Magic Kingdom

We took Kamryn to the Magic Kingdom when we first went down to visit Grandpa & Grandma three years ago. But she was only almost 2 then (thanks to my blog, I know it was Nov. 2006 from my posting - this blog thing is a great journal when the memory fails! So fun to go back and see how little the kids looked then!)

She was in awe then of the rides like It's a Small World.

She was in awe this time of all of the princesses and the faster rides!

We were all in awe at how quickly at night the Castle changed colors! I snapped this shot of it in pink and the next shot I got it was orange!

Cocoa Beach . . . in the rain

We had planned on going to Cocoa Beach one day, which is about a 45 minute drive from Kathleen & Peter's. The skies were cloudy and it was raining in Orlando, but the weather is so weird in Florida in that it can be raining in one town and sunny in the next. So we still followed Kathleen, Peter & Greta to the beach in hopes that it would be clear over there. No such luck that day.

So what do you do when you want to wait out the rain? EAT! We went to a little restaurant (with covered seating) right on the beach. Kamryn stole a few of Peter's steamed clams and actually liked them! She doesn't get those when she's with me.















After lunch we got a bit lucky because the rain actually stopped. The kids were able to run into the waves and Kamryn was thrilled to find a bunch of pretty seashells.



























It was Kamryn's first time being at the beach and she would have loved an entire afternoon there! It was actually Greta's second time being on the beach, that little adventurer that she is! Well, her parents are the adventurous and brave ones. Despite the weather, a fun day of togetherness was had by us all!








































Greta was actually put asleep by the crashing waves. The rain started again so we headed to the Ron Jon surf shop and then headed back to Orlando.

Pool time!

Grandpa & Grandma Dianne have a really nice pool. The kids loved swimming!















Once again, I had Kamryn in swim lessons for a couple of sessions before our trip. At lessons she acted afraid to jump in the pool. Not in Florida!











































Kamryn likes gator float rings!















The kids were in the pool for hours at a time. We had to shoo them out of the pool at 10 pm! I'm sure the neighbors appreciated that.

















Even baby Greta got in the pool one day!

Gatorland

We all went to Gatorland for the first time together. Even the Floridians hadn't been there yet. It was a fun afternoon! It's so cool to see so many gators together (and not on your own property or by your front door like your neighbors did, right Dianne?) and know that you are safe!




























This is a little too close in my opinion!
















Brendan LOVES holding snakes and reptiles. Oh my. He really wants one for a pet. I'd do the dog route way before this!
















Kamryn wasn't so sure!

















A fake gator is more her speed!

Greta's Baptism

How wonderful that we were there to witness Greta's baptism! What a happy day. Kathleen & Peter, you have a beautiful daughter!

Aunt Julie happy to be holding her new niece!

















The result of Aunt Julie's photoshoot in the bedroom back at the house. Got a beautiful smile!

















Grandma Dianne happy to be holding Greta! Lucky her, she gets to hold her more often.



















Brendan and Matt happy to be holding Greta. And they really were happy to hold her. They did awesome with a four month old baby!
































Some of Peter's family also came down to Florida for the baptism. It was so great to see them again. We met them two years ago at the wedding. We met Peter two years ago at the wedding too:) Anyway, Kamryn sure leaves a lasting impression with them I'm sure. (at the wedding she ran up to the alter when Kevin "let her go" during the ceremony. I was the maid of honor and Kamryn was fussing for me. So instead of Kevin leaving the church with her, I know it was his sister's wedding, but he releases her and what else does a two year old do? Run to her mom & pick up her dress as she tries to climb into her arms. So I pick her up. She stood with us at the alter while the happy couple said their vows I believe, right Kath? Hmm, have to watch the video again. Can you tell I've tried to block this from my memory? It's only taken me two years to finally talk about this mishap. It was all Kevin's fault!)

At least this time in church, Kamryn stayed in the pews.

Until the baptism and church service was over.

Then she tried getting in some pictures. See this one???















At the baptism party, Kamryn sure loved hanging with Peter's nieces. She entertained them by putting her hands in the cold icy water where the drinks were staying cool and then "massaging" everyone's legs and feet. (It was very HOT out!) The funny part is that when she was done, she asked for $5.00. One of the girls said she didn't have $5.00 until I told her that pretend money would work just fine. So they pulled out their pretend bills, Kamryn kept massaging, and I believe Kamryn even got a $20;)

Meeting Greta!

