So Cheesy...

So cheery and cheesy on this happy Thursday! Ready to go out the door and see her friends this morning when I told her both little girls would be at Lora Jean's to play with!

Peak...

Want a peak into my past? My sister says it better than I ever could. Thinking of you, today, Uncle Everett...

http://andreafrederick.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-22-2010.html

Facebook

If I was on Facebook this morning my status would read:
Jenn Beeler is...thanking God for grandmas.
Heaven knows we've used ours this week!
Thanks, Mom!

The Cold Hard Truth

Okay...here it is. Let me just be blunt. I'm sure you've noticed that my sweet, 23 lb toddler is not walking. We've noticed. We won't pretend we haven't. As active participants in our school's Parents as Teachers program (wonderful, by the way!), our PAT lady has noticed, too. Her developmental checklists "prove" it. And when we had Natalee in for her 15 mo check-up a 1/2 a month late the doctor noticed as well. I'm not blind...I see other 16 month olds running and climbing...

We've struggled with not pushing her--with not forcing her to walk (for how can you force a child to walk?). We've showed her how to move her feet, we hold her hands, we cheer her on. And yet, she crawls. However, perhaps more worrisome than that is at 14 months her gross motor really stopped progressing much at all. She pulls up, cruises some, and recently will stand for about 1-2 seconds by herself without holding on to anything. But that's it.

So I got brave and asked the doctor 'what now?' I'm an Early Childhood Special Education teacher. My kid shouldn't be "delayed" right? But here we are...

And so the doctor tested Natalee's muscle tone--very weak on the right side. And we discussed her birth. And we've concluded that it is possible that because of her cord being wrapped at birth and our sweet girl being born momentarily blue that she could have minor brain damage. And I cried...
Of course I did. Because no matter whether you suspect it or not it still hurts to hear. Because what I heard was not "your child may be special needs" or "your child isn't typical". What I heard is "life may be a little harder for your child." And who wants life to be any harder for their baby than it is already? And words like "mild cerebral palsy" were mentioned...and I cried some more. But I also felt relief. Because deep inside I knew/know that something isn't clicking...and now we go forward. Relief to know that despite us doing our best as parents we might need a little outside help...and it's okay. Of course she's special...she's my baby and she's the most special child I've ever met.

And so...

• we have an appointment with a pediatric neurologist in June to see if these suspicions are true or to see if our girl is just a late bloomer.
• we are chugging along assured that she's perfect and in God's hands.
• we know she will walk--it's just a matter of the right combination of things to make it happen.
  
• we are content and proud of who she is...and realize with doubtless assurance that this is who she was designed to be--that these are the things that make Natalee Natalee.
• we don't want you to be sorry...because we're not.

We've struggled with telling people what's happening...certainly not because we're ashamed but because there are so many unknowns...and what we don't want are rumors and half truths floating around. But we know you've noticed, too, that Natalee is a little delayed--some of you have asked (kindly, might I mention--thank you for being so kind) & some have hinted. However, to temper the gossip train, I ask that you wouldn't say she has CP until we know...and that you don't treat this update as your gossip story of the week. She's our baby, you see...pretend she was yours. What you can do--the reason I finally decided to blog about this--is pray.

Pray that we get a cancellation call and our neurology appointment is moved up. Pray that Natalee learns patience for whatever is to come--and us, too. Pray that we get answers from our doctors--answers and a plan that we understand and can follow through with. Pray for our peace. Pray for our 2nd born--that when he comes we can balance our time in a way that he never feels shadowed or 2nd best...and for Natalee for the same reasons. Pray for my body and mind--as both get weary of being 7 months pregnant and carrying a 23 pound toddler up and down the stairs. But most of all, pray that God's pleasing and perfect will is carried out in Natalee's life--and that we see our role as her parents in that plan. For in this leg of our journey I have felt certain peace--that He's never left me and will walk with us the whole way. Praises for never having to journey alone. Who wouldn't feel peace when you've been given this?...
we are most certainly blessed.

Stowaway and Other Cute Things...

I was going to just post the last video but decided to let you see all the cuteness that happens in our daily life:

Here is Natalee being indignantly angry that her Daddy went outside and didn't take her. Of course, after I took this picture I picked her up and she was all better! He came back and took her out, of course.
(3-13-10)

Here is Natalee trying to put in a hair bow to go to Lora Jean's. Somedays she can't stand them...but if it's her idea she thinks they are grand. She missed her head by a smidgen (the bow is in her shirt).

