White Christmas

Well folks, you read that right! We actually have a white Christmas here in the Arkansas river valley! I have not seen this since I was in 3rd grade I think.....if ever! It is truly amazing and I thank God for this beautiful sight and for bringing it on my child's first Christmas where she is able to comprehend what is going on! She may not remember it, but living for the moment she will squeal in delight! She has been such a good girl this week, and I have really enjoyed staying home with her. It is easy to get out with her and for the most part she minds in public and at home. Santa came to see her this year and left soooo many neat things to use right now and to grow into over the next year! We had fun over at Grandmother's house this evening and the loot we brought home is unimaginable! Let's just say that we single-handedly jump started the economy..... all worth it though for the ones we love! I will post more pictures soon!

On our way to ACH this morning for our so long awaited genetics and sleep study appointments. Can't come soon enough. The little SWEETIE...... slept from 10-12 last night then was wide awake til 2:30. We took a 30 minute interstate ride and that didn't work, welaid on a "palace" on the floor for over an hour and that didn't work, bear hugged on the couch, nope not that either. Finally at 5 am she threw herself on the bare floor, rolled into a ball and went to sleep. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the 2 times we stood up and danced in our sleep, twirls and all, with our eyes completely closed the whole time. I would say "ALLYSON! lie down NOW!" and she would stop mid dance step and literally collapse! 2 years of this PLEASE HELP US ACH!!!

Countdown to 2!

Boy it is getting harder as it gets closer to accept that my baby is gonna be 2. She is so smart ( i really don't think I am biased on this one)... We walked onto the living room today and at 23month 3 weeks she said " Oh my goodness momma, it's dark." We tried to jump over a threshold today, we ate Daniels Dandy soup at grandmother's house ( thank GOD for my mother!), and actually slept through the night on Monday.
The storm last night here was a nasty one and woke me up at 12:08 am with a big crash. At first I thought Ally had been sleepwalking again and walked through the back glass door. Things and thoughts really change as a mother, but thankfully it was not Ally. However, our back gazebo had blown on to the roof!
Finally I never heard such neat words as I heard today from Ally. " MOMMA, I POOP!" It actually was nothing but a toot, but pull-ups here we come! Much aove and prayers to Kari, Chad, and Carsten at KKI right now.

So many things that I have wanted show and tell, yet something always gets in the way. Ally had her first train ride at the park today. She really enjoyed it. We have recently entered the MINE, MINE, MINE stage and boy it is not fun. She is a terror sometimes, but then turns around and does something so amazing that you can't be mad any more. We have our genetics testing and sleep study in 2 weeks, and, more importantly Ally's birthday party in 1 week!

Yes you read right, she is going to be 2 already. Feels great and awkward at the same time. Great because she is alive and doing well, but awkward because it has happened so fast. We have been informed that she will be getting some type of braces for her legs and neck to help with her balance and bowlegs, and falling, and running into things. We have been told that one of her legs is longer than the other and that is the reason for all her walking "troubles". this is something I noticed when she was 5 months old, but dismissed it as normal... whoops!

I had a great time with my mother yesterday at "Momma Mia" in Tulsa. we sang and danced and had a great time together. Even at 33 a momma/daughter day is treasured! I will leave you with one piece of advice that I heard a 7-8 year old girl telling 2 others in all seriousness... "Never put the butter knife in the toaster......."

Proud Mama

Well, my husband and I got to beam with pride today. Ally started saying "thank you" when we gave her something without being prompted. She then started using our name after saying thank you. Finally she then walked up to me and handed me a book and said "here you go mama, read" plain as day! a 5 word sentence from my 21 month old! that makes a mama proud. Maybe I should start calling this my bragspot instead of blogspot.... Forgive me Lord, but the pride is winning right now....

For some reason, I still have a mental block. I think that if I don't have a picture ( new) of Ally, I can't put up a post. Well tuh duh! The light bulb just clicked on! I can type without pictures. Ally 's CAT scan came back fine as did her blood work. She was off balance for about 3 weeks, but then it just resolved. They say it was not her ears, but I don't believe them! I think it was an inner ear infection, which you have to have an MRI to detect. We never did that.

One good thing is that we did get a genetic counseling appt to have her checked again for a disorder. We still get asked "Does she have genetic disorder?" all the time. I am tired of answering IDK. I have found one that she fits to a "t' but that is the only one that they say they ruled out definately. Well, upon further research, I found otu that about 5% of the population that has the disorder get negative FISH testing! As far as I know that is the only genetic test they ran. Well, at least we will have answers.

I was sitting thinking how lucky I am to have a child that is not really interested in putting everything in her mouth( knock on wood). But then it occured to me that she has a fascination with running/walking with long sticks, or anything hard in her hands. Which is worse.....?Finally, do you know what a beautiful song "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" is, especially when it is coming out of your little girl's mouth????

A blessed week

Well, I have not posted in a couple of weeks because there has been nothing of importance to talk about. Then it hit me.... the "nothing" IS important! We have had a couple of good weeks except for Ally's facial faux pas. She has not one but two eye injuries from school the past week or so. She does not know how to go slow and safe. She is always max speed with no stopping ability. I got a haircut that I really like. It is the shortest I have ever had my hair but I am wondering what took me so long to do it. I was able to get some spring cleaning done this weekend, Bryan did yard work, Ally visited he Granddad in Fayetteville, and all has been well. I just thank the good Lord for this blessing. I pray that He is blessing your family as well.

