Boys at football practice

Sean has started football practice and last week they suited up in pads. I think he forgot how hot and uncomfortable his helmet can be. We are so proud of him. Out of more than 60 kids he made the top 20 to be on the A team. He is probably the smallest on the A team weighing in at 54 pounds but he's also the fastest. I just remind him they have to catch you to tackle you. We went to practice everyday and Colby and Austin loved it. They are getting ready to follow in their big brother's footsteps.

Lex

We're walking, Yes in deed we're walking, for all to see!

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So we are sooooooo proud of our boys. They are both walking and I mean walking everywhere. There is no stopping them now. Colby just got the hang of it this week really well and we don't have his braces yet so I don't know if we'll need them now or not. I am just amazed at how well they are doing. They should have just turned one on Aug 7th so age corrected they should be doing what a 10 1/2 month old should do. We had our early intervention appointment this week for Austin and he actually is evaluating at 15 months which is his correct age. We are so proud of them and so thankful to God for taking such good care of them.

We have a very big day on Tuesday as that is the day Dr.Kestle will remove the reservoir from Austin's brain. We'll have a CT scan that morning and then go into surgery. If all goes well and he recovers ok there is a chance he'll come home that night or they may keep us overnight for observation. Pat and I are very nervous as the day he go it (June 14th) was one of the worst days for us in the NBICU. We just pray that God will take care of him as he's done so far and that all will go well.

I'll update as soon as I can but for now enjoy my boys walking. If any of you knows how to show just my video and not all the ones below it that have nothing to do with our family please let me know.

Lex

Anyone seen a bison, elk or bear? We did!!

I know I have some catching up to do. We've been so busy lately with vacations and trips that I haven't been on the computer much (ok so Pat would disagree but it's true). Pat and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on July 26th and thanks to Heather who kept the kids for us we were able to go out for dinner and actually eat at the same time and while it was hot. I told her I would settle for McDonald's as long as I didn't have to get up and do anything during my meal. She asked, "Is that what I have to look forward too?" I said yes, once you have kids especially if you have more than one.

We also took out boat out for the 1st time this summer. We went to Lake Jordanelle which is about 45 miles from Salt Lake. It's a beautiful area but the water was a bit chilly and once the clouds moved in we called it a day. Here is Sean who was headed out to the tube.

For those that don't know Lyndsey, she's in the brown and she is Pat's oldest daughter. She spent a couple of days with us last week. Natalie as always is a fair weather participant and only wanted to be in the tube for a few minutes.

Here is Pat demonstrating the fine art of wakeboarding. Colby hit a big milestone last Thursday. He took his 1st steps on our anniversary. He is doing much better about keeping his heels down but we are still waiting on his braces to come in. I expect them either this week or next. I know he's not going to like them but I do know they will help. Colby can go from sitting to standing all my himself without holding on to anything. Once he takes a couple of steps he looses his balance and just plops down on his bottom.Austin has 4 new teeth coming in for a total of 8 (Colby still only has his two bottom teeth). He is saying Bye, Bye and will wave when he says it. He also said ball a couple of weeks ago for me and Carla but now I can't get him to say it. He is really doing well with his walking. He can walk 5-6 steps and will stop and stand. Colby just claps for him when he does it too.

Here we are waiting on old Faithful to go off. The boys weren't too impressed....guess they are still too young.

Colby loves a ride on Daddy's shoulders.

Last Friday we packed up the Yukon and headed north with the Fontenot Family to Yellowstone. We had a great time. The weather was great and in fact we actually used a heater at night. We stayed in a camper that is available for rent for military members and the Fontenots pulled their own camper. Colby and Austin were great in the car. They took naps, looked out the window and ate. Speaking of eating, they eat all the time. We are moving them into toddler finger foods and some table food. So far they are doing pretty well with all of it. They both think they can feed themselves but it turns into just a big mess. The young horse riding gang...Kayla, Bryce, Natalie and Sean

Mommy and Austin going for a little walk

Austin and Dante going for a stroll

We had such a great time in Yellowstone. On Saturday we spent the day in the park. We saw elk, bison, eagles, moose, rams and a grizzly bear with two cubs. Austin was not wild about the bison and kept making his ooooh noise along with a very concerned look. We had a picnic in the park and just spent the day on the search for animals.

