A Tag Switch

My friend, Lexi, tagged me to do a long involved list of things about myself, and tagged some other people to find their sixth picture in the sixth folder of their picture file. I'm going to rebel a little and do the picture instead!! So here it is, the sixth of the sixth:

This was taken in April, 2007. I had Ian-2 months old-sleeping in the stroller, while Ayden and I enjoyed the BR Zoo with some of his and my buddies. This was taken during the elephant show. I LOVE this picture!

This Made Me Laugh

I get a weekly update on my pregnancy from babycenter.com, which I always update on the sidebar. I only update what it says about the baby's development. Tonight when I was reading about my own body changes, this part made me laugh:
Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.
So in a nutshell, if I move or don't move, I feel pain? Nice.

I'm 32 weeks along now. On the home stretch. I can't wait, but at the same time, I am SCARED!!!

Help!!

We have a poll on our sidebar to the right. Please help us decide how we should spell our little girl's name. We're naming her after my grandmother, Afton, but we might change the spelling for a fun twist. If you want to explain why you think we should spell it a certain way, leave a comment.

Great News!

Almost a year ago, my mom began her fight against colon cancer. She went through chemotherapy up until December, and we've been waiting since then to know if it worked or not. Well, after a very long wait and a very hard year for all of us, she is cancer free!!! We love you, mom! We knew you'd kick that cancer's touche! Have fun with dad in Riggins. We wish we could join you two and celebrate.

Allergy Update

I took this picture because Ayden wanted to see the "A" and "B" the nurses wrote on his back. I did NOT just do it for the blog, so don't judge me. Doesn't it make you feel itchy?

I took Ayden to the allergist this morning. His school wouldn't take my word for it-which I understand-so we had to act quick and get him tested and get the paperwork sent in to his school. After all, it is Lenten season, so fish gets served on Fridays. I learned a lot more this visit than last year. Mostly because Ayden is so much more grown up now. The whole time I was talking to the doctor, he sat still in his own chair and didn't interrupt once. Last year I could hardly hear anything the doctor was saying and Ayden was ALL OVER THE PLACE. That's the difference between age three and age four. Anyway, we re-tested all of the food allergies from last year and this time added codfish and shellfish-which he was not tested for last year, because it wasn't a concern of ours at the time. He got 16 pricks total. Most of them were different nuts, then he also had an egg, wheat, and some more I'm not sure of.
The verdict:
1. He IS allergic to the codfish-which represents all fish, even fish sticks.
2. His reaction to eggs was less this year than last, so he's building an immunity to them. He doesn't have any issues with eggs, which means he's allergic, but tolerant to them.
3. Nuts are still the enemy. He had two huge welps from the peanut and one other (I forgot which). The doctor actually said, "Whoa nelly!" in response to those two. Normally an allergic reaction to the pricks is less than a centimeter big. Those two nut reactions were at least an inch.
4. Ayden's reaction to the fish the other night was minor anaphalactic shock, and we should have given him the Epi-Pen first then the Benedryl. You live, you learn. We now have six Epi-Pens instead of just two, so we can always have one ready to go.
So there you have it. Ayden did so well through the whole thing. He didn't complain at all. He just wanted to scratch his back really bad. He's currently passed out from the Benedryl, snuggling with Ian.

Our St. Patty's Day

March, 2007-Ian was just one month old. Ayden was 2 1/2.

March, 2009-Look who's in big brother's old shirt now!
Ayden made that leprechaun at school.
He insisted on bringing it to the park, which we did.

While Ayden was away at school, the leprachauns cleaned up his room and left out only the green toys on the train table. They also left some green M&Ms and bubble gum-notice the green drool around Ian's mouth-and a new shirt for Ayden. Thanks for the idea, Lauren!

After our evening walk, I made clover necklaces for the boys.

The leprechaun invasion footage.

Two Not-So-Great Discoveries Today

Ian dressed himself!

First Not-So-Great:
This morning I took Ian to the doctor and found out that he has the flu. That explains a lot. Especially the whiny and clingy part. "I want to sit me!" is what he says when he wants me to hold him on my lap-which is ALL DAY. That is the number one phrase of the week. Our house is a WRECK!!!



Second Not-So-Great:
Ayden has a new allergy to add to the list-FISH! Tonight we had broiled tilapia with broccoli and shells n' cheese (which Josh cooked by the way). Ayden was tearing up his fish, when all of a sudden he started coughing and acting like he needed to throw up. Then he had the beggining of a rash around his lips. We immediately knew what the problem was. He didn't throw up-thank goodness-but it was hard for him to breathe, so I gave him some benedryl, which took effect pretty quickly. Then my mommy panic hit. I started thinking, what if his reaction would have been anaphilactic shock and he wasn't here with us? (The epi-pen is going back in my diaper bag.) Then I started to worry that he might have an immune difficiency. I started to cry and Ayden asked why I was crying. I told him it made me sad to see him get hurt and he started crying too. It was a sweet moment. He's got a lot of compassion.
So now I'm confused. He's had fish sticks many times before with no trouble (but let's face it-how much fish do you actually get out of those things) and he was tested a year ago when we did his allergy test for peanuts and everything else under the sun. I guess this allergy just decided to show up all of a sudden. It's pretty strange. I'm calling his allergist tomorrow.

