A few weeks ago we had Derrick's allergy appointment. To make a long story short, we tried the scratch test but his body didn't respond to it. That just means his immune system isn't quite up to par yet so we are going to repeat the scratch test around eight months old (October). For now I am to continue to avoid dairy, soy, eggs, and peanuts. I am supposed to start trying to work wheat back into my diet to see if it will bother him or not. I am learning lots of new recipes and combinations of food that I can have. One good thing is that a lot of my food has to be fresh, not processed food. This is making me eat healthier and there is nothing wrong with that!

We made all these frames to send to troops overseas to show our support for them. We are mailing them out today to Uncle Jason who is in Afghanistan serving his fifth tour.

Good morning everyone!

He is so Adam's son.

Riley's drawing of her family and friends. She also included adam's car. I love my girl.

Derek holding Derrick 

Celebrations

I would like to take a minute from our blog to celebrate our friend Ella. Ella is a four year old sweetheart who has been battling cancer for the past three years. She is the most polite, funny, and cutest little girl you will ever meet (well, besides my two girls).

Little Miss Ella has the most supportive parents that a kid could ever ask for. They have done everything in their power to get Ella the best care that there is to offer, and I have never seen a more devoted mother than Celine.  Ella has a little sister named Maya, and there is no doubt that they love each other. Just today I watched them playing in the pool during a playdate and out of no where they both gave each other a big hug and then continued playing. So sweet.

Ella got word recently that for now it seems as though her cancer battle is over. She has completed all of her recommended chemo, and nothing can be seen on any of the scans they have taken!

We are so excited for her! Let's have three cheers for Miss Ella Rose...

Hip hip HOORAY!

Hip hip HOORAY!!

Hip hip HOOOOORRRRAAAAYYYY!

Here is a link to their blog post if you would like to read it: Ella Rose Vidrine (click here to be taken to her blog)

Someone is pretty smitten with his big sister. :)

Bouncy Bree!

Derrick's rash

Blogging mobile

I just enable the mobile blogging with my phone so hopefully this blog will see an annoying onslaught of daily photos of my kids. :)

In other news, despite not eating dairy, egg, soy or peanuts Derrick continues to have a rash and is crying in pain during the day. I caved and gave him tylenol this morning and he is blissfully sleeping in his swing right now. I am now going to add wheat to the "no eating" list and we'll see what happens. Not sure what I will be eating now...but there has got to be something!

Bree is talking up a storm and does a lot of two word phrases. We are working on three word phrases, and hope that she continues to make this amazing progress.

Riley is her usual self. She is funny, and too smart for her own good. Just last night she kept telling me "Daddy and I are going to a movie....do you want to come Mommy?" When I asked Adam about it, he said he had no clue what she was talking about. Ha!

Food allergies

Since Derrick has been born, we have had a suspicion that something just wasn't right. He had rashes constantly, was extremely fussy and in my mommy gut I just had a feeling. We have slowly learned that he has food allergies.

Now nothing is definitive until we see the food allergist on the 15th, but through trial and error (poor boy) we have learned that he cannot have dairy, soy, and possibly peanuts and eggs. This means that I also have to limit my diet to exclude things that he cannot have since I am nursing him. To say it is a challenge would be an understatement.

Thankfully an amazing friend (Aleasha Bram!) has a son with similar food allergies so she has been my go to gal when it come to all things food related. She gives me the dish on what foods to buy where and what to look for.

Because of his food allergies, we are unable to find a formula that will work for Derrick so that means that I will not be student teaching this fall. My family comes first, plain and simple. As much as I would love to finally complete my student teaching, I would rather have a healthy and happy family. In order to have that, I need to continue nursing Derrick and remain vigilant in our efforts to keep everyone happy and healthy.

There are days where I feel discouraged and frustrated with myself when it comes to these allergies. Just yesterday it dawned on me to check the bread I have been eating, and I discovered that there is milk in it. I felt (and still do feel) horrible. No wonder he has been so fussy.

I just hope that we can get this figured out as soon as possible, and can start moving forward with a plan to get both Derrick and I on a healthy eating/nursing plan.

Riley Kay

Beautiful blue eyed girl!