Sunday Pat and Dante took the older kids on a whitewater rafting trip. They had an awesome time and from the sounds Sean and Bryce took a couple of swims thanks to Pat. They both "rode the bull" which is standing at the front and holding onto a rope while the others paddled the boat in circles over the rapids.

Sean talking to Sarge before the ride

On Monday they all went for a horseback ride while Colby and Austin napped at the trailer. Sean who was riding Sarge had a hard time getting him to go. I'm sure Sarge didn't realize he actually had a person on his back since Sean doesn't weigh that much. Natalie really seemed to enjoy the ride and she was thankful not to run into any wildlife.

We headed home after their ride and made it back in time for Sean to go to football camp. He has camp everyday from 5:30-7:30 where they are doing conditioning and football basics. He is so excited for football to start. This will be his 2nd year of tackle and he's already talking about hitting and getting hit.

I am getting ready to start teaching again. My students start the 22nd and this will be my last semester. I fly to FT Carson, CO right after Christmas to out process the Army. What a life change that I am about to experience. I am almost done with my real estate classes. In fact I have 9 left and I will take those next week. Then all I have to do is study and pass the state exam. Pat and I will be doing real estate as a team and we think with our work ethic and discipline we'll do very well. The good thing is that it allows me the flexibility I need to do things with the boys.

Well that should catch you up on what we've been doing the past couple of weeks. Hope each of you is enjoying your summer.

Love to all

Drum Roll Please!!!!!!!!!

We have some good news to report.

We took the boys to physical therapy this week and Lisa did the casting for Colby's braces. Colby did really well while she was doing it too.

This is one of his casts. They will send them both off and we should have his braces with sports theme back in 2-3 weeks.

Lisa is very pleased with their progress and really feels they are caught up to their adjusted age. We will stay with her until after Austin's surgery to make sure everything is ok there and and until Colby is done with his braces. We hope by March neither will need therapy. Here are some photos from therapy. Both boys are walking behind something to push.

We are also very pleased to announce that Austin took his first two steps Friday night. He soon realized he was alone and plopped right down on his bottom. He loves walking and usually only holds one of our fingertips when doing so. He is also becoming more courageous on the stairs as Pat found on the 3rd one going to the 4th.

Lisa really thinks the braces will help Colby learn to walk properly by himself. Because he still walks so high on his toes it forces his upper body forward so he is totally off balance.

One last note, I got my separation orders from the Army while in Texas so I am officially out March 15th and will not be deploying in the meantime. God still continues to watch over our family.

Happy 4th of July

We Want You!!!

So I guess you've been wondering where the latest blog is??? We took a two week family vacation and what an amazing two weeks we just had with our families in the south. We boarded the plane in Utah and even though we got there two hours early we were the last ones to board the plane. The boys did great on the flight and I was so relieved. We spent our 1st week in Texas and believe it or not it rained everyday but one. So we took advantage of the one day and headed to the pool. The boys did great staying on schedule with naps and bedtime. We got to see all of Pat's family. Here are Granny and Grampy with all the kids. Sorry the photo is a little blurry several turned out that way. I'll just hit the highlights and post photos since I know that's what you want to see.

The boys had several firsts for me to put in the babybooks. Their 1st airplane ride. Their 1st trip to Texas and Arkansas. Their 1st boat ride. Their 1st swim in the lake. They got to meet their new cousins Mia in Arkansas and Olivia in Texas. We celebrated cousin Ryan's 4th birthday. We won the boat parade in Arkansas for the like the 6th or 7th year in a row.

Here is Natalie and her new cousin Olivia Corrin. Wonder where she gets all that wild hair from....possibly her cousin Colby if you remember his baby hair.

