Mommy and Daddy's first race!!

Seriously people, my mom and dad are crazy! My mommy has been running in the cold for weeks now only to get up and run outside on a cold day! I can't believe my daddy did it too, he is really crazy! I need to take a nap so I will let my mommy tell you all about it. ~Carter

Mike and I ran in our first race ever this morning! I still can't believe we really did it. Back in September my friend Katie and I joked about participating in the YMCA Holiday Run, and today we really did it. Katie and I tied running 3.1 miles in 32:18. I'm not going to the Olympics or anything but I think that's a pretty good time for our first race. And considering we never ran more than 2.5 miles before today! I was pretty sure after 15 minutes I was going to die, but Katie kept telling me I was fine and sure enough I am. I already want to sign up for another one. I want to do a race that benefits kids with cancer, so if anyone knows of one in Missouri let me know. I had my friend Rachel take pictures for me today, they are not great but it is proof. Have a great weekend.

Katie and Me before the race, I was really excited for some stupid reason.

The start

Katie and Me finishing strong!

I almost forgot to tell you all what a great wife I am! Mike was pretty far behind us and when I could see him coming I went and met him and ran with him to the finish line.

So Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I have so much to be thankful for this year it makes me emotional. I will never be thankful that Carter got cancer, but I will always be thankful for God's grace and all the ways He provided during that rough time. We are so thankful for all of the wonderful doctors that Carter has/had, the way everything was over so quickly, and the many family members and friends that walked with us loving, encouraging, and praying for us. How wonderful that our little boy is with us and didn't have to have chemo and will be able to celebrate many many more Thanksgivings with us. When we look back at the day we were told Carter had a tumor and the days following, we are so amazed at the way God held us in His hands and took care of us. Yes we were emotional, and yes it was hard, but with God we made it and are now stronger because of it.
I am so thankful to all of you who prayed for Carter and us and who helped us through the nightmare. Thank you!
Hope you have a great day full of thanks!

I can't believe I did it!

WOW! I am finally posting. Where have I been? I'm not even sure. Apparently the Ryan's have been very busy. I wanted to post on November 1, that I can't believe 6 months have flown by since our sweet Carter was diagnosed with cancer. 6 months!! Can you believe it? I sometimes think my life stopped on May 1st, so its hard to believe its November, and well now its the middle of November and I haven't posted on anything in a LONG time. (OK sorry for rambling)

I can't believe I did it! What did I do you ask? Well, I cut Carter's hair. Yes, Yes, I know, WHAT hair? I was well aware that the child did not have very much hair, but the stringy fuzz in the back was driving me crazy and last week I couldn't take it any more. Most people can't even tell a difference, but I can and that all that counts! Right? I will probably keep his hair trimmed nice and short until it gets a little thickness to it. I am sure that some day he will not look bald anymore. Maybe by the time he turns 2. Here are some before and after pictures, like I said there is not much of a difference.

If you look close and squint, you will see the long hair on the right side of his precious head!

Whew! Look at all that long fuzz!!

My big brave boy sat there so good and still for his mommy!

I told you he had a lot of extra hair.

So much better! Isn't he handsome?

Pumpkin Patch

SERIOUSLY PEOPLE. Don't ridicule me because I thought the pumpkin patch was expensive. I AM CHEAP!!! We loved it and had a great time, but we don't have a lot of extra money and I like things we can do for free. So please no more anonymous comments about how it was great for the price and how it wasn't that expensive. WE ARE POOR!!!

We went to a pumpkin patch last Saturday and the kids had a great time. I was a little disappointed at first with the price to get in, and I'm still not sure it was worth it, but it is good to get out of the house sometimes no matter the price.

Enjoy some cute pictures of the boys. I LOVE the beautiful fall weather we have been having. I love the falling leaves, cooler weather, fun family time and good fall comfort food (soups and chili).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carter is talking!
I can't get over how many words Carter says. This could be a whole other post, but I mean really we know I won't post again anytime soon.

Bye=Bye Bye
Ah Bah=Evan (he usually is yelling his name, its pretty cute)
baw=ball
eat=eat (pretty plainly said, the boy loves to eat)
tank ewe=thank you
peas=please
lmo=Elmo (see picture above in Elmo jacket)
uh oh=Uh Oh
NOO=No (usually when we are trying to get him to do something or at his brother, very loud and clear)
puppee=puppy (he loves to give love to his stuffed animals and they are all called puppee no matter what they really are)
uck=duck
hunk hunk =honk honk/nose
toes=toes

up a=up
eye=eye

As you can tell our boy is a genius!

Sounds for a dog, pig, cow, duck, and just about any other animal sounds like a quack. That is his only animal sound.

It doesn't seem possible that he is big enough to talk to us. He is also getting big enough to throw fits! Fun fun times ahead.

Not Me Monday!

I did not stand at the time clock at work for one minute so I could get another quarter of an hour pay, that would be so ridiculous and I don't have time to do things like that.



I did not work out longer than usual just so I could go to Dairy Queen.



I did not eat a DQ blizzard while watching The Biggest Loser.



I did not check McMama's blog during church yesterday because I had not checked on her since Friday. Seriously, who would do something like that.



I did not laugh at Carter while he pouted because I was holding Evan and not him. Carter is SO jealous.



I did not eat a hamburger and cheesy french fries at Steak N Shake at 10 p.m. That would be so bad for me and I am a healthy girl!



I did not go running yesterday. My ankle has only been better for 2 weeks and running would be stupid and way to soon.



To see more Not Me Monday's visit Mckmama.

Not Me Monday!

Time to share things I have not done this week. To see more Not Me Mondays! go to MckMama's blog.

I did not pull out a LONG gray hair out of my chin. I am way to young to have chin hair.

I did not fall asleep while Carter played in his crib and Evan played in the living room way to late in the afternoon because then I would not have slept well last night. And while I did not sleep Evan did not ask me if he needed to be more quiet.

I did not make chocolate chip cookies at 10 p.m.

I did not feed my 4 year old dinner at 8:45 p.m. then immediately put him to bed, that is way too late for a child to eat and that is irresponsible. No, not me.

I did not almost cry when a friend told me she bought a St. Jude pumpkin at our local store in honor of Carter.

I did not cry and call the allergist that Carter saw bad names the whole rest of the day after meeting that jerk. I am a nice Christian girl and I wouldn't do something like that.

Visit MckMama to read other not so truthful posts or try one of your own.

All Clear!!

Carter has been too busy to update his blog so please forgive him! Yesterday went fairly well all things considered. Our wonderful nurse (the one we always get, she is our favorite) was able to get Carter's IV on the first try. It took a while to get the blood for the allergy test and make sure it was good, but still only one poke. Once he started crying because of the IV he was pretty whiny the rest of the day. My grandma and I didn't have trouble spoiling and babying him. The CT came back clear!!! It is such a relief to hear those words come out of the doctor's mouth. I was nervous yesterday but I never realize how much until I can breath a sigh of relief. The doctor also mentioned that after a year we might go to chest x-rays only so he isn't getting all the radiation from the CT scan, and because (her words) his chance of recurrence is so low. I have heard her say that before but to hear it again was wonderful. I love his doctor because she is so encouraging.
We had a fun day at the zoo today, Carter enjoyed being outside and looking at everything. I had some sort of miraculous healing in my ankle. Its a little tender but I can walk on it just fine with out a brace or anything. After a long day at the zoo it doesn't hurt at all! I am really excited about this. I hate being a gimp.
We will be going home tomorrow. I know Mike misses us, he hates when his family is gone.
Thanks for the prayers.