Crying in the car

This morning I found myself crying on the way home from the allergist. And while doing this, I had a distinct flashback of a childhood event. I was 4- maybe 5- but not even in kindergarten yet. My mom and I were on the way home from the eye doctor and my mom was sobbing. She had just found out that my right eye had slight laziness (which they cured within 1 year) and a very severe astigmatism- I basically couldn't see anything but blurr with my right eye. I never quite understood why she cried, to me, it was 'so big deal- I'll wear glasses'. Now, I know. I think every mom wants their child to be healthy with no complications. It was a disappointment. I experienced the same feeling in the car this morning coming home from the pediatric allergist who tested David and found that he has a very severe allergy to egg and moderate allergies to milk, grapes, sweet potatoes, and wheat.

It was a chain of events that led me to this allergist. First off, David has always struggled with skin sensitivities- rashes, and bad eczema. When he was 4 months we had to switch him from milk based formula to soy because of an allergic rash. Well, at David's 9 months appointment my pediatrician told me to feed David Stoufer's Spinach Souffle to help with constipation. Well, I did. The first time he only took a bite and within minutes was violently throwing up and gagging. The thought crossed my mind that he could be allergic to eggs, but he has reflux so I just shrugged it off. The second time, several days later, David ate more and had the same violent throw up but this time he kept throwing up and gagging all night. It then occurred to me that he must be allergic to egg. I looked up online and it said not to feed your baby egg until 1 year. Why did my stupid pediatrician tell me to feed him that? Anyhow, I thought it would be good to go to an allergist, so that's why I went there this morning.

The allergist could only test for foods that David has eaten before (not ones that he hasn't had yet such as peanuts or strawberries), and he tested for dust and cat allergy. David came up negative on everything except on egg, milk, wheat, sweet potato, and grapes. I guess I had assumed he would have some of those allergies, but, I didn't realize that the doctor was going to tell me that he had an EXTREME reaction to eggs and I needed to be very careful. So, for one year until he is tested again, David can not eat egg, milk, grapes, or sweet potato. He can have wheat once a day. My reaction to finding out his allergies, I suppose, was over dramatic. I just kept thinking about my poor boy, and how careful we will have to be, and how many things he can not have. Like when we switch from formula to whole milk we won't be able to give him milk so we have to give him rice milk or soy milk. But, I need to put it in perspective- there could be a lot worse things wrong with him than some allergies. Which, he will be tested for every year, and hopefully eventually outgrow. I don't know why, but the first thing I thought of is David's 1st birthday. I planned on baking him a cake. Now, I will have to try to figure out how to bake one without using eggs, milk, or butter. I'll make it work.

Anyhow, that was the morning happening here. I just need to get in the mindset that feeding David might be challenging for the first couple of years, and I'm going to pray that he grows out of these allergies!

Trucker Amy

I've been a trucker this week! I've been traveling like crazy everywhere for work, out of town for several days, and trying to get ready to be gone all next week. I'm trying to do next week's work plus this week's work so I can be gone. Because I'm independent in my territory, when I leave, nothing happens- no one fills in for me. So, I'm trying to get everyone what they need from me before I go. Even though work has been hectic and I've been gone from home a lot this week, I am very thankful for my job for reasons such as this- it is enabaling us to go on vacation! True, we don't have to spend $ on where we are staying, but for goodness sakes, gas alone for our trip will be $280! (not to mention food) We wouldn't be able to afford that if it weren't for my income- which we usually spend on daycare and debt, but we are taking a little out of paying to debt to take a vaca. We are going to Virginia Beach to spend time with family and chill out (hopefully!). I'm SO excited to get away for the week! And I think it will be so worth it!

Here are some pictures from David's baptism. Technically, at our PCA Presbyterian church it is called baptism, though I think of it more as a dedication because I believe you should be baptized after you are saved. We didn't get any pics from church, but this is in front of the sub place we went to afterward. My family came down from Loganville, GA to witness the event.

