Where are we now?

Unfortunately, with 3 children it's just crazy to sit down and blog while baking and cooking from scratch three meals a day + snacks. But I want to start getting back into it because I need some artistic form of expression every now and then.

So, here's an official break down of where we are now:

Baby Shiloh was born 9/18/09 at 6lbs12oz with blue eyes and red hair along with an ASD and VSD within her tiny heart. She had surgery to repair her heart March 18th, which is her 6 month old b-day with with a wonderful surgeon named Dr Mark S Bleiweis. Her surgeon and his staff treated her like a cherub and kept such a close eye on her that she was discharged after only 5 days. She's now at 9 month's old, still with scars left over from her main surgical site as well as the two holes where she had chest tubes. God is good and has given her such a strong immune system and just an over all wonderful attitude. She's is however delayed in sitting, rolling and crawling and has since started up doing PT once a week at Brooks Rehabilitation. I'm currently planning her birthday party and think since she's Daddy's Princess we will have to go with a pink girlie party. Though she of course won't remember it, for us it will be a momentous day because we had not expected her to survive surgery and yet our mighty God brought everyone through it.

John Paul (now 2, will be 3 on November 17, 2010) is currently getting ready to have a Speech and Occupational Therapy evaluation to see where he is currently. We have also learned that John has what's called Sensory Integration Dysfunction and though each day is a struggle, I know that the Lord is putting me through this so that I can learn to have compassion on those who will be in the same place. He also has multiple foods allergies which keep me constantly on my toes, just one slip of a no-no food and our day is shot.

Dominic (turning 5 on November 3, 2010) is an avid artist and loves to draw on his little magnetic scribble pad. Dom seems to have a symbiotic connection with his sister who seems to have a mirror personality to her older brother. He's a great big brother who loves the opportunity to change her diaper, feed her and hold her. He's growing up so fast, what a great little man he's becoming! His Sensory Integration Dysfunction has improved as he ages and learns to overcome obstacles but I believe he will continue to live with dietary restrictions due to chemical sensitivities.

Our household has changed to a gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, wheat-free, corn-free , yeast-free and Kosher diet for the betterment of everyone's sensitivities. Though Chris is allowed to eat corn because he can pretty much eat darn near everything without an allergic reaction. It sucks that he can handle practically anything but he's healthy in his own way and that's what a wife and kids need, a healthy daddy to support and run the family.

I recently came back from my Feingold Annual Meeting and greatly enjoyed being surrounded by people who hold the same desires for better eating that I have. I feel encouraged to push on in my pursuit for healthy eating and a healthier family. Being active allows us to be able to serve each other as well as family (bio and church that is).

My Goals for the remainder of the year are:
(1) Get Dominic started in Pre-K
(2) Find a good gluten-free substitute for biscuits, yeast-free cinnamon rolls, yeast-free and gluten free sandwich bread
(3) Get our old house organized and get rid of things we don't need
(4) spend more "us" time with my husband
(5) learn what things to stockpile and what not to
(6) wait for the Lord to decide what to do with our car (sell or donate) and be willing to accept whatever is best
(7) reach out to struggling wives who I'm close to

I'm sure I'll add more as the Lord allows things to be put on my plate.
Hopefully, time will allow me to get on more often now that our season is changing up again.