We've Had One Of Those Weeks

Dakota and Ayden riding in the back of the van.

Robin saw their hands touching. They didn't even realize they were doing it!

Okay, my post has nothing to do with the pictures above.
They are just some sweet pictures I had to share.

I'm so glad Josh is home. He left Tuesday night for a work conference and didn't get back until Friday afternoon. While he was away, this household was NUTS!! The boys were definitely affected by his absence, not just me. Ian was clingy the whole week because he was under the weather, which turned into vomiting and diarrhea Friday afternoon and still hasn't stopped. Josh came home right in the middle of one of his accidents and I was busy scrubbing vomit off of the recliner. I had this image in my head of running and jumping unto Josh's arms and proclaiming how great it was to have him home, but all he got was a "hey" from the living room. Josh had the virus while he was away and entertained me Friday night with some lovely yacking sounds. Saturday was interesting, and today Josh stayed home with Ian while Ayden and I went to church. During all of this, I've had my new schedule to adjust to with eating and finger pricking and walking-which isn't all that bad. My dietitian actually told me that I need to add more fruit and carbs! Okay, I'll get to that right away, ma'am! The forced exercise-3o minute walk after breakfast and again after dinner-has been nice, because we go as a family around the neighborhood-Ian in the stroller, Ayden on his bike, and me and Josh walking. As soon as Ian gets better, we should be adjusted back into normalcy. What is normalcy exactly, anyway? That's my update. I have to go eat my scheduled snack now. I think I'll have 1 ounce of cheese with an apple and 15 small crackers. Doesn't that sound so filling?!

Test Results: Round Two

I have gestational diabetes. There, I said it. I'm pretty shocked, since I had no issues with this with my first two. I guess I've had a slow progression to this-no issues with Ayden, failed the 1 hour but passed the three hour with Ian, failed both with Afton. The good thing is, we've already been watching our diets pretty well for Josh's sake. Positive peer pressure is great, although I would sneak some snacks when he was away. I have a current weakness for Poptarts and Reece Puffs cereal. Josh has high blood pressure, which has come down tremendously over the past month with diet and exercise, and he's already lost about 10 pounds which is always a plus. I'm ready to learn what I need to get healthy for the baby. I already have big babies, so this child will be extra fluffy! HOPEFULLY with a strict diet, I can monitor my sugar levels enough. Another plus, now I'm probably guaranteed to deliver early!! 37 weeks sounds good to me. We'll see. I just want the baby to be okay. I'm trying not to read too much about the worst case scenarios.

This Will Put a Smile On Your Face!

Click THIS LINK and make sure you have your volume turned up. My sister, Dixie, is visiting the great state of IDAHO right now-she currently resides in England, but hit a snag and had to come back to the states to renew her visa or some legal document like that. Chani (big sis) came and went from Colorado to see her last weekend, and Dixie's obviously having a good time with Nikki (baby sis) too. I wish I could join in on the fun. Thank goodness for the internet. It makes me feel like I'm right there with them. Lucky mom and dad. Love you, Fam!!

The Glucose Test Results

In case anyone was wondering how my glucose test went...my sugar level was too high, so I have the dreaded 3 hour test coming. I don't want to talk about it. I stayed away from sweets and carbs for two days, and it was still too high. Now I have to suffer through two more days of strict eating AND fast before I go. I HATE NEEDLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Budding Artist

From Left: Mommy, Ian, Ayden, our house, Daddy,
our new swing set (which doesn't exist at this time- that's Ayden's wishful thinking).

Playing outside on a lazy Saturday morning.

Ayden's butterfly

Ayden filled in the wings-it took him at least 20 minutes.
Ian scribbling.

Chalk goatee.


I just read that at age 4 1/2 most kids' artwork begins to take shape. Ayden is right on with that average, because he came home from school with our family portrait the other day. Usually he brings home scribbles from practicing his letters and shapes. I was so excited about his first impression of our family, I had to share. He did that butterly all by himself. The only guidance I gave him was to draw a body, head and wings. We also have "chicken broom" on our fridge right now. I'll have to get a picture of that. It's too cute. Also, he's on a kick with coloring books: he'll color the page, then we have to cut it out for him. It's so fun to watch him concentrate on his projects.