Holly Happy Days

I figured I at least needed to get the holiday pictures posted before Valentine's Day- so here are just a few. We are having some technical difficulties involving hard drives that have kept me from being able to access all our latest photos. Hopefully more pictures, including some from our family vacation to Disney, will be coming soon. It was a busy holiday season, but we still made time to relax with family and friends.

Playing with Christmas toys

Cousins toasting 2011 (no worries- sparkling apple juice is yummy!)

At the Auburn basketball game

War Eagle fans

What a money shot! Yes, that is mommy's bra that Alexander found and tried on as a necklace-hahaha!

The Gladdens on a geocaching adventure

Oh what fun it is to ride...

We had an amazing start to the holidays at an Indigo Girls concert at the Tabernacle in Atlanta. I have seen the Indigo Girls live too many times to count, but this concert topped them all. It was a fabulous venue that felt like a small party with friends. Shawn Mullins also played at the concert, and I have been listening to his albums since. Check out his new song "Light You Up."

Some IG fans might say the girls sold out by making their recently released Christmas album- I, on the other hand, can't imagine what could make me happier than the Indigo Girls singing Christmas music!

Alexander's health issues took us on a roller coaster ride through the holidays, beginning with a brief admission to the hospital for dehydration just before Thanksgiving. Despite his health challenges, it is hard to get too down being around such a cutie pie- Alexander amazes us with his wide-eyed outlook and sweetness. He is a lovable little guy, and I thank my lucky stars for him daily. Alexander is getting more verbal all the time, and he says the cutest things- "I like it," "hold you," "I'll try it," and "I love you too" are some of my favorites. He is happiest when he is around his cousins or his play group buddies.

We currently have Alexander's feeding tube and ear tube surgery scheduled for February 14th. The decision to get a g-tube for Alexander has been, by far, the hardest decision we have ever had to make. Since Alexander's diagnosis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in September, we have tried to educate ourselves on EoE and have seen many doctors to discuss possible treatments. EoE is a fairly new diagnosis in the medical community, and we are having to make many decisions without long-term data to guide us. Like so many things in life, the decisions we make for Alexander regarding his treatment are not black and white. There are not instructions to follow or easy roads to take. Bill Cosby wrote: "In spite of the six thousand manuals on child raising in the bookstores, child raising is still a dark continent and no one really knows anything. You just need a lot of love and luck - and, of course, courage." Our hearts have been full of love for our little guy since the day he was born. As we continue on this journey we become more and more courageous. We are hoping for a little luck as we head into a difficult month for our sweet Alexander.

Fall Fun

My favorite season- here at last! The trees are showing vibrant signs of fall, and the weather is finally cooling off (at least slightly). Here are the latest pics of Gladden happenings.

We enjoyed hanging out with our friends Lisa and Rob at the Fall Fest at Candler Park last Saturday. There were kids everywhere! Alexander and Steven had a great time playing with these crazy balloons one of the venders was selling.

Balloon dancing with Daddy.

Alexander playing with Lisa's iPhone... that's all I need, another technology-loving Gladden in our household!

Steven has been begging to take Alexander to the Fernbank Natural History Museum in Atlanta for months. I don't know who had more fun, but I definitely had to drag (yes physically drag) Steven out of the museum at the end of our visit.

bzzzzzz...

Posing in front of the tornado simulator.

I needed a project not involving doctor's offices or insurance companies, so I decided to make Alexander's Halloween costume this year. Picking out the supplies at Hobby Lobby kid-free (Steven was watching Little Man) was almost as fun as making the costume.

Alexander went to his first Halloween party with his buddies from play group. How cute!

We spent a lovely fall weekend visiting family in Auburn. Alexander thinks he must be big enough to ride bikes like the big kids now.

Playing ball with cousin Liam and Grandpa.

Checking out Grandma's book.

