15.5

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Hi all,
We've had a good past two weeks, though Ryan's "down" again. He came off the respiratory infection and the pneumonia cleared just fine, but when we went in for his well-baby exam they found double ear infections again. The doc thinks this is the same one from earlier in the year (orange fluid rather than white for you medical types). He believe we're not completely fighting it each time. So Ryan is now on a really powerful antibiotic, one so strong that his bottom is a mess. Our current regiment sounds like a baking recipe: he sits in oatmeal baths and we have to cover the ointment on his but with Crisco baking spread on top of about 5 other tactics. It's working though.

In addition to all this, Ryan Kerry has his first black eye. We'd like to claim that it was earned standing up for a beautiful young maiden. However, it's a result of a yo yo gone awry. He hit himself in the face just right and now he's a bruiser. (It's kind of adorable in a domestic assult kind of way.) Other than that he's doing great! Lots of talking these days. When Baylor won this past weekend, our friend Derek shouted out "Baylor?!?" to which Ryan replied "Baylor." It was so unexpected and really funny. He also loves to say "out" and "bird." His most common phrase these days is "what is that?" And at night he and Max play a game saying "night night" back and forth until Ryan gets the last word and Max is downstairs.

Other accomplishments include walking backwards, reaching doorhandles, playing outside pushing his lawn mower, pushing each and every button in site, brushing his teeth for the first time yesterday and DRINKING MILK. It finally happened. Had to go Organic Vanilla for now which we'll eventually cut to whole milk, but at least he's drinking the stuff.

In other news, Max leaves tomorrow for Florida with the baseball team. Just yesterday we realized he'll miss Easter and my Birthday (we like to live in the moment). We've decided to postpone the secular part of the celebration until the weekend he returns since Ryan is starting to understand the holidays. My parents made it home from Arizona yesterday after a month long stay. I surprised them with Ryan and they were so excited. Tonight's a family pizza dinner to welcome them home and send Max off. I swear, it's a revolving door here. Someone from our little family of the three of us has been out off state every month since Christmas! After Florida we're staying put for a while. I think that's all the news for now...but it's early...and I'm positive I've forgotten something! We'll catch it on the next one.

Love,
Court, Max + Ryan

Curly top after a huge nap Sunday with mommy on the couch. He's starting to love to cuddle.


Ryan had his first visit to a farm Sunday. We saw over 20 lambs and 15 sheep. (Our friend's son owns a farm).

First time walking in big boy shoes. He loved the clomping noise they made.

Though you'd have hoped he was excited by all the lambs, it was the cat and dogs that he was thrilled about.

Much like taking your kid to Disney only to have them scream scared at the characters, Ryan was ok with the lambs for about 15 seconds and then lost it.


We were visited by our own leprechaun on St. Paddy's day!

Ryan likes to mimic us vacuuming (with his popper) and cleaning up after meals.

He's obsessed with feeding himself from the same forks as we eat with. Somehow he got the peas on his tray down, though he looks as amazed as we were!

15 Months

Monday, March 15, 2010

This just in: Max has won Father of the Year!

Ok, no one other than me has bestowed this award upon him. But, none the less, it's deserved! Last week I got called away on business (The American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons in New Orleans) and Max stepped up in a big way. Ryan spiked a fever two Saturday's ago. Tuesday it was still high and Max stayed home with him. By Wed it was still there and Ryan wasn't eating much.

While I sat in Midway Airport, Max made his way to the urgent care with Ryan late Wednesday night, only to discover he had a bacterial respiratory infection with a touch of pneumonia. Thursday Max nursed Ryan back to health and by Friday when I returned my skinny little boy was waiting for me at the window! He's dropped some weight but is starting to gain it back. The antibiotic is helping, though his tiny butt is broken out beyond belief! Needless to say, as I trucked around the convention hall (40,000 male doctors and device salesmen, I think about 3 women and lots of images of bloody surgeries and scary tools) New Orleans was about the last place I wanted to be. But Max did a great job and in the end, the trip turned out to be very fruitful for ddm and our team. And yes, I did see Bourbon Street for the first time. However, I was in bed by 9pm.

