eggs, peanuts, soy and swimming

Keller had his allergist apointment yesterday. My mom went with me to help with the kids. They don't enjoy their stroller anymore and cry to get down in the dirty doctors office. We had them entertained with a variety show of The Itsy Bitsy Spider, fake coughing and tickling-for a bit.

I was given another CREAM to add to Keller's collection. He took pictures of Keller's arms and legs and wants me to use the cream and come back in a month. Many products contain the label: MADE ON EQUIPTMENT SHARED WITH EGG, NUTS AND SOY. He told me I didn't have to be THAT careful because his allergies seem limited to his skin. He seems to think he may grow out of the egg and soy allergy. The peanut allergy is a little tougher to get rid of apparently. So, I will be trying yet another cream and praying that it heals my little man!

After the appointment, I went over to my friend Katy's to swim with the boys, her boys and my friend Brandy's twin boys. The water was too chilly (the weather in Bakersfield has been awesome for June) so we got in her giant spa. It was too crazy to see all of us juggling all of these kids, floating devices, sunscreen and swim diapers. Katy's brother in law was there too and he was a good sport about helping. I love having fun friends with boys!

Escape artists

This is our GARAGE door! They are crazy and everywhere. They are so funny and full of personality these days. I can't wait to see what they do next . . .

Meeting Aubrey and other stuff

I can tell summer is here. We have been so busy that I haven't even had a chance to blog!

We did some "swimming" in the baby pool the other other day. Mike just threw them in there naked and they were happy. He got in with them and did a little rendition of Row, Row, Row Your Boat with a spatula.

Last Sunday we went to Tehachapi (ok-so I thought last time was the LAST time). We met Aubrey for the first time! Aubrey is Mike's best friend Danny's little girl. Danny and his family live in Iowa so we haven't gotten to meet Aubrey until now. Many of you prayed with us for Aubrey. She is really a miracle baby. Aubrey was born with heart problems and at 11 days old had to be taken by helicopter to a children's hospital for an experimental heart surgery. In order to save her life, the helicopter had to land at a different hospital where they gave her a shot of calcium in her foot. The calcium saved her life but killed her foot. Her leg was amputated several weeks later. Sarah and Danny stayed at the Ronald McDonald house for weeks while Aubrey healed. Part of the reason we wanted to walk this weekend to help support the house in Bakersfield!

Aubrey has a prosthetic leg now and gets around great! She is happy and adorable and we loved getting to meet her finally.

Aubrey was loving Keller. Sarah and I thought Aubrey Babb had a nice ring to it. Isn't she a cutie? She gave me a little bit of girl fever.

We got some news about Keller's eczema too! He is highly allergic to eggs and nuts. He is mildly allergic to soy. Up until now, the main sources of protein for the kids has been eggs, nuts and tofu!! I have taken Keller off of these things and his eczema seems to be getting better. Unfortunately, everything contains soy, eggs and nuts. I am on my to making appointments with the allergist and dietician.

I am glad to have some answers but frustated by the answers we got! BreAnne told me at her school there is a special table for kids with peanut allergies in the cafeteria-poor Keller.

Bye Bye Tehachapi

Mike's parents took the kids to Tehachapi on Friday evening for the night. It is always such an amazing break for us! We picked them up on Saturday evening and had our last dinner in Tehachapi.

Mike's parents house has been on the market forever and they finally sold it! We are excited for them to move to Bakersfield but will miss the Tehachapi house.

My father in law playing trucks with the boys in the backyard.

Mike was giving them rides around the living room in the laundry basket. A spatula and a laundry basket can be their favorite toys. Why do we spend money on Fisher Price?

new tricks

After his bath, I combed Maguire's hair. I gave him the comb (he wanted it so bad) and he started trying to comb his own hair.

When Mike gets home he always takes the boys to hang out with him so I can cook dinner or finish some chores. He has been taking them outside a lot and they love it. I'm dreading the heat.

I can't open the refrigerator or any other cupboard without them under my feet pulling everything out.

They do keep each other entertained a lot though. They were laying on the floor forever just cracking each other up and wrestling the other day.

Beachy weekend

Took a short trip to Morro Bay this weekend. It was so nice to get away! I played with some of the pictures today in photoshop. I love beach pictures . . . I left my memory card at home so I had to use my mom's spare. It had very little memory but I got a few good shots of the boys in the sand.

the verdict

I'll be teaching 4th grade at Berkshire (my current school) next year. I'm trying really hard to have a good attitude about it. A change might be nice for me! I did apply for a position teaching a Kindergarten class at another school. It is a SEI class which means-no English! I'm leaving it up to God to put me where I should be! I'll be very sad to leave my school. I love my principal and am pretty comfortable there since I have been there since the school opened but I think I am a Kindergarten teacher at heart and would be happier teaching little kids.
I am left in a bad position after job sharing this year as well. Our district laid off about 70 teachers and these teachers have rehire rights for 24 months before teachers that are job sharing (no matter how long they have been teaching). If the budget gets worse, more teachers could be laid off and the period could be extended. This means after teaching for 8 years, I am forced to stay part time indefinitely. I could get a job in another district but would go back to being considered a first year teacher. Any more cuts and I would lose my job in that district.
I am praying that Mike's business picks up and we will survive indefinitely on my part time income.
I've had to come to the realization that it's just a job and not my life. So, I'm going to try and keep a teeny bit of my enthusiasm for teaching and make the best of it. Meanwhile, I am thinking of new career paths to take . . .