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Beginning Our Journey
Nov. 2, 2009
Life updates :)
Well it has been a while. Sometimes with a little one it is just so much easier to log on and update Facebook. But I do not want to neglect my blog because I LOVE it here. It is so cozy and happy. My happy place. So many memories on the pages of my cyberspace world.
So what is new with me? Well it is November - which means my baby is turning 1!!! how can this be??? He is our last and the time had flown by! God sure has blessed us!
Wyatt is walking now and so cute at this age. Learning and soaking up life. I do get a glimpse into the future a little as the bickering between brothers has already started full swing! It is amazing to me that a 4 1/2 year old can fight with a 1 year old! But you all know how that goes!
Homeschool is chugging along! Our favorite thing this year is "field trips!" I love that the kids are finally of age to learn from trips. Our favorite is going to Jennings Environmental Center.
We are learning so much and having a fun time! Makes you feel like the homeschool mother you want to be when your kids are out in the open air learning about God's creation! And we are making new friends also!
Here is our bird's nest we tried to make out of items in the woods.
Tristan is chugging along in his treatments. Just counting down the days until he is finished. That kid is a trooper. Not only does he have to avoid certain things from his mediport - creeks, ponds, oceans etc, now he had spacers put in his mouth. They are treated like braces and now he is not allowed gum, gummies, tootsie rolls, pop corn, hard pretzels etc etc! He is such a trooper. Just says things like "when I get my mediport out" and now it is "when I get my spacers out!" If this was Alyssa she would be freaking. but Tristan rolls with what life throws at him.
Alyssa learned to ride her bike without training wheels!
I love the fall don't you? such pretty pictures you get! Also a wonderful time for baking. With Wyatt getting "entertain-able" It is easier to be in the kitchen! Which makes Autumn so much more cozy!
Here are a few more pictures to share.
oh and the TV Challenge... it is not going so well. It is working a little as I am more aware of how much time the kids are on the tv. But... I need to get more prepared and try again when I do not need to put the baby for naps and nurse where I do not want them bouncing over my head in their rooms.
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Aug. 3, 2009
School is off and week one is done! :)
Ok, so week one is finished :) I made it! I did it! Whoo hoo! And the best news of all? Tristan is learning to read! I am working on 100ez lessons with him. He is on lesson 9 and was so pleased to read MAT, SET and AM today. I am proud of him!
Alyssa is working on Sonlight Core 2. As I posted on the side bar. Sonlight is now offering a great rewards program. If you use my reward code ( LI20190176 ) you get $5 off the first $50 you spend if you are a new customer. I also get points for that. Anyways. That was a little commercial there. She is enjoying it so far. A LOT more work but I feel like we are really getting down to business.
Sonlight Curriculum - Awarded Best Overall Homeschool Company in 2008 by Old Schoolhouse Magazine
I eliminated some things that were not fitting for her and added some new things this year and am pleased.
My Mother has been AMAZING and has joined us for 3 days last week and said she is going to try to get over 3 times a week if she can. Just to hold Wyatt while we school so he is out of our hair. Love that kid but he is needy :)
Here are some newer pictures for everyone.
The Boys Playing
Alyssa Skating at Grandma and Grandpas
Wyatt my blue eyed boy (did I mention that Tristans turned greenish? I think it might have to do with his treatments)
And all three in the morning (thus the morning look on Alyssa's face)
oh and here is one for the homeschool blog, Alyssa reading with her bear
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May. 4, 2009
been a while! Sorry!
I have been so busy with Mr. Wyatt these days. It seems the blog is the first thing to get neglected. And I do facebook so I have a much bigger following there. It just seems simpler to update there.
but as homeschool is drawing to an end.... we have about 5 weeks left of school... and the new year is coming upon us, I figured I better make a blog post soon! :)
It pains me to have so much school left this year. Last year we were finished by May 1st! But I had a trying year of being pregnant and new baby and now fussy baby. :) Things get easier every day. Alyssa is doing great. I am proud of the work we have accomplished. We are going at our own pace. She is not where most of the first graders are at in some areas. (but as I try to remind people she is ahead because she should just be finishing kindergarten if she went to public school because of her mid september birthday) And in other areas she is far ahead! I am proud. Steady we move along. And since I still have a full year before I have to report to the schools, I am pleased. :)
I also need to remind myself that a year of a newborn is trying. But what else she is learning is priceless! Alyssa has learned to cook some meals for me. She has learned to fold the laundry piles that I get overwelmed with and say - you have to help me. this morning we folded 4 loads together :) She even changes DIAPERS! And poopy ones to boot! Since he is little and cute and still mainly breastfeeding with an occasional tablespoon of baby food here and there - his diapers are not too bad. I love when I am rushed, trying to get the boys out the door and I can throw her a diaper and say "Lyss, can you please change the baby for me?" And she does!!! Now that is a lesson well learned and valuable!
