Gluten Free. Casein Free. Quinny's Freedom?

After a VERY challenging few months with our Lou- it was time to move forward with a medically proven diet for kiddos with neurological disorders- Gluten and Casein free. Two days in: I see a HUGE (truly, HUGE) decrease in her challenging behaviors (anxiety, aggression, anger). Jake sees a HUGE change- "Our sweet girl is back!" he whispered to me while making breakfast. Even my mom (the skeptic) sees the difference! Best Bit?

Quinny said to me this afternoon: "Mom, my body feels better today." Is this HOPE I feel? Could we have found a passage for Lou's brain to heal and thrive? Could this gluten free/ casein free diet mean Quinny's FREEDOM? Fingers crossed people. Fingers crossed.

Quinn- The ArtEst

We are in love with Quinny's preschool (Visitation Catholic School), more so, her amazing teacher.
She is one of the most loving, patient, fun ladies I have ever met!
Best of all, she digs our kid, KNOWS her potential, and is willing to fill out the 45,390 papers Q's 4 therapists ask of her.

Quinn had her "Art Show" the other night, and it was a ridiculous amount of fun.
Normally speaking, all having to do with School is a BIG trigger for Q's anxiety. But this night, this night was something special. Mr. Anxiety was left in her rain coat at home and our happy, excited kid came out to play!
The pride poured out of us.
The pride poured out of Quinn.

Success.

Swinging Sisters

Went out to Jake's family farm yesterday morning- it was so cold I had to grab random layers from the van to bundle the ladies up. Thank goodness I keep the party bus full of kid crap!

I think one of my favorite bits of being a Mom to two, is listening to them laugh, giggle, hoot and holler at the same time.
Yeah- that's pretty rad.

Real Baby

14 weeks and counting

After the nerve wrenching first trimester and the preliminary genetic testing, we have finally made it to trimester number 2 with the news of a genetically 'normal' kid, and a healthy pregnancy.

How in the world did we do this?

So far, this pregnancy has gone leaps and bounds, easier than when carrying Carter. And I feel the duration of this gestation will be far cake-ier too.
In all honesty though- when I find a moment to think about juggling 3 wee ones, I pee my pants a bit.
Man to man, soon zone- oye! I'm (more) exhausted just thinking about it.

BUT

When we were struggling to start our family (pre Quinny) we kept our chins high by noting that there is a plan for everything and that if we just have faith that the children we are meant to parent will come to us. We'll be a.ok.

So, now with this abundance of love (and chaos) filling our home, we're staying optimistic, matching the fear of three with the calmness of knowing this kid was/is meant to be ours- we are going to be a.ok... or dare I say...FABULOUS! (?)

Partner Bliss-esq.

Two things I never knew how HARD it was going to be until I was living it:
Motherhood
Marriage-hood

When Carter was about 5 months old, Jake and I headed into a marriage counselor's office- knowing we were still madly in love but had no idea how to steer our ship. Guidance was needed!

And guidance is what we got.
AMAZING!

Literally gave us a level playing field- where resentment and frustration once led, empathy and kindness grew the red nose. We learned that there is a difference between "Can't and Won't." Is your partner not fixing a small hurdle because he won't, or because he can't?
We learned that 90% of arguments start on assumption and feelings, and that if you wait and react on facts, life is SO much easier.
And most importantly, we learned that we have what it takes to not just last for the long haul, but to provide our family with an abundance of love, adventures and stability in the years to come.
We learned the (much needed) tools of being practical, effective and competent partners.


I have this (super) handsome, fun-loving, beyond thoughtful, fun, compassionate, caring, honest, loyal...and did I mention handsome, husband to share my days and nights with.

Moral of the tale:

I am one lucky girl.

Bit of a Meltdown...Mommy Meltdown.

Today was my turn for a bit of a meltdown.

Chalk it up to the combination of feeling wildly vulnerable, a wee unsafe and caught off guard- but tonight the tears started coming...and coming...and coming.

I'm learning (slower than I'd like) that I can't control the world around me, but I can control the world I choose to live in.

The world I choose to expose my children to.

I am not a believer in sheltering a child, especially a child with special needs- but I do believe in minimizing situations, places, ideas that un-do 187,000 hours of soul you put into building, guiding and developing your children's self worth.

This could be one of my greatest challenges of parenting- when to protect and when to conquer.

Tonight my parenting (more so, my child's reaction to her world) was challenged by a close relative- again.
Frustrating.
Hurtful.
Exhausting.

What I should have done was take my babies and head home; what I did, was sit and try to explain, educate, and plead for more empathy...tried it to tears.

I believe this is a pretty clear sign that trying to control people's behaviors around us will drain me of my purpose- but educating and advocating to those who want to listen, will fuel my nerves, my gumption, my fight.

To all who give a few minutes of your day to read our blog, to learn about the scallywhompiness that is our world; to those who engage their heart and honor our fight- I can't thank you enough.
Truly.

Little Roo

Literally- ADORE!
Carter is coming to life!
For so long we thought we had a stoic little lass- but now we know she was just hurting, not so much enjoying her days awake.
Now that she eats food that works well in her system, she breathes air that agrees with her lungs and she has pretty bitchin' meds to keep all of the unexpected on track- we have a hilarious, bull-in-a-china-shop, cheeky chubster who keeps us laughing and surprised all day long.

If we will all raise our glasses...

To a brilliant sister, an easy peasy daughter and a pretty radical girl in general; may your days to follow bring you more curiosity, additional zest for life, and endless love love LOVE!
We adore you Roo Roo!
Literally- ADORE!