Happy Birthday, Mason!

I remember celebrating Mason's birthday last year. Wasn't that great of a party. There was one very important person missing--Mason! This time he was HOME for his birthday. This big boy turned 3 yesterday!

Rather than cake, we had a dump truck full of pudding, which once again works great for his current diet restrictions!

I thought about interviewing Mason for this post, but I figured he would answer "no" to most of my questions (his favorite word right now). I'll do my best to guess at some of his favorites:

• favorite color: red
• favorite food: yogurt (works well for his soft diet right now as we undergo healing post palate revision) and pizza
• favorite toy: that's tough--any sort of vehicle---tractors, combines, trains, dumptrucks
• favorite TV show: Curious George
• favorite playmate: big brother, Zachary   
• most common words/phrases: oh shoot; come and get me
• favorite book: really any book with vehicles

Mr Mason's (aka fast hands) personality has revealed itself these last few weeks. We've got a goofball on our hands. He loves to make anyone laugh--by rolling around on the floor, starting up his belly laugh, pulling his shirt over his head. He loves to charm girls he finds intriguing--he was blinking his eyes at one of the nurses last week after surgery! When he's really proud of himself, he'll strut. So darn cute!

Mason and Zach both had surgery on their palates last week--Mason had his palate closed up. They had done it in China but it didn't stay closed. Zach had a pharyngeal flap done. Early this week we noticed that Mason's has a hole in his palate. Some of the stitches worked their way out for some reason. So we are praying that this will heal shut on its own. All over the gospels we can read about Jesus healing people, with the purpose of glorifying God. The leper said to Jesus "Lord if you will, make me clean" and Jesus said "I will". So we are asking God "Lord if you will, heal Mason's mouth". It's not a question of "can he". We know he can. It's "will he". Regardless of if he does or not, we will still glorify Him.

7 Months Home

I know, I know. No posts lately. I guess the only excuse is that time really does go by when I am chasing after 2 boys. I have more unfinished projects, to-do lists, and laundry now than 7 months ago. But boy, is it worth it!

So hard to believe that we just met our Mason 7 months ago. He was so timid, scared, quiet, stubborn (!), and sad when he first came into our lives. Now look at him!

 Mr Mason is anything but quiet now adays. He is constantly talking! The other night he was jabbering about something and Zach interrupted him. Mason politely told him "quiet Zach, I'm talking!". He is quite a jokester, always making someone laugh with his silly tricks. He loves his big brother and does a pretty good job at sharing --- better than Zach does most days!

It's been fun to sit back and watch the relationship between the boys grow. They often go off together and play which is HUGE progress from a few months ago. They love to wrestle together, watch Curious George shows, play trains, and ride bikes. Zach has even admitted that he likes having a brother now!

The boys will both be having surgery on November 20. We will be staying overnight at Boystown in Omaha for 2-3 nights. Zach is aware of the upcoming surgery and so far has not become frightened about it. We would appreciate your prayers to keep our home healthy before surgery, as well as for the surgery and recovery period to go smoothly.

Psalm 145:3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

Summer Highlights

I haven't done the greatest at keeping up with the blog over the summer. Here are some favorite things we have been up to the last few months: Let's start out with THE IOWA STATE FAIR!

 Mason's favorite was the wagons. Zach loved the animals and, of course, hanging out with cousin Rebecca.

 

FUN IN THE BACKYARD

There were plenty of hot summer days after the pool closed! So I got out the Barbasol. The boys weren't sure what to do at first. They took it easy.

Then they had the time of their lives. They were covered from head to toe. Lucky it was bath night!

The next time we put the shaving creme on the slip n slide. I probably should have had them wear helmets! They both had a blast and no one even got hurt!

BROTHERLY LOVE

This pose summarizes the majority of events around the house. Zach still tries to be in charge of his little brother. He bosses him around every chance he can get. Mason puts up with it for awhile, but he's not afraid to fight back and even boss him around when he can!

