Kool-Aid Face

When I was a little girl, I took dance class, ballet, tap and jazz.  I did it for quite a few years and during that entire time, I had the same teacher, Mrs. Gwen.  She was a British woman. Very proper, very strict but she was also very good at her job.  Not one of us little dancers dared to ignore Mrs. Gwen and all her etiquette rules she taught us over the years.  We looked up to her and wanted to be just like her.    

I don’t have too many memories of being in my dance class, mostly only recitals.  But, there is ONE memory that has always stuck out in my …

Allergies – The Worst is Yet to Come (Part 3)

To Read Part 1, Go HERE.

To read Part 2, Go HERE.

The worst parts about Isaak’s allergies were yet to come.  As I mentioned before, his spotty red rash started forming clumps and became really dry and scaly.  He would constantly itch at it in discomfort.  There were mornings when I’d get him out from his bed and he’d be covered in patches of dried blood from itching at his little rash clumps all night long.  It was horrible. 

I finally reached the point where I couldn’t take watching him be in so much pain so I took him to see a pediatric dermatologist.  From that visit we learned that not …

Allergies – Part 2

The first round of Isaak's allergy testing, age 9 months.

After Kora’s experience with food allergies, I felt relieved to know I had conquered that frustration and was ready to move on to the next.  As all mothers know, there is always a”next”.  Three years had passed since Kora was born and we adopted a child after that.  It wasn’t until Kora was almost 6 that we added our 4th child, Isaak. 

Isaak was a precious little baby!  He had the sweetest little smile and for the first 6 months of his life, he was quite the easy …

Allergies – Part 1

Kora, at age 20 months

My first born, Jakob, was such an easy baby.  He slept well, ate well and was always the sweetest little guy to be around.  When Kora, was born, I expected the same.  I had only one example as to how babies were “supposed” to act and I stupidly assumed that Kora would be no different.  Boy was I wrong!

Kora was an extremely difficult baby.  She cried and whined all the time.  She never slept solidly and when I was finally able to get her to sleep, it was only for about 30-45 minutes at a time.  Her naps seemed …

New Introductions, Diaper Style

Sandy in disguise guarding Isaac

Have you seen those heart-breaking ASPCA commercials, the ones with Sarah McLaughlin and the pictures of all the sad and abused animals? I always tear up and it’s not the hormones!Well, the piteous looks in those dogs and cats eyes is the same look my dogs, Sandy and Piper are giving me as I baby talk Isaac and snuggle him. I can picture little thought bubbles above their heads saying “hey what about us?” and “you better not forget to feed us or walk us again!”
My two Border Collies are used to being the babies, especially the older one, Sandy, …

A Letter to My Memory

Me with Jakob, my now 9 year old

Dear Memory,

It’s good to reconnect with you.  I wanted to take a moment and write you a short letter expressing some thoughts I’ve had lately regarding our relationship.  We’ve definitely been through a lot together and I feel that a quick pow-wow is in need.  

Up until the past couple of years, you’ve always been so good to me.  You never failed me when I was in need of recalling specific days as evidence that I should not be punished for something my sisters had already done.  You stuck by my side during high school and college, …