The perpetual smile.

That's Ryder, the boy with the constant smile.  I love it.  He can make me smile....even when I don't feel like it.  It's so bright, so inviting, so cheerful, so blissful.  How can it not make your day?

Ryder funnies.

Ryder is playing baseball for the first time this year and has been super excited. His team has been practicing for several weeks now and the boys are anxious to play their first game.

Unfortunately, week one came and the game was canceled due to rain.

Week two came and the game was canceled due to the opposing team dropping out of the league.

Now, here we are, week three, game tonight at 7pm....the forecast....possible thunder showers, so we'll see.

Ryder, however, is most excited about one thing. He said his coach told him they would be everywhere and he knows he wants to go to one.

"What is it?", I asked him. "What do you want to go to at your game?"

"Mom, my coach said they have confession stands there and they're everywhere! I can't wait to get a snack!"

Just a snack, huh? Maybe when you're ordering those nachos there's more to it?

Africa here we come!

Not sure I've mentioned in the past, but Ashlynnie's curriculum this year has her visiting each continent in the world. We learn some super fun and unique facts about the land, the animals, the people and their culture. So far we have "visited" North America, South America, Europe and currently are in Africa.

What an amazing continent! It boast the world's largest animal, the world's fastest animal, the world's tallest animal and the world's largest burrowing animal.

We have explored the dessert, the jungle and the savanna and decided we must visit Kenya at some time in our lives. The kids put together a picture of what the savanna looks like to them, here are there creations:

Ryder funnies.

A couple of funny things Ryder has "shared" with us lately:

We were at Target the other day walking down the aisle where "womanly" items were located, and very full of people, when he shouted, "Look mom, bandaids! These are like the biggest bandaids ever!" Before I could stop him, "Look, the whole aisle is full of them!"

Let's just say he gave a good laugh to everyone else within ear shot and managed to slightly embarrass his mother....


Yesterday, he was frustrated about something and said, "This stinks! And I don't mean the smell, I mean the word!"

Randy and I were glad he was walking downstairs as he said it, so we could crack up! Thanks for the laughs Ryde, our resident funny man :-).

It wasn't all bad.

2011. We made it.

The last week of 2010 was quite eventful in our home. Not exactly the eventful most are looking for, but it really wasn't all bad.

Last Tuesday morning Gage came running into our room saying he felt like throwing up. Quickly, I moved him downstairs and let him rest on the couch where he spent the rest of the day not eating and making good on his statement from the early morning hours.

Lovely. Just lovely.

By mid-morning Ryder lay on the ground apparently writhing in pain while complaining he was not feeling good. Enter child number two who received his own pail and a spot on the towel covered sofa.

More of the loveliness.

The best part of the day was that Randy was home. He was so attentive to the boys and held down the fort while I made a mad run to Whole Foods grabbing Recharge, real ginger ale, saltine crackers and electrolyte water.

That evening Gage was almost back to normal and able to hold down a few saltine crackers, Ryde was not fairing as well and we even tried to get him into the doctor's office. The poor boy has a very hard time recovering once he has started down the slippery slope of GI issues. The doc, who had already left for the day, recommended we take him to the ER and we opted instead to let him "ride" it out through the night and prayed sleep would get his tummy under control.

Thankfully he pulled through.

Fast forward to Thursday morning, 4am. I woke to what seemed like the sound of twenty fire engines blaring down the street. Hearing siren after siren, I realized there must have been a house or building fire somewhere close by and Randy was on shift. At the exact same time I heard a coughing sound coming from the girls room. I knew it was Addie. Uh-oh. In my still, slightly, sleepy state I started praying for Randy and all the guys who would be at the fire, praying they would be protected and safe. All I wanted to do was drift back to sleep, but I knew I heard that coughing and with what the boys had been up to on Tuesday, I knew I needed to get up and check on it.

How I love my sleep.

