Old Time Photos

We got these done through a fund raiser in town and they are absolutely wonderful. Pictures of them to put on here didn't turn out as well - but they are beautiful.

Noah's First Barber Haircut!

My dad took noah to get his mop of a hairdo cut! And he did great - here are some pictures!

I Just wanted to show these pictures.

Noah figured out how to turn the shower on....it was funny. The End.

Leaving...on a jet plane..or a kia

So just a quick update - since I still have a lot to do today! And of course - finally some new pictures. The top picture is bri being clobbered under a basket by Noah. The bottom picture is Bri's first day of school - and the ones in the middle, well, they explain themselves.

The kids are doing great! Bri is working on her science fair project - which is super fun! She is still doing great at school and confounds my brain by absolutely LOVING math. Yes, Math! Noah is his crazy self, jumping and climbing everything. I have been working intensively with him on sign language and so far he can sign several words. He still only does it when it is convenient for him, but he does know - more, please, no, and milk. He is also starting to really like being read to - which is pretty fun for me.

Karl started a new job at the hospital, working security. We are pretty excited because the money and benefits are good and the hours are way better for our crazy schedule. Since he works 2 12s and 2 6s, he is home every day, for most of the day, except Sunday and Monday. Him and Noah are practically inseparable these days and Bri and Karl have really reached an amazing level of communication. They both yell "Dadddddy" when he gets home, and it has been great to watch evolve.

As for me, still plugging along at school. Only 7 months left until I will have my Bachelor's degree and I am incredibly excited and ready. I have completed everything for the student teaching program and will be starting the second week of January. But the most exciting thing going on right now, aside from the kids, planning a wedding, and practicum at Woods, is my Diversity Practicum. I am leaving this afternoon for Denver, which I will be spending the rest of the week teaching at the worst inner city school I could find in Denver. The school is over 90% free and reduced lunch, and 11% proficient. It should be an amazing and eye opening experience.

That's about it - so I need to finish packing! I hope you are all doing well!

I know...it's been forever...again

Okay - I have no pictures to put up at them moment - but I suppose I should post a little update.
We have been back from Colorado for a couple weeks now and Noah is still doing great! His skin is so beautiful, and we have stayed pretty consistent with the wraps, medicines, and baths. As far as the eating problem, known as PICA, I can confidently say that we might be in the clear. He has been eating every meal, at the table, and the 3 snacks he is supposed to have a day. AND - He has not eaten anything weird since we have been back (outside of a marker and a little dirt - but hey - he is a boy). He's sleeping better, he's a whole lot nicer, and we are so blessed we had the opportunity to go to Denver and get the help he needed.

Bri started school again at the Christian and is doing great as well. Math and Bible are her favorite subjects. She is always excited to get up and go and has so much to talk about when she gets home. It's so awesome to see her excelling and loving God, school and her friends so much. I can't believe she is getting to be such a grown up girl. Her and daddy have been riding their bikes after school and it still trips me out to see how well she can ride now. She's an amazing kid.

Karl and I have officially set the date and started premarital counseling at the church. We get crazy looks when we talk about premarital counseling but honestly - I think every couple should do it. It has been so amazing for our relationship and our family. My mom and I and the kids are going to Denver in October to shop for wedding dresses and I think I have found a couple really beautiful ones (online anyways - we'll see how they look on).

And finally, I have started another grueling semester of school. I am taking quite a few classes, along with my 80 hours in a classroom. This semester I am teaching at Woods Learning Center and am so far very, very impressed. It is such a unique school that affords the students opportunities I don't see in other public schools. I am super excited about my time there. It is so surreal that I am so close to being finished. One more semester and I will actually have my Bachelor's Degree. I can't believe how time has flown by, and how hard work has really paid off. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Alright - there's my monthly update :) I will try to get some pictures up here in the near future!

Thursday Thursday.....

Today was a really good day. We had to check in at the hospital this morning to get Noah's blood drawn to confirm the suspected vitamin deficiencies, which will be used when we meet with one of the best nutritionists in the region on Monday to help us help Noah. After that we did our bath and learned how to do extremity wraps and then we were done for the day! (So I didn't take any pictures at the hospital because it seemed morbid during the blood draw and nothing else new happened).

After the hospital, we came back to the hotel, ordered some salad and pizza, and took a nap. Feeling quite refreshed, we got up - went and picked up Cyrus and went to the Denver Aquarium. We had soooo much fun! Noah absolutely loved it. Well, I'm not sure if he loved the fish or the freedom of being able to run around, free as a bird. He looked and touched about everything possible and laughed and it was amazing. I love watching Noah now - he is really truly a different kid. He is happier then I have ever seen and I am so excited about everything that has happened here. What an amazing blessing.

