Embrace the Camera - Pumpkin Patch

A couple weeks ago, Mom and I took the girls to the Arboretum for pictures with pumpkins. Sure wish Julia had learn to sit up then! She's getting much better and I just might be able to get a costume picture with her sitting by Audrey on Halloween!

The Illness That Would Not End

Man, this family has suffered from the daddy of all colds this month. We are closing in on three weeks of the SAME cold! Michael and Audrey caught the cold while we were in Abilene. Fortunately, they weren't sidelined until Sunday, the day we drove home. Michael took the day off that Monday and was able to beat it. Audrey, on the other hand, has allergies and it compromises her ability to fight this nasty bug. She's been to the doctor twice. Of course, I've been holding her a lot and have received many a cough in my face, so I got it too.

This bug is a tricky one. It makes you think you are about to get over it and then slaps you in the face with a fierce cough and a low fever. I thought Audrey was about over it two weekends ago. We had gone to the Arboretum on Friday and she seemed to do well. She was scheduled to go to the State Fair on Saturday with her cousins and Michael's parents. She had a rough night Friday night, but I just couldn't keep her away from the fair. Bad mom, I know. But how could you say no to this:

Her cousins were here from College Station. She just had to play with them! She had an absolute blast at the fair. She loved the rides! She didn't seem too sick that day either. But this day set her WAY back in her illness. I'm REALLY hoping that she gets to go to school tomorrow. They're having their first class party! And of course, there is Halloween on Sunday. She also has a birthday party to attend on Saturday. She MUST get well!

Goin' to the World Series!!!

Michael treated me to a Rangers game for my birthday (in 3 weeks). It just happened to be the game that sent us into the World Series.

*Breathe* WORLD SERIES!!! AAAHHH!!! *Breathe*

I've been watching the Rangers since I was born. I'm certain that every Ranger game was being played on the tv in my house when I was just a few month old. I watched most games until I became a mom and because that requires most of my time, I only caught a game here and there. Then we got rid of our cable. So as the season progressed, we began to rely on mlb.com to keep up with each game's events.

We went to the game even though I was sick. I stood in the rain even though I was sick. I screamed my poor voice away. It was pure bliss.

I'm not even going to try to explain the euphoria that was experienced. It ended perfectly by A-Rod watching the third strike go by. While we were making our way out of the stadium, my ears were literally ringing from all of the cheering.

Rangers fans, IT'S TIME!

LDN Awareness Week

I'm behind on my blogging because my daughter has had a cold, complicated by allergies, the rest of us have gotten it, and the Texas Rangers have been distracting me. Audrey is hopefully getting better, the rest of us are feeling better, and Michael and I going to the Ranger game tomorrow!

What has me blogging tonight is Low Dose Naltrexone, or LDN. I have a rare auto immune disease called Pemphigoid Gestationis. I have a 92% chance of it flaring up if I get pregnant again. Right now, the main treatment is high doses and long term use of Prednisone. Prednisone is as awful as it is wonderful. I was relieved to take it and as relieved to get off of it. I REALLY don't want to take Prednisone in that way ever again...meaning I wasn't going to try for another child.

I recently read about a wonder drug that can regulate your immune system and it has very little and mild side effects (vivid and/or scary dreams). It's called LDN and it is a lower dose of an FDA approved drug, naltrexone, that is used to help heroine addicts. Large doses are safe, so one can assume that small doses are too.

