Baby shower

Love me some baby! But when the baby is going to be yours it's even better! This past weekend I got to sit and enjoy one of the cutest baby showers I've ever seen, lots of friends and family, and yummy treats and cake. All for ME! That part always makes me nervous but the setting was so layed back and outdoors that everyone just enjoyed each other and I felt no pressure to make a certain face per gift I opened ( truth, awkward face when you don't like a gift) 

My two best friends and sister threw me a beautiful and simple summer shower and I couldn't have been happier or more blessed. 

Enjoying this fourth pregnancy with my close friend Kourtney and my sister Kaylyn is pretty cool too- Kourtney and I shared a pregnancy with my third, her first child. It's been 6 yrs since then and I never in a thousand years thought we'd do it again or that I'd get to be pregnant with my sister, who's on her second. 

My bestie! Prayed with me for a year about my desire to have another baby when the odds weren't looking in my favor;) encouraged me and was an example to me as a mom, friend, and running pregnant which challenged me to do the same and stay in the best shape ever for this little girl- 

And Laurie, who opened her home and heart to host this blessed event and made us feel welcomed and spoiled! 

Thank you everyone, I will forever cherish this day and these memories. 

God bless and enjoy your summer! 

Prednisone free!

As many of you know Judah my 11 yr old son was diagnosed with Nuphrotics Syndrome this past November. We were told so much information in such a little amount of time all we knew for sure to do was Pray. 

When we left the hospital we had a few instructions and details to change in our family and daily lives : 

1- LOW SODIUM DIET 

I'm going to nicely tell you right now that MANY people gave their opinions and showed us their low sodium diets and it was a JOKE! Low sodium is not what you read on the front of the box, it's a serious life change and grocery budget killer! 

2- NO SCHOOL OR CHURCH for a season. Judahs immune system was shot and was going to be such for a season while on the prednisone. Meaning that the common cold of flue was said to put him in the hospital or even kill him. Our only choice was to seperate him the best we could till we knew we were in the clear and he was strong enough to fight the germs. So for three months we home schooled and watched TCC live stream from our couch. Thankful for technology we were able to stay connected. 

3- SCALES AND DIPS

Judah now had to be weighed daily and have a urine dip screen from home to monitor his levels. This isn't hard it's just another step to be taken. 

4- FLUID RESTRICTION 

you don't realize how much you want dorm thing till you can't have it. Because his kidneys couldn't process correctly his fluid was spilling into his body causing swelling, so part of this process is to restrict any and all fluids to very little a day. 

5-MAJOR EMOTIONS/SIDE EFFECTS

 Prednisone is a super strong steroid that does its job and kills good in its wake. We had emotions all over the joint, and because of the high dose we also had to add eye check ups every three months for preventative care, along side the kidney check ups. PUFFY cheeks. Wowza tell an 11yr old boy that his face and body will swell up and people will stare and friends will question why. He was and is a trooper and honestly handled it all so well with grace and peace that I believe family support and the Lords grace took major parts in. 

I bring all this up to say: JUDAH IS NOW PREDNISONE FREE! We've been on a slow decline (taper) since his release and although they told us to prepare for him to be in and out with relapse, he has had NOT A SINGLE ONE! He has maintained his diet, controlled his kidneys, held his head up, and stuck with it. As a family we changed the way we live life on the go, no more fast food (special occasions only) healthier and more active than before we have grown so much as a family unit and have learned to stick together and lift each other up. Judah will out grow this and he will be comepletely healed, for now he is off meds and looks amazing! And I'm super proud of him!;) 

 We are never alone when Gods on our side! Stick with it, doctors are a wonderful help to us along side of prayer and believing. Have a BLESSED DAY!