The continuing sound of sirens would not let me return to dreamland so I went to check on the girls. Upon opening the door I knew immediately what the restless little girl on the bed was doing. Let's just say the smell gave it away. Knowing I would need to get the sheets off, I moved Ashlynn into Gage's bed and put Addie on a towel I laid on the floor in my bedroom. After pulling the sheets from the girls' bed and cleaning what I could, I went back to my room and moved Addie to my side of the bed and set her up on the floor (I had just washed my sheets). She lay on the floor so sweetly and I prayed we would both be able to get back to sleep and all would be better in the morning......

.....to be continued.......

No stifling around here.

Ryder came to me the other day with an idea. It involved lots of tape, his spider man gloves and four light sabers. He had it all planned out and knew exactly what he wanted. Now I just happen to be reading this really amazing book, Raising Kids for True Greatness , and I just happened to have just read a chapter that made me think how we as parents have a tendency to stifle our kids creativity simply because we are tired, don't have the time or just don't want to deal with the mess.

Lucky Ryder.

Here are the results:

"Jedi Rule"

Honestly, it was so easy to create and he overflowed with joy for days showing everyone what "me and mom made". I'll be sure to review that book soon.

Some funny things.

Something cute Addie is saying right now when she is thankful:

Addie: "Thank you mama!"

Me: "You're welcome!"

Addie: "Thank you mama!"

Me: "You're so welcome!"

Addie: "I love (sounds like "wub") you too!"

Me: "I love you too!"

She always thanks twice and says I love you too, it is soooo sweet!!

Another cute thing I overheard Ryder saying to Addie as she was watching her Praise Baby with a song about heaven:

Ryde: "Addie they're talking about heaven. You're going to go there someday. Do you want to go there? You will have a castle there. It's sorta like a big house. You'll love it!"

Monkey boy turns 6!

Happy birthday to Ryder!!! Our boy who has more energy and enthusiasm for life than anyone we know! And, dude, you can find Waldo in two seconds flat, you ARE amazing!!

Have fun fishing with dad, playing put-put golf, eating lots of bbq ribs and cake, opening presents (hey, when your 6 it's sort of all you care about), and being spoiled rotten for one day a year!

Love you big guy!!

Lettin' it fly.

Last year, Randy bought Ryde his own bow so they could practice together. The kid loves to shoot and begs daddy to take him every chance he gets. His arrows are real so we are careful to stand behind him as he aims...I just couldn't resist snapping a few shots!

The aim:

The release:

The shots:

Retrieving the arrows:

Daddy and Gage helping to put them back in the quiver for another go:

A big shout out to the Main Man, it's his Birthday today!!! Happy Birthday babe, have a great day!!

My Olympic Champs

The boys were totally enthralled with the snowboard half-pipe the other night on the Olympics and decided to make their own ramp. First, they grabbed the storage bin lids as snowboards and used the sofa cushions for the jumps. Gage begged me to get their skateboard out of the garage, but I figured one person in the house on crutches was enough for this week...

Ryder put his game face on.

Gage declared himself the gold medal champ.

Mom, what's for breakfast?

Ryder was working away in the schoolroom yesterday and showed me what he had drawn on his paper. At the bottom was a house, above that another house, above that another house and so on. Then there was what appeared to be a road with dashed lines and a giant house.

Ryde: "Mom, this is our house on the bottom, the next one up is Jesus', the next one up is mom's, then dad's and there is one for Ashlynn, me, Gage and Adysen."

"It's heaven, mom. See the street of gold. Remember, what you read in the Bible about that we would get our own castle? Well, I drew one for everybody. Do you think we will have our own or will we live together?"

Me: "I'm not sure buddy, but we definitely won't be alone! Do you want your own or would you like to be with mom and dad?"

Ryde: "Oh, um, I want to be with you guys. I don't even know how to make my own breakfast!"

Glad to know he needs us for something!

Forever and ever.

Ryder's letter for this week is M. His curriculum focuses on the moon and emphasizes that we are like the moon and Jesus is like the sun; we have no light on our own, but are a reflection of His light. As I was reading some verses to him and explaining this he stopped me and said, "Mom, I need to be the light, I need to have Jesus in my life!"

We held hands and prayed that Jesus would be his heart and with a big smile on his face he told everyone he saw yesterday, "I asked God into my heart forever and ever!"

Forever and ever....with Jesus in his heart. Yeah, it was a great day.

As promised....

