Footprints

Footprints

One night I had a dream-- I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints, one belonged to me and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way, but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. "I don't understand why in times when I needed you most, you should leave me." The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. "When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." ...Mary Stevenson

Our New Adventure Toward A Healthier Lifestyle

 Monday, Savannah and Xander had their yearly visit with the Metabolic Genetics and their Nutritionist. First they had some blood test done, which they were fasting for. They had been crying and whining at me all morning for milk. I had to take turns with each of them in the chair holding them down while they screamed and tried to get away, while the nurse tried to take blood. They each got a sparkly bandage and their very own play dough for being so brave!

Then we went over to Genetics and they each had their turn with the usual, weight, height, checking head circumferences, and blood pressure stuff. The nurse checked Savannah's twice because it was so high, but it was still high. It was cute cause Savannah and Xander kept wanting a turn doing what the other was doing! No screaming! :)
Their doctor asked all of the usual questions and said that they look great except for Savannah's blood pressure, lipids, cholesterol and stuff were all very high and he wanted us to have it checked again before we left. We just need to keep the followups for Savannah's kidneys and for their eyes, for the RP.

Then, we talked to the nutritionist, and she wasn't too happy with their weight. She wants them to lose weight and lower their blood pressure, cholesterol and everything. We have to come up with an exercise plan with their pediatrician and see him every month to give them a check up with their weight and everything. I have to make a log for her of everything they eat over the next week and get it back to her so she can analyze it and help us start a plan. I know that she is just doing her job and she meant well but, I just felt crushed that I'm just never being or doing enough for Savannah and Xander. Am I really qualified enough to be their mother. I feel like I just keep failing them and trying and trying every day. I tried so hard to fight the tears back and not have a breakdown in the room in front of them. I felt like yes, it isn't only me who feels like I am not trying enough. But, it breaks my heart every day when Savannah has her meltdowns because she is hungry, but I can't give her what she wants. I offer her carrots, cucumbers, or celery but she just cries even harder.Xander just chooses not to eat rather than eat a vegetable. I feel so sad that when we are out with friends and they have crackers or other treats and I have to pole my kids away because that's all they want, but I just have to keep thinking to myself of what that would do over time to their poor little bodies. It hurts so much. I wish I could just give it to them. It would be so much easier but, I will be strong.

 The highlighted parts are what they chose not to eat. If you look at Xander's it's a lot.

 When I saw Savannah's BMI chart I felt so sad. How can this be? It's so hard to grasp that this is how her body really is, and the chart was staring me back in the face. It's really kinda scary to me.

 I thought that these growth charts might be interesting to some of my other BBS mom friends. Savannah and Xander have kinda the same growth curves, just at different ends.

 In this crazy mess, my sister-in-law introduced me to this amazing diet, or you could say lifestyle.  She and her husband have been doing this for a while now. It is the Paleo diet, or also know as Primal living in the modern world. It is grain-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, and low carb.There is a blog, Mark'sdailyapple I have been reading it and using this cookbook that he wrote for the last few days now. He talks about how grains (and carbs in general) is that they raise your body’s insulin levels, which can lead to becoming insulin resistant, and type 2 diabetes, Which is also common for people with BBS. He talks about how living and eating this way will lower your lipids. It is all healthy, and the these are the natural foods that our ansesters ate.
It is so hard because no one fully understands why all of our precious children's bodies with BBS work the way they do. I want so badly to find a cure to help our children and to help them to have healthier bodies. Hopefully, one day we will have an answer. But, I do know that I will never give up on Savannah and Xander.
It feels good to have a plan again, and we are slowing going into this, more so with the kids. It is so amazing how our Heavenly father answers our prayers. When we feel so lost and when we feel like there is no where to turn, and no hope, he shows us a way. I am so grateful.

 This is what we ate for dinner last night. Doesn't it look yummy! Chicken Salad in an Avocado cup! It was so good!! HERE is the recipe! They used crab instead of chicken, but I didn't have any so I used chicken.

 Savannah loved it! Xander wouldn't even try it. :(

I found this recipe on pintrest! It was so good! I went a little crazy, just as I always do and I made an big Paleo board! This is Bacon Wrapped Caramelized asparagus. I substituted splenda brown sugar. Find the recipe Here!

So, here we go on a new adventure! Hopefully, a lifechanging one! It will be hard, but I want my family to become healthy, and I have faith that this is what we are suposed to be doing right now.
Wish us luck!!

