11.27.2011

Change....

This year I find myself overwhelmed with love and thankfulness for this little family I've been blessed with.  Hanah just turned 4 and Abby is almost 2...and it goes so fast.  I find myself watching them and constantly thinking of how very much I love them, and their daddy.  They love each other so much and they care so much for others.  Hannah is always concerned about others.  Her prayer requests right now consist of praying for her Aunt Jen and baby Whitney and for our friend Hillary who is pregnant again. (yay!) She is always bragging about her family members and is full of so much love.  The changes in Hannah have happened in the last few months.  She has struggled almost all year with stomach and illness problems.  We have been in and out of the peditrician's office with vague or limited answers and information.  Answers were few and far between and we were getting nowhere.  At one point we found ourselves in a blood lab so they could check for any elevated levels that might spell out cancer, namely leukemia.  (It was a horrible visit one I don't like to remember, and one where she and I both left in a rare round of tears.) After more questions and getting nowhere, Adam and I decided around October to just remove her from milk/dairy completely on a whim.  She had major problems as a one year old with milk and we thought we'd re-start there. 
The difference in a matter of days was astounding!  First of all she felt much better and her appetite improved, but so did her behavior!  Suddenly the sweet girl I know her to be appeared more often than not.  In the alst couple months we've removed her from a couple other suspicious things and have seen major results.  She's been sleeping better, eating like I have NEVER and I mean NEVER seen her eat, trying foods she would have fought and cried and freaked out about even remotely tasting before...the change is amazing.  She's had an appointment with a naturopath to hopefully more clearly identify triggers and possible allergies or sensitivities...but I think every day for the last several weeks I am astounded by her sudden good nature in regards to foods!
  
And Abby...she is almost 2 and is alll about "Abby do."  She is saying SO many words I can't even list them anymore and talking in phrases and sentences.  I swear she's going to be the child that winds us up in the ER due to her crazy antics and stunts!  She's convinced she's done with the highchair now and wants to do everything big, big Sis does.  She is hilarious and fun and most definitely almost a two year old!  I continually look at her and think of how fast it's gone.  I swear we just had her first birthday party.
And I love them so.  They make my day, even when they make it start at 4:30 a.m....they are charming and lovely and such loving little tiny people that I could not imagine my world without...they have changed me for the better indeed.

11.22.2011

The Joy of Kids...

"Once upon a time there were two children named Fern and Peter Cottontail. Fern was lonely and bored and so Cottontail decided to buy her a piglet named Wilbur. But ole Papa-lumpagus didn't really like that idea so very much..." -Hannah Grace retelling me the story of Charlotte's Web. ♥

Driving down the road and suddenly Hannah says: "Mom! I KNOW what I am going to be for Halloween next year already!  Yes!  A tap dancing cow that wears a skirt who is running away from the mean coffee scavengers! Doesn't that sound perfect!?"  Who could say no!?

Abby when you tell her no..." Aaaaw.  Fine!  I pouting."

"Aaaw man!  We are getting our butts kicked Mom!" Hannah while playing Wii Mario Kart with her daddy...apparently he's forgotten we're trying to steer her AWAY from the word butt. :)

11.02.2011

A Season of thankfulness...


Today I am thankful for these little ones that I love beyond words...

 And that I don't have anywhere to rush off to or be other than home with my kiddos...
 I am especially thankful for this after an early wake up time of 5 am or earlier...because it means I don't have to try and ditch my pajamas sooner than I'd like to...
And it means I get to spend all day hanging out with these cuties.