Fall Festivities!

It has been such a fun month with the girls! There have been so many fall activities to participate in. We went to a pumpkin patch on a dairy farm this last weekend and had a blast. Ryan loved climbing the hay bails and sliding into the corn box. Of course picking out the pumpkin was amazing too! It was pretty chilly for the first time this year the night we went, but the girls didn't mind. As a matter of fact Ryan kept asking for ice cream. Im not sure how she knew they even sold it there, but she couldn't get it off her mind. So since we were on a dairy farm I decided the girls and I could share a chocolate shake. Ryan was in heaven eating ice cream on a cold evening next to a bon fire! Bekah didn't mind either! It is so much fun now that Ryan is older and can do fun activities. She really gets into it. We went to a local church's fall festival/carnvial this month as well. Ryan played the games but once she saw the popcorn she was done playing. She sat and ate a whole bag of popcorn! Bekah ate a doughnut hole and was happy too. All my girls wanted to do there was stay in the cafe area and eat! So that is what we did most of the time! Ryan is a funny girl!!

Our sweet little Ryan can be so difficult sometimes! There are days it feels like we are talking to a wall! Those are the days she could care less if you take things away, spank her, or put her into time out. She just looks at you like, "whatever." When I look at Bekah it is hard to believe that she will one day be a two year old who does things her way and will not listen. Sometimes I would like to pull my hair out (that would be so I don't blow up!) But then you put Ryan to bed and she says she loves you and Jesus and she prays to Jesus like she believes without a doubt that He is real. You cant help but think, "Wow I have the most beautiful wonderful little girl in the world!" Then at that moment I think we will get through this just like we got through, acid reflux, sleepless nights and days, weaning from nursing, weaning from the bottle, learning to eat table food, bed rest, colds and the flu countless times, and a new baby sister. During all of these things we thought we werent going to make it and look we did! I love Ryan so much! Even if she is a very needy little girl. She will just always be a mommy's and daddy's girl who gives lots of cuddles and hugs! She is so smart and healthy; what more could I ask for!

This last week both girls caught yet another cold, but it was good chance to test out Bekah's new tubes. They worked! No ear infections! She is having trouble getting rid of the snot but we are trying Zyrtec and Clairtin to dry it up. Hopefully it will work soon! If not back to the ENT. Today she went to the dermatologist for the stubborn diaper rash. They think it was a bad diaper rash from all the antibiotics in late Aug early Sept that eventually turned into a staph infection. She was put on an antibiotic by her pediatrician already and it didnt work, but the Derm said she needs to be on one much longer. So she will be on one for 1 month! Plus a new cream for a month! We are not getting our hopes up, but are willing to try it out. We'll see if we have any more outbreaks while on the medicine. Plus we have to hope she doesnt get backed up from it bc she tends to have that problem from antibiotics! Poor Bek! I must say though that she is so adorable! She is the happiest and most compliable little girl! She is a joy to be around! We are still nursing and Im feeling better about it now that she is sleeping better at night. She is still nursing once in the night but not crying to nurse from midnight on. She only wakes up at 3 am to nurse now. I hope at 11 months to wean her completely but once again I can't if she won't drink enough milk.

Bekah's Surgery and Everything Else

Well it has been over a week now since Bekah had surgery to have tubes put into her ears. Scott and I were very anxious to get this done as we hoped it would give Bekah some relief. Bekah really did quite well with her surgery. The Dr said her right ear was full of thick fluid almost like super glue. Her left ear had fluid as well but not as bad as the right. When she woke up from surgery she was quite upset. She wanted to get down and get away but she was was to wobbly. It was like holding spaghetti noodles! She wasnt in the mood to be cuddled. She nursed a little but mostly screamed. But as soon as we got into the car she settled right down. She was happy to be in a familiar place. She was pretty wobbly that day and the next. By three days after surgery she was back to her old happy self. However, I must say that she slept better the very first night after surgery because of the pressure being gone. Scott and I are so glad we went ahead and had the surgery. It was worth it! The Dr also said that Bekah will probably have to have her adnoids removed at some point but she would monitor her for a while longer until she is older. Hopefully she will just get better without surgery.

On that same day of Bekah's surgery I had to make an appointment from the hospital for Ryan to see the Dr. Ryan was up all night crying because she said her bottom hurt. We couldnt see any visible reasons for her tears. But by the time we got to the Dr she had broken out with what turned out to be a yeast diaper rash. We were glad it was that and not a UTI like we and the Dr thought it could be. It was fun trying to get a 2 yr old to pee into a cup. Let's just say I caught what I could!

I started weaning Bekah from nursing this last week. Since she refuses the bottle we are going to try going to a cup. Although I would much rather go to a bottle. I liked doing that with Ryan. It was so easy! But anyway, I eliminated one nursing session quite easily. However she still isnt drinking enough from a cup to cut out more feedings. Bekah would much rather eat than drink. Ryan has always prefered drinking over eating! Funny how two children can be so different. So I dont know what Im going to do to get Bekah to take more fluids from a source other than me. I will give her more time as I know she is young to drink well from a cup. That is why a bottle would be nice! Im just done nursing! Some days I just feel like I cant nurse one more time or Ill scream! I really dont know why I feel so done but I do. It is not that I hate nursing and that I never want to again. As a matter of fact Im already thinking about the next Moon baby! Crazy I know! I know the Lord will give me the strength to keep nursing as long as Bekah needs to nurse. She will only be a baby once so Im trying to stay as positive as I can about it.

Ryan has struggled so much this week with Bekah always being around her. Bekah will not give Ryan space and I think it brings Ryan to her melting point. We have been disciplining a whole lot as Ryan has acted out because of Bekah invading her personal space. Ryan has also started refusing to share with Bekah and putting herself in a position to be invaded by Bekah. Go figure that one out! Hopefully this will all end soon! We went to an apple orchard nearby with our church and Ryan had a great time. She was enthralled by all the apple trees. She liked walking around all the trees and seeing the hundreds of apples. It was a good time!

We have found a house in Greenwood we are interested in buying for long term. It is 4 bedroom ranch with 1 acre of land. It would be really nice. It is basically what we have been looking for! If we can get it for the right price before someone else gets it we would be quite happy. It only needs major cosmetics on the inside and a few major repairs. Not bad for a repo! On Monday we will put in an offer and see what happens! We know whatever happens is in God's hands so if we are meant to have it all will work out! If it isnt the right house things wont work out.