When the boys aren't battling it out, they're giggling, chasing one another, wrestling or playing super heros. Mason is quick to imitate absolutely anything that Zachary is doing

Now whenever Zach puts on his costume, Mason runs upstairs to find his!

The boys got to play with cousin Collin a few days this summer, which they loved. Zach was happy to have another boy to wrestle with!

We've taken a few road trips. One to Grandma and Grandpa's farm last weekend. The tractor and 4 wheeler rides were a big hit!

 We also have been to Omaha a few times. We visited Grandma Karen and also met with some new doctors. We introduced Mason to our favorite train museum in Council Bluffs. Zachary is moving out of the train phase; Mason is moving right into that phase.

We visited with the Cleft Team at Boystown in Omaha. We have decided to make a switch. Both boys will be having surgery sometime this fall. Mason will have his palate closed up. Zach will be having a pharyngeal flap done, to help with his speech production. But shhhh--don't tell Zach yet. We're gonna break the news a bit later!

All in all we've had a fun summer playing and adjusting to one another. Zach no longer asks why we wanted to get him a little brother:) Mason's true personality keeps emerging. His belly laughs are contagious. I love his squeaky voice as he tries to sing along with Zach. His big brown eyes melt my heart.

Thank you for all your prayers for our family during these months of bonding and attachment. The Lord has surely heard your prayers and we are so thankful.

Birthday Boy!

Look who recently turned 5!

 We celebrated with friends and family for 2 days straight! Zach has recently decided he likes superheros. We got him this Incredibles costume. He loved it so much that he literally wore it 6 days straight. I got him to take it off a few times so it could get washed!!!

 

It's hard work being a superhero AND going to birthday parties!!!!

I stole an idea from my friend Dana--she interviews her kids every year on their birthday. Zach wasn't too chatty for the interview. He put up with my interview for a few minutes:

1. What's your favorite color? Gold (i have no idea where that came from; he's never claimed that as a favorite!)

2. What's your favorite book? Anything Superhero or Curious George

3. Your favorite movie? George movies

4. Favorite food? Spaghetti

5. Favorite superhero? ALL of them!

6. What do you want to be when you grow up? Ice-cream truck driver

7. What's the best thing about being 5? "being really old"

8. Who do you like playing with? mom (I bet this answer changes in the next year!)

9. If you could do anything, what would you do? Go for ice cream

10. What's your favorite song? Overboard (a bibleschool song)

Love you big boy! So glad that God decided to place you into our family. 

Fun on the 4th

We made the best of the 102 degree day on the 4th by doing what Americans do on every holiday: EATING! Zach was super excited to learn that the sweet corn is FINALLY ready.

There's nothing better than Grimes sweet corn! We had our doubts about Mason eating it. But he surprised us all and ate 3 bites!

Zach was also super excited to see watermelon at the store. He put away about 1/4 of the watermelon himself. Mason touched the watermelon but didn't try any this time around.

But low and behold---he did eat strawberries and blueberries when we loaded them up with frosting on graham crackers!

Eating has been a big deal at the Kragel table since Mason came home. For those of you who have dined with us since we've gotten back, you know what I mean. But Mason has really made good strides in this area. We're figuring out better ways of introducing new foods to him and also learning more of his food preferences--he loves salty/crunchy. He still turns his head away from some foods, but he's eating the majority of foods we provide him now a days. That's huge. It makes mealtime much more pleasurable for all.

Eating wasn't the only thing we did over the 4th. Zach got to go on a special date with Daddy to see fireworks for the very first time at Yankee Doodle Pops. He thought that was pretty special.

We also went to a local parade so Mason could gawk and grunt at the trucks and tractors, which he did. Zach got a bagful of candy, which he was proud of!

Hope you all did something special on the 4th. We are very blessed to live in America and to have the freedom we have.