Justin has been off work for a while now. over 2 weeks for a back injury. it is an old injury that has been irritated by his daily work. He slipped on the ice at work carrying a 75 pound propane tank last winter. They had not salted and it was even an emergancy exit. Yikes! Well Justin works 70 plus hours a week at his job. Physical labor and driving. This year he also slipped through the decking and hurt himself. Then just add daily job stress, his back injury flaired up again. So he is off right now. We are enjoying it. It has been a strain. keeping my focus on not getting upset that he cannot help me like I want when I see my husband sitting there. I have to keep reminding myself that if his dr wants him doing no work (has not been released to light duty yet) then I should not feel upset when I am stuck doing all the work around like carrying in bags of groceries and sleeping kids. I know deep down it must hurt his pride for people to see his wife doing it for him. But we do what we have to do.
I am enjoying being able to leave the room and know that if Wyatt needs me Justin can call me. And also handing him to daddy to hold on the couch for a min here and there. And Justin will help me with cooking. that is sweet! And just sitting on the porch swing while the older kids play in the yard. The little things like that are great because I can do other things that I want to get done. oh and somedays playing games with Tristan while I homeschool Alyssa is nice too.
we are getting a lot more family time together. I am sure going to miss that when he has to go back to work full time. It is really nice because Wyatt is getting to know who Daddy is now. I think he thought "Who is this strange man that came to live with us?" for the first week. He would follow justin with his gaze and just laugh and try to get his attention all week! it was really funny.
so that is what I have been up to.
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Jan. 30, 2009
my pirate
Jan. 17, 2009
urgh
Did you ever just want to strangle your kid? Today Alyssa and I went to a beauty school birthday party. She was this close to getting her ears pierced. No big deal that she was chickening out. But we go back downstairs after chickening out (and MY FRIEND AND I GETTING OURS DONE FOR ALYSSA SO SHE WAS NOT SCARED!!) and she decides - she DOES want them done. So back up we go, Back out the supplies and they get ready to pierce them again. Get the color dots on them all cleaned and ready to go. She grabs her ears and starts screaming like we are ready to kill her! NO NO NO NO NO I'm not doing it. I wanted to die! They probably think I took her down and forced her to come back up to get them done. Well I didn't!
So now we have no ears done but I have a new hole. Sigh... Oh well, I love earrings.
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Jan. 14, 2009
Finally....
Well after 11 days of sickies, Tristan seems to be back on his feet. Thanks to God and his Steroids... he is eating like a champ! I think he is making up for not eating for 11 days. He had lost 6 pounds. Any money it is all coming back now! Two cans of soup, three bowls of cereal, banana, salsa and chips, broccoli and cauliflour, ice cream, beef jerkey, all yesterday and he went to bed in TEARS because our apples went bad and he could not have one!
This morning he has already had a bowl of dry peanut butter crunch cereal (dry because it was 6:30 and mommy was not ready to be up yet) and now chowing down a bowl of bean with bacon soup.
Coooooooollllldddd I am cold! It is 3 degrees out. (oh Tristan is asking for a second bowl of soup) and my old house cannot stay warm. Our thermostat is set at 68 but it is 62 in here. brrrrr. Better then last year. Justin has been weather proofing the house. Last year it was in the 50s on the coldest days.
Wyatt is growing and growing! He is going to be 8 weeks tomorrow! I cannot believe it! Seems to have flown by! I think being so busy with the sickies and now the steroids... days just rush through.
I am getting half of homeschool in. But I am making sure it is important stuff. the "fluff" stuff is being neglected. But that is ok. We will just go longer. Last year we finished on the last week of April. We will probably just homeschool a few months longer this time. The beauty of homeschooling. we can do what we have to do! :)
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Jan. 11, 2009
Just messing around with Photoshop tonight...
Dec. 28, 2008
Christmas 2008
Dec. 15, 2008
Loving my three kids.
My older two can sure go wild. They are loud, they do not listen, it s like they are in their own little world some days... but man do I love them! I know life is so different these days. Alyssa tells my mom that "shhh don't say anything but sometimes mom forgets to brush my hair!" Boy do I ever! I barely have time to get myself a shower these days! I am so blessed with Alyssa. She helps Tristan get dressed most days now!
They sure are amazing kids. Good ones too. Sure they can get wound up big time... but what kid doesn't in the winter? Cabin Fever is what you call it I think.
They are spending lots more time with daddy these days too. When he is home he is always taking them downstairs when he works on computers now. etc. Things he used to do alone, he sets them up with something fun., I think it is so good for them. They are spending time with daddy. Be it driving cars on boards as ramps, playing video games, drawing on huge cardboard boxes while he works on fixing things up.
