Okay, so i think i might just be the worse blogger ever. I haven't updated our blog since July! I am such a slacker.

Josh started a new job in January at Ball in Monticello. He had to start as a "temp to hire" for a 3 month period. He doesn't have insurance yet. Thank goodness he had three months of insurance banked with his previous employer. We are just hoping and praying he gets hired after the 3 months is up. This job is a lot different than his previous job. He works 4 - 12 hr days and then has 4 days off. It has been a big adjustment, but i think he is finally getting used to the schedule.

As you know, Jake is in kindergarten. He is doing awesome. He seems to really like school, except for the getting up early part. He is a real grouch for the first 20 minutes in the morning, after that he is all smiles :) He loves his teacher, Mrs. Scott. The same teacher Josh had in kindergarten. Jake loves to learn. He is always asking questions, wanting to know more. He hasn't been in trouble once at school. Not sure how he has managed that. Lil stinker is rotten at home, but at school he is on is best behavior!

Brayden is in his last year of preschool. He has now mastered writing his own name. Can't believe he will be 5 next month. Doesn't seem possible. He has really tested my patience the last couple of months. He has quite the attitude! I see lots of phone calls from the principal in the future :/

Tyler is doing GREAT! He is developing like a normal 18 month old. Starting to say words, walking (almost running), and getting into everything. We are hoping and praying that we avoid any hospital stays or ER visits this year. Last winter was pretty rough on him. So far, this winter hasn't been as rough. He is still getting his RSV shots ($3,000 per shot). He gets one each month until April. They started in December!

Here are some recent pictures of the boys. Enjoy :)

Happy 1st Birthday Tyler Ryan!

Tyler one year ago today......




Tyler celebrating his 1st Birthday !

Sorry its been so long since I updated! We have some BIG news in the Erickson household! Tyler had a video swallow study on Tuesday. As you know we have been adding Simply Thick to thicken his bottles because he was aspirating. Well after several months, he is finally able to handle thin liquids! No more simply thick for Tyler, which means he is able to breastfeed. My life just got a lot easier. I have waited 6 long months for this! A couple of weeks ago Tyler got really sick. He was having to work extra hard to breathe. After two ER visits (first to Logan and then to Lafayette) and several breathing treatments he is much better! Just a case of bronchitis, which effects Tyler worse than a normal baby because of his prematurity. He is feeling a lot better now. It was very scary for Josh and I. We learned a very valuable lesson... Memorial Hospital is not the hospital for Tyler! Making the drive to Lafayette where they know and CARE about Tyler is worth it! Jake and Brayden are doing great! Jake started back to preschool a couple of weeks ago. I love the break three days a week. In two months our lil brayden will be 4! Just doesn't seem possible. Only 51 days until Spring!!

Sorry I haven't blogged in awhile! We have been very busy at the Erickson household. Jake started back at preschool a couple of weeks ago. That means three days during the week I have to have three kids ready and out the door before 9:15! And then by the time me, Brayden & Tyler come home, and I feed Tyler and then pump it is almost time to pickup Jake. So, for three days my mornings are pretty much gone.

If you haven't heard, last Saturday was an interesting morning. Brayden, my child who needs VERY LITTLE sleep. No matter what time I put him to bed he is usually up between 5:30-6:00 in the morning. Last Friday night he didn't fall asleep until midnight or after. He had had a nap during the day on Friday, which i knew meant i would be up with him all night Friday. Then Saturday morning Tyler was up at 2:00 and then again at 4:30. So, needless to say i was exhausted when Brayden woke me up around 6:00 that morning. I put him in bed with Josh and I and turned on some cartoons and went back to sleep. My phone was lying on my night stand. Brayden decided he was bored and needed someone to talk to...someone like a 911 dispatcher! All while mommy & daddy were asleep in bed. Around 8:00 Josh and I woke to 3 police officers pounding on the door. (Brayden says they were pounding on the window??) Josh answers the door and the officer asks "Sir, do you have a three year old?" Josh says "yes I do" and the officer says "that called 911??". Josh turns around and asks Brayden if he called 911. He of course says "yes" and then takes off running to the bathroom to hide. The police officers then come in the house because they have to see all of us to make sure there isn't an emergency in the household. Once they realized that this wasn't a case of parents on drugs or neglected children, they just laughed it off. Apparently, Brayden had a nice conversation with the dispatcher. He told her his name, age, his brothers names and that mommy and daddy were asleep in bed. The nice police officers explained to Brayden why he can't call 911 unless someone is really in trouble. So, Brayden learned a valuable less and so did Josh and I. There is never a dull moment around here.

Sorry the picture quality isn't the greatest.. these were taken with my cell phone!

I recently created Tyler's Troopers, a March of Dimes Team inspired by our lil miracle, Tyler. There is a four mile walk on April 24, 2010 to raise money for March of Dimes.

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. Our team is walking in March for Babies because we want to do something about this. I know you care, too. That's why I'm asking you to join us. It's easy: just click the link below to view our team page.

If you can't walk with us, please help by donating to our team. You can do so on the team page. Thank you for helping us give all babies a healthy start!

The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Funds raised in March for Babies support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And they will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in the NICU.

We took the boys to see Santa on Saturday! Jake was really nervous, but Josh talked him into one picture. And boy isn't it a good one ? :)