Sorry for the delay on Ryder's haircut pictures, but these pesky little visitors named fever and green snot came to visit us. They are very ill mannered and must be super neglected by their parents because they don't want to leave. I've tried wiping them away, bribing them away with medication, pumping them with fluids until they are flushed out and only offering green vegetables at every meal. "No, we won't go, we will not go!", is all I keep hearing (in the form of coughs, whining and sniffling, ofcourse).

So, pardon the delay, without further ado.....

Before:

After:

The faces are all Ryder, that boy doesn't quite get the "smile and look at the camera", I must admit I like his way better!

We did celebrate, I promise!

My little boy is growing up fast.....five already!! He is my monkey boy, who loves to climb anything he can, especially if there are ropes involved. "Mom, mom, take my picture!" He says this as he's dangling from the swing set or the tree or rappelling down the stairs with his rope.


Here was his cake, though his gluten free version was in the fridge. Not that I'm trying to dupe him-he's way too smart for that, but how can one blow out candles on an unfrosted cake?
Happy Birthday, buddy, we love you!!!!

In Ryder's Words.....

Here are Ryder's answers:

This is a cool idea. Copy this note, ask your child the questions and write them down exactly how they respond.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
"Stop doing that."

2. What makes mommy happy?
"If I clean the house with you, if I do that or clean the basement."

3. What makes mommy sad?
"If I don't clean the basement."

4. How does your mommy make you laugh?
"By tickling me under my neck."

5. What was your mommy like as a child?
"Like a little girl that was a little mean when she was a child, like Gage, when you were two."

6. How old is your mom?
"8."

7. How tall is your mom?
"I'd say, uhhhh, nine inches."

8. What is your moms favorite thing to do?
"Uhhhhhh, do school work with us."

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
"Clean the house."

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
"Ride a motorcycle and jump over a high cliff. And go zoom, zoom (lots of other sound effects I can't spell)"

11. What is your mom really good at?
"Hmmmm, you, uhhh, I going to say good at drawing designs."

12. What is your mom not very good at?
"Uhhhh, lifting really heavy stuff that daddy could lift."

13. What does your mom do for her job?
"I would say, watch the kids while everybody, adults are gone."

14. What's your moms favorite food?
"I'd say go to Sammy's Pizza and get a vegetable pizza."

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
"Clean the basement without us."

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
"Oh, I'd say Wonder Girl on Justice League."

17. What do you and your mom do together?
"Kiss together."

18. How are you and your mom the same?
"We both like flowers."

19. How are you and your mom different?
"That I have three watches and you have none."

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
"When you get the school work box down for me. My math stuff and I give you a hug."

21. Where is your moms favorite place to go?
"I'd say Sammy's Pizza."

It's not that bad, really.

Ryder, holding up a half-empty bottle of water, from the way back seat of the car: "Mom, can I drink this?"

Me (trying to drive. at night): "I don't know buddy, is there something wrong with it?"

Ryder: "I'm just wondering if I can drink it."

Me: "Ashlynn, does it look ok to you, I mean is there something growing in it?"

Ashlynn (in a very motherly tone, using hand gestures and rolling her eyes): "Oh, it's fine Ryder, yeah sure, go ahead. I mean what's the worst that could happen to you? Like, you might get a cough or something, but it's no big deal. There could be some germs on it. Or not. I mean germs are sometimes everywhere and you might get a few, but it won't be that bad."

This germ talk when on for, like, five minutes. Honestly, I don't know where she gets if from, er, ok, maybe I do. Anyway, I think he took a swig of it, we'll see if he's coughing in the morning since evidently it's "the worst that could happen".

Outisde!

We have experienced some unusually warm weather for the last couple of days and have enjoyed every ray of sunshine and warmth! Today we are back in the thirties, but yesterday's seventy is still very close to my heart :-).....

Ryder, according to his words, as a "sloth".

The only way to get a shot of Gage-in ACTION!

Her second time in the toddler swing outside!

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.....

The Good: Ryder is doing terrific and back to life as usual. Sibling rivalry never sounded so good as it did Saturday morning hearing Ryder chase Gage for taking one of his toy cars. That's always a good indicator a kid is feeling better!


