A day to remember, a day we'll always cherish.  The day we were blessed to have you as our child.

After days of wondering, I finally took the test and when I saw the results, my whole life changed in that one moment..... And as the time quickly passed, a realization set in.
With each month, growing bigger and bigger, so did my dreams. .... There's nothing like that first little twitch - finally knowing that my tiny baby was in there, moving and living, and when I saw her on the monitor, I counted fingers and toes, saw the tiny heartbeat- it just didn't seem real,
that this little person was alive inside of me. .... And as the time approached, the anxiety, anticipation, excitement and fear all intensified. .... And then came the day - the day of her debut.
Everything went so smoothly - I couldn't have asked for any more - and there she was, exactly as I'd pictured her all this time and she's perfect, and she's mine, and I can see myself in her eyes, and I can see my husband in her smile. .... And the love I feel is so overwhelming - I am flooded with emotions,
trembling at the sheer miracle of it all - for that's what she is - my very own tiny miracle
straight from God. .... And I can't even look at her without tearing up.
Every time I tell her that I love her, I cry at the thought of the depth of the love - a love like nothing I've ever known. .... And suddenly all of my emotions are tied to her - she makes me laugh, she makes me cry,
she frustrates me, she thrills me. She is truly my greatest accomplishment - my baby girl - my daughter.

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY KADENCE!!!!

To my friends who enjoy a glass of wine....


As Ben Franklin said: In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. coli) - bacteria  found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop.
 
However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & champagne; beer (or tequila, rum, whiskey or any other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

 
Remember: Water = Poop, Wine = Health.   

Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of shit .

There is no need to thank me for this valuable information: I'm doing it as a public service.

CHEERS!!

Kady Update

Some clarification.

The "possible" asthma problem is completely unrelated to the snotty nose and cough.  For a minute there I was thinking the doctor was crazy.  I come in for runny nose and cough and I leave with a possibility of asthma.  He may as well have said, "It's yellow and shaped like a banana, therefore it's an orange!"  Do to her cold and snotty nose she has now developed an ear infection and the cough is due to post nasal drip.  The possible asthma is just being called wheezing at this point and could be due to RSV.  Not sure what that is but apparently it's going around right now.  For now we continue the breathing treatments because they are working.  Her Oxygen levels elevated again...score, and he heard no signs of wheezing, today...again score.  Glad we got that figured out.

ON another note.  The notorious liquid diet discussion...I'm really sick of this topic.  Aren't you?  Kadence has proven yet again to want nothing to do with drinking her rice milk so we have not even been able to try and ween her into her NEW formula.  The new formula we were attempting to try is called Neocate.  There are yummy flavor packets you can add to it....Ooo goodie!!!  I think the best option at this point is to go with plan B)...see below post.  There are going to be so many changes this month for all 3 of us I just don't feel the time is right.   If she isn't already full swing into her liquid diet, why start now with all the big adjustments she's going to have to make on top of being sick at the moment.

Her big 2nd Birthday is coming this Sunday.  If any of you have a good Vegan recipe for a birthday cake PLEASE let me know.  I'd love to be able to make some type of birthday cake she can eat.

Kady Update

Well, well, well....BRING IT ON!!!

This update is off the beaten track for now.  Believe it or not we have something NEW to talk about aside from Eosinophilc Esophagitus, Colitis, reflux, diarrhea, liquid diets, Celiacs, Colonoscopy's, Endoscopy's and what not...HA!!  Poor sweet Kadence has been sick.  A little cold nothing horrible.  Just enough to make her and mom cranky and agitated.  Ir started off with a little runny nose.  It's now been 10days (nothing exciting) and has been joined with a cough.  A pretty nasty cough.  Being Asthmatic myself, I could tell she was having some labored breathing and wheezing.  Again, nothing too exciting.  Fearing she may have Bronchitis or something and be contagious, I took her to the doctor, on Monday.  He informs me she does NOT have bronchitis, may have had a slight cold but it sounds like Asthma....REALLY?!?!  Frankly, I'm not sold nor is Dom.  They actually won't classify her as having Asthma until this problem becomes recurrent and breathing treatments prove successful.  SO....we are now the proud new owners of an Inspiration Elite Compressor Nebulizer System...OH yeah baby!!!  Whatever, insurance paid for it and that's great and what not.  But, have you ever really tried to make a 2yr old sit and breathe mist out of a nose mask thingy for 10 minutes at a time, 3-4 times a day?  A 2yr old that would rather be sucking her thumb mind you.  Not easy!!!