Seems like I am doing a TON of things for the baby. LOTS of drs appointments, getting meds etc. Today we had another appointment. Wyatt has had thrush, (oh drats! forgot to tell the dr about his goopy eye. oh well, it comes and goes) Yeast rash, etc.
He is a good baby. Getting kinda demanding though. Turning into a little Alyssa and we wanted another Tristan. Not looking promising. Sigh. He knows what he wants and is voicing his opinion already!
But man do I love these crazies!!!
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Dec. 4, 2008
Alone with my baby tonight... Wyatt Pictures
Nov. 26, 2008
ok ok :)
Since I have all the time in the world mom  ... I better update my blog!
Baby is here!!! Wyatt Daniel - 9#4oz. But down to 8#3oz at the dr. Dr did not care. Just said nurse nurse nurse! And see him in a week.
21 inches long. He is a cutie!!!
here is me and my mom at my induction 
And here is my beautiful children with me at the hospital
The baby is doing great! Nursing like a champ, pooping up a storm. Alyssa is the BEST BEST BEST helper I could have. Holding the baby when I need her too. And grabbing me thing while I nurse or need to change a diaper. Tristan is good too but he has taken a back seat because his sister never lets him hold the baby for more then 2 seconds. I do notice he is a little more ... weepy with things lately. I love that little boy.
I took some pictures the other day. These are straight off the camera and I need to do a LOT of editing to them. but here they are to show you :)
editing to add - wow. what happened to snapfish? They used to be smaller pictures to show... Guess I will have to keep it to photobucket next time. Sorry dial-up people.
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Oct. 30, 2008
Still pregnant :)
Almost there... Baby is head down. Group B strep test came back positive so another round of antibiotics for me. Measuring Good, Heart Beat good. Next appointment is Nov 4th. Election Day.
A friend of mine sent a beautiful quilt in the mail for baby Wyatt. I just had to share how pretty!
It is so soft and nice!
Tristan got a hair cut.. sigh...
From this...
To... the old Tristan again. All the blond is gone. It was something we HAD to do... Not something we wanted to do. But we will not talk about that for now.
And Alyssa lost her second tooth.
I feel bad because it is driving me nuts. She talks funny now! Like she has cotton balls in her mouth or something and it BUGS ME. What a bad mom I am! I know it is normal... but it is driving me insane! How long until the new ones come in??? eek. Only gonna get worse because one of the front top ones is going to come out... I would guess tomorrow.
Here are a few more random shots of the kids that I thought were cute.
 
So thought I would update for everyone :)
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Oct. 4, 2008
Pumpkin Patch 2008 and First Tooth Lost.
Oh what a day.
First, we went to the Pumpkin Patch. This was sort of sentimental as one year ago we went to this pumpkin patch on a Sunday. That was our last day out before Tristan got sick. A year. I cannot believe it is that time again.
We had a really nice day. It was not very busy at ALL. We had no lines and the weather was very nice.
     Then... the way home... it started. "mommy, can I have a mirror?" Sure honey... why? Well... her tooth was bleeding! URGH... the screaming and crying. The rest of the way home. Oh my oh my. You would have thought someone cut off her arm.
Then at home - no daddy. do not touch it.
 And it went on - for hours
and when daddy wiggled it, it FELL out. Oh how mad she was at him!!!!
But half and hour later -she was very proud! And she has been telling everyone she sees or can call~
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Aug. 29, 2008
Homeschool Updates.
6 weeks under our belt of school this year. Alyssa is doing so well. I keep adding in things. I got a REALLY super awesome book of teaching kids about the USA.
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=593937#curr
It is really neato. Takes things down simple from the Pledge to learning about the Flag, to holidays. I am really excited about taking a slow process but really teaching my kids about America and the great country we live in. I recommend it! It was only $3.95 from Christianbook.com!
I also got some great Why books from there.
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=411210
I got three of them. Very simple answers and pictures for preschool - 2nd grade I would say. We read one tonight. The kids really liked them but I am going to space out the other two for a few weeks from now. I probably will read them again with Tristan next year in PreK.
I took Alyssa outside trying to get some school pictures today. I think I would like to take her out to McConnell's Mill again. That is where I Did hers last year and they turned out so pretty! I still want to work with them in Photoshop but here are a few from our backyard today. She dressed herself. And... what is it with the older she gets the HARDER it is to get a picture? They all look goofy or fake! It was so simple to make her laugh and smile naturally before.
There there is Tristan who says Cheese and squints his eyes!
I just love his hair color! It is so soft and pretty and different!
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Aug. 21, 2008
Homeschool Happenings and Random Ramblings.
Praise the Lord my 3 hour test came back fine! Sigh of relief!!! I am so happy about that! Thank you to everyone who was praying for me. I know I have the best of friends!
