O What A Glorious Day!

If you enter our house on a given day, you will hear music at some point in your stay. It is usually on in every room, sometimes at the same time! We love it! Here is a little snippet of how much Bentley and Marseille enjoy it... and food!

Marseille enjoys singing and dancing... just not obeying ;)

Bentley update

Thanks to all who were praying and thinking about us yesterday. We did have to go to the ER with Bentley because he was throwing up green bile. I talked with two on-call doctors (the GI and Peds) and that is what they had suggested.

Since the middle of April Bentley has thrown up one morning every 6-9 days. He wakes up around 6am with sharp pain and then vomits 2-3 times and is normal, literally back to normal by 10AM.

This particular episode, he woke up at 6am, vomiting and continued to vomit 5 more times. Every time he took small sips of water, he would throw it back up. He had gotten to the point where he was throwing up green bile, and that is when we got concerned. But by the time all phone calls were returned and we were at the ER and then finally seen by the ER Dr. It was 9am and he had turned the corner, the Dr. saw nothing wrong with Bentley and sent us home. Always my concern with bring them to the ER! I think that Dr. thought we were over-reactors by some of the comments he made. Oh well, my hope is to never see him again :)

I explained to him that I had been charting these episodes and that we were going to the GI soon. Which in return said that they would be able to pin point better what tests to do, because he wasn't going to do random tests to try and find something, which I can appreciate.

Marseille has a GI appointment on Tuesday, which the Nephrologist told us to bring up Bentley in that appointment. All the Nephrologist's testing came back stable, so he is thinking the GI can help us. So we shall see :) Praying that we can have some clue as to what's going on with little to no testing.

Many of you have asked how you can help and how we are doing. We are really doing fine. God's grace truly is sufficient in our time of need. I have not felt overwhelmed or discouraged by any of this. It's definitely not fun, but it's a part of my life! We don't have any needs at the moment. Because these episodes are so far apart, we are still able to get around and do things, even the day that he has them (though we usually don't do anything those days!)

One thing that I do ask is if you are interested in watching Marseille while we have testing and the like done, please email me. This maybe spontaneousness as well as planned. Thank you!!

Nephrology Appointment

Well, we had a good appointment today. Bentley and Marseille are both stable. Their organs looked good-- as good as they can-- with little to no change. What a blessing.

We were ready for this appointment because Bentley has been throwing up randomly and has been complaining of being tired a lot. He had 3 throwing up episodes in past four weeks with no real sickness attached to them, and no new unusual foods. I thought that his blood pressure medication might be too high for him now, but his blood pressure was good when they checked it so his medicine is going to stay the same. At first it was high and they had to recheck it.

I was really proud of Marseille, it was the first appointment in her entire life so far that she didn't cry the whole time. The Dr. actually got to feel her stomach :) YAY! Though she did cry the two of the three times that she had to get her blood pressure taken... we're working on that! Marseille's blood pressure was still high after her not crying reading, so we have to up her dosage.

Anyway. Another good thing that came out of the appointment, in a round about way, was their blood pressure prescription. We no longer have to get it compounded, this will save us a lot of money and time! Because compounding is expensive for pharmacies they don't take insurance, but now since Marseille's dosage changed we can just get the pill form. And because we live in America and a lot of people have high blood pressure, it is on the $4 list at most pharmacies!! What a huge blessing!! I just have to crush it for them :)

Now on to the issues! Both Bentley and Marseille came back with high CO2 counts. The Dr. is thinking that they might have Respiratory Acidosis. Basically Respiratory Acidosis is an acid imbalance in the body caused by breathing problems. There is an excess of CO2 and if forms an acid in the blood. The "remedy" for them is sodium bicabonate or an antacid.

The Dr. was also concerned with how small Marseille is. She has not grown much in the last year and Bentley has capped off too. PKD does make children smaller, but not as small as Marseille. Danny's and my heights were factored into his thinking, but the high CO2 can definitely be contributing to her size. He was okay with their weight, just not with their growth. They ordered more blood work for their blood gases and to get a more accurate CO2 count. The Dr. said that they would call with the results and they scheduled our next appointment for August.

