My baby turned 6...

I'm in denial I think...

our baby is now 6...

and she is so full of life!

Amanda is such a love to her family...

and we cherish her very much...

even when we see this...

one girl who is so feisty!

Amanda, you are a beautiful girl on the inside and out that keeps us on our toes and gives the biggest, best hugs...

Enjoy being 6 Miss Amanda!

We love you very much!

Another new look...

Sigh.  My baby is growing up even more.  Take a look at what we had to do for Miss Amanda...

Yep, following in the footsteps of her brother and her Mom.  Glasses.

I was very sad at first when we found out she needed them, but I'm better now and she looks awfully stinking cute in them.  Who doesn't think she looks so much like Cameron now?  I was so afraid that they would cover up her big, beautiful eyes.  I will get use to them as she gets use to them as well.

Another example of my little girl becoming a true Kindergartner.

She still gives the best hugs, though.

xoxo

Allergies...

I am fortunate enough that from time to time this summer my parents have come over and watched the kids for us.  I usually have things all set up and ready for meals.  My Dad can microwave a mean hot dog!

But, from time to time there are situations that come up where I am thinking UGH.  All Grandparents mean well, right?  Even if they don't do it like Mom does.

Yesterday Molly was going with a friend to a local Vacation Bible School.  We needed to get my parents home quick so we could race back and get Molly a sandwich to eat for dinner.  My Mom had called earlier in the day and asked what Molly was going to eat.  I told her I would make her a sandwich when I got home.  Some how that got translated to "make Molly a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."

In case you didn't all ready know this, Amanda is allergic to peanuts.  And, even with age, her allergy number does not seem to be going down.  It actually is going up.  I am not an expert on what those numbers mean so I'm not even going to try and explain them.  All I know is that we have Epi Pens, an Epi Pen is needed at school, and I know where they all are for emergencies.

So back to my dilemma with the making of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for my non-allergic daughter.  The ONLY time Amanda has ever had a reaction to her peanut allergy is when I (myself) cross contaminated the jar of jelly by using the peanut butter knife in it.  I know, you've cheated and done the same thing, right?  So I am now very, very careful to never do that.  Two knives are required to make a sandwich. It's just not something that my parents would think of since they didn't have a child with a food allergy.

I need to add a line in here that the only reason we have peanut butter even in our house is because 1) Mr. Shook loves it on a bagel or english muffin, especially good for him after running.  Peanut butter is excellent protein.  and 2) Molly loves it on a sandwich and celery and we need to find ways to bump up her weight and peanut butter is excellent for that, as well.  But, it is up very HIGH on our shelf, no one is to get it down on their own, and Amanda knows not to eat it.

But, Amanda loves herself a jelly sandwich and there are times where that is lunch.  Sad, I know because it just can't taste that good and therefore, our jelly can not be laced with peanut butter.

I do not think I am a food Nazi.  I am very careful to ask ingredients of things that I don't know what they are.  We avoid bake sales.  I already know we can't eat at Chik-Fil-A, Five Guys Burgers and I ask for Amanda's food to be cooked separately at places like FlatTop.  I mean ABSOLUTELY no offense by this next statement but the place where I have the most uncertainly is our church.  For our Wednesday night meals many desserts are brought in and the servers simply don't know the ingredients.  Not a big deal, we just don't have anything that we are unsure of.  Our church has a fabulous Egg Hunt every Easter.  It rocks!  But I always make a point of telling Amanda's Sunday School teacher to please not let her eat any candy before I look at it.  Our trick-or-treat candy gets an inspection, too.  It's just what we have to do.

Preschool was great about her allergy and I pray that Kindergarten will be the same.  From what I have seen the school does a good job.  It does bother me that their solution for lunch is to have a peanut free table.  I guess segregating them is safer.

I thank the good Lord that we have never had to use Amanda's Epi Pen.  Her only reaction was solved by a dose of Benedryl.  I think I have freaked out a baby-sitter or two with my Epi Pen instructions.  It scares me that I have to end that conversation with "and after you use the Epi Pen then you call 9-1-1."  I hope that we NEVER have to do that.