June Update

 After school was out for Savannah, I was scared that she might regress. But, it has been just the opposite! We work in her workbook just about every day, we read books, have structured themed days, and play games where she has to read or sound out words! She is so smart and just just loves to learn! It is so fun to teach her! And Xander just loves his learning box and he loves it when we read books! They both could live outside! Savannah has started her Bridges sports camp class once a week and she did awesome! We have been having so much fun going to parks, walks, and water parks, or even just playing outside! We've also been busy with doctors appointments, urologist, cardiologist, and tomorrow Savannah have to have some test done and see their geneticist. It's going to be a long night. They can't eat for 12 hours.Usually, we also see their nutritionist when we go to metabolic genetic clinic at primary's, but, I'm not sure if we are tomorrow. Xander also has his usual, early intervention specialist, speech, occupational therapy, and learning box, which both, Savannah and Xander love! Every time one of them come over Savannah and Xander just can't wait to see what new toys they have brought for them to play with! They are all so wonderful and great with my kids! We love them!
 I also have my group that I go to once a week for mothers with special needs children. I love going! I look forward to it every week! And, Savannah loves every chance that she gets to play in the play room at Kids on the move! Xander is getting so much better! I get to meet amazing women and they inspire me to be a better mother and help give me strength to keep going for another week!

Anyway here is one of our fun projects that we did one day! Birds!!

 WE made bird watching binoculars! they were so fast and easy and there is no gluing!!
All you need is:

cut  paper towel roll into 2 the same size
stapler
sissiors
paper
yarn

 Staple together.

 cut paper and staple on rolls.

 I used lots of staples! Then, cut a long piece of yarn and tie 3 knots at each end and staple to rolls, so it can hand around your child's neck! Now you have Bird Watchers!

 The kids loved them!

 Then, we painted little wooden bird houses that we got from Hobby Lobby! Yes, we love our crafts!!

Fairy Sleepover

 A few weeks ago, Savannah had a Fairy sleepover with her girl cousins! She loves it when the girls sleepover! We didn't really do anything that night because we just had our awesome monthly family night with the cousins and it was bedtime when we made it home. So, the next day was all about fairy stuff and fun!!

 One of my cute nieces did Savannah's hair supper cute!  We had a special fairy breakfast!

 With mini fairy blueberry pancakes...

 and fairy fruit!

 Savannah picked out all of her blueberries. LOL! She doesn't like them.

We made Fabric Fairy Wands!

 Just find your old scraps of materials and cut snips off on one of the edges, then rip them just like you would to make hair rags! It's supper easy!

 I would put a dot of hot glue about an inch and a half down the skewer to keep the rags in place. This was a project that I just wanted to use stuff I had. Tie the rags in two knots.

 The girls got creative! You could use two or more colors of fabric. Some of the girls added boas to their wands! When they are done adjust the rags how you want them and put another dot of hot glue at the top of the stick so the fabric wont fall off.

 And here are all the cute fairies! They even made up a cute game called hide the fairy treasure chest! One of us would hide the chest and then everyone had to come find it! Who ever found the chest first got to hide it the next time.  They all had so much fun! I love all my nieces! They are all so sweet and are so good with Savannah and Xander! They have so much fun together!

Keeping it real!

 Fairy popcorn Balls and fairy movie time!

 It's just marshmallows and pop corn! Supper easy! Melt some plain mini marshmallows and mix it up with the pop corn to get it to stick together.

 Fairy popcorn balls!

 Xander got an airplane peanut butter sandwich! I think he loved having all of the girls attention! He is pretty cute!

 The girls had a  Fairy picnic while watching Tinkerbell!

 Later, my sister-in-law came over and the kids ran in the sprinkler!

I love these girls!!

At The Zoo

 Monday, we went to the Zoo with my mom and Brett. The kids had so much fun and them being in the wagon only lasted not even 5 minutes! They walked the whole time we were there! We didn't have a single meltdown and the kids stayed with us the whole trip! It was so awesome!! Xander also wore his cute hat the entire time! I'm sorry but, I am a picture person, so yes I have lots of pictures!! You know me and my craziness with pictures! One day Savannah and Xander will look back and thank me for photographing everything! Right?

 Love this picture! He's free!!!

 My son, who thinks he's a dog. LOL!

 The sign says Savannah Animals!

 Sunday-

 My mom got this adorable dress from my aunt. Savannah just loves it and it looks so cute on her! My aunt has an Etsy shop called MadeWithLoveGrandma She has the cutest blankets for and little outfits for babies and little girls.