Tristan is full swing into his steroid eating. Today was kinda funny... He is chubby at the moment. He goes up and down amazingly on his weight. Well he decided to flip my foot stool to my rocker over. It also glides. And make a swing for himself. Great idea and yes it looked really fun! He sat down in the bars and was "swinging". THANK GOD Justin was home still! Justin saw him struggling to get out and realized... he was stuck! So he called me in to look at him. I laughed and we tried to get him out. He was NOT coming out. We tried, we pushed, we pulled, we tried angles. Trying not to hurt him. Tristan got scared. We were trying to figure out what to do as I really do not think Justin has a normal saw. Sure all these high powered things but not just a plain old fashioned saw. Thankfully we managed to get where we held the footstool up at an angle and I pushed, he pulled, Tristan cried, and finally he came out. BUT MAN OH MAN! If I was alone I would have had to call my dad at work to come home! I felt so bad for Tristan because he was scared! It really was completely funny. And looked like a ton of fun! But the fun wore off when Tristan realized it was going to hurt to get out! We tried not to bend his litlte knees backwards and was going real slow. But I really thought were were going to have to bust it apart! Not to mention Justin was running late for work! Oh what a fun situation. :)
That boy keeps me on my toes that is for sure!
School is still going awesome! Alyssa completed 5 weeks already. I am going to sign her up for a writing and speech co-op. I am very excited about that! It starts Sept 5th and meets at my church! It is two fridays a month and the group also does field trips. I am just waiting on the registration email. But I am very excited about this class. I think she will do great and get us out meeting other homeschool families. Too bad it is not in my town though. It is 25-30 mins from us. Not a huge deal unless the weather gets bad.
We also signed up for the free Gateway Clipper Cruise day. We went last year and had a great time. I am looking forward to it as three other friends of mine also signed up. It is going to be a great time! That is at the end of September.
Last year was a good homeschool year but I think this year is going to be even better!! It already has been!
Tristan is cracking me up with learning math facts. I took advantage of his steroid cravings and pulled out a pack of M&Ms. I gave him two and said, if I give you two and then give you three more, how many do you have? and we counted. Then I said 2 plus 3 equals 5. Then I went to Alyssa and did the same thing. Then back to Tristan. They Both were sad when my pack ran out. I think that is something I might do from time to time since it is a fun treat and also getting math in! The other day on the swing on our porch I was holding Tristan and talking in terms of cookies. I said if Alyssa has one cookie and you eat it! how many does she have left?! And then things like if I let you have to two cookies and Alyssa gives you one, how many do you have?
Talking in terms of food. Bringing it to his level. He was really getting it!
The kid amazes me on what he is learning on his own. I have not done much of any working with him. Alyssa I was sitting down teaching. Tristan I periodically ask questions and find out what he does already know.
I am getting my Christmas Advent things in order. I figure I will plan it out now so when the baby comes I am ready and do not have to prepare. I plan to take the month off of our regular school and go all Christmas/Advent themed. I planned for this, and it is a reason I started school early. I have Christmas workbooks, and tons of books, videos etc. If anyone has any good sites, links, ideas, I would love to hear them.
So that is that :)
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Aug. 19, 2008
Just some Happenings.
So I failed my 1 hour glucose test and had to go back for a 3 hour. BLAH. That was icky. I am waiting on my results today. If the shaky feeling I had after the test was any indication of how my body reacted... I would guess bad. But still holding out hope! until the phone rings.
Our awesome friend Danielle
brought us over some monarchs. They are both in their chrysalises and we are excitedly watching them for our new butterflies! This is the neatest hands on learning I have ever done. For me anyways. I am LOVING seeing Gods beauty and work in front of me. We had them last year also.
We have some fuzzy moth caterpillars also. but I am not sure what is going on with them. Since I never had them, it is a new learning experiance. Are they dead or alive in there. right now they are all huddled together on the glass and have not eaten since yesterday morning. Before they were devouring their leaves. So I am not sure what is going to happen. But I am hoping they spin cacoons because then I can do a comparisson with Alyssa and difference between moth and butterfly caterpillars. But I must admit, these fuzzy ones are freaking me out a bit.
Tristan is on steroids. His appetite is here full swing!
Justin and Dad put in a new floor in my kitchen! I have pictures but they are on the other computer. So perhaps tonight I will get them uploaded for you all!
Justin also made me new mulch beds and put up crown molding in the kitchen. Boy that was a treat... let me tell you. Learning experience for sure! It is ADORABLE when Tristan helps daddy. He wants any job he can get. Justin was letting him use the nail gun! Just what I wanted a 3 year old to be taught. :)
I had a great friend over last night. Carrie came over and we had a really nice evening. We went over her homeschool schedule and I assured her that she was indeed right on track. I think she is going to be a NATURAL at homeschooling. She and her her husband used to run a daycare and they have the teaching skills. I have complete faith in her! We went to grab a bite to eat and then to the Thinking Cap.
