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Hello all!  I’m writing this post with fall in the air.  Literally.  The neighbor behind us is burning leaves, so Landon and I are stuck inside even though it’s a nice day.  Bummer.  But at least I can update!  The costume festivities started off last week, with a Halloween parade in Bettendorf.  I was concerned at first, because I thought the kids would be disappointed not to get candy, but instead they thought it was a blast throwing the candy out to everyone.  We walked with the credit union my sister works for, and the boys are still talking about it!  Then the next day, we headed off to Southpark Mall and met the Sprangers for a little trick or treating through the mall.  All the kids had a good time, and it was nice walking in the costumes without having to be bundled up!  The next week brought Halloween parties at school, where both the kids decided that they needed to change costumes.  Thank goodness we have a chest full of dressup clothes and costumes, and that’s where they got their outfit changes.  Teagan started off being a Ninja Turtle, then Batman, then back to the turtle.  Landon was Ironman, then a Ninja Warrior, then back to IronMan.  Funny.  After the school activities, we finally found time to carve pumpkins.  Then Saturday brought a town party in Geneseo, and then neighborhood trick or treating that night!  What  a blast.  I must say that this neighborhood knows how to party!  Candy for the kids, adult beverages for the big kids, speakers lining the streets with Thriller and MonsterMash playing, and a haunted house in people’s yards.  What a good time.  Enjoy some pics:

Not sure why I can’t get the captions to show.  If you hover your mouse over the pic, it will tell you the caption then. 

Other than all the parties and sugarfests, there hasn’t been much else happening.  Teagan got his first official report card and did excellent.  I think he takes after his mother.    The boys are in full present-gear already.  They have been sifting through the catalogues we get in the mail and circling the ones they want.  Landon asked for a baby brother from Santa.  Know I won’t be able to deliver that one!  There are two turkeys that must live in some of the trees along Route 6.  Landon thinks it’s so cool to see them everytime we pass there.  They even have “talked” to us.  Pretty neat.  The kids have been able to avoid most of the bugs out there.  Teagan did end up with an ear infection this week, but I feel fortunate that that’s all it was.   Hope you all are able to say healthy!!

More soon from the Millers.

Whew! Where is time going? We have been having a fun-filled fall. We have had two trips to the pumpkin patch, and Landon also had one with his preschool. Mom had a night away while attending a wedding up in Wausau, and a trip up to Manawa to see Corey’s family, just to name a few. I had Teagan’s parent/teacher conferences where I heard nothing but glowing remarks from his teachers. The only thing they said he could improve on was his shoe-tying skills. I told him that and he practiced for three days straight, where he then went in and showed his teacher how well he could tie now. She was impressed. Landon is doing well in preschool and at the new daycare also. (Though we still really miss our friends at Wausau Child Care). His school had an open house last night and his teachers commented on how well behaved and on how Landon plays so well with other children. Not sure if they’re talking about the right kid, but hey, we’ll take it! Really, both the kids are doing amazing, and so is Mom. I started my job a couple of weeks ago and I am really liking it. Lots to learn – I’ve never dealt with rheumatology really, but the staff there is great.

We have a lot coming up – including a Halloween parade Saturday that the boys are going to be in, Halloween parties at school, and lots of trick-or-treating. The costumes are sure going to get their wear this year! Hope you all have a safe and wonderful Halloween!

Kara & boys

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Landon checking out the scarecrow

Landon and Teagan using the pulley to feed the goats

Teagan in the pumpkin totempole

LL, Tator, and Jaliyah on the hayride out to the pumpkin patch

Landon found his!

Teagan of course found a huge pumpkin with no stem! It was a pretty funny picture with my sister and I trying to get four pumpkins and three kids out of the patch and onto the hayride. It wasn't pretty!

On a much nicer day, we went to another pumpkin patch with the Sprangers. From left, McKinlee, Hayden, Avery, Teagan, Landon

Yes, T wanted this one, and no, I wouldn't let him get it. But he's still pretty cute!

Here they all are again - Hayden, Teagan, McKinlee, Landon, and Avery

Teagan and Landon on the cow train. So many fun, kid activities!

We tried! Teagan, Mom, Landon

Okay, we’re back!  We took some time off to “regroup.”  But we’re here now, and ready to update you all!  We had a fabulous summer. Did lots of fun things.  We did have a small cookout to celebrate Corey’s angel-versary.  It was great to see all those green balloons flying so high.  The boys are sure Daddy had a great party with them!  We went to fairs, BBQs, zoos, waterparks, parades, all the fun things you do in the summer.  As most of you know, WE MOVED!  We moved in the beginning of August down to Illinois.  We are now close to many friends and family.  The house that we bought fell into our laps, and we love it!  It is perfect – just right for us.  The boys are really enjoying having their own rooms, and all the extra space.  We can’t wait till the basement gets finished so they can have a HUGE playroom (and all their toys can go down there!!!)  Teagan started Kindergarten this year, and is loving it.  He quickly found new friends, and is learning so much – it’s amazing.  Landon started a new daycare, along with a new pre-school.  He too has quickly adjusted.  I start a new job next week.  I took my time and found a great one.  I’ll be working in a rheumatology office, doing IV infusions.  I’ll be working 2 days/week.  Just enough for benefits.  The other time will be spent with MY BOYS.  I love being a mom.  They are great. 

It’s starting to get cold here, and along with that are the trips to the pumpkin patch and costume-talk.  The boys are super excited about Halloween, and they change their minds everyday on what they want to be this year!  The leaves are beginning to change – it is beautiful.  We still have a few more trips up to Wausau planned – we need to get the house up there sold.

I hope you all had a wonderful summer!  Enjoy these pics from our summer events - I will be good about the updates – I promise!  I would love to hear from you all!

Kara & boys

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Teagan graduates from pre-K! 05/09

Landon and Teagan on the train at Marathon Junction 06/09

Yep, LL's still doing this - and doing great!!! 07/09

Landon and Mommy at the QC Riverbandit's game 8/09

Teagan and Aunt Nancy on the watertaxi - Mississippi River 8/09

Teagan getting off the bus - 2nd day of school 8/09

My big boy goes to school. REAL school, Mommy! Teagan 8/09

Landon on the motorcycle ride at Walworth Co. Fair 9/09

Teagan lost tooth #3! 9/09

Landon and Mommy take a break from Adventureland! 9/09

Landon walking for Team Miller in Light the Night 9/09

Teagan got tired - resting on his balloon - Light the Night 9/09

I'm walking in memory of my Daddy, Corey Miller 9/09

Landon checking out the elephants - Niabi Zoo 9/09

Teagan's hanging out - such a monkey!!! 9/09

On the train! Teagan, Jaliyah, Jessica, Cannon 9/09

On that note – we did participate in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night.  It was an amazing turnout.  We helped raise money to destroy the beast.  If anyone is still interested in donating, you may visit our team website.  We also have small bears for sale – $5.  All proceeds go directly to our team’s total.  Email me if you are interested.  Our team’s website is:  http://pages.lightthenight.org/ia/QuadCiti09/TeamMiller

Whew!  Is it really the middle of May already?  We have been having a great time outside.  The boys had gotten a trampoline for their birthdays, and our great neighbor Pete put it up for them last month.  Oh my goodness, they have been having a blast on it.  Every extra minute is spent outside jumping.  What fun!

Let’s see, three weekends ago I took the kids to a small waterpark hotel and spent Saturday night there.  That means we were able to play in the waterpark all day Saturday and all day Sunday.  It was a yucky weekend weather wise, but it was a blast inside.  The kids had so much fun!  The constantly are asking me when we are going back!

Teagan's all ready for swimming!

Landon's favorite - the froggie slide!

Of course, they loved the fact we had a hot tub in our room. They sat in it and watched Alvin and the Chipmunks!

So, the next weekend I had gotten tickets through work for the Carnival of the Animals, put on by the Wausau Dance Theater.  We went to the matinee show with a couple of other ladies from work.  The boys loved seeing the dancers dressed up as all the animals.  We all had fun.  Beforehand, they had a craft session where the kids made hats, masks, megaphones, and played games. 

Teagan with his hat he made

LL coloring and glueing his hat

Teagan and his chicken mask

Landon and his elephant mask

So, Mother’s day weekend.  What  a fun weekend.  My parents and my sister headed up here from Illinois.  Saturday, we went out with the kids pretty much all day.  They were worn out.  After they went to bed, my mom, sister, and I went to a movie.  We had fun, and I stayed awake!  On sunday, after the kids gave everyone their cards and gifts, My mom, sister and I went out for breakfast.  It was fun.  After the IL people went home, the boys and I headed to the movies.  We saw 3D Monsters vs. Aliens.  Teagan loved it and had so much fun.  Landon, well, all he could say was that it was too loud.  I think he enjoyed the movie though.  I had a wonderful day, and I am so blessed to have been chosen to raise these boys!  Here are some pics from the weekend:

Landon and Jaliyah watching Papa mow the lawn

Teagan with his Helmet Hero

Landon loving his cousin Cannon

Aunt Jessy jumping with the kids on the trampoline

Teagan and Mom

Landon making sure Papa does a good job. Can you believe how big Corey's trees are?

Landon has been doing awesome.  His IgG levels were 1010 last week!   Remember they started off around 500.  He has been the healthiest he has ever been!  The doc has even started talking about reducing his other meds.  Yeah!  6 hours every 3 weeks is okay if we stay healthy the rest of the time.

Landon's all set - his bobo (blanket) and gummies!

Hope everyone else is having a great start to summer too!  We love to hear from all of you. 

More later,

Team Miller

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PS – Corey still lets us know he’s around

This rainbow was amazing, end to end in front of our house!