When we were done at the Aquarium, we stopped and got ice cream at Cyrus' request then headed to Raynie's where we jumped on the trampoline for over an hour. While Raynie was cooking an amazing Chicken Cordon Bleu, I taught Cyrus a science lesson about chemical compositions and heat (which translates to we set stuff on fire to see what burns and what doesn't) - and it was so much fun - he actually let me teach him a bunch of information without even realizing he was learning and then could tell his mom everything he learned!

I took a video of Noah on the trampoline tonight but think I will wait to post it until tomorrow - as I have many many Aquarium pictures to sort through!

A few accomplishments

Not to much happened today - We got to the hospital and it was pretty hectic again - so we just kinda hung out until I gave him a bath and did his wet wraps. The improvement this morning compared to Monday when we got here is incredible. I took a picture of his legs this morning. It's probably a little hard for anyone that doesnt see him often to understand - but hopefully this gives you an idea of the progress. (You can click on the picture to make it bigger).



Then Noah took a nap (the picture didn't turn out, so I'm not going to post it.)

However, one of the biggest struggles we've gone through down here is trying to get Noah's eating habits under control. He has had a bottle ...mostly because of the comfort it brought him through the itchy and scratching. Yesterday - I took it away. After meeting with dietitians and doctors, and getting the scratching under control - it was time. There were some pretty rough patches today - but Noah did eat his first "real" meal with nooo ba at all. He ate more then I thought he would and I am very proud of him - despite the few tantrums. Unfortunately - he had food on his face in these pictures or you could see how great his face looks!

After that - we went and jumped on the trampoline at Raynie's - which was a blast and Noah loves it! I'm going to try to take a video of him running on it tomorrow and post it!

That's it for day 3 - I hope everyone had a great one!

Well - I would definitely say that today was a hundred thousand times better. I learned so much and talked to many people today that if I even began to type it here - it would take me all night. So, I will just sum up the day - get some pictures up and save the details for another day.

When we got there, we were happy to hear we got to be out of Quarantine - so we were promptly shown the


playroom and told that we could play in there any time we weren't seeing doctors. So we spent a lot of time there today. Noah loved the train table - as seen here. I met some other parents there and got to here some other stories about kids that deal with the same things - it was nice to have other humans to empathize with - that actually understood what it was like to have a kid with this particular issue.

Next, was the dreaded, yet exciting, skin testing time for allergies. They tested him for many, many different foods and dogs and cats. They pricked his back and then we had to wait 15 minutes.

I was pretty scared - and fearing the worst - and at the end of the 15 minutes I handed the lady the camera and told her to document it first. So she did. (See the picture!)

He has NO allergies. That's right - completely negative - the only allergic reaction he had is on the X - the test prick. AND - he barely cried at all, through the whole thing! This is great news!


So then it was time for more wraps. Today, we learned how to do entire body wet wraps that keep his skin soaked and sealed. He has to have them on at night and for 2 hours during the day during bad break outs. (Noah Playing with his spoons before he got wrapped And then the nurse showing me the wet wrap procedure)





Later we met with a dietician, a socio-psychiatrist or something, and an excema specialist. While they now think that Noah may have a disorder known as Pica (think thats how you spell it), which didn't come as a shock to me at all, they were hopeful about his condition(s) and gave me tons of great information.

That's going to do it for me on Day 2 - More to come tomorrow night!

Today was definitely what I would call a roller coaster. After being sick for what I would definitely call the majority of the night, we rolled into the hospital exhausted and feeling very weak. Noah was just about as tired as I was, and feeling quite clingy.

Unfortunately, we then were put in quarantine because we were both sick - and were confined to a little room with not many toys to speak of. Things got worse before they got, after the doctor took a bit of her "first day stresses" out on us, and I took a bit of my "I'm tired and want to crawl in a hole" out on her.
However, Noah warmed up (well, as much as Noah can around doctors) and I calmed down and spoke to the members of our team and we got things worked out and started Noah's first steps to treatment and relief. We got prescriptions filled and got him in the bath - which will be a huge staple to all of his treatment, lots and lots of baths. They taught me how to rub him down and which medicines to use.

Then, we got to come back to the hotel - since nothing seemed to be working out right and we were exhausted. We all decided that we would start fresh tomorrow. So Noah and I came "home" and ordered take out spaghetti with meatballs and salad, which was decent. And my kid that normally barely eats dug in - apparently he was as famished as I was.
Finally, I put him in the bath and did another round of the rub downs. There is one for his face, one for his outbreak areas, and one for the rest of his body. The key here is Moisture! And lots of it.
Noah is now tucked in and fast asleep - he didn't even let out a yelp when I put him down. I am going to follow his lead now that I have every one updated.

