singulair

thank you for your comments on singulair...i am now putting that to my top of the list to research...

i am going to continue the "red40 devil medicine" aka singulair currently...only...because we ran out for two weeks, and mermaid immediately started the eye goop, terrible cough, and yucky breathing again...so...for now...the medicine has only had a positive impact on our life...helping my extremely-competitive-overly-emotional-little-darling-perfectionist-whiner be a sweet and loving and deep breath taking daughter...

selfishly, i prefer the child i can have a meaningful relationship with...but if i can accomplish this naturally...without any medication...i would much much prefer to squeeze more time out of my already tight time-budget!

i do have the book: why can't my child behave...ordered it a year ago...loaned it out and just got it back! it's next on my list to read...i have a feeling we will be a feingold family by the time i am finished with it...and after that i plan to read: the crazy makers...in which upon finishing i will most likely join an organic hippie christian cult...and stop wearing all clothes as i am sure we cannot afford chemical free threads...hey...the kiddos are natural nudists...i guess it's a sensory thing...

anyhow, i am only joking about the nudist cult...but...today at church i was called "very passionate" in reference to diet stuff...is that politically/religiously correct code for "she's freaking nuts...go shower...eat some mcdonalds...and stop talking about red40!!??"...

well...i am only just getting started my friends...thanks to the great arkansas public school system...i was taught NOTHING about genetically modified foods...and when you find out many years of chemical abuse later...it's a bit disturbing...now...if i can only kick the coffee habit...as chocolate and carmel syrup...hmmmm...i don't think that buying fair trade coffee absolves the chemical-brain-dump-jump-start my lovely little latte gives me each and every morning...and maybe afternoon...and possibly evening, too...i know...I KNOW...i make my own...at least i am not spending $5 every time!...

i know in my mind that i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me...but do i know this in my heart...you know...the very heart that has grown used to the constant anxious feeling and racing pulse that is daily fueled by...my beloved coffee(s)...i have felt very hypocritical in this area for some time now...

sigh...i guess there is no better moment than the present...i am committing 30 coffee free days to you my dear blogging buddies...please pray...as my dear children and husband's lives may very well be at stake as i go through coffee DT's!! i have been wanting to do this for 1 year now...Lord willing...i will succeed!

sigh...louder sigh...huffing...puffing...extremely addicted SIGH!
*pause*
existential-no-time-like-the-present-accepting-sigh

vanillin...bigger devil than red 40??

so i have been meaning to post how incredible mermaid has been doing lately...we had some extensive blood work done a month or more ago...due to the fact that she was waking up after 12 hours of sleep still very grumpy...she cried all the time...was experiencing selective mutism...and was generally unhappy overall...

our pediatrician agreed that something was going on (also...she hasn't gained over 1 lb since 6 months of age...that being said...she was a rather plump baby)...did some blood work...scheduled an ent visit and also had her hearing checked...gave us some samples of singulair...and said he'd call us with the test results...

everything came back normal...sigh of relief...so i began the singulair (took alot on my part as they only come in freaking pink...hence...red40 devil...everyday!)...AND...started having her eat every couple hours (i suspect moderate hypoglycemia)...AND...tried to keep the feingold diet protocol (basically pure diet...free of chemicals, additives, and preservatives) as much as possible...

the results have been incredible...the singulair has helped so much with her breathing esp at night...she's waking up happy...refreshed...did i mention happy!!?? and she is finally putting on a little weight and has had fewer and fewer intensely shy moments...!!

the other night i started crushing her supplements (melatonin and probiotic) up and putting less than a teaspoon of hershey's chocolate syrup over them...suddenly...the night screaming...body stiffening...every few hours waking...all started back up again...it took me a few nights before i realized...it has to be the chocolate syrup...vanillin is supposed to be a pretty big no-no for the chemically sensitive...and hershey's syrup has vanillin and polysorbate 60...and that was my only change...(previously i was using apple juice...)

