Courtney family adventure in Troy, MT!

Scott, Dilan and I went away for a much needed weekend as a family! We rented a cabin in the Cabinet Mountains about 4 hours north/west of home. We only stayed two nights, but we feel so refreshed! We did some hiking, adventuring, and just did some hangin' out!

These are the Yaak Falls, about 20 minutes outside of Troy, MT. It was so beautiful, but a little scary...you can only imagine these falls in early spring!

This is the cabin we rented. It was really nice and had all the amenities you would need. Dilan did great...took him a while to fall asleep the first night, but we had a great time sleeping all together in the same room! It was funny to watch Dilan watching us, while we pretended like we were sleeping!
Dilan got a fat lip, he tripped while we were hiking in the Cedars forest...he was bleeding and crying...I felt so bad, but he recovered quickly.

My two favorite guys! What a lucky lady I am!!!

This is the Ross Creek Cedars forest. Some of these trees are over 500 years old! It was such a great place for Dilan to wander around and explore. We let him lead the way...he got his exercise that's for sure!

This is taken in the root system of the cedar tree...the pictures don't do it justice.






Here is a picture of the Cabinet Mountains. The view was beautiful, it makes us really apprecite where we live and how perfect it is!

Our jackpot of purple heaven!

Our little buddy picking berries...what a wonderful family day!

Picking berries really works up an appetite!

We hit the jackpot of Huckleberries this weekend!!! Since Dilan loves berries so much, and will eat hardly any other fruit this was perfect! We tried carrying him in the backpack, but that was difficult to bend over and pick berries with 30 pounds on your back so we thought we would let him out and see what happened. At first he was picking leaves and putting them in the bucket, and then realized what we were actually picking and started picking the little berries himself. It was such a Blueberries for Sal moment! He was so cute picking and then putting them in the bucket, and he didn't eat any of them! Then we decided to go swimming since it was so hot...he is not too fond of the lifejacket, but we figured he better start getting used to wearing it since we will be on Grandma and Pappy's boat in a couple of weeks!

4th of July in Seeley Lake, Montana

Dilan and I went to the parade saturday, it was really hot, but he enjoyed watching the fire engines, and motorcycles. There were horses, mini horses and even a goat, which he quickly pointed out!

Dilan's first real river experience! He did pretty good walking on all the rocks. You realize your little boy is growing up when you go to hold his hand because you think that it is slippery and he pushes your hand away!

We took Dilan to gymnastics camp earlier this summer! He was in the level with the 18 month old to 3 year olds. He really like to ride on these saucers with wheels, and swing on the bar.

Grandma and Pappy brought Dilan out his own table and chairs to sit at, and Grandma practiced coloring with Dilan. He had so much fun!

Pappy Beall reading with Dilan...he has his favorites, so we read them over and over!

What a great deal!!! Dilan and I went garage saleing this weekend and hit the jackpot! I really wanted to get him water/sand table but brand new they are really expensive. So we went on the search...and just as I rounded the street in downtown Seeley Lake I saw the gleaming bright florescent color of little tikes! We got him a slide, water table and chairs, and a car for $20! A little soap and elbow grease and we got them cleaned up pretty good. He just love the water table, I can't tell you how many wet clothes we went through this weekend. It was even raining and he still wanted to splash in the water. The hardest part is getting the dogs to understand that the toys are not for them!

Dilan and I hiked to the "M" on Saturday! What a beautiful day...and wasn't too bad carrying him up the mountain! Of course then we had to go for ice cream...

Sunday Scott and I took Dilan to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Museum. It was so fun to watch him...it was like a kid in the candy store. He was everywhere, and laughing, and banging on the glass...a real riot!

No I will not cheer for the Detroit Lions!!! Oh I couldn't read it, I didn't realize it said Detroit Tigers! I'm okay now! Thanks to my Uncle Andy and Aunt Andi I stay close to my roots!

Mom and Dad were too tired to drive, I told them I could handle it!

Just kidding!

The day Dilan discovered the toilet paper did more than just go in circles, it can actually come off the roll!