The boys sure loved being with their Granny



Happy 4th Birthday Ryan....in the center with Paige, Faith and Sean

Colby and Austin got to see their 1st dog up close and personal. Of course Colby had to go straight for the nose.

Here is Natalie, Austin, Colby and cousin Kari

Here is Daddy, Nana, Austin and Colby at Grandpa's Lake house....just a swingin!

Colby with Mommy for his 1st swim in Horseshoe Lake and Austin with Daddy














Granny Lou Lou has her hands full and loved every minute of it!

The boys 1st boat ride with Mom and Aunt Anna

So this closes out our wonderful vacation. I'll send ALL the photos out later. To our family who fed us, housed us and entertained us....thank you.

Happy Father's Day

So I have no idea why Austin wouldnt' look but he was bound and determined not too!

All my boys!

We had such a great Father's day yesterday. We took Pat to brunch with our friends John and Carla and then we headed to church. The boys and I ended up in the nursery just because they were so interested in being quiet.

John, these photos are especially for you!

After a good nap we took Pat to the zoo to the see the white alligator. It's on loan from another zoo for the summer. They have only spotted male white alligators. This alligator isn’t albino; he’s leucistic, and purely white in color with dazzling blue eyes. Eastern mythology says these creatures are symbols of extremely good luck. Legend has it that anyone gazing into the blue eyes of the rare white alligator will be blessed with good luck for the coming year, and prosperity will surely follow. There are only ten of these white gators in the entire world.

Here are some photos of the white alligator. It's really neat and worth seeing if you live in Utah or near a zoo that has one. It almost looked fake it was so white.

Good news for the O'Learys

So let's see, where do I begin.

This is Austin enjoying some time outside. I just love his smile.

Daddy and Austin having some fun together.

My Colby can stand for 15 seconds by himself as demonstrated here.


We got great news last Friday from the Army. They have accepted my resignation. What that means for me is that I cannot be put on deployment orders for July because they are cutting my separation orders. I will teach this fall semester which ends the 1st week in December. I will out-process the Army either in WA or CO in December and I will start what we call terminal leave on Jan. 2nd. Basically terminal leave is all the vacation days I've saved up. My last official PAID day in the Army is March 15th. So I now have a plan and a timeline. I have so many mixed emotions. I have worn the Army uniform for 17 years and a lot of you remember me leaving for basic training the summer after I graduated from High School. It's all I've ever done and I have to say it's been my security blanket. I am excited about the possibilities in the civilian sector and I also look forward to being available to the boys whenever they need me. I have signed up for the real estate school here in Utah and I actually took my first two classes today. It was pretty interesting and so were some of the people in the class with me. The young guy sitting next to me had quite a colorful mohawk. Wonder how many homes he'll sell.


Our family has all recovered from the stomach flu that started with Lil Colby. We actually ended up having to take him to Primary Children's ER and we spent the afternoon there then they sent us home. I was unlucky enough to get it as well as Heather and Pat. Somehow Austin did not catch it.

We had physical therapy this week and we along with the physical therapist have decided to get braces for Colby's feet. He still doesn't like to put his heels down and he walks to high on his toes that sometimes they roll over and he walks on the tops of his toes. Once we get back from TX and AR we'll have his feet casted and the braces made. He will not wear them all the time just when we are working on walking and standing, so about 5-6 hrs a day. He won't be able to crawl in them and I know he is not going to be happy with them, but it's better to get them now so he learns to walk properly and while the Army will stay pay for it.


I had to take Austin into the doctor's office today for a bad cough that continues to get worse. They said it is some sort of virus and should clear in 3-4 days. They also gave us some steroids to give him to reduce the swelling in his throat to help him breathe easier.
We are having such a good time with Colby and Austin now that they are interactive. They are into everything and usually in opposite directions but I love that they can give us high five or that when we come home from work they get so excited and come crawling as fast as they can to us.

Well I hear my lil one coughing so I should close for now.