Dangerous store for a homeschooler I tell you! It was nice spending time with an old friend. My kids entertained her and showed off the entire night!
And that is about all my updates for today. I will try to get new pictures up later when I have more time.
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Aug. 13, 2008
urgh
What a day... so the drs office called. I failed my one hour sugar test. Gotta take that nasty stuff AGAIN and sit for 3 hours getting jabbed 3 times! YUCKO!!! And to top it off, have to be there monday at 6-7 AM!! YAWN!!!
So please pray I pass that. Although I could stand to get back on my PCOS diet, I am not good at it. I am just happy being able to eat things again now that Morning Sickness is over. And now to say I have to be choosy. I need to pass the 3 hour. Please Lord!
Went to my friend Jenns tonight. That was fun. Tristan feel off a swing though, nothing bad since he was only on his tummy to begin with - as told to me by Alyssa since I was not in his site at the time. But he got his teeth into his lip. It is all swollen. Of course mommy had to pick him up and carry him in to get ice. I know... I know...
Then at home walking from the garage to the house he wanted carried. I told him no, I had my hands full and I do not carry him that far! Well he tripped on the last stair... URGH. Skinned his knees.
So my arms are still full and he is in the dark yard crying to be carried. I cannot! So he asks Alyssa too! She tries and of course after 10-15 feet, she falls.
Good night! The poor kid. Good night!
Tristan goes to clinic on Friday. He keeps hearing me making plans and is NOT excited in the least bit. Should be pretty routine. No spinal taps or anything. Just blood draw and vincristine. (reminder to self - I need a refill on his 6mp) but he will start steroids again. fun fun fun. I think if his counts are high they plan to increase his meds.
Please pray for our little friend Philip. His ANC is low (70) and he spiked a fever of 101.9. So he got admitted tonight to the hospital. He is in the middle of intense treatment. I cannot wait for that little one to get to maintenance!
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Aug. 8, 2008
Pregnancy update, Kennywood and 4 weeks down of school.
I am 26 weeks pregnant tomorrow! This pregnancy is flying by! Soon I will be in the 3rd trimester. Not sure if it is week 27 that hits you there or not.
Here is my picture this week.
We went to Kennywood on Sunday. The kids had a BLAST! It was with the VNA company picnic, where my MIL and BIL work.
Here are a few pics.
School is going well. Today we will have 4 weeks completed. Alyssa is doing so well as usual. Tristan is enjoying his Kumon workbooks. Well now that I got him "I can cut paper" it is the only thing he wants to do! lol The kid loves to cut and tape!
Things with Tristan are doing good. Nothing new to report. We have clinic again next Friday.
Oh I wanted to also add in these pictures.
My kids are both such monkeys! Alyssa is a strong climber and Tristan just likes to climb anything he can.
And here is Tristan doing some sensory play for school. :) Yes, that is what I call it. AKA peace for me while we work on Alyssa's!
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Jul. 12, 2008
Homeschooling at the crazy house.
Homeschooling - this is going to be a very busy week for me. I am so excited that my friend Danielle
has invited us to join her to her mothers house on Monday. We will be seeing Purple Martins and visiting a bird store. Also berry picking! I am thrilled!!! I think the kids will really enjoy the experience but not as much as I am looking forward to it! And berries to boot!
Then this week, either Tuesday or Wednesday, Justin's aunt is coming to visit us. She will be "gaining knowledge" of how I homeschool. HA HA HA that is such a funny thought. But hopefully I will not scare her and can give her some of what she needs. I guess the biggest thing is - normal people can do it and it does not always have to be perfect! She homeschooled last year and wants to come join me for a day. She is going to give this year another try.
The other day, my kids and I were doing Sonlight Science. We were on the float or sink experiment. Simple but kids love it.
Tristan was having a blast! He must have tried our objects 5 times each! And each time he would jump up and down screaming - "it floats!" or "it sinks!"
This is what the stinker does when I am doing homeschool with Lyss
He GLUES my counters to paper! I gave him things to keep him busy. Counters, cups, glue, paper, popsicle sticks etc. What did he do? Glued my counters! 
What am I going to do with that boy? Each time I turn my back he is mixing or doing something. Yesterday I had a water bottle on my table. I drank most of it. Left to put clothes in the dryer while the kids were busy eating their bean soup. I come back and cannot find my bottle. Ok... check to see if I took it to the laundry. No. Nowhere. A while later I am getting a can from the can cupboard. Inside is my water bottle halfway filled with bean soup just sitting on the shelf! TRISTAN CHARLES! lol
I could go on and on with stories. He keeps me on my toes and very busy!
