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My Husband

So I know most women think they have the most amazing husband in the world and it's wonderful to feel that way. To have someone that is your very best friend and that is your biggest supporter is very special and rare. I have this husband who gets me. I don't even have to talk and he understands and is there for me. It's hard when you are raising a special needs child, it's isolating and even lonely at times. I don't feel that way often because Barry picks up the slack in so many areas. He shares the responsibilities of the kids and even with his busy football schedule he finds times to give me breaks and allow me time for myself. So this post is dedicated to my main man.

When Barry and I first met he was very ROUGH around the edges. Without going into details I can explain it like Sandra D and Danny. I'm not really that innocent and pure but it's a good analogy. So, over the years I've understood that it wasn't that way at all really, the part about him being rough. I just didn't know him like I do now. He's gentle and kind and loving and devoted and more loyal than you could even imagine. He's funny, childish, "old" school, conservative and very dedicated to his family and strong values. He is a very hard worker for my family and I appreciate that he goes out everyday and makes a difference in the lives of so many college men. He has such a wonderful opportunity to be a positive influence on the future of America. I'm so proud of this man that I get the privilege of calling my husband. This gift that God gave to me of a friend that I get to share my life with. He cares so deeply and is passionate about influencing those around him and sharing his belief in Jesus Christ with them. In a world where men are seduced by the world and selfish desires, I have a man who has learned to give his life to Christ and realize that we have to let HIM be in control of our thoughts, feelings, and actions in order for us to be better people. I am so thankful for my husband.

September Pics

Football season is here! The kids sporting one of my designs.

I love this one. Picnik.com allows you to do so many fun things with pics. This one wasn't very good but with some editing it turned out very cute.

Star Wars t-shirt had to be highlighted in this one.

She's just beautiful.

Baylie and I went to the park and I got some great shots of her.

This one is my favorite. She had so much fun watching the ducks.

This and That

I have not journaled in so long. Are we so busy that I can't take the time to sit and just write something, anything? Well, I'm going to tonight if it kills me. Quick updates on the kids will suffice for tonight so that years from now when they read this they will know exactly what was going on in September 2009.

Davis - Right now Davis is in 2nd grade. His teacher is Mrs. Kearns and his reading teacher is Ms. Turner. He is in the accelerated reading program and is currently doing 3rd grade material. It is much more difficult than last year and since he skipped an entire year's curriculum it's an adjustment to learn what is expected of him. He likes school and enjoys playing at recess with Adain P., Adin L., and Carsyn V. This is the Star Wars group that has carried over from last year. They have a blast! Davis is entering into his 2nd year of Cub Scouts. What an amazing organization to be associated with. Scouts is a big family commitment but I believe it is the best thing to be a part of outside of church activities. The Cub Scout Promise says it all "I promise to do my best, to do my duty, to God and my country, to help other people, and to obey the law of the Pack." How's that? It doesn't get much bettter. Davis is very active in our church PSR (Parish School of Religion) and this year (in May) he will celebrate his First Communion. I am so excited, maybe more than he is. Davis loves building legos, reading, and hanging out with our neighbors Alex and Josh. He is so helpful around the house with his chores and caring for the dogs. He is an amazing kid.