So, we drove over to the hospital to have the kids get their fingers pricked. As soon as we stepped into the room to get their fingers pricked, Bentley put his head down and said very quickly, "I don't like these people!" and then began to wail. The respiratory lab workers were definitely not used to drawing blood from kids, but the kids left on good terms :)

So, overall it wasn't a bad visit! We will let everyone know the results!

Thank you again to all who prayed for us this morning and continually lift us up in our prayers! We are grateful :)

Bumps and bruises

I asked him to make a silly face and this is what I got!

Both Bentley and Marseille had some bumps and bruises last week. Thankfully, we were sick and couldn't leave the house because I'm sure that we might have gotten a call.

Both falls happened in their room involving the little table and chairs set. During play time, Marseille started screaming and there wasn't any bump at the time, but she woke up with a black eye. So, I don't know what she did.

Bentley, on the other hand, was supposed to be napping when I heard his scream. I walked in the room to find blood on his face, hands, and shirt. He told me that he was reaching across the table and a chair for his Monster Truck Mater while standing on his bed. I'm not sure how he slipped, but he sure did slip!! He bit his lip (it ended up all swollen), busted the existing scar on his forehead, and scraped up one side of his nose. He looked pretty banged up!

Thankfully, both of them were okay, and they are pretty much all healed!

Reading his Valentine

Bentley loved his Valentine's Day card and kept reading it over and over again. I was able to catch one! Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Bentley!!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Bentley! We love you so much and are so grateful to have shared the past three years with you. We hope to have many more!! You are a blessing to our family. We are excited to see all that God has planned for your life :)

Birth:

1st Birthday:

2nd Birthday:

Yesterday, having a tea party with Marseille:

Bentley and Music

Bentley rocking out to his toe tapping music!

Our little boy loves music. And when I say love, I mean LOVE! Two instances in the past two weeks have confirmed this truth.

Last week, I put Danny's piano cd, the one he made when he was a teenager, on for the kids to go to sleep to. Bentley woke up sobbing. When I asked him what the matter was, all he said was, "The music."

"The music is making you sad?" I replied.

"No." he answered

"Is the music making you happy?" I asked just because.

"Yes." as he shook his head to confirm.

"Oh, but if the music is making you cry, how are you happy?" asking, but not knowing how he would respond.

"I love the music, it makes me cry." he said as he looked up with puffy eyes.

"Oh, I understand." I said and pulled him in for a hug.

I asked him later if he wanted me to put the same cd on for his nap and he said, "Yes." But he woke up crying again, so I haven't put the cd back on for him! Sweet boy, is just like his Daddy!

Here are couple of funnies:

Bentley: "What are we listening to?"

Me: "Bach"

Bentley: "Ah, Bok Choy!"

Last night Bentley was crying very hard after we put him to bed, which is not normal. We thought he was crying because we put band-aids on his thumbs so he will stop sucking them. Boy were we wrong! I walked over to his bed and softly told him, that he need to get self control so I could understand what he was saying.

"It's not Bok Choy!" he wailed.

"What?" Confused, I stopped and listened. We forgot to change the cd from their play time music to their sleeping music! He wanted Bach!

Bentley: Can we have Walking to the Wise? (Note: the cd is called Walking with the Wise)

Me: Yes

Bentley: Where is Walking to the Wise?

Me: I'm getting it.

Bentley: I love Walking to the Wise.

Bentley has his own Grooveshark playlist of all the songs he repeatedly asks me to play. Mind you, I had to figure out what songs he was talking about based off his titles! It took a while!

- Our God- Chris Tomlin (Bentley's title: The God is Stronger Song)

- Your Name High - Hillsong (Bentley's title: Ahh, ahh, ahh Song)

- Everyday - Sovereign Grace (Bentley's title: Thank you for the try Song)

- Praise the Lord - Sovereign Grace ( Bentley's title: Praise the Lord Song-- yay!)

- Taste and See - Sovereign Grace (Bentley's title: Taste and See Song)

- You Gave Your Life Away - Paul Baloche (Bentley's Title: You Gave Song)

- Stronger - Hillsong (Bentley's title: God is Stronger Song -- not to be confused with Our God!)

He is so much like Danny in that he wants to have music on at all times! Yet, I can not believe that actually listens to the words of the songs and tells me about them. I pray that he uses this gift and talent! Can you believe that he is going to be 3 of Friday?! I can't!

enJOY!

