So Busy!

Sorry I haven't been updating. We are super busy getting ready for our move next Sunday. I probably won't update again until after we get settled. Erick will be home on Tuesday to celebrate Christmas with us and help us drive down. We are all really looking forward to seeing him. It has been a long six weeks! I am grateful for all the help that I've had from my family while he's been gone (thanks Mom, Viv, Bruce, Megan and anyone else who has helped me out.) The girls had their last day of school on Friday and that was an emotional day for all of us and then today was our last Sunday with our ward. We are really going to miss our church family. I have loved being in the nursery and I am going to miss all of the little kids that I have worked with for the last 20 months. This move is going to bring some huge changes for our family, but I hope that they are mostly positive, good changes. I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas!!!

Jingle Bells

Update on Cierra

We saw the neurologist last week and decided to start Cierra on a second medication to see if we can get good seizure-control. She is now on Trileptal and Lamictal. The Lamictal can have some serious side effects, so we have to go up very slowly on it. It will take about 12 weeks until she is at a theraputic dose. But, we are already starting to see a small reduction in daily seizures. She was having 4-5 a day and now she is having 3-4 a day. We see the neurologist one more time before we leave and then we will be coming back to Utah every three months to see her, plus doing over-the-phone visits in between. Please keep Cierra in your thoughts and prayers. This has continued to be very hard on her. I am worried about her starting a new school in a few weeks, but I hope that by then, her seizures will be a little better controlled.

Baby's First Christmas

I just had to post this picture of Caden from Christmas 2006. It is one of my very favorite pics of him. Those cheeks, the blue eyes, the smile.....I just love him! They grow up way too fast!

21 days..........

Until the big move! I am scared out of my mind.

Caden's Busy Week

Caden has been a busy boy this week. He hates clothes and loves to run and hide when it's time to get dressed and this is where I found him earlier in the week.

I also found him in Kenzie's closet, my closet, under the blankets on my bed and in the corner of the living room with his blanket over his head. And just to make sure that I know how much he hates wearing clothes, he even tried stripping in Walmart today.


He also hates sleep and naptime and ALWAYS sleeps in our bed, not his. But he found a new comfy spot to rest this week. Nana's linen closet. It is a famous play place here and I have even seen pictures of Erick doing the same thing when he was little.


And he couldn't go the week without getting an owie! Cierra taught Caden how to slide down the stairs this week. They were having a great time together, but Cierra had clothes on and Caden did not. About ten minutes after they were done, Kenzie informed me that Caden's back was bleeding. Poor little guy got carpet burn on his back. But he had no idea until we pointed it out and put neosporin and a bandaid on it. Now I am prompted to kiss it better numerous times a day, which of course I do.


And just for fun, a picture of Caden actually looking at the camera (well almost) and attempting a smile! This is his "cheese" face.

Gratitude

I took Caden to Wheeler Farm today. I thought he would enjoy walking around and seeing the animals, going on a tractor ride, and feeding the ducks. He did like seeing all the animals, but he was terrified of them all at the same time. He was also pettrified of the wind, so I carried him the whole time we were there. We didn't stay long because my arms were getting tired, but while we were there, I overheard an interesting conversation. There were two moms who had packed a picnic lunch for their kids. One little boy, who was about Caden's age, refused to eat anything. The Mom finally let him get up and play after trying relentlessly to get him to eat lunch. She then complained to her friend about her little boy that was such a picky eater. She said things like "Why did I have to get a picky-eater?", "It just doesn't seem fair that everyone else has kids that eat so good and he won't eat anything.", "I would kill to have a kid who would just be normal and eat." I can't remember everything she said, but you get the idea. I do understand her frustration, as I have a picky-eater, but her tone of voice made it sound like she was talking about something horrible, like cancer or AIDS. Her comments stung me a little bit as I watched her little boy run and play with the other kids, without a care in the world, as I held my sweet little Caden, who is afraid of everything, including other kids. I had also just gotten a phone call from the school because Cierra had had a pretty big seizure and they wanted to know what to do. I was very tempted to say something to this Mom, but chose not to. I wanted to to tell her what life was really all about, but I know it wouldn't have made a difference. I used to be the same way about things like that. I used to get easily upset about small and unimportant things (and still do sometimes), but I try not to anymore. My life has taken me on a very unexpected path these past few years. I am left to make decisions about which seizure medication to try next, the one with liver side-effects or the one that 10% of all kids have a severe allergic reaction to. I would love to only have to make decisions about what kind of sandwich my picky two-year-old might eat today. I spend my days doing speech and occupational therapy with Caden and taking him to special needs preschool and evaluations. Cierra and I visit the neurologist and get test after test done. I am very much living in Holland, when all my life, I was certain that I would be in Italy. But, my children have taught me to love unconditionally and to accept and to be grateful for the all the small things in life. I am thrilled when Caden says "Hi" to someone or lets me wash his hair without a complete meltdown. My heart fills with joy everytime I hear him talk. I love watching him learn to play pretend and try to interact with other kids. I go to bed feeling relieved when Cierra has had a seizure-free day. So, while I struggle to understand the reasons behind the challenges I have been given, I have learned so much from them and have so much gratitude for all the wonderful blessings that I do have. Especially, this time of year, I am even more grateful for all of the many things that the Lord has blessed our family with and for the eternal blessings and promises that he has given to us all.