Today, Ryan is back to his old self. Runny nose, but back to his old self again. He's pretty funny these days. And smart. Sunday he was reading his color book and when it got to the shoes page, he got up, talking to himself, and ran to the back hall and brought me back my shoes...matching shoes from the vast pile of options! He's great at putting his puzzle together (check out our latest YouTube video). And his dancing has taken on an Aerosmith-esque swagger. He's talking a ton and loves his stick on tub letters. X is his favorite to say. Every car/truck/suv is called a "tu-tu." And most other things are called "apples." (I think this is his word for any food, actually).

That's about it for now. We're excited for Spring and can anticipate it with weather like we had today. We actually got to take a walk in 50ยบ temperatures! Ryan loves watching the birds out the window. Baseball tryouts started today for Max, so the longer this weather can stay, the better!

Love to you all,
Court, Max + Ryan

PS. Please keep our dear friends, the Elzinga's, in your thoughts and prayers. Carrie's grandfather passed away Friday, surrounded by three generations of family. We should all be so loved.


The little prepster. We're starting to take the binkie away, however, since he's been so sick and unhappy lately, we're caving a bit.

Climbing under things and on top of things is what's in these days. I was questioning if he'd outgrown this toy since it's evolved since he was born into its current form, but now he can crawl through it, so the dj station lives on!

Can you say sick and miserable? Poor little man.

I think he's trying to imitate Cali here.

"This is how I role." - Ryan Kerry

What the heck?

Friday, March 5, 2010

Many of you might be wondering about the state of the blog...With the addition of Max's blog for school, the identity had to be changed so kids did not find our personal blog on the web, so you'll be getting posts from here on out from Northview Wellness. Sorry for the change. Also, I think a post wen out twice, so I apologize for the repetition!

In other news:
Check out the latest video of the boy at: www.Youtube.com/maxandcourt

Also, we had family portraits taken two weeks ago. You're welcome to check out the winners (and the losers) at http://www.candiddesigns.com/index2.php

Click "Clients" at the bottom of the page and use the password "Kerry".
Kerry must be key capped.

Hope you each have a great weekend!

14.75

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Hi all,
The sun is finally shining in Michigan and you can feel Spring on it's way. Chances are that now that I've posted this, next week we'll see a blizzard!

This week marks the beginning of Max's busiest season. Some would think football would top the list, but between a manic baseball schedule (over 30 games in 1.5 months), Spring training in Florida, and the conclusion of the school year, he's swamped. Tonight is also the start of parent-teach conferences. If that wasn't enough, he's just started a blog Wildcat Wellness (for students) and is helping to craft the state online curriculum for health. Yeah, he's a busy guy. But he always finds time for us!

Ryan is getting funnier and funnier everyday. Most evening we sit in the family room and he's the entertainment. Funny moments this week:

He goes over the the iPod and says "More" meaning, play my "Sharing Song." It's a blues song about sharing by Jack Johnson. The second it comes on, he's dancing. And the dancing has evolved beyond the bouncing you've seen before. Now it's as if he has a hula hoop around is waist that he's trying to keep up. He tolerates the song after it and even the two slow tunes after that, but the minute those wind down, he's saying "uh-oh."

Saturday when I was unloading the dishwasher, he decided to remove the decorative grate on the bottom of the fridge. I then had to lay on my side like an auto mechanic and figure out how it went on. No small task it turns out. Ryan thought this was hilarious, but what put him over the edge was figuring out he could sit at my feet and tickle them! Lately he's been trying to kiss our toes or lay his head on our feet. Weird! Especially considering my scarred up, mangled feet!

Other things he likes lately include: turning daddy's alarm clock off and on before bed time, grabbing everything he can off the kitchen table, chasing Cali, laying on Cali, hugging Cali, feeding Cali....basically, Cali is his favorite thing! He's also constantly talking to himself. And when he's no doing that, he's squealing like a teapot. Today at the store (with tall echoey ceilings and breakable everything) he was letting himself be heard! First public melt down. He's asleep now.

That's all from Michigan for this week. Hope each of you are looking forward to Spring and seeing the sun!
Court, Max + Ryan

Ryan's very first drawing. An important moment for a mom who is an artist!

Ryan celebrating toes and learning about body parts. He knows toes and nose. And loves to stick his fingers in my mouth...and try to feed us.

The binkie boys!

Just like his momma...he loves spaghetti.

Cali is his favorite member of the family these days.

We've spent Sunday's outdoor lately. Ryan loves the fresh air and riding in his new wagon.

Check out the tummy on this boy!

Sweet child loves being pulled through the snow in his wagon.