Breianna - Brei just started Kindergarten at Clinton Massie. We decided over the summer not to do another year of preschool and just go on into Kindergarten. For me it wasn't a matter of readiness as much as it being a matter of safety and creating an environment more conducive to her learning. Brei has an aide who she just loves (Kim Lay) and her Multi-Handicapped classroom teacher is Mrs. Jodi Dillow. Her kindergarten teacher is Mrs. Woods. Currently she's in the MH room with Mrs. Dillow for intervention before going with her aide to Kindergarten for the latter part of the day. I visited the school yesterday to find that one of the playgrounds (for the bigger kids) is the playground where she goes for her main recess. I thought she went to the Kindergarten playground but it was decided that the walk is too far and by the time she is able to get there recess is practically over. So, Mrs. Lay walked me around the playground to let me know that I need to start talking to the school about making the playground more accessible for Brei and her classmates. Oh man, it's like starting over.....the playground I mean. I believe lots needs to be done before I feel like it will be safe for her to play on independently. So, I'm putting together my game plan before I meet with the school next week. Breianna has started talking more and more and since the detox started I've seen so many improvements in her health and development. It's exciting to watch the miracles taking place in her life. She's starting to exhibit problem solving skills. Example: The other day we were frantically looking for my keys so that we could go to Cub Scouts. Davis and I were looking everywhere. A few minutes later Brei walking over to me with my keys. She had gone and found them. Amazing! Lots of stuff like that going on around here. Brei is also active in our church PSR and she has an amazing teenager names Katelyn Dillow (Mrs. Dillow's daughter) who volunteered to be her aide during PSR classes after mass. How amazing! Katelyn saw a need and jumped right in to help. Brei's favorite thing to do is swing in our backyard. I think she would swing for hours if I'd let her. She loves our dogs but favors Libby. She plays with her all the time.

Baylie - Baylie is 2 years old. She is a very independent child who loves to play with Brei and Davis. She really enjoys watching Toy Story right now. Buzz Lightyear is her absolute favorite. She's starting to really love baby dolls and playing "mommy". She loves to eat pizza and spaghetti and drink apple juice. She loves our dogs and being mommy's helper. Today I was in the shower so I had the chains locked (to keep Brei from escaping). Barry had gotten home so Baylie comes in.."mommy.....daddy" and points to the door. I said, daddy will be home later. She said "no, daddy" ";lka]-09iu4poihj f DADDY". I said "OH, daddy is here now?" she said "Yes". I said ok and ran out and sure enough Barry was home trying to get in the house with all the chains and deadbolts locked up tigher than Fort Knox. I can keep Brei from getting out but no one can get in either! Baylie is in gymnastics at Aerials in Wilmington. She loves it. She's jumpy and dancy and very active so I think this is perfect for her for now. She may decide she hates it in a few years but for now she's in heaven. She won't even take her leotard off when we get home. Baylie is also in early intervention due to her medical diagnosis so she attends Toddler Class once a week. It's basically toddler school. She loves it. I think Gross Motor is her favorite. She loves the indoor gym. Early intervention took her and her daddy to Young's Dairy a few weeks ago and in 2 weeks we get to go to the pumpkin patch. She loves having her special time with mommy when Davis and Brei are at school. We run errands and hang out at home playing or head to the park to feed the ducks.

Our Life

Well, we've been detoxing Breianna for 2 solid weeks. It's evident that she has a gluten/casein intolerance due to her reaction to being taken off of the casein. She's gotta have it!!!!! She licks the tv after I clean it (apparently there's gluten in the cleaner), she licks the cabinets after I wipe them down, and she chews on anything with adhesive on it. It's like she's a drug addict. Kinda funny, but then she gets the gluten and we start all over again. Looking at the world differently now, hand creams, soaps, laundry detergent, shampoo/conditioner etc....all need to be gluten/casein free or she'll absorb them. So, we've been shopping differently, we were already very conscious of reading labels, try to be as natural and organic as possible. This, is new though. Casein and gluten are in EVERYTHING! So with the help of some online resources and friends who have kiddos with the same lifestyle we've managed to make it through these 2 weeks without losing our minds.



Davis and Baylie are being very good sports. Drinking fruit/veggie smoothies and eating new foods that are Breianna friendly for fear of cross-contamination. I'm finding new recipes that I can't wait to try and learning about almond and potato flour.



We are slowly introducing Brei's supplements (very extensive list with 27 doses per day). This requires a very regimented schedule so we have our days planned out for us as far as what time to do certain dosages and when to do her g-tube feeds. We are learning, to say it's running smoothly would be lying. We are getting there though.



