Blessings

Since the beginning of October, Avie has had recurrent ear infections. It seemed every time we went to the doctor (which was like every week) Avie had another ear infection. So about the fourth infection they decided to send her to an ear, nose and throat specialist, who then recommended to put tubes in Avie's ears. This was back in February, but today was the soonest they could get her in for the procedure.

It felt a bit overkill to go to the hospital for a five minute procedure, but I guess in case anything goes wrong, it's better to be in a hospital. Avie was super agitated because she couldn't have anything to eat or drink this morning, plus waiting around for a couple of hours is hard for an adult not to mention a one year old. Like everything else she's faced in her short life, she was a complete trooper. It's sad to me everything she's been through, but there are kids who go through much worse a things. I'm grateful there was a solution for the problem and that we were able to take advantage of it. God has carried us through this last fourteen months since Avie's been born despite my lack of faith and unwillingness to humble myself and surrender to his care. Maybe one of these days I'll learn what I'm meant to learn from my trials, and hopefully become a better mom in the process. I've felt so much love and support from friends around me, and if that's what has come from the craziness then I'm nothing but grateful for the experiences and difficulties we've had. Much love to everyone, thanks for your friendships!

Diagnosis

So today was the day that I had been both anticipating and dreading for the past month. Avie had her skin test today to determine if she has any food allergies. Depending on how many foods they're testing for, they mark little dots on the patient's back with a sharpie, and scratch the skin next to the dot with food being tested. It wasn't as bad as it sounds. Avie was tested for 56 foods, so her little back looked like a dot to dot. I wish my camera was taking better pictures, but this was all I could get.

It turns out Avie has allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, soy and milk. I'm a little overwhelmed with it, but so grateful that we have the means and technology to find out. Hopefully we can control her diet enough to bring her some relief. I'm relieved that her peanut allergy isn't severe enough that I have to carry an epi pen around.

So, in other Nelson news...well there's not much going on. We had a great Easter weekend, I wish I had pictures of the Easter egg hunt at the ball field. Rayce had so much fun. The 7 and 8 year olds were a little too aggressive for Danielle, but she was a good sport anyway.

We recently got a sandbox, well I should say Dan built one in the midst of the building frenzy going on over here. It's HUGE! The kids love it, and now the bottom floor of my house is like a beach, so awesome. It forces me to vacuum everyday, and to bathe the kids twice a day, but they're having fun. We didn't want to pay for the sand to fill it up so Dan rented a trailer and we drove out a way on bell and found some great desert sand!

I'm not sure if I can think of anything else I'd rather do on a Saturday, although there is something about manual labor that is greatly satisfying.

And here's a picture of Rayce and Avie that I posted because I love that Rayce is sharing his Popsicle with her...and showing her how to open her mouth to eat it!

Spring

Until this year I haven't fully appreciated Springtime in Arizona. I think simply because it wasn't what I was used to. Springtime in Arizona is gorgeous! Let's face it, that's why everyone who lives here is able to look past those months when it's too hot to do anything. The desert does have a lot to offer in springtime. We have been outside a ton lately.

The kids have been enjoying riding their bikes

and skateboards

and Avie enjoys watching the kids on their bikes and skateboards, while drinking her milk. We have "fake" grass in our backyard, but we have the nicest, softest real grass in our front yard. It doesn't feel like spring without real grass.

I planted cucumber, strawberry and tomato in the grow boxes, so cross your fingers for me. In the front yard, I planted African Daisies, my favorite!

I have no idea what this tree is called but the purple blossoms smell amazing! We're enjoying springtime here in Arizona, and trying to take advantage of the milder weather before the scorching sun arrives. Even then, there's worse places to live. We love Arizona!

Spring Break Pt. 2

I'm sad Dan's spring break is over, but we had a good time and now Danielle is going to be having her spring break. A week of keeping an 8 year old entertained! That should be easy?!

We scored tickets to a Royals/Rangers game for a buck each! Yay, for good deals. It also just happened to be an absolutely gorgeous day! We had been wanting to catch a game for a while, so we had a great time, and Avie LOVED the merry go round. The lady who was running it got a tad distracted so she got a long ride. Good thing mommy wasn't on there, she would have been a little green.


I have been wanting to plant a garden since we have moved down here, so Dan decided to take a day to build me some grow boxes. It took a lot longer than I thought it would, but they turned out great! They are so big, I don't know if I'll need that big a garden, or more importantly if I'll be able to get anything to grow!

This is a very accurate depiction of the day. Danielle is completely capable with that drill, it's scary. She loves hands-on projects just like her daddy.

Dan made me try the saw and good news, I still have all my fingers. It's intimidating!

The finished product.

Good Read

This little book has been my favorite thing I have bought for myself in a while. It's written by the same guys that wrote the restaurant guide "Eat This, Not That", but I think this one is even better because it's more practical. Full of interesting facts about food and some great recipes comparable to those found in restaurants, but with less fat, sodium, etc. Love, love it!

Spring Break Pt. 1

Let me first say that my camera is dying a slow death; so it's casting a pinkish hue with streaks on all my photo's. I guess I know what I am buying with my tax refund!

Spring break so far has been ideal. I'm really not wanting it to end. We decided not to go anywhere for spring break and just hang around here. So we haven't done a lot, but it's been very relaxing and we've gotten a lot done around the house.

We did make it up to Cave Creek to the Out West Art Fest. Art Festivals are always kinda hit or miss. They can be really commercial, or really about the art. We were lucky that this art fest was a pretty good one. We had a great time and the kids didn't break anything, yay!

Danielle is an art lover! She was lucky enough to inherit Dan's art abilities!

For some reason there are always a lot of dogs at art festivals, so Avie was a happy camper, she loves, loves, loves dogs!

I bought a print by an artist named Patricia Wyatt, very cool.

Rayce was just happy to have some pizza and be able to bring his gun!

We were also able to go hike the White Tank Mountains. It was more like a walk, the trail wasn't steep at all, but it turned out to be much more beautiful than I thought it would be. It has been raining so much that everything was so green (well, green by Arizona standard) and there was water flowing in the canyon!

My crappy camera just doesn't do it justice. The saguaro were so dense in some places and it was incredibly green. What a fun day!

Darn camera!

That's a little better.
Rayce didn't care to have his picture taken, not when there was plenty of water to get soaking wet in! Danielle is still mad at us for going without her, too bad her and Dan can't be on spring break at the same time.

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It's been quite a year, but we all made it intact to Avie first birthday. She's been a little trooper through all she's dealt with this first year. It looks as though she may have a little more to go through in the near future. She will soon visit with an allergist and also a ear, nose and throat specialist.

We had wanted to have everyone over to our new place and decided Avie's birthday was excuse enough, so we did a barbecue/birthday party.

It was fun and Avie loved her cake that she was actually allowed to eat. I gave her a big piece thinking she wouldn't be able to eat the whole thing.

Think again mom! She devoured it!

I can't imagine our family without this little girl. I love her to pieces. We see more and more of her personality every day. She's a little shy, she's sweet, she's definitely feisty. She loves to play with her brother and sister! She likes to pull all the DVD's out of the cabinet and play with Rayce's cars. She'll babble for a minute or two and then look at you like she wants a response. She's an extremely picky eater, but she loves meat, and that's about it. She loves to be outside, she is becoming less and less of a mama's girl and more and more of a daddy's pal. We love her so much, Happy Birthday Avie!