And, don't get me wrong about Grandma and Grandpa and them being helpful.  They both felt really bad that I now have to pitch the jelly.  If you know my Mom then you'll know she offered to buy a new jar.  Not the point.  A food allergy is just something that you have to be on top of all the time.

And, just writing this post has made me crave a Reese's Peanut Butter Egg!

Kid's Muddy Madness!

Today we (the kids) participated in the coolest event.  It was called Kid's Muddy Madness for St. Jude's.  It was held in a local park and the pictures will not do it justice.  

But before I share about it I want to say what a great community we get to live in and what great friends we have.  The kids wanted to raise money to turn in as part of the race donation that would go to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.  We decided to sell popsicles and water at our friend's house.  They live on a busier street then we do.  I advertised it on Facebook, texted some friends and the kids held up signs as cars passed.  What an awesome response!  In a little over 2 hours they raised $90!!  We donated it all today to St. Jude's!  It was a great learning experience for the kids.

At the actual race kids were assigned to different waves to run.  Ages 4-6 (Amanda's age group) did a 100 yard dash and Cameron and Molly's age groups did a one mile run.  The one mile run went through some woods which had obstacles in it like going over mounds of dirt, running through tires, jumping over logs and climbing over a large stack of hay bails.

  

But, the best part was the end!!

The kids got to run through a mud pit!!!

It was a riot and the kids loved it (except for Amanda)!

Here's what everyone looked like at the end...

And then you got sprayed off by the fire department!

I read on Facebook that the kids run today raised $26,000.  How awesome is that!!!

We loved it and can't wait to do it again next year!

And, I feel so blessed today that we were a small part of such a good cause.  Especially when you have 3 healthy children.  Our prayers are with those who we helped today!

Special day, special girl

Yesterday we celebrated this girl's FIFTH birthday...

She once looked like this...

but now she is growing up...and quickly!

As much as anyone hears me say what a handful Miss Amanda can be, please know that I feel very, very blessed to be her Mommy.  If you are EVER in need of a good hug, this is your go to girl.

She gives the VERY, VERY best!

Happy, happy birthday, baby!

We love you very much!

A few things around here...

We've been busy here, how about you?

But we hit a highlight here today...

It's called Kindergarten Round Up!

Today is the day where we go and visit the Kindergarten class and meet the teachers.  The kids stay and listen to a story and do a fun craft while the parents get all the info for the next year.  Having done this two other times I felt pretty confident that it would go well.  And it did!  Doesn't my girl seem ready to conquer school?

And of course Amanda and I had to take our standard photo.  After all, there isn't anyone home to take pictures of us together.  

Last week I had the fun time of chaperoning Amanda and her class on a trip to our local high school where the FFA hosts a Barnyard Zoo.  Here's a picture that I just loved:

That smile speaks volumes!!

Home, Sweet, Home...

We're home, we've had a good night's sleep. Things are well!

And, our sister is more than willing to bring us dolls and toys!

We brought Amanda home yesterday around 4. Her labs, urine output, the ability to have a #2 and her willingness to drink and eat a little allowed us to come home a day early. She is currently still with a catheter, which we will haven taken out on Monday in the urologist's office. Our experience couldn't have been any better. Fortunately/Unfortunately, we were recognized as repeat visitor's to the Children's Hospital and that made things really nice. There were quite a few, "you look familiar" statements and it was nice and reassuring. Our doctor rocks, too! He gave us the VIP treatment which means he treated us like he has for 230 other cases of the same surgery and things appear to be healing well. We had a few friends who work in the hospital check in with us and that helped out so much. It's nice to know that other's are keeping an eye out for you. Even when the patient is 4!

We truly appreciate all the prayers and positive thoughts that were sent our way. Our doctor commented on how calm we seemed before the surgery and I'm so glad that it appeared that way from the outside. My insides were churning!

I also have to give props to our girl.

I don't know if I can put into words how proud I was of her when she walked to the operating room. She never looked back. I think that speaks volumes about several things. I think Mr. Shook and I did a decent job preparing her for what was going to happen, I think the staff at the hospital has an unique way of putting everyone at ease and making them feel safe, and I think that it shows the power of our God and the Holy Spirit that enveloped their arms around our girl. It took my breath away and dried all my tears.