well...i stopped the syrup last night...and...BAM...just like that...peaceful sleep for the mermaid again...

isn't it amazing...less than one teaspoon...can honestly make that big of a difference!!?? just think...if i can ever find red40-less singulair...

how thankful i am that God led me to the book: Is This Your Child? by Doris Rapp...the beginning of the end of my ignorance towards food and chemical sensitivities! He is faithful...how i am glad...He is faithful...

dilemma

sigh...i've been away for a while...feels like i haven't blogged for ages...i guess summer is busy for everyone...most of my time has been spent watching kids for many people...

which leads me to my dilemma...to home school or not to home school...i am pretty sure i have been asking myself this question since the jay-man was in utero...i am totally aware of the benefits of homeschooling...my favorites include...more time with kids, Biblical based curriculum, creative arts focus, one on one attention and individualized education...and honestly...a love for learning...

drawbacks...umm..more time with the kids...i know...i know...that's double dipping...already mentioned as a positive...well...welcome to my insanely fickle personality...this may sound horrible...and i promise...i do not have a favorite child...but i think homeschooling the merminator would...umm...possibly end in the death or imprisonment of someone...i love her...adore her...see amazing coffee conversations about existentialism in the future...but until this whole howling issue gets under control...i think i may lose my mind...oh..sorry...homeschooling...another drawback is that my son LOVES to be around other children...like...24-7 social boy...he likes older kiddos...stares out the window watching for our neighbor across the street: i see cars momma...he's home...cordell is home...mom...i see cars...he's home...etc...repeat 100 times and you have maybe glimpsed into a late afternoon moment at the bush household...my reply: jaden...for goodness sake...they haven't even gotten out the door yet...quit stalking cordell...

it's so 50-50...i am worried if i don't hold him back this year...he will tred water...i am worried if i do...he will be so bored academically that it will lead to a dislike of learning...or lack thereof...sigh...

i am pretty sure i am supposed to homeschool...oh...how tempting to drop my kids off...and then pick them back up 7 hours later...oh...how i want to finish my degree and not wait tables anymore...oh...how i long for alone time...without the panicky...wonder-what-the-kids-are-doing feeling...oh...oh...oh...me...me...me...it's hard reaching that middle ground...balance...i quit dreaming for me for several years...that's not the kind of mom or wife or christian i want to be...but...i also have the ability to dream so big...i lose site of the here-and-now...forget to enjoy where i am...

(God...give me the energy to enjoy every moment of my life...every moment...if i have to wait tables for 10 more years in order to maximize my time with my family...sigh...so be it...i pray that i would never let pride get in the way of what You are calling me to do...thank You for giving me such an incredible opportunity...to even have the option of this decision...)

OH...and today at preschool (i was subbing) jay-bob started singing his VBS song about Jesus...mermaid joined in...the other kids started asking why they were singing about Jesus...i didn't hear the reply...but i am pretty sure i was honored enough to witness my kiddos first witnessing opportunity!! and to think...i almost didn't do VBS b/c i didn't think the jay-man could handle it...sigh...so much to pray about!!

thankfulness

today i am thankful...without the long explanation...as i am also exhausted...God...once again...was very faithful...

my words are far away...my heart is a bit heavy...despite its lightened load...my little niece...she is slowly changing the world...one heart at a time...i am pretty sure...my mom and randy...through their battle for guardianship...have grown spiritually, maritally, and as parents...

isn't it amazing what a three year old can teach us? it is my prayer and hope that she will...with His Love and Mercy...also reach her parents...what a big job for such a small girl...funny thing is...i think she's more capable than any other...

thank You Lord for being so faithful...

mother's father's day card

father's day is so joyful...and as my life moves farther and farther away from painful memories of my past...i forget that not every child enjoys father's day...

