Abby 6 months

Does this onesie make my cheeks look fat?

Ben age 3.

On the way home from a Costco hot dog dinner tonight:

Ben:  Mommy, I’m still hungry.  Can I have another cookie?

Me:  No more cookies, Ben.  How about I fix you a plate of broccoli when we get home?

Ben: Yeth, and I would like a plate of meat to go with it.  For my dinner.

20 days

Sam has been sick with his poorly defined GI issues since June 25.  He does not eat much, but we are used to that.  The thing that is hard is that he acts miserable the whole time, crying and whining, and needing to be held.  He has no ability to cope with anything and no ability to play on his own.  It is exhausting and discouraging and tends to consume our family as much as we try not to let it.  If I was not in the middle of this situation, I would say it sounds like you just have a 2 year old who needs a good spanking.  But, I am being humbled all the time and learning I just cannot understand what kinds of burdens others carry.  I want to have more grace- I sure do need it from others.  I want to be more like Jesus and less like the self righteous, judgmental sinner that I am.  I want to be more thankful and joyful in every circumstance.  As I was feeling so deeply sad yesterday, I was reminded once again there are families who have deeper hurts and need my prayers.  It is a dark path to walk when there are no answers, no clear diagnoses, no cures.  But in this darkness we must walk by faith- there is no other way.

When we go through these cycles with Sam, it feels like I can’t breathe.  After awhile it feels like drowning.  Then as crazy as this sounds, one day, like today, he gets up, eats normally, and goes off to play with his brothers.  The difference in him is so dramatic.  Its beautiful to know little Sam when he is feeling good- its like he is making up for lost time by taking on three fold exuberant joy for life; full speed, full volume, non-stop happy boy.  A huge weight is lifted and we come up for air.

Don’t call this exercise

I am no expert on things, but it seems that boys are pretty energetic by default, and by nine in the morning when I am peeling them off the ceiling I would call it downright rowdy.  Just recently we have discovered that Ben has finally grown big enough to handle a 16 inch bike.  This opens us exciting new energy release outlets for us because he can now ride fast enough to keep up- the little 12 inch wheels made him like a dachshund trying to keep up with a greyhound.  So the scenario looks something like this- Jake and Ben are flying down the trail near our house and I am pushing Sam and Abby in the double jogger just trying to keep them in sight.  Given their intense enjoyment of riding the bikes OFF the pavement, I am breathlessly shouting out safety precautions and instructions the whole time lest someone fly straight into an ancient remnant of a barbwire fence or right off a sheer slope down into the river.  Which is only 24 inches deep right now so the chances of rescue are pretty good, but still it would be traumatic for everyone involved.  The whole time I am feeling like a crazy lady and trying really hard not to wet my pants.  There are still many postpartum issues in play here and like everything else, things just aren’t the same as before having kids!  The scene has all the makings for a great Nike commercial (HA!) or better yet a plastic surgery commercial.  When all is said and done we have traveled about 3 miles and I am drenched in sweat.  It feels pretty good.  When it comes to exercise I am at risk for having an all or nothing mentality and as a result set myself up for failure every time.  So this, what we are doing, is NOT exercise.

Mostly I’m a mommy’s girl, but I’m learning that Daddy is pretty cool too

Little Entrepreneur

I love the creative games my kids come up with.  Today Jake decided to open a toy store where “everything is free.”  Here is Jake’s first happy customer!  I think that is the assistant manager testing one of the products in the background.

July 4

We attended the small-town USA style parade in Pegram.  It turned out to be a little boys’ dream with lots of fire engines, tractors, motorcycles and four wheelers.  We also ventured in the the realm of very tame home fireworks for the first time with a few sparklers, Snaps, and little tanks that sparked and popped.  Each child responded in their own very age appropriate way- Sam cried because it was too loud, Ben cautiously observed and Jake was ecstatic and can’t wait to do it again, bigger and louder.  Little Sam came down with a fever so we had to depart celebrating with our friends early.  After putting the littlest two to bed we were able to catch a front row seat of the neighbor’s big fireworks out on the street with Jake and Ben. 

Priceless

This is Sam’s precious little friend Paige.  At the boat ramp today, Paige was handing Sam rocks to throw one at a time, and each time Sam responded “Tanks!”  It was one of those moments when you wish you had the big camera and the portrait lens and the video camera all handy despite the fact you would be precariously dangling them at the river’s edge while trying to keep up with many small children.

Hiding place

 

One substance, many forms

One of little Sam’s favorite foods is turkey meatloaf.  My cooking life is one of angst in the season of life with many little ones and Sam’s special diet.  So when its time to cook lets do bulk quantities and get it over with.   I made mini meatloaves in muffin tins and meatballs in mini muffin tins all out of the same mix.  Marvelous!

 

Are you a caboose or an engine?

My sweet friend Stephanie and I talk almost daily even though we have lived in different states for the last 8 years.  As a mom of 3 little ones and a woman who loves God and His word, she is always a great source of encouragement to me in our parallel struggles and adventures of family life.  Lately she has been asking, “Are you a caboose or an engine today?”  - Did you get up early, spend time with the Lord, and prepare yourself for the day with careful planning and intention?  Are you ready to lead or are you just trying to catch up to a runaway train?  This analogy has helped me focus and define my goals for being effective in my role as a homemaker. 

Despite my best laid plans and efforts for more productive and educational activities this morning, we ended up on the back porch blowing bubbles in our pajamas.  The train went on a detour but not completely off track.  Maybe every once in awhile that’s not such a bad thing.

Summer moments.

Happy boys.  They sure do love to eat-  Sam has been doing great so far since coming back from Cincinnati.

Ben and Sam doing some “school” together.  Using glue is always a very popular activity.  Note that Puppy and Elephant are also present in class today.