We were so happy to get to Florida and finally meet Greta! Our first hello was outside the JcPenney's on our way to take a big family photo. We don't waste any time do we? But who could wait for the photographer to start taking pictures?

Not me!










Grandpa with the boys.








Grandpa with the girls.


















Greta didn't like the bright lights in the studio so it was a bit of a challenge. Kamryn was very concerned for her new baby cousin so it was hard for her to "ignore" the crying, put a smile on her face and look at the photographer. Don't worry. I got lots of pictures of Greta smiling from our trip. To be posted soon.

Kamryn's 1st dance recital

Back at the beginning of the year, I enrolled Kamryn in a Chinese dance class. Many of her friends were already taking it and since she turned four, she was able to participate as well. She really enjoyed the class, and I enjoyed talking to my friends while she was in the class!

This class is offered by a local Chinese school. At the end of the school year, they hold a commencement ceremony for their students and the dance classes perform at it. Kamryn really surprised us with how well she did! She was very graceful and beautiful, if I don't say so myself;)





























This mommy will learn to bring flowers at the end of each recital. Thanks Emily for sharing your bouquet with Kamryn! And thanks to Emily's mommy too for taking pictures of Kamryn for me since my camera (or battery) was acting up!

Now it's more personal!

Okay you gluten allergy! I know you are not one single ingredient - but a protein of wheat, barley and rye - but you are in everything! Why are you in licorice? I love Twizzlers!







Why are you in the little taco seasoning packets? Why are you in canned soups? Don't you know how busy I am already without having to spend time in the grocery stores reading labels? No more quick dinners but now I have to actually plan meals. Not so many casseroles and already prepared stuff but back to the basics of meat, fresh vegetables, potatoes (thank goodness:)

I guess it's not your fault that my immune system is tricked into thinking food is a poison. I can handle this. What I am having a problem with is that now you're messing with my son!

How do I tell him not to eat bread, pasta, pizza, cookies, hot pretzels, sandwiches, pop tarts, bagels, granola, sauces, Hot Pockets, stuffing, pancakes, smores, or birthday cake? And don't drink beer when you go to college. Oh, and no more hot lunches at school. Now that makes my 6:30 am morning more fun!










I know, it could be much worse. I am venting. And it feels good. I need this blog more than I think:)

This gluten thing is hereditary. Matt has mentioned that his food gets stuck when he eats a burger (on a bun) so I was not at all surprised when I called the doctor's office for his results on Saturday. His food allergies are a carbon copy of mine; in fact, his gluten intolerance was a bit higher than mine. I don't know if I like this "feeling responsible" thing that comes with having biological children.

This is when I really wish I had my medical history though. Maybe I wouldn't have had to "not feel good" for so long. Food intolerance worsens over time so that's why my body "handled" things up to this point - at my expense of not feeling up to par. I wonder if my birth mom or birth dad suffer from the same thing. I bet one of them does.

So on one hand, I'm glad that we found this out for Matt while he is only 13 so that he can feel his best everyday. It's hard enough being a teenager without feeling so crummy all the time. I don't know if he's felt the brain fog like I did, but he definitely has this chronic congestion which I am betting goes away within a week or so on this new diet plan.

Tonight he asked what I'm going to pack him for lunch tomorrow.









Yikes! Good thing I have some gluten free crackers and some gluten free pepperoni (can you say our own little "lunchable") and a gluten free peanut butter rice bar and an apple.

Good thing he is not my picky eater like Brendan! (who isn't allergic to any foods)

Good thing summer is right around the corner!

Good thing I'll have a few months to get this new routine in place.

Good thing that now I am more determined to meet with a dietitian. (when it was just me, it got put on the back burner.) But he is a growing boy.

Now it's more personal!

I've found the needle in the haystack

Really. It's taken a very long time, but I do feel a bit victorious and actually feel like rejoicing because it all makes sense now. It's been at least a 7 year mystery. It all began when I noticed my food "getting stuck" while eating. It is not a pleasant feeling. In fact, it is very, very painful and not even drinking water helps. That makes it even worse. When this would happen while dining out, I'd excuse myself and make a bee line for the bathroom so I could suffer alone until the feeling passed. Not to be gross, but not even expelling the food would help. I would still feel this tightness.

