The Adventures of Wilsonsmom

Here it goes again...

2009-11-03T13:40:00.002-05:00

I have had a lot of people ask me lately what's been going on with Wilson, so the easiest thing is just to write this out. Saturday night, after Trick or Treating with some friends, we got home to find Wilson was having severe diarrhea. It was several times an hour for 48 hours, and is till happening, but less often now. All of the specialists agree that it is not a virus of any type, nor is it an allergic reaction (which was our original guess.) At this point, we are lost and confused. I am tired of this hitting us all of the time. I want my baby to be better, so we have decided to do another surgical procedure November 17. It will be at Children's hospital Liberty Twp campus. This is the soonest we can get him in, and until then, the doctors worry Wilson will stay this way. Hopefully when they search Wilson's body, they will be able to find whatever's causing his body to react this way. He is still happy, energetic, and typical Wilson. We just want to know what is causing the abnormal reaction to foods, whether it be diarrhea or allergies. Our main concern at this time is dehydration; Wilson does not like juice, pedialyte, Gatorade, etc. He mainly likes milk and water, so I am encouraging it as much as possible. I fear potty-training, which has been going well, will also have to be put on hold. There is no way we can expect him to make it to the restroom at this point. This procedure is similar to the one they did last December, but the doctors are hopeful they can find something at this point and go from there treating Wilson. There are numerous things that could be going on, we're just not sure at this point what is what. Several of his stool samples have returned elevated, which is causing a bit of alarm. The MD performing the procedure is out of town until the 16th, which is the reason for the delay, otherwise they way the nurses have spoken, I think they would want it to be done sooner. Please keep us in your prayers as the next two weeks come, I'm just not sure where to go.

Blessings, wilsonsmom

I really am a slacker.

2009-06-18T13:22:00.002-04:00

"Hello friend." That's how my two and a half year old (!) says hi to our friends now. My, what an adventure we have been on lately. We have successfully introduced soy into his diet, started him at a new school (both which have been tremendous successes,) and Wilson decided he didn't want to wear diapers anymore. Most parents would rejoice, however, most parents do not have such a stubborn child. He is doing quite well with the #1 part of it, however the twosies are just not working out for us. In fact, I just had to change him in the middle of a park shelter because he wouldn't go on the potty and instead dropped one in his undies. Right before daddy's surprise birthday lunch. Aaahhh, memories! Regardless, I am thankful that he is working on this huge milestone, and that we get to be a part of his life.

I am amazed and humbled by the growth and changes I have seen in him lately. It's easier to understand why people have children 2-3 years apart now, he is no longer a baby but a little boy. What a difference that is. He is having full conversations with us, involving himself in our daily activities, and helping us out. This morning, we decided to surprise hubby with cupcakes and Chipotle at the park where he and uncle Scott were supposed to be playing basketball. We went to Kroger, where he got the little man shopping cart, put the ingredients he needed into his cart, up onto the conveyor belt, and handed the lady the money. All the while, saying "please, thank you, excuse me, etc." What a little Mr. Manners we have! Every time we go to the grocery together, the young cashiers always comment on his flirting abilities, which are quite stellar. Hey, not everything was from dad. ; )

In other news, please be praying for a good friend of ours, Krugie. She has been diagnosed with multiple allergies at the age of 23. Man, if she would have only listened to me a year ago...I digress. This is understandably an overwhelming and frightening time for her, so please pray for guidance, comfort, and knowledge for her to get through this.

Also, welcome to the family, Josh. He married hubby's baby sis last weekend in AZ. There are pics up on her facebook page if you are her friend. Unfortunately, we were not there, but she looked lovely.

So, how have you guys been?

Blessings, Wilsonsmom

Community

2009-05-12T14:00:00.003-04:00

God calls us to live life as the Church. Emphasis on the capital C. This is not some place we attend on a weekly basis, this is a group of passionate followers of Jesus who band together as a community and grow as much as possible. We have been working on what exactly that looks like for us as a family lately.

Today, we found out precisely what it is. While changing the monster's diaper this morning, I noticed his stool was quite runnier than normal, and there were peas in his stool. Mind you we haven't had those in months, so I was quite surprised. I called the daycare and discovered that they had in fact served peas yesterday for lunch. Knowing hubby didn't serve them to him, I realized he ate some at school. When I asked his teacher about it, I was told that they didn't have time to worry about things like that. So, needlessly to say he will no longer be attending that particular school.

I do have a meeting with the owner of the school today to let them know that this should not happen and to further discuss other issues we have come across with them so they can improve. I pray that God gives me the strength and the words to accurately and calmly describe things to her so she can keep this from happening again.

We also have an interview with another daycare tomorrow that specializes in children with sensory issues and exceptional needs. I am praying this is the opportunity we have been looking for all of this time, somewhere he can be the sweet loving boy we all know he is.

Through all of this, I have needed to find somewhere to send him for the next three weeks until the other center has an opening for him and fortunately through the gifts of God's faithfulness, we have someone to watch him every day except one, and I have tow available people for that, just determining which will do that.

So thank you Father for your grace, protection, and love. Thank You for guiding us into a community of followers who want to help one another and to serve You.

Blessings, wilsonsmom

I'm a bad blogger

2009-05-07T08:14:00.000-04:00

Well, hello friends. It's been a while, and for that I apologize. But at least we have a good excuse, we've been playing! The weather has finally turned nice and we've been trying to maximize our fun time.

We have also been to Childrens Hospital recently. Our allergist asked us to start reintroducing soy seriously, and while I am hesitant, we are following the doc's orders. And so far we're doing well. We also let him try a bit of a mild, flaky fish with success (thus far.)

Now onto the big news, Wilsonsparents are taking our first family vacation! Hubby's grandma is not doing well, so we are going to fly to Florida soon and visit. Wilson is so excited about flying in an airplane! He keeps telling us he'll be like the birds. I'm certain Wilson will get to try more fish while we're down there.

This month, the monster will be two and a half, and while the time is flying by, I'm finding myself even more in love with my monster than I thought possible. He just has the best personality (most of the time,) and he is starting to love his momma! This means not everything is all about "my daddy, my daddy" as it has been. This morning we've been "nuggling" and watching a bit of television while deciding what we're going to do today. I just didn't realize I would enjoy him as much as I do.

So go outside, enjoy a nice time swinging or sliding, and think of us!

Blessings, wilsonsmom

So there was this boy...

2009-04-01T21:04:00.003-04:00

One night, I went to this guy's house to hang out with his friends and gently blow him off. Two of his friends showed up as well, and one of them was really cute, but he was growing a mullet (HUGE turn off.) The next night, the original guy called and invited me out to a movie with him and the same friends. He asked me to bring a girl for each of his two friends. I decided not to, since the cute guy was going (sneaky, right?!?) and I ended up hanging out with him, his best friend, and baby brother all night. I got to kiss him that night too!

Little did I know that six years later I would be sitting in our house having a delicious dinner and glass of wine, snuggling and watching TV with our son asleep upstairs. In just a few short years we have gone through death, life, friends, childbirth, among other things.

So happy sixth anniversary baby. I love you so much.

Spring has arrived!

2009-03-23T21:54:00.002-04:00

Spring is here, and boy are we ready to play outside! I have been trying to take Wilson to the park as much as possible, and I think it's as good for me as it is for him! He just got his first soccer ball, and it might have replaced J as his best friend. Everything right now is about soccer and "my soccer ball." It's the funniest thing, and I can't wait till fall when he can start soccer.

We found out last week that Wilson has Sensory Processing Disorder, but I'm not exactly sure what that means yet. A book I was directed to by one of our therapists, "The Out of Sync Child" tells me that it is "the inability to use information received through the senses in order to function smoothly in daily life." I haven't gotten too far yet, but so far, everything describing a sensory-seeking child seems to be all Wilson. I am certainly interested to see what else this book has in store. We are also waiting on a report from the wonderful woman who did his assessment on exactly what she saw when she spent time with him at his daycare. I am anticipating this will shed some light as to what we as his parents can do to best satisfy our little monster.

We are working on finding an occupational therapist who is available to take him on as well as wondering exactly how "therapy-friendly" his daycare truly is. As of now, they are showing quite a bit of resistance and a serious lack of concern for his best interest (IMO.) While I realize they have a job to do, we need to do what's best for him. I am currently exploring options recommended by his PSC and assessor.

At this point, I'm just praying that we get things moving quickly and in a direction that is the most effective method for Wilson.

On a side note, Happy Happy Birthday to our friend Jill. Our family loves you and your boys, and we hope today is fabulous.

GI Follow-Up

2009-03-05T13:48:00.002-05:00

Greetings, I come to you first in prayer that the God who is bigger than any of us has a plan. A big plan, because no one else seems to.

We have been working on the sweet potatoes, and Tuesday night, right after dinner, Wilson broke out into hives, as I posted. They went away, but at four o'clock this morning, we heard him coughing and crying, so hubby went in to check up on him, and found he had vomited and had a very high fever. We gave him Tylenol, then Motrin a few hours later when it wasn't going down. I just prayed for it to at least go down, then we started our morning.

This morning, my wonderful friend, Jessica, accompanied us to Children's Hospital for Wilson's GI follow-up from two months ago. Hubby had a very important meeting at work he wasn't able to miss, and her joining us was such a blessing and help, because it enabled me to talk to the doctor without worrying about his behavior (or his obsession with the phone in the offices or washing his hands one thousand times while he's there.)

Dr. Franciosi basically told us that he was quite certain Wilson should not be eating sweet potatoes, and he wanted me to call the allergist about it. He then proceeded to tell us that he is fine, we should be thankful for his size (36 3/4 inches and 35 lbs.) and not worry so much about the allergies.

