Happy Happy Birthday, Husband (daddy) Dear

Its true...he's 35 today!

So here's a shout out to him!
From his babes: We think he's a pretty good dad. We like having him around so he can build train tracks for us and kick soccer balls with us. Teach us how to build awesome towers and use tools. He even lets us do yard chores with him! We're glad that he likes to spend all of his non working time with us (even though mom thinks he deserves a break now and then). Happy Birthday dad, we love you!
From his wife: Thanks for being such a good husband. I feel spoiled and well taken care of everyday. Love you!

Because I think they're cute...

Because I miss living somewhere else and because we don't have any other pictures of just the 2 of us...sad, I know!

Birthday...

So here is my festering trouble...

Nora turns 1 on Sunday and we have yet to find much that she can eat. We're up to sweet potatoes and carrots. Squash, peas, and any fruit were are a HUGE bust. If we don't find something else of a different color soon she might turn orange! Which might not be too bad since its my favorite color...but maybe not for a baby...
Anyway, so her birthday is on Sunday and I feel sad that she won't be able to have a cake. I know that she doesn't care since she doesn't know any better. But when she's older and she sees all of the "its your first birthday" pictures. She won't have one of her all covered in the traditional, right of passage, birthday cake.
So...what do I do instead? What would be a fun, memorable activity that doesn't involve food? I'm not sure yet. Any suggestions out there?

How do we have fun around here?

Albuterol 4 times a day X2!

Kyle decided to join Nora in having Asthma. And boy did he join in full force. Truthfully, I have been suspecting that this was the case for quite a while now, it just took him getting really sick for us to believe it, I guess. Poor kid! When we took him to the doctor on Tuesday his oxygen reading was 92%. At 89% they put kiddos in the hospital. Luckily, we already own a nebulizer machine and an abundant amount of Albuterol, so we got started right away with the treatments. And since Nora is on her way to getting sick, we decided to treat her as well, before she catches up with her brother!
Kyle is on antibiotics (for his double ear infections) and steroids (for his lungs). So much fun! We took him to the doctor yesterday and again today for oxygen reads. He was at 98% this morning. Thank goodness for steroids and Albuterol! And I am so grateful that my kids are so cooperative with the treatments. Kyle just sits there the whole 10 minutes and never complains. He's such a good boy and so cute about all of it.
I had an appointment for him to see the allergist this morning for some testing, but with all he has going on and the meds...the tests wouldn't work. So we'll have to wait until he's cleared up. Hopefully he'll be up and running around (while breathing happily) soon. Now is the time for Nora to catch up!

Does this sounds like a 2 year old?

Yesterday when we were at the doctor, waiting in the exam room, Nora grabbed onto Kyle's shirt for support. Kyle yells, "Dr, Scharff needs to see my back!" I say, "Why Kyle? What's wrong with your back?" He replies, "Nora touched me on my back! Dr. Scharff needs to see it!"

Back to my tree

(I'm going to eat this one right here!)

Nora likes it too!

For those of you with snow...

The kids had so much fun playing in the sprinklers this morning. They were a little hesitant at first but quickly adapted and then didn't want to stop! We need to enjoy it while we can! Before we know it...you'll be playing outside and we'll be sweltering, miserable, HOT!! And wishing we were with you.

Snack Time Talk

Mom says, "Kyle, you're so cute. Are you cute?"
Kyle says, "No, Nora is cute."
Lane chimes in, "Nu- uh! Only puppies are cute!"

Results - revealed

So I was totally wrong! In fact I couldn't have been more off. So here it goes...

Nora is not allergic to corn. Of course I am quite happy to hear this news. Soy and corn would have been a complicated mess for sure. What is she allergic to?

Mildest allergies are wheat, chicken and peanuts. A little higher are tree nuts. While this all sounds daunting, they are mild allergies and nothing to be too concerned about. Just to give an idea. They rate the tests for 0 = no allergic reaction to 4+ = couldn't be more allergic. Her soy allergic is a 4+. The first 3 are 1+ and the tree nuts are 2+. Of course all this could change one way or another and many times. We'll just be careful and continue testing for the next few years. Whoo Hoo!

Most difficult of all? The fact that she has to be on this wicked expensive formula for at least another year - if not longer. We just might have to do some bake sales or better yet...garage sales. The boys! I mean their toys. They have way too many toys! I'm sure they wouldn't mind to help out the cause, right? Honestly, they probably wouldn't even notice. They are that spoiled. But they're so dang cute!

Kyle Garrett

Just so this blog isn't always all about Nora, I thought I would add a quick Kyle story. This happened last month but its really funny and I want to make sure I always remember it.

I took him in for his 2 year well visit and was explaining to him that he was going to be getting some medicine in his leg. He says to me, "but my leg doesn't open!" The nurse and I could keep from laughing.

He's such a nut, instigator of most shenanigans and always good for a laugh.

Skin Patch - Day 1

We took Nora to the allergist to get 8 different foods taped to her back. They'll stay on there for 48 hours. Gross for many reasons. I try not to think about the fact that she'll be wearing rotting chicken, eggs, peanut butter, milk, etc for two days. Yuck! Not to mention the hives that are possibly forming. I predict lots of sleep deprivation! But if it gives us more insight to what her little body can and can't handle, then it's worth it. Less trial and error on my part. At least for now.

We'll post again on Thursday with the results. Of all the 8 foods, I predict that corn will be the only offender. (Since we already know that she's off the charts allergic to soy - we opted not to put her through the torture of putting on her back - again) Hope I'm right!

On another food note. We started feeding her fruits first. All because the Nurse at the hospital (after her GI scope) said that fruits are easiest for kids with EE to digest. So we try feeding her fruits and her body is a mess! I'm thinking, "this girl is never going to be able to eat anything!" But when we went to the allergist last week she said that its true kids with EE do better with fruits first but not all kids with EE have eczema. And kids with Eczema don't do well with fruits. GOOD GRIEF! Please could we get a straight story. Apparently I should have started her out on root vegetables like sweet potatoes and squash first. Which we have done and she is doing just fine. Finally! What a relief to feel like we're finally heading in the right direction. For now...

My (happiness) tree - Revised!

Everyone knows how tired I am of Phoenix and how badly I wish I could move...somewhere pretty. Its this upcoming time of year that I miss Massachusetts. The one thing that makes being here still somewhat tolerable is this tree in our front yard. My happy tree, my patience tree, my forgiveness tree, etc. All the things I need when I curse living here. Not a great picture, I know. So you can't really appreciate the lovely lavender buds on a dark plum tree. (It was a bad picture until Pat took over with the camera.) It makes my heart smile as I pull in and out of the garage. But then I go in the house and frown at how small my house is and how crowded we are. Or I drive down the street and see all the brown...sigh!

But let's be positive for a minute. I'm grateful to have a house. A husband who works hard so that I can stay home with my crazy crowd. That I live close to more than one Trader Joe's. All important things.

Thank you tree!

History of The Cakes

I've been asked, "Why do you refer to your family as The Cakes?" Well, here's how it started...

Before Pat and I were married, my sister Jerriann thought it was funny to call Pat "Patti Cake." And then she said that when we got married we would be Mr. and Mrs. Cake. And it just kind of stuck. We would address letters, emails and presents from "The Cakes."

When we found out we were pregnant with Lane it just continued with, "Oh, now we'll have a little cup cake!"

I don't know, its pretty silly. But for some reason we just keep doing it. So there you go, the story of The Cakes. Just humor us, I guess...

The Cakes - then




Cup Cake Lane



Cup Cake Kyle



Cup Cake Nora



The Cakes - Now