Our cute kiddos

I just wanted to put some pics up of Bentley and her helmet. She's starting to really get used to the idea of it, although she still sweats like crazy when she sleeps. But even though she's getting better, her favorite time of day is still the hour she gets to have it off. Mine too. We finally get to cuddle with her like a regular baby. :)

Cyrus is still getting used to having her around. We had to bribe him to get this close. Kids are so funny sometimes.





She loves this little puppy.

And loves her hands! I cannot keep them out of her mouth. Oh well, at least its not a thumb. She doesn't love her bop, but she has tracheomalacia and a tiny throat and sinuses so I think it's hard for her to breathe and suck at the same time.

Christmas and New Years

Christmas morning was really fun this year. Santa did a pretty good job with Cyrus' presents. He liked all of them and had fun playing. He especially liked his tractors. You can tell by the look on his face. :)

Bentley didn't make it long. She's used to waking up at 6 and then going back to bed, not staying up to open presents. But she did look super cute with her christmas bow. Thanks Miranda!


For New Years every year we go out to Travis' moms and spend the night. We have tons of food, crab for dinner (Yum!) and play games and watch movies. It was a lot of fun. We danced the night away on the Wii, stayed up way too late, and thekids got up way too early. :)

Bentley spent most of the evening sleeping. Our little miss just loves her sleep.


We were all exhausted by the end of the night. You can sure tell huh? :)

Cyrus loved staying up late and clinking our cups.

Christmas...

I gotta say the magic of Christmas is definitely bigger with kids! Cyrus was so in to Santa this year. We saw him 3 times at the mall. He began by telling him he wanted toys (as a parent I LOVE that answer!), then the week of Christmas he was so upset after we went to buy Bryker's birthday present (a nerf gun) and Cyrus decided he needed on for Christmas and Santa didn't know. So because it was almost Christmas he got to call Santa and tell him what he wanted. Thanks Spence, we owe you bigtime!

Christmas Eve we went to Hogle Zoo with my brother and sisters and had a ball. There weren't many people there and the animals were so excited to see the kids. The gorillas were doing fun tricks, and when the trainer came out she was having them do even more. She asked Cyrus to put his hand up on the glass so the gorilla would play and put his next to it, and he said, "No I'm not a monkey!" We had so much fun.

Bent spent most of the time in the stroller like this, or being held. It was pretty cold for a little one, and her plastic helmet gets really cold, but she was a trooper.

My sis Liz with her boys...

Us...

Amy, Brian, Jaron, and the soon to be baby girl.

Ben and Johanna and their kids

Bentley's Surgery

Our sweet Bentley went in for her surgery on Friday. This is before the surgery...
And this is after. Poor thing. :(
But even by the next day she was feeling better and SMILING! Her first real smiles were the day after her surgery. It's hard to imagine anyone smiling after all she went through, but I think she still just felt so much better without all the pressure in her head.

She wasn't able to keep her food down well so we were in there 4 days and 3 nights. Long and tiring nights sharing a room with a sad 2-year-old.

But now, a week post surgery, she's feeling so much better. She's much more aware, her eyes are no longer wonky, and you can just tell she's healthier. Who would have guessed a surgery would have changed so much in our little one.

Cyrus loves trying to make her smile now.

Here's our happy girl! We are so blessed.

Here's a bit about her surgery for those who want to keep reading...

The surgery lasted about 2 times as long as we had anticipated. Luckily I had my parents, and Trav and his mom to try and keep me distracted. They cut out the bone from the bridge of her nose to the crown of her head. There was so much pressure that the derma of the brain was pinched in her skull so they had to stitch it together (sounds like the neurologist did an awesome job) and her bone was so thick there it took awhile to shave it down so it will grow correctly. Her hemoglobin was low so she did have to have a transfusion, but we were expecting that. But the surgeons did an amazing job and we were lucky they were able to do it endoscopically so she has a smaller scar and can heal better. I was so happy when I was finally able to go into recovery and see her, and we definitely spoiled her while in the hospital. I don't think she was in her bed except to sleep at night.

We are so thankful for everyone's thoughts and prayers and glad the surgery is over and she can start healing. :)