Life is challenging to say the least. We are adjusting everyday to the new challenges that Brei faces as she grows up. As we learn more about her illness there will likely be more changes and adjustments.



I am so thankful to have such an amazing family. The kids are so supportive and Davis is so extremely helpful with everything. Barry is knowledgeable and can do everything that Brei needs if I need breaks. My friends are priceless. Most of them have special needs children so they are fighting their own daily battles with meds/supplements/machines/therapies/ etc. I am in awe of how these families just GET IT DONE. They tackle it head on. My husband call us pit bulls, I guess we are, us mom's of special special children that need cared for around the clock.



God has given me such a responsibility and I lean on him for strength to make it through the overwhelming days. He has given me the tools needed to make it through with a smile if I just remember to give him control.



Dear Lord, Please help me to have the strength to endure the struggles of this world with a quiet endurance. Help me not to complain or feel sorry for myself. You have blessed me with so many wonderful things and I thank you for my hardships and pain. They teach me to lean on you and rely on you for all that I need to make it through. Amen

Today's Scripture: Psalm 118

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

My family comes to Ohio!

Jake, Baylie, Brei and Jordyn - 4th of July parade, Clarksville, OH !

Happy 2nd Birthday to my Baylie Jean!

Brother-in-law Jeremy with my nephew Jaxon.

My parents, Jaxon, Julita, and Baylie.

Grandpa and Baylie

Tara, Teagin and Justin @ King's Island

Jake, Davis and Jordyn after a long day at King's Island.

4th of July in a small town

I grew up in a small town. I know there are stereotypes about the "hicks" from the farming communities. I used to hate it. Having to drive 45 minutes just to go to a real grocery store, or to the mall or to the movies. Living out in the country with no friends to hang out with, as a teenager that was just the worst. So, my husband and I moved our family to the country 2 years ago. To the thing I grew up hating. Looking back, I didn't really hate it, I remember only the good that came from it. The close knit community that always had your back, the friends that you grew up with and have known since Kindergarten, the work ethic of middle class America, the pride of working the ground and helping on the family farm, and the patriotism at the small town parade. Yes, it's great to go to the "big city" parades and see all of the hoopla and the big "bang" of the 4th of July fireworks. I think that it's even better, though, to be a part of a "small town" parade, and sit on a trailer next to my son, the proud Cub Scout who is learning all about loving his country, honoring and respecting his parents and other adults, and knowing the love of Jesus. So, we didn't see Rozzi's fireworks this year, but we did spend time with family and enjoyed a very small town's 4th of July parade that was BIG on patriotism and honor.