I haven't been posting pictures because I haven't been motivated to take pictures because my camera is dying. So, with that here are a couple that I did take of my little joys!

Marseille showing her baby how to work Santa's sleigh.

Playing with rice.

Playing with beans.

Silly Bentley loves his hats!

Getting ready to read Jesus Storybook Bible

Tickle time!

Exciting news :)

Bentley and Marseille's check up went well yesterday. Bentley's blood pressure was just above normal and Marseille's was normal! Thanking God for medicine and the grace to remember to give it to them twice a day :) The doctor was pleased and doesn't want to see them again until January. Can you BELIEVE it!!! No appointments until the new year!! I'm am SO excited.

My shoulder is getting better and stronger. Though I have developed a twitch that brings my head and shoulder together at the same time. Now, all I need is for my eye to twitch and I'll thoroughly look crazy :) The physical therapist said that the tension causing the twitching should go away once my shoulder is back to normal. I hope so!

As far as our sicknesses go, we are all pretty much better! We'll all be entering back into society this week :)

He's none stop!

Last night Bentley did a great job eating his food, so Danny decided to give him a treat. I had made some Blondies the night before and they were the treat of choice. As soon as, Bentley saw them he was so excited that he was getting a cookie.

I asked him, as he was carefully devouring his cookie, "Bentley is that a good treat?"

Bentley: "This is a cookie, not a treat."

Me: "Well, then what's a treat?"

Bentley: "You go pee-pee in the potty and get a treat!"

Me: "Yes, you're right Bentley!"

We were laughing so hard! This past week, among many other things, I had tried to start potty training Bentley. After 5 days of not understanding, we stopped. Having physical therapy two mornings a week doesn't really aid the process! So, we decided after the holidays would be best! If anything, it has helped him realized when he's gone potty, now if we could help him learn the sensation of having to go potty!

Play Mu-sick

Bentley loves to play Danny's keyboard!

Trip to the Post Office

Today, we had to run to the post office to mail an order of dresses and a package to Amy. After getting everything in their boxes and during our wait for the postal worker, Bentley was VERY busy... getting into all the greeting cards and sale items. While waiting there were people coming in and out dropping letters into the mail drop box.

Bentley noticed them and asked, "What's that?"

Me: A mail drop box. People put their mail in it.

Bentley twirling as he spoke, "Humm. That's funny!"

What a silly boy! It was pretty funny in person because you could see that he thought he was being pretty clever :)

Chick-Fil-A Day

We faithfully returned to Chick-Fil-A dressed as cows for some free chicken!

Poor Bentley was extremely afraid of the cows:

Marseille stole a french fry and actually ate it!

A little bit of silliness

Me: Okay, Bentley we are going to turn on some music.
Bentley: Mu-sick?
Me: Yes
Bentley: Mo-zar?
Me: Mozart?
Bentley: GREAT!
Me: Okay, but I think that we are going to turn on music to praise God to.
Bentley: Ummm. OKAY!

Silly boy, I don't remember teaching him about Mozart!

Today's Moment

Like I said, I really want to capture these funny moments. So here is another one that happened this morning.

Bentley was going through Danny's hats, an everyday occurrence. Danny happened to be in the closet with him and got down his "Indian Jones" hat. He put it on for Bentley and Bentley smiled. Then Danny put it on me, and Bentley kept saying over and over, "That WEIRD!, Daddy's hat!" It was so funny. :)

Yesterday, Bentley was dancing on the this singing lion toy watching me cook dinner :)

Capturing the Moments

I've been wanting to do this for a long time, and I have a second to capture a little moment in our house.

Bentley and I have special phrase for each other. It's, "Bentley, guess what?!... I love you." Well, he caught on to this very quickly and all I have to say is "Bentley, guess what?!" and he says, "I love you!" We say this to each other at least 20 times a day... that is not an exaggeration!

Well, I just got both Bentley and Marseille up from their afternoon naps and they are eating a snack. I went to turn some music on and Bentley said to Marseille, "Guess what, baby?! I love you!" Awww!! So sweet! It melts my heart! I love watching them be sweet with each other!