Tomorrow we have a follow up to see where her oxygen levels are at and if the breathing treatments have been helping.   I'm sure her oxygen levels will be elevated but not so sure the breathing treatments are really working.  Not yet at least.  I definitely have more questions for the doctor and am looking forward to hearing his answers.  DON'T BE CONFUSED....she has not yet been diagnosed with having Asthma but we are treating it as if she may.  Only time will tell if she does or not.  As for now...why not add another unanswered question to the ever growing list of POSSIBLE problems Kadence may have.  So annoying.  I'm beginning to lose faith in doctors.  I really need to get on finding a Holistic Doc.

GOD BLESS this kid, I wouldn't want to have her any other way than EXACTLY the way she is...

Picture of the Day...

"Look mom, my hair is growing!"

A Bug in the Tub!

FEELING SHOWERED

What a great afternoon spent with the GREATEST group of girls.  I didn't expect to get much for my baby shower, being there is little I need but my girlfriend Tori still managed to put on an amazing shower for me.  NOT that I expected anything less from her.  It was so much fun.  Being that this is baby girl #2, Tori made it a mommy shower leaving the option for people to buy gifts for me or the baby.  She also had a diaper raffle giving out a Victoria Secrets gift card...brilliant.  I came home with a ton of wine/champagne, candles, bath n' body works, baby clothes, breast feeding accessories, bath stuff for Zoe, wipes, a new stroller and diapers GALORE!!  Dom's going to have to give up a shelf in the garage just to store all the diapers and wipes.  That may be a battle =o)

Special thanks to Tori for hosting...she out did herself!!  And a big thanks to all my girls for making me feel SO special and loved.  It's a FANTASTIC feeling knowing you are surrounded by such giving, caring people.

XoXo LOVE YOU ALL XoXo

 Food For Thought

For some reason or another, Dominic and I have been watching many different shows on obesity.  It's sad and frustrating at the same time to watch.  I do not like to think of American's as gluttons or as lazy people because of course I am American.  However, it is slowly starting to look that way for many of us.  Why is this?  Two reasons, convenience and laziness.  Things are becoming easier for us, which means people do less physical required activity and have the luxury of having jobs which come with the convenience of computers, machines, automation, and so on.  Because technology has advanced so much that most people enjoy themselves every night in front of satellite TV or playing a simple video game could be a contributing factor in what causes American obesity to rise.  The reason that most families and people eat out at restaurants or buy pre-cooked foods is simply because it is a convenience that allows more time for other things.  People can be too busy with work, school, and family matters, that cooking up a home-made dinner sometimes seem like a hassle or not an option.  The problem with eating out is you just don't know EVERYTHING that is being put into your food.  It's most likely loaded up with butter. Sure it tastes good.  Most things that do aren't healthy for you. 

This being said, there are three types of obese Americans in my opinion.  Those people that may have a medical problem that contributes to their obesity.  Those who may not have the means to eat healthy and look for the bargain.  And lets not forget those that are just plain lazy and are completely to blame for their own "fatness."  For those people I hold no sympathy.

But who's really to blame?  Well, in my opinion both the consumer and the industry.  However my bigger problem is with the industry.  Clearly we live in a consumer-driven society. ... Their purpose is to get you to do something. When you have that much money to market and with that kind of advertising budget, clearly you’re going to have influence over people’s decisions.  I think the real problem involves companies offering  "weapons of mass consumption."  It is tough to resist, and people want value. I want value.  Blame the industry or the consumer. I don’t care. We just have to reach a solution. It’s time for new rules.  I want to be able to drive-thru (not that it happens often in this household) or go to the movies and upon ordering a medium Coke...GET a medium Coke.  NOT a medium, over-sized, larger than life, 32oz, medium Coke.

