Great Weekend in Utah.

Last Thursday, my mom and I got the itch to go to Utah and shop. My sister is being a traveling nurse and is living in Park City-- so we went down and spent some time with her. It was a good time. We stayed at my brothers condo for the first few days and spent Saturday night at my sisters apartment. We did a WHOLE lot of shopping and I pretty much got all my birthday, Christmas, and Anniversary presents . . although I didn't find any shoes that I wanted. Cory was in Clarkston on a Sturgeon fishing trip with his friends so we wanted to go somewhere too. Cory has been doing a whole lot of tripping and traveling and we have been stuck at home-- I was sick of it so we went and had a good time. We ate ourselves fatter and shopped (for bigger clothes). . . . like crazy. Although we had a great time--- I realized that I really need to lose that last 12 lbs from the baby --- i have been SO bad. Eating everything . . drinking my coke like there isn't enough . . . I am officially going to try and do better-- what reality check when you go shopping and just don't quite like how you look in those jeans! Anyways, overall it was really fun and my kids were amazing the whole time. Araleigh had SO much fun with Brynne and was just so good. Even when we were shopping she didn't give me ANY trouble. It was a trip much needed and I am glad we got to go! I am glad we had a somewhat get away because now I am pretty much barricaded in my house because of the Swine Flu. NO, I don't have it--- but am freaked out that my baby will get it so I am trying to stay home and take precautions. The joy of flu season.

This is Cory and his friend, Val with their 7 ft Sturgeon that they caught. They had a good time!

Rewind on Preschool

So I got the email today from Araleigh's preschool that she isn't going to be doing it now because the house they are renting is "snake infested." Um GROSS. Anyways, so I am VERY sad because me and her both were excited for school. So . . . if ANYONE knows a Preschool (whether its in someones home or not) that takes 3 year old. PLEASE PLEASE let me know.

Pre-school

I am SO excited because I found a pre-school for Araleigh today. I have been so sad because she missed all the deadlines for preschool this year because she didn't turn 3 until October. So I am glad I found it. She starts in November and it goes til June. So if there is anyone out there interested or knows someone with a 3-4 year old let me know and I will give you her info. She said that there is still a a few openings and the first 5 to sign up get money off . . . so let me know! Right now I think there is 4 total in her class . . Araleigh is the only girl so far haha. Anyways... let me know!

Mr. Canden

I just have to say . . . . my little man is the cutest, most smiley thing I have ever seen. We went to the Sugar Football game on Friday-- and this is how cute he was in his warm clothes.

My cute watches!

So a while back I made me some watches with a friend who is really into making jewelry. LOVE THEM! She did a little party the other day here at our house for our cousins and grandma that wanted to make more. I just pretty much decided to make some earrings to go with my watches. Its fun . . . anyways this is what I have. I thought about making more--- but I pretty much have the basics so I don't think I need more. We will see! Anyways . . . here ya go Lacey . . some pictures of what the hype is all about!

Good news!

We went to the neurologist today and he said that he didn't think that her episodes were seizures. He did say that her brain activity was slower than normal on the EEG but he wasnt sure if it was because of her state of sleep deprivement. So for now we are going to just conitue to watch her and see if we can get her to control her "tick". He said that if it didn't stop we could go back in and try to start controlling it with meds . . . but we will wait on that for now. I am a little taken back just because I wanted answers . . . and he really didn't give us any exept for that he didn't think they were seizures. Which thats good. But honestly ... I wasn't really impressed too much with him. He was just kinda dazed while talking to us and as Araleigh was doing it there in his office he really didn't stop to overlook her. So I am not sure how I feel . . . still back at square one again. He kinda started going into her night terrors that she has now--- which wasn't why we were there-- but oh well. At least she isn't seizing . . cuz that scared me A LOT. Now if we could just figure out whats wrong. Uggg Frustration.

EEG

Well, after a REALLY long night we are done with 1st EEG test. We had set our alarms to wake up at 3 am . . they didn't go off. Luckily I have an incredible potty trained little girl that needed to go potty at 3:30. So then I woke up Cory cuz he offered to do the 1st shift of being awake with her. We let her play and watch tv. I came out at like 4:30 am and she was playing a game on my computer. Cory says she kept trying to go to sleep but he didn't let her and she'd get mad. So at 6:00 I got up and fed Canden and let Cory go to bed for an hour and a half. I finally got ready and we took Canden over to mom's at 8 am and was off to the doctor in I.F. Let me just say as soon as she was buckled into the carseat--- her head was bobbin. It took EVERYTHING to get her to keep her eyes open. They were rolling back in her head and she tried SO HARD. We finally got to the neurologist and she marked her head up and started putting all the things on her head with the goup. There were 26. YIKES. Araleigh did SO GOOD. She just layed on my lap and looked at me and made sure to be holding my hand. The only time she cried was the VERY last one they taped to her heart . . . she said it hurt. She kept falling asleep before she was done and I had to keep waking her because they needed to record her falling asleep. Overall she did wonderful and I am glad that we all got that little nap with her when the lights turned out. But now we are all feeling that lack of sleep . . . so now we just wait til Friday to meet with the doctor about the results and what to do from here on if it is for sure seizures.