Here is my angel
I never have to worry about her mixing or pouring or spilling (unless she is trying hard to get her own stuff instead of having me help) behind my back! She was such a good child!  Oh she is getting her own mischievious side though. She can be bad with the rest of them! But I never worry with her. If I tell her not to do something - she listens!
Friday is our next clinic date for Tristan. Keep him in your prayers as it is spinal tap day. Fun fun fun.
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Jul. 5, 2008
Hey blogging buddies
I was upstairs putting pictures on my computer and thought I would share some with you.
Here is my 20 week preggo picture, I am 21 weeks now. Do not mind my washed out make-up in this picture. Blah. oh well.
And here is my little guy and his cute fuzzy hair, he was doing "school" here.
Mom and Dad got Alyssa new roller skates so here is Tristan in Alyssa's old ones. I had these hidden but they came out now that they can live at Grandmas and Grandpas! lol
And we went to see the fireworks last night. I had my kids in Red, White and Blue but they had their night time bath already so they were in other clothes for fireworks.
This is what Tristan did the WHOLE time and Alyssa did half the time. PLUGGED their ears! lol
They really did enjoy them though. Hope you all had a happy 4th!
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Jun. 24, 2008
Picture of the kids with grandparents.
Although my little ones put a nice big smudge on the camera lens for these pictures, i thought they were good and wanted to share.
Look how pudged out Tristan got from his steroids! He is on an eating frenzy this week. But with past months, we will have a good time of eating, then end of the month I can barely get him to touch his food. So he pudges out, then gets thin again. But you can really see it in his face. He is such a cutie patootie though! Here he is with my dad.
Alyssa took that one. Then Tristan wanted to take one. He said, sit down for a family picture!
So that is my mom, me, my dad and my daughter :)
And since we are posting Grandmas and Grandpas, here is my mother in law with my kids and my niece Esmerelda.
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Jun. 9, 2008
Wow what a busy weekend!
We took the kids to Idlewild Friday. My parents and my family. That was so fun! Tristan got to meet Spiderman! How perfect is that!? We did not know he was going to be there!
It was a very awesome day. Hot but awesome. Too bad we could not go to Soak Zone. That would have made it better. But with Tristan's mediport we are not allowed. So since he cannot, none of us do.
I had a little scare Friday morning with some spotting. It lasted for a good bit. But so far since Friday afternoon I have not had anymore. This pregnancy sure is keeping me on my toes with worrying. Sigh. Thank you all for the prayers.
Saturday we went to the inlaws and the kids made a huge slip-n-slide down the hillside. Wow that was dangerous but they had a blast and thankfully noone got hurt!
Then we hit the Ford City bike trail. Justin picked Tristan up a new bike and helmet. Alyssa had gotten a new bike for Christmas. They did so good! We like to go to a small side of the trail where no one normally uses. it is shaded and I do not have to worry about the kids hogging both sides. Tristan had never rode a big boy bike before so I was happy to have it private. He did learn to brake and was doing fantastic! Justin and I walked.
Sunday we had a little family crisis scare. So Justin and I got woken up to a phone call at 5 am when my sister in law (to be) had not gotten home from walmart and she was no where to be found. Cell phone died to top it off. So after lots of prayer and crying, she called from a gas station lost! Praise the LORD nothing happened to her or my niece who was with her. Wow that was a reality check!
We were exhausted! Emotionally from our scare, and Physically from the weekend. But I am really glad we decided to go to church. I had thought about just going somewhere in Butler (moms church) because it would be quicker and easier. Alyssa had a party in Sunday school and she would have been devastated if she had missed it! It was her teachers last sunday class - the church gives them off for the summer. But then she moves to the 1st grade class so thank goodness she did not miss this week!
Oh and we are not the people who regularly skip just because we are tired either. I am just saying we thought about not driving the whole way from Butler to Kittanning instead.
But today is Monday. Back to the grind of the week. :) It was a nice and full weekend.
Here is one more cute picture of the kids and I from Idlewild. I have TONS more pictures but I talked so long in this post I will just limit it to one.
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May. 30, 2008
Back to the land of the living...
What a week or two this has been.
Last Monday Tristan spiked a high fever and we ended up in the ER again. I am soooooo thankful for all our good friends who covered our family in prayers. Well we found out later in the week what the fever was from. Tristan caught hand foot and mouth. Oye... the day his sores came out was the day Alyssa came down with her fever/headache/sore throat. And sadly... it was also the day we were planning on going to Idlewild.
So that trip was canceled. Alyssa was so bummed. It was going to be such a fun weekend. We were planning the zoo and picnics too. But that was not in the books for us.
We stayed close to home to not spread our germs. Man am I ready to get out and about again! The kids and I took walks to keep us from going stir crazy but go figure we get sick on the first nice weekend of the year!
Here is Tristan and his sores.
Praise the LORD Alyssa never got the sores though! She would have been a peach to deal with. 
