Christmas Day

The kids were up at 5:30 a.m. yup you read right 5:30 A.M.!! Let's just say Dane and I weren't very pleased especially since we didn't get to bed till 1a.m. anyway we were able to hold them off till 6 impressive eh? Anyway they sat patiently for me to get the camera;

Don't ya just love the look on Kaleb's face? Ellie was perfectly happy with the candy she got in her sock, forget the playdough and other toys! We had them line up youngest to oldest Kaleb was a little put out by that he thinks it should be by gender, boys in front girls in back! The second Dane opened the bedroom door the kids charged this was the best pic I could get;

Now much to their surprise they didn't see their typical unwrapped Santa gift with their sock next to it, but there was a note hanging from the light. Now I figured when they didn't see their normal gifts they would be upset but they weren't Kaleb explained that the note must say that "I was been a good boy this year!", here's what the note said;

To the Lamps children 3,
just between you and me,
My sack was full I couldn't get in.
What could I do? I said with a grin.
I sat awhile and thought about you,
then it came to me just what to do.
You have been good the whole year through,
so I left something you all could do.
If you will run fast out the back door,
you'll see more than you asked for.
I hope you like it have fun and share,
be good to each other and always play fair.

Santa

The rhyme was courtesy of grandma Clause! Anyway you can guarantee my kids rushed to get their shoes on, again as soon as the door was opened they charged, I wasn't quick enough to get in front of them to get a first look reaction but Kaleb's words summed it up " a PARK in our yard! We have a PARK in our YARD!!!!" of course he was speaking of this swing set;

Santa done did good with the swing set! So the kids played for a bit while Dane and I froze our bums off, once we got everyone inside we let the kids open their socks and 2 presents before church the first being their church clothes the second their secret Santa gifts.

Now there is a little story that goes with the girls dresses, I had been working on them in secret while the kids were at school, but one day I accidentally left some evidence as to what I was up too Ryne quickly surmised that I was making dresses for them so I came up with a quick fib I said I was making them for a friends little girls that were the same age as my girls yeah Harlee and Jordyn were gonna be some lucky girls (I hope ya don't mind Kym :) ). Needless to say Ryne was a little let down but she still thought the dresses were gonna be neat and was soon excited to see the final product. Now I know ya shouldn't lie but this turned out to be the best thing, cause I wasn't able to get them done before the kids were out of school for winter break so I was able to work on them in front of the girls without having to worry.

Kaleb's out fit was a different story I didn't even have his cut out yet! I was able to get his vest done after the kids were in bed on the 23rd. Dana took Kaleb to run some last minute errands on the 24th I had about an hr to get the pants and bow tie done! I didn't have a pattern for the pants so I  pulled a pair from his closet that fit pretty good except the length and went off of those, I have to say they turned out super nice Kaleb was thrilled to have more church pants "and these ones are long!".

So after the kids opened their presents we got everyone ready for church, I did simple french twists in the girls hair, I curled some pieces around their face and called it good. When I was getting Ellie in her dress she smiled and said "pincess, I pincess?" I thought it was so cute and once that dress was on and zipped up she was twirlin around in circles!  I wanted to get pics of them BEFORE we went to church when they looked their best, but we were runnin a little late (Ryne and I were suppose to be early for choir) so I had to settle for after church pics. They were excited to get home to open their presents that I couldn't get them to look at the stinkin camera and smile! We took several shots I finally just gave up and and figured I would work with what I got.

Yeah I didn't have much to work with! Now this is where the pics end cause I didn't take any of them opening the rest of their presents I know an epic mom FAIL!! But know they were thrilled with all their stuff even if most of it was clothes! After presents were open we made our traditional Christmas breakfast complete with little piggies (sausage links) and homemade buttermilk syrup ( thanks sis for the recipe it was delicious)! After breakfast or rather brunch Ellie and I took naps while Dane and the other kids watched some of the movies we got.

We had a great Christmas, Dane and I each only got one present so the kids would have what they needed but ya know I was thrilled with what I got and so was Dana. Dana got a wet/dry vac and I got a beautiful Nativity set. Oh and we also got this painting from my brother-in-law Mike isn't it awesome!?