*Mom time* This doctor obviously has never had to take a child with 15+ food allergies to a family dinner with absolutely no knowledge of how he was going to feed them and keep the child safe. He has never had to worry every minute of his day that someone ate an egg then touched him, causing anaphylaxis. But I have, and I know what that is like.

I also know that this doctor sees many many children that are much worse than Wilson and has many more issues than he does. But those are not my children, and fortunately for me, we are not in that circumstance. That doesn't mean I do not want to know what is going on.

So here it is. God, take it. Take my son in your hands and HEAL HIM. HEAL MY BABY. You are the only one who is able to do this. I have nothing without you and everything with you. Please use us, our story, our family for Your glory and Your good. I give up, it's all yours.

Blessings, friends. Thanks for the prayers.

in addition...

2009-03-03T19:27:00.000-05:00

Please pray! Wilson is breaking out into serious hives, and we have him an antihistamine to stop them, but I'm going to have to watch them until bed, along with watch his breathing. Just not sure where this is coming from...

Tastes like chicken? Nah...

2009-03-03T13:39:00.003-05:00

Greetings, reader (I say that because I know only one of you read this thing. ha.) Last week, we eliminated chicken completely from Wilson's diet, and it worked so well. He didn't bite at school, and while he still ran out of his classroom and his Kid's Club room at church, his behavior was leaps and bounds better than he has been in weeks. I didn't notice a difference at all with meat vs. no meat, so we called to check in with the allergist this morning.

His news was wonderful! We are going to eliminate chicken and beef (meat-wise) for six months and see how everything goes. All foods that he is not testing positive to (including the fabulous five we started this week) are fair game, just one new food per week, and we will check in with him in SIX MONTHS!!! He completely released Wilson unless we have issues with trying the new foods, and he suggested we introduce fish as a way to get more protein in his diet. WOW!! What a change from even a month ago.

Sweet potatoes are going well so far, except I'm not sure if we can get him to stop eating them! Let's see if this happens with peas next week. What a blessing this is to be able to give him the foods he loved so much before we were told he was allergic to them. I'm getting excited about the healthy and yummy foods we will be able to give him in the next few weeks and months.

Thank you so much "reader" for your prayers, love and support while we are on this journey. We will have a follow-up visit with the GI doctor Thursday, and I am hoping for more good news. As always, I will keep you updated.
Blessings.

What a month!

2009-02-24T13:51:00.002-05:00

Sorry I haven't been the best blogger every as of late, the last few weeks have been beyond overwhelming. For starters, wilsonsmom got a new job! Praise God for wonderful opportunities!! It is exactly what I need right now, and I am trusting God will provide my clients with a way to find me, and if not, fill those spots with clients He wants me to have.

Next, we have been quite busy with doctors for Wilson. The beginning of this month, I had a long talk with the allergist and explained my frustrations, concerns, etc. He asked us to come in the next morning (about 3 weeks ago) and have some tests done. We checked to ensure his anatomy was working correctly, and it IS!! This basically means his digestive system, intestines, bowel, etc. all are without defects and kinks. Which is excellent news for us, but also leaves us with more questions. While we were there, we also had a RAAST allergy test performed, which is done through blood. The results were astounding.

Wilson is testing "not-allergic" to sweet potatoes, corn, peas, soy, and oats. If you pay attention to ingredients in food you eat, you will realize this is a wonderful victory for our family. We will start next week introducing one new food each week. I will be in constant communication with the allergist during this time, giving results and receiving input for new ideas for what's wrong with this boy. We will be watching out for trouble breathing, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, among other things, which also means we will probably not be going out too much, to avoid a mix-up with these results.

This week we are also eliminating meat for dinner Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in order to try to decipher the reason for his poor behavior. He has been having a lot of difficulties at school with biting and running out of his classroom during lesson times. We are working on the biting, and that is getting better, but his teachers are worried about him nonetheless, so here goes nothing.

I am trusting that God will hold my little monster in His arms and keep him safe during this time and protect him during these trials. I am also praying for more new foods we can give him, and we've already been coming up with creative ways to tell those we love.
Blessings, wilsonsmom

Quick update

2009-02-02T21:11:00.002-05:00

We have had a tough time getting Wilson's medications pre-authorized as required by the insurance company, so I have been practically stalking the allergist's office as well as the GI's office. (oops!) We finally got a call back from both, and I expressed concern that I had not yet heard from the allergist as a follow-up, so she had him call me back today. I shouldn't have done that.

We spoke for about fifteen minutes, and I expressed several concerns I am having, and he said he wanted to see us tomorrow. A few minutes later, the GI nurse called and said they had him scheduled for some tests in the morning. Apparently, the doctors want to make sure that his anatomy is correct and functioning properly before we proceed with anything else.

Tomorrow, I am just going to push the allergy issue. I can't figure out why every allergy test pops up more foods. So let's just hope that we can keep him calm for the entire day while he's there.

Blessings.

Adroable

2009-01-26T08:43:00.002-05:00

Yesterday morning, we were in the truck driving to church after picking Wilson up from my mom's (yay date night!) when I sneezed. Wilson proceeded to say "Bless you Mamma." Seriously, I melted more than ever. What a sweet sweet boy.

We start speech and feeding therapy tomorrow, which is also our friend Justice's birthday. Hooray for being two. Wilson's Grandma Shelley also arrives in Cincinnati on Wednesday, and they haven't seen each other in about 26 months. How exciting.

Blessings, wilsonsmom

Interesting.

2009-01-20T21:00:00.002-05:00

Today, we had an appointment with one of the best pediatric allergists in the world. And we still don't know much. I feel like we had to convince him to do another round of allergy testing, and hubby said he felt like they didn't believe Wilson is as bad as he is. They just kept saying "tell me about his allergies." Gee, that's not the most broad question EVER.

He finally tested for 45 foods, and Wilson tested positive for peanut, milk, egg, almond, banana, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, white potato, and barley. The weird thing is we aren't sure what this means. He isn't having awful reactions right now while eating white meat, so we are going to continue to feed him the same things as before at least for now. The allergist and GI are going to talk Thursday, and call me sometime this week or next and let me know what they think is best and where we need to proceed.

The allergist also says there is very little chance that Wilson has EE. This doesn't rule it out, but it could just be allergies. If it is just allergies, we would start going to see the allergist regularly, and do other forms of allergy testing (we only did the skin prick test, which made hubby and I both much more at ease.) Depending on how those turn out, we may start attempting to reintroduce new foods one at a time.

I know it seems like we got somewhere, but hubby and I still feel stagnant. We keep seeing these specialists, and this one's supposed to be better than the previous, and the next one will have the answers, etc. Except that when we go, there are still no answers, no treatment plans, nothing. We just want something to hold as truth, someone to give us answers, hope, anything.

On a different note, what a funny thing to watch Wilson dance and clap during the Neighborhood Ball on television tonight. Our President is now "Morebama" according to the monster.

Peace, Wilsonsmom

What a busy week!

2009-01-16T08:43:00.002-05:00

We are absolutely blessed to be in the position we are in right now. Yesterday, a dear friend of mine went to the children's museum with monster and me, just to wear off some energy in a warm environment. (For those of you in warmer areas, as I type, it's -6. Gross.) While we were getting ready to head in, I got the phone call I have been awaiting for two weeks. We have an allergy appointment next Tuesday at 10 am.

That's just the beginning of the good news. The allergist we are seeing is world-renowned. This brings such a comforting feeling to me that I didn't have before our last visit. Our original allergist is fine, but this man is the best at what he does, and he's going to see our kid. It's a strange feeling, and I'm not quite sure how to explain it, I'm just so humbled by the ability to see this man and have him treat Wilson. This appointment will be different in many ways, it will take about 4 hours total, and we will also do a patch test. The allergist will place the foods he tested negative to in the original test on his back and leave them there for 48 hours. During that time, his body will be able to react to the food and register either safe or unsafe. This is something that isn't done terribly often, unless it's a person with multiple allergies or they suspect something unique is going on in the body. Typically, an allergy reacts immedeately, but there are instances where the body can react over time.

I am asking for prayers Tuesday for Wilson. 4 hours is so much longer than we are used to, and it's right into nap time, which he DOESN'T miss. You really don't want him to miss nap, trust me. My prayer is that the doctors and nurses are able to treat and diagnose him accurately and efficiently and Wilson stays calm enough to endure the entire series of tests.

We will return to the hospital Friday to read the results of the patch test, and I also hope that the results are clear to read and understand for the doctors, and that we as a family adjust quickly and in the best way possible.

Wednesday, we also have his meeting to plan out this occupational therapy schedule, give our short-term and long-term goals. At this point, I just want him to stop biting and to eat more. It's getting harder and harder to make food for him. We're trying lots of new foods every week, and some work better than others. Hubby fried some "eggplant french fries" that he loved and devoured. Mushrooms worked once, but the rest of the time he throws it, and broccoli is a joke. But eventually it will get better, I know this. We just have to continue to introduce foods and be consistent with him.

Have a great weekend, and stay warm. Wilsonsmom

A New Year, A New Purpose

2009-01-14T15:16:00.003-05:00

Well, hello there! For those of you who don't know who I am, I am wilsonsmom. Simply put, my son is Wilson, monster, booger, etc. He is a fantastic little two year old who happens to be allergic to LOTS and LOTS of things (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, soy, bananas, peas, beef, oats, barley, corn, potatoes, shellfish, legumes, dogs, and cats.) We are currently working with some of the top doctors in the country to find a reason for all of the allergies and more importantly to help our little man have the most normal way of life possible.