as a young girl...i wished upon every fallen eye-lash (pretty sure i pulled a few out for extra measure) for my dad to return...how hard was that for my mom...how unfair for her to be responsible for everything...every scraped knee...every bite of food...every piece of clothing...every needy moment...every utility bill...and yet...i still pined away for my daddy...as i grew older i began to recognize that she should in fact be the receiver of both mother's and father's day cards...

yet...i still hoped...still believed...

i am 31 now...still no contact with my real father...i found him...finally met him...but...there's too much: time? anger? hurt? apathy? to continue a relationship...i am not angry anymore...

well...actually...yes i am angry...i am angry at all the parents who choose drugs, alcohol, money, infidelity, corporate ladder climbing, etc...over their families...children deserve childhoods...

i think i was five or six...i would lay in bed awake at night and pray for God to please let every unloved child feel His Love and His Arms holding them right then and there...and that they would know some little girl out there cared and loved them, too...

it's been too long since i have prayed that prayer...this father's day...find someone who is fatherless and restore their faith in Him...as He is the ultimate Daddy...i clung to that as a little girl...

may the precious little girl i know...cling to that, too...may God PLEASE intercede on her behalf and wake her parents up...may God continue to bless her with the loving and stable environment that two very very special people are currently providing for her...my heroine then...my heroine now...i love you mom! (and i love you, too, gi-paw!)...you are changing the doo-miester's life eternally!!

daddy's day non-depressing version

i never wanted to get married...ever...i said more than 100 times in my life that the only thing i would need a man for was sperm donation...then i was finished...end of story...


if you would have told me that i would have said yes to an 18 year old (who in my defense lied to me or shall we say had everyone else lie for him) that i had only known 4 months...i think i would have laughed...then told you to pass the good stuff over to me...


no man, in the OA's case at the time, man-in-training...had ever proven themselves to me...i got cards, notes, flowers, he would wake up in the middle of the night...hug me...crush-hug me...and tell me how much he loved me...he has always given me an un-broken-hearted-love...it was so tangible...so surreal...


8 1/2 years...two kiddos...financial stress...biomedical treatments...mermination at it's finest...fewer cards and flowers (see financial stress comment) later...i still get woken up to the OA staring at us while we are sleeping...


i always wanted a daddy...unfortunately for my brother and me...that wasn't in our character building childhood...but...i have married the best daddy any child could ever dream up...mermaid says: my daddy is a supewrhewo! and the jay-bob actually said...dare i put this in writing...his daddy was his favorite...(he whispers to me i am his favorite, too...shh!)...needless to say...we are all blessed...the family of the OA...i credit it all to God...as would my non-hispanic-hawaiian-looking-part-asian man!!

they got the memo

so, i have been busy gardening...my first real garden...the best part is that it's right in my front yard! we ripped up the much loathed bushes from my "flower bed" and got busy laying down layers of newspaper...planting a few butterfly attracting flowers, caterpillar hosting herbs, and yes...squash and sweet potatoes (for the family)...we added a beautiful bright purple flower...can't remember the name...but mermaid picked it out...she lovingly refers to it as the "mewrci fwower"...

the first week i bet i was spotted outside staring at my lovely garden at least 100 times throughout the day...i can hear it now...what does she do?? what on earth is she looking at?? glad some people don't have to work for a living!!

the best part is when i get on my hands and knees to see if the seeds i have planted have grown any more in the last...i don't know...two hours...?

but where are the butterflies?? didn't they get my memo...ummm...excuse me...butterflies...we now have a garden just for you...come on...we're waiting...really...waiting...watching out the window like a freak waiting...no i am not spying on you, dear neighbor...just waiting...one gets the picture...

well...guess what...one lovely butterfly did in fact get the memo...and (s)he loves the mermaid's purplish flower!! oh, glorious day! (before having my own baby i marveled at the hours that could be spent staring at one's precious bundle of joy...much is the same with a garden...and dear betsy...i drool over your blooms!)