Went to several doctors and after given meds for reflux or some anti-yeast antibiotic for having too much yeast in my system (WHAT?, I knew that wasn't the answer. Had my esophagus dilated a couple of times and that helped temporarily. It wasn't until we were living in Indiana when our allergist suggested doing a biopsy of my esophagus for suspected EE - Esinophilic Esophagitis. Which is basically like having asthma in your esophagus. Yep, he was right. White blood cells aren't supposed to be in your esophagus. Probably an allergy. Did allergy testing at the time but looking back it was mostly environmental stuff they tested and not many foods. I was given an oral steroid inhaler to use every day just like an asthmatic would. (Matt was diagnosed with asthma at age 2, so again, it makes sense. I learn in reverse about medical stuff; more from my biological kids)

Since moving back here, I noticed my food getting stuck again more often. Lately, I've had thyroid problems too. So I'd blame my tiredness, brain fog - which makes your head feel like it's lugging a ton of bricks around, irritability, weight gain, bloating on that. But lately my thyroid numbers are okay. So stumped again.

But the feeling of having my throat swell is a new symptom - more pronounced then when my food would get stuck. It would swell without any food being there. And that's very scary! It started happening frequently and almost immediately after eating. I felt like I should have an Epi pen so I went back to the doctor and asked for more food allergy testing.

Boy am I glad I did! It's actually a relief to know that this is something I can control without medication. For the past several weeks that I've been trying this new diet, I've noticed a definite improvement in how I feel. When I "cheat" I can feel the effects. It's so not really worth it. That is how I will stay on track. Feeling good is the best incentive to eating right.

Why I haven't blogged lately

Because I'm going NUTS and going BANANAS! (about all I can eat)

Because I have so much on my PLATE. (not food either)

Because I've had a lot to DIGEST. (my stomach can't do that)

Because I've come to a FORK in the road. (it's really a dinglehopper anyway right?)

Because my emotions sometimes lately BOIL OVER instead of SIMMER.
(wouldn't yours if you couldn't eat a hot buttered roll out of the oven, or your favorite cookie/cake?)

Because I am trying to use my NOODLE, Rice Noodle that is . . .

Because I have a lot to learn now.

I have an allergy to GLUTEN, WHEAT, MILK, CORN & WALNUTS!

What is left to eat!??

Because I have FOOD on the brain and am trying to learn a whole new way of eating and cooking and eating out:)

More details soon . . .

Brendan's Band Concert

Brendan played the saxophone this year in 5th grade band. There was supposed to be a concert around Christmas time but due to the weather it got canceled. So unfortunately for us, we had to wait until the end of April to hear him play. No, really, APRIL because we never ever hear him play (practice) at home!

The band as a whole sounded great! Then they played "We will, we will Rock you" and each person in band got a turn to stand up and play that part SOLO. Brendan kept standing . . . which signaled he was going to give it a try. Not everyone did the solo. I was so nervous for him. Kevin and I kept looking at each other with questioning eyes.

But Brendan totally ROCKED!!! He sounded so awesome! We were so proud of him!

Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt B are our witnesses. We are not just prejudice because he is our son. He has chosen to not continue with band next year in Jr. High. We wish he would but we know we can't force him to. If only I can convince him to play that solo one more time for my video camera.

Kamryn's new prayer

When praying together often, I will say "thank you God for bringing Kamryn into our lives." She heard me say that this morning and here is her response:

"Dear Jesus, bring me a sister and a dog . . . NOW!"

She only knows this because

she climbs into bed with us almost every night!

My mom was babysitting her one night, and I don't remember how this came up, but Kamryn told my mom the following:

Easter Blessings

My family celebrating at church in the morning. Praying the kids really understand what "He is Risen" means for all of us. The Easter egg hunt with the kids and their cousins in the afternoon. Spending time with my mom, dad, sister and her family and Aunt B. Bravely trying a new recipe that was luckily very yummy:) A big blessing indeed:)

Brendan's Civil War Days

The whole fifth grade class did a unit on the Civil War. It concluded with a music program at school and then a classroom tour of each student's "masterpieces."











Brendan actually chiseled this bar of soap! Looks pretty cool! His cereal box was one of the best I think too (if I don't say so myself). It was all his idea although his dad did help him a bit on the cereal box project.

Brendan had his own fan club there that night. Grandma and Aunt Bernice came with us. We all enjoyed the American music and seeing all of Brendan's work. We are so proud of him!