Lots of my previous posts have been in regard to this, but from here on out, I will be blogging exclusively about him, doctors appointments, therapies, and what God is doing in our lives to show is His power. This is the easiest thing we can do to let you all know what is happening, how Wilson is doing, and how we are. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful support system and people who love us, but it often overwhelms us to wonder who we've told what, who we've called, etc. This doesn't mean some of you won't get personal updates, but this is much easier, especially after a difficult day like we had last week.

Last weekend, we went to a friend's graduation party, without Wilson. As we were introduced to their friends, they gave our names, as well as "They're Wilson's parents." At this point, someone said, "Wait, this is the boy everyone fasted for, right?" and it made me realize that at one point, I had an amazing way for people to know about who we are, who God is, and how we are doing all at the same time. And I let that go, because I'm lazy and didn't use that opportunity. So here goes nothing.

Wilson was born a pretty normal, slightly chubby boy with bright blue eyes and a head full of black curly hair (which I LOVED and miss so much!) Everything was pretty normal for the first four months, until he started vomiting and stopped gaining weight. Let me clarify what this means, because this was key. He gained nothing for several months, and with infants, it's crucial for babies to gain weight; it's how they monitor their health and development. When we went to the pediatrician, they informed us that they wanted to run some tests and check for allergies.

I had heard of peanut allergies more and more lately, especially with my job (I'm a hairstylist,) so I was mindful of that, and I even considered that he might be allergic to our precious dog. When we got back the blood work, we were told he was allergic to peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, and dogs. Bye bye Makella and peanuts from our lives, my favorite food and our first "baby." What a blow, but we held on.

My brother in law graduated from basic training in September 2007, and we were lucky enough to get to go, and travel on standby for next to nothing, and decided it probably wouldn't be safe for him to tag along, so my mom and sister helped watch him for the three days we were gone. Let me tell you, those were a tough few days away, but now I know why God allowed us to have that time. It was the beginning of the downward spiral that was our lives. After we picked him up from my sisters, I noticed he was pulling to breathe, and asked my sister about it, who told me it had just started minutes earlier. I tried to wait it out until the next morning, and called the pediatrician, who wanted to see him immediately. We started running more tests, and after about six weeks of looking for everything else that could be wrong, we discovered he was allergic to tree nuts, soy (the SOY formula he was on,) bananas, peas, and cherries.

Our lives changed again, watching everything we gave him and what we ate. After some pushing, I called an allergist, who told us it was safe to eat peas, cherries, and wheat. (I've blogged about this in the past.) Last spring we tested again after having a lot of health problems with him, and found peas were a bad allergy, as were cats. Then, this fall (past blogs cover this as well) we found out about oats, barley, corn, potatoes, and beef.

He told us to call Children's Hospital GI department, and look into a disease called EE (Eosinophilic Esophagitis.) We had our first appointment Monday, January 5 at the hospital with a GI, speech pathologist, and nutritionist. After our visit, my husband and I felt like we left with more questions than answers. The GI wants to run a new baseline of allergies to see exactly what he can and can not tolerate, because at this point, he is developing allergies to everything he eats, but with avoidance seems to be able to heal from them. We will be seeing a world-renowned allergist for this, and are just waiting (as patiently as possible) for an appointment with him. The most difficult thing is we wait for them to call us. If I don't hear from them by Friday or Monday, I do get to call their office. (I choose FRIDAY!) We will also be seeing numerous other specialists to ensure he gets better as quickly as possible.

So that's where we are. We also have a meeting next Tuesday with a therapist who will be helping to get to the bottom of his sensory issues (he bites everything he can, especially his friends) and hopefully his eating problems, since he's starting to lose weight again. Through all of this, though, we are trying to keep our eyes on the future and know that God has this all figured out already, we just have to wait for Him to give us answers.

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T08:33:00.000-05:00

So, it's that time of year again, out with the old, in with the new. Blah blah. This year, however, its different at our house. As many of you know, monster's test came back clear, signaling everything is all right. The doctors, however, seem to disagree and have referred us to other doctors to find out what is happening to our boy.

Monday, we have our first meeting at the EE clinic at Children's hospital. We will be seeing world-renowned doctors who specialize in these diseases and want to help him get better. I feel very fortunate to be able to send my son to such amazing providers.

We also had our in-home evaluation last night with regard to his sensory and behavioral issues. Turns out, he is quite bright (her words, not mine!) But does need some therapy time. While I am trying not to feel like a failure as a mom, I'm trying to be thankful that the state will help us with some of the financial aspect of these therapies. They will work with us at home as well as at his day care, which is nice.

Bottom line is I am super blessed right now, very lucky to be able to give my monster these options for his life. Please keep a few of my friends in your prayers. Someone I work with has cancer, and its not looking good. At all. We've worked together for almost 4 years, and this is hard to see happen, especially since he lives in Columbus. Another friend's family life is being completely shaken, and I pray He strengthens and heals her and her family.

Blessings to you and yours, wilsonsmom

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

2008-12-04T13:29:00.002-05:00

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but this blog is a venting one...

Today was booger's 2 year check up, which was perfect timing because his procedure is Tuesday. We were hoping we could just make sure everything is OK, avoid a flu shot, and go on our merry way. As I'm in the office speaking with our pediatrician (whom I ADORE and respect whole heartedly) about some of what we have been facing the past few months with his biting, behavior, and lack of appetite, he suggests that we send him to be evaluated for developmental disabilities. I understand that this may open doors for better understanding exactly what is causing some of the unwanted behavior, especially since we are disciplining him and encouraging the good behavior, while discouraging the poor choices.

My problem is I am exhausted, I am worn down, I am beat. Every time we visit a doctor, I feel as if something else is catastrophically wrong. I realize I have so much to be thankful for, but I am still feeling beat down and pooped on. We just found out he is allergic to so many new foods, may have a GI disease that will alter his entire life, and now we are testing for disabilities. I have spent the last 2 years and 9 months focusing on doing everything that is best for my little booger, and it is all backfiring. I just feel like something is always wrong with him, and I don't understand why.

In addition, we have been preparing for his "cleanse" prior to his test and have (finally!) eliminated his night night cup. As a result, he has not slept in days. Which means we have not slept in days. He isn't even napping, right now, I'm just hoping that he will even rest quietly. This is also probably a source of my frustration, but I still feel this way.

Again, sorry to be a downer, I know He will provide healing and help for our family, I just have to get this out for a minute.

Blessings, wilsonsmom

Results

2008-11-06T12:08:00.003-05:00

We have good news and bad news from the allergist. The bad news is we have new allergies to

Oats
Barley
Potatoes (all, which means no french fries!!)
Corn (corn flour too!)

We are now avoiding all of those foods, and we confirmed a severe allergy to beef and peas, which I suspected. The good news is his count for egg, cow's milk, and soy has dropped drastically. Almost to the point of safety.

Before we celebrate too much, we also found out that we will be referred to Children's Hospital for further testing. As of now, we will be doing a scope and biopsy looking for Celiac and Eosinophilic Esophagitis, among other things. The good news is both are treatable, and we know that through avoidance Wilson can be healed of his allergies, however his body creates new allergies. This leads me to believe that his body has something else going on, something that is attacking foods that enter his body and causes things to become allergies. This is a classic symptom of EE.

The other good news is that the first treatment of EE is food avoidance, which we are already doing and we are accustomed to. (See, the fast was a great idea!!)

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for everything that has happened this week, the prayers, thoughts, fasting, etc. has meant more than you could ever know. May God bless each and every one of you.

Less than 24 Hours left

2008-11-05T09:31:00.002-05:00

We are in the last stretch, guys! Thanks for the support and sticking in there with all of the support! I made a fantastic dinner last night, Buffalo Chicken Chili. Here is the recipe: http://rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=697
The Partridges were kind enough to join us last night for dinner and such a historical election night. What excitement, no matter who you voted for. At this point, it's time to pray that our President Elect Obama will live up to his campaign promises and look to God as his ruler. And I am super impressed that so many people I know made educated decisions yesterday, and no matter how they chose to vote, they did the research and were satisfied with their choices.

Back to the fast, I just keep being reminded that it's not that hard to make good food that is Wilson approved. For the last year, we have just always made him something else, but we can make him food that is safe and tastes excellent. This is opening up our world greatly, and gives us a greater sense of family unity. We were heading to a play date yesterday, and I ran into the grocery to grab a few things for our lunch, and was amazed at all of the options I had! I know it is limiting in a lot of ways, but I'm realizing that this is a great opportunity for us to find new foods and recipes, as well as our friends and family to understand us better.

I also have a request of everyone who has participated in ANY way this week, please write Wilson a letter. I am making a scrapbook for him of this time, and I would like to have letters from everyone who is doing this, just so he knows how loved he is. Even if you don't know us, please send something to theroblings gmail.com.

Thanks, Wilsonsmom

Day Three, early

2008-11-03T09:35:00.003-05:00

This thing is kinda crazy. Apparently there is now a church fasting and praying for Wilson. WOW! Even bigger, we've never met one of them. So to everyone reading this and participating with prayers, thoughts, and fasting, a big thank you. The Lord tells us that His plan is better than ours, and I know that, sometimes it's just hard to remember. I also know that he has an answer for every prayer I give to Him, and that He knows I can handle everything he is giving me right now. I just have to keep that in the back of my mind. Heck, even my "arch enemy" is participating (great blog too: http://www.youseedrybones.com/)

Here is what God is teaching me so far through this fast; I am not insignificant, nor is my family. Sometimes I just feel so small in this world, like I am going to be swallowed alive. I just go about my life, but I realize many many people have way bigger problems than mine. I have a hubby that loves me, a monster that thinks I'm the coolest mama ever (for now anyway,) a job, house, etc. Why could God spend time worrying about us, just because Wilson can't eat some food? Then I am reminded that even the smallest problem, God wants to fix it for me, He wants me to surrender it, He wants me to let HIM work it out and not take it on myself. So this is what I am doing. This fast and the large number of people participating reminds me that we aren't insignificant, that God will use my friends, family, etc. to change the world. He took time out to look at us and give us this opportunity to come together as one flesh and sacrifice for my son's health. I'm just not sure I can tell you what this means to me.