OH...THE KIDS.  Let's not forget to talk about our kids.  Childhood obesity is a major problem in America as well.  Simple answer as to why is simply T.V.  Too much time in front of the "boob tube."  I personally never remember watching very much television growing up.  I can hardly name a favorite childhood television program of mine.  WE played outside, rode our bikes and ALWAYS ate home-cooked meals. Studies indicate that overweight children are not necessarily overeaters.  Sometimes they just eat and drink too much of the wrong things.  Eating a small bag of potato chips each day, for some youngsters, can lead to a half pound a week weight gain.  That may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but it can add up to two pounds a month or 24 pounds a year!  According to some reports, teenagers drink almost 65 gallons of soft drinks a year.  When you add the mountains of fast-food meals and high-fat snacks to these high sugar beverages, it’s not too hard to identify what behaviors are contributing to the problem. Why don't we limit these options for our children.  Encourage less video games and more outside playing time.

It's an epidemic people.  But before we judge, let's help educate and encourage and enable those who need the help less.  The irony for me in all of this, is that I graduated college with a degree in Marketing and Advertising.   I love every aspect of the field yet often find myself disgusted with how "in your face" it can be...That being said from a consumers point of view of course.

Kady Update

Just in case you were wondering my thought process now days on the whole liquid diet thing, I'm gonna share.

Plan A)
I decided I would try and wean her into the formula again.  That hasn't worked a bit.  I HONESTLY tried...seriously.  Tomorrow I will pick up samples of a different brand of "special" formula and some flavor packets from the doctor and give those a try over the next few weeks.

In case plan A doesn't work, which I'm less than confident it will...

Plan B)
Call Kady's doctor and request to put her on the meds.  I believe it's some type of steroid and by no means is a permanent solution, nor do I/we want it to be.  In 4 months I will try the liquid diet again allowing at least 4-6 weeks for her to be on it before re-introducing solid food into her diet.  In approximately 5 months (from now) when I begin introducing solid foods into Zoe's diet, hopefully Kadence will have fulfilled the 4-6week minimum liquid diet requirement and I can introduce foods to them simultaneously.  I'm hoping I can make a fun game out of it for Kady or maybe she'll see that Zoe only drinks and eats the same foods she does and will want to mimic her...GOD willing.

In case plan B doesn't work...

Plan C)
Keep Kady on the meds until she's 3 (one year from now) and reevaluate the situation.  Maybe, hopefully, possibly she'll have grown out of it (I'm less than optimistic) and if not, we can try the liquid diet again at that point.  Maybe they'll have figured out a better way to get the answer's they need given Eosinophilic Esophagitis has only been diagnosed for the past 10yrs which is not long when speaking medically.

Plan D)
Somewhere in the midst of plans A, B and C, I'll be researching holistic doctors and naturopath's here in Vegas to take Kadence to.  It's worth a shot right?  SHOOT....at this point, I'll take her to a psychic. What's the worst that could happen?  Okay...maybe that's grasping too much for straws at this point.  No psychic, FOR NOW!

Sorry to sound like such a bummer these days on this subject.  I'm usually not such a pessimist.  I guess my frustrations are getting the best of me.  AGAIN...I'm up for any advice, thoughts, opinions, etc....  If you've got them, please share.

 IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

http://www.cff.org/great_strides/AshleyGuinto5877

If you know me or my family then you know just how much this means to us!!  After losing my nephew to Cystic Fibrosis this last March of 2009 and finding out for the first time that CF is hereditary and runs in my family, we have become  huge supporters of the CFF (cystic fibrosis foundation).

Last year I found the GREAT STRIDES walk and on short notice with the help of many of my friends and family, we were able to raise a good amount of money and had a great turnout for the walk.  I don't think those people will ever know just how much it meant to me to have their support.