"Eating" dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house. AO's current treatment for EE involves an elemental diet. That means he can only have a special amino-acid based formula and water for the next few months. We don't want Alexander to miss out on dinner time, so he gets a bowl of ice (which he loves) and a spoon. When I have dinner ready he will run to the fridge, point to the freezer, and excitedly squeal "ICE!"

Patio fun with the cousins at CG and Padre's house.

A Big Wheel for everyone (even the littlest one who still needs little wheels)- WHAT FUN!

Check out Steven carving the Jack-o-Lantern in the background. Alexander got to help scoop out the goopy pumpkin insides.

Musical fun with CG.

We went to a local farm/pumpkin patch with Mom's Club. Alexander had a GREAT time!

Steven keeps these safety goggles in his smock for work. Alexander loves to get them out when he comes home from work and walk around saying his version of safety glasses (I know, I know, only the son of Safety Steve would enjoy playing with safety goggles).

A friend of mine from soccer organized a team for the annual Peachtree City Dragon Boat races, and I coaxed Steven into joining the team with me. We only had one practice session before the big event, and neither of us have any rowing experience (aside from singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat). Our skillful team, Breaking Wind, came in 4th overall before the finals. The finals, well, didn't go so well, but we still have a funny shirt to show for the whole event. Thanks to Aunt Shannon and Uncle John for watching the kiddo while we had a fun day with grown-up friends.

Seattle & Elsewhere- Our 5th Anniversary Trip

August/September Update

It has been too long since my last post, so here I am again with too many fun pics to share! The Gladdens have been busy, busy.

Alexander had an endoscopy with biopsy a few weeks ago, and we finally have a diagnosis. YAHOO that at least we know what has been causing his problems gaining weight/food aversion/vomiting... but BOO that he has Eeosinophilic Esophagitis. Basically that means that food allergies have been causing painful inflammation in his esophagus (you can read more about EE at http://www.apfed.org/ee.htm). Our next step is to figure out what AO is allergic to and eliminate that from his diet. We have a long road ahead, but at least we now know where we are going and why.

On a lighter and happier note, we have been having LOTS of FUN, FUN, FUN. Alexander and I tagged along with the Locys on a fun-filled trip to Ohio to visit family in August. And Steven and I just returned from a much-needed romantic get-a-way for two to celebrate our 5th anniversary. We are so thankful for our loving families, who helped out with Alexander (NOT a small feat) while we were rejuvenating and relaxing. Pics of our trip will be posted soon...

The Locy farm at sun set.

Hanging out by the pond with Erin's cousin's, Heather and Morgan.

We got to celebrate cousin Liam's birthday in the hotel in Ohio. It was so great to spend time with the Madison Locys, and Liam was a cool dude 3-year-old birthday boy!

He even shared his new cars with Alexander.

Playing at the Iler's lake house.

Aunt Beth trying to make the reluctant swimmer smile (the pool was a little... well... chilly).

More Iler fun with Uncle Jim and Aunt Carol.

Mom and Dad in front of the church they got married in 41 years ago. Awwww...

Hanging out with the Ohio Locys- Alexander loved meeting Erin's cousin's son, Grady.

Alexander has taken to doing everything mommy does- he likes to "try on" my shoes and carry around my purse!

We had a Hamburger Cook- Off with friends. Yummy yum fun! EVERYONE was a winner because we ate so many yummy hamburgers (and Steven will be the first to tell you the Gladden Burger was voted #1 by secret ballot).

Alexander wasn't into the hamburgers, but he sure was glad having our friends over meant he had new buddies to play with (not to mention the big boy toys he had never seen before)!

"puters"

Alexander has also gotten into wearing hats...

any hat will do...

especially if it comes with Grandma and Grandpa's dog to play with.

Hugs.

We went to cousin John Gregory's birthday party at Jump 2 It. Alexander was mesmerized by the big kids and had a GREAT time.

How cool- an inflatable throne to sit on while opening presents!

What would we do without the blankie Aunt Beth made Alexander?

Our Enlightened One making a run for "boo-dah"