Kamp Dovetail

Brei had a fabulous 2 day camp experience at Rocky Fork Lake in Hillsboro, Ohio, home of Kamp Dovetail. This is her 2nd of many more years attending this wonderful camp for children and young adults with medical needs and developmental disabilities. This camp blows my mind. I mean, it literally takes my breath away. I wish I had a good picture of the entrance into this camp. I'm going to try to give you a visual of the depth of human kindness that takes place each summer at Rocky Fork. When you enter into the campsite the entire camp is set up so there are the week long overnight campers which are age 9 and up and then there is the day camp section which is for the kiddos ages 4 - 9. So you walk past the campsite of the overnight camp to get to the day camp. This is when I cry everytime. There are more than 600 volunteers that are working with these kids. Each camper has a volunteer with them. Volunteers range from age 14 and up. To be a volunteer at this camp isn't like you just show up and get a kid assigned to you and you are off. Oh no, it's a year long process of training and learning about the person you will be assigned to. So, during this week, you will see 14 year olds changing trach ties, doing tube feeds, pushing around wheelchairs, assisting in the restroom, pretty much anything you can think of, these people have been trained to do it. That's what takes my breath away. Then it gets better....the tents....everywhere...tents and campers. What a site. All of it donated for these kids. So people just bring their campers and set up for kids that cannot stay in tents because of their medical conditions. There are also nurses that volunteer to come up at night and set up equipment for the kids that are on oxygen and other various things. I'm getting teary just thinking about all of this. The kids get to ride horses everyday. People with horses just show up with their trailers and spend the entire week assisting kids onto the horses and walking them around. I hope they get as much out of it as I do. Anyone with a child with a disability (or 2 or 3 different abilities as I like to call it :) knows that horses are very therapeutic. Watching kids on those horses, seeing their faces light up like you just gave them the world, it's priceless to watch I hope the volunteers know how appreciated they are for taking time out of their lives to give this gift to the kids. The campers also get to go on boat rides. Mostly the retired folk that live on the lake are the ones who volunteer for this. They dock their boats and load up the kids and off they go. Each kid gets a turn at the wheel. For me, this is the best part of the camp because for my Brei, it's like you just gave her ice cream (which she can't have). So to be able to give her something that makes her as happy as I am eating ice cream on a hot day, it's simply fabulous. Day campers get to end each day with lots of swimming. This year, Brei was more independent in the water and it's where her body works the best so we let her swim for over 1 1/2 hours. She's also very fascinated with tattoos for some reason. This started about a month ago. She noticed after getting out of the pool that someone was doing face painting. She was a bit curious about what was going on so she walked over and just stared for a minute. When she saw the finished product it was like having a tattoo. She did a very "typical" thing and cut in line so she could be next. I was so shocked, my child went and got in line...even though she cut, if you knew her and her delays and stuff you'd get what I'm saying here. She understood the concept of the line, then cut, to get her face painted. There are just so many accomplishments there. One takes these things for granted....I don't. The sensory issues alone make her not want anyone to touch her face, but to have someone touch it with a brush. This is just so fabulous! So, she got 2 "tattoos" and I was so happy to see how happy she was. This was the last activity til next year. I cannot wait to see all the changes that will take place when I reflect on next years experience at the happiest place on earth...Kamp Dovetail.

Thrilling Tuesday

Well, today was anything but boring. The Wulf's got up at 6:00 to get out the door for a fun day at King's Island. Breianna had Speech Therapy at 8:00 so we decided we should just all go to the appointment and try to get to King's Island at 9:30 for the Gold Pass Early Admission. Well worth it, by the way. I cannot believe we got out of the house by 7:15 on the dot. We didn't even forget anything. Davis was packed up and ready for his 3 day hiatus to my in-laws, the cooler was packed up with all of our snacks and lunch, bags were packed, and tube feedings were dosed out. Davis, Baylie and I ran a few errands while Barry stayed with Brei at therapy then we were off to a day of fun. Arriving at 9:30 was great. Barry and Davis went on ahead and got a chance to ride some of the typically "long wait" rides before the crowds arrived. I stayed back with the girls to change diapers, apply sunscreen, pack up the snacks and all of the other "motherly" things.

We met up with the guys at the Racer. Davis just loves this coaster. It's so fun watching the excitement on his face when he's about to go ride a coaster. Next stop was the Scrambler. Brei was finally tall enough to ride it and she absolutely loved it. She giggled for the entire ride. We rode a few rides in kiddy land before heading over to the water park. The kids really wanted to ride the train over so Barry took the stroller and walked over to wait on us. The kids and I walked to the train depot to board. It was pretty cool riding the train. We went underneath a portion of the Diamondback that's not visible from most parts of the park. Once we met back up with Barry we decided to head to the car for a quick lunch. I'm so glad I packed a cooler. Not only does it save us money but it helps us to make healthier choices. It's so important for the kids to understand, even at an early age, that there are ways to save money even on a day out. Packing a cooler is a simple way to cut costs, especially at a place where the food is so overpriced.

The rest of the day was spent in the water. Breianna may have a new favorite, the wave pool. She had so much fun. I took her out pretty far so that she could be on top of the waves. Davis was glad because he loves to go out and swim over the waves. I can't believe how brave he's gotten. A few years ago he wouldn't go out very far and he was unsure of the water. Now he just goes out like a pro. Baylie had a blast today too. The first two visits she didn't like the rides or the water. Today she was really brave and tested the water to see what it's all about. She really enjoyed her exploration. Barry and I enjoyed our day with the kids. It was so nice to have family time.

