henri's new permanent jewelry

Here's Henri sporting his new MedicAlert bracelet.


The bracelet came in the mail today. His allergist recommended that we get one for him back in February, but I obviously haven't gotten around to it since Henri is in my direct care most of the time. (In case you don't know, Henri is allergic to eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, & shellfish).

I found out last week at a food allergy support group that Food Allergy Initiative has provided a grant to MedicAlert so that children with food allergies can become members of MedicAlert and get a bracelet at no cost. So I finally made the call and ordered Henri the bracelet that's designed for him to wear always and not remove. On the back, it lists his food allergies and a phone number to call for medical instructions in an emergency.

• Epi-Pen Jr. & Benadryl--check
  
• Food Allergy Action Plan--check
• MedicAlert Bracelet--check

This mama bear is trying take the right steps to protect her boy. It can be a tricky balance, trying to figure out how much to ask others to do for him, versus bringing his own food for him whereever we go. We are still praying that he will outgrow his food allergies and never encounter a serious reaction.

4 and a half

Last week Henri's friend Joshy stopped by to say goodbye. His family is moving many states away for a few years.

Henri & Joshy started to talk about how old they are.

Joshy said, "I'm four and a half."

Henri: "Four and a half?"

And ever since then, Henri has been wanting to know when he would be four and a half like his friend Joshy.

Good thing it was today.

Henri is officially four and a half.

Since he has a winter birthday when we are confined to the indoors, I thought we'd do whatever he wanted to do during the day today. I suggested wading pools and parks, a chance to get outside and enjoy the hot weather.

Henri: "I don't want to do any of that! I want to go to the library to pick up my books!"

Okay.

Then he added: "I want a gun and a bow and arrow too. I want all my friends to come over."

I explained that we wouldn't be getting him any presents, and it was too much of a last minute thing on my part to invite guests over.

This morning I told him he could decide what we would eat for dinner. I needed to go to the market anyway. He asked for pizza and rice crispy treats.

Okay.

Off to the market we went to pick up, amongst other groceries, pizza (which I rarely buy) and marshmallows to make rice crispy treats. We also stopped at Target to pick him up some more glue since he was out, and he spends his time gluing and cutting construction paper during his "rest" times in the afternoons. I did end up letting him pick out something from the dollar section. He didn't get the water gun. He wanted the wooden construction trucks which were identical to ones he already had.

Okay.

After Cosette woke up from her afternoon nap, we walked to the library in the blazing heat. Whoo! It's hot out! We picked up the 3 books that were waiting for him and headed back home for pizza and rice crispy treats.

We then headed out as a family for black dirt, grass seed, and fertilizer. Our lawn needs some help. But Henri was bouncing off the walls, climbing up on bags of mulch and dirt. It was pretty cute to watch him show some other customers how big his muscles were.


Johnny and I giggled, but it was getting late and his obedience was waning.

At the end of our day, Henri said, "I want to call Joshy and tell him I'm four and a half too."

Okay, Henri.

my new favorite corn bread recipe

We like to eat corn bread whenever we have chili. Since we learned about Henri's food allergies, I've been trying to find an egg-free corn bread recipe that we really enjoy. I've tried quite a few recipes, but none have turned out moist. They're either dry or if I cook them for a shorter time, there's still batter in the bread.

Then I tried a new recipe, and it turned out delicious! To celebrate, I decided to share the recipe with you.

Corn Bread (Egg-free)

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1 cup corn meal
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 cup milk or vanilla rice milk or soy milk
  
• 1/2 cups olive or vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 tbsp corn syrup
  

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease an 8" square pan.
2. Combine the dry ingredients--flour, corn meal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Stir in the wet ingredients--milk, oil, vinegar, and corn syrup.
4. Pour batter into pan.
5. Bake for 20 minutes or until the sides begin to pull away from the edge and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Voila! Perfect, moist, egg-free corn bread.

childhood reasoning

Henri thinks that a mommy's tummy has to "break open" in order for a baby to come out.

What else are those lines that go down the center of their tummy for?

Should I correct his reasoning? Perhaps that line of thought works for c-sections, but what about the other 75% of births?

cdc on vaccines

Thanks everyone for your comments on vaccinations. Though I was tempted to leave it at that and remain torn on the issue, I pressed on with more research, but this time reading more on why we should vaccinate. The CDC has some interesting articles (pro-vaccines obviously):

• Some Common Misconceptions
• What Would Happen if We Stopped Vaccinations?

Those articles made me feel better about following along with the vaccine schedule. However, I do have a few more concerns:

Doesn't it seem like they're so excited about vaccinating for preventable diseases that they're developing vaccines for everything, and therefore, getting carried away? I have yet to get over the fact that it seems harmful to mess with our immune systems so extensively at such a young age. (I put that in italics because I KNOW that I have no scientific evidence to back that up.)

