Silvey Family Update For September

My family has started doing a monthly update on our website and I figured it is something you all might enjoy reading too so here it is:

September was a crazy month. We had two soccer games every Wed and Fri and then we had one soccer practice every Tues and Thurs. In addition Rachel has piano lessons every Tues and we try to do Family Home Evening every Mon. Needless to say our weeks were CRAZY! Caleb and I both let out a sigh of relief after the last game was over. However, Bryant and Kaylee were not ready to be done. Thankfully the weather held out for the games and we only had one day that was rainy and cold.
In addition to the crazy soccer schedule we had three birthdays (Caleb, Rachel, and Sara) to celebrate and Caleb was gone for 6 days. He happened to be traveling to Texas for business the same week as the BYU/Texas game in TX. So, for his birthday he was able to stay two extra days and go to the game with some friends of ours that live there. He had a blast of course and came home to a very relieved wife. ;-)
Heather has started playing volleyball at the church once a week for a couple of hours. The first night I had to come home and ice my arms and my hip, but I know each time will be a little easier and it really helps me to get out and do something I enjoy. Our ward has also started a Zumba class once a week during the day with a nursery for kids. I thought, "Fun exercise with free sitters... um, heck yeah!" I also met with an orthopedic doctor for a bunion on my left foot and we have scheduled surgery for that on November 16th.
Rachel is loving her piano lessons and practices every chance she gets. School is still going well for her and her teacher has realized that she likes to talk so she has already been moved. (She was sitting two desks over from her friend who also likes to talk.) She has also started writing a story and is enjoying that. For her birthday I pulled her out of school early and took her to pick out a necklace and two charms to go with. We then went window shopping and to DQ for ice cream. She also was lucky enough to get a glitter strand put in for free while we were window shopping. She is definitely 10 and starting to act like a giddy school girl. It's fun to watch... until she gets too giddy to get anything done. ;-) We also replaced the full bunk beds in the girls room with double bunk beds so that we can sleep all the girls in the bunk beds and get Sara off the crib mattress on the floor and into her own bed. They love it!!!
Kaylee is sad that soccer is over, but still tries to get outside a lot. I walk to school with them once a week and she really enjoys taking the trail and picking up speed on her bike then. She has taken to drawing recently and thoroughly enjoys it.
Bryant is also missing soccer, but is enjoying some times to play video games and with his Lego's. School is going great for him this year. He comes home almost every day and tells me that school was "awesome." It's so good to hear. I've chatted with his teacher a few times to check on him and she also says he's doing awesome! YAY, Bryant!!! He has grown a lot since last year. Even at home he is much more helpful and we have very few tantrums compared to last year. It's fun to see him so excited about school and hobbies. Bryant also had his yearly check-up for his heart murmur. He is still doing good. His doctor said there is a little thickening of the valve but it is normal. They will watch it and if it gets too bad there are medications that can help, but she said he isn't anywhere near that. She reminded us that he shouldn't play football or wrestling and if he does weightlifting it should only be for strength, not bulk (meaning any weight he lifts he should be able to lift it at least 13 times consecutively).
Sara is still cute as ever. She is very helpful and likes to hold Brooklyn. When she gets dressed with a skirt or dress she will come to me and say, "Look Mom, I'm so pretty," as she sways her skirt around. I've learned that if I ever tell her she's pretty and she's not wearing a skirt I get in so much trouble. She loves to be outside and to be with her siblings, but she also plays good on her own while they are gone. She got squinkies, bath letters, and a sleeping bag for her birthday and she still tells everyone she meets what she got. her older siblings have squinkies and so they all play and trade together with them. They also like being able to earn them for doing chores, etc at home. (I love easy rewards.)
Brooklyn is growing fast! She has started to reach for things and is discovering her hands and feet. She is always full of smiles and sleeps through the night (8pm-9am) most of the time, which makes Mommy happy. Her daytime schedule is still a little irregular, but I know it will get there eventually. She rolled over for the first time in the beginning of September and we all cheered for her. The kids plopped her right back on her stomach and watched her roll over again. They repeated it 4 more times and she rolled over each time. She has been rolling from her stomach to her back ever since. She's looked close to rolling from her back to her stomach, but hasn't done it yet.
I still feel like I am running crazy most of the time but I try to breathe and enjoy the moments. November is going to be crazy: I'm doing a wedding cake, having my surgery, and then Thanksgiving. So, I'll try to get our update in, but we'll just have to see how that goes. Till next time...

Heart Murmur Check-up

Bryant's yearly check-up was a few weeks ago and I actually remembered to take some pictures. His check-up went fine. His doctor said there is a little thickening of the valve but it is normal. They will watch it and if it gets too bad there are medications that can help, but she said he isn't anywhere near that. She reminded us that he shouldn't play football or wrestling and if he does weightlifting it should only be for strength, not bulk (meaning any weight he lifts he should be able to lift it at least 13 times consecutively).

Here they are doing an ultrasound of his heart. He was excited to learn that he got to watch a movie during this part.

He has 13 of these sensors across his torso. He did great until time to take them off. He insisted on doing it by himself, and slowly... until I showed him that it really is less painful to rip them off quickly.

We love his pediatric cardiologist. She has monitored him since he was born and is always so great with him.

He really was such a trooper. Of course he didn't mind that he got to miss a full day of school because it's such a drive to get to the doctor office. On the way home we stopped at McDonald's for a late lunch and he was super excited to get a happy meal.