I am also learning that it isn't that difficult to make food Wilson friendly. For the last year or so, we have been making two dinners every night. While it isn't super inconvenient, it does take up more time. But there are great recipes that my son can have, and they taste great. This can help us in the future for parties, family functions, and even just dinners so he doesn't feel excluded. And we can feel closer to him; understanding exactly what he tastes, feels, etc will help us to know him better and to be better parents.

I have also discovered that I LOVE cheese. I genuinely do not like salads without it. I don't have to have a ton, but I really like cheese on most foods I eat. It's a weird thing, I know, but I miss my cheese. Thursday after his test, I will probably eat a pound (or a slice.)

An update on Wilson as well, he did wonderfully on Halloween. He was the best Superman in the history of the world, and we successfully traded his candy with no tension. We also had no breakouts, but are now off all allergy medication, and boy can we tell. He is snotty, cranky, and you can tell he just doesn't feel well. It started within 12 hours of when he was supposed to recieve the dose, and unfortunately the time change isn't helping. So please add to your prayers his safety and health this week while off all the meds. Moms worry, even if they've surrendered the illness to God.
Blessings, wilsonsmom

Lunch!

2008-10-30T12:44:00.003-04:00

Here are some great lunch ideas. I have also found that telling the people I work with what I am doing ahead of time and also telling them I am packing all next week has helped create support and hopefully keep them from asking me if I'm ordering anything.

Klosterman white bread is safe, as is Kroger Organic whole grain bread. Just check the labels, because it can always change.
Add to that bread some lunch meat. Boar's Head has wonderful preservative-free lunch meat, as do other brands. I just like their Cajun turkey and Buffalo chicken.
Fresh fruit, fruit cups, etc. are all healthy sides that do not really need refrigeration.
If you have a freezer and microwave, Bird's Eye Steamfresh has single packs of corn, brussel sprouts, etc. They are nutritious and tasty. Meijer and Kroger both also have fresh varieties of steam-ready veggies. They are delicious with salt and pepper.
Kashi TLC version of Nutri-Grain bars are safe, and they are good.
We find it easiest to make lunch when we are making dinner the night before and go ahead and store it in the refrigerator. That way you aren't rushing in the morning, and you don't have to dirty too much more.
Again, Tyson chicken nuggets are OK, which are yummy!!
Ketchup, some BBQ sauces, some mustard is safe. This helps add tremendous flavor. I believe balsamic vinaigrette is OK too, which can be delicious on veggies or meat.
Vegan salad dressings are often ok, just watch the soy (soybean oil is safe.)
Chicken and stars soup is safe, as are several other canned soups.

We will be shopping tonight or tomorrow, and I will try to post any other ideas I can think of.

Approved food ideas

2008-10-29T21:15:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to say again how thankful I am that people around the country are making this sacrifice. God just keeps knocking me on my face reminding me that this is so much bigger than Wilson, me, or hubby.
Beyond that, here are some great food ideas.

Rice Milk (Rice Dream is what we buy, cheapest at Whole Foods or Walmart.) comes in vanilla or original, and it's not bad in oatmeal, ceral, etc.
Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Multi grain Cheerios, Berry Burst Cheerios are all great cereals that are safe.
Oreos, Pop Tarts, and graham crackers are great sweet treats.
Popcorn, if you watch the labels, is a fantastic snack.
Fresh and frozen fruit and veggies are great additions to chicken that has Montgomery Inn BBQ sauce.
Tyson chicken nuggets are safe. (most, not all)
Dum Dum suckers, pixie sticks, and smarties are all Halloween candy that's safe.

I realize not all of this is the healthiest, but it's easy. I will have lunch ideas tomorrow. Thanks again.

Blessings, wilsonsmom

The email I promised

2008-10-27T20:29:00.002-04:00

This lovely email made me so emotional Saturday at work that I had to explain to my next client what was going on! Haha. Thanks, Jill! We are blessed to have you.

Hey All,I just felt like I should share what God initially put on my heart to pray for when He told me to fast for Wilson. I think it might be a good way for everyone involved to pray both in preparation for the Wilson fast and during the fast.
1. The obvious - that Wilson will be healed completely from all allergies & specifically food allergies

2. That Wilson NEVER feels a negative separation or isolation from others during the healing process (that sense of "I'm different" or "I'm bad" because I can't eat that...). I know he's young, but still...

3. That Wilson develops a sense of discipline and healthy regard toward food (one that I generally don't have and that most of our culture doesn't have). I feel like God is going to use Wilson in this area in the future even if he heals Wilson of his food allergies tomorrow. I feel like Wilson may be a nutritionist or dietitian or athlete or something that requires him to be extra thoughtful about what he eats (because he chooses to and not because illness forces him to).

4. I personally feel like God wants to show me that following such a strict diet won't kill me : ) He wants to show me that freedom and the good life exist through him and not through what I put in my mouth to gratify my flesh.

So, I encourage you to pray to receive that freedom through this fast as well. May we experience joy inexplicable as we give up some of our favorite foods.
I think those are the main points. Please let me know if God is guiding you to pray for anything specific as well... I am so excited for Wilson. He truly is one of my favorite little boys and I know Jesus delights in him, too!!!!
Grace & Peace! Jill

Again, feel free to add comments to my blog. I am going to print all of this stuff out and put into his baby book. I want him to know just how much our friends love him. Oh, and check hubby's blog. He will be updating this week too (honestly!) with recipes and helpful ideas.

The first of a few of these...

2008-10-26T19:46:00.004-04:00

First, I feel the need to explain how the "Wilson Fast" has come about. A few weeks ago, my good friend called me and left me a wonderful voicemail asking about booger's allergies. She felt called to pray and fast for him, and since she is not able to completely fast (mamma's rules) she chose to fast his allergies. This touched me in many ways, and I felt called to join her. In fact, I felt called to fast his allergies from November 1-6. As I began to discuss the sacrifice my friend and I were planning, several other close friends chose to join us. Some for a day, others the entire time we are. Some are choosing one allergic food, others are fasting all of his allergies.

The booger is allergic to the following foods:

Peanuts
Tree Nuts
Milk
Egg
Soy (soy lecithin and soybean oil are safe)
Bananas
Peas
Beef

I am sure a lot of you can not imagine a day without some of these foods, let alone a lifetime. Some of these allergies are anaphylactic, which can be deadly. This has caused a lot of stress and worry for our family, and has caused a complete uprooting of our lives. We must check everything that comes into our home, car, environment. Things such as Halloween, parties, family outings, etc. have become a nightmare trying to ensure his safety. We have learned a lot, and have much much more to learn. The point is, we are submitting ourselves to God's plan right now for our family and letting Him guide these results.

I feel this is necessary right now in my walk for a lot of reasons, some of them:

I need to understand fully exactly what it means to live as my son is living. This means to avoid foods that I love (some of which I already am,) and to try to not complain. I feel that this will make me a stronger person and a better, more compassionate mom.
This sacrifice will allow me to come up with more allergy-friendly recipes and hopefully be more creative with his foods.
To show God that I am willing to sacrifice food, which I love, for my son. I know it's nothing in comparison to what He sacrificed, but it's something.
It will hopefully give me a healthier view of food in my life. As a friend said, to prove that food is for sustenance and to survive, not to be gluttonous.

People are choosing to pray for several things during this time, and I am hoping to be allowed to share a lovely email the friend who started this sent this weekend which moved me beyond words. Her vision for this little boy is amazing, and I never knew one friend could cause me to cry so much (brat! lol.) Right now, I am feeling called to pray for healing and understanding for booger. I am praying for him to not be discriminated against or people to not include him from things as he gets older. Honestly, I just want him to be as normal of a boy as he can be. I don't want him to be forced to worry about everything he puts in his mouth his entire life.

The point is, I am humbled beyond belief at the way this has grown and the number of people who are showing their love and support for our family. Throughout the next two weeks I will be posting recipes, foods, and encouragement for those choosing to follow. Please feel free to leave comments, encouragement, or to pray for all of us participating in this challenge, but please please please pray for our son. These allergies are getting worse and growing in number as he ages, and I am praying for a complete and total healing. So thanks, friends, and anyone who wants dinner during that week, come on over. Just let us know how much to cook!

well, it happened

2008-10-07T20:45:00.000-04:00

Everyone kept saying it would happen, and it finally did. My monster finally climbed out of his crib. The first time was during nap Saturday with his dad, and just now it happened again. We have been intentionally keeping him in it as long as possible to keep his sleep patterns as consistent as we can. I guess its time for a big boy room. Oh no! Mommy has to go shopping! ha ha. Please pray as we go through this transition that he stays unharmed and still sleeps well.

Wow!

2008-10-05T23:01:00.002-04:00

This past weekend, we were fortunate to have a wonderful lady take some photos of our booger. You should check out her blog, saragdesigns.blogspot.com. I can't believe she was able to find such beauty in our little monster, and boy is that an accurate description! He was all over Eden Park, to the point where we had four adults chasing him and it was difficult! It was such a treat to see a couple of her preview photos. So good job Sara G!

I WIN!!!

2008-09-30T22:51:00.004-04:00

And no, this isn't a post about how badly I crushed Don in fantasy football. Hubby caved and is giving me the green light to cut my hair however I choose. My colour will stay vibrant copper-red. Also remember I can continue to grow my hair out. So, I need suggestions:

Heather Sucks!