The Reagan and Pereira boys watching the monkeys at the zoo.

Abby’s first haircut

I did not anticipate needing to cut my infant’s hair at only 5 months old, but with the bald spots and mullet she had going I decided it was time.  The ring of crazy hair around the sides of her head reminded me of Crusty the Clown. Once the bald spots fill in and catch up with the rest of her hair, we’ll let it grow longer!  Abby started crying and flopping around in the seat so I never did get an after picture. 

Matching “Puppies”

Sam has a special blanket that he is completely attached to.  “Puppy” as he is affectionately called has endured many illnesses and hardships with Sam, including the 8 day hospitalization and he even went into the endoscopy.  It is a sad hygiene situation when you only have one lone Puppy-the hour it takes for the washer and dryer to finish Puppy’s bath feel like an eternity when you are having a bad day and you are only 2 years old.    We finally got wise to the security object situation and purchased “A pair and a spare” pink version of Puppy for Abby- identical triplets, so there is always a backup available in crisis.  Sam was delighted to bestow these precious items on his sister.  “JUST LIKE MINE!!!!” he declared with triumph.

Surprisingly, pink Puppy seems to be just as comforting as original Puppy.  So pink Puppy is loved on by Sam and then handed over to Abby occasionally throughout the day.  I wonder how long Abby will tolerate this kind of “sharing.”

The Pereira Swim Team

Trip to Cincinnati

We finally took Sam to his long anticipated appointments with the doctors at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.  He underwent an extensive evaluation to see if they could determine the cause of his poor weight gain and problems with food intolerances.  It was a hard week for us and him to endure these procedures, but we are thankful to have the opportunity to get this level of care.

The main finding was an abnormally high number of eosinophils in Sam’s colon, which sometimes causes chronic abdominal pain.  The cause may be foods or may be an abnormal immune response to his normal intestinal flora.  We will keep him on his restricted diet and try a new medicine that helps reduce colon inflammation.  The doctor said often kids will eventually outgrow this condition.  We are still do not have a definitive diagnosis, but this is “a target to shoot at” as the doctor put it.  Sam’s symptoms go in cycles, so if he goes into a sick cycle again we can come back to this new GI doctor for another evaluation while he is having problems.

Sam about to rock his upper GI series.

It ended up taking 3 people to hold him down for an hour to get all the images needed.

 

We were so blessed to stay with Jason’s family in Cincinnati.  The boys had so much fun playing with their cousins.

 

We are relieved the week is over and pray that Sam will do well with his new medicine.  I always remind myself that God did not make mistakes when he made Sam, and he will use this to His glory.  Sam, like all of our children, belongs to the Lord!

Heeeeere we go!

Our big trip is finally here.  We are taking Sam to the Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorders at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.  This opportunity is a huge blessing for Sam and we are hopeful they will be able to secure a diagnosis for us and help manage his problems better.  Here is a summary of our week-

Sunday- clear liquids only all day, laxatives and 3 enemas before bed

Monday- meet with GI doctor at 8:30, undergo upper and lower endoscopy under anesthesia at 12:30.  After that he can eat!

Tuesday- meet with allergist, undergo prick testing and have food patches placed on his back

Wednesday- no medical appointments

Thursday- Follow up with GI doctor to review pathology results

Friday- Follow up with allergist and nutritionist on patch test results

 

This is a huge undertaking for us to bring our whole family on this trip.  Thankfully Jason’s brother has very graciously invited us to stay with them- I hope they won’t regret it as we are quite the family circus.  Please pray for Sam’s safety to undergo the procedure and that he will be consolable through all of this testing.  Please pray that the doctors will have wisdom to help Sam be able to eat and grow and be a happy, healthy little boy!

Making progress

Happy Birthday to Jake!

 

Jake’s 5th birthday party was at Bounce U, or “The Jump-Jump-Slide” as Jake and Ben have coined it.  We had the best time.

Now for the big visit to the pediatrician tomorrow, where two of my children will receive a grand total of 10 vaccinations.  Just a small downer on an otherwise fabulous turning 5 celebration. Lord help us.

The Aftermath

It has been 2 weeks since the flood.  God’s grace and goodness to spare our home is overwhelming.   We are surrounded by constant reminders of the monstrous murky brown waters that rose so quickly to overtake our community.  They have left devastation that will never be fully repaired.  The reality of what has happened is sinking in in new ways for us- it is surreal to be inside your house where everything is the same, but all around us our peaceful street and our world has changed.   Looking out the front door, going to the grocery store… there is debris piled everywhere.  Physical signs of homes and businesses destroyed.  Each day there are five or six search and rescue vehicles parked in front of my house from dawn till dark.  Dump trucks and excavators working on the once quiet riverside trail.  Boats and cadaver dogs.  All signs of life lost, one body not yet recovered.  Red cross relief vans.  Helicopters circling overhead.  Police cars patrolling up and down the street.  Today a couple drove by and said some things had just been stolen from their house. 

The kids are different too.  We could pretend we weren’t scared while the rain kept coming and the water was rising, we told them we are having a rainy day party, with lots of friends over, and Mommy is just organizing some things to pack in the car!  But in the aftermath we cannot pretend that people aren’t hurting, homes aren’t wrecked.  They see it everywhere we go.  And they ask so many questions that are hard to answer without getting into some pretty heavy theology.  Their play is different- lots of narrative about natural disasters, a lot of rescues.  I pray for wisdom that we will make the most of every opportunity to teach them through this experience.  Every night Ben prays, “And thank you God for protecting our house.” 

I am not complaining- we are not suffering.  But we are hurting for the many people whose lives have been turned upside down by this flood.  We are trying to help where we can.  None of us will ever be the same.