ELIZA IS 6 MONTHS OLD!

Has it really been half of a year?! What a doll ELiza is. She's so mellow and happy. She smiles at everyone and is easily amused. She loves to laugh at anyone who'll try to make her. She only cries when she's hungry, tired, or something doesn't feel right. She still loves being outdoors. We go on walks and her eyes immediately seek out any trees. Her bath is her favorite time. She kicks and flails her arms and laughs as water splashes everywhere. She likes being a part of the night time routine as the older kids get ready for bed. Her daddy is her favorite person... with Xander coming in a close 2nd. She truly brings much joy and happiness to everyone around her. Xander and Darci wanted to be in a picture (Christopher was at school).

Playing in her exersaucer.

New Tu-tus

We only had Christopher's Fisher Price camera again. I really need my camera back. For some reason the picture took in some weird colors, so we made it sepia tone. I love that it looks like a really old picture. Then I used my mom's camera when I finished Eliza's Tu-tu. I also got a really great picture of Eliza with her Great Grandma Nelson.

Baby Bath

Wordless Wednesday 9/16/09 (Christopher's Camera)

Xander's first day of preschool

The same group of kids and moms that did Joy School with Xander last year has decided to do preschool this year. I am so glad as Xander really loves this group. We lost one kid this year and gained one.

Xander was beyond excited this morning and just couldn't wait. He was ready in record time and didn't even look back when Sister Broadhead picked him up. Over a week ago I left my camera at my brother-in-law's house and I was so mad at myself. So, we used Christopher's Fisher Price digital camera. They aren't the greatest pictures, but they'll do.

Wordless Wednesday 9/9/09

6 month anniversary

On Thursday, September 3 Darci hit her 6 month mark for having diabetes. In some ways it feels like she's always had this disease and in other we still feel like such novices in understanding it.

The day of the anniversary I found myself feeling very reflective. I had/have such a jumble of memories of the day she was diagnosed. I had told Bret to go to work while I took her up to the Primary Children's Medical Center ER. I dropped the boys off at their grandparents and then headed to the ER. I remember having to stop several times for Darci to throw up. Looking back I don't think we had really put 2-and-2 together with her symptoms. We had to wait FOREVER in the ER. Not to get back, but in the exam room. We saw the residents, the interns, the head dr. I told the story of why we brought her in about 100 times. She was tired, lethargic, and thirsty... always thirsty. They pretty much diagnosed her quickly, but wanted to run extra tests to be sure. I was feeling slightly numb. I called Bret and asked him to come be with me. I felt SO ALONE. I called my parents and told them the news. I called my sister-in-law. We hadn't been very close lately, but her 4 year old has type 1 and I just needed to tell her. Her reaction to my news was a nasty jolt to my system. Her devastation made me realize that this was going to be HELL. About an hour later Bret showed up and about an hour after that my mom, dad, and sister-in-law showed up. I finally had a support system to lean on and yet I still couldn't cry. They finally let Darci drink something and eat some protein. We got to the ER around 11:00AM and it took us until after 6:00PM to get Darci in a room. Darci was scared and sad. She had to get poked and prodded so much. She got to the point where she didn't want anyone touching her... not even Bret or I. My brother-in-law came to help give Darci, Bret, and I all blessings. The 6 people in that room with Darci... Bret and I, my mom and dad, and Nate and Audra... we all love her so much and we were trying to give her all the love and endurance we could.

Sorry for the novel... I needed to put these memories somewhere.

Since then Darci has matured and grown in ways a 2 year old shouldn't have to. She has shown me how to endure and still be joyful. She didn't let such a hard trial change her sweet personality. Most days she happily deals with her disease.

On the day of her 6 month anniversary I found out that a friend of Audra's had her 8 month old pass away after a 2 month fight with brain cancer. I cannot imagine. I am so grateful that Darci's disease is manageable and that with the help of a FANTASTIC pediatric endocrinologist and loving family she will live a healthy, happy, and high quality life.

Eliza is 5 months old!!

On Monday, August 31 Eliza hit the 5 month mark. She is such a cutie pie and wins over the hearts of those around her. She's been drooling up a storm lately and we think a tooth is is the near future, but there is no visible sign of it yet. She has the sweetest laugh and loves to play with her siblings. She has gained really good hand control lately and can always get what she wants. She can roll both ways now (back to stomach and stomach to back). She loves her bath. She always gets mad when we get her out. So much personality is coming through and this is such a fun age as everyday is a new discovery. ***pictures and video to come

Wordless Wednesday 9/2/09

Wordless Wednesdays

I'm stealing a really great idea from my friend, Tina. She does a wordless Wed. on her blog where he just shares the pictures she takes of her family that don't have any story to blog with it. I'm going to do the same. I have so many cute pictures to share.