2008-09-25T08:35:00.002-04:00

I just got a phone call, and as if I'm not struggling with exceeding my mid twenties as much as possible, Heather told me this:
Saved By The Bell debuted 20 years ago!!! Gross. This is bad, I remember loving that show soooo much when I was little.
Enjoy your morning laugh at my expense.

Thanks MTV

2008-09-07T23:03:00.000-04:00

For making me feel like an adult. Gross. I love music of all kinds (well, other than country,) but watching the VMAs tonight I realize I know no one on there. Drake and Josh? Tokio hotel? The only reason I know who the Jonas Brothers are is the news. Seriously, I feel old and out of touch. I did decide my next hair colour though. At least something good came out of it.

gustav

2008-08-31T17:32:00.000-04:00

Lord, please protect the people of New Orleans. Help them to be strong and safe during this frightening and difficult time. Keep the levees strong and hold them up.
I am so worried about this hurricane. I genuinely worry that the work everyone has put in the last 3 years will be destroyed. I know that lots of precautions have been put into place, now we just pray.

Summer is coming to a close.

2008-08-31T17:11:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, summer is ending soon. And with it comes fall and booger's SECOND birthday. I am seeing evidence every day, whether it be in his new multi-syllabic words, his small sentences, or just his astounding size. He is truly a little man. And he got to play with one of his friends yesterday. We love J and baby E, and apparently we love beating J up. We're working on it, but I am starting to worry he is going to be a bully. Oh well, all I can do at this point is teach him and hope for the best. But as I get older I know booger is too. This stinks!

I love my friends

2008-07-16T22:36:00.002-04:00

I really do. They are great; I enjoy greatly the time we get to spend together, no matter how little time we have. I love how we can not see each other for a month and it's like we just saw each other the day before. You probably know who you are, and I am thankful to consider you in my group of friends. There are quite a few; four in fact, I saw this past Saturday. And I love how God is with us wherever we are, and He likes to show Himself, even in small ways like editing my stupid comments. (Well, except those to the ugly bald guy.)
I also love my other friends that I am growing with spiritually. Last week's small group really had ground. I love real people, there's no time for anything else. You guys are great. All of you. And if I didn't specifically mention you, I still love you. I just wanted to gush about those people today.

One more thing, if anyone has any BABY BOY stuff, and wants to get rid of it, please let me know. We have a new BOY addition to the family...YAY!!

2008-07-04T22:10:00.004-04:00

Ok, I know what I said....

2008-06-12T09:21:00.002-04:00

Well, in a previous post, I declared I was ready. I genuinely thought I was, I had prepared myself for my son to be completely healed of at least some of his allergies when we had him re-tested last week. Boy, was I not ready for what He had in store...
My son is now allergic to cats. CATS?!? We are the least "cat people" you will ever meet. In fact, I am terrified and have been since childhood. I know, it's weird I just have bad luck with cats. Anyway, yep, allergic to cats, and dogs. So no pets for the family. He is still allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy, and bananas.
Oh yes, I also forgot to mention his counts went up on some foods. Namely eggs and peanuts. The pediatrician said he hasn't seen counts so high (as eggs.) It's as high as it can be. GREAT. JUST GREAT. Lord, I am trying to understand, honestly, but I want more. I need to know that all of this planning and struggling we are doing as a family is worth it all. I know it will keep him safe, but I need to know why. Why my baby gets sick when he is in the same room as a peanut, or why touching an egg can kill him. I'm struggling right now with this, and I know that He has the perfect plan, and that it will be ok. I just have to breathe. Right?!?

Grateful

2008-05-30T22:41:00.003-04:00

Oh, my. I have just spent an hour and a half reading the blog of a very brave family. http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/
They have gone through things I hope to never go through. I hope no one ever has to go through. And I am openly weeping. The fact that God created Wilson for us, for me, and made him so perfectly and wonderfully is beyond my wildest imagination. I should have not been able to conceive my little man, let alone carry him. And he is here, 18 months and two days later, and he is wonderful. He is 29 lbs, 4 oz. (I know, chubby) he is 34 and some inches long. His head is really big, and he is allergic to a lot. (Waiting on word God has healed him. More later) But he is here, and I get to hug him, I get to kiss his little face off. I can hold him when he cries, and I get to be his mommy forever. Angie and her family now have a space in my heart. I found myself reading her blog praying for peace for her family and still grateful that I have not suffered in the way she has. I know some of you have. I also know a couple that I love more than they know want to be parents more than they even know, but it's coming. It really is. Be patient, and know that He is here and His timing is perfect. Please remember that friend. Please find comfort in that. And know that we love you.
For the other people that my previous words did not pertain to (trust me, there's only one of you, and that was from God, I can tell you that.) please read this blog and pray for this family. Kristal, you are in so much trouble. I was supposed to be in bed SOOO long ago!

I'm Ready

2008-05-27T14:41:00.002-04:00

Recently, I have been tested in a lot of ways. About ten days ago, I joined together with about 4,000 of my, ahem, closest friends (OK maybe only a few of my CLOSEST friends, but still 4000 people) to participate in Go Cincinnati. Basically, a huge day of servant evangelism. We did dirty jobs, we did clean jobs, and we did it to show God's love. Sure, there are more ways, but this was close to my heart. So, we went to the YMCA in Cheviot and tore down a lot of trees. A lot. Then, we piled up the trees and got to use the wood chipper on them. After they were turned into mulch, it was spread on pathways. The area cleared by the trees will be used by the YMCA for their summer camp as an area for kids to eat lunch, do crafts, etc. in the shade. We also built a shed and moved picnic tables in that area to help the YMCA employees more. This particular event was slightly unorganized, very very dirty, and quite laborious work. But I found myself praying for each of the people there, working on their off day, spending it with a bunch of strangers, showing kindness to others. I also prayed for the people who would see the area we cleared, and that they would come to know God in a personal and passionate way. This was something very real for me. We were given a difficult task, and when the "time was up" people started leaving. There was still an enormous pile of trees to be sorted, chipped, and still a lot of clean up to do, yet because it was 1, they were tired, or had other commitments to do, so they left. I struggled with anger toward those people, but a group of us decided we still needed to get the work done. So with only about ten people, we got it all done in about 30 minutes. So much quicker than I would have thought possible. It was so moving to see these people work together toward a common goal.

I also have always one to believe in prayer, but have also relied on myself in too many ways. My pride has always been one of my biggest struggles. Recently, I have been forced to rely solely on God for health, jobs, and basically everything in our lives. This week, we had booger prayed over by some of our visitors from Mamelodi, South Africa. While we pray for him every day, as do a lot of our friends and family, this was a test for us as a family to ask someone we have never met to pray for our child and his health. She asked us what to pray for, and I just let all of it out. Everything we have been struggling with, we gave to Him. And in that moment, we were more of a family unit than we have been in the past year. We are trusting that God will heal booger, because that is our only hope. He is our only hope.

I almost forgot, I have some great news! A friend had to have surgery a few weeks ago to remove some precancerous cells. This was very trying and scary for her, and has really made her think about a lot of things in her life. When the test results came back, she found out that all of the cells that were SO close to cervical cancer have disappeared! What a miracle! We had been praying for her during this entire time, and for her to get this news is no doubt the work of God! And to hear her claim it as such makes my heart leap for joy!

Courage

2008-04-22T21:19:00.002-04:00

The work courage can describe a lot of things. It could describe the police officer, soldier, or firefighter who wakes up every day, puts on their uniform and goes to work to protect us. It could mean the person who tells the truth even if they risk their job because they are standing up for what is right. Or someone who defends the honor of someone they don't know. But I am talking about moms. This is obviously something I am familiar with, so bear with me.

I have a good friend who is a single mom. She has family help, but the dad is over twelve hours away by car. At least he wants to help support them in some way, but essentially she does it alone. I have so much respect for single moms, they have to do everything alone. I know how hard it is and I am fortunate enough to have tons of help. (and I mean TONS!! Hubby is the best at helping me.)

I also have friends who have had enough courage to give up their jobs to be stay at home moms. I know for a fact that I am not designed to do this. Trust me, I have pondered it. I have to work, in fact I would work two jobs if I thought it possible. But these women have given up so much and the families have made sacrifices so that they can benefit from having a full time parent at home. I really and truly admire what they do, and they seem to love it. Watching what a particular friend does is astounding. She has children slightly more than a year apart. WOW!! One is nursing, another is walking. Busy mom and dad! What courage it has to even take them to the park, or for a walk. One is typically crying or needing something, and she seems to seamlessly take care of both their needs. Seriously, I don't think her hubby knows how lucky he is, because she is AWESOME!! I love going to the park with them because I am reminded how little patience I have with booger. Then I say a prayer for more patience with him and hubby.

So great job, moms!! Keep up the good work!

Six years

2008-04-11T01:39:00.002-04:00

Today is the sixth anniversary of the day my grandma died. She took care of me after my dad died, she lived with us for most of my childhood. I absolutely adored this woman and still hold her in high regard. And she's gone. I miss her dearly. Some days, I just want her to have met my hubby, to have seen my son, etc. When I was growing up, she would always say she just wanted to see me graduate preschool, after that was accomplished it was kindergarten. It continued on with each milestone until she was at my high school graduation. She died when I was in my junior year in college, and never knew I dropped out. My grandma had the highest hopes for who I would become in life, and sometimes I wonder if I live up to those.
Grandma was the first female mayor in Kentucky, and was mayor of a small town for many many years, until I was born. She retired to help take care of me, and did so full time for years. I truly believe I was a huge part of this woman's existence. She had one of those larger than life personalities, everyone knew her and loved her. I certainly get my outgoing personality (surprise) from her and my mom. I just miss her, that's all.
And it's super late, I'm super stressed, and it's that day. I just want to go to sleep and forget about everything weighing me down today. Sorry this is so down, I'll try to be happier next entry.