Again, I say Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for praying for Amanda.

I believe in the power of prayer.

More new things...

I can't believe the weekend came and went but it is official that we have lived in Morton, Illinois 2 years. Mr. Shook had his 2 year CAT anniversary back in August so here we are. I have told many people that I really think it takes just about 2 years to get familiar, have an identity and make friends in a new place. It can be a really hard thing to do. You really have to be able to put yourself out there. I can do it, I just don't want to have to do it too many more times. I am pretty happy here.

With that said, our little 3 year old experiences new things all the time. This week was 2 big ones!

Our first day at preschool...




and our first ballet lesson...




Both went well, at both she was slow to warm up and I have faith that at both it will go better next time. Luckily for Amanda she has a nice big sister who held her hand through most of her ballet class and did it with her. My heart was swelling at the sight.

Waiting with your breath held, right?...

I'm sure that all my bloggy friends have been holding their breath to receive an update on our potty situation. Well, guess what...?

SHE

COULD

CARE

LESS!

Surprised? I'm not.

This hasn't been nearly as successful as I might have hoped. In fact I would call it one big fat failure. What is a Mom to do about it? Drowned her sorrows in a Polar Pop? Don't tempt me!

I have decided that we might just have to give up our beloved spot at the preschool, we might have to accept that fact that we don't have a little Einstein on our hands, and I might have to admit that I am not the Super-Mom that you might have thought me to be. I had you fooled, right?

Instead we have been doing things like this...

Filling old water bottles with rocks, grass, ants, sticks...


Then have our brother practice his reading to his little sister while she just sits, and sits and sits some more...


Have a popsicle while sitting some more...


Build creative Lego creations and take all kinds of pictures of them (Mom's job)...



Making a royal wet mess in the back yard and loving it!...



If we go potty great, if not that's going to have to be OK, too. You see, I've decided that I do actually have a little Einstein on our hands because she is certainly smart enough to know that she can go potty. All the control is in the hands of one newly three year old. She IS pretty smart!

The pain has begun...

I can't believe I am sharing this for the whole world, or at least my bloggy friends, to see...I am not one who usually wants to share the potential defeats in her life.

Here is what I am staring down today...



Do you know what these are for??

That's right...

IT'S POTTY TIME!!

Cutie created a potty chart this morning, of course wearing the sacred Ohio State Trickerleader outfit. (That's what cutie calls it!)



I don't have a really great feeling that we are going to be super successful so a little prayer might be helpful. Miss Amanda's brother and sister are breathing down her neck (and mine) to get this pain over with. I think they are feeling hostage to the stickers and Smarties. We are on our second Capri Sun so there has to be some pee in there, right? I have to go myself just talking about all the liquid! Dearest Daddy has promised Culver's to his little one if she successfully pees 2 times on the potty. For the love of all things yummy, please do it, Amanda!!

I'm not due for a highlight on the locks for 2 weeks. After this experience I may need it done soon!

Wish us luck!! And don't judge me if this isn't successful!

Springtime fun with safety...

In case you may need Amanda to cut down a tree or use a sharp tool she is ready...



I have no idea why she INSISTED on wearing the safety goggles for our walk but as with many things she does I just go along with it. I tell you, no rules with this child!



On Saturday Mr. Shook ran a 4 mile Race for the Heart run at Eureka Lake. Let me just say his supporters were FREEZING!! But, we tried not to complain...can you see the cold in Molly's face??!!



Here is our favorite guy running by to the finish...



Can I also say that Mr. Shook has a little secret to share. At this time last year he was the heaviest he had ever been. Since he started taking up this interest in running and has eliminated all soda from his diet he has lost 16 pounds!! We are so proud of you! You rock!

Interesting note...tribute to Mark and his Falcons with the BG shirt. The guy sitting next to us at the post race lunch (i.e. free hot dogs!) was a Bowling Green grad and also was wearing a BG shirt. How ironic! Small world from the Buckeye state!

A week from Saturday Mike is doing his next 1/2 marathon in Champaign. Stay tuned for the pics!