Update

Ok, I realize I am really behind in posts and that mainly happened because I lost the cord to my phone that connects it to the computer. I couldn't get any of my pics off my phone and post them. So now that I have successfully downloaded all of them, I can catch up all the way from September at Avery's birthday. 

Picture Update (September):

Avery wanted a Minion party this year. One of her favorite movies has been the Despicable me series and since the rest of her life is saturated with princesses, ponies and pink, I was more than happy to oblige. 

 Blowing out the candles:

Unfortunately, most my pics of the family came out blurry cause I didn't have my flash on, but at least there is proof Avery really did like something at one time that wasn't pink!

At the Woodlands mall after Avery's bday:

Avery's class at school is called the Ladybug class and each of the kids gets to take home the class (stuffed toy) ladybug and take care of it for a week. The teachers ask that you take pics of things you did with your ladybug will she came to visit. Then they post them in the class book of Ladybug's travels. It's a very cute idea. 

Playing barbies and dress-up:

At swim lessons:

At ballet:

(October)

Lunch with Mommy after dance one day - Avery loves going to the salad place:

Out for Mexican one weekend:

Out for brunch:

At the Houston zoo:

Avery like to play model when she gets new clothes:

Miles' boosterthon fun run at school. He ran 42 laps and earned over $250 for his school:

Miles with hid teacher:

Having fun at school lunchtime with friends:

(November)

Avery's school pic - taken from my phone. Hopefully someday I will replace this with the scanned picture we have.

Miles got straight As his first grading period for second grade. Even though he has missed a lot because of his surgeries, he hasn't seemed to have any trouble keeping up with his school work. He is lucky to have two great teachers who push him to do well. So proud of how much his work ethic has improved.:

Chest incision healing. He had some sort reaction to the tape, that is why is appears all red around it. 

1st ear after stage 2&4 with stitches still in:

Stage 1 side #2, with little ear still in place to save cartilage and skin for stage 3:

One week later after stitches came out:

One week later after stitches came out:

More Avery modeling a new outfit:

Two weeks after stitches removal:

Thanksgiving pictures:

One of Avery's made up outfits:

Visiting Miles for lunch, with his toothless grin:

After 10 years it was time for new couches. Unfortunately they wouldn't be delivered until after Christmas, but we waited that long, what's a few more weeks? The kids are still young enough to enjoy furniture shopping with us. We didn't buy this, but they seemed to like it. Hopefully we won't screw them up so badly they spend the rest of their lives in therapy on one!

Sadly, I only have two pics from xmas. Chris took some with the nicer camera, until the battery died. But here is the tree with some of the gifts before the kids got to it and the next is them opening their stockings waiting for the grandma's to arrive:

(January)
New bathing suit for swim privates:

New outfit for Valentines Day:

Wall of Water, downtown Houston:

Houston Arboretum, hiking nature trails:

  New outfit for spring(can't wait for it to be warm again):

More school lunch fun:

Snuggling with teddy after swim and dance:

Houston aquarium (not very big at all!):

Here are some pics from my mom's camera that she emailed over:

That is a long overdue update from September through January. Avery has a dance recital this weekend and Miles will have another surgery at the end of the month. I'm sure those pics will take me a long time to post as well.

Well "that's all (for now) folks"!!!!

Surgery #2

Miles had his second surgery in San Antonio in October. He had stage 1 again on his other side and stage 2 and 4 on the first side that already had stage one. Since we had already been through one surgery, we were somewhat prepared for this one, but each surgery has proven to have its challenges and this one was completely different than the first. Still up to this point I don't think the ears have caused a whole lot of pain or discomfort, but the drains and the rib surgery have done more than their share. I think Miles is relieved to know he won't have to go through the rib grafting again. His recovery the second time has been much slower, but he is finally back at school and will have his stitches out tomorrow. I will post more pictures after this weekend. Both ears are healing well and Miles is finally feeling more like himself again. We will go back to San Antonio for the next surgery in January, but for now we are taking a break and going to enjoy all of the holiday activities.

Getting ready to be released from the hospital:

Picking up some groceries a few days after surgery:

Stage 1 on the second ear. His small ear remains in place until the next surgery where the doctor will utilize the skin and cartilage from it before removing it and attaching the earlobe:

First side that had stage 2 - earlobe and stage 4 - tragus - little piece of cartilage in front of the ear opening:

Unfortunately the kids had to celebrate Hallloween in San Antonio a few days after Miles surgeries. They were good sports about it and got dressed up anyway. We found a local mall doing trick or treating within the stores and took the kids with Miles' wheelchair to trick or treat and make sure they could still get candy. Even though Miles didn't walk, he was still pretty worn out by the time we were done. The kids actually made out pretty well and I think they seemed to enjoy themselves. Miles wore his costume from the year before, for convenience, since we didn't know if he would even be able to go out and Avery was Ariel. These are a few pics from the hotel room before we left.

 After the anxiety ridden drain removal, Miles felt good enough to share his video games with his surgeon, Dr. Bonilla. He is not only a brilliant surgeon, but he is fantastic with kids.

 Once we got home, I was able to remove the chest dressing after a week and take a picture. The redness around it is just a skin reaction to the adhesive. This didn't happen the last time, but the doctor says it is harmless and at this point it has almost disappeared: