The Recovery

Brodie is doing much better now that his system has cleaned out the prednisone. He was really sick for some time. He had fevers that would come and go for days. He was placed on three seperate antibiotics over a weeks time because of how many infections hit his little body from no immune system. He has recovered and is back at school this week. Thank you very much!

The other boys are doing great as well as Travis. They had their go cart class and received their license they were so excited. They can't wait to go back for more.


Take Care Everyone,

Also we posted our adoption update on the other website. Please feel free to email me to get that website as it requires an invitation to read.
TTGAB

New Year, Another ER Visit!!

The Drama of it all! Brodie became sick with his asthma symptoms after Christmas. I was not able to keep him from coughing and breathing well with just the nebulizer and inhaled steroid. So the Doctor prescribed an oral steroid. The next day we saw a huge change in Brodie, he was breathing much better but complaining of stomach pain, mouth pain. The next day was even worse with more drama of behavior as well. Uncontrolled crying and weeping stopped eating and overall just not doing well. By Saturday he was still complaining so I took him to the Dollar theathre to distract him while there he started screaming in pain about head. We could not get him under control so we took him to the ER. We found out that Brodie had been overdosed in prednisone. It has whipped out his immune system and caused thrush, double ear infections and the stomach pain, crawling skin, low pottasium which was causing his heart rate to be to high and beat unevenly, high blood pressure, and severe mood swings. So they flushed his system with IV fluids and took him off the medication, he is now on antibiotics and should get better quickly. Just a little Drama for the New Year.

Hope everyone has a great New Year!

Terri and Crew

Christmas oh my...

Where oh where has the time gone!!! I know when my parents told me that as they got older they felt the fast forward button was being pressed on time but I never took them serious. Well, now I completely understand what they mean by that. Oh my goodness has it flown.

They boys are doing fabulous. We have had a great school year so far. Can you believe we are just one month shy of finishing a half a year!

We have taken our Christmas photos as well. Here is a little picture of the boys christmas picture.



Getting all three boys to take a group picture is so hard now that I have a TWEEN yes, we have a boy who thinks he should be a teenager, oh my ( I am not ready for this stage) I have to tell him exactly how many times the flash will go off and then he is done! So needless to say this child can't stand posing for our Christmas picture time.

So here is our Tween, our book lover, he always has his nose in a book! He loves autobiographies, reading about history, mysteries, and adventure stories.



Here is our sweet little crazy boy. He always seems to find trouble. I am sure it follows him around his friend destruction. He is so funny and loves adventure. He is always on the full blast and never slows down. You got to love his love for life he has A LOT of it! : )



This little guy is growing up so fast. He has learned all his letter and sounds this year. He is now reading as well. What happened to our little guy, who told him he could grow up so fast! This little guy loves to have his picture taken and is always asking for that as well. So getting this cute face on film is so easy besides him being cute he will pose for hours for you.




So next year we hope to have added to our family by one or two more God willing. You can follow our adoption story on our other website. Due to privacy issues that blog is not open to everyone. So email us if you would like to be included in receiving those updates. We are doing great and excited to see what this next year brings.

God bless and May you have a wonderful Christmas this year and many blessings.
The Grabb Family

I lasted 1 minute 9 seconds

I could survive for 1 minute, 9 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Created by Bunk Beds Pedia

Corbin's Fun Run 2008

Corbin's Fun Run 2008 photos. Yes, I know it has been forever long. Sorry it has taken so long to put this up.

Take care everyone.
Love,
T N T

Yeah for School!

So excited that school starts today! We can get into our routine and back to normal (whatever that is)! Praying this year we visit the Doctor much LESS (although Brodie has ruined it for us so far with his finger injury)! My thought is that the boys should be able to fight off all those school germs since being in school one year and exposed to it otherwise I might go crazy by the time all this ends.

I am missing our little Corbin a lot lately. Watching the boys doing all these new things, seeing Corbin's little buddies start school and preschool for the first time. It makes me a little sad. Trying to stay focused on the truth He doesn't care that he is missing it as he is having a far better time in heaven than on earth.

Posting Pictures later today of Brodie's HAND, and school!

Love,
Terri

Summer's End

I can't believe summer is ending and School is to begin in 4 short days! In so many ways it seems summer was never here. I know that my parents always said that the older you get the faster time goes. Well I must be as old as dirt because I feel like I just woke up and summer slipped away over night.

We were extremely busy this summer and that is probably why. What fun were we up to this summer well we had some great times in between some very trying times. Our summer started out with illness. Travis, Gunnar and Brodie all sick with different things but finally we were able to get out of the house and start playing. We put on another amazing Corbin's Fun Run this year! With tons of help from many wonderful friends and family.

We then went off for a super family vacation to the bay. We spent two weeks camping, swimming, boating, eating tons of marshmellows and hot dogs. Aiden decided to throw in a trip to the ER by dislocating his shoulder. The very next day he was perfectly fine and ready to go at it all over again. (TO BE YOUNG AGAIN)

We came home freshened up our clothes then off to my sisters we went. This trip began very badly! Our first day out Brodie fell forward on a wagon at the Detroit Zoo and his hand was stuck under the wheel of the wagon. It was badly damaged (no skin left on the fingers of his hand)! He was rushed by ambulance for fear that he was going to loose his 2nd finger. Thankfully he is recovering ok. It will be a long recover but is ok. He is unable to use his main hand but like a champ handling it all well. (THIS JUST GLOSSES OVER HOW YUCKY AND HARD IT WAS TO SEE HIM IN SUCH PAIN)

As you can see I am thankfull in some ways we were to come home and begin getting ready for school so we could take a breather. Its time to get back to work and quit goofing off.

We had Brodie's SIXTH birthday party last night. Yes, I cried buckets of tears that my little boy is six! Where did the time go?

Well off to make Popcorn for my little guys!

Terri and Crew

Yeah New Look!!!!

So I finally got around to giving our blog a new look! I customized it myself and did a pretty good job I must say! :)

We are all doing great! The run went wonderful. I did not get to enjoy it as much this year as last as I was working my tail off and it was over before I new it. Then we had a whirl wind day. We did Corbin's birthday butterfly release with everyone that afternoon as well so it was a non stop weekend. Hopefully I can put pictures up soon. Jewel took some amazing photos that I LOVE of Brodie and at the cemetery at the butterfly release.

We are off for a month leaving Dad to work while the boys and I take a summer fling before school starts.

So we will update on our adventures when we get back and hopefully by then the photographer will have the photos ready.

Love
The Grabb Crew

Photos

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Finally an Update

Well,

I figured I had better give a real update on how we are all doing.

We have finally gotten rid of the strep virus from our home. I had thought that it would never leave after it lived here for almost 18 months but it is gone! Gunnar will need to have his tonsils and adnoids out but we will face that this summer maybe if I have the courage to schedule it. I hate the thought of him going through the surgery so we have been very hesitant to put him through it.

The boys are all doing great. Gunnar received an award for his invention at the Innovation and Invention Fair. Aiden is in a play that is coming up in school. Brodie has decided that he wants to learn and is taking off in learning his letters and desires to read! I never thought it would happen but it is, he is growing up.

All three boys are taking Piano lessons from a wonderful young lady that graciously comes to our home and gives them lessons. Brodie LOVES it. He tells everyone that he can't have play dates after school anymore because he needs to go home to practice his piano.

We are grateful spring has arrived. The boys are staying outside until dark and have stopped destroying the house and are now back to their antics of yard play, sword fighting, dirt bike riding, building jumps, swinging on vines and all other wild and crazy things they can come up with. Travis is right there with them encouraging and following along with them as well. I really need adult supervision around here at times! :)

Travis is racing one weekend a month throughout spring and summer. Hopefully we will get the chance to go see him race (If I get the courage up). The boys are wanting to sign up for swim team this year so we will possibly be doing that with them. I have not made up my mind. I love to have my summers off so we can travel so I am not yet ready to give them up.

We are in full swing with Corbin's Fun Run 2008. It is officially up and running. We have our first four sponsors, the date set for July 19th, the park reserved again. So I have been busy with that along with taxes and paperwork for the IRS and accountant as well. I am hoping to spend the day doing scrapbooks with Penny in April but we will see.

For spring break we went to the movies, visited a local farm, went swimming, had a day of dental work done (teeth took a major hit from the high dose antibiotics they were on) went on an egg hunt, birthday parties, and colored easter eggs. I was disappointed that I did not get a pajama day! :( Brodie was sad that he did not get to the nature center. Just not enough time to do it all!

This month we will be going to Ohio to spend the weekend with my sister's family in a water park. We usually spend spring break together but this year had seperate weeks so we made a weekend date instead. Everyone is looking forward to that.

Travis has been working, volunteering and helping our with ALPHA at our church Sovereign Grace of Fairfax and spending lots of time playing in the garage fixing up his car.

So thats what we have been up to! Sorry for the lack of updates.

Terri and the BOYZS

VIR NASA Thunder 02/24/08

Travis is Official

Yes, folks that is right Travis has his race license!

Below is his first official race. Its heart stopping!

Yes, I may need to start coloring my hair very soon!

Love,
Terri and Family

VIR Full 022308 NASA Thunder Race Start

Start of my first race after passing Comp School the day before.

Cork Screw in the House??

Just Pliers???

No maybe a corncob holder and pliers will do the job?? Notice the strain on his face!!! He is working hard for this!!!

Hey, the corncob holder came out but where is the cork??? Dang, it didn't work!

Back to just the pliers and the cork again!! Hmm will this really work!
No, folks they did finally find a corkscrew! Ah, family, who else can you laugh at so well.

Love You Jeff and Ray!!!!

Grocery Shopping Woes

I am known by many especially my husband and sisters by for my grocery shopping abilities. For years, starting when I was in high school and had to grocery shop for my parents it was a disaster. I would find other things to do, continue to put it off until I had to do it and then find that I had misplaced the money my parents gave me. My sister Sherri and I when we lived together would use our grocery money not on groceries. My husband bemoans how I can go to the store with a list and still manage to forget buy half the items on it. So my inability to shop has a long history.

I am proud to say I have taken my shopping difficulties to a new horizon this holiday season!!!

Over Thanksgiving Sherri and I went out and did all the shopping for our big dinner. After purchasing all the groceries on the list, forgetting to stop at one store on the list (the florist) and coming home we began making the many side dishes for the dinner. After a few hours it became apparent that there were items missing??? We were certain we bought them. My receipt showed I did succeed in purchasing these groceries. So by Thanksgiving morning we finally realize that HALF the groceries I bought were left at the STORE!!! You are probably asking how can someone possibly leave only half their groceries at the store. Admitting to yourself that many of you have driven off leaving all of your groceries in front of the store, but still confused as to how someone leaves half of a 200.00 grocery cart at the store. Having left all of my groceries several times, a bag or two at the store, I too am confused as to how I managed to bring home only half. Yes, if you need your grocery shopping done feel free to call me. I am sure to get it done eventually. We ended up going back to the store between that afternoon AND Thanksgiving day no less than 6 times to repurchase all those items I forgot.

So with great joy we head into the Christmas holiday and it is always questionable if we have the actual items I purchased. Sad isn't it. I am sure the stores love me. I share this wonderful story with you so you may laugh and maybe even commiserate in your shopping ability or lack there of. This past week, I managed to forget only one bag at the store!
Heads up Safeway I will be shopping tomorrow!

Happy Shopping
Terri

Merry Christmas

The Three Grabb Boys



They have reached the age when I can no longer talk them into letting me get them matching outfits! :) So now we just do favorite sweaters! And of course we have to include Corbin Bear!







Gunnar

Can you believe he is 8 years old!!! Soon 9, how time flys.