Allergy Free

Bentley has been cleared from any food allergies! Praise God! A new world has just opened up to him!!!
He had yogurt at his Food Challenge appointment yesterday, and he tolerated it. We just have to take it slow introducing new foods to him!

*S*N*O*W* YAY!!! and the Olympics

Yesterday afternoon the snow began to fall and fall and fall. We were a little more than excited. I had been praying that it would snow, because we have been out of town every single time it snowed here this winter.

I took Bentley outside as the snow was just beginning to fall and he loved it. This morning, however, he wasn't quite as sure. It was a lot harder to walk because there was so much snow! We are so excited and thankful that we got to experience some real snow this winter. It was very powdery snow. It's starting to melt really quickly though!

The snow was falling into the evening so we decided to eat by candlelight with the windows open to see the snow! It was a lot of fun. Even Bentley thought it was exciting. We had hot pastrami sandwiches and white bean dip, both recipes out of my Food Network Magazine for celebrating the Olympics. I love the Olympics!!

Danny and I did watch the whole opening ceremony! It was pretty interesting, but nothing with top Beijing's opening ceremony for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Poor people had a flawless ceremony until the lighting of the torch! They must have had a good dress rehearsal :)

This morning, Marseille woke up around 6AM and I nursed her and put her back to bed, did my morning reading and then went out for a walk in the delicious white snow. It was so peaceful and quiet. I couldn't help but praise God for creating it! I grabbed my camera and took pictures as the son was coming up. It was beautiful!

When I got Bentley up and told him there was snow, he was so excited! He loves to eat the snow... and that is about it! He laughed at Danny and me as we were running around throwing snowballs at each other. I made a snow angel and tried to get Bentley to make one too but he didn't want to lay his head back. Danny and I put him in the snow and moved his arms and legs back and forth for him.

After Marseille woke up, we all went on a walk in the neighborhood. It was great to see all the kids out... there are a lot more kids in our neighborhood than I thought! Tonight is our date night... we moved the date night that we go out to Saturday so that way Danny can't run late :)

It's our B date, so we are going to Brixx, Barnes and Nobe and Bath and Body Works! It should be fun :)

Here are some pictures of last night and this morning:














Okay, that's all the pictures for now. I'll try and put all the pictures I took on a slide show :)

Bentley's Birthday! Part 2!

Okay, so if you know much about me, you would know that I couldn't let the whole icing issue rest. They say third times a charm. Well, the icing tasted great, but it was really tight and hard to spread. Thankfully, I was making a cake for a two year old! He really enjoyed the cake!
Some last minute decorations:

The cake: Notice how the sand over takes the waves!

Little Einsteins: Pat pat pat... blast off.

Blowing out the candles:

Yummy cake:

Oh Marseille...

Bentley's Birthday!

YAY! Today is Bentley's 2nd birthday! Time is going by way too fast. I just finished baking him a Wacky/ Depression Cake because it doesn't have any milk in it! I hope that he enjoys it. The frosting turned out okay. I don't have a knack for frosting... but I really don't care... so I probably won't do anything about it :)... I digress!

Anyway! What a big boy. He is such a help around the house. He knows where the garbage is, where the dirty clothes go.... and how to slather his sister in Vaseline when I'm not looking :) (We had a fun morning! wink**wink**) He is starting to talk more and copy a lot of our words. It's neat to watch him put things together. For instance, when he connects a word with an object, like fire truck. He knows the word and is excited one he hears or sees one.

He's so busy and quick. Yesterday, he pressed the alphabet button on his Leapfrog fridge toy and ran around in circles in the kitchen. It seems like he is everywhere all at once and sure to be into something.

It's funny the way his mind processes things. I have a willow angel that sits on the table by our front door, but Bentley doesn't like it there. He always puts it on the bookcase in the spare bedroom by the other willow angel. It's like he doesn't want them to be lonely.

He also goes around telling us what belongs to whom. All day long, "Mommy's, Daddy's, Baby's," he's just started adding Bentley's. It's really cute. Last night as I folded clothes, he told me who's clothes I was folding and he got them right! Clever boy!

Well, I could go on and on but I really need to get going! Hopefully, I can get on again today and update about Marseille! She is now 6 months old!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BENTLEY!!!! We love you sweet boy and are so grateful to God for blessing us with you :) Love, Daddy, Mommy, and Marseille!