Figuring it all out

Finally settling into a routine... I think. We pretty much do school from 9-3 with LOTS of breaks. Then Monday and Friday we head to dance class and Thursday is our half day since we have MOPS every other week and the other weeks we do dr apts and other apts then school after lunch til 3. I didn't realize how many appointments we go to until I got everything planned out. I'm thankful for MOPS, I get a time out with other moms my age to chat and even get breakfast while the kids get 2 hours of bible study and play with other kids their age, though I tend to keep Mr M with me instead of with the other babies in the nursery. The kids LOVE it!! And I like the fact that they are so careful and on top of things with the allergies. Miss A even has another BFF. :-)

Late Tomorrow is our follow up apt with the naturopathic dr for Miss A... I've been impatiently waiting for the results for 2.5 weeks. I'm actually hoping she has a leaky gut, maybe we can help calm down some of her allergies and asthma. :-). If that's the case, along with the already avoided foods in her diet (dairy, eggs, peanuts, treenuts, sesame, fish and shellfish) we'll have to avoid all forms of sugar (sugar, honey, agave possibly most fruits), anything artificial, yeast, gluten, grains, potatoes and other nightshade vegetables, possibly tomatoes and a few other inflammatory foods. (I've done a little research already to prepare) Then whatever comes back as problematic on the delayed food allergy/food sensitivity test where they tested 96 common foods will also be on the avoidance list. We will be eating on this diet with her, though I won't be as strict with the other kids on it. 3I have no intention of making separate meals for all of us, only do that on rare occasions, like pizza delivery night, but that's extremely rare. :-)

Baby M had his well baby checkup today...Weighed in at 24 lbs and measures 28.5 inches tall. Believe it or not, he isn't off the growth charts... Weight is high and height is average, but I think his numbers are lower than Miss A's were until she started walking.

No worries...

Let me reassure those of you that are concerned about us homeschooling and meeting the minimum core requirements set by the state/nation for school.... Don't worry!!! After digging into this curriculum and watching other children go through kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade in public school, I can tell you that we will exceed those requirements!! It is not basket weaving, its real stuff that I'm fairly certain most kids do not learn in kindergarten :-).

School!

School starts tomorrow! Yah!! In some ways I'm ready, some ways I'm not... But I'm ready enough to start and ill continue to pull stuff together as we need. Should be a challenge and an adventure!

Nothing new to report...

Everybody surviving the smoke in the air?  We're full of sniffles and coughs around here... I'm praying none of them turn into the sickies...  Daddy is sick, but his immune system took a big hit a few days ago after a trip to the ER due to Anaphylaxis.  He accidentaly ate walnuts and had a very severe reaction.  He is still recovering, but I'm soooo thankful he's ok and it wasn't any worse than it really was!!!  I will also be glad when the fires are all gone. I miss being able to open the doors and windows now that the weather is cooling down a bit.

We have yet to recieve the test results back for Miss A yet.  It's been 9 days now and I was told about a week and a half.  If I dont hear anything on Monday, I'll check in on Tuesday to see if they've heard anything.  I'm very anxious for the results.

We also have yet to hear from the contractors on bids for the remodel on the house.  Not sure if there's going to be a remodel.  It's been about 4 weeks now and not a word.  They're not winning any brownie points with me right now, that's for sure!!!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Daddy! Here is the cake I made for him and one of my sister's kiddos.

Time to hurry up and wait....

So some of you are aware we had an appointment for miss A with a naturopath this morning. She suggested the possibility of leaky gut syndrome with an overgrowth of yeast in her system. Everything she said about It and everything I've ever read about it does make sense to me, but we'll see what the lab tests say. They should be back in 1 1/2 to 2 weeks, then we'll discuss possible treatment and dietary changes.... If it is leaky gut we will probly be on a no-dairy(no problem), no-gluten, no/low sugar and no refined starch diet. Hmmm... Eating the way we probly should anyway :-)

Mr Grump!

Oh boy! Mr. Grump made his appearance in my house. M is finally cutting his next two teeth one has just barely popped through the other one is visible under his gums. Poor baby would not let me put him down last night or even allow me to lay him down beside me so I could rest too, I had to be sitting up. Thankfully teething is only temporary!!!

Homemade Magic shell

You know that chocolate stuff you put on icecream and it instantly becomes hard? I found a homemade recipe for it!! 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips and 1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil, melt it together in the microwave in 30 second increments and mix until all melted together. Then drizzle over icecream. It's a bit runnier than magic shell, but tastes yummy and hardens just as well. Just remember to store the rest in a closed, microwave safe container in the fridge. We have A-safe chocolate chips... Wonder if I could find butterscotch and white chocolate that don't have milk/nuts..... Hmmm...What else? We'd never need to buy icecream topping again!

New friend

M met a new friend this morning... They had a bit of fun, check out the video :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCUozdRyIQE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Goodbye and hello

Unfortunately Twinkle did not make it. We did what we could, but he would not eat and had to be forced to drink water. He died in Mommy's hands with a broken heart.

The same day we found two little friends that needed a new home. They're names are Pip and Squeak. Both are female parakeets. They are allowed to be out of their cage as long as they stay on top, unless we are playing with them and their wings are clipped, so they can't go far anyway. There seem to be no allergy issues with them so far...... Hard to tell with the blooming weeds and smoke and already existent runny noses and coughs right now.