We had a quiet Saturday and Easter morning.  The Easter Bunny found us!  The boys had a great time finding their baskets, and even found one for Ozzy.  We headed off Sunday to meet my Mom, Dave, and Jessica’s family for Easter dinner in Janesville (the halfway point between us) at the Olive Garden – yum!!  We don’t have an Olive Garden here in Wausau, so it’s a treat for us.  It was a late night, and back to the grind on Monday.  We had a fun weekend.  Landon had a IVIG treatment today, which went extremely well.  His IGg levels today before treatment were 869.  They want him above 1000, and three weeks ago he was 562.  Yeah!  Way to go LL!  This weekend Mom and Dave are headed up here again to help with some projects I have listed out.  Fun fun!

Teagan went right for the peeps!

Landon and his basket

The Bunny even brought Ozzy a basket!

Cannon and Teagan

Landon enjoying Easter dinner with the family

Landon sleeping through part of his IVIG treatment 4/15/09

There is some construction going on outside, so Landon had a great time watching them!

More later,

Team Miller

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I know – same excuse.  We have been busy.  And out of town.  But having fun.  I posted a bunch of posts that highlight what we have been doing over the last couple of weeks.  Hopefully you all are doing well.  We are happy to see sunshine today.  The grass is starting to green up a little!  Love to hear the birds chirping.   Remembering last year at this time – we spent Easter with Corey and Landon inpatient at two different hospitals.  Looking forward to a healthy Easter this weekend. 

Love to all,

Team Miller

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Teagan coloring eggs 4/7/09

Landon's ready too 4/7/09

Teagan trying out an egg that cracked.

We are ready for the Easter Bunny now.  Hopefully he’ll be good to us.  Happy Easter to everyone!!

Yes – you read it right.  New Kids on the Block.  We got tickets.  We headed down to the QCA last week and hit the concert on Thursday.  It was a blast.  A bunch of thirty-year-olds singing with their childhood dreams.  I had a great time.  But let’s just say I don’t recover as fast as I use to! 

Oh my goodness, there they are!!!!!

Joey was blowing a kiss right to me!!

Christina and Kara having a great time!

We had great seats - thank Jess! Jessica and Kara 4/2/09

I have a lot more pictures of the GREAT concert, but I won’t bore all of you.  So I’ll go on.   While we were packing up the van before leaving home, Landon was outside playing as I was going in and out of the house.  He came up to me with his finger dripping with blood.  He never cried!  I told him to show me what he cut his finger on, and he took me to a metal level.  As I took him inside to get cleaned up, I started thinking that one of Landon’s vaccines he is not immune to is tetnus.  I got nervous, and ended up having to call the pediatrician.  I immediately got a return call from the immunologist.  He asked me what kind of metal it was.  Really?  I’m a girl.  It was a pretty light level so he figures it’s only aluminum.  But clean it up good and watch closely for infection.  Really – I’m going to bubble-wrap this boy.  No wonder I have so many gray hairs!!!

We proceeded to pick up Teagan from school before we headed out on our drive.  Teagan got to take Mr. Peanuts home for the weekend.  Mr. Peanuts is his 4K class’s stuffed elephant that goes home with all the kids and then they journal about their adventures.  So while in the QCA, we took Mr. Peanuts to the Mississippi River.  It was cold and windy that day, but we had fun walking the river-walk.  And of course we had to drive over the bridge many times!!!

Teagan and Mr. Peanuts by the mighty Mississippi

So LL had to get his pic taken too with his stuffed monkey Zach

Tator is becoming quite the photographer!

We had a sad goodbye to the Klossners last week.  They headed down to Florida to seek out a new job opportunity.  We were sad to see them go, especially Teagan missing Caden.  We got one last pizza dinner in with them two weekends ago.  We wish them luck and pray they find the happiness their looking for.  Love you guys!

Dylan and Landon hamming it up for the camera 3/09

Caden and Teagan on the slide 3/09

So we can't have all the kids happy and smiling all the time!

Landon says I don't want you to go!!!

Landon started the IVIG on Wednesday.  Thanks to J&J for watching Teagan.  We started at the hospital at 7:30am, meeting with the doctor, then going through all the paperwork.  Landon walked into the hospital room and asked where Daddy was.  Okay – start the day off like that!  They got the IV in 2 pokes – yeah for them!  They also drew some blood.  Dr. Edmondson, the immunologist wants Landon IGG levels to be above 1000, and Landon’s were 567 on Wednesday – we have a ways to go.  They finally started the drip around 8:30, giving him benadryl and tylenol as a premed.  He was knocked out for about 3 hours, thanks to the benadryl.  They start the infusion off very slowly, then take his vitals every half hour, increasing the dose as tolerated.  He finished up the infusion at about 3:30pm.  Not too bad for the first time!  They will increase the percentage of the solution each time, so he’ll get a bigger dose.  Crazy.  He gets it every 3 weeks.

Not much going on this weekend – looking forward to that!  Still waiting for spring!

Kara

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