Things We Love Lately . . . . .

I love that this boy had a birthday.

Okay, maybe I don't LOVE it. My baby turned 3!

I do love that he loved having a birthday.

His day was full of cars and more cars :)

I love that for the moment we have found the most heavenly balance of medication and stress free living for our Christopher.

For the moment :)

That means that these two are best friends again.

Doing EVERYTHING together.

And I mean EVERYTHING.

Oh, how I love it.

I love the show Intervention.

I think it comes from my obsessive need to see that everyone is living their happiest lives.

I HAVE to see that these people get help. And, if they don't . . . . . well, I'm sad for the rest of the day.

Yep, I'm a strange one.

Maybe in a different life I should have been a therapist.

I am loving cheetos.

I used to think that people who had weird cravings during pregnancy were . . . .well, . . . . weird.

I have always HATED cheetos. However, during this pregnancy they taste like heaven. Pure heaven.
Don't worry. I don't sit around eating cheetos all day. They are my rare treat :)

What is your rare treat? Do you think that I need an intervention from cheetos?
And, what are you loving lately?

It's a . . . . . .

Baby.

We are having a baby.

We are having a BABY!

New baby's picture is up on the fridge, mingling with his (or hers') brothers' pictures.

I got baby's picture taken today at the doctor.

This pregnancy has been strange for me.

The smile has been there on my face and the words "we are excited" have come flowing out of my mouth without hesitation.

But, in my heart I was afraid, anxious, and somewhat numb.

It may sound strange to others, but I was feeling guilty about this pregnancy.

I know that by already having a child with autism, the odds are greater that I will have another one with those issues.

I honestly considered not having more children.

I was surprised when they took me into the ultrasound room at the doctor.

They said they like to do an ultrasound at the first appointment.

They said this would be fun because usually most patients aren't far enough along to see much.

I am 14 weeks and the baby would be much more formed.

And formed it was.

A perfect little outline of baby's head, nose, mouth.

Little legs and toes kicking.

Little arms and fingers moving up and down.

A heart beating in its' little body.

There was a little person growing inside me.

I was so emotional on the 30 minute drive back home.

I was no longer numb.

I felt this baby.

I felt that I was not a selfish person for bringing this new life to our family.

This baby was a blessing from God.

My Christopher, with all his struggles, has taught me so much.

He has taught me that life is precious.

He has taught me that some of the most beautiful people on this Earth are the ones that are "different".

Whether this next baby has some difficulties like Christopher or not, it will be special and loved by our family.

We are having a baby!!

It's our party . . . and we will cry if we want to

What a holiday season we had.

We partied!
And, . . . . we pity partied.


Pity party -

The kids and I developed a cough that literally lasted more than a month.


Ugh.


Party! -

Christopher had a birthday!


Number 6!




Pity party -

Andy and I developed food poisoning from some really beautiful, really delicious oranges.


Not fun.


Party! -

Christmas!!
We had such a wonderful Christmas full of family and happy memories.



Pity party -

Christopher developed the stomach flu on Christmas night.



Party! . . . . uhhh . . . . pity party?? . . . . can't decide -

Grandma and Grandpa Garlick came to visit us after Christmas!
We had a great time chatting, playing Farkle (love that game),


and just enjoying their company.
Andy began the stomach flu the day they arrived.
Christopher began a new medication that was producing some very negative side effects (at the time we didn't know it was the medicine).
After they left, Daddy got the stomach flu . . . . and then Mommy.
Wow. Food poisoning, cough, stomach flu, and morning sickness were MISERABLE for this Mommy!
Ha ha.

However, we are all well.
No more stomach flu.
No more new, scary medicine.

We have one more party coming up.
Andy's birthday is today.
3 years old!
Where does the time go?
We are waiting to celebrate next week.
We are exhausted from all this partying and pitying :)

How was your holiday?