Merry Christmas

FROM THE MACKAY FAMILY

Doctors, Doctors, Doctors

I have seen so many doctors in the past month for the kids and I, I'm sick of em!

Zachary:
First off, on 11/7 we had a behavior health specialist person come and evaluate Zachary. I mentioned in his one year check up that his doctor was concerned about him being behind. Well the lady did her evaluation and said that she didn't seem too concerned about him but if I wanted to just ease my mind I could have the behavior health team evaluate him. So on 11/15 was the big evaluation and he did great. He's just right where a 13 month old should be. He is a little behind social wise but other than that he's fine. I don't know what his doctor was smoking ;p haha!

Allie:
Along with Zachary being evaluated, I set up a speech screening for Allie to see if she qualified for speech therapy and she had that on 12/5. The first thing they did was test her hearing. And from what they told me (and what I understand) is she has some hearing loss so that could be one reason why she has a delay in her speech. I am too set her up with an ENT so they can to more advance hearing tests. I'm like great first its my sons sight now my daughters hearing... whats next?? But the lady is sure she'll qualify for speech therapy and once we move onto Schriever we'll get that all sorted out. Also Allie got another urinary tract infection this month. That's number 2 and it was a rough one for her. Her doctor ordered a ultrasound to see if her kidneys were okay. I guess if baby's and toddlers get a bladder infection and it doesn't go away their kidneys can stop working or something. Well we went in for her ultrasound today and everything seems to be working great (as far as the tech is sure). Allie didn't really like the ultrasound but that's because it was something new to her. I just pray that she doesn't get anymore.

Mommy:
I saw a new neurologist back on 11/9, he's a bit of an odd ball. Well with every new doctor I see they always order an EEG. I absolutely hate those. This one I had to be sleep deprived - where I could only sleep 4 hours. The sleep deprived ones are hard on me especially now that I have kids. Anyways.. I had the EEG done on 12/8 and I wont know the results till my doctors appointment next Friday. I'm prayer for good news.

Daddy:
Todd has been having more problems with his hips again and is now having to go to physical therapy for it. A couple weeks ago he had to get a shot of something injected into his hip and ever since then he's been having physical therapy. Now you ask what happened to his hip? If I can remember I believe he injured it during basic sometime and has been having problems with it ever since.

But that's all the medical so far. The only other appointments I have to deal with is the kids eye appointment at the end of the month and I believe that one we find out if Zachary will need eye surgery or not and then my appointment on Friday.

Web Cam Fun

Whenever I Skype I like to take pictures after I'm done with the call. I do it just for fun and its usually with Allie. She and I have a blast doing it. I have been wanting to blog about the pictures but I couldn't figured out where the pictures were or how to get to them until now.

This one was taken back in Georgia - 7/2010

Z is Walking

Zachary is now walking everywhere!! And he loves it. He was walking here and there around his first birthday but at 13 months he's been a full time walker. And Allie seems to like him so much more now. The two love to run and chase each other its so cute!!!

Look at me!!!

Christmas Time

Oh its beginning to look a lot like Christmas, well in our house that is. Outside now that's a different story. I usually put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving but with us being in Utah then it was kinda hard so I decided to wait till the beginning of December to put it up. So today Todd and I put it up along with help from Allie. She had so much fun decorating the tree. And I loved seeing the excitement in her eyes while decorating it. I can't wait till both kids can decorate it together. I also was excited to use my "Beary Merry Christmas" count down to Christmas calender this year (as pictured below). Its a little bear trying to find Christmas and everday you move him in a different spot, ex: he looks in the pond or under the bed, etc. I remember my grandma having a calender hung up in the playroom and when we'd go up there for Christmas I loved moving him around. I loved this tradition. And now that I have kids I'm going to pass the tradition on to them and my future grandkids.

And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care

New Cousin

Allie and Zachary have a new cousin and its finally on my side of the family!!! Whitney, my sister, had her baby girl McKenzie who was born on October 24, 2011 and weighed 4lbs 5oz (she was 5 weeks early).

Now isn't she just the cutest!!

We were able to go home and spend Thanksgiving with our family and spend some more time with them. I didn't take many pictures which I regret but I did get some of the kids with my dad and a couple from a play group that I had with my friends. But it was just nice to see everyone and I'm sad that we wont be home for Christmas.

Zachary having fun with grandpa

Had lunch with grandpa. The kids sure love grandpa. Allie also went and spent a day with grandpa and aunt Breanna and then spent the night with them.

Visted with friends and had a play date

Breaking Dawn!!

Breanna and I planned to go to the "Breaking Dawn Part 1" way before it even started showing, I believe it was back when she was still living in Australia. Well the day the tickets went on sale I bought us the tickets and to be honest with you, I didn't even know that was the day they went on sale I just saw someone on facebook bought theirs so I said to myself why not go buy ours, (and wow I totally lucked out!). The movie was so awesome!! And I'm so so excited for part 2. Oh and Breanna bought her and I the awesome shirts we are wearing. And I still love her even though she's Team Jacob ;p

Here are some fun pictures of the kids. Mainly Allie. I just wanted to have them in the blog for when I print it as a book. So enjoy...

Allie has been dressing her self lately and this is one of her outfits she'd come up with one day: a hat, pj top (inside out and backwards) and tights. I am so proud of all that she's doing yet sad she's growing up so fast.