dear butterfly...oh thank you for enjoying our garden...please don't mind me as i stare...marvel...obsess over you...please...do tell your friends...or i will be forced to start a new project: hummingbirds...my heart's beating a bit faster already...

old frustrations

food intolerances...UGH...i laugh when upon suggesting a possible food intolerance to a new mother...she will typically respond...well: my doctor said it couldn't be an allergy...and move on...

yeah, well...my doctor said the same thing...every single time i took my little one in (which thanks to ear and/or sinus infections...was quite often...btw since going gfcfsf...the jayman has had only one sinus infection). i was that mom...i couldn't wait til the allergist's appointment so i could have a nice little check list with all the things to avoid...well...it didn't happen that way for me...i left the allergist's irritated...she didn't listen to any of jaden's history...and said for me to come back to do challenge tests so we could confirm his possible intolerances...starting with peanuts...IS SHE CRAZY!? i think that's the day i began to realize...i can figure this stuff out on my own...why would i subject my child to that?? why on earth would i need a freaking doctor to pat me on the head and tell me i am right...irritates me still...

YET, as the jay-man is slowly beginning to eat new foods...here we go with the guessing again...is it the egg or the yeast or the freaking pea protein...or all three?? he ate toast, a store bought special donut, and carrot sticks this week!!

as we (jaybob, mermaid, and evie-do) entered the local health food store, i looked in the freezer and saw that they had gluten, casein, soy free tortillas (started eating those last week!) that we had been driving 30 mins to get...i excitedly yelled out: jaden, they have your special toriallas..jaden, they have your special tortillas...

i am pretty sure i did my happy dance...of course the kids joined in...and then reality hit...i am 31...shouting...dancing...in public...the owner is used to such outbursts of joy (it's rare to find mixes or packaged foods free of EVERYTHING)...but the other shoppers were all staring, mouths half open, amazed...i was embarrassed for one minute and then i thought...who cares...and started my dance back up...mine as well let 'em think the "special boy" has a "special mom"...i must mention...i am still surrounded by red-necks...despite being in a natural food store...

focus...so...the celebration dance of new food eating has begun...but with it comes the heartbreaking regression of hand flapping, body slamming, incessant jumping, etc....and to top it off, poor little guy has a great big ulcer on the tip of his tongue...

so...i promised him mommy will learn to make his new favorites: toast and cake donuts...free of whatever it is that's causing these symptoms...i am hoping it's the pea protein (pea's are legumes...i know for sure he has legume issues) or next crossing my fingers for yeast as his behaviors are pointing towards yeast overgrowth...sigh...he was so proud saving his last few bites of toast for when his daddy got off work last night to show him how he's eating new food...

it's scary how reactive our little ones are to foods...today...i am a little angry...a little jealous...deep sigh...but still very blessed...

prayer for the prayer warrior

i am not quite sure how to even begin this entry...i am a bit emotional at the moment...

there are people who come into your life and touch it...their impact is indescribable...when i lived in florida there was an incredible lady who was real, humble, loving, faithful, and fervent in prayer...

i haven't seen her in over three years as God moved her to colorado and me to arkansas...she knitted jay-bob his beloved "brown-b"...just tonight he sleepily requested his worn-down blanket...i know she spent more than her spare time knitting that blanket...i know as she was knitting...she was knitting scripture, love, and prayerful protection over my little boy...often...i look at that blanket and think...what if it was her fervent and faithful prayers that have always led us to the path of recovery...that path...until recently that was so accidental...so super-naturally placed in front of us...

she was on the prayer list tonight...she has breast cancer...please lift sherri, my dear sister-in-Christ, up in prayer for healing, for comfort, and for peace as she walks along this journey of her life...

May His comfort be as cozy and and as peaceful as the beloved "brown b"...

well...wonders never cease!!!!

i woke this morning to my sleepy husband (worked hard until 1ish am in the morning and of course who can come home and go straight to sleep) being jumped up and down on by our kiddos...he sluggishly pulls the laptop to him and starts turning it on...