I have a girlfriend who is a Manager at one of the Starbucks here in town. They have offered to match whatever donations Team Ethan brings in this year.  Pretty amazing if you ask me.  It's hard for me to talk about without getting teary eyed.  I know how rough this year and the past couple have been on many people.  Dominic and I included.  If donating isn't an option, that's okay.  Supporting the CFF doesn't have to be about money.  Like mentioned before, just showing support by participating in the walk (which is free) and helping raise awareness for the CFF is more than enough.

Please help Team Ethan  be as successful as it can be this year.  My family will be walking here in Las Vegas on April 17th, Honolulu Hawaii on May 29th and in Spokane, Washington on June 5th in Ethan's honor.  We would love for you to join us. If walking with us isn't an option due to living in a different state,  I encourage you to find a walk in your area.  Meet new people, those living with CF, hear their struggles and triumphs and get some exercise.  What have you got to lose?

I've made it easy for you.  Just click the link below to find a walk, register for a walk or read about GREAT STRIDES!
http://www.cff.org/GREAT_STRIDES/

 

Kadence started her Tiny Tumblers class yesterday.  Who knew it was going to be such a work out for mom?  Phew...I was exhausted and the class was only 45 minutes long.  It sure was cute and she was super excited just to jump and do summer-salts (not so gracefully), swing around the bar although she preferred to do pullups and such.  It's a 6 week course so we'll be going every Saturday until the week before I'm due....yikes.  I'll be sure to get plenty of my own exercise while there also.

I Tri...to inspire those around me. to prove that I am still young. for variety. to go faster. to be a role model for my children. because I can. to have my cake and eat it too. to hurt but feel no pain. to be my best. to work hard. to finish. to push myself. to overcome my fears. to be with my friends. so that I can wear a bathing suit. because it makes me happy. to get out of the house. for my family. to appreciate what I have. to smile. to be strong...for Myself. ~whooha gear

Do you Tri?

check it out...

www.sunsetracing.com 

This year I'll be doing my first triathlon.

JOIN ME...I'll see you on the race course!

 

As my due date approaches, I find myself  thinking more and more about this little booger!  My nephew Ethan who passed this last March.  These are HIS footsie's in my brother and sister-in-law hands.  I just LOVE this picture.  So much so that I had it blown up and am getting it custom framed to hang in Kady's new big girl room.  The words, "There is no footprint too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world" are SO true.  I know this to be true because of Ethan.  He made a HUGE imprint on this world in the lives of all those who knew him.

We have our first model in the house.  Trust me this is not becoming a "thing."  One of my girlfriends recently became the proud new owner of Wild Child Boutique here in Las Vegas.   She asked if Kadence would be part of a photo shoot along with 5 other kids of all ranges, most of them her friends.  It was the cutest thing ever.  Coordinating 6 children in a shot can be quite complex and attention spans are short so there will be more shoots to come, being we only did an hour and a half this time.  Of course half the shots Kady has her thumb in her mouth tugging on her ear but the few good shots of her, were darn cute from what I heard.  I can't wait to see how they turned out.  I'll pass them on when I get them.  My girlfriend also has a maternity line @ Wild Child Boutique so naturally being the only pregnant lady there she asked me to do some shots too.  We didn't do many because she was missing complete outfits so I'm sure I'll be taking some more also.  This is not something that comes naturally to me but it's kind of fun trying.

 

Kady Update

I am seriously procrastinating starting Kady's  liquid diet again.  I probably shouldn't be avoiding it like the plague since we have so much happening in 6weeks but MAN....Ugh!!  Dom and I have a hard time talking about with one another.  It's a touchy subject.  Necessary, but touchy.  Neither one of us want to try it again but I know and feel it's worth one more try.  I am absolutely putting off until tomorrow what I should get done today.  And I'M OKAY WITH THAT!  

Maybe we'll start the liquid diet tomorrow!  Ha..................

BLAH!!!

Patience is something I've seemed to have lost over the last 8 months.  Patience is not easily come by for the majority of human beings.  Patience is learned, self-taught, gets easier with time and age.  I'm at a point right now, I'm struggling with  it.  Taking an extra breath when I begin to feel frustrated and reminding myself that I am and am capable of being a patient person (even 8months pregnant) seems to help just a bit.  Let's just hope that it helps a bit for my daughter and my husband as well.  
"Learn the art of patience. Apply discipline to your thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a goal.  

