Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Just call him "Daddy, EI"

We got a belated Christmas present in the mail today from the NC Board of Engineers and Surveyors. Nate passed the Engineering in Training (Engineering Intern) exam that he took back in October! The large envelope came addressed to "Nathan Joseph Slavik, EI" and contained a nice certificate. Now that Nate has this certification, he can officially take the professional engineering (PE) exam, which is the highest level of certification for someone in his field.



Most college engineering students take this exam around the same time as they graduate with their bachelors degree. For whatever reason at the time (out late the night before, perhaps?), Nate opted not to take it back in 1999. Over the past couple of years, it has become obvious to us that it would be a good career move for Nate to get his EI and ultimately his PE. So he started studying for the EI exam and took it the first time in April of this year. Though he didn't pass in April, the actual test taking experience was good for him, and he studied through the summer to prepare for the October test.

The late nights studying, skipping PlayStation evenings (sorry Chris), internal drive , and sacrifice of this daddy of two and a half really paid off! The boys and I are so proud of you "Daddy, EI"!!!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Holiday photos


Sometimes its tough to get two 2 year olds to sit still for Christmas photos. We're lucky that our photographer is my cousin Steph, who also has an almost-2 year old of her own! You can check out some of her other work at www.323photography.com. If you look closely, you'll see that we're frequent subjects... Otis too!

Here are some of this year's photos, a little late but better than never! We hope that you had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed some special times with your families.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Our own winter wallop

Like everyone else I know who hopes for snow, our TV has been locked on the Weather Channel for the past couple of days. Unfortunately for us, we got just a dusting of snow on Friday and a lot of cold miserable rain. So the "Winter Wallop" that the Weather Channel kept broadcasting about didn't really hit us... but another type of winter wallop sure has.

The illness that started early last week still isn't gone. Luke seems to have been hit the hardest, followed closely by Nate, and Will has a touch of it too. I seem to have been passed over by this illness, which is good on several fronts. Someone's got to take care of the troops, plus it isn't ever fun to be sick while you're pregnant!

We thought at first this was a simple cough that was going to pass in a couple of days. A fever soon followed. After 3 trips to the doctor, Luke is now the proud owner of a nebulizer, to deliver medicine deep into his lungs. He's also on an antibiotic and an oral steroid. Some of the side effects of being a preemie is coming back to haunt him...

Luke was on oxygen the longest in the NICU. Probably more than 30 days between the respirator, CPAP and nasal cannula. Will was off of oxygen a lot faster. The doctor on Saturday told us that if a child is on oxygen for longer than 30 days, they are much more susceptible to lung viruses and infections. The boys have both received Synagis over the past two cold and flu seasons, which protected their lungs from these types of viruses. Now that they are nearing 3 years old, they aren't getting Synagis anymore... so this is our first winter of potential lung issues.

Luke spent Saturday on the couch, sleeping almost all of the day. It was so different from our typical Luke. Nate didn't feel much better. Will was attempting to be his normal self but the coughing kept getting in the way.

Thankfully today, the nebulizer seems to have helped Luke out quite a bit, and the virus appears to be nearing its end in Nate and Will. We're still taking it easy, not really moving from our protective cocoon in the living room. We have watched a lot of Elmo, the Incredibles and Cars too... thankfully there's football on today to break up the cartoon monotony!

Here is a photo of Luke with his beloved nebulizer. For a kid who has fought us tooth and nail when its time to take medicine by mouth, he doesn't mind holding the nebulizer for the full 10 minutes that it takes to deliver his dose! We were holding it a little away from his face the first couple of doses, but now he's happy to hold it himself, right up to his face. Its like he knows that it is helping him, and is very cute.


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Two little sick ones

The second round of "the crud" has hit the Slavik house! Will and Luke are barking like seals and both have a low grade fever. Good times.

So in light of our [insert sarcastic looking eyebrow raise here] exceptionally fun couple of days, I thought I'd post some pictures showing just how much fun could be had with an ear thermometer. You know your kids have been sick a little bit too much when taking your own temperature and your brother's temperature becomes something to look forward to several times a day!


I know some day we'll look back on these times and laugh... but for now, we're all a little cranky and tired!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Silly me...

I saw the signs for "Pony Picture Days" at Luke's school and thought surely that was a joke. How could you:

a) Get a pony to the preschool?

b) Get a toddler onto said pony?

c) Get a good picture of said toddler on said pony without bad things happening?

Clearly it does not pay to:

a) Think people are joking about Pony Picture Days

b) Doubt your child's sense of adventure

c) Have anything but awe for preschool teachers and pony handlers with cameras


I assure you this photo is not a fabrication! I have talked to witnesses to this actual event! He loved the pony and didn't take the hat off of his head! Rock on, Cowboy Luke. Maybe next year we'll get a pony for his Halloween costume instead of a police officer uniform...