Granola: (irritated...b/c...i did say i just woke up...i am not so lovely first thing) what are you doing!!??

OA: (patiently...what's he got up his sleeve!!??) just a minute

he hands the pc to me...i know that picture...what in the...you've got to be kidding...with tears streaming down my face i proudly read my husbands first blog entry...that's right...i said blog entry...

he's a very quiet man save the presence of his wife and two kids...and i feel his family and the rest of the world is missing out on all my great big asian man has to offer...not to mention...how i would give for a man's perspective on fatherhood...esp fathering a child on the spectrum and a daughter whose fiery will power matches only her fathers...

here it is...Oversized Asian's blog!!

Magazine wishlist

i have stumbled on a few really cool magazines lately...

Birds and Bloom this magazine is all about specific gardening particularly for attracting birds and butterflies...which...if i have not mentioned...i have entered the world of butterfly gardening...and i plan on never turning back!

Living Without this magazine is where i found Jaybob's birthday cake recipe...it looked very very promising...

Kiwi this magazine looked super cool for natural and organic living...beyond the token..."look at me...i am green...aren't i cool"...

sigh...i should be happy that going green has become trendy...but it irks me just a bit...glad it's catching on...but...come on...don't preach what you don't practice...great if you recycle everything...but if you continue feeding your kids CRAP...what's the point...really...sorry...mini-rant...it just irritates me that more of a priority is placed on keeping the earth protected while our kids are being fed chemical laden foods and that the government mandates harmful poison filled vaccines (see generationrescue for safer vaccination schedule)...okok...i'll stop...but please...if you are jumping the go green bandwagon...jump for the right reasons...not just to have something cool to brag about at your next dinner party...

EFA's

ok...in the last week...almost every conversation...every article...every thing has ended up leading to the discussion of EFA'a or essential fatty acids...i just added them back to jaden's supplements...within one day...he was asking me "why" questions...coincidence? who knows...all i know is that they are ESSENTIAL and most americans...including my family...are not getting enough. my reading has led me to realize the extreme importance of these little acids...from what i understand...we probably get enough omega 6...possibly too much...it's the omega 3 that is missing from our diets. here is a great blog i stumbled across...natural health with dr keri marshall...the one about allergy prevention and brain food are my favorite, so far...she has my dream job...happy reading...

btw...the red 40 research proved to be too much for OA to handle...but i highly suggest my dear readers to research this synthetic dye for themselves...add to the list: BHT, TBHQ, high fructose corn syrup (which is in the ketchup i serve my kiddos...we switched to the kroger's private select organic brand today...all the ingredients appear to be gfcfsf...)

OA: we can't afford to eat so healthy (ie organic)
GRANOLA: it's to the point where we almost can't afford not to!

i have to really monitor how i shop as that is the area i can financially kill us...and right now...we are under a major budget...not the typical..."yeah...we are tightening the belt, too."..no my friends...this is the times of searching out all spare change for groceries to get us through to OA's next check...b/c $140 (just this week) went towards much needed supplements and B-12 shots and gas (ummm...i won't go there but it's not included in the aforementioned figure) to therapy 30 mins away...

we are finally adjusting our lifestyle to our income...very hard to do...but as the OA and i were discussing the hierarchy of importance of our grocery list...i thought...i love this...this is when faith meets reality...it's also when the OA and i shine...we are an amazing team...we always have worked well together...it's our forte...what we do best...(beside creating beautiful children)...and as our pastor paul reminded us this weekend...if we keep our eyes on God and not our problem...our God only gets bigger as the problem grows smaller! the reality of making more money and not worrying or spending more time with my children as they will NEVER be this age again...hmmm...easy choice for this granolachic!

oh, efa's..sorry...go get some omega 3 supplements...it's worth digging that extra change from the couch!

