Update

Brinly is doing MUCH better. She did have to endure a very traumatic test yesterday, the VCUG. Not fun, and she has been afraid to potty ever since, unfortunately...which means a few accidents. It is getting better though. And even better is all of her results came back normal--no abnormalities that are permanent!

They did find pseudomonas superficially, which could be the culprit of all her problems b/c it is a very difficult bacteria to get rid of! So, I'm hoping that this last round of antibiotics will cure it. We are praying for that anyway! Thanks for your prayers!

This photo was taken after the test yesterday and many tries to potty. She was worn out emotionally and physically, but finally zonked. Cute girl!

At a loss...

So, just don't know what to do for my little Brinly. She had her third UTI (urinary tract infection) a few weeks ago--and it was a whopper. Ucky bloody urine and everything--not something a mother wants to see her little child go through. The pediatrician ordered an ultrasound to check tha anatomy of her kidneys, etc. Supposedly it came back normal. She finished her last round of antibiotics about 4 days ago....then last night she was literally screaming while trying to go potty!! She eventually went after a few attempts later, but this is exactly what happens every UTI. I just don't know what to do. The Dr. said they might do a VCUG (dye test ) to check for reflux, but as of right now it has not been scheduled. I'm still waiting for the Dr. to call. And if she has reflux (urine into her kidneys and back) then the only treatment I was told is prophylaxis antibiotics--which I'm not thrilled about.

Anybody have any suggestions?? I know she needs to drink more and probably needs to be reminded to go potty often enough, but I just don't know what else to do.

Fun Photo

I thought this was a pretty cute picture. Cade loves his baths, though they have not been nearly as fun since Brinly cannot bathe with him anymore (due to her reoccurring UTI's). Nonetheless, he still enjoys it, as you can see.

Happy 1st Birthday (posted 2 months late)

Cade is a big 1 year old boy. Unbelievable! We were lucky enough to have Grandma and Grandpa Ford here to enjoy the festivities. He was a little worried about getting his fingers dirty, but eventually tested the cupcake out. Maybe he's like his dad and won't like cake...crazy, I know.

Just needed a little help from sister, Brinly.

YUM!

Birthday present fun:)

My new addiction...don't laugh.

Well, I am totally into food storage lately! Seriously, I get EXCITED about stocking up my food! I bought 300 lbs. of rice and 250 lbs. of wheat last Monday, and felt SO satisfied. Honestly, I'm on a roll...we are NOT going to be hungry when famine strikes! If you have any good recipes to share using whole grains or any kind of "bulk" food storage item, I'd love for you to share:)

My cute Brinly...

So, I have the cutest little girl. She is hilarious at times, utterly sweet at others, and completely dramatic even more:) We love her so much though. She is definitely a light in our lives.

A great big sister!

This was hilarious. She wanted to prove helpful, so she found an elmers purple gluestick to repair our broken chair. She came to us BEAMING with pride!

She always wants to be like her daddy! Shane is playing with his new handheld computer (PDA) while Brinly found my old school Palm to do the same.

Do you have a green thumb?

Building our "box garden".

Gardening runs in Shane's family. His mom is a PRO! Seriously, really good. We have enjoyed gardening throughout our marriage, and left behind our most successful one in Harrisonburg, VA. Though we are now living in the DESERT, we are attempting to grow a few meager vegetables and one pot of strawberries. This was the beginning. Currently, we have lettuce growing successfully...nothing else. Everything has sprouted, but nothing has born fruit. We need some pointers, badly!

Shane's new idea is hydroponics...maybe the desert will be more giving if we use that route. We are open to suggestions!

Cade's First Hair Cut

Ok, so I'd never cut hair before I married Shane. His family has a tradition of home haircutting...so I married into the family and was immediately initiated with a lesson of how to cut "Shane Davis Ford's hair. After many years of grouchy, argumentative, and unsuccessful hair cutting sessions, I have finally begun to feel at "peace" with my abilities to cut his hair, and his hair ONLY.

So, as I realized my cute little son's hair was smothering his adorable little ears, I panicked! Well, not exactly, but I definitely had some anxiety about cutting another male's head of hairs. Fortunately, he was quite cooperative...though it wasn't the best hair cut ever, it wasn't too bad either. Maybe after 25 years of cutting male hair, I'll be decent:)