I did gather today that it is best if I leave the computer at the hotel - there just isnt time to do anything with it at the hospital so I will work on updating once at night after everything is done for the day. (Hopefully tomorrow when I don't feel half dead I can get mroe and better pictures of what is going on.)

I love you lots Bri, Karl, and Mama - and all the rst of you that read this. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

Until tomorrow....hasta.

First of Many

Alright- we are safely...and sickly..in Denver. Both Noah and I have some sort of stomach bug and its pretty nasty. However, we did get our goodbyes said and got here in pretty good time - and our beds were set up.....until noah puked all over his. Sooo, I went to give him a bath and surprise - the hot water pipe burst in the hotel and we have to wait for it to get fixed. Lucky, lucky.

But anyways - we are going to use this blog as a place to post updates and info on whats going on for the next two weeks, so please check back often!

Here are our first trip pictures.

Bri's Birthday!

With this post - I should be caught up! (Hopefully!)

We had Bri's birthday at the park again this year - at her instance. We loaded up the grill Karl and I affectionately call the "first community property" - which is a seriously huge bear - and headed to the park, water balloons, kites, badminton sets, and enough food to feed a small army in tow.



When all our guests arrived (which were many more then we expected - which was great!) the madness began. Karl and my dad grilled while the kids flew kites and played at the park. After we all ate, presents were opened. I was definitely impressed at how patient all the munchkins were!





After presents - the games began. Water balloons were hurled, water guns juiced, massive amounts of screams let out, adults and kids alike went at it....







and finally - the paramedics and E.M.T's arrive. My dad went to jump a gate - and not so gracefully reverse belly flopped onto the ground. He was taken to the E.R.






In an effort to keep the kids out of the way - cake was served and everyone played some more. Despite the minor drama - it was a great party and I think everyone (except perhaps my dad) had a blast!

Catch Up Numero Dos?

Okay - I just wanted to share this picture. Noah was not impressed by daddy's hair cutting skills, or device...or perhaps just have to sit still. But Noah - finally - at 15 months - finally had enough hair to get his first hair cut!

Catch Up Bloggo Numero Uno

Well, farthest back on the list would be....

drum roll please..........

GRADUATION!

It was on May 15th - and I was really hesitant to walk...but am so glad I did. I somehow managed to make the President's Honor Roll for the entirety of my Associate's degree and am pretty proud of that (considering I had almost given up on this particular dream). I was blessed by having My kids, Karl, My parents, Jordan and Jesse (cousins), 2 Grandmas and my Grandpa Bill there to celebrate this day with me! Pictures in the events center didn't turn out great - but here are my professional pic (even though I don't love it) and my degree!

Thinking...

You know...I was just thinking about something - and felt like telling my blog-o-sphere. And that is...

Life really is so incredibly beautiful. And God really is so good.

As I am laying on my stomach, watching a stupid movie with the most amazing future husband one could ask for, listening to one of my incredible babies snoring away on the monitor, thinking about a conversation I had on the phone this afternoon with my irreplaceable mom, I realized - everything in my life feels exactly how I want it.

and here are a few of the reasons why

- My children are the most amazing one could ever be blessed with. I am privileged just to be a part of their life.

- Karl, the man I will spend the rest of my life with - got out of bed, just to buy me tylenol last night - at midnight. He ruined my favorite pair of pants this morn (dont worry - I saved them) - and promised to pick up cans on the side of the road to replace them...in a love note. He loves my children - they are no longer my children - they are ours. And - my parents approve. Karl giving me a dirty look at the children's muesum
- My mom and I are getting along like I always imagined. She is becoming more then a mother - but a best friend. Mom is pictured here - She came to the hospital without me even having to ask just the be there for us.

- My dad...is my dad - blood or not, last names are not. A man that could have just been a step dad...but choose to be my dad.

- I graduated college. Yes - me - I did it! I have a degree - and am 2 student teaching semesters away from graduating college AGAIN. To follow my dream and make a difference - and I am succeeding.

- I am surrounded by amazing friends, that I never have to be anything but me around.

And most importantly -

- I serve a God that loves me unconditionally, in my highest highs and lowest lows.

Birthday and Denver

Well, once again my lovely mother has pointed that it has been forever since I blogged. We did end up having, not just a birthday party, but a huge birthday party for Bri. It was also quite eventful, as my dad, who is still a kid at heart, found out he's not quite a kid in body anymore. He tried to hurdle a gate and ended up in the E.R. He is okay though. However, in all the fun, I (and by I, I probably mean Noah) seem to have miss placed my camera - so pictures will have to wait.

Then this last weekend we decided we needed a road trip, so we went to Denver. And, after 2 and a half hours, I think I have accomplished making a slide show of the trip with some of my favorite pictures - because there were just wayyy to many to upload (though in retrospect, it might have been easier).

Enjoy!