birthday cake recipe

i have had a request for the birthday cake recipe...i must admit...it was a midnight search...i didn't write it down...but i am pretty sure i used this: summer yellow cake (turned out white)

for the frosting i used a box of Cherrybrook chocolate frosting mix...i used the spectrum shortening instead of the butter...wonderful!! OH...they have a white mix, too...that with some blueberry juice made the most beautiful purplish color! the pamela's chocolate cake mix is the best so far (note i use ener-g egg replacer in all recipes)! but jaden wanted a white cake with chocolate icing...

well...my extremely irritating little brown dogs just escaped the back yard, and i hear them terrorizing my neighbors...sigh...

anybody wanna dog?

television

so...last year maybe longer...we got rid of our satellite...no cable...no satellite...no rabbit ears...it was simply getting in the way of our family time...it was being turned on as soon as the OA came home, and i was finding myself allowing the kiddos to watch "just one more movie...pweese" while i finished whatever cleaning task i was involved in...it really was bad when i realized even i...the book reader...the tv hater...the grey's anatomy-what's the big deal anyways...was getting sucked in to....yes...grey's anatomy...to the point i was irritated if my kiddos didn't get to bed on time every sunday evening...

well...we've done fine without...only missed the channel surfing during football season...but today...i upped the annie...i have whittled us down to only one plugged in television in the whole house...as i was removing the tv from the jay-man's room he exclaimed: what's goin on??

my reply: tv hurts our brain...let's just use our imagination...who needs a tv in their room anyway...

his reply: (shoulder shrug)...(i am holding my breath as i was "sneaking" it out during their turn of hide and seek...took longer than i thought...and i was busted mid-heave)...ummm...ok....

and he proceeded to continue playing...kids are so out of sight out of mind...with only one tv in the whole house being in the living room...i only have to answer "maybe later" a few less hundred times...

i highly recommend only the one hour or less for every single child (makes movie marathons and being sick more special, too!)...and adults for that matter...

what i would give for that hair!!?? anyhow...trust me...less tv...more family time...you'll be rewarded far more than any good show could ever offer!!

strategies sensory defensive eaters aka picky eaters

here are the tricks i have picked up along the way...take it or leave it...these are not my theories...rather a conglomeration of all the theories my brain has pulled together through...books...mistakes...feeding therapies...etc...

1) Be consistent...immediately establish a meal routine...this includes choosing when you will eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks...i always add "ish" to my times so that i do not become inflexible...but...the point is to establish a ritual...and avoid constant snacking...

also...it's important to consistently eat at the table (to include caregivers...hopefully this means mom and/or dad!)...every meal should be at the table...i have read several respected authors say to allow your child to watch tv in order to distract them from the food you are attempting to feed them...i did this...honestly...it only sets you and your child up for more work when they are older...(in other words...DON'T do this)

2) Be calm...i think this is so very vital...i only put it as number two b/c until there is consistency there will not be calmness...play soft music...do some major heavy work before sitting at the table...i sometimes read a book at the table before the meal...pray...whatever works for your family...

don't pressure the child to eat the new food...our therapist said there were 40 something steps to actually eating a new food...remember...sitting at the table and it being a fun and pleasant experience is a HUGE step...the rest will come...don't rush your child...it's all about desensitizing and exposing...i am constantly slowing myself and my husband down...we get so excited...we want so much so soon...we have to remember not to undermine all the hard work our son is doing...

3) Be creative...our rule is: we DO play with our food at the table...it's all about presentation...be excited...think of different names to call the food...we eat "poke-ball" cereal...my son has made pretend bon-fires with tooth picks and "roasted" his blueberries several times...straws, toothpicks, plastic knives (get them involved in food preparation and cooking)...all make it more fun...just last week we tested the done-ness of our spaghetti noodles by throwing them on the wall...it was the first time he was ever willing to touch a spaghetti noodle without a meltdown...two days later...he was willing to put one on his tongue and count to five! i am still finding noodles in random places...but...really...WHO CARES! the goal is to get them to touch, smell, kiss, lick, etc...different foods...