Tristans hair is growing and we keep calling him "peachy"
Alyssa being a nectarine fan, not peaches did not understand why we called him that. Guess it has been a long time since we tried to give her a fuzzy peach! lol anyways... his hair is growing in light and fluffy for now.
Hard to get a pic of it. But I think in about 2-3 weeks he is going to have a nice head of hair!
Here are a few other cute pics I took the other day.
Ok, ok. how many pictures can you look at of the same kids huh? Good thing it is MY BLOG! bwahahahaha I can put up as many as I want
And in other rambling news, I went to walmart today. I saw a million people I know! Hello all my blog fans that I saw today! Made me realize how long it has been since I updated. So even though I was a cleaning fool tonight, actually putting away the folded laundry (I know mom - scary huh? I mean when I am pregnant, it just makes no sense for me to fold the laundry, trudge it upstairs to put in drawers and head back down only to have to go back up to get it for the kids to wear the next or even same day - I mean what is the point?) I decided to jump on before bed to update. Just for you!
We are on summer vacation for homeschool. I am busy arranging my schedules for next year. I am just about ready. I am very pleased with the things I have put together to use for Alyssa. Tristan I am going to play it by ear I think. I am not going to start into sonlight until at LEAST Feb... and might just wait until the next year to start him in prek. I will just do what I did this year and give him busy work while I work with Alyssa. I have MORE then enough things to keep him happy and learning.
So that is my LONG update. Have a super night!
oooh ETA (editing to add) - I had my drs appointment on Thursday and I got to hear the heartbeat again. Always nice. And I scheduled my big ultrasound. A little bummed because the dr said make it in 2 weeks from now. But I guess they were booked or something because I did not get in until 4 weeks. So June 26th it is. Pray for open legs for us! We want a peek at the sex because all my clothes went to friends to bless since I figured we were so blessed. And now I need baby clothes! So knowing the sex sure would make yard sale-ing nicer for us!
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May. 10, 2008
A few pictures.
How Tristan's hair is growing back in
My mom and dad brought Tristan an outfit for him to play dress up with. Since he ALWAYS wants to play with the girls. He liked it a lot!
We went to a birthday party today. It was a lot of fun! I think Tristan had too many sweets though! :) His teeth are showing signs of it :wink:
To let you know Alyssa was around here too! lol
She has been soo busy playing with her cousins that she does not want to stop for pictures anymore. She is growing up so much!
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Apr. 29, 2008
Sunday Tristan got to go to Sunday School Again
It was such a nice day on Sunday! Tristan got to go back to Sunday School. He really enjoyed himself even with being in a new class that he has never went to before. He went once to this class but we went to the afternoon service and since changed to the morning.
His teachers emailed me pictures of his first day. It was very nice of them and Tristan enjoyed looking through the pictures with me this morning. He was telling me all about it!
Here are a few of the ones they sent me.
As you can see, it looks like he really enjoyed himself. And I think he heard the story too because I asked him what his teachers name was and said "was that Mr Tim?" and he said, no his name was Paul! lol And you can see the story was about Paul and Silas so he must have been listening at one point!
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Apr. 22, 2008
Picture Entry
Thought I would share a few I have not posted in a while.
Here is Alyssa painting the other morning
And What GREAT kids I have! Alyssa was such a big help pushing Tristan the other day,
 Too bad though, I had him thinking the red swing was for my niece Emi and not him, Alyssa got him swinging back in it. Blah.
Fell asleep in it
A Priceless picture of my grandmother and my son
Camera was in the car when Alyssa was hugging her good bye or I would have snapped one of her too.
And Tuckered out from Grandmas sleepover and playing with her second cousin Mary
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Apr. 14, 2008
Family updates. Tristan, Baby and Alyssa :)
Hey, sorry I left so much time go by without an update. I am going to have to upload some pictures tonight when Justin is awake.
Things have gone well with Tristan. We are waiting to go back on the 22nd to see how his counts are. We are pretty much stuck by ourselves until then. Tristan is doing so well. Tonight is his last chemo pill then we get a week or two break. We will see. If his counts recover well, the 22nd will start his next round. If he needs an extra week to recover counts then they will wait.
We are ALMOST to maintenance!
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Things with me are going well and being pregnant. When I had my last appointment I found out that I have a sensitive cervix so that is most likely the cause of my spotting. So that is good news. I still do not like it. But at least half of the worry is gone.
If morning sickness is a clue of how well the pregnancy is going, it is going well. BLAH. I did get some Zofran for nausea. I am trying not to take it all the time though. I want to save it for when I REALLY need it. Sometimes it does not even do the trick though. So I can imagine that the Morning Sickness would have been a ton worse!
I am down 5 pounds!
