It's the simple things that make me smile

The other night as I was getting things ready for bed, I caught a glimpse of Caleb on the couch out of the corner of my eye.  How this kid sleeps in these kinds of positions & doesn't wake up feeling like he slept in a suitcase is beyond me!

Lately little sister has not been her happy little self.  I'm certain she's working on one, possibly 2, molars.  She has been pulling at her right ear (the one that's had 2 sets of tubes in it) all week.  I finally caved & took her to see the ENT again yesterday.  Although the right ear looked excellent, we had to unclog the left one (curses!).  We are now back on ear drops for another week.  The left ear wasn't infected or anything, but the tube was blocked.

Yesterday since Brooke was just so sad I striped her down & put her in her high chair & then gave her a chocolate peanut butter hi hat cupcake.  You would think she died & had gone to heaven.  Chocolate makes EVERYTHING better!

Today I picked the first official picking of my strawberry patch.  They don't look too big in the picture, but the two top berries are about the same size as the ones you get in the store.  Of course, after I snapped this picture I had to sample them!  They are so juicy & totally tasty!  My patch is loaded with berries that are ripening quickly.  I hope we get enough I can make at least one batch of strawberry jam!

Tonight Caleb had some chocolate ice cream & when I got up from the table he was squishing his cheeks & grinning as big as he could at me.  Totally made me smile.  I grabbed the camera but he started to shy away. Still a pretty cute stinker I caught on camera though.

Last year at the Farmer's Market in Hyrum, my dad bought Sam some fluorescent green flip flops that had tule ties around the top.  Dad only paid $1.00 & they lasted until just recently.  Sam wore the heck out of those suckers.  In thinking about on site fundraising for Relay, my mom thought it would be a good idea to make some.  Yesterday I picked up some flip flops from the dollar store.  I helped mom pick out some more from JoAnns and then we picked out some tule to go with it.  Mom dropped it all off at my house last night & I got all the tule cut into strips.  Tonight my girlfriend came down & we decided to start working on putting them together.  Neither one of us thought we'd get many done (we had 25 pairs).  Amazingly, we got every single pair done!  They turned out pretty stinkin' cute too.  We're hoping we can get $5.00 a pair out of them.  If they sell really well we'll have to do it again next year.  They were super easy to do the biggest pain in the rear end was cutting all the tule into strips! 

Relay for Life is only 26 days away!  My team fundraising has reached just over $1,000.  My goal for this year was to hit $1,500.  The first year we did Relay we did about $1,900.  I still have 4 boxes of Cards for a Cause.  If I can sell those that would mean an extra $195 for my fundraising.  If we sell all 25 pair of flip flops at $5 each, that would be another $125 for our fundraising.  We also have a quilt that we are doing an "opportunity drawing" for.  Tickets are $1 each.

With the help of a few people I've been able to secure $6,000 in sponsorship's for Relay this year.  That doesn't count all the things that have been donated instead of money either.  Our event fundraising goal this year is $150,000.  I'll be happy if we meet last years mark of $97,000.  I think Grandma would be absolutely astounded at Relay and what it accomplishes each year.  It makes me happy that my own kids, as young as they are, realize how important Relay is & that they want to be a part of it.  I hope the team I've created in Grandma's memory sees many, many, many more Relays.

In an effort to bribe Sam to behave for her first round of allergy shots I asked her what she wanted in order to not freak out at getting her shot.  She told me she wanted a "grandma day with Grandma Terri."  My mom graciously agreed that if she got her shot without making a dramatic scene that she could have a grandma day.  Since she didn't create a fuss over the shot (honestly, I was shocked) she got to have her grandma day last weekend.  It was actually a sleepover and an all day grandma day.

A day or two later my mom asked Nash what he was going to do to earn his grandma day.  He quickly replied that he too was being allergy tested.  Again, my mom agreed that if he got all the shots, etc. without a dramatic scene he too could have a grandma day.  Well, Nash is my tough kid and there wasn't a scene at all.  So, last night my mom stopped to pick Nash up so he could have his sleepover and grandma day.

As my mom was leaving with Nash, Caleb got so upset because he too wanted a grandma day.  My mom reminded Caleb that in order to get his grandma day he had to do something to earn it.  We had already decided that he had to use the potty for a whole week without any accidents in order to earn his grandma day.  I've been putting pull ups on Caleb at night only for about 3 weeks.  He still has accidents, but it's better than putting a pull up on him.  He's developed this theory that if he wears a pull up he doesn't have to rush to the bathroom if he needs to potty because he has a pull up on.  Thus, we did away with the pull ups except for at night time.  Considering how stubborn the kid is I'm surprised that he's doing as well as he is.  Now, if I could just break him of going outside to pee instead of using the bathroom, I'd be thrilled!  Maybe he will be potty trained by his fourth birthday after all!

