Ten Years!

In April Brett and I celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary by going to Las Vegas. We had such a wonderful time. I sure do love him!

I really do love being his wife! 

Catch Up!

As I move away from putting much (and checking) Facebook I realized my blog is WAY behind. I don't have time to scrapbook anymore - so I feel it's so important to keep this updated. My goal is to do a much better job!! :) sorry for the feed overload as I catch up! 

Gluten Free! - posted late! This was two weeks ago!

We have been gluten free for 5 days now -- she is a NEW CHILD!! Her back, bottom, tummy and neck are almost all cleared up and there is minimal scratching. We saw Dr. Hund Thursday - he was very apologetic that we had not caught this sooner. The past few weeks she had stopped eating much which increased the screaming. Since taking away gluten her bowel is so healthy!! I don't think I have EVER changed this full of a diaper on her - my mom and I are so thankful as we didn't realize how unhealthy they looked and smelled. Callie's blood work will be back sometime next week. Dr. Hund drew for both Ciliacs disease and gluten intolerance. I am quickly learning that there is quit a difference. I am so thankful for this happy smile!! She has been a new child! Thank you for your prayers as learn how to live so that Callie can be has healthy as possible!! 

Callie Update! And Overall Goodness!

We received wonderful news the end of last week - as of right now Callie is not testing positive for Celiac's Disease! We are so very thankful! I am not sure that I am repeating correctly, however from the best that I can recall she had 2 of 5 tiders come back positive. Therefore, her current diagnosis is "non-celiac gluten sensitivity". I am finding that there is a plethora of information on google if you google that title - not all of it is pleasant so I am choosy what I ready! :) Callie is NOT to consume any gluten as of now. Dr. Hund wants to retest for Celiac in a year to make sure that we did not get a "false negative" since we had already had her off of gluten prior to the tests. Upon reading I have been absolutely amazed how many behavior issues are associated with this diagnosis. A few that jumped out to me where depression, ADHD, and extreme mood swings.... I have ordered Callie a gluten free awareness shirt that reads, "you won't like me if you feed me gluten" and has the ribbon in the corner. It may seem mean - but those the closest to her got smile out of it. She is seriously a different child since coming off of gluten. Her skin is clearing up BUT the most surprising thing to me is her overall attitude.

Over Christmas break I had spent many days home with the kids... normally I love this! However, I can remember one day when Brett got home and I was on the floor of the living room sobbing while Callie was in one of her fits biting herself (and me), pulling both of our hair, and screaming uncontrollably. I would often send the kids to play in their rooms so that I would get the brunt of it. I SERIOUSLY had already decided that she was bipolar or on the spectrum. The extreme mood swings had finally caught up with me. Earlier that day I had taken Curt and Cadie to see a movie and when we were leaving Curtis said, "Thank you for taking us out without Callie.. we can't take her anywhere because she is could get mad!" Talk about getting hit with a ton of bricks. - When Brett got home that day and saw how bad she was (once again) and I told him what Curt had said we both agreed it was time to get her some professional help, beyond our pediatrician. This was a Friday. The next Monday I took Callie into the chiropractor, as I had for months and months. Devin asked me how her weekend was, and I burst into tears and told her that we were going to try and get into see a specialist. Devin took so much time to sit and visit with him and asked if she could see the places where she was scratching and biting, and I happily showed her. Without taking a breath she looked at me and said, "Kim that is textbook gluten allergy. Have you had her tested?" At that point I would have tried anything and was very skeptical that it would be that "easy" of a fix.

THANK YOU LORD THAT IT WAS THAT "EASY" OF A FIX!! Callie will have to be tested for Celiac every few years, as her risk of developing it is high. I pray for healing this side of Heaven, but can't thank Him enough that my (now) sweet little baby is in fact a sweet little baby. As I get older I am finding that I would take back many statements that I have spoken when angry, tired, or during my postpartum. I swore I would NEVER want to relive Callie as a baby.... I take that back :( I would give anything to have known sooner what was wrong so we both wouldn't have had to suffer so long... especially her. However, I can't change the past... I can express apology for anyone I hurt and strive for better in the future.

I have such a beautiful family!! I have a Savior who loved me even when I was positive no one did, a wonderful husband, three wonderful children, AND I am now down 25 pounds (thanks to Dr. Holman's program - and my sweet cousin who was brave enough to share info with me).
I am a very lucky lady!

 

 Yes, we were disappointed in our Broncos!!

 

 

 

Skillet

Saturday evening we took Curt and Cadie to the Intrust Bank Arena for the Road Show.

Ok, let's be honest... we went to see Skillet!

It was a wonderful family evening - it is pretty cool to have this age of kids.

 

Cadence is at the age were she likes to do fun selfies!!

She cracks me up!

 

"My Tummy"

It is very common in our house for Callie to cry "my tummy" and will often find Brett or I to rub her tummy. She has now been off of gluten for 5 days and has been a new child. However, this morning she was up super early and overall very fussy. Nothing like what she has been but definitely not as good as she has been the past few days. This morning she went and got in bed with Brett and wanted him to rub her tummy.

 Dr. Hund told us that it could take a few weeks to a few months for all of the gluten to get out of her system. We didn't realize how unhealthy her BM's were until we are now seeing such good diapers. They are no longer grey/maroon or nearly as foul smelling. She doesn't seem as bloated and the scratching is getting better. She is still pretty broke out but we are seeing improvements. It is our understanding that children who develop the DH (some fancy skin condition that accompanies gluten intolerance) 99% of the time have full blown Celiac's Disease. Her blood was drawn on Thursday and we were told it would take 4-5 working days for her results to come back. Dr. Hund said that it was up to Brett and I but would suggest we opt for a stomach and intestine biopsy if she comes back positive.  However, we have decided that we are NOT going to do this. If she were in her 30's we could understand needing to see the extent of damage. We are so blessed with how much love and support everyone has shown for my sweet Callie. From my cousin Jessica (who brought extra gluten free snacks to my moms) to my mother-in-law who made her gluten free cookies today! The more I read about Celiacs the more I understand how serious of a condition this truly is. The great thing is I have a *wonderful* husband who has pretty much taken over switching everything in our home to gluten free. I will post as soon as we get results back!

We've got this sweet Girl!!

Cadence Lynn

Holy Cow... I'm not sure when Cadie turned into such a *beautiful* little lady!

Words really can't express how much I love these two little ladies!!