East Meets West...

This morning started out how every morning this week has begun.  Each morning, while Hope takes a little nap, Brian and I attend Lego Therapy together in "his" (Gavin's) bedroom.  Oh, don't even laugh.  Lego Therapy is very serious.  *wink*  It's good for him - he uses his imagination and is learning how to build things.  It's good for me!  I get lost in the mindless connecting of lego bricks.  But it's best for us.  We never look at each other - only at our "masterpieces."  The activity and the lack of eye contact removes the vulnerability... and allows Brian to open up to me in ways he usually doesn't.

Yes, Lego Therapy is very serious.  And I'm honored that Brian invited me to join him.

After this morning's therapy, we got in the car to take Hope to the doctor.  While we were in Ocean City, a rash that was "here and there" and not worrying me much at all turned into a fully body rash that looked familiar.  It didn't look exactly like the contact dermatitis that I was used to seeing with Gavin over the years.  And it didn't look exactly like the eczema that I also saw with Gavin.  I had my suspicions... but I wanted the doctor to see her to rule out any illness or other reason for the rash.

First she got her weigh in...

She looks enormous here - but she's actually quite petite!

Hope's fightin' weight is now 16lbs, 12oz.  She will be 8 months in less than a week.

As soon as the pediatrician walked in and saw her rash, he said it was classic eczema.  I felt relieved that it wasn't an illness or anything very serious.  I left with a script for a steroid cream that I likely won't use.

Our next stop was to see Dr. Kang.  Because of her (and the other alternative doctors and nutritionist that I have on my "team") I know that everything begins internally.  When I was told it was Eczema and I should just moisturize and hope that she grows out of it down the road, I felt that it couldn't be entirely true.  Don't get me wrong - I have great respect for our pediatricians (they know that).  And I'm not trying to come across like I know more than they do (because I don't!).  I am really grateful that they have always been supportive of me - since Gavin was an infant! - as I tried all different types of alternative therapies and medicines and treatments... and then reported back to them with my results.  Some worked - some didn't - but none of them harmed my children along the way.  I need all of our doctors - traditional and non-traditional.  East meets West in our marriage... and in our healthcare team!

My suspicion going in to see Dr. Kang was that this was food related - and I strongly suspected Mango.  Hope didn't have any of these issues until I introduced food.  Then this morning I received an email from a reader who, coincidentally, uses the same type of doctor that does the same type of muscle testing that Dr. Kang uses.  She told me about her daughter who would get a rash every time they'd go to the beach (or throughout the summer) - and it turned out to be an allergy to sunscreen!  Bingo!  I hadn't thought of that!  So after reading her email, I quickly grabbed the sunscreen I used on Hope (Badger Sport Zinc based sunscreen) and headed out the door.

We got to Dr. Kang's and I told her about the new diagnosis... and my theories about the food and sunscreen.  With Hope sitting in her stroller, she tested me first.  I didn't show any reaction to the foods or the sunscreen.  Then she picked up Hope and put her down on the table next to me.  I held her hand with the vials representing the foods sandwiched between our skin.  Sure enough - she showed a reaction to fruit - evidenced by my weakness as Dr. Kang tried to push down my arm.  When she tested me without Hope, she couldn't push my arm down at all!  Next, Dr. Kang smeared some of the sunscreen onto my arm.  I held Hope's hand again and - she showed a reaction.  Can you believe this? You can't make this stuff up!!

Dr. Kang's advice was to follow the same back massage treatments on Hope that I have done (and still do) on Brian.  I will put mango in a glass baby food jar (and every other fruit I feed her - banana and avocado - just in case) - tuck the jar into her pant leg or waistband so it's touching her skin - and massage down both sides of her spine in a tapping motion.  This will balance her immune system and desensitize her to the "allergens."  I will also do this with the sunscreen.  "Why don't you just use a different sunscreen??"  I hear you asking.  Because I feel like I found a quality sunscreen that is safe and better for their skin than many others out there.  I'd rather make this one work for her than try a list of other ones that might cause a reaction - maybe even a worse one!  

She also suggested that before I introduce a new food, I should do the glass jar technique for two days prior.  This should eliminate any problems with the new foods!  And, she truly felt this would eliminate the eczema issues.  Since I was able to eliminate Brian's peanut allergy using her techniques, I tend to believe her.  Also, if you remember, I posted about Brian's skin issues several weeks ago.  Dr. Kang picked up a detergent allergy (which I eliminated) and an immune deficiency which showed up as skin rashes.  I diligently did back massages and he had two acupuncture treatments... and he's as good as new.  His skin looks great!