Aiden,

As always lots of smiles and love to share!





Sweet little Bro Bro! How sad I am to see him grow up. Yet he is on me.

My Beautiful Boys!

If you ever talk to me on the phone you can always hear the chaos in the background. The loud wrestling, the loud playing and of course the loud laughter. Through it all they are best friends with a lot of love for each other!

How I love my boys! So precious, so sweet!

Happy Holidays from the Grabb Family!

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving in Michigan with our family. The boys loved visiting with all their cousins. We had over 26 of us in one house. My sister Sherri was very kind to let us all over run her house. It was fun catching up and being together with all my sisters.


The boys are not feeling well currently all three have strep throat. We have been snuggling a lot on the couch and watching TV. I have to admit that I don't like the day we have to run to the doctors office but enjoy the day after when we can relax at home snuggling in bed and on the couch.





We are getting ready for the holidays. I am amazed how each day there is an ache in our hearts for Corbin. Some days it is just a dim pain, others it is an agonizing overwhelming blinding pain searing deep into the souls of our hearts. Brodie still talks about when Corbin comes home how he will play with this toy or wear this shirt like him. We have stopped explaining that Corbin is not coming home.

For me, the holidays are just hard. Missing Corbin and my parents, the holidays are a time when it makes the hole in my life and heart feel like a spasm of darkness before me. Yet, with that I remember to enjoy each day. Cherish the holidays with the boys and take nothing for granite.


All our Love,
Terri and Family

Hey Hi Everyone!!!!

Just a short Hello to let you know we are all doing ok!

We had a small adventure as many of you heard about! While watching a friend do an adventure quest race at the local park we had a small emergency. Gunnar fell on a SNAKE and of course it was poisonous and OF COURSE it bit him! So off we went to spend a few days in the wonderful Fairfax Hotel! A short vacation for Travis, Gunnar and I. He is doing alright. His arm and wound is healing well. He did require antivenom to be administered, through out the entire event he was stable.

We are getting back on track and into a routine.

We also have finalized the Logo for the Foundation! So all you logo buyers out there, here is the website that you can buy logo gear from and a profit of the sales will go toward the foundation which we will send the money of for CHD research!

CMG Heart Foundation Store at CafePress!

Corbin's Fun Run Store at CafePress!

We also had the great pleasure of visiting the new Children's hospital. It was great. They did a fabulous job and it will be opening very soon!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Terri

School Time

Well our little boys are all in school. Yes, all three are going to Clifton Elementary these days. I know some of you just fell off your seats.

Gunnar LOVES school at Clifton. He is enjoying his teacher, classmates and the work. Brodie is so funny about school. He told us after his first day, "My Bus Driver is CRAZY!" She keeps stopping the bus and I slide off the seat. Aiden is having some what of a hard time adjusting to school. We are working through a lot of anxiety that has surfaced. He told us that he is afraid when he leaves me someone else will die. Heart breaking that our 6 year old son is so afraid to leave me because of the fear someone else he knows will die. He has a great counselor, teacher and staff to support him. I am attending the school to do lunch time and recess with him. I am sure soon he will learn that when Mommy leaves him somewhere it doesn't mean that someone is dying.

Brodie as usual has much to say. Yesterday he came off the bus to tell me he "I invited a chick over to play with me Mom! I can't remember her name but she is a girl!" Got to love that crazy kid. He is also learning about Bears. His homework was to learn two bear facts. The only bear fact we seem to get out of him is "Bears poop like this!" along with a demonstration. I am praying he has NOT shared this fact at school.


I am still teaching Astronomy at the Church co op on Thursdays. Now, volunteering at the school, and staying busy. Travis has found his past love of Mountain biking and started that up with the boys again. They are building jumps, "skinnys" and many other contraptions to ride on. I would love to see them take up Olympic knitting or some other boring calm sport. I dare say there is no such luck in that.

Well that is all that is going on at the Grabb Zoo.
Terri for all