A BIG thanks to grandma Nancy and grandpa Bill for getting us started with the essential oils and to Uncle Dave and Aunt Becky for the pure vanilla! We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and we wish you the best in the upcoming new year!

Christmas Eve

We were super busy Christmas Eve, I was finishing up Kaleb's church clothes, Dane and Kaleb were doing some last minute shopping, once everyone was home the baking commenced. After baking and delivering our Christmas treats the kids took baths and then got to open their Christmas jammies which was delightful!

 Once they were open we made many attempts to get a nice pic of them in front of the tree, we took so many I had to start deleting them because of lack of memory.  This was like attempt 10!!

 Attempt..... I don't know I lost count!

 This was the final one I took and like attempt 20 ,instead of saying cheese Dane said cookies now that got their attention!

After taking a million pics in front of the tree we did the kids favorite tradition of jumping on the bed and singing Ti's Christmas Eve Dear Santa Clause.

It was a riot watching Ellie trying to jump with Ryne and Kaleb we had to make the older kids stop so Ellie could get in some quality jumping time! One of the best things about the kids jumping on the bed is how much energy it gets out, they all went to bed without a fuss it was fantastic!

Trunk Show

Come check it out, I will have my stuff there!!

8 years!!!

Today Dana and I celebrate our 8th year anniversary!!

I have to say this year has been the toughest and best year. We have been through a lot this year for anyone who doesn't know we had 2 miscarriages one in Sept 2010 (6weeks) and February 2011(16 weeks a boy), my heart broke shattered. Dana picked up all the pieces and is helping me put them back together, this is the hardest trial we have had to endure so far in our marriage but it has made us stronger and brought us close together as a couple and a family.

The other day Ellie was watching one of her princess movies the line "true love conquers all" stood out in my mind I know there are many times when I have laughed at this and never really taken it seriously. As I look back at this year I can truly say I feel that our love for each other did conquer this trial, love does make you stronger, even though we struggled our love held us together. Our love grew stronger, we have a much deeper appreciation and understanding of each other now than we did before. I am so blessed to have Dana in my life to love me and to pick me up when I am down, our marriage is far from perfect we make mistakes and we have our trials but that's part of the journey if everything was easy then what would we learn? Happy 8 years to my hubby Dana Lamps I love you and can't wait for more years to come!

ALA Holiday Boutique

I'm gonna be at this boutique today come see me and all the beautiful crochet Christmas Ornaments I made just for this even!

Diagnosis & more details.

Yesterday's appointment was very informational and not as terrifying as I had geared up for. The Dr. was very thorough, she answered all of our questions and concerns, she didn't talk down to us or say we were imagining things. She thinks Kaleb is a good and intelligent little boy, very funny and imaginative, she had fun working with him.  We talked of many things and really focused on our biggest concerns his ad-version to other kids, his lack of focus, his constant leg pain and occasional involuntary movements, and his sensory issues.

As she observed while we talked she determined that ADHD is definitely a factor, but it isn't the only factor he scored way above normal on the autism evaluation form he has many autistic tendencies she explained the Autism Spectrum to us and thinks he is some were between Autism and PDD-NOS. At first sight she said he looks more like Aspergers but doesn't quite fit into the category because of his speech and language delays which are not typical in children with Aspergers. She explained that the ADHD can also be the cause of his language and social delays it could be that he is active and inattentive, so it may not be that he doesn't have any empathy for others, or can't read social cues,  it could be that he is on the go all the time and doesn't stop and wait for a reaction or response from others.

We also have Kaleb's sensory issues that make a diagnosis difficult, she mentioned that it sounded like sensory integration disorder but this isn't really a diagnosis and there isn't much to be done for it, he will just have to learn how to live with it. Along with the sensory issues we have the leg problems he complains often of his legs hurting it seems deep pressure is the only thing that gives relief and usually just briefly, now this can be many things he could have Anemia, it could be related to his Thyroid, Restless Leg Syndrome could also be a factor, or he could just be lacking certain vitamins that his body needs, she will be order some lab work to find out more but wants to wait till after he has been tested for Autism in-case any more work needs to be added.