The Bad: Gage woke up at 1:00am Sunday morning vomiting. Addie did too. This is completely unrelated to Ryde's situation and apparently just some random flu bug going around.


The Ugly: The last thing Gage ate was fresh blueberries. Did you know when partially digested, blueberries resemble cranberries and cherries. Let's just say the pink added a little excitement to the cream color the sheets had. I know, you really wanted that visual...sorry Bekah. Four loads of laundry down, six to go. Good times.

An Update.

After 31 hours of testing, they released Ryder from the hospital Thursday night. The fast induced a vomiting episode and they were confident the blood draws they made over the course of the study would give them quite a bit to go from. At one point his blood sugar had dropped to 27 (Randy has no idea how he was even conscious).

Ryder looked at Randy after 20 hours with no food and said: "Dad, if I were you and you were me, I would give you some food." Totally broke his heart. He was ready to call the whole thing off and give the kid whatever he wanted, but knew they were so close to what they needed.

The clinical diagnosis so far is Ketogenetic Hypoglycemia and deficiency of growth hormone. From what I've read about the hypoglycemia, it is more than likely something he will just grow out of and will require frequent healthful snacks and meals in the meantime (thank you Lord!). The growth hormone is something we will discuss with the Endocrinologist next week and whether or not another underlying issue could be the cause that again, could be controlled by diet.

When we left the hospital Thursday night, he was in good condition and the vomiting had stopped. Unfortunately, he woke up early Friday morning and it had resumed. We took him to our family doctor who has always been so wonderful in monitoring Ryder and she was able to get the vomiting to stop once again. He still has not eaten much of anything and has been in and out of sleep ever since. Apparently the downward spiral that was created in the "controlled setting" has not taken well to his system and if we can't get more into him they will want us to bring him back in for some iv fluids.

The rest of the family is doing great and continue to pray for his energy levels to pick back up. He has been so sweet through all of this and hasn't asked for a thing or event tried to get any special treatment (though we keep trying to give it :-)!).

We know that God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is still the same God today as yesterday and can make provisions for all of Ryder's needs. Let me be the mother in Matthew 15:28 'Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted". And her daughter was healed from that very hour.'

Thanks for your support and all of your kind words!

Pray for Ryder.

Since Ryder was about eighteen months old, he has had these episodes every three to four months of waking up and vomiting stomach bile. It lasts for the entire day and as soon as I can get his stomach to hold water and a little food (dry toast) it stops. Last year I put the connection together that as long as he had something in his stomach shortly before bed time (a good protein and complex carb) he would not have an episode. You guys know me and my lack of fondness for the medical industry, so I was content with knowing he just needed a snack before bed and everything would be fine. Randy was not exactly happy with this "band aid treatment" and I promised him if he had another problem I would take him in to a specialist.

He had another episode last September (Randy was actually watching the boys and put Ryder to bed forgetting his snack need), so in to the GI clinic we went. They were wonderful with Ryder and determined he had a possible metabolic disorder. Unfortunately, there are thousands of disorders and it is difficult to pinpoint one without extensive testing. The doctors and Randy and I decided to have him hospitalized overnight and have Ryder "fast" to see what his body is doing.

Last night we checked him in at the children's hospital where he will be monitored/tested until 6:00 tonight. They are drawing blood every two hours and running a mile long list of tests to see what they can diagnose. The good news came when the doctor told me most metabolic disorders can be controlled through diet (yay!) and rarely with medicine (yay!). Since healthy eating is already a priority to me for my family, I would be grateful to treat him with that action. If medication is comes in to play, we will cross that bridge when we get there.

We would appreciate your prayers for his continued safety and growth. We would also pray for amazing wisdom for the doctors who are handling the situation. That they would be gracious, compassionate and thoughtful in their diagnosis. We also pray that it would be clear what/if the problem is and Ryder would not have to endure months or years of testing for the unknown. We know the Lord is faithful to those who are faithful to Him and His promise is to be with us through it all. We have every confidence in that and are trusting for a quick resolution.

We'll be sure to keep you updated as all of this continues to unfold, thanks again for your prayers!!