Davis went home with MeMa and will be staying with MeMa and Papa until Friday. They have lots of fun planned for him, including a few days of golf camp and a visit to a new Lego store at Kenwood Mall.

The girls were tired so when we got home we lounged around for the remainder of the evening.

I'll try to post daily this week. We have a busy week planned.

Be Still

Why is it when life gets tough we want to control the situation around us? When we are having difficulty knowing which direction to take, why do we forget to lean on God and know that he will lead us the right way? Why are we always taking matters into our own hands? Psalms 46:10 says "Be Still and know that I am God". This scripture is so comforting. So few words yet so powerful. But why is this so difficult for us? Be still, stop trying to control how and when and where, draw on our Lord's strength and his wisdom to see us through the tough times. He knows and He will answer, if we let Him.

This was the topic of conversation today. We needed to be reminded to let go of situations that we were trying to control. To be reminded to lean on Christ in everything. It's easy to be thankful for our blessings and to lean on Him when things are going good, but when life stops us dead in our tracks, that's when we say, whoa, hang on a minute, I'm not going to wait on you to present the answers to me. I'm doing this thing my way. Look at what this means though, do we fret, worry, have short tempers, frustrate easily, mope around, say hurtful things and even sometimes behave in a spiteful manner? Generally this tends to make the situation worse. Isn't this, then, the very best time to lean on Christ, when we don't have it all together? Give it to him and have faith that he knows more about this than we do.

Psalms 47 begins by saying in verse 1 " God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble". I don't know about you, but no matter how good our friends are or how loving our husband is, I don't know anyone that is "ever-present". Someone who never leaves us and always wants what is best for us.

The passage continues by saying in verses 2 - 11 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields [b] with fire. 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

He makes the wars cease. That sort of stands out. If he can make the wars cease, then I'm sure he can take away the turmoil in our lives. If only we let him.

"Dear Lord, help us to give everything to you in thoughtful prayer. Help us to give you our hardships and turmoil so that you can see us through to the other side of difficult times. Thank you for the promise that you will be with us always, even in times of trouble. Help us to Be Still and know that you are God. Amen".

Having fun at King's island. Baylie is waiting for Davis and Brei to ride Little Bill's Roller Coaster. She didn't like the rides much this particular day so she just watched everyone else ride.

This perfect child

I believe that the world looks at my sweet and beautiful Breianna as imperfect. She's clumsy, she's unable to talk, she has vision troubles, she needs assistance to climb stairs and walk from point A to point B, she's unable to properly hold a writing tool, she scribbles on everything, chews on inedible objects, has a fettish for ziploc bags, is unable to eat by mouth and the list could continue well on into next week. However, to me, her mom, she's perfect in every way. She is the lucky one because she doesn't understand this world for what it is, she understands only goodness, pureness and love. I believe that as a mom, it's my purpose to raise Holy children who love Christ and live their lives in a way that is good and Christ-like. I believe that I'm responsible for teaching my children the way in which they are to go. So, with Brei, it's pretty simple so far. She's the purest person I've ever met. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the "can't".....Breianna's life to this point has been full of goals for therapies, doctors and school IEP's. When writing goals there's always a list of what she can't do that we hope to help her eventually be able to do. I see what she can do and what she does do. She can bring people closer to Christ just by living her life. She has every reason in the world to be angry and bitter. She was dealt a raw deal when her life began. She's got a lot going on but instead of dwelling on it, I don't think she ever even thinks about it. She thinks only about waking up each day and living that 1 day to the very fullest. She packs it all in. She goes non-stop, sometimes without purpose, she's just living and teaching the people around her to do just that "live", like there's no tomorrow. Live like it's your last day so love those around you and show them Christ in all that you do.