Impatience breeds anxiety, fear, discouragement and failure. 

Patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a rational outlook, which eventually leads to success."

 ~Brian Adams

.......................................................................

It is better to be patient, than it is to become one.

All human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope.

Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going

when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.

Never run after a bus or a man. There will always be another one.

The secret of patience is doing something else in the meanwhile.

Patience is good only when it is the shortest way to a good end;
otherwise, impatience is better.

Hope is patience with the lamp lit.

Acquaintance without patience is like a candle with no light.

Patience can conquer destiny.
~unknown

Good news has FINALLY come our way!!  There is a light at the end of the tunnel and we can see it...barely, but it's there =o)

Thursday I started a new TAO project that I work on from home whenever I get the time.  It's no stress and the extra money is always a bonus.  Tonight, Dom starts his first night of work.  Since racing season ended back in September, he has been searching for another bar tending gig.  With the economy the way that it is, he's had NO luck until now.  Even with all of his experience and gaming following.  To say the least, it has been a rough winter for us.  But, with the help of his new job, me working a bit on the side for the next 2months (until I have this baby) and race season gearing up again in March, which is right around the corner, we are able to breathe a little easier. THANK YOU God, it couldn't have come at a better time!  Well....really it could have, but who's complaining?

 

Meet our nephew Alexander.....

This year is a big year for Alexander....he graduates high school and shortly after will be heading to college.   Just before the holidays he was accepted to Purdue!!  Although this is the first of MANY more acceptance letters to come, I'm sure, and probably not the college of his choice, It's still pretty EXCITING!! 

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU ALEXANDER!!

Keep up the hard work and make the most of the rest of your Senior year.

Kady Update

Before the holidays we were attempting a liquid diet only for Kady...water, and "special" formula.  When she got sick two weeks before Christmas and completely boycott the liquid diet, only 4 days into it,  we decided to feed her and try again in a few days.  We noticed at that point she didn't want anything to do with her Rice Milk either which she's been on and been a huge fan of for almost a year now.  I called her Allergist and he insisted we stick with the liquid diet and offered us samples of a different brand of "special" formula.  After telling him about her dislike for any form of milk (rice or formula) he insisted we put her no a restricted diet meaning, chicken, beef, turkey and vegetables only.  That doesn't sound bad although she has become an extremely picky eater over the year.  The only way we've gotten her to eat those things in the past is by cooking it with something or in some type of marinade making it more tasty for her.  This restricted diet would not allow us to do that.  Not knowing what to do, we decided to wait until after the holidays to do anything and here we are.  FINALLY,  after repeated attempts over the past few weeks to get her drinking her rice milk again, she is!!  Step 1 accomplished.  Some time with in the next few days we may give this liquid diet another go.  There really seems to be no other options at this point so it's important it works this time.  Lord help us!!

New Year's Resolutions

"40 to 45% of American adult make one or more resolutions each year.
Among the top new years resolutions are resolutions about weight loss, exercise, and stopping to smoke. Also popular are resolutions dealing with better money management / debt reduction."



What I don't understand is why people make resolutions only once a year??  Although research shows that making resolutions is useful and people who explicitly make them are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't, New Year's resolutions wane after the first month, and only 20% maintain the resolutions past Valentine's Day.  If you set the bar too high you may be setting yourself up for failure.  My belief is that small attainable resolutions should be made all throughout the year. 


Perhaps it is time to try a NEW approach. Rather than look at self-improvement, it may be better to look outward and try to improve the lives of others. This will have the affect of changing one's own life at the same time.  Volunteering not only has a positive effect on the volunteer, it can also open doors to employment and is an excellent resume builder.  Making the world a better place starts at home and in the local community. Trying to lose the last 5 pounds as a New Year's resolution pales in comparison to what can be gained from volunteering time and energy to a cause close to one's heart.