My prayer for my boys and anyone reading this today is as follows: Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. (2 Peter 3:18).

This & That

We went hiking at the Ledges last weekend with our good friends Steph & Mike (and their kiddos). Mason kept up with us pretty well, even with those little legs of his! He tried talking us into carrying him but an extra 30 pounds on your side doesn't last long while hiking!

Every now and then he will hold a hand, but he'd rather just run free!

Back at home his first love is still anything with wheels. Some days he lines up all of his vehicles before  pushing them around the kitchen floor.
Mr Mason got tubes put in his ears this morning. The ENT thinks he had recurrent & untreated ear infections most of his life. Hopefully this will improve his hearing which will help out as he is learning to speak English.

We got some good news at Zach's eye dr appt this week. His lazy eye has gotten 50% stronger since we started patching it. We will continue to patch for another 3 months and go back for a recheck in 6 months. About the glaucoma--it's uncertain until they retake photos of his eyes in another 2 -3 years. As of now, we aren't treating glaucoma.

Otherwise he's been having fun going to the pool this summer and also learning to read some short words. He's still into anything "space" related and is newly interested in superheros.

Fun on the Beach

We thought a day at the beach would be perfect to celebrate our anniversary (and Father's Day). Although Mom's idea of a day at the beach would involve ocean water and white sand, we still enjoyed our time at Big Creek.

The boys found sticks, rocks and sand to throw in the water.

Mason had fun doing all the things in the lake water that he gets in trouble for at home during bath time---kicking, splashing, jumping.....

We ended the day with a picnic, then home for a bath. The boys certainly had fun playing with Daddy on this special Father's Day.

We've been home with Mason for about 2 months now. Who knew that parenting is quite possibly the hardest job on earth?! However it's also the most rewarding job. We've realized fully how we are in need of God's strength each and every day. We're thankful that he's got us on the path that we're on. He's been teaching us so much about ourselves and our need for a Savior.

Psalm 70:5 But I am poor & needy; hasten to me O God. You are my help & my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.

It's been hard to find time to post on our blog these days. By the time the boys get to bed at night, mom & dad are ready for bed too!

Over Memorial Day weekend we headed up to Winterset to the Tower Castle. The boys loved climbing up in the castle. We even did a little hiking while there.

Last weekend Mom was at a conference in Minnesota on Food Chaining. It was one of the best conferences I have attended. It was a win-win situation---I earned CEU credits while also learning information to help Mason with his eating. If any of you have "selective eaters" at home, check out this blog : http://cheriandlaura.blogspot.com/

Dad got to stay home and man the house for a few days while Mom was in Minnesota. As  you can tell below, the boys had tons of fun with Daddy. 

We went to Iowa City a few weeks ago. Found out that Mason needs tubes in his ears, which we are doing locally at the end of this month. He also needs another surgery on his palate. Apparently the first surgery (done in China) didn't really take, so his soft palate is almost non-existent. We are waiting until Sept to have that done, in order to allow more time for us to bond before putting him through something so traumatic. It's still uncertain if Zach needs another surgery on his palate. Once he agrees to be scoped (nasal endoscopy), the doctors can make that determination. They will try to scope him again in September.


1 Cor 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.

Zach's 3rd Gotcha Day!!!!!

It's so hard to believe.......3 years ago we met Zach for the first time.

One year later......

 Two years later......

Three years later.......

We asked him what he wanted to do to celebrate his special day. Wouldn't you know, he chose to go swimming. He is still such a fish!

 As it turns out, he's not the only Kragel boy who loves the water.

It's so fun to look back and see how far our boys have come. Three years ago Zach was hesitant to make eye contact with us and we didn't even know if he could walk. Now he never stops singing, loves to be cuddled, and has so much joy in his heart. One month ago Mason was scared, mad, and filled with grief. Now he asks to be held and belts out belly laughs often.

To God be the glory.

Psalm 86:10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.