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Alyssa is almost done with Kindergarten! 2 more weeks of work and we are to summer vacation! YAY! This is going perfectly planned. I want to run her school year from July - April. Because Alyssa is a big whiner on hot weather and I find come August she is flipping out and not wanting to be out in the heat. So she likes to be inside in the air conditioning. So to take advantage of the best weather for us, I want to have spring and early summer off. I was thinking I might run late this year with all our time off with Tristan this year. But we made it up and worked extra hard to get finished on time. She loves school so she never even noticed the little double days I threw in there.
Anyways... like I said, I will upload some pictures tonight.
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Feb. 23, 2008
Just a few pictures I blogged about the other day
I finally got my computer set up in my room so I uploaded some pictures to Snapfish. Here are a few things I blogged about and told you I would put up pictures later...
Tristan during his dental surgery the other day... Here he is with is arm up, he has been putting that arm up every since saying it hurts... I think they were a little rough on him on the 5th floor - unlike his clinic nurses. They were making me cringe the way they were squeezing and handling his port.
And gross I know... here are his teeth! Ick! I was expecting no roots!
Here you can see his hole, he has one on the other side too.
 I took this because HE wanted to see.
Here is Alyssa doing homeschool the other day
Then Sonlight had us fold a paper hat
And we made bubby one too, excuse his shirt - I have no clue really
ok, I think that is all! Thanks for looking!
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Feb. 1, 2008
A Post about Homeschooling :)
Got my The Old Schoolhouse Magazine yesterday! Oh I love that magazine! I am still flipping through it. I normally flip through it quickly. Then I go back and visit all the links I wanted to check out. Then I sit down and READ the magazine. It is like an art form to reading it. I really miss JenIG's column though... I need to stop over at her blog to get my Jen Fix! I have not been there in a while because it seems my online time is come and go these days. Sharing a computer to a Webkinz children is crazy! Even Tristan plays webkinz himself now! 
Which brings me to my ponderings... I am not sure what I am going to do about next year. I used to think - Tristan is just not going to be as advanced as Alyssa. I will just work at his own pace. He is a more hands on kid etc. A typical boy in my eyes. Well this month has brought a HUGE change in Tristan! He is making me so suprised at how grown up he is becoming!
He will turn 3 on the 26th of this month. Tristan always runs up with us to "do homeschool!" and he asks often to play webkinz. He actually plays a few games and does the online coloring. He can play mario party on the Nintendo Wii and actually knows how to click where and when etc! He plays it! He says, "Mom I want to watch this" carrying in a dvd. I pause a moment and he already has the old dvd out, the new one in, it turned on and sitting on my bed! He can eject vcr tapes, put the ones he wants in and play it. He makes his own sandwiches with his sneaky sisters help! He is amazing me at the leap of his understanding of things! They way he plays with Alyssa and how well he just became a big boy over night!
Oh and the things the has been learning from watching daddy! He knows exactly what each of his tools do. He was even putting switches in blue boxes and telling daddy where he wanted them. He is getting soo smart!
So my decision now is... do I start preschool early for him? I know he could handle it and if he was an only child I would. But this year Alyssa starts grade one for sonlight. It looks like a LOT on my plate and a big jump from the Preschool and Kindergarten programs I already used. I know it is going to take a lot of my time and energy to homeschool her. But... on the other hand. Sonlight preschool only takes about an hour of my day if that! More like half and hour or so. ...
I really think I might start him... but he will only be 3 1/2.... that is a tad early for me. I could just work at his own pace and see how things go. I just wonder if I will be ok on Alyssa's! It looks very challenging this year. Should I wait for Tristan to start next year? I am just not sure I will be able to get into the swing of things with her and him... I am nervous! But I have to do it sometime right? I already will have two years of homeschooling under my belt before I add Tristan... I can do it! Someone tell me I can....
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Jan. 25, 2008
Updates and Pictures
Wow, life can get so busy! We have been trying to get Tristan over a bad cough and cold. He is so phlem-y that he gags and throws up if he lays down. Well he did. Now he seems to be on the upswing. Still stuffed and such but less of that. We go Tuesday down to clinic again. We will have a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) so please keep Tristan in your prayers as always. We appreciate it. With how sick he has been all month, I will be curious to see where his counts stand.
Happy Box Day! I got my Sonlight Order for next year. Now I am all set for my good friend Dini and her kids to come over and show me how to use the full version of homeschool tracker! yay!
Alyssa is chugging along with school. We are over the half way mark now. We fell behind a tad with Tristan and Christmas. But we are in week 19 now. She is doing so well!
The beginning of the month, we had my mother in laws boss from the VNA come and take some shots of our family. Here are a few good ones she took.
This picture cracks me up! And you can really see Tristan has lost a LOT of weight just from the beginning of January when these were taken. Too bad you cannot say that about me too!
Poor Justin was looped up on pain meds!
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