Dooms Day at the Arnolds.

Well, today has been a rough one on me and my family. The kids have both been sick (Canden has not been sleeping and hardly eating because he's got a cold). Today was Araleigh's 3 year and Candens 4 month check up. Because they didn't have fevers they told me to still come get theie vaccinations. Well I have to start by saying that I went into the doctor with many concerns on my children's part. Ever since Araleigh was like 7 months old she has done this straining thing. Her arms would tense up and it is all centered in her chest . . . I was told by people and a PA that it was "just a tick, it will go away in time." Well, my intuition has been really bugging me and I knew that today was the day that I got her into the doctor I TRUSTED. I have filmed her over the last few days just in case she didn't do it at the office. As soon as I showed him the video his face clicked like the light bulb went on ... stepped back and said "she is having ??? Myoclonic seizures." (at least I think that is what he called it). My heart dropped. Tears welled and I felt like someone punched me in the gut for being a bad mother. I literally freaked and the doctor calmed me reminding me that its not my fault that I put it on the back burner because most the time kids do have weird twitches for some reason or another. So he called the neurologist to get us in right away and we are going in tomorrow morning for her 1st EEG. So she went to bed at about 10:30 and we will be waking her up at 3 am to keep her up so she can sleep through the EEG. Araleigh's stats were: Height 37.5" Weight: 31 lbs

WARNING: DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MUCH INFO!

Next is my Canden. I am literally irrate about his situation. Ever since he was circumsiced something wasn't right. He has always been swollen and just raw down there and if I didn't pull the skin down and vaseline EVERY time I changed him (yes EVEN 4 month later) then it would go inside as if he wasn't circumcised and it would literally take me 10 minutes and lots of crying on his end to get it to pop back out. Well, the first time I took him in because I KNEW IT WASN'T RIGHT... I had popped it out the night before so it wasn't hard to get it out when the doctor checked. He said I just needed to keep pulling skin back and vaselining it. Well TWO MONTHS later it was still happening. So last night I noticed that it finally popped back in and I couldn't get it out. So I decided to not try until my PRIMARY doctor looked at it (I go to a group of doctors but there is ONLY ONE that I LOVE and absolutely trust with my kids lifes.) So today he said the same thing . . you will just have to keep pulling it down and putting vaseline on it. Well then he goes to do that himself and I hear "Oh." I TOLD YOU SO is all I am thinking. He then proceeds to ask who did the circumsiciion and I tell him that it was one of his partners and he went silent (OF COURSE he can't bad mouth his partner.) Then he went on to tell me that he was not circumsiced correctly and that the ONLY way to fix it will be for him to go under general anesthesia when he turns one to fix it through a Urologist. So now I am just waiting for some other ball to drop . . . today was literally a terrible day. I am SO mad that I paid like $400 for him to get cut and they do it wrong. Now my poor little boy HAS to go under ANESTHESIA for the fault of the stupid doctor. I AM SO PISSED. I feel like I shouldn't have to pay for the Urologist and that I am just heartbroken. Who wants to see their children have to go through these tests and surgery. NOT ME. But that is life I guess. I am just frustrated . . . . frustrated at the doctors who can't do his job and frustrated at myself for not heading to my intuition earlier about Araleigh. But all I can do is move on and just wait to see what happens. Here is Canden's Stats: Height: 25" Weight: 14 lbs 13 oz Head: 16.25 . . . . currently he is hoarse with a cough and a runny nose and is not eating well. Life has truly been rough this week. I am running on not much sleep because he is miserable and now this. I just pray that the outcome with be bearable. So if you have any prayers left over . . . please send them to my little girl. I truly am praying that it is nothing too serious and we can get control over it. As I stated before we are waking her up in 3 hours to play and watch movies and then 9 am will start her EEG. Friday we are meeting with the Neurologist and I will be showing him the videos the Pediatrician saw and discussing her results I am assuming. So until Friday.

Online shopper? Save money.

So I have become a vivid online shopper. I LOVE IT. I can find SO many deals and coupons online for clothes and such. Well a while back I came across a website. Its a rebate program that gives you money back everytime you go through their website to purchase something. I spent like $60 at Old Navy (but had $100 worth of stuff but through online coupons I used I got it cheaper) and just by going through this rebate site I got another $5 -- but that comes in form of cash. SO if you are an online shopper go sign up here. Its free to sign up and even though sometimes its only like a savings of 1-8% . . . its FREE money when you are going to spend it anyways . . might as well milk all the money out of your purchases you can right?? Anyways, here is the site to sign up through: EBATES

With the Holiday season coming up I truly am trying to squeeze all money I can . . . and this is just a few ways to do it. I LOVE this program. They will send you a check in the mail or automatic deposit through paypal. If you can remember to purchase through them its worth every ounce ESPECIALLY if you are a coupon person . . . here is just another way of getting a little money back. FYI: You will not get a check until you have like $5 in your own rebates in there . . . so with Christmas season coming up I am excited to find awesome deals online and get more money back just by going through this! ITS WORTH IT!! Especially if your poor like us . . haha every dollar helps!