Got extras?

2008-03-30T16:23:00.002-04:00

SO, some of you know about my coupon-clipping skills. They are pretty fantastic, I might say. It is a great way for our family to save money. Problem is, last week they disappeared. It was tragic. Horrifying. I have yet to recover. Now, I am stuck starting from scratch. If anyone gets the Sunday paper, and doesn't use the coupons, or has leftovers, please feel free to send them my way. I will come get them, or send you an envelope. And I may be your best friend. Oh, and if anyone has Pampers coupons they aren't using, you may be my bestest friend ever.

An explanation

2008-03-25T12:27:00.002-04:00

So, many of you know that booger has numerous food allergies. I feel like it is easiest to give a bit of background info before I go into my story, then my explanation and apology to my friends...

Food allergies are very dangerous for children. At such a young age, he is unable to communicate to us if his tongue is feeling funny, if his tummy hurts, or any other symptoms of an allergic reaction are to occur. Thus, it is easiest for us to make everything for him from scratch, having total control of the ingredients. Many times, things contain milk, soy, eggs, etc. without saying those exact words. This leaves us in the position of constantly second guessing ourselves. It is very easy to cross-contaminate food as well, just by mixing a "safe" food with a spoon used on an "unsafe" food, not washing things thoroughly enough, etc. This is a common way for an attack to occur. Again, this just makes it easier for us to cook everything he eats, and not to go to restaurants with him. The nut allergy is a completely different topic. It is so scary and horrible, we can not even eat my favorite food (peanut butter) for lunch without worrying that when I see him at night, I will get him sick.

This has posed quite a challenge on our family over the past year, trying to find out what he can/can't eat, likes, etc. Finally, we are starting to get into the groove of things. Then, Easter strikes. Christmas was a fairly easy holiday to maneuver around, mostly because we went to people's homes. We could bring his food with us. Easter, however, is the holiday when everyone in our family goes out to eat at a buffet. This is probably the least safe environment for our son. The risk of cross-contamination is about 90%, if not higher. In addition, this particular restaurant serves nuts in several dishes. This is just a nightmare for us as parents. Thinking we would try to offset the inconvenience of not going there, we try to offer to cook for our entire family. This was immediately shot down by the woman who gave birth to me. We explained the situation, to no avail. We were ordered to still attend the brunch and egg hunt afterward. EGG HUNT?!?! You mean the thing he is allergic to? So we ask about plastic vs. hard-boiled eggs, and are basically told to be there no matter what. Not to mention it is in the middle of his nap time, which we try hard not to mess up. Otherwise, we have a grumpy booger. Not fun. So, we went. We were social and pleasant, but we left early. He needed his nap, and we needed to take care of him. And he had fun.

Now, for the apology. I am genuinely sorry that we do not go out with you guys as often as we used to. Hopefully, this brings light to why we don't go out as much as we used to. It's just easier for us to provide our own environment. Our friends have an open invitation to our home at any time, and ask the hairy one, we are pretty ok cooks. I am also sorry if we ask you what you have eaten that day before you play with my kid, if you had peanut butter right before you saw him, you can't play. Sorry, those are the rules. If you have any more questions, just ask me. P.S. This is not meant to make anyone feel bad, just to let you know what's going on in our lives right now.

Already?!?

2008-03-20T16:31:00.002-04:00

So, booger and I were headed to the Gap outlet today to pick up daddy some polos (great deals, btw,) and we were listening to David Crowder. This is not uncommon in the car, we listen to every type of music, sing along, and dance like sillies. Suddenly, he started waving his arms around, singing, and just got this happy look on his face. It's like he knew the song was a way to talk to God. Yeah, yeah. I know you probably think it's silly, but I really enjoyed that moment with him.

On another note, my real hubby, Brett Favre retired. This is long overdue in some opinions, and devastating in mine. I genuinely think he is one of the most talented quarterbacks of all time. He has overcome a lot as a person, as we all have, and has always had grace and class. I will certainly miss watching the Packers play. He's not to bad on the eyes, either. (P.s. no matter what the loser says, her hubby looks NOTHING like Brett.)

Also, welcome Elijah! I can't wait to meet you tonight and play with your brother! More to come

My kid...too cute.

2008-03-06T13:04:00.003-05:00

I can not believe he is fifteen months. Way too cute. This is his Easter outfit, and probably Elijah's next year. So get ready Dudley's. This is too funny. If you want to see more, check out the link. The password is his first name. More to come later, been a busy week with my real husband retiring this week.

My friend, I have missed you...

2008-03-02T23:54:00.002-05:00

I LOVE MY TV!!! Lost was so good! Oh, I have been blogging like crazy the past few days. Don't ignore the other posts, some of them may be OK.
So, for one hour, I have been watching TV for the first time in a week. Again, Lost was incredible!! Everyone can talk about it now. It kinda bums me out, though. I can't believe I am so dependent on "the boob tube" for entertainment. The sad thing is, this is the time hubby and I talk the most, spend the most time together. This is quality time for us. Something we both enjoy. Some people read together, or work out together, we watch TV. Maybe this is why I am so chubby. :) At least we do it together.

Getting Greener

2008-03-02T13:04:00.003-05:00

Well, this year we have decided to recycle as much as we possibly can, while reducing our usage and using better cleaners. As a result, we are going to have to go to the city building this week and purchase two more recycling bins. Typically, within a couple of days, we are full. We can usually recycle two or three bins per week of items we consume. This may be paper, containers, etc. The point is, a year ago, we were probably not even recycling one quarter of what we could be, but now we are needing to get more bins because we are so contentious of it. I am really hoping as time passes, we can get better about our consumption.
Yesterday, I also found out about the potential of making my own laundry soap. Exciting!
Also, those of you who know about my neuroses knows about my habitual couponing. This week is going to be a GREAT stock up week. HOORAY!! I get so excited about free food/grocery items. It really helps our budget, and becomes a game. At least it's one I can play alone, since I am banned from playing board games with hubby for life.

Silence

2008-02-26T14:07:00.002-05:00

As part of our all-church journey, we are exploring things that consume us. Hubby and I have decided that TV consumes most of our time; way more in fact than other things. So this week, we are called to fast from television for seven days. This is so much harder than I thought it would be. When we go to sleep, we typically have the television on while we are laying there. Now, we sleep in silence. During the baby's four hour naps, I typically watch television. Now, I am playing on the Internet and about to start reading a book. It's odd realizing how we spend our time. Obviously, work and taking care of the baby consumes a lot of my life, but those are necessities. Those are things I am not fasting from. It's just weird to be sitting here, silent with only my ipod and myself. Scary. Very scary.

Update...

2008-02-25T18:49:00.002-05:00

I am waiting on the world to change. It's officially up to two of us now, from three. I am not a patient person. This is something I have always struggled with; ask hubby. Birthdays and Christmases are a nightmare for him. I think God is trying to teach me a lesson. I HATE WAITING!!!

Four years later...

2008-02-14T09:42:00.002-05:00

Happy Anniversary, sweetie. I love you very much. And just think, three more years until that seven year itch kicks in and I kick you to the curb! HAHA. Have a wonderful day at work honey. I love ya!

My son loves me...

2008-02-12T20:32:00.000-05:00

So, we need to start from the beginning. Hubby and I went out Saturday for a date. We cashed in a Christmas gift, and went to P.F. Chang's for dinner. Then, for dessert, we went to 20 Brix. It was good, the atmosphere was great, the dessert fantastic, and the wine was fine. Thing is, it is located in a now-infamous apartment that once housed my dear hubby, along with two of his close friends. This apartment was the most foul place EVER, it was full of dirt, mold, smelley crap, and yet it was full of memories. The first time he told me he loved me, the planning of our wedding, the walks, tallks, the TURTLE (ahem...Don Dudley and Scott Sulek.) Anyway, it was lovely, and we really enjoyed ourselves.
My mom had booger, who was coming off of a stomach virus for the night, which was lovely.
I woke up extra early, about 5 am to said stomach virus attacking every inch of my body. This was Sunday morning. I didn't get out of bed until last night. I called into work for the first time ever. I didn't see booger until today except to take him to school, which was about fifteen minutes. It was a disaster. My son loves me. He gave me the most awful feeling I have had in over a year. What an anniversary gift.
GOOD News is I have lost eleven pounds in a week!! I am sure some of this is from eating right and working out, but as hubby said: "It's like the movie, honey. 'One more stomach flu away from my goal weight.'" Except I am like twenty away.

OH NO!!

2008-02-07T06:36:00.000-05:00

Ok, first of all, it is SOOO early. I have been up since about five o'clock this morning. Which means that I am going to need a long nap today while booger naps. I have had a lot of anxiety this morning. Granted, I have lots of reasons to be stressed right now, but I need my sleep. This should explain a bit of the randomness of this entry.
A lot of you know that I have an obsessive addiction with a particular coffee company. I know that it is an expensive addiction, and I have been making it a home quite often to save money. However, I realize this simple little drink is causing a lot of money to go down the drain. A LOT. So I have decided to give it up. Cold turkey. Right now. I have been praying about ways we can pay down our MASSIVE piles of debt in order to be free of our debt and financial bondage. This is a big step. This is also a step in the right direction toward giving God all of me.
I realize it is only a latte, but it is more than that to me. I am working hard to be healthy, and working out. We were blessed with a membership to the YMCA for three months, and we are going to take full advantage of taht. We are being better about the foods we eat, excercising, and I am not giong to be fat anymore. I am going to be a healthy active mom for my booger. Does this mean I will not have dessert or my wine anymore? HECK NO!! But it does mean it will be less often. And cutting out this drink will help tremendously. Hopefully, we will be able to come up with the money to continue to pay for the YMCA so that we can continue our healthy journey. I realize that cutting back on coffee will help, as well as there are other ways to work out. We can walk around our neighborhood, swim in the summer, etc. I do feel more motivatied, though, because I know so many people that work out there and want me to succeed, and they want me to join them. It will give me motivation to get off my butt and be better for God, myself, and my boys.
Again, sorry for the randomness. It's early, and without caffiene, my brain may take a little longer to start.