This does not mean I don't believe our doctors or don't respect their advice.  This just means that I'm open to the possibility that there could be another solution... a different way.  Knowing that it can't hurt Hope to try, I am going to be diligent with working to eliminate this issue.  I only wish that I had known Dr. Kang - or known this way of approaching illnesses and diagnoses - when Gavin was a baby.  He suffered terribly from eczema and contact dermatitis and reflux and allergies.  Knowing what I know now - and having the support I have now - I am sure we could have helped him so much more.  But when you know more... you do more.  And I know that he is smiling and proud in Heaven as I "do more" for his baby sister.

This will be a journey - and I feel confident that the outcome will be successful, but I could be wrong!  I'm taking you all along with me so we can experience this and learn together.  I'll be documenting the journey with photos of her rashes and we'll hopefully see them all disappear.  Here are some photos from today... 

 You may have noticed in some of the photos that Hope looks like she's crawling.  She is!!  It's very new that she's crawling on all fours.  I took this video today and it captures all the great things she's been doing lately:  crawling on all fours... motor planning as she figures out how to get to and then pick up what she wants... going from laying down to sitting up... army crawling (or doing the worm depending on how you look at it or what music is playing in the background at the time)... and problem solving!!  Check it out...

And finally - Brian's "Swim Fast" lessons.  He is doing great and having a lot of fun!  Today is day four and he was able to float on his back and flap his arms and legs to keep his face out of the water (for the most part).  His instructor (named Katie!) touched the back of his head here and there- but he mostly did this on his own!  I was really impressed!  (And Brian was extremely proud.)

The Check is in The Mail...

This week has been busy - and emotional - and surprising - and exhausting.  A week at the beach can throw everyone off a little.  And, of course, there's the mountain of laundry awaiting when we get home.  How did we amass so much laundry?!  On top of that, Ed's away on business all week and Brian has activities.

Science camp started this past Monday at the YMCA.  Brian and I were excited when we saw that his Science teacher is his Tee-Ball coach from last year, Miss Michelle!  He'll be going to this class every Monday morning through August.  He loves Science - and had fun the first day - so I'm expecting he'll enjoy this.

His swim class is going well... at least I think!  I can only peer in the window until the last five minutes when we're all allowed in.  I'll tell you, this instructor is HARD CORE.  He will kick you and your child right out the door if you don't follow the rules.  I'm not looking for Brian to come out of this class with a clean breast stroke - I want him to come out of this class able to save himself from drowning. And this drill sergeant makes me hopeful (and slightly terrified!) that that will happen.

Brian and I have been doing a lot of reading this summer.  One fun thing we started was reading chapter books together.  He's not reading yet, but we're working on recognizing sight words.  Don't get the wrong impression - I'm nothing close to a "home schooler" or even working hard on this reading thing... we're really just having fun.  But I did decide this week that it was time that Brian had his very own library card.  

Up until now, I've only used mine.  Having his own card made things a little different.  There was more of an ownership of the entire process.  He carried his library book bag and collected the books he wanted us to read together.  Then he bravely (he can be shy!) brought them up to the librarian and handed him his card before he started handing him the books one by one.

That same day, we took a trip to "Flynn & O'Hara" uniform store!!  This was a big deal for me.  My brothers, sisters and I all went to the same store growing up for our school uniforms for grade school and high school!  It was a completely surreal experience to be the parent shopping for the uniforms for my own child.  Not a whole lot has changed since I was a kid.  It was busy, time consuming as we tried on different sizes and styles... and boring.  When Brian complained that he was bored... all I could do was agree.  And then I said, "Welcome to your reality for the next nine years, bud.  Nine years at LEAST!"

He was so good, though, as we tried things on.  This is his "Spring/Summer" uniform.  

And this is "Fall/Winter" on the top - and "Summer party" on the bottom.  Before I could put his pants on to make it the "Fall/Winter" style, he said "Mommy!  Take my picture!  I look so cute!'  I couldn't argue with that...

Brian is changing before my eyes this Summer.  It's so hard to believe he's going to be entering Kindergarten in just six short weeks.  I know he's going to do so well.

