big slide.

I liked the bumper cars, I think I gave Daddy whiplash!!

Sol and Daddy spent the night camping in Estes park but I went back to Sol and Erin's house with Mommy, Erin, Brynn, and Josie.  We had pizza and played with the dogs.

The next day we took a trip down to Littleton to see Great Uncle Kipp, Great Aunt Glenda, Great Uncle John, Great Aunt Cheryl, and cousins Clare, Taylor, Jayden, and Kaley.  We loved playing with all of our cousins.  Kipp made great fish tacos and we just played outside until it got dark and then we all piled on the couch to watch the Olympics.

The next day we met Josh, Angie, and Cash at the Denver Zoo.

Brynn and Cash had a little chat with a big gorilla.

We took a train ride through the zoo.

Then we took a ride on the carousel.

One of my favorite things at the zoo was the huge sleeping bats.

On our last day in Colorado we went to the butterfly pavilion.  We saw a lot of really neat butterflies, but my favorite are the blue ones.

Mommy held Rosie the tarantula but Daddy said no thanks!!

They had other neat stuff too like this starfish Brynn is petting.

Brynn and I tried to be spiders and climb in this web.

August 13th was the meet & greet for my kindergarten class.  I took all of my supplies in, met my teacher, and got to pick out my seat.  I started school on August 16th.

The next Friday night my friend Kenley spent the night at our house.  We got up the next morning and went to the Farmer's Market in downtown Cedar Rapids.  Kenley and I got our faces painted.

Then on Sunday we went to the Iowa State Fair.  We had fun riding the carousel, train, roller coaster, and ferris wheel.

I also had fun learning about farming and growing food.

At the end of the day Mommy and Daddy let us get a little something to take home.  Brynn picked out a Dora blow up and I picked out a Spongebob.

That's all for now.  I have a busy few weeks coming up with a bronchoscopy, the QC airshow, and Grandma Kris' B-day coming up.  Take care everyone.

Luke William & Brynn Elyse