March Happenings

  This past year we received some homemade vanilla and so I got the idea to get started early and put together our neighbor Christmas gifts. The kids were excited to help and so they put the vanilla beans in the jars.

                                       

Now into the cupboard until Christmas. Although I have read that it needs to be shook every week or so.

Also doing some baking. I'm still trying new recipes and mixes to find the best gluten free that tastes like regular yumminess. I'm glad the kids are always down to be helpers.

A Fresh Start for My Health

 It's that time of year again when my gut is disturbed and my life turns into lots of time on the couch feeling yucky and missing out on life. I have been following some new people on social medial over the last several months and seen Red River clinic mentioned many times. They did free consultations so I decided why not. I went to the first consult with just Liam and I . I have never had a dr ask so many questions about my health and my history. I felt seen and heard for the first time in a long time. I left with orders for more labs than I have ever had drawn before. If I chose to have them drawn for $200 I could come back and have them go over everything and decode all the labs for me. Matt and I both decided it would be well worth it. So 2 weeks later I went back for a 2nd visit. I was surprised by some of the results. I felt like my ulcerative colitis was my only problem. I quickly found out that wasn't the case. The labs showed I had high cholesterol, prediabetic, anemic(critically low iron), and had hypothyroid. Initially it was overwhelming but Dr. Stadler felt like he would be able to help me. So where we went from there is I had another meeting but this time Matt came and we went over the care plans, he explained everything to Matt and we went over costs. We felt like that is what we should do and move forward with the care plan. So we bit the bullet and purchased the $4000 care plan. It really is unfortunate that insurance doesn't recognize clinics like this because it could make people quality of life so much better. After the appointment I took the kids to the park behind the clinic and it was a fun place.

This was the first steps to the care plan and quite possibly the hardest. The diet changes were the first thing while we waited for the rest of the blood work came back. After we decided on the care plan it included a blood allergy test. I have been skin prick allergy tested but never blood.  It can take 10-14 days so this is where I started. It was met with anxiety denial, anger, frustration, gratitude, sadness, pretty much all the things. But ready or not here we go. The care plan will cover 6 months of visits and I'm excited to see how it goes.

Saying Goodbye to Indoor Soccer

 Although indoor soccer has been a new experience and an nonorganized mess to be blunt it was good for the girls to try it out. To celebrate the end of the season we got together after the last game and had dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. We had no idea that they had karaoke and that was a fun surprise.

Gracie's 4th Grade Program

 I think when Covid hit and they canceled all the programs and parents in the school it has made me more grateful for those opportunities now. They did a great job and Gracie memorized her part great. 

We stole the other kids from their classes so they could come support Gracie as well. I love this little family of mine. I'm grateful for the great teachers that take the time to teach our kids about all that they do.

Kidnapping the Cousins

 When it was time to come home from visiting Grayson we decided to kidnap the cousins and bring them home with us to give Nic a break and so she could get some good sleep while Gray slept. The kids were all so excited and we headed home. On Saturday we spent the day hanging around the house the kids played so well but we did have a little incident. While they were all playing in the foam pit Hallie jumped off the swing and it hit Liam in the face. Everyone came up crying and screaming that we had to help Liam. I couldn't get down the stairs fast enough and found him sobbing on the floor in the gym. The bump grew so quickly. I immediately looked him over and put lavender on it to help with the growing bump. It took a little time but he called down. He wouldn't let us put ice on it or anything but we decided to just watch it....it looked so bad. 

That night we decided to get out and do dinner. The kids all were so good. I think people thought we were crazy but it was fun. Now that the kids are getting older it makes it easier because they are helpful and more independent.

Love these kids like they are mine and I'm glad we got have them for the weekend. We got some very strange looks when we went to church but that was also fun although I never really want that many kids.

Meeting Baby Grayson

 Meet Grayson Graham...isn't he the cutest. My sister's kids are the cutest. We have all been anticipating Grayson joining our family because for a while we all thought we were done and now I think that is true so we are trying to soak up all the baby snuggles. I hate that Nic lives further away than she ever has with her last couple babies. But we didn't let that stop us we got in the car and headed down for the day with freezer meals and a gift in hand.

I love the name Grayson and we even considered naming Lima that but thought it was to close to Gracie so Im thrilled with their name choice

I love my sister's they are my best friends and despite all my short comings they love me anyways

The drive was well worth it for the good company and the cuddles. We love you Grahams and can't wait for our next trip.