Poor Hope is having a rough week.

Wait - let me change that.

Mommy is having a rough week because Hope has developed this rash all over her body!!  She's handling it much better than I am.  She was getting little patches here and there when I started feeding her solids.  I knew this could happen and really just blew it off.  But when we were in Ocean City, it became a "thing."  I can't tell if it's eczema, contact dermatitis or a food allergy.  I have experience with all three because of Gavin, unfortunately.  I don't believe it's food... and I would think if it's contact dermatitis it would be gone by now (she was held a ton and in an unfamiliar environment at the beach).  So maybe it's eczema... we'll see.  I've been keeping her moisturized non stop and I'm taking her to the pediatrician in the morning to get his assessment.

Finally - I got the grand total from Gillian's "Magical Monday" event!!  Thank you, again, to everyone that went out of their way to come to support us... and Gavin's Playground Project.  The Gillian family has mailed a check for $2,900 to duPont Hospital for the future "Abilities Playground!"  Gillian's told me that this was a GREAT total for the day.  Yay!!

The love that still abounds for Gavin... it is simply astounding.  I will forever remain humbled to be his Mom.

The Newest Members of the Ocean City Beach Patrol...

Friday was our last day in Ocean City and we gave Brian a choice.  We asked him if he wanted to spend the day at the beach playing in the sand and water... or on the boardwalk playing games and going on rides.  I am not going to lie... I was so happy (and surprised!!) when he chose the boardwalk.  Don't get me wrong, I love the Ocean City Beach (and that my iPhone can take cool panoramic pictures like this!!)

 But it's no secret that I'm not a beach girl!

So off to the boardwalk we went - and the four of us had so much fun!  

Brian and I hit the bumper cars (no pun intended - ha ha!) and I let him drive.  He told me that his cousin Brendan taught him everything he knew about driving - I was impressed with his skills!!

And we made it out of there in one piece!

We went on the swings together, too.  They were different swings than the ones at Wonderland.  These swings had single AND double seats - so we got to sit next to each other, which was really fun.  

Check us out!

Brian's next request of me (I'm the main ride parent!) was... the LOG FLUME.  There was NO way I was going on that.  I have a thing against log flumes - the water part just grosses me out.  But lucky for me (and Brian) - Daddy saved the day!  Daddy also lost his hat when it blew off on the way down the flume!!

Back at the ranch, Hope had another "first!"  I decided to let her practice trying to feed herself with those little dissolvable "puffs."  They are easy to pick up (well, easier than - say - a slippery piece of banana or yam) and I don't have to worry about her choking.  And they force her to "chew" which is good practice!  She took to it right away...

This little girl loves to eat!

On Friday evening after dinner, I decided on a whim to take the kids to the beach for photographs.  Earlier in the day (okay - pretty much every day of our vacation) I was in an adorable store on the boardwalk called "Bangles n Bows."  I went on a bit of a shopping spree for Hope and Brian and had so much fun!  The owners of the store were so kind and friendly - and one of them gifted Hope with a flowered headband made of twine and silk flowers!  I brought it to the beach with me - along with a red headband I bought there, too.  It was bedtime so I really expected this little impromptu photo session to not go well at all.  I was wrong.  The children were angels and I ended up capturing some of my favorite photos of them.  Take a look...

My favorite shot of Brian...

You'll need to prepare yourself for the next series - it's over the top cuteness... 

The newest members of the Ocean City Beach Patrol!  

How could you not feel safe with those little faces watching you?

Our little princess in the sand.  The next day she would turn 33 weeks!

Here she is with her flowered headband.  I think she looks like she could be a royal flower girl!

If the pictures make it look like Hope idolizes Brian...

...and that Brian adores Hope...

That's because it's true.  They do.

Saturday morning came and it was time to head home.  My sister, Bean, and the triplets met us at "Uncle Bill's Pancake House" - a place I have always heard so much about, but have never been.  We had a bit of a wait outside... but it was worth it!!  One word:  Scrapple!!  (If you're from the Pennsylvania area, you are smiling.)