Matthew 5:8 - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Caesar's Creek Lake -

So, I think sometimes we get so caught up in our busy lives that we forget what beautiful scenery there is right in our backyard. For instance, Caesar's Creek Lake. No more than a 15 minute drive from our house, yet we never take the time to go and enjoy the trails, the peaceful serenity of God's beautiful creation, the sandy beach perfect for building sandcastles, the playground that overlooks that beach, and the trees, oh the beautiful trees. This evening at around 6:00 we decided to just load up the jogging stroller, 3 kids, 2 dogs and ourselves and head over to enjoy some of what God created for us.

The playground was completely empty so it was perfect for letting the kids run around and act silly. The slide had rails on both sides so Brei needed minimal assist and was very successful on her own, which makes her so very happy when things are accessible. Baylie wasn't sure of the slide because it was so much taller than what she's used to. Davis was the sweet big brother who helped her up and then gave her the push needed to fly down. If we hadn't been there to catch her at the end she'd for sure have been catapaulted into the lake.

It began to sprinkle but we didn't let a little rain spoil our fun. We took a nice walk down to the sandy beach and the kids all walked in the water and then played in the sand. Davis was wanting to stay longer at the beach area but we were wanting to go exploring and get the dogs a nice walk in before the storm hit. We got poured on as soon as we were far enough away from the main pavillion to get to it without getting soaked. We did, however, find a nice big shade tree to stand under while it poured down around us. As soon as there was a break we ran to the shelter and hung out there until it stopped raining. We decided to walk back down to the beach area and let Davis work on a sandcastle for awhile. My camera battery died so I couldn't take a pic of his creation. I did tell him that I'd bring him and his friends back one evening soon. It was so nice because there were so few people there at that time of night that it was like having our own private lake.

Being out there really made me miss my times growing up at the lake. My parents always had a boat and we would spend our summers out on the water. Camping was always so much fun with my family. I want to give the kids those experiences of camping and enjoying all of this beautiful earth that God created for us.

Banana Split Festival

Today was a very busy day. We got up and did our 2 mile family walk/run. It was such a peaceful morning minus the yard sales going on in our circle which made for extra traffic. We usually don't have to worry about any traffic in our neighborhood which is sooo nice. I was off by 11:00 to get setup at the Banana Split Festival. Our non-profit Little Hearts Big Smiles set up a booth there to raise funds for our fully accessible playground and to raise awareness for children and adults with different abilities (I'm trying not to be so politically correct and use the term disability because I think that it can have negative impacts on the people themselves) so, I'm trying to do better with that. I don't really look at my daughter as having disabilities, it's just that I think that they are different abilities that we've learned to adapt to and that have become pretty normal for us. So, anyway, raising awareness was our goal for the day and I think we were very successful. We raised some $ in the process so it was a great day. I came home to get the kids ready and head back up to actually partake in the festivities. It's tradition around here to go each year and the kids love it...and so do Barry and I. We visited our booth first to see how everything was going and Davis purchased a Marshmallow shooter from the booth next to us. The man, John, had worked next to us all day and was a really great man. He was missing his wife all day as she was at their other booth at Trader's World. He said, "We've been married 38 years and she's my best friend, we just always do this stuff together." I thought he was the neatest man to talk to. It was fun all day watching him demonstrate his homemade marshmallow shooters to all the kids as they passed by. He gave Brei one because he had heard us talking about her all day at the booth and he just had a heart for her. After that we were off to get our yearly grease fix, there seemed to be a lot more food options this year. You can't go wrong with fried Oreos and Werner's BBQ. We were able to support the Knights of Columbus and get our food on (as Barry says). So, here's the really cool part, I bought these fried potato chips and they were Gluten Free so I put them out to see what Breianna thought. Well, it was very exciting to watch her plow through a plate of these chips! It's been very exciting to watch that kid eating so much since we started the B12 injections. We decided to take a break from the food and head over to the inflatables/train rides. The girls really weren't big fans of the inflatables so Davis used up most of the tokens and we rode the big train as a family. That's when Brei spotted the ponies. She couldn't even contain herself, she was so ecstatic to see those ponies that anyone could have understood what she wanted even if she is nonverbal. So, of course as soon as we finished the train ride it was off to the ponies. I could tell right away that Baylie wasn't going to have anything to do with that so Davis and Brei rode while Baylie cheered them on from the sidelines. We were all getting tired but you can't go to the Banana Split Festival and not get your Banana Split. Luckily the lines weren't long when we got to that side of the park and we got in and out pretty quick. Barry and I shared the amazing neopolitan 3 dip split with all the toppings and Davis skipped out on the bananas this year and just had a vanilla/chocolate combo. Baylie had a single and Brei ate half of Barry and I's that we were sharing. Hold up, wait, did I just say, Brei ate half of a Banana Split? Yes, you read correctly, Brei did indeed eat lots of ice cream! How exciting. We decided to meander back over to the Little Hearts Big Smiles booth and help tear down and box up everything. Another successful year at the Split Fest - See you Next Year!