My pretty friend

2008-01-27T22:44:00.000-05:00

Love you jill!

Mommy

2008-01-27T22:33:00.000-05:00

This word is something that means many things to many people. To many, its a term of endearment. To others, it brings on hurt, anxiety, and even fear. But to me, it is a term of love. When I hear booger say mama, it just melts my heart. It makes me want to be a better person, to try harder. Lately, I have been studying work and what it means to work. Last night, I was reminded that God is always there, even when I forget. When I am playing with booger, He is there. And we need to work hard to bring Him glory. It was such a sacrifice for Him to give up His son, something I could never imagine doing. This just reminds me that I need to enjoy the moments God is sharing with us. I need to be more grateful. I need to work harder, for my marriage, my son, God, and myself. I need to compromise more, work on my patience, and ask for wisdom. I need to be more reliant and stop depending on myself. I also need to slow down and enjoy the time I have with the baby because he is certainly not a baby anymore. But I am grateful for the time I have been given with him as a baby, and will do my best to cherish the toddler years.

I LOVE FOOTBALL

2008-01-19T21:48:00.000-05:00

Our Favre,Who art in Lambeau,
Hallowed be thine arm.
Thy bowl will come,
It will be won.
In Phoenix as it is in Lambeau.
And give us this Sunday, Our weekly win.
And give us many touchdown passes.
But do not let others pass against us.
Lead us not into frustration,
But deliver us to the valley of the sun.
For thine is the MVP, the best of the NFC,
and the glory of the Cheeseheads,now and forever.
Go get’em. Amen.”

I am not touching the sacrilege with a twenty foot pole. I do, however have a deep love of one Mr. Favre, as many of you know. I am also cheering on the Chargers and the Giants, for personal reasons. I think we all agree, though, that the Pats should not advance this week. That would just suck. Laugh, enjoy this JOKE. And some football. Because I need to smile.
p.s. happy birthday justin. i love you and your woman. and welcome to the world of being my friend.

Too funny

2008-01-17T22:26:00.000-05:00

So, sorry I have no idea how to flip this, but this is how I spent the last part of my day. It certainly cheered me up a bit. See, Hubby and a friend have been on me for months about going to see a doctor to check up on some health issues I have had for a while. Nothing life threatening, just super painful and inconvenient. So I made the appointment. And drove during booger's nap time (which SUCKED, never interrupt this child during a nap, let alone not give him one.) to Kenwood. All to be told that they had to cancel my appointment due to two births. Granted, I am thankful and hopeful for happy and healthy births, but CALL ME! It was super inconvenient, and my first visit to this practice. But it's OK I am working on patience. Booger then did not nap ALL DAY, with the exception of a couple minutes in the car. This made for a grouchy sick boy, as well as a grouchy mom. You can understand why this cheered me up. Make sure to turn up the sound.

Randomness

2008-01-14T20:57:00.000-05:00

This weekend I got to spend some time with people I used to see every day, or at least several times a week. (Especially the hairy one. I thought when I started dating hubby I was dating both.) It was great to spend time with them and just enjoy each other's company. It's strange to see how much people have changed within five years' time. It doesn't seem like as much time as it genuinely is, especially in our twenties. I have seen people who once annoyed me to the point of exhaustion be changed by God into a great dad, husband, and friend. I have seen hairy men fall in love with wonderful women. (More than one of you boys count.) And I am lucky enough to say that although we do not spend as much time as we used to together, we are blessed to have amazing friends. I had to make just a few calls and had way more than enough people to do me a HUGE favor. Hopefully, this will pay off in more ways than one. And when that happens, we will have a huge celebration at our place!

Stupid...

2008-01-10T23:24:00.000-05:00

Many of you know that I have something major and of HUGE importance coming up in my life. This is something a lot of you have been praying for, and I genuinely appreciate that. As a result, I have had to go shopping. A friend and I went and bought me some new shoes today, and I must say, they are very unlike me. One pair is black, satin, and pointy-toed with cute thin heels. The other is a semi-square peep-toe with similar heels. The funny thing about this is I used to wear shoes like this all the time before I met hubby. He did not like for me to wear big heels (it made him feel short) so I stopped. Almost five years later, I have lost all the calluses my feet built up making it difficult to wear these. But I love them. They were SUPER cheap and on an amazing clearance, which makes them even better. So if anyone wants to go somewhere requiring me to wear fantastic shoes, let me know! I have two beautiful pairs, and feel like showing them off, even if it is to myself! :)
p.s. please remember to use discretion if/when discussing my major event with me, you never know who is listening!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T07:44:00.000-05:00

So, this is not booger's first Christmas, but we are treating it as such. Last year, he was all of four weeks old. Thus, hubby and I are going slightly stir crazy waiting for him to wake up. We have my mom and my favorite uncle, along with (hopefully!) booger's godfather on their way over to watch him open presents and have breakfast. I am craving tradition right now, and I have no idea what is happening to me. Suddenly, I have (gasp!) purchased a Christmas decoration, and gotten as much into the spirit as someone who is working as much as I do is capable of. So today starts the tradition day. We will spend the morning here, and against my better judgement, go to my mom's for lunch about 2. Then we will go to my sister's like I have every year for the past 14 years for dinner. MMMMM, meatballs and spaghetti! I can not wait. I am still trying to decide when we are going to read the Christmas story and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, since my family does not believe in Jesus, God, and the like. Esp. my uncle, and he gets very angry when we pray around him. But this is my tradition. So there. Peace, genuine peace today. Kiss your family and eat too much!

This makes me sick

2007-12-13T13:57:00.001-05:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15197558/

Long story short, this woman came home from a night of drinking and got into a fight with her baby daddy. She used her infant as a "bat" to hit said baby daddy, and the infant has a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. I can not believe that there are people on this planet who struggle every day to have children, but are unable to. And then there are people like this who have four other children and abuse their kids. Absolutely repulsive. I would love to use her as a bat to hit a building or metal wall. But instead, I just pray these five children are placed in a loving Christian home with people who love them as much as they are able.

Accomplishments

2007-12-12T20:44:00.000-05:00

My good friend just finished her last final of her college career today. There is such a sense of pride I have for her. She has worked so hard to finish within four and a half years, which is almost impossible as of lately. She also has run a salon, worked three jobs at a time, interned at one of the most prominent companies in the world, and been a great friend throughout these years. It is funny, I have known her since she was a freshman and watched her grow into an amazing woman. Love ya babe!! Congratulations, I am so proud.

Only because Jill asked me to...

2007-12-12T20:35:00.000-05:00

Well, I survived. My kid turned one, and I only cried once. It is amazing. It feels like just yesterday I got the phone call telling me I was pregnant, and I called my hubby to figure out what in the world we would do with another person to care for. And now, he is walking. Not talking so much, but singing. A lot. He loves Josh Kelley the most, and keeps a tune rather well. He is certainly not my child. Looking back on the past year with someone very wise today reminded me that this year is something to celebrate, not to mourn. He is starting his second year of life eating wheat, along with table foods, drinking from a sippy cup, walking, talking, and is healthy. In addition, I have learned to trust God more in a lot of situations, although like most of us, I still try to grab control at times. I was told recently that God is testing my faith with his allergies. So I decided to let God have his way. Since, I have not paid for more than two cans of formula. AND he has outgrown some of his allergies. God is good. Oh, and I am officially avoiding the scale until after cinnamon ice cream season is over.

Two more things I am thankful for...

2007-11-25T20:27:00.000-05:00

*Friends who are willing to share HUGE chocolate chips from their black raspberry chip ice cream.
*CINNAMON ICE CREAM!!! (graeter's) It may mean I am the happiest person ever.
And do not laugh if I gain ten pounds during this ice cream season.

Hmmm.....

2007-11-23T21:13:00.003-05:00

I am struggling with a lot of inner issues, none of which I feel the need to go into deep detail about, but it is slowly eating me alive. I have been engulfed with these problems for far too long. I know that God will provide a way out of this situation, but it is still difficult. I need to surround myself in prayer and God's word more. I need to be more disciplined. I need to grow more in Him. But I am too lazy. So this is my prayer. I want to be closer to God this last month of the year than I was in November. And in January, more than December. Let's hope this is a positive change. So when you talk to me, be encouraging. I need all the lovin I can get.

What I am thankful for

2007-11-23T21:13:00.001-05:00

*I have a wonderful husband that loves me so much, and is willing to have terrible conversations with me, even if it means being upset sometimes. And is willing to love me, even if I am fat and awful.
*My beautiful son is AMAZING, getting more like a little man every day. He is walking independently, bending over to pick things up on his own, and talking up a storm. So far, he is being healed of his allergies slowly but surely.
*God has shown me love in a whole new way this year, through friends, family, and His love, grace, and mercy.
*Wilson has the most wonderful school environment we could ever ask for. His teachers are as concerned with his health as we are.
*We have jobs. Although they may not be the best, they are jobs that provide.
*We have fantastic friends and family. I am just so thankful for all of them, no matter how much I forget to appreciate them.
*God loves ME!
*I am FREE!

Just a thought ;)

Growth brings change...

