Joseph - 06/08/11

I could just eat this little boy up!

God bless!

Holly

Multitude Monday

It's been 3 months.....3 long months since I've posted a Multitude Monday list. I would love to say I haven't stopped counting during that time, but that's not the case. I feel like I've just been getting by these last few months.....everyone fed and clothed but not a lot else. I'm realizing I need this gratitude list. It keeps me grounded. I can easily get caught up in the dirty parts of my day.....the what-ifs and should-ofs and suppose-to-bes.

Back to it.....joining Ann today and counting my blessings.

736. Transformations and getting to be a part of it
737. God's grace and answered prayers

738. Joseph's skin clearing up.....again
739. Clear signs for me.....no dairy for mama

740. All 3 little ones napping at the same time.....even if for only 30 minutes
741. Solo Costco trip with all 3 little ones and them behaving wonderfully

742. Drier weather
743. Finally getting the garden planted.....most of it (hoping to finish today)

744. 4 year old saying she's sorry without being prompted
745. Almost 2 year old testing her independence
746. 5 month old sitting up by himself

God bless!

Travis Graduates!!!

On Wednesday May 25th, 2011 Travis graduated from the MN Teen Challenge program.

I'm so proud of my little brother!

I'm sure it wasn't an easy thing to enter a year long treatment program or to finish a year long treatment program. It's amazing to see what prayer and God can do for a person and for a family in the span of a year.

Crazy fact...it was exactly one year between Travis attempting suicide (05/25/10) and his graduating from MN Teen Challenge (05/25/11).

It has been mind blowing to see the transformation in him over the last year. He is a new creation and his love for the Lord is awesome.

He graduated with honors...he did a bunch of extra work while in the program.

He has moved into some Teen Challenge transitional housing and has started some college classes. He is studying for a ministry degree. We are so proud of him.

And I'm super excited to see our whole family continue to grow along with Travis in this new chapter of our family and lives.

God bless!

Charlie's Birthday - 4 Years Old

We celebrated Miss Charlie's fourth birthday a couple of weeks ago. It was a day filled with many family and friends...and clothes. Oh my the new clothes that girl received. She is outfitted for the summer.

She was so excited to get bright pink gum in her new purse.

Not near as excited when I told her she couldn't keep it because there was Red40 in it.

What girl couldn't use another pair of fancy shoes.

Happy birthday Charlie!

We love you!

God bless - Holly

Camping - Mother's Day Weekend

We took our first camping trip of the year over Mother's Day weekend...actually our first camping trip ever as a family. We ventured not far from home, which was nice. Joe ran home Saturday and feed the critters.

We enjoyed beautiful weather and great company. The kids all behaved and had a wonderful time playing with their friends. Bonus...I actually got to take a nap on Saturday afternoon.

Charlie made quick friends with little Sam at the park. Actually Sam made friends with many people over the weekend. He was over often playing with and borrow toys. 

Cori loves the park and has no fear. She jumped right on the swings and didn't think twice about going down the slides all by herself.

Saturday morning activity...making pop bottle birdhouses.

I'm looking forward to a couple of more weekends away this summer.

God bless!

Holly

Joseph Jr. - 5 Months (Part 2)

Part 1 - Here

With the return of icky, red sore skin for the babe, Joe and I spend a good chunk of time brainstorming what else was different during the weekend we were camping (besides being out of our house). We couldn't really think of anything I didn't eat or did eat that was different than what we were already doing. I still took all my vitamins and supplements all weekend, so it couldn't be a reaction to one of them.

But we did come up with one thing...water. I drink a lot of water at home and away from home. I had drank bottled water all weekend while camping and then went back to our tap water when we got home. 

We had already changed so many things, why not try something else especially since it seemed like it just might be an answer. So, I've been drinking bottled water for the last 10 days or so. Within the first 3 or 4 days, his skin improved dramatically. I definitely think, the water is at least a part of the issue. 

05-11-11

05-19-11

05-19-11

See how nice it had cleared up towards the end of last week.

Not exactly the end of the story. The doctor and I did discuss me reintroducing some foods that I had eliminated to see if Joseph would still have a reaction. I was not planning on starting with dairy...pretty sure that there would be a reaction. Over the weekend, I had some cream cheese frosting while making Charlie a birthday cake.

And guess what, totally broke out again. I'm assuming at this point it is the dairy that set off this current breakout. If not, I don't even know where else to look. And not nursing isn't really an option right now. I tried to get him to take a bottle a couple of weeks ago and he was having none of it.

On a positive note, it hasn't spread beyond his cheeks and we have found a lotion that seems to really help. We will just continue to pray that we find more answers and that mama has the strength to make it through all these hurdles.

God bless!