Mother of the year...HUH?

Well, for those few who read this, I was not imagining things when I smelled finger nail polish remover, only it was nail polish itself. YUP! all over the floor, tile, window and ALLY. An not just on her but in her, that's right, ( my head is hung in shame), she drank it! One quick call to poison control set me at ease thought when the gentleman on the other end said " Oh, well, ............." with such a big pause and such an apathetic vocal quality ( he was just trying to be calm, but me in my frantics, felt he should be listing things to do in lightning speed) I was reassured that she would live. Luckily it was a trial size bottle and not enough to harm! So for this I officially give myself the "Mother of the year" joke award.

On another note, Ally's heart appt at ACH this week went swimmingly. Heart is great and no surgery for at least 2 years! I used the word swim because we got to at the hotel. Ally absolutly loved it. Terrified at first, then mad because her floater kept turning her over, then complete bliss when mom put her in a "swimmer seat" so she could sit upright or lean over and "swim". We also went to the LR Zoo. It was a beautiful day, cool, and we all felt good. However it was school day and there were literally hundreds of groups of children, a zoo in a zoo I guess.

Finally, Mother's day was so much fun this year. No health concerns and a very attentive, sweet, handsome husband, and an oh so cutely dressed daughter at church with me made the day. A great lunch with my mom, a nap in the afternoon, and a beautiful bunch of flowers from Ally ( hand print flowers) and Dad ( the real thing). I couldn't have asked for more.....oh wait did I mention we sprung for a sitter and actually went out to eat sans baby? Ah that was the life, at least for a day. I hope all you other mothers were as lucky as I was.

And the drops just keep on comin'

I know it is spring but a couple of nice days without rain would be nice! Have you ever had one of those days where nothing is really wrong, but a bunch of little things seem to add up to the most horrible day or week ever. Well, that is my day. Oh well, I will live. Ally's world was rocked today when she was taken to another room for a while while her teacher had a meeting. She was so happy to see me that she jumped into my arms and shouted "bye" to the new teacher on her way out the door! An the tone of her bye absolutely said "thanks for nothin lady." It was not an honorable attitude, but pleasing to know that she does have her own personality and expresses it! Alright, I think I have had enough key strokes to calm down....half of them being the backspace from removing my innermost thoughts from the page.....God bless having a concience. I guess there is always something to give praise for. does anyone else smell nail polish remover??? guess I better check on Allybug....

All good things...

Well, nevermind the excitement about sleep in the last post. Ally is now awake, less than 20 minutes since I bragged about her going to sleep so well.....This too shall pass... I just really pray that it is not 5 years from now, or even worse, when she is out of the house before we actually sleep!

Consistency is key...

Okay, here it is, my second post in a week.... Aren't you proud ( probably more shock than pride). There really is not a lot to talk about today. It has been raining all weekend and I have had to work all weekend getting ready for our next trip to ACH. Ally has been fun this weekend though. We went to "Princess day" and Chick-fil-A and she sat on a horse for a picture. She seemed quite intimidated at first, not willing to pet the horse. But then she realized that it was the animal that we had pointed to quite often in the "Big Animal Book" and a loud squeal came out. We also decorated Daddy's birthday card today. We may have had a breakthrough with the sleeping thing tonight. During play time for an hour before bed time we went to bed. When the time came she said " Bed, bottle, Elmo," and WALKED to her room by herself and put her arms up toward the crib. She then went right to bed and is asleep right now. I hope this is the beginning of a love relationship with her crib! Next to conquer the bottle and move to the sippy cup all the time!

Another "step" in Ally's growth

This is one of Ally's first times walking on her own. The next day she took off and, well, hasn't stopped since.....

Walking

Well, the time has come....ALLY IS WALKING! actually, she went straight from scooting to walking and running in about 2-weeks. This is the fastest progression we have seen from her in her little delayed physical body, and we are stoked! She really skipped crawling, but is very capable of doing so. She also started saying 2-word phrases last weekend with "Look, Daddy!" She saw daddy outside working in his BEAUTIFUL garden and wanted to make sure that I saw him too! Things have been going very well here at home. The blessings from God have just been poured on us lately. I can't give enough praises. It also makes me leery about what tests may be waiting around the corner. What ever they are we will make it with His help. I just found out that people other than my mom read this.....Therefore, no more excuses.... more regular posts to come. Also I have included photos from Easter and Ally's first haircut. I didn't know the Easter Bunny could carry so much to one little girl!

What growth

Well, it has been approx 3 months since I last updated you. Please don't hold you breath between posts.... (Ha) Ally is doing well, She got a great heart review in January. We don't have to see the cardiologist for 6 more months. We are very pleased and blessed. She is more like a "normal child" every day. I really don't know what to think of it. Changing modes so many times in such a short amount of time is tiring. She can also drink milk now!! And, as small as she is, WIC decided that she was "too fat" and so they will only give us 3 cans of pediasure a day now instead of 4. She is 17 months now and weighs 18.10 pounds....size 9-12 month clothes....26.5 inches and she is "too chubby"?????? Well, see for yourself... Have a blessed day, God will certainly do that for you if you ask!