It can help with all of these diseases:

From ldnaware.org

Cancers:

• Bladder Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Carcinoid
• Colon & Rectal Cancer
• Glioblastoma
• Liver Cancer
• Lung Cancer (Non-Small Cell)
• Lymphocytic Leukemia (chronic)
• Lymphoma (Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's)
• Malignant Melanoma
• Multiple Myeloma
• Neuroblastoma
• Ovarian Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Prostate Cancer (untreated)
• Renal Cell Carcinoma
• Throat Cancer
• Uterine Cancer

Other Diseases:

• ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Behcet's Disease
• Celiac Disease
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• CREST syndrome
• Crohn's Disease
• Emphysema (COPD)
• Endometriosis
• Fibromyalgia
• HIV/AIDS
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Parkinson's Disease
• Pemphigoid
• Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sarcoidosis
• Scleroderma
• Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS)
• Systemic Lupus (SLE)
• Transverse Myelitis
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Wegener's Granulomatosis

Isn't that a long list?! So why haven't you heard about it? It's a cheap drug and pharmaceuticals can't make money off of it and won't fund the proper research in order for the FDA to approve it. Remember, regular Naltrexone is approved by the FDA. Why not take the high dose stuff? This video will explain how LDN works and why only low doses work.

Here are some websites you can do more research with:

www.ldners.org

www.ldnscience.org

www.ldnaware.org

www.lowdosenaltrexone.org

www.ldnnow.co.uk

If you research LDN and believe it's a wonder drug, please spread the word about it. It can help and save so many.

Sick Baby Girl

Audrey went to the doctor again today. She's got a horrible cough that kept all of us up last night. We've been putting a lot of Vick's VapoRub on her and in her humidifier. I've never seen anyone love VapoRub as much as Audrey. Just look at that picture! She's also been given breathing treatments because they seem to help with her cough. The doctor said that it is still just a cold and has given us some medicine to hopefully knock out that cough. Michael took her to the doctor and he said that she didn't cry! She badly wants to be better and so she was happy to go to the doctor. She even asked for a breathing treatment at 2am when she normally screams when we bring out the nebulizer. Praying that she is well soon!

Five Question Friday - 10.8.10

1. What is your favorite Halloween candy?

Candy corn...mmmm! I like candy corn with peanuts. Have you ever had that? Super yummy! But I have a daughter that is extremely allergic to peanuts, so I will probably never eat that again. *sigh* If I went trick or treating, I'd go for the Whoppers.

2. Do you fold your socks?

Yes. Not much of a pain with just one guy in the house.

3. What is something that you wish you had been warned about?

I wish that I had been warned that when teachers don't like their job it is rarely because they don't enjoy teaching; they just wish that they could teach without all the other "stuff."

4. What is the most significant difference between you and your significant other?

Probably that he comes from a very touchy-feely, let's always get together and talk family and I come from a nice to see ya, but it's been a few hours kind of a family. Neither is wrong, just different.

5. What are three words you would use to describe yourself? (And, just for fun...if your significant other is around, ask him/her what 3 words they would use to describe you!!)

Me:

1. Analyzer

2. Passive

3. Fanatic

I understand that #2 contradicts #1 and #3, but I have different personalities in different areas of my life. I'll analyze something to death if it's important. I'll do whatever someone else wants if it's not important. I'll cheer my team on like crazy, but if we lose, I still live life happily.

GO RANGERS!

Husband's:

1. Eccentric

2. Caring, like a CareBear

3. Fun

Embrace the Camera - ACU Homecoming

This past weekend, we headed west to Abilene to attend Homecoming. This was Audrey's second time to be at Homecoming (3rd if you include when I was pregnant with her...she was very much there!) and Julia's first (again, 2nd including pregnancy...still feeling very sick at that point.). They are well on their way to becoming Wildcats!

We had planned to get there early Friday and attend the carnival. The carnival is my favorite part now that we have kids. It gives the kids a chance to play while you visit with your friends with no rush to make lunch, dinner, chapel, game or whatever else. Unfortunately, Michael couldn't break away from work and we didn't pull into Abilene until 10:30 that night.

I didn't attend GATA Breakfast because I only go on reunion years. It's just too difficult with kids. And money is a factor too. I did donate to help the 12 GATAs give their 41 pledges a fantastic pledging experience! SO glad that THE OLDEST CLUB on campus didn't die out! Sorry KJK, I'll say that as long as GATA exists!

The football game was a fun one to watch. So glad we pulled out the win in the end! Audrey LOVED the game. Julia preferred me to walk around with her. They both did great w/o taking a nap all day!