The Holy Trinity

So, I've found that sometimes as an adult it's difficult to grasp the Trinity, teaching that to your children is a whole new ballgame. So, yesterday at dinner the topic of conversation was just that, the blessed Holy Trinity. Davis was trying to grasp just how 1 person could be 3 people. So Barry took over and explained it very well in 7 year old terms. God is the Father of the Trinity. The Heavenly Father. Jesus is the son, the human form or earthly form. The Holy Spirit is the resurrected savior that lives inside of our hearts. So, there was a bit more dialogue, Davis decided it was tough to get but still listened attentively. Barry asked, "so, does that make sense", with a blank "yes", we moved on. We went along with our evening, cleaning out the garage, taking the recycling to the recycling center, bathtime, bedtime etc etc. Davis read the Bible Stories to the girls and we were talking about Moses. We also talked about respecting others, loving others and being forgiving. Then all of a sudden Davis says, "so mom, God is the guy that is invisible, we can't see him and he sent a version of himself with skin and bones and blood to earth to die for us, then after he died his spirit came to live in us". I just started laughing with astonishment. He had thought it through all that time and this was his conclusion. A pretty good understanding for a 7 year old. His sisters clapped and smiled as though his version was easier to understand than their daddy's thought out explanation. Children are such a wonderful gift!

Star Wars

Star Wars invaded our home about 1 1/2 years ago, for the 2nd time in my life. George Lucas is a genious. He gripped us as kids and is still doing it today. I can't believe we are still so into it. Davis absolutely loves it. It's been so fun re-living the old movies and seeing the story unfold for my 7 year old. Funny thing is I don't remember the legos and DS games. I do remember action figures, costumes, chapter books, pj's and bed sheets. You name it, we've got it. It's been a fun ride, I wonder what other Star Wars stories are waiting to unfold for the next generation when I'm a grandparent.....will have to wait and see.

It's 12:32 a.m. and Star Wars Attack of the Clones is blaring on the television. Barry and Davis are crashed on the sofa's, and the dogs are crashed on the floor in front of them. I'm trying to figure out the blog thing but am thinking that it's time for bed. Early morning to Children's Outpatient Liberty Campus for Brei's OT appointment. Barry is going to stay home with Baylie and Davis so I can focus on Brei and her therapy. Tomorrow will be a busy day so I better go and get some shut eye. May God bless my family and keep them safe and healthy.

Rookie

Well, I made a new years resolution to journal more. So I've got these notebooks that are filling up fast with the daily happenings in our busy home. I decided that it would be more fun to venture out into the world of blogging so the kids could join me in postings and select the pics that are posted (that is, if I make it that far). I'm still trying to figure all of this out so please be patient. Between 3 kids, a wonderful husband, 2 dogs, a small business that I run from home and also volunteer work Little Hearts Big Smiles it will take me awhile to get the hang of this blogging thing....