Clayton

Last year on June 12th we took our dear son Clayton to a pediatric dermatologist in Portland. At about 4 months of age he got a rash. Turns out it was really bad eczema, more than likely food allergy related. We knew that if we took him to the doctor we would probably be prescribed cortizone and sent home, we really wanted to avoid that and so we tried almost everything else we could think of. I started making our own lotion to put on him so that I would know all the ingredients in it, I made our own laundry soap and washed everything (everything!) in the house in it to find out if it was a topical allergy, as I was still nursing I went on elimination diets and gentle cleanses to see if it was a yeast problem or a food allergy but nothing really helped. He was still red and itchy, especially at night. He wore socks on his hands all of the time to keep him from scratching his skin raw but he still rubbed it raw with the socks on. I went to a Natrupathic Physican to try and get some answers but together we couldn't find anything either. I discovered during all this that I am a comfort eater and I was slowly going mad not being able to eat anything, so we decided to try and wean Clayton to formula, a homemade formula that the NP recommended. Clayton ended up being allergic to many of the ingredients and we weren't sure what to feed him and I was scared of making his rash worse, then he came down with pink eye, strep and thrush all at the same time and really didn't want to eat. We went to a docter then and gave him antibotics. Finally we made an appointment with the Ped. Derm. and went in. He took one look at Clayton and "strongly urged" us to have him admitted to Doernbecher Children's Hospital right away. Clayton was very mal-nourished and showing many signs of edema and protein loss. So we went and ended up spending 5 days there while we tried to get food back in him. He ended up with a feeding tube down his nose and cortizone to keep his eczema down while he regained his weight. When he was born he weighed 9lbs. 2 ozs. and he started gaining weight right away and was a chubby, chubby baby, when we went into DCH he weighed just over 18lbs, this at 10 months of age. After 5 days we came home with all of the equipment to feed him through his feeding tube, the docters expected him to have his feeding tube in for at least a month or until he took all of his food by mouth during the day instead of through a drip all night. He only had his feeding tube in for about a week. Praise the Lord.
Until about 8 months ago Clayton wore arm bands all the time to keep him from scratching, then we started taking them off during the day and only putting them on for naps and bed time. Now he has not worn his arm bands in 6 months.
He still has some food allergies and we're not sure what all of them are but we are slowly introducing food and watching for reactions. He also loves to eat! A lot.
I am still in awe of how good our God is and what he has done. I remember sleepless nights of crying on the floor next to Clayton's bed because I could not help him, or relieve the itch and I didn't know what to do. I am so thankful that I know the God who is a God of healing and who held me even then. I am so blessed. And this year, at this time Clayton is chubby once more. He's full of character and loves to play in the dirt and boss the dog around. If I didn't have the pictures to prove it and the memories I wouldn't believe it was the same boy. Thank you to all that prayed and thank you for your continued prayers, God is good.

Pile O' Rock

My once magnificent pile of rock has slowly dwindled to become:

only this big. This is all that is left but it has created this:
and so much more, pathways and rock walls and flowerbeds but this is all I have pictures of so far.
Erik asked me if I wanted more "exercise" for my birthday and said that he could get me another year's membership, meaning another huge pile of rock or dirt to move. I don't know what I would do with it but it is tempting. Of course, I really like having my driveway back.

Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday Home

Yesterday at Fred Meyer we purchased a tub in hopes that we can contain the duplo blocks. Somehow most of them end up under the couch and at the bottom of the toy box and the rest are left scattered on the floor for the unsuspecting foot (to then be kicked under the couch after said foot has been imprinted with it's rectangular or square shape and design). After our shopping trip we came home and searched out all of the blocks and transferred them to their new home and promptly closed the lid that they may not offend any feet. The stipulation then became that the blocks could not leave their home until other toys were picked up and put away and then when the blocks had lost their fascination they must return to their home. The living room refused to be cleaned yesterday so the blocks remained in their box until this morning, then while Erik and I attempted to sleep in this morning they found their way out of the box and became Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday Home. Architects and Designers as well as Builders: Hannah and Ivan Dante.

Garden Pics.

Walkway and path to the gate: Welcome to My Garden
Squash, Zucchini, Tomatos and Peas, oh and pumpkins
Looking over the beans to more squash and pumpkins and the blueberries are just beyond that.
Standing at the back of the garden looking towards the house and Hannah who was suppose to be inside.

Okay, so this isn't my garden but this is my really cool finger-knitted hammock. It is near the garden...

GARDEN!

The garden is finally planted!! It's beautiful and random and still just dirt with stakes marking out what is growing but the seeds are there and I'm anxiously waiting for them to grow. Hannah helped plant and it was fun...though I did have to remind myself that I didn't have to be in a hurry, it's okay to plant each seed individually in just the right spot. Even Clayton dropped a few seeds in for me. Ivan helped decide which tomato plant went where and then wasn't too interested. We finished planting right as it started to sprinkle, so I'll go take pictures when it stops raining. I can do this now (take pictures that is) because we just got a new digital camera. If you noticed the large picture behind my blog title, I took that with my new camera. That daisy is my Mother's Day gift, it sits on the front porch in one of the wire plant stands from my wedding. I'm going to go enjoy a cup of tea and relax, maybe knit and try not to complain too much about being quite sore and tired.

Tea at Twilight

The other night after all the kiddos were kissed and hugged thoroughly and tucked in bed Erik and I sat on the front porch, me with a notebook, pen and cup of tea and Erik with the guitar and we had a very pleasant evening singing, pondering and watching the fog roll in around the cellphone tower on the hill. (I never thought I would find a cellphone tower beautiful but you should have seen the fog around it!) And as I was sitting there I realized just how content I am...just in general and how comfortable I have become in my own skin; in who I am and where I am. It is a very peaceful feeling. It's not a comfortable-ness of laziness; I feel I'm busier than ever, chasing kiddos, trying to get my garden done, cleaning up the yard, making bread, keeping house and children clean etc. but it's rather a comfortable-ness of knowing who I am amongst all these things. I sat there on my porch pondering where I was 7 or 8 years ago when I was wondering "what to do, where to go, who to be" (from a song I wrote at the end of high school) and where I am now. I know that I don't have everything figured out and I know I never will but I know who does and I want to draw close to Him; to keep growing and learning. Heaven knows there are many areas where I need to grow.
When I was in middle school my sunday school teacher used to ask us who we were and we were suppose to have an answer picked out (from a list none-the-less) so that we would never forget where our actual identity is found. Mine was/is:
"I am not the great I AM but by the grace of God I am what I am."
So I am what I am and I really like it.

Today

It's only 9:50pm and I'm exhausted. I'm sitting at the computer in the dark and everyone else is in bed and I should be going to sleep. I moved rock and dirt most all day today and then I got the dishes done tonight and cookies made. Oh and right before dinner I jogged/walked around the block with some friends. So needless to say, I'm really tired. I don't have anything witty to write or momentous news to report I'm just noting for all that I am feeling really content and tired. It was a good day, it was sunny, I got a lot of work done, I love my husband, I love my kiddos, God is good (which he is no matter what!). Yep. That's it for now.