We also got to eat meals with wonderful friends. Lunch was with the Potthoffs and Dinner with the Dows.

Audrey watching the parade go by.

Audrey's favorite parade item - the R-E-D Red (it's a song) firetruck.

This float won. Good job NuNu's.

It is miraculous that the SubT van made it. The boys were destroying the shocks while it was beaten with baseball bats. No comment on the goat in a grocery cart. Sorry I didn't get a picture of it.

Here are two GATA friends and our daughters. Paizlee (red bow) is about 3 or 4 weeks older than Julia and Lucy (blue bow) is 5 weeks younger than Julia.

Audrey got to see her long-lost friend, Anna Lee.

Audrey had a TON of fun (after she warmed up) with roommate Lori's girls. Faith is looking at Julia and Sophia is smiling at the camera. Baby Eli, one day younger than Julia, was too busy eating to make the picture.

We had a lot of fun and wish we could have talked more with friends. Love all of my ACUers!

It's Time

IT'S TIME

Oh, to be a Ranger, led by Cliff Lee.

Celebrating with ale instead of bubbly,

so not to tempt our MVP.

Headed to knock off some Yankee.

Oh, to be a Ranger, must be fun.

Cliff, CJ, and Hamilton,

Elvis, Bengie, Vladi, and Young.

They won't stop until they're the last one.

Oh, to be a Ranger, making history.

Stealing bases, 1,2, and 3.

They'll pass the Yanks into the World Series.

Happy Birthday, Papa!

Happy Birthday to Papa!

May your day be completed with a Ranger win!

Help Bring Two Ethiopian Children Home

Emily is the hostess of Embrace the Camera that I participate in every Thursday. I told you a couple weeks ago that you should be reading her blog because she is great on so many levels: creative, beautiful, Christian, wonderful taste in music, awesome mom, and she's probably great at a lot of other things.

She is finishing up the process to adopt a little girl named Elsabeth from Ethiopia. She already has 4 adorable children. Emily needs to raise more money to complete this process. She is having a fundraiser to help out. You have the opportunity to win homemade items that she says are very cute. Click on the button above this week for details and to view the items in the fundraiser. (If button does not work, try HERE.)

I can't post about this without also posting about a friend of mine that I went to school with that is also adopting a child from Ethiopia. Her name is Abby and her blog is called Not to Us, Oh Lord. Abby, too, is wonderful on many levels. Really, these ladies will be such a blessing to their children! She also has a fundraiser you can see HERE. If you like coffee, it will be real easy for you to donate!

Five Question Friday - 10.8.10

1. What do you listen to while driving?

I should be listening to CDs, but I forget and just listen to the radio. Nothing too crazy. Christian or a mix station. Actually, I've been listening to sports radio quite a bit. Basically, whatever is on when I get in the car. I've been turning off the radio after I pick up Audrey from preschool. I want to hear her sing the new songs that she has learned or hear about ANYTHING that happened at school that day. Ask her about school and she usually just tells you her teacher's name.

2. What is your least favorite thing about Fall?

Lease favorite is still favorite, right? Like my least favorite chocolate is still chocolate, therefore, a favorite? I guess I don't like it when the fallen leaves blow into my garage and then end up in my house. But, they are still beautiful fallen leaves, and I like that.

3. What does your dream house look like, inside and out?

I don't ever really dream about houses because I would like to really enjoy the one I'm in. If I had the money, I don't even know what kind of furniture I'd buy. I'm clueless about what my style would be. Everything has been handed down to us. I would like these things: a large pantry because mine is just a cabinet, a linen closet because I don't have one, and a master bathroom that is actually closed in and not open to the bedroom. (My vanity is directly in front of our bed...makes getting ready while the other is sleeping difficult.)

4. Would you ever own a minivan?

Yes. If we ever have a third child, we will probably get one.