Mommy secured the hair bow and all is superb!
Now this is the way to take a walk! Last night, after supper, I bedded Natalee down in the wagon that Papa Curtis got her and pulled her around town. We LOVE this wagon b/c she can lay down in it...with the plastic wagons you can't move the seats so the little ones can lay. We've had this about 2 weeks and it has some miles already...you ought to see the tires on it--a dream to pull! And the sides fold down so we can use it for other things.
Notice, we didn't get to take our walk without our Scout.
3-13-10

This morning's cuteness! Bare arms and legs...she's in heaven!
3-14-10

Natalee in the car this morning. What a face! I took this to prove to myself that I've done a naughty thing...a month ago she loved her Scout but didn't have to have her. Lately she looks for her and asks for her...and often has her secured under her arm. I should have weaned her when I had the chance but I really don't mind that she has a lovey. However, my sister-friend Corin's little boy recently lost his lovey lizard. Of course his good mama had a back-up, ordered another, and found the original (so now there are 3)...I'm thinking it's time to start looking for a back up Scout just in case!

"shwiding":

Stowaway Scout and Other Cute Things:

16 months

Natalee is 16 months old today! What a big girl she's becoming. Her vocabulary is ever growing and she repeats us all the time. In the morning it's "shirt, shocks (socks), shoes." She's FINALLY saying, "hi" and thinks she's really funny when she does. If I walk into the room she is in she'll say, "hi, mom," even if I just saw her 30 seconds ago. She's making friends with the 2 littler girls at Lora Jean's and cried when one of them left the other day. She's becoming more social all around...the other day at the allergist she fought with her daddy so she could get down and go play with the other kids at the bead table. She throws kisses when someone says bye-bye, cries when people leave the house, and sings and dances all the time. She still likes "george" (curious george) and wheel of fortune but other than that pays little attention to the TV.
Natalee is starting to stand on her own but isn't walking yet. She is cruising around furniture with a more natural gait and walking better with our hands or a walking toys. She is sassy and sweet, all within minute of each other. Her favorite phrase is "doe, doe, doe" (no, no, no) and she thinks anyone with long brunette hair in a book/magazine is her beloved Lorn Lorn. She is our joy and will be a wonderful big sister!

Easter Video

no words are really needed...



scroll down to see the new post of Natalee's allergy testing and another video!

allergy testing

Yesterday we had Natalee allergy tested. We wanted to confirm our dairy allergy theory and see what else is making her skin rashy b/c we knew that it was more than just dairy. I thought to allergy test they did little skin pokes and was dreading it, but they just rubbed little gels on her back and waited to see what showed. They tested her for 16 things...the big welt is her allergy to mold. Probably why she has allergy head right now as the doc said that when people (like my husband) start mowing and all the stuff that has lain dormant and grown all winter gets stirred up it's hard for people with mold allergies. The other 2 allergies showed on the other side of her back & she turned as I was taking the picture. They are dairy and wheat, with dairy being the worst. Poor little bean. He thinks she'll grow out of them by age 5-8 but would like us to exercise caution with peanuts also, because her body is so predisposed to food allergies already that he's fearful she'll develop an allergy to peanuts that could be lifelong and serious. And so...here we go on a new leg of Natalee's journey. You are worth it, baby girl...we love you!


Here is Natalee goofing off as we were waiting for the timer to go off for the tests! She thought sitting in the doctor's office with no shirt was grand! :)

mine--from Natalee

This is my Colby...he holds me up when I cannot hold up myself. He is my buddy. He makes me laugh and smile. I love my Colby and he loves me. He will always protect me.

An Ode to My "Old" Husband!

Happy 29th Birthday tomorrow to my husband of almost 5 years! When I asked him if he had ever pictured himself to be 29 with two kids he immediately said, "No." I take that to mean it's better than he ever imagined! :)























Micheal is a phenomenal husband and daddy. I don't say it enough but it's true. Let me tell you how spoiled I am...

• he heats up my lunch at work everyday...I don't get a "lunch break". Instead I eat with my preschoolers and in the hubbub of getting them to the lunch room it's hard to get my own lunch going...and so he comes over and does it for me. I'm lucky...and spoiled.
• he goes to work with me everyday--and hasn't killed me yet. That ain't luck...that's God.
• he changes diapers and wipes boogers. The only thing I don't think he does is cut baby fingernails/toe nails...but that's pretty minor in the big picture. When I have something to do I never think twice about walking out the door...he's not babysitting, he's parenting--and he's darn good at it!
• since the weather's been nice he's taken Natalee outside to walk or play every night while I get supper around. Such a blessing.
• he takes care of the bills and finances...if he even knew what a relief this was to me...
• he loves his little girl with everything he's got...and will his son, too. he's never too busy to rock, play, kiss, or tickle.
  
• he drives a minivan...when he'd much rather be driving a motorcycle.
• he loves God first and us second, just the way it should be.
• he lotions my feet when I can't reach them anymore...and sometimes when I can!

I could go on and on and on and on...but it'd never be enough. I love you, Mikey...thank you for being our hero!

ah, swollen feet...

...I forgot about how much you hurt when I was pregnant with Natalee but I did not miss you! however, you are back with all this warm weather, but I think I shall take the warm weather gratefully and not complain too much about the achy feet. this time around I am thankful that I have swollen feet through the summer months (i.e. flip flops, sandals, crocs) rather than through the winter months when I couldn't find anything to wear! one more sign that my time is drawing near and a new little dolly is about to join our lives!