Bree is (almost) 1!

We celebrated Bree's 1st birthday with both side of the family at . . . a bowling alley! I know it seems like a strange place for a 1 year old to celebrate their big day, but I figured we just had a bunch of holidays where we all had to sit and talk to each other and this way you could avoid whomever you wanted! Also, I didn't have to come up with a big meal for everyone so this was easiest on me. And when Mommy is happy, everyone is happy, right? Bree seemed to enjoy all the attention from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She got some nice clothes and lots of great new books. The kids had fun bowling, except for Darcy, but her shoes were pretty cool anyway. Bree enjoyed her chocolate cake and appreciated everyone making the effort to celebrate her big day. We had the party 2 weeks early in order to get the most family as we could there. It is always difficult with an extended family as big as ours to find a time that works for everyone. Thankfully I will never have to throw a first year birthday party again. But Drew does get baptized next year so I guess we move into that phase of parties. The fun never ends!

The grandmas had a fun time watching all the grandkids bowl. I think.

No, Mason is not left handed. Someone should have shown him how to do it right I guess. . .dad!

Drew was pretty good. She loves to bowl!




Darcy and her awesome shoes. Man I am going to have some great blackmail material when Darcy gets older. It seems almost every picture of her for the past year has been of her crying.

All Things Buns Related

Lately at our house it seems like I have been consumed with all things buns related. For months now Bree has had a diaper rash that won't quit. I have used everything under the sun to try to get rid of it but nothing seems to work. She was even diagnosed as having a yeast infection but the medicine for that did little, if anything, to heal her poor bum. It gets so bad at times that it is just raw and itchy. It seems like maybe her poop is toxic and eating away at her skin. So we went gluten free for 3 days, dairy free for 3 days, and juice free for 3 days. The only thing that made a difference was the juice, which was making her stool runny. It didn't seem to remove the toxicity though. So my dietician Aunt suggested getting rid of formula all together because of the added probiotics that could be causing her digestive problems. We have been on straight milk for a couple days now but I am seeing no improvements. Now before you get riled up, she hasn't had a raw bum for months, it seems to be under control for awhile and then flares up again. I guess we will keep trying different scenarios till we find some answers.

Darcy has not taken to potty training like I hoped she would. She is content to pee her pants and then tell us about it afterwards. She still hasn't done #2 in the toilet, just her pants. Have I mentioned I loathe potty training? I finally broke down and bought a Lightning McQueen activity bike thingy that is sitting on our kitchen cupboard, right where she can see it, as a bribe to hopefully get this business moving. She doesn't care. She thinks it looks like fun but isn't working towards really getting it. This is really trying my patience!

My sweet Mason, around Christmas time I think, started using the bathroom CONSTANTLY. And by constantly I mean sometimes 10 times in an hour. I thought at first it was a phase but he has been doing this for weeks now. I was talking to a couple people in the know at Bree's birthday party and they said the first sign of Type 1 Diabetes is constantly going to the bathroom. I knew this, though I chose to not even consider the possibility till this last weekend. And then it was all consuming and I barely got through Bree's party, waiting till I could get Mason to a doctor. As we were waiting for the reader to process his blood sugar number by stomach was in my throat. I have seen the struggles, and also the normalcy that has come into my niece's, and her family's, life since she was diagnosed with diabetes 3 days after Mason was born. I was sure I couldn't be that strong, and I knew with Mason's fear of needles and love of sweet stuff he couldn't handle this disease. Thankfully his number was in the normal range. I wanted to cry right then! Luckily he didn't have an infection either so right now we don't know what is causing this. Today he went in to have blood drawn and I made Paul take him. I knew that once they had the needle out Mason would freak and I wouldn't be able to hold him down. Paul said he had him in a bear hug, another person held his legs, and another held his arms as they drew the blood. Just thinking about it makes me cry. My poor baby. I have been so blessed that I haven't had to watch one of my children suffer with a life-altering illness. I have much respect for those kids, and parents, who have to deal with it every day. Hopefully we can get some answers for Mason's problem and we can get it taken care of. Thanks for everyone's good thoughts and prayers for him!

Now my health update isn't necessarily buns related, though they do get itchy sometimes! I went to an endocrinologist before Thanksgiving and she seems to fianlly have me on the right dosage of medication for my hypothyroidism. She also told me that 2/3 of those with hypothyroidism suffer from hives like I do. They aren't related in the sense that if my thyroid is under control the itchies will be too. But they are autoimmune diseases that seem to go hand in hand. So for the rest of my life I can look forward to bouts of hives and intense itching for no reason what-so-ever. I just get to treat it as it shows up. But at least all of this is treatable and at the moment I am itch free and not even a bit light headed so I will be thankful for the temporary respite!

Its Potty Time!

New Year's Day Darcy ripped off her diaper and went streaking through the living room shouting "Potty!" That was all the cue we needed to finally start potty training. I had been planning on starting after the new year, but not necessarily ON the new year. She has been showing signs of readiness for a few months but I was not ready to go down that road till she forced my hand. Potty training has to be one of the most difficult parts of parenting for me at this stage in my life. We put some little girl panties on her cute little buns, giggled at how cute her buns looked in panties, and then proceeded to clean up 6 accidents. That evening she actually peed twice on the toilet so I will call that a success. The best part of potty training, well, who am I kidding, the ONLY good part about potty training is her look of pure joy and accomplishment when she actually does pee in the potty. And the giggles and clapping. That makes it all worth it. So far she hasn't needed a bribe, but I'm sure she will come away with something cool after we decide she is totally potty trained. Day 2 brought more success and also Pull-ups. I am not a huge fan as they are just like diapers to me, but I already did a few extra loads of laundry to wash her little underpants and I had had enough. Yesterday morning, day 3, she was in hysterics and I was at my limit and I yelled at her: "Just pee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" My wise 4 year old sauntered into the bathtroom and casually said: "You know mom, it probably works better if you don't yell at her." Thanks, Mase, I'll take that into consideration. She finally did #2 . . . in her Pull-up. I knew it was coming and was keeping an eye on her but she got away from me for 2 seconds and the deed was done. That looks like it will be the hard part, getting that in the toilet. Today is day 4 and she is doing pretty well. She gives me a little look and we both dash off to the nearest potty. So far only 1 accident, but its only noon. At least she isn't screaming at me like yesterday. Maybe we have turned the corner? I forgot just how emotionally draining this is on both the trainer and the trainee. We will get through it though. I can't wait to have only one set of buns left to diaper!