5. Do you wash new clothes before wearing them?

No. I didn't even do that with baby clothes. I didn't want to wash them and if they didn't wear them for some reason, I wouldn't be able to return/sell them. My babies were just fine wearing unwashed clothes that were new. I really don't get why they always say to wash new clothes. And to be honest, it never fits as perfect after you wash it as it did before. Why waste the opportunity to wear it perfectly, even if it is for just one time.

Julia - 6 Months!

Happy HALF YEAR birthday, Julia! (She was born on the 31st, so this is quite tardy.) Yikes! Half a year has passed since Julia graced us with her life. I remember being quite worried about how I was going to juggle two and Little Miss Julia has made this life of two girls so enjoyable! Does anyone else just want to eat this little girl up? I just love kissing her chubby neck, under her cheek. There are no words to explain my love for her, so I'm not going to try.

Julia got to see the doctor on this month's birthday. Her stats are:

Head - 16 1/2" - 40%

Height - 27 1/4" - 92% (slight drop)

Weight -15# 5oz - 45% (big drop)

Julia finally has the rolling from tummy to back down. She has yet to roll the other way, but she's close. She can't sit yet. Mommy's glad that she's not crawling either! We just ferberized her this week and we're doing soooooooo much better sleeping at night! She got crazy the last couple of weeks, so it had to be done. She's eating quite a bit of food these days. Her tummy doesn't like either rice or peaches, so we're avoiding those for the time-being. She still takes 3 naps a day. She loves watching Audrey and laughs at her even when Audrey is just sitting there. It's getting harder to feed her because she always has to be looking at Audrey and Audrey is always running around. The spoon has often missed her mouth, but that's okay. I love that she loves her sister so much! Bows aren't staying on as much because they end up in her mouth. Still no teeth, but that may change soon. She also wants her momma around. She whimpers any time I'm out of sight. She's growing up on us fast, but I can't wait to see what the next 6 months bring!

Embrace the Camera - Go Rangers!

Our friends had free tickets to the last regular season Ranger game on Sunday. Unfortunately, Ruth injured herself pretty badly and they were not able to go. They sweetly gave their tickets to us and we were able to enjoy Fan Appreciation Day in GORGEOUS weather! We had to do church/lunch/changing clothes/picking up tickets before arriving at the game, so we were quite late, but we got free parking because of that! Really, with a baby and a toddler, it was the perfect amount of time to watch a baseball game. The Rangers lost this meaningless game, but we did win yesterday against the Rays in our first playoff game. We'll win today too! ;)

Daddy with Audrey

Poor Julia didn't have sunglasses like everyone else. Daddy loaned her his cap. Actually, it's my cap. When you're married with a family, nothing is ever truly yours anymore.

This is Audrey at the park last week. Can you see me embracing the camera? ;)

Pray for Leslie

I still don't have a decent picture of Julia to post for her 6 month birthday. Life has been hard on us sleep-wise. I wimped out "ferberizing" her Friday when it appeared her legs were hurting from her shots. So another weekend came and went without fixing this sleeping problem. This weekend won't be a good one either, so I'm doing it tonight till however long it takes. I got up NINE times between midnight and 7:00 last night. She, Audrey, and Michael all had me get out of bed. Come on family, it's called SLEEP!

My true intention of this post today is to make you aware of a terribly sad story. This family needs your prayers greatly. Leslie is married to a widower with children. She wanted to raise kids of her own and became pregnant with twins. She delivered a stillborn and the other baby's lungs were not developed enough to survive. She went into cardiac arrest while delivering the placenta. She went without oxygen for 17 minutes. Her brain activity has not been good. Please check out her story and pray for this family.

September Smiles

Friday was Julia's half birthday, so she's needing to have a post done about her. Julia was in a strange mood Friday. She wasn't into picture taking and she didn't take her morning nap. We'll have to have another photo shoot today to get her 6 month picture. Hopefully tomorrow I can have a picture to post!

I can't believe it is already October. As I was looking at the pictures from September, there were a lot that just made me smile. Maybe they'll make you smile too.