By the end of the appointment ADHD was given as one diagnosis, we know that won't be the only one he has but it does give us a starting point. She gave us information on ADHD and things that can help, she recommended change of diet, and visual charts to help him with tasks,she also wants him the have speech and OT therapy aside from school, specifically to work with his sensory issues, at this point we aren't doing meds because along with the above mentioned issues (anemia, thyroid, RLS) we have bi-polar tendencies and depression in our family's background that could be affected by medications for the bad as much as the good. I like that his Dr. stresses is that medications are not a cure, they are not meant to make your child into a zombie, they are meant to be used as a tool along with other tools (therapy, diet change etc) to help him to learn self control.

As you have probably notice this is A LOT of info to take in, I want to educated myself as much as I can before our next appointment, if you have or know someone that knows about any of the things mentioned above I would love for you to share. I'm also looking for any websites or books on these topics, if you have any recommendations I would greatly appreciate it.

I am so thankful to my family and many friends that have showed us support and given us uplifting words of advise, you truly are my strength! I am "overwhelmed and relieved" as a friend of mine put it, what seemed impossible to handle before seems doable now, we have some answers and a place to start, we are going to have to make a lot of adjustments as a family but I know we can. I have felt a renewal of hope since yesterdays appointment, things will get better.

 November 10th has been a long awaited day, it's the day we take Kaleb to a specialist. We have had the appointment for months and have been wanting it to come and go, things with Kaleb have gotten intense, frustrating and sometimes even impossible. I love my son, it is really hard to see how much he struggles with everyday things that most kids don't even have to think about. I hate seeing how people young and old look at him as if he has the plague, it breaks my heart to see him off in a corner by himself then playing with other kids. He is already very aware that he is different that people look down at him because he doesn't do things "the proper way". He comes home from school almost everyday sad that some of the kids in a class call him a baby cause he sucks his thumb or weird because he has a hair fetish, they don't understand that sucking his thumb is something at this point in his life calms him down and brings him back to reality, and rubbing and playing with hair is much like a comfort blanket or favorite stuffed animal it makes him feel safe and gives him comfort, he doesn't do it to be weird he does it because he can't help it and he doesn't know what else to do.

I hate how my son won't even look me in the eyes, that he can't concentrate on simple tasks, that he is constantly saying that he hates his sisters because they aren't like him and realizing he doesn't like himself because he isn't like them. I hate how he cries at night because his legs hurt and won't stop moving, how anything sets him off you never know what to say or how to comfort him and dammit I want to comfort my child when he is upset! We desperately need help there is something wrong with my child and he needs help, understanding and compassion. It's funny to me how people don't give those things unless there is an obvious reason too, they have to see a physical problem and that's not fair, but then again when is life fair? I dislike that in order to have people give my son a fair chance at life he needs to be labeled, he needs to have something wrong with him. I'm not taking him to the Dr. to have him labeled for other people but for me and for him so that we can know how to help him and so that he will know that a label doesn't define him, he may be autistic or ADD/ADHD but that isn't who he is he can overcome it and do whatever he wants in life regardless of the label and what others think.

Kaleb has the most incredible imagination, he dreams up the funniest and coolest things at the drop of a hat, he sees things differently, he can take a stressful situation and turn it into a happy one, he has the ability to make me laugh in an instant. I love how he plays with my hair and tells me he loves me, I love how sensitive he his to his sisters, how he's willing to give up something to make someone else happy, I love how he is active, healthy and strong, how he is a new super hero everyday, I love the big words he uses and knows the meanings of. I love my son, he may be corky, different, and a little odd but I love him for who he is, he wouldn't be Kaleb without the good and bad traits.

I'm anxious and a little scared about tomorrow's appointment, no one wants to be told there is something wrong with their child. I've realized that I've always known that Kaleb was different I just haven't known how to help him. This appointment is to know how to better help him, to make him successful in life, I know it's going to be a long hard road with lot's of obstacles to get over but I know with help we can get through it.