Dilan is getting so big...it is amazing when they change from babies to little kids! He is getting taller, and has over half of his teeth. He is starting to really come into his own, and lets us know what he needs in other ways then crying. He is really pointing at things, and is trying to make lots of words. To the average listener it would all sound like noise but we know he is saying dog, dad, duck, bird, bubbles, all done. It makes things really fun, when he gets excited if we point out a bird, or the dogs, or let him splash in the lake water, or pick up pine cones. We cherish every moment, and love him so much!

Dilan's early Easter meltdown!!Hanging out in my basket of stuffed animals!
GO MICHIGAN STATE!!!!

Thank goodness he loves to read!

I came home to find this!!! He doesn't fall asleep with me like that!

Dilan is doing great after his hospital scare...he is walking everywhere, talking lots with Mama, Dada, Bubbles, and Dog being the most recognizable. We are looking forward to the snow melting and have been able to get outside more in the stroller!

1st Emergency Room Visit

Dilan had his first trip to the Emergency Room thursday! We noticed on tuesday that his left leg was bothering him...we monitored him and by wednesday night he wouldn't but any weight on his leg. Thursday morning he wouldn't even crawl, and was visibly in a lot of pain.

I called his doctor and spoke to the nurse. She told us to take him to the ER because he was going to need x-rays and blood work. So we arrived in Missoula at 11am on thursday. Dilan has x-rays, an ultrasound, and blood work. They noticed he had some fluid around his hip joint and that his blood work was elevated. Which meant there was an infection somewhere in his body. They decided to admit him to the pediatric unit for an MRI and observation. They were concerned that his hip might be septic (or full of bacteria) so they wanted to check.

At 7:30 they sedated him and then Scott and I went down with him to the MRI. They ended up having to give him more sedation because he woke up on the way down, and since they need him to lay totally still. It was horrible watching him in that little tube.

He was finally able to have a bottle at about 10pm, and we finally got him to sleep. He was able to sleep until 4am when the nurse came in to give him motrin. In the morning he was seen by an orthopedic surgeon, who wanted to determine whether or not to put him under to drain the hip. At about 4pm (he wanted to observe him after the motrin had worn off) he decided he did not think his hip was septic, and just didn't feel like the risk should be taken to put him under anesthesia. So they decided that what he had was called Transient Synovitis, which is a viral infection in his hip. It is cause from having a previous viral infection which for him was a head cold. It then moved to his hip.

We were able to take him home, and he seemed very happy with that! We just have to monitor him, and they said he should be back to normal within the week! We are so happy that he didn't have to have surgery or any further probing...it makes you realize that you would do anything for your children...so thanks for all the prayers and support!

Gramma and Pops Courtney got Dilan his first Big Wheel! He can't quite reach the pedals but he still enjoys being pushed around! He had so much fun while Gramma visited! He even got to stay home from Daycare!

Oh my goodness...cake everywhere! All in good fun though! Good thing he got a new bath-tub for his b-day.

Scott decided he needed to have blue frosting war paint to complete his first birthday.

He is thinking..."oh my gosh mommy I get to eat this!"

I conquered the train cake! I suppose you can't go wrong with Funfetti Cake, frosting and oreo wheels! Dilan seemed to really love his blue engine!

Dilan got some new shades, bath towels, and building blocks from Grandma and Pappy Beall! Looking pretty cool!

Scott, Gramma Courtney, and I took Dilan to the pool on his B-day! Dilan loves the water, he splashes and plays...

I can't believe that Dilan is almost 1!!! We are so excited to celebrate his b-day next week. His Gramma Courtney will be here to celebrate, and I am making him a train cake! We are going to take him to pool on his special day, as he loves to splash around!

Dilan and I just completed a 5K in Missoula. It was the Frost Fever frozen frolic...we did pretty good for as windy as it was! He is so good, he just loves to ride in the stroller and looks all around.

Scott and I took him snowshoeing this weekend. Sunday when Scott carried him he fell asleep and slept for most of his ride! When I tried to carry him he wanted to pull my hair! But it felt good to get out and get some fresh air...

I just had an interview for another part-time job with the YMCA as a program coordinator. I would do this in addition to my teaching job, since I am already part-time and am afraid that I might lose more hours next year...trying to be pro-active, plus I think that would be a fun job too!