changes

I have talked about Sean's allergies, but I have not talked about how bad things were two and a half months ago. What initially the family doctor told us was baby acne, was in actuality terrible infant eczema. I cannot tell you how bad his little face looked. It was covered in scaley, oozing rash that covered the surface of his face, his scalp, his elbows, and behind his ankles. We took him to the allergist who took one look at Sean and called his pediatric dermatologist friend to tell her we needed to see someone - in his words - "right now." We got blood work orders and headed over to see the dermatologist. Now, after two months of bathing therapy, multiple ointments, and drastic changes to my diet, our precious baby has a kissable face. I have waited so long to have a baby with a kissable face. I would actually tear up at the sight of other babies with their smooth skin, thinking how lucky their mothers were that they could kiss their babies. I kissed Sean's feet instead. The amazing thing is that through it all, Sean has been who he is today - a baby with an incredibly sweet disposition who smiles at anyone who happens to smile at him. He has had a rough start, but his physical metamorphosis has been miraculous to see.

Kevin has become such a big little boy =). He goes to a summer day camp once a week at his pre-school he will be attending in the fall, and he loves it. He comes home covered in popsicle, sand, paint, and grass stains, and grinning from ear to ear =). He watches Emelyn and Branden practice karate, and he makes up his own Kevin Karate =). He watches them practice piano, and he pulls out his baby piano and plays to his heart's content. He sings when he is sad - always a Kevin original, and loves show and tell at family home evening when he has a captive audience, and displays things like paper swords he made, and demonstrates how to use scissors =). He keeps us smiling and laughing for sure =).

Emelyn has become quite the little lady. She is discovering more and more with three brothers, how much she really does love girl things. She has taken to setting up her room as a doll hospital for all of her american girl dolls. She has been practicing her ballet again, and has been realizing that karate is more work than she thought it would be =). We signed her up for a summer class with Branden, and after a month of it, brought out her ballet bar again =). We'll see if she wants to stick with karate again in the fall =). She also has gone through a physical change of sorts - she cut 10 inches off of her hair! It was a sad day for me, but as she reminded me in her words - "if I don't donate my hair, some little girl will have to walk around without any hair at all." She explained to one of her little primary friends who asked what was wrong with Sean's face that, "he has eczema. It makes him special. All of us have things about us that make us different and special." I think Emelyn is special, and there isn't anything that has changed regarding that =).

Branden has become quite the big brother. He puts Kevin in the car for me, and gets him out, he makes his siblings breakfast in the morning, reads to them, helps Kevin bathe, helps Em with her karate, helps me keep up with the weeds in the garden, does dishes sometimes, takes a stab at cooking, and wants to learn how to do the laundry. He gives lessons at family home evening that are wonderful, and he has finally learned the 13 articles of faith - something he has been working hard to do. He makes me smile at how hard he tries to be a good son and brother and friend. It doesn't get any better than Branden =)

Gabe has gone from having 3 church callings and 1 assignment, to 4 church callings and one assignment. He of course is as patient as a saint as he waits for the ward and stake to find people to fill his shoes. He is now the 2nd counselor in YM and the scoutmaster. I am grateful it has been summer - not for the weather =) - but for the slower and less demanding schedule of the YM =). It's helping us to ease into it all. Heavenly Father sent me Gabe, and as our anniversary approaches in August, I continue to thank the Heavens daily for bringing him into my life.

All of this, has meant a lot of change for me - whew! I just hold on tight and try to keep up =). Life is short, and I don't want to miss a thing =).