My Weight

Once again, I am doing 2 posts in one day. I've decided I'm tired of being overweight so I am going to do weight watchers, again. I did it for about a month or so before Christmas, but got thrown off by the holidays. So, here it goes. I'm keeping myself accountable by sharing my weight to all. I can't believe I'm doing this, but, actually I can because I don't care what others think- it doesn't bother me. I started on Tuesday, and things have been going well so far. I do have an upcoming trip to VA Beach that I'm concerned about, but I'll just have to try really hard to not let it get me off track. I also have a visit to Atlanta planned to eat at a Mexican restaurant to celebrate my college friend, Whitney's engagement. What should I get at a Mexican restaurant? It's so much easier to eat healthy at home, and it really works out because we don't eat out much because of cost. We eat out about once a week after Church, and sometimes grab subway of fastfood for dinner when we are running late at work and haven't prepared anything for dinner.

So, anyhow, here goes my attempt to lose the baby weight and change my lifestyle of eating fast food and sweets and other junk. I have the opinion that if you don't like something about your life, stop complaining about it and take action. I'm now going to live by my own philosophy. Oh, by the way, my goal weight- 128- is what I weighed at my first OB appointment for David. My pre-pregnancy weight. Oh, for those of you who don't know me, I'm only 5'3", so I'm definitly considered overweight at 144.

99

Yesterday, I paid 3.99 for gas. I figured I would make note of this because one day we'll tell David 'When you were a baby gas was less than 4 dollars', I bet it will be about 20/gallon when he's older.

I was also going to say it's been about 99 degrees here every day, but it has actually been HOTTER! Whew! It's been over 100 every day the past 2 weeks. Middle GA is noticably hotter than Atlanta, I didn't think it would be, but it is. I feel like we live somewhere that has the heat of Florida, but no beach- what a bummer!

A day in the life..

Two posts in one day! I'm on a roll! I just realized I have several updates about David:
-He is pulling up on everything like crazy
-He now has 4 teeth
-I got a push walker from Craigslist yesterday and he loves it
-He waves 'hi' and 'bye' now (actually in the walker picture his hand is on the way down from a wave)
-He hates his crib and now stands, screams and cries, and grabs the side of the crib while he stands and shakes. We turn the volume off on the monitor and watch him throw his fits. (notice the pic with the red lights- signaling high volume) Since he started standing in the crib, his fits last longer :( I keep telling myself it's a stage and it will pass- but, it hasn't yet!
-He now always sleeps on his tummy. We lay him on his back, but he immedietly flips over. I thought the picture below was funny because I happened to capture David right as the cat was patting his bottom, haha.

Sweet Summer Strawberry Cake

I would love to be a great baker. I admit, I have had day dreams of baking fabulously delicious treats for my family to enjoy. I don't share the same desire of cooking- my attitude with that is to just get it done. This past weekend, I baked my first cake. I was ambitious and attempted a triple layer strawberry cake- the recipe came from a Southern Living magazine. Needless to say, it didn't turn out like the picture in the magazine. My first problem was runny icing which I knew how to correct- the directions say add more powdered sugar- but, I just didn't have any more. My main problem that still baffles me is how to make the cakes flat at the top. Notice- my domed shaped cakes do not stack well. Does any one know how to make the cakes come out flat?? I followed the recipe to the T. If you have any advice, please drop a comment.

Our little engineer??

This Past Weekend

I can't believe I've gone almost a week (not quite) without posting. We've been busy! Two weekends ago we were in S. Carolina visiting Zach's family and last weekend we were in Loganville, GA visiting mine. Well, the real reason for the visit was to throw Rachel a baby shower! You can see pics on her blog: olisfamilyupdate.blogspot.com It was just SO much fun and I am so thankful one of my close friends is having a baby! Too bad she lives 5 hours away. It seems like I was one of the first of my friends to get married and then have a baby. I am glad they are catching up now!

Rachel is 35 weeks pregnant with Wyatt and she looks great! I can't wait to meet him! I have to be honest, it really gave me the baby bug to have another. My brother and I were 17 months apart and my younger brother and sister are only a year apart(ages: 26,25 than 15,14). In Zach's family, it's almost they same thing. They have 2 that are about a year apart, and then 2 more several years later that are only seperated for about a year. So, close together babies is what we are used to. I know there are advantages and disadvantages to having babies close together. But, I think it would be fun. Zach is of the same opinion. We actually both kind of want another soon, but due to other circumstances it isn't going to happen anytime soon. Or, at least we aren't going to be trying anytime soon. Sad. But, I am thankful for David and I'm going to spend my time enjoying him and showeing him with attention, when I can, while he is the only one. That's probably not recommended (as he might get spoiled), but I don't care!