Bubbles

Emmy loves bubbles! Oh, how I love to see the smile on her face and the excitement in her eyes. She got bubbles in her Easter basket. Better than candy!

What's that? A snowman on Easter? Well, the snow didn't fool the Easter bunny. He brought an Easter basket for Emmy at our house, Grandma and Grandpa Brems' house, Great-grandma and Great-grandpa Sommers' house and Grandma and Grandpa Gilbert's house. Our little girl is well loved!


She was so sad in the picture below because I took away her candy to try to get a good Easter picture. How could you say "no" to a face like that?



Emmy and her mommy.


Uncle Spencer entertained Emmy for a while with a spinning top.

Small Victory

Emmy has severe food allergies to milk, eggs, and dairy. When we first learned about her allergies, I was desperate. I couldn't imagine how I could feed my child a healthy, well-balanced diet without the staples of milk and eggs. Seriously, milk and eggs are in everything! With the help of an excellent allergist and a supportive network called UFAN (Utah Food Allergy Network) we learned how very lucky we are compared to so many others. Also, we learned how to cook in a different way to accommodate Emmy's allergies.

Yesterday, we just had a follow-up appointment with the allergist. The skin prick test was traumatic this year. Basically, the nurse used a needle to insert an extract of the suspected allergen below her skin in a grid formation on her back. Em screamed and cried and couldn't understand why this stranger was hurting her, and even worse, why her parents weren't protecting her. After they were done drawing her blood, she was easily distracted with a dum-dum and everything in the world was right again.

Now, to the victory part. . . she has outgrown her egg and nut allergies! She still has a significant allergy to milk, but we can deal with that. I feel like this is a direct answer to our prayers! Well, maybe I should say to my parents prayers. . . I really believe my Mom could pray any miracle into existence. I am certain this is the only reason I survived adolescence!

Oatmeal and ketchup

It can't be easy being almost two years old! For Emmy, she knows what she wants, but sometimes her motor skills can't keep up with what she wants to accomplish. She also has a Mom who doesn't let her eat everything she wants to eat. I try to distract her with something she can eat, so she doesn't feel like I am always telling her "NO". It is clear, however,that she gets frustrated. It's not that I am trying to be mean, but her food allergies prevent her from eating normal foods. I try really hard to find ways to not have to say "no" all the time. Like, keeping dangerous food out of the picture. I also like to let her make choices whenever it is safe. So, that's what led to her choosing to eat oatmeal and ketchup for breakfast! Doesn't it sound delicious! She was so proud of her choice that she ate an entire bowl of oatmeal for breakfast.

The picture below is way back from Halloween, but I love it so I wanted to post it.