2007-11-20T22:34:00.000-05:00

Lately I have been struggling with my son's health issues. He will be one in eight days, and is still dependent on formula. He will not eat finger foods, mostly because we are at a loss of what to give him. He is allergic to numerous foods, and it is hard to find things he can have safely. My sister has been pressuring me to get a second opinion, so I called a pediatric allergist. No better way than to see a specialist, right? We went this morning, and had a skin prick test. I had a difficult time with that, it seems so barbaric. They basically stuck his little back with eighteen foods that he has shown some reaction to, along with other varieties to hopefully give us some hope. There have been a lot of people praying for him, including his parents. Today, we got amazing news. Booger is no longer allergic to wheat, peas, or cherries. While this seems small compared to the severity of his peanut, tree nut, cow's milk, soy, banana, and dog dander, it opens a whole new world to us with relation to his eating habits. MY BABY CAN HAVE CHEERIOS!! HE CAN HAVE PUFFS!! While it seems so silly to some, this is the biggest step for us. We are now waiting for next week's meeting with a nutritionist for more options and solutions to help our family adjust to giving him new foods. There is a 50% chance he will outgrow milk, soy, egg, and banana by his second birthday, 75% by his third, 85% by his fourth. The doctors are trying to get our helath insurance to cover the formula, and hopefully that will help our finances. I know God is going to heal him, and apparently it is going to take time, but it will happen. I know it. This is such a relief to us, and we are so grateful.
We also got word that as of now, our brother will be leaving in June for deployment. This is six months later than we were anticipating, so I will take it. Patience, it's a pain in the butt but totally worth it.

Oh, by the way, the dr. also said the best way to get rid of these allergies is total avoidance. That means a few more years of no nuts at all. So keep reading labels when we are around!!

Learning....or at least trying to

2007-10-28T20:57:00.000-04:00

So, at church we have been learning about seasons and growth. This is a crucial part of my learning process right now. I am in fall right now, trying to let things die, such as my worrying weakness, my insecurities, and my family (mostly health issues.) All the while, I am going to let things go, die, freeze over, etc. in order to allow healthy growth in my life. I want to grow. I want to know God more intimately. I want to be a better mom, wife, friend, hairstylist, etc. I am inspired by someone very close to hubby's heart who is no longer with us. Everyone she ever came across was touched by her kindness, joy, love. She WAS Christ's love on Earth. She exuded the fruits that I strive to show the world. I am trying to work on this very much. I want my son to know God through his family as well as through his own personal walk.

PEACE!

Bigger Frick...

2007-10-24T21:29:00.000-04:00

So, we just got the results of booger's allergy test. He is officially allergic to: peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, milk, eggs, cherries, bananas, and peas, and dogs. We are now on formula that will cost probably equivalent to a car payment a month. Not to be too much of a downer, but our finances are super crunched anyway, and now we have this on top of it. I don't know, God is certainly trying to teach me something. I have already surrendered everything financial to Him, and I know that He will provide. It's just going to be a rough ride. And somehow I can not shake this sinking feeling that I am hurting my child. Every time I feed him something, it makes him sick. This is a strange sensation as a parent, whose job is to protect my child with every ounce of my being. What a strange ride this parent thing is...more to come I suppose.

Frick...

2007-10-07T21:38:00.000-04:00

Well, this week we found out that hubby's grandma is sick. Like really sick. Like we have to go let booger see her for the first time before its too late. His grandparents took me on as their own after I lost my granny a few years ago, and I can not stand the thought of losing her. So we are headed to Florida ASAP to see them. If we do not make solid plans in the future, that's why.
Next stupid thing that's happening, a good friend of mine came over tonight with his girlfriend. He is leaving very soon for Iraq. We love him very much, and he is a fantastic friend. I know this is what he signed up for, but it doesn't make it easier. He is going to miss booger's first and second birthdays, all of the holidays with his family, his niece, etc. I just think about his family and worry.
Even worse, we just found out, like minutes ago, brother in law will be in Iraq in January. This may be killing me. I have been so proud of him, and again, I know he signed up for this, but he is my brother. I love him. I worry. So just keep everyone in your prayers. This is going to be a rough holiday season for us.

I feel old...

2007-09-30T13:46:00.000-04:00

Well, I did it. I turned twenty-five. I am officially one quarter of a century old. And it is eating away at me with every ounce of my being. Why is it that if two people are married that long, its an accomplishment, but I have managed to stay alive and out of jail or any major trouble that long, but its no big deal? A lot of people tell me I am so young, it's no big deal, etc., but I am genuinely taking it hard. I think all of my life, twenty-five has been "that age," where you are really an adult. And I still have no degree, no money in the bank, no retirement, nothing. Granted, I have a WONDERFUL hubby, baby, and friends. I have a home that I like enough to live in a while, and a fine job, but I just feel like I should be more accomplished by this age. Then I look at other people my age or older that do not have half of what I do and feel selfish and ungrateful. Oh, I did get to celebrate in style! Some of my favorite people joined me at the Twentieth Century Theater for the Josh Kelley show, and goodness was it fun! It was an amazing show, as we have come to expect from Mr. Kelley, but we also got to hang out with him and his band after the show! He sang me "Happy Birthday" twice along with another song, got a couple of autographs, and just watched them hang out and live life. It is nice to see such talented people who get done with "their job" continue to play, sing, and enjoy music even after the lights go down. All in all, probably the best birthday celebration ever, although the hardest one ever. Here's to enjoying the next two months leading up to the big #1 also!
Cheers

Crap hole?!?

2007-09-27T10:53:00.000-04:00

I forgot to mention that Oklahoma, especially the city of Lawton, is terrible. I think when God created that area, he just took his least favorite parts of the US and dumped them there. It was HUGE news that they were getting an Olive Garden. Really?!? And who ever thought I would appreciate Cincinnati? I guess it took a genuine crap hole to do that.

Pride

2007-09-27T10:46:00.000-04:00

So as a lot of you know, my brother (in-law, but really just my brother) Matt just graduated from boot camp. I have never been "that person." You know the one that has the American flag up, or support our troops stickers, or even someone who believes the war is just. But after seeing Matt go through what he has the last eight weeks, and the pride he has, it made me so proud. He has become a polite, strong, wonderful man. And although I love him more than he probably knows, I feel even more close to him now. This is probably the biggest and best thing he has done thus far in his 21 years of life. In addition, he is going to start college classes. I feel like a proud momma seeing her boy grow up into a wonderful man. Heck, I am crying as I write this. And I am not a crier. Let's hope he doesn't see this. Someone still has to keep him in line, even if it means not telling him exactly how much he means to us. Although I think making him my best man AND naming my kid after him may give him a small inkling. Oh, and I have become somewhat of that person. I bought a "MY brother is in the army" shirt. And I am wearing it proudly. And frequently.

wow.

2007-09-12T00:16:00.000-04:00

SO, today I got to spend time with some people who are very important. I was amazed at how much I can actually like my mom from time to time, and also how much she loves my son. He genuinely is the new man in her life. Although she drives me crazy spoiling him, its very sweet. I also got to spend time with someone I have known for several years who I care about very much. I found out she is going to have a child, all alone. This worries me, but I know she is strong enough to take care of everything, and I hope she knows I am here. You can only say so much to someone. I also hope she makes the right decisions for her. This is still a secret to many, but please join me in saying a prayer for her over the next few months. Reflecting back on my new mommy nerves, I know how great hubby was and how much support, and hopefully I can mirror a bit of that to her. Wow. This is overwhelming.

Friends

2007-09-11T08:38:00.001-04:00

Well, there has apparently been a lot going on lately that I am unaware of. Friends leaving relationships, getting over people, and at the same time, others are starting new ones. And somehow, I am out of it all. I feel like an awful friend, major things are happening in some of my closest friends' lives and I have missed it all. But I guess this is part of being a mom. I find myself with less and less free time and more and more mom requirements are coming due of me as booger continues to grow. I still want to be there for them, and I think they know that. I just have to say a prayer that certain friends continue to find strength they need to get through tough times. And at the same time, we really need that as well, both as individuals and as a family. I love my family, no matter how crazy they drive me. They are my backbone. And, I must say, I have a pretty adorable little booger that loves his momma.

ok i am selling out...

2007-09-07T21:55:00.000-04:00

so i have no soul. none at all. those of you who know me know that i HATE apple for many reasons. and i have avoided purchasing anything by them for almost twenty five years. and i am about to sell out. i am desperate for the new ipod nano. i want the project red one. so much that i can not stand it. that is the only thing i am now asking for for my birthday. no rudi jersey, no new glasses, no wine goblets, just my ipod. oh my gosh i am the biggest sell out ever. but i still will never purchase anything from itunes. i just can't do it. that may be crossing the line. so wish me luck on my endeavor of selling my soul to satan aka steve jobs.

who wants a baby??

2007-09-07T21:46:00.000-04:00

so i am tying so hard to be ok with all of the baby's illnesses. i really am. it just seems like for the past month it has been one thing or another. i don't know how much more i can take. at the dr's office they know my voice. and he is only nine months old. what a stressor! this time, he has been vomiting. everywhere. and my truck smells like baby vomit, oh and i got to watch him play in it yesterday. all over his new car seat. i admit, i totally freaked out on hubby. but after we found out what was wrong, i have this eerie calm about it. just like everything will be ok. i know that God will take care of him, after all, he has survived having us as parents this long. :) i also know he is a strong kid, anyone who can do as well as he has with all of the crap he has been through can get through blisters on their mouth and throat. the best part is i am trying so hard to stay positive. i know he will be ok, i really do. he is such a happy booger. when hubby brought him to see me today at work, his eyes lit up like it was the best thing ever to see his mamma. there is just nothing better. i just pray God will continue to give me strength.