Nash has an allergy test

Thursday June 14 I took Nash to be allergy tested.  I'll admit, I figured this was going to be a waste of my time.  Nash is our healthiest kid by far (sad, I know) so I figured that this was just me being overly worried.  Turns out I did a good thing by taking him in to be tested.  After seeing how allergic Sam was to all the molds and cow's milk, I figured we'd better have Nash tested (just to be sure).  After talking to Travis about it I wondered whether or not it was going to be a good idea after all.  But, realizing my insurance would pay the entire cost of the test, I went against my gut & made the appointment to have him tested.

They stamped his back with all 50 allergens - just like Sam.  The kid was super tough and didn't cry or fight at all.  He did tighten up & said "Ow" but hey, 50 pokes in one day I think he's entitled!

As I was sitting with him & waiting the 20 minutes to see what he would react to I felt like I was wasting my time.  His back didn't appear to look that reactive or bad at all.  The two big red spots are where the histamine was so they were suppose to break out with a hive.

After the 20 minute wait time, the nurse came in & made marks on his back with a marker so she could go back & measure the size of the hives.  Surprisingly, his histamine was 11 cm (Sam's was only 4 cm).  I started to wonder if maybe he was reacting to more than I thought it looked like he was.

As the nurse was making her marks she noticed that he was getting hives between his hives.  Meaning, he was getting hives in places he hadn't been stuck with an allergen.  She was really surprised to see that!  Turns out that doesn't happen too often.  Also turns out he reacted to nearly everything that they poked him with.  He did react to the three molds on his back but because he was getting hives between his hives she didn't dare do the mold ids down his arm like they did to Sam.  She told me he would be covered in hives if she did that to him.  After she measured the size of all his hives she gave him Benadryl right there in the office (they didn't give any to Sam after her test).

After we were done being tested, we went over & talked to the PA at the ENT (where the dr.s for the allergy clinic are based).  The PA is really nice & I really like her.  She was shocked by how many allergens he reacted to as well.  She told me that if I tried to avoid all the foods he reacted to all day, every day, I'd drive myself crazy.  She recommended that we do a rotating diet.  This means that he doesn't eat too much of the same thing all in one day (or even all in one week).  By doing allergy shots (like Sam) they can reduce the effects of the inhalant allergens by 80%.  If they can reduce the inhalant allergen symptoms by 80% then the food allergies won't be too bad to deal with.  Fortunately, his isn't deathly allergic to any of the foods he reacted to (no peanut allergy here).  

So, after all that torture, we now know that Nash is allergic to:

Almond, bakers yeast, cacao bean, corn, oat, orange, potato, rice, soybean, tomato, whole wheat, beef, chicken, pork, 5 trees, 1 grass (of course it's a different one than Sam), 5 weeds, all 12 molds, dog & feathers.

What I thought was interesting was that the food he reacted the most to is potato.  Nash hates potatoes.  I guess this explains why!

In comparison, Samantha is allergic to:

cows milk, 3 trees, 1 grass, 1 weed, all 12 molds and cat.

I was crossing my fingers that this means since we'll be making weekly trips to the allergy clinic to get allergy shots for 2 kids for at least the next 18 months that perhaps we may be done at the ENT's office.  This morning, however, I feel like that hope was dashed.  I took Brooke back to the ENT's office because she's had her fingers in her right ear for about 5 days, she's had a low fever, hasn't slept well & just hasn't been her happy little self.  I was worried that the right tube would be clogged again.  Turns out there was no infection in either ear & the right tube was clear.  However, we did have to unclog the left tube & are now back on ear drops for at least five days.  Have I mentioned I think I should have married an ENT?

Last day of swim lessons

Thursday, June 14 was the last day of swim lessons for the kids.  They were still super excited to go but I also think they were bummed out that it was their last day of lessons.  We are talking about signing them up for at least one (maybe two) more sessions of lessons this summer but it wouldn't be until the end of July (after summer school).

Caleb was kind of a stinker today.  He kept hoping on one of his teachers' backs & getting a ride to where ever they were suppose to be bunny hopping to!

Each of the kids got a certificate with their name & level on them.  My kids' certificates all say Brown on them - big surprise!  Caleb was recommended to go to Preschool B when he turns 4.  The rest of the kids were recommended to re take level 1.  I think it's mostly because the amount of skills they want them to pass off.  Nash had 6 out of 10 skills passed off - not bad for 9 30 minute lessons considering that he's never had lessons before.  I think it was Nash & Carter that had the most skills passed off.

I am sad that they are done with their lessons because they have absolutely loved taking them.  It's been really good for Samantha because she's finally overcoming her fear of water & is actually sticking her head under water!  Nash has learned quite a bit and improved a ton in what he already knew.  Caleb has found a love of the water that is completely unhindered by fear (huge improvement from last summer).  Even if I don't end up signing them up for lessons again this summer, I will for sure sign them up again at least once next summer.  Thank you LAC we'll be back!

A few random photos & swim lessons

Since the Plaquenil has been working so well I've been able to get back to my sewing projects.  Maybe I should say since I had an allergic reaction to the Plaquenil & need something to occupy my hands 100% of the time I have been able to get back to my sewing projects.  Either way, I'm sewing again!