Today was super-busy.  I did about ten loads of laundry... Brian had Science Camp at the YMCA (he loved it!!)... and he started his first "Swim Fast" lessons this evening.  They are strict that the parents need to wait in the lobby, but lucky for me - they have two windows covered with venetian blinds.  I am not against spying through those blinds!  Near the end of the class, we were all allowed in (yay!) and I was able to snap one picture.  He's learning how to float on his back without help.  Lessons will be every night for two weeks straight.

Tomorrow is a big day!  Brian and I are going to get him fitted for his school uniform.  I can't believe my little boy is headed for Kindergarten.

Magical Monday!...

This past Monday was the anticipated "Magical Monday" at Gillian's Wonderland Pier in Ocean City, New Jersey.  The Gillian Family chose Gavin's Playground Project to receive half of the proceeds from sales of wristbands that gave customers unlimited rides from 1-4.  

I haven't found out how many wristbands were sold yet - I'll report back as soon as I do!  But it was a great day and we were so, so honored by the entire thing.  Here are some of the highlights!!

Ed getting our wristbands.

Woo Hoo!  We were ready to ride!

One of the first rides Brian wanted to go on was the... gulp... ferris wheel.  Hope stayed safely on the ground with Granny!

We had a truly magical view of all of Wonderland... the beach and the ocean... and almost the entire town of Ocean City.  It was a great way to start the day...

...and it got even better as we walked away from the ferris wheel and into the "party."  Suddenly we spotted a butterfly!  We just smiled.  But then we noticed it wasn't flying away!  It flitted around the four of us and Granny for a little while as we all stood there with our mouths open looking at each other.  Call it what you will, but it certainly seemed like a big giant sign from Heaven to us.  It was one of my favorite moments of the day, by far.

We were surrounded all afternoon by new friends who came to honor Gavin...

...readers who went out of their way to come with their children (I loved meeting so many new people!)...

...Christine and her beautiful daughters were brave enough to come so soon after Bode's passing.  Christine, as you know, was the one responsible for Gavin's fire truck at Wonderland Pier!

And, of course, my family was there!

Can you believe this is just HALF of my family?  There are still twelve more people not pictured!

We had a ball riding the rides...

...and it got very sentimental when I brought Hope on the first ride of her life!  I sat in the same bench seat on the carousel that I sat with Gavin for his first ride of his life.  Brian wanted to sit behind us for her maiden voyage - you can see his little hand waving at Ed!

Brian and I went around again together after that.

Hope was great all day - and there was no shortage of family members to hold her!  Here she is with her Aunt Meg...

Sometimes, honestly, I can't wrap my mind around all the experiences we have had - including this - since Gavin died.  It is mind blowing... humbling... and we, as a family, are truly very grateful.

The next morning, we all gathered at my sister Meg's house for breakfast!  We had to say goodbye to Emily's husband, Josh, and my nephew Dan and his wife, Miranda who had to go back to work in New Hampshire.  Boo!

But then it was time for another long beach day!  Hope sported her fancy "bathing suit" again. 

 Forgetting her bathing suit, as it turns out, wasn't the worst thing at all.  It's been on the chilly side - and the water is freezing!!

Imagine a huge circle of chairs (and my gigantic umbrella/shelter) with my family members - and Brian right there in the center digging all day.  He was in his glory.

He had some help from Daddy and his Uncle Jim to dig a hole so deep they reached water.  And then he loved to jump in and out of it all day.

As usual, we are making memories with Gavin's pier in the background.  That pier has been in our family photos since Gavin was a baby.  

It's both heart wrenching and heartwarming to watch new memories being made with Brian and Hope.  More heartwarming, for sure.  Actually, it makes my heart skip a beat to see Brian laughing and smiling on the beach.

This morning was rainy and kept us inside until after lunch.  Once the sun came out, we split up and hit the boardwalk!  Ed and Brian went to play games in the arcade and then went on some rides.

Granny, Hope and I went shopping on the boardwalk - and eventually met up with Aunt Meg, Aunt Bean and Emily!  I wandered into a store called "Bangles and Bows" and got sucked into a vortex of adorableness!  I couldn't resist this sweet hat and the little rosette (which is actually a hair clip that I attached to it!).

Actually, I couldn't resist a lot of things in that store, but in the interest of saving my marriage - I'll only show the hat.  (kidding!!!)  Seriously - is this not the cutest thing?!?  She's definitely a "hat girl."

Tomorrow should be a beautiful, sunny day!  Me and my (forever) pale skin are ready to blind some more people on the beach!