For example:

• Did Cosette really need to get a Hepatitis B vaccine at the hospital as a newborn?
• A Chicken Pox vaccine?
• Gardasil?
• The author (a doctor) of one of my books on food allergies was hoping for a food allergy vaccine to be developed.

I'm still reading about vaccine safety, and I really appreciate the comments from my previous post as well as e-mails on the issue. I have been questioning this for years, and I'd like to try and settle the issue in my mind.


More importantly, please keep praying for my friend Mck Mama and her baby's heart.

home from the grandparents & prayer need

We just got home from my parents house for the evening. My family was pretty tired, but I was still so awake that I drove us home. Henri got to play with his cousin Chase, whom he LOVES! They ran around the yard with water guns, played in the dirt in the dirt, and gleefully got very dirty. My little niece, Brynn, is crawling, and is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to meet my other niece next month.

On another note:
If you do not know her already, would you mind zooming on over to my friend Mck Mama's blog and praying for her baby? The baby is at 23 weeks and has a super fast heart rate. Mck Mama is in the hospital now for a few days on an IV medication to try to slow the baby's heart down before it gets damaged.

who should we believe when it comes to vaccines?

I've been wondering about the safety of vaccines ever since over five years ago I learned that a friend was delaying vaccinating her children. That mother gave me a book to read.

Then we had our son. I asked my doctor about the safety of vaccines, and he had nothing to say about them--except that we would want to protect our children and society from infectious diseases.

Then I met another friend and another friend and another friend--all choosing to not vaccinate their children.

Then we had our daughter. And I asked our new doctor about vaccines, and he said that giving her the vaccines now would allow her to not have to get them in the future like if she went on an overseas missions trip. Yeah, I could understand that. OF COURSE she would need to be vaccinated before going overseas. So we vaccinated our daughter.

At least eight different vaccines given 2-4 times each have been given to my children.

Then I had a friend with a son who has autism. And I thought about all the kids I know with ADHD. And I thought about my son's food allergies and the rise in all these disorders. Could vaccines be causing them? Are vaccines causing more harm than good? It would be a logical fallacy to simply look at when they are given and say that one caused the other, but it would be worth studying, don't you think?

Today, I FINALLY got around to watching a very long but interesting video that was sent to me back in the middle of February. YES. I AM SLOW. BUT in my defense, it was two and a half hours long. Granted I could have watched it in pieces, and I did throughout the day, but it was so captivating that I wanted to finish it.

Anyway, the video asserts that the toxins in vaccines are/may be the cause for the rise in autism, Crohn's disease, asthma, ADHD, and other neurological and autoimmune disorders.

Then I'm also reading my food allergy books. The latest author/doctor referred to the studies on autism and vaccines as "junk science".

So seriously, who should we believe? I'm deeply confused and torn on this issue. I'm a mama who just wants to protect her children.

I think that both of my children have received all their vaccinations until they start school. Henri starts next year, which will require him to receive more vaccinations, unless we opt out. So should I opt out? I'm undecided.

enchanting evening

My husband, children, and I headed to our friends, Josh & Becky's home for the first time tonight. Our friends, Nathan & Rachel also came. We had a wonderful time eating a delicious assortment of appetizers, including mango & tomatilla salsas, gourmet cheeses, fresh figs, and more. We were outside amongst Becky's lovely gardens and feasted on our dinner in charming chairs.

The children ran around getting as dirty as can be. Nevertheless, the adults enjoyed ourselves in our conversations with one another. We stayed rather late for a Monday night with the children still awake, but we didn't want our time there to end amongst the burning torches and delightful discussions. Ahh, Cosette was showing all the signs of needing to go to sleep (restless & starting to cry), so we had to tear ourselves away from the picturesque dinner party.

Hopefully, we'll do it again soon. Until then, Lord-willing, I'll see these ladies tomorrow morning at the beach.

Becky, Me, & Rachel

a word from our girl

Hi, I'm Cosette. Sometimes people call me Cosy. Yes, my parents found my name in Les Miserables. It's summertime in these parts, so I've been enjoying running around outside. Let me tell you a little about myself.

I like:

• bubbles
• cell phones
• purses
• my family
• water
• books
• dogs--Yes! I will pet them now!
• trucks
• my "Lovey" and pacifier

I dislike:

• wearing a bike helmet
• entering the church nursery
  

I'm picking up more and more words though I couldn't say any words one year ago. But I guess that's the way it is when you're a baby.

Here's a picture of me a year ago. That's Nani holding me. We flew in an airplane to go visit my Papa's family. We're going again next month. I'm very excited to go on an airplane and be forced to sit in Mama's lap for hours and hours.

I was a chubby girl. Just as a baby should be.