Today I finished this shirt for Sam that I cut out for her about last August.  I've tried to gather all the patterns & all the fabric that I've bought over the last year or so to make school clothes for the kids.  I won't lie, most of the clothes are for Sam.  My thought was that if I get started on them now they might be done for school this year!  If I don't get going on them they'll have to wait until Brooke is big enough to wear them!  I was proud of myself on this shirt - I did it all by myself (no help from mom at all!)  The pattern did say to put elastic in the waist so it was more fitted, but she liked it like this & didn't want the elastic in (honestly, I'm good with that!)

The other day I also finished this pillowcase dress for my niece.  I made one for her big sister last May for her birthday & kept the extra to make one to match on purpose.  I also finished the one for Brooke that matches Sam's, but I haven't taken a picture of it yet.

The kids have been loving their swim lessons.  Sadly, tomorrow is their last day!  I can't believe that it went by so quick!  The kids are bummed they won't be going to the pool every day anymore.  I am trying to convince Travis that we need to sign them up for at least 1 more if not 2 more sessions this summer.  I'm hoping he'll concede & I can sign all three up for lessons that would run July 16-Aug 9.  We'll see.

These boys are just too cute together.

Sam doing the back float

Caleb's class got to put on life jackets & float on their backs today.  Caleb was pretty excited about it.

First they floated in the shallow pool & then they went over to the deep pool & floated over there.

They have the kids in Caleb's class "bunny hop" or "ride a pony" when they go from one side of the pool to the other.  Caleb loves it - I think it's hilarious that he keeps his hands like this:

They started letting the kids in Sam's class jump into the pool the other day.  They were so glad!  They had been watching the other kids do it & would ask me every day why they didn't get to cannonball into the pool.

Caleb has done so well in lessons.  I seriously debated about whether he was old enough to even bother putting him in.  His mid session report said he was one of his teacher's top students!  Made me glad I went against my gut & enrolled him in lessons!  He's blowing bubbles in this picture:

I told Travis when I talked to him tonight that we should have signed all the kids up for swim lessons ages ago.  Part of the reason we didn't is because Sam has been so afraid of water that I didn't even want to bring it up with her.  I am amazed at how quickly she's pushed that aside.  I wondered if her fear would return when we were at the pool tonight & she wasn't in her class.  Much to my pleasant surprise, she jumped right in as though she hadn't a second thought about it!  I'm really hoping the improved attitude that Caleb & Sam have gained towards the water will last them for their entire lives and not just this swim season.  I really hope that Nash's ability to learn new strokes/techniques quickly will last him.  I think we may have found his "thing" (like dance is for Sam).  Who knows?  All I know is I have four kids that absolutely love the water & would spend the entire summer in the pool if I left them!

The Aquatic Center vs Me...& 4 kids...& a whole lot of other people but none of which are there to help me!

The last time Travis was home Nash & I had an appointment at the chiropractor.  While I was in the office, I noticed a flyer saying that they were having a customer appreciation pool party on Wednesday, June 13.  I figured I'd get tickets (since they were free) and perhaps...maybe...think about taking the kids.

Since they have been loving swim lessons and have been doing really well with it.  I figured what the heck I'm already plastered with a rash from head to toe.  The chlorine I'm also freakishly allergic to can't possibly make this rash any worse, right?  Time will tell. :)

Despite my best efforts to get my friend & her kids to go with me (completely in vain I might add) I loaded up the kids & we headed in to the pool.  The party was suppose to start at 7:30 pm & last until 9:30 pm.  I didn't figure I'd last much more than an hour because let's face it; one adult, four kids and an aquatic center chuck full of people is bound to give me chest pains.

I gave the kids specific directions on the way in to the pool.  I figured it would be falling on deaf ears but what the heck, I'll give my spill anyway.  Apparently, today, my directions did not fall on deaf ears!  Wahoo!  Much to my very pleasant surprise, all directions were followed, no one drown (or nearly drown), there was no fighting & no arguing.  I know, I'm still in shock just thinking about it! 

Samantha & Caleb partnered up & stayed in the shallow pool the entire time we were there.  Nash braved the water slides twice and even the deep pool.  Brookelyn didn't fight me when I put a life jacket on her & she turned into quite the little fishie.  She kept batting my hands away thinking she was just going to walk off in the pool all by herself like a big girl.  I was holding her hands and walking around with her in water that came up to about my knees.  All the sudden she would just lay back, lift her toes up out of the water, start kicking & just grin at me.  The girl loved it!  The only pictures I got were when I took her out of the pool to give my back a rest!

There was free watermelon & the kids didn't miss out on that!

Brooke was happy with just the Capri-Sun I gave her.

Much to my surprise we didn't leave until about 9:10 pm!  I was shocked!  I thought that things would go quite differently for us tonight.  After such a good experience tonight I don't think I'll hesitate to take my kids back - even if I don't have someone to go with me!