The kids helping daddy with the laundry

Allie kept getting into Nana's make up bag and well this was the result of it

Hurrican Allie hit

Hello Four Eyes

I've never need glasses in my life because my eyes have always been so good. Well over the past couple years they have gotten pretty bad. So I went to the eye doctor and found out that I have become near sighted and have a slight astigmatism. So now I am an owner of a new pair of glasses. They work great and I love them especially at night.

By Gosh, I Think She's Got It!!!

Guess who's FINALLY potty trained!!

Allie's Curls + Dr Visit

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE my baby girls curls?!?! Well if I haven't, I love them so much!!!

Allie also saw the doctor today. This was her 3 year check up. I totally forgot to set her one up and so once I remembered, this was the soonest they could get us in LOL. Well as for her stats she is:

Weight: 28lbs
Height: 36in

Doctor said she's doing great and that was happy news for me! I forgot to mention last week I took her in for a possible UTI and she ended up having one so now I have to take her in to an ultrasound to make sure the infection is gone. Now I'm just waiting for that appointment to come (we have a while). But other than that she's doing great!!!

Catching Up: Halloween

I'm doing a little catching up so please excuse all the posts I'm about to do ;p

We went to our good friends Amber and Chris Hogans place for Halloween. Allie and daddy went out around their neighborhood (soon to be ours) for some trick or treating while me and my mom stayed behind and passed out candy. It was a fun evening and made me more excited to move onto base!

Our cute Pirate Princess and Lil Tiger

Out trick or treating

Zachary's 1 Year Appt

Zachary had his one year appointment on Monday (2 weeks after he turned one). I was expecting to go in there and get his weight and stuff and then shots and be on our way. NOPE!!! I was at the doctors from 8:35am to 12:30pm. It was one long and emotional morning.
Zachary's stats are:

weight: 17lbs 7oz (0% - is off the charts still), 
height: 28.2in (5%) and 
head: 17.8in (48.2cm).

So he's still on the small side but that's okay, he's my lil baby boy ;p
As well as his weight being behind, he's behind developmental wise. He's acting more like a 6-8 month old than a one year old. So his pediatrician wants some behavior health people to come to our house and evaluate him and work with him. Ugh!!! They are coming on Monday so I'll have to update you on what they do and think.
Also the doctor thinks Zach might have a neurological problem because his right eye and right side of his mouth droops and he said that's not normal. So I have to take him to a Neurologist to see what they think. And now this is where I BLAME myself because I have seizures and have the neurological problems and I feel if he has them then I passed them on to him. I just feel horrible about this and don't know what to do?
Zach also had to get blood taken on Monday as well as his shots. I did okay with him getting his shots but I couldn't handle him getting his blood drawn - I totally broke down. And I have to take him to Fort Carson to get more blood taken and then next week more shots. I just hate seeing him in pain and there isn't anything I can do but comfort him after being poked.

Well as for some of his milestones Zachary can do/has done:
* Zachary loves to click his tongue especially if we do it then he will mimic us
* He'll bob his head like a bobble head. Its pretty cute
* He will clap but only when he feels like it
* Zach's taken 4 steps now but refuses to take more. He's close to walking but not any time soon
* He is very very vocal by squealing at the top of his lungs - annoys everyone that hears it and gives me headaches
* Loves playing with his big sister. Loves to play: chase, hide and seek, and just with toys
* Zach has been on whole milk since 10/3 and has been doing great with it. So glad we are done with formula!!!
* Says only 3 words: Mama, Dada, Nana. Says mama when he is upset and says dada most of the time
* He is DEATHLY afraid the the vacuum
* Zachary has 8 teeth. 4 on top and 4 on the bottom
* Only takes 1 nap a day
* Zachary still wears size 3 diapers, size 6 to 9 month clothes

WE LOVE YOU ZACHARY!!!

Dear Fallen Soldier,

Thank you for your service. You will NEVER be forgotten!!

I took Allie to the doctor today and when we came out we saw soldiers all lined up on the other side of the street. I saw my mom and Z on the sidewalk so I asked what was going on and she said they were bringing a fallen soldier from the airport (the airport was down the street from the clinic) and the soldiers were there to salute as the hearse passed them. It was one of the most MOVING and HUMBLING things to be a part of and made me proud to be an American. Thank you to all the servicemen and women who are working to keep us safe and a special thanks to husband, thank you for all that you do for our country and family!! I love you!!!

This picture is from my phone. All the others are from a lady taking pictures and she sent them to my mom.

A TRIBUTE TO A FALLEN SOLDIER:

A SOLDIER GAVE HIS LIFE TODAY,
AWAY FROM HOME, SO FAR AWAY.
HE HAD OFTEN WONDERED HOW IT WOULD END
AS HE, HIS ENERGY DID ALL EXPEND.

BACK AT HOME HIS FAMILY CANNOT BELIEVE
THOSE HORRID WORDS THEY HAD JUST RECEIVED.
SO YOUNG WAS HE, YET HOW HE HAD AGED
IN THOSE MANY MONTHS THE WAR HAD RAGED.

HE DIED KNOWING HE HAD DONE HIS BEST.
NOW HIS BODY WILL BE LAID TO REST.
WILL THE PRICE HE PAID BE REMEMBERED WELL?
WHAT WORDS WILL THEY HIS LOVED ONES TELL?

WILL A NATION’S GRATITUDE HIS FAMILY KNOW?
FOR THE DEVOTION TO DUTY HE DID SO BRAVELY SHOW.
HIS MEMORY WILL LIVE ON THOUGH HE BE GONE,
MAY HONOR AND RESPECT BE PROPERLY SHOWN.

by Dr. James E. Martin