Halloween Costumes!

Spent some time... okay almost 2 hours... at Hobby Lobby today!!  My mom, Makenzie and I had nothing better to do than wander the greatest store EVER.  Plus I needed to get some supplies to make Matt and I's (is that proper?) costume. 

I think I got every thing that I need for Matt's costume... but mine might need a little help.  We'll see... I'll start with his and then work on mine. 

We are dressing up as a TV couple.
Both wear glasses.
The husband loves grilling, and works in the business.
The wife is pretty outspoken.
They have one son.

Haha!  You'll never guess :-)  My father in law could tho!!

Toddler's Diarrhea

Toddler's Diarrhea (Syndrome) is something I never heard about until about 3-4 months ago.  This past March Makenzie started having almost constant diarrhea.  We had thought that it was just a stomach bug at first, but then became worried it was something more.  A Dr's appt was made and from there we were sent for bloodwork and stool samples to try and figure out exactly what was going on.

The good thing about this is that she didn't seem to bothered by it (she was bothered by the extremely horrible diaper rash that you can't treat because she was constantly going!), but this mama was!  I use reusable diapers and when you get nasty diapers it gets really messy really fast.  Not to mention that more times than not the diaper couldn't hold it all so when she did go it was ALMOST a throw her in the bath and start over kind of thing.

We got the test results back and everything came back negative.  So the Dr said to take her off milk for a week and see what happens.... nothing really changed.  So then the Dr said try 2-4 weeks.  Alrighty!  Now we took her sippy cups of milk away, but didn't take out the rest of dairy.  And we DID see a decrease in the amount of times she went, BUT it was still messy.

I threw milk back into the diet... MISTAKE!  Wow oh WOW!  We are now into June with this problem and I was so bothered by not knowing what the deal is here, and exhausted with this mess.  POOR MAKENZIE.  I didn't feel like the Dr was too helpful or really concerned due to the fact that Makenzie is growing on track and doesn't seem to be bothered by everything.

I took Makenzie off dairy completely.... lactose free milk, no cheese, no dairy.  After that I tell you, I feel for anyone that has a food allergy!!  When I'd make my menu's I had to pick out recipes that didn't use milk or cheese.  Pain.

Taking her off of dairy seemed to help.... she wasn't going as often, diapers weren't as horrid... but STILL not regular.

I couldn't figure it out... if she is lactose intolerant then why isn't it back to normal yet!?!?

September.  I called the Dr- yet again- refusing to make an appointment because I was tired of paying to have her not really heAR me!  Then the Dr mentioned Toddler's Diarrhea Syndrome, and told me to give her fatty foods (all the fatty foods I wanted to give her!  Right... then how do you take it away!?!?)  There is NOT a lot of information about it but here's what I know:

Cause: unknown (one Dr says it's from a bad diet--which Makenzie didn't have)
Treatment: no remedy, but some Dr's say you can tweak their diet to help improve things
Length: can start at 6 months and last until 5 years (until children are out of their "toddler" stage)
Diet: increase fat, zip juice, decrease fruit

So Matt and I sat down with what little info that we had and made a new "diet" for Makenzie!
Before: Soy milk, no dairy, OJ in the am (diluted), 2 Servs of Fruit
Now: Vitamin D Lactose Free Milk, OJ in the am (diluted), 1 Serving of Fruit, Yogurt, Cheese (if mixed in with a casserole)

We have been on this diet for a week and a half and I am jumping for joy!!!  We went from her going a few times a day to going once every 2 days.  (And they are pretty close to being normal.)  Changing her diapers has been SOOOOO much better!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we've got it figured out!

Our Hump Day

It was SUCH a beautiful day yesterday!!  (And is today TOO!)  We started things out by heading over to story time at the library.  There were a LOT of kiddies there and I think it intimidated Makenzie a bit.  She was unusually shy.  Once we were done with that, we watched the turtles (Cra-cra's... no clue how she get's that out of turtle... but she does!) and the "fisheys" before we took off. 

I had to make a quick stop at the grocery store and on the way we decided to stop and see Grandma at work!  Makenzie knew exactly where we were when we were in the parking lot.  I can't believe how much she is learning. 

So after groceries (where we looked at fish again) we surprised Great Grandma and Grandpa with a visit!  We ate our baloney sandwiches together and then Makenzie played with one of her favorite playmates... Great Grandpa!

During her nap time I decided to take a stab at more landscaping.  Some of the bushes have gotten totally out of control so I took some of those out and was happy to be able to see our house :0)  It covered up a LOT of the back of the house.

Grilled steaks, a nice walk with the fam, and reading in bed finished our evening!

Day 3 of 28 Days

Somewhere I heard that it takes 28 days to make a new habit.  Not sure if that's a fact, but it's something that I turn to quite often and it works for me.  BUT if you skip a day you have to start your 28 day count all over :0)  So really, if you stick to it.... you'll get it... if it takes you 28 days or 365!  But normally by the 28 day mark I don't think about it anymore.  I just do it!