4) Be a cheerleader...remember to tell them how hard they are working...how awesome it is to look at the new food...how healthy and big they will grow from eating new foods...teach them about foods...read books about foods...we have ordered a package of tiny pokemon figures that are maybe an inch tall off of ebay...my son was jumping up and down begging to lick a chicken when we got those in!

so what's next? once this foundation has been set...how do i get my child to eat more than three things???

first of all...make sure what you are feeding them isn't making them sick...i highly recommend an elimination diet for every single person on the planet...but realistically...at least for extremely picky eaters...

secondly...is your child properly absorbing his/her minerals and nutrients? my son tested low in zinc...just so happens...many kiddos on the spectrum are low in zinc...also just so happens that when your body is low in zinc...your taste buds taste things nastily...the gfcf diet helped my son immensely with his behavior...but his trying and actually LIKING some of the new foods didn't happen until after i started him on his supplements...

thirdly...get some OT...again...i think every single person could benefit from some good OT...esp in this overstimulating society...but a good OT will help you establish exactly what your child's sensory issues are...and create a "sensory diet" (tools to help making sensory input easier to handle)...our OT ordered us a "squishy" seat...it helps alot to with stabilizing muscles...etc...honestly...it makes sitting at the dinner table more enticing and special..."oooo...therapy squishy seats like ms darwenes!!"...

fourthly...baby steps...remember it's all about baby steps...see the big picture...know it may take 2-3 years...or more...to get there...my big picture...i want jaden to eat more than five things...he's already accepted fruitabu...which takes him up to six...am i satisfied...well...if that's all he was capable of i would be...but i see more in his future...

lastly...find an amazing feeding therapist who is willing to lay out simple baby steps and help keep your family accountable for the progress you and your child is making! our therapist helped us with many of the above and all of the below:

a) just allow a new food on the plate...does not have to eat it!

b) just put a new food on the tongue...we explained we were playing a new game...showed him how to play by putting a piece of celery on our tongue and counting to five...then told him it was his turn...*note*...until we did this between ourselves a few times and then had the OA come and pretend to shake the table thus causing my food to fall off...this was not an enticing game to dear son...now he loves it...and begs to play...

c) we are on this step now...we call it hide and seek...just place the food on the tongue...close the mouth (hide) and count to five and open (seek)...spit out as needed...

d) we are not here ye...it will be to chew with his molars x amount of chews and then spit...

i only wish we had started all of this sooner...there are so many things i did wrong...but today is a new day...and there are so many things i can do right...if there is just one thing you choose to do from this list make it this: turn the television off...spend some family time...eat at least one meal together a day...enjoy each other...life is short...make sure you are experiencing every moment...better yet...make sure you child's life is an experience!

this is jay-bob painting spaghetti noodles...he's calling them worms...you can't see it in the picture but he got the hole punch out so he could make worm holes...how creative is that! all i did was give him some paint and a bowl of noodles...he did the rest!

five years gone!

blink...sigh...

i wake up...and discover my baby...baby...is now five years old...!!!???

cheek-puffing-out-slow-sigh

he's so very happy...the above picture is of him being a goof-ball...borrowing my mom's glasses...this past year has been so incredible...i am planning on posting about his specific biomedical treatments...which brands of supplements we use...etc...all i can say is...thank You Lord for Your faithfulness...my son has accomplished more in his short five years of living that many will accomplish in a lifetime...i am so proud of you jay-man!!

Oh, and just the other day...he snapped this pic of his sis...really...am i biased or is he just that good!!??

he had a great birthday! the best part of it all...he ate an ENTIRE piece of birthday cake that his dear mommy slaved over...prayed over...and almost cried over...i am sure he has never ever eaten an entire piece of cake before...and not only did he eat the whole piece...it was totally gfcfsfefnutfree!! so he went to bed without a rash, without a meltdown, and without a worry!