Do I even look like that baby anymore? Mama thinks I've changed a lot.

Anyway, hopefully, I won't be so sick this year. We'll pray that my brother and Papa are healthy too. See you soon Nani, Bapa, Cousin Iris, Auntie Kristin, Gramps, Gigi, Great Grandpa & Grandma, and the rest of the family and friends who are far, far away from us.

more on last sunday

Today is Sunday. After church, I read some more of my latest book on food allergies, fell asleep, pulled weeds from my yard while the children played outside, and read some more after they went to bed.

As you may recall, last Sunday we went to my friend MCK Mama's birthday bash. Not only did I meet up with friends who blog, but we did a few other things.

College Friends
I got to chat with some of my friends from college, most of whom I lived with at some point. Next spring will be 10 years since we graduated! Here's Kristi, MCK Mama, Rachel, Me, Shanel, and Becky.

My Man & Boy on the Tube & Jet Ski
Johnny had a blast being whipped around on a tube, pulled by Rachel's HungryMan on a jet ski. He's still waiting for Rachel to post her video. After Johnny got to drive a jet ski, he invited Henri to join him... not so much... Henri wasn't interested though he was interested in spending much of the day hanging off of the dock and sitting on the tube tied to the dock.

Oh wait. What's this?

Why, I do believe that's my boy, but he's not with his Papa. He's with Becky's husband, Josh. Ha!

Cosette's Attachment
Cosette wandered a lot. And when she wasn't wandering, she insisted on me carrying her about.

Thanks again MCK Mama & Prince Charming for inviting us out for your birthday bash and providing all the fun activities.

a new superhero

"I've got clean underwear on!" Henri told us as he ran down the hallway after taking off his swimshorts.

Arriving at our bedroom doorway, he proclaimed with a jump,

"Clean Underwear to the rescue!"

mck mama's birthday bash = meeting bloggie friends

My husband, kids, and I packed up our swimsuits and headed over to MCK Mama's house today for her and her sister, Hilary's birthday party.


I got to meet up with some blogging women whom I haven't met before like Angela & Tiffany, all connected through MCK Mama's blog. I've read their comments and their blogs, so it was nice to finallly meet them in person. Also, one woman is a friend whom I haven't seen in 5 years. Kristi and I were roommates with six other women in a dormitory at our college. Today we read eachothers blogs and comment to catch up with one another. Finally, my dear friend Rachel was also in attendance since she's a good pal of MCK Mama.

Terrific blogs, ladies! I loved visiting with you and seeing your kids in person. They really are a lot smaller in real life it seems without the camera close-ups.

Oh and that's Cosette in the picture. She's a mama's girl.

happy 27th birthday kristin

My beautiful sister-in-law turns 27 today. I just wanted to point her out to you. She's full of sweetness and joy, and she's my husband's baby sister. He loves and misses her and always talks of having fun with her growing up.

Kristin, I can't wait to see you, your hubby, and your baby girl next month!

johnny 25+ years ago

You can see that our kids got their blonde hair from Johnny, his mom, and my mom. They got their blue eyes from our moms too.
But really, do they even look like us?
Seriously?

fresh words from the 4-year old

Henri skipped from our front door announcing that our next door neighbor, Raydell wanted to play with him.

Even though it was 5:15pm, Henri was still in his pajamas as he'd been insisting on staying in them all day. I told him he could go outside and play with Raydell if he put on some clothes.

Henri ran to his room, took off his pajamas, put on new underwear, and ran to our room with some new, never-worn clothes he got from my wonderful in-laws, Nani & Bapa.

While Johnny worked on taking the tags off the clothes so that Henri could put them on, Henri opened our bedroom window and shouted, "Raydell!"

"Yeah?" Raydell responded.

"Raydell! I've got fresh underwear on!"

Johnny & I giggled, I shut the window and sent Henri to his Papa to get his clothes on.

Henri asked Johnny, "What's so funny, Daddy?"

Henri scootin' around the block with his 8-year old neighbor buddy, Raydell

me, my sister, & i

new cosy word

"MINE!"

From this angel? I know; hard to believe. So I remember what our children's pastor reminds parents, "Don't be surprised or offended when your children sin. It's their nature."

message to bapa

Henri, pulling his shirt up to reveal his bicep: "Look at how strong I am! Mama, I want to climb a tree. I can climb a tree because I'm strong. I can climb a mountain too."

Me: "You'll have to climb that mountain with Bapa when we go out to visit. Bapa and Nani have mountains by them."

Henri: "Yes, we'll have to tell Bapa that I want to climb a mountain when we go out to see them."

take a look at these stunning photographs

While I was in the shower, the resident 4-year old got into mischief. Henri found our old point-and-shoot digital camera and went to town. He took 66 pictures, people! I reserved his 20 best for the slideshow above.