Party for a 3 year old!

Well, Sunday I woke up . . turned on conference and began working. I decided to make dinner for all my family who we invited over for Araleigh's party. I first started by making a big "brunch" because by the time we ate breakfast it was almost lunch-- haha. After that I started baking cupcakes for Araleigh's party-- along with seperating and coloring frosting. Then I made lasagna and tossed up a salad and it pretty much took me ALL DAY. Wow. Everyone showed up at 4:30 just as the garlic bread came out of the oven. We all ate the yummy food and then let Araleigh open her presents. WOW, she is spoiled! She got so many fun things and they played so hard. I then made them "cupcake cones" .... (you bake the cupcakes in ice cream cones.) I let them decorated them with different colors of icing and sprinkles-- they had a pretty good time eating and decorating them. Then it was singing time with cake and ice cream and pretty much hardcore play time for the rest of the evening. She had SO much fun and there was not ONE fight between the kids (that I am aware of). It was really a good night and I am glad my family (and Trent and Boden) were here to share it with us!

Happy Birthday Araleigh

I absolutely cannot believe Araleigh is now 3 years old. Where does the time go? I just wanted to write a few things down on her birthday. Araleigh has become quite the character . . and we have really started to enjoy her. Its funny because the past month things have changed a bit. Forever I DREADED taking my kids places (such as Walmart or Grocery Shopping). . well Araleigh has become more independent and much more better so now I am WANTING to take her everywhere with me. Now its just the baby that I am always trying to have someone watch . . just because its harder with her AND the carseat and when he is screaming its hard to hold him and push carts. Araleigh has really become my little best friend. She ALWAYS randomly comes up to me and puts her arms around me and says "I just love you mommy." It melts my heart everytime. I wonder what life would be like with out my kids sometimes . . . and realize that I wouldn't want things any other way. I cannot believe the closeness that Araleigh and I have. In her little 3 years of life we have spent A LOT of time with just us being alone. She became my little rock and safety net when Cory would leave us so long stretches of time for work (which was often). She was first everything and it has been a joy to be her mother and witness her growth. I just love my little girl. Here is a few things about her to know:

-Her personality is huge, but she is very shy and it takes a bit to get her to warm up to people. She definately has gotten that from me. I am very shy and reserved if I am around people who I don't know . . . and she unfortunately got this from me. I was hoping she'd have Cory's willingness to jump in there and make friends-- but it takes her a while to get her feelers out there. Sorry sweetie.

-She absolutely LOVES Max & Ruby. We watch this OVER AND OVER

-She LOVES LOVES LOVES dance and cheer. She takes dance and just abslutely loves every minute of it. Cheer she has learned from her cousins and yesterday--- she hit an awesome toe touch. I was astonished.

-She loves pizza, spaghetti, turkey sandwiches, Mac and Tomato Juice, Chicken nuggets and chocolate hershey bars

-She loves to do hair and make mom and herself pretty.

-She loves her daddy . . and often won't let anyone hug her except for daddy. They got really close the past 6 months and I love seeing that bond.

-She LOVES to bowl and swim.

-She loves more than ANYthing to sing . . . she is ALWAYS singing to her brother and its the cutest thing that I have ever heard.

-She bites her nails until they are SO short. Also got this from me, and I hate it!

-She picks her nose when she is uncomfortable. hahaha When she goes to dance and she gets all shy and uncomfortable about being a place that she doesn't know anyone--- two fingers go into her nose.

Today was a good day with her. We decided to take her to McDonalds to play on the toys and when we got there she was a little upset that her friends weren't there to play. Well, we decided to take her to the Rex to bowl. So we went and she again was upset she had no friends. (We are having her party Sunday so I wasn't going to do much Saturday). So I felt bad and made a few phone calls and went and picked up my nephew and niece and then my brothers family came too. We went bowling again and then ended up in this blow up play room that the Rex has now. They had a BLAST. I am so glad they came and Araleigh got to have some real fun for her birthday. Now tomorrow we can just concentrate on cake and presents! I am so grateful for Araleigh and the blessings she has brought to my family. I no longer live for myself but for my children . . . and she was the first to show me that kind of love. Thank you my precious one for teaching me how to be a mother and thank you for bringing the love of family and God into our home. In those still moments I truly do feel the Spirit surround her . . children are so blessed and innocent and I just hope I can do well by them to bring them up to be who they are intended to be.