Today I am on day 3 of working out for at LEAST a half hour a day!  I'm really hoping to stick to it and really hoping that it helps with the aches and pains I have had lately.  A good chunk of September I had visited a chiropractor multiple times a week to help with neck and shoulder pain that I had going on for quite awhile.  After a few x-rays the Dr had said that the muscles in my neck and upper back have been strained so much it has distorted my spine. 

Bottom line: Tiny woman + Big baby = Havoc on my body



I don't feel like I lift Makenzie a lot, but I suppose when I do it's a lot of lifting and swinging.... putting her into the car seat in a truck, grocery cart, crib, changing table.  I don't feel like that's hard work when I do it, but I suppose that's all adding into the play on my body.  So I decided to throw in a workout plan and see if that helps me out!! (Just something simple that I can do at home and possibly in increments thru-out the day depending on kid#1!)  I did yoga a lot when I was prego so I'm going to throw that in the mix with some pilates, getting outside for walks, and cardio a few times a week totaling in 5-6 days a week!

Makenzie has enjoyed trying to do some of these workouts with me, and I must admit it's a lot of fun with her!!  Today I found a pilates video on youtube.com that worked my abs, back, and neck.  O-U-C-H. 

I feel it!!!!! 

Baby Mama!

As I was doing laundry yesterday Makenzie came out of her bedroom saying her new favorite word:
"See?  See? See?  Mama... see??"
And this is what I saw:

Makenzie had her baby and her baby kitty in a basket.  Once she showed me, she then put it on her arm (how I carry my purse) and again said... "See Mama?? See??"  Haha.  It was too cute!  She then set the basket down and left walking towards her bedroom.  I hear her grunting and go and see what's going on.  Makenzie was pulling her rocking chair out of her room.  I pick it up for her and she points to set it down next to the basket in the dining room.  Then she goes to her toy box and starts heaving stuff out of it.  (This girl was on a mission!)  I go over there to help and she says "Eat!".  Okay.... how about a (toy) bottle?  She takes it and goes and sits in her rocking chair, picks up the baby and does this....

Is that not the cutest thing!?!?!?  LOVE that I am able to stay home and see her doing this kind of stuff all day!!  Today while she was eating lunch I got our dinner (that was on the menu for Friday night... Balsamic Chicken) going in the crockpot.  I was slicing an onion and Makenzie said she wanted one.  Yuck.  So I get the camera ready (Muhahaha), give her the onion, and hit record!  No, I don't think she liked it.

Here's what our dinner looks like!!!  It's making the house smell DELICIOUS!!!

Fun Fall Weekend

The weekend started with a tired Mama (from getting over my cold) and a whiny Daddy (Yes Matt got sick too).  Instead of making Balsamic Chicken and noodles, which was on the menu for Friday night, I decided I was too tired to do anything.  Off we went to pick up some pizza from Hungry Howie's.  (We're usually only Jet's Pizza eaters, but we decided to try something different.... next time we'll go back to Jet's!) 

We finished Friday off with dancing the night away to Toddler's Tunes!  (Romantic, eh?)  Makenzie loves to dance and we had on the tunes for her and she kept yanking at Matt and I so we could dance... so we did!!  Matt and I were both exhausted, but it was FUN.  I think one of these nights we should go outside to make sure we can't see thru the blinds!!  This dancing seems to be an almost every night ritual :0)

Saturday night we headed over to Matt's parent's house for a visit to their pumpkin patch!!  All the grandkids had such a fun time picking out their pumpkins and carving them.  This family is just growing and growing.  I had to get a shot of the dinner table all set up for all of us!  We had a great dinner and then carved the pumpkins and of course (thank you Makenzie) danced.

"Yikes!!!  I don't know what is in here
but Grandpa!!!  Pick me UP!!!"

When Grandma came out of the bathroom looking like
that... Makenzie didn't know WHAT TO DO!!!
So she stared at her for a good 5 mins :0)

Makenzie helping Auntie Mandi feed her new baby cousin!

While we were there a bunch of turkeys ran thru the yard.  All the kids gathered around to see while Matt and his brother decided they would run after the bunch to "catch" one!  (Which I have on video!!)  They didn't come close, but it was sure funnnnyyyy!!!  Once they were gone Makenzie just sat there looking out the window for the rkeeee :0)  I told her they went to bed and that we were going to eat a turkey for dinner tomorrow night.  Her response cracked me up....  Ohhhh NOOOOO!!!  I forget that she understands pretty much everything we say!

Hehe, our turkey Sunday night was delicious, we had some great company!  I love to make turkey and love that we get so much for leftovers that I can freeze it and make other meals out of it.  Win-Win!

Last fall --> this fall

Then...

 Now....

Incredible!