Quarantined

Claire was *lucky* enough to contract the hand/foot/mouth virus. I have no idea where she picked it up, but this past weekend was rough! It started out as a fever of 102. (Her first official fever over 100.1) and then the lovely sores started appearing. Unfortunately the pictures don't even come close to doing it justice. The HFM virus is in the same family as chicken pox but the sores aren't as itchy. She is slowly getting better but we have been quarantined for a few days so we wouldn't spread the love to our friends at church. 

It was so sad, at night she would just scream and cry...which is not like her at all. So we spend a lot of time snuggling. At one point she wanted both Shaun and me with her. If one of us left the room it was a complete meltdown. :( 

Even though the sores are still raging she is smiling again, which is a great sign! I've heard this virus is making it's way around so I hope it doesn't end up at your house. 

Stauffer/ Broderick Reunion

Shaun and I met the Stauffers in our BYU married ward several years ago. We were great friends and did lots of things together. Well, graduation came and we both moved our separate ways but have stayed in contact. It was just like old times, that is when the little ones were asleep. Ü The Stauffers were coming to Kentucky for a family reunion so we talked them into driving up to "The Ohio" for a visit. 

They were here over Father's day so we celebrated in style with the boys wearing the table decorations. AKA paper ties. Shaun made a new recipe of BBQ pork. It was delicious! 

 Shaun is modeling his number 1 tie. He really is such a good daddy, and the perfect daddy for Claire. Happy Father's Day, Honey. 

Saturday the boys went to Avengers and the girls checked out the play area at our Rubbermaid. Emma is pushing her baby in the stroller.  During the  next couple of days I took them to Kirtland and Amish country. In the evening Shaun made us yummy food and we enjoyed playing some of our favorite games, watching some gems on You tube, and letting the girls play together. 

Thank you Stauffers for such a great visit! 

A Traumatic experience... the allergist

I definitely was not emotionally prepared for this appointment. Thankfully Shaun was able to join me. The doctor tested Claire for wheat, dust, and penicillin. The first test was done on her back. As you can see she had to lay in this lovely flat position for 15 minutes. That may not sound like a long time but when you have something on your back that is itching and burning that is an eternity. She screamed and screamed. About five minutes into it I decided to  sing her favorite songs in the most animated voice I could (with tears streaming down my face) to distract her and hold her pacifier in her mouth. Shaun also joined in the singing. About four songs in she started to relax. The nurse asked if Shaun and I were up for hire. (Thanks Seleta for teaching me that trick of distraction) 

Well, the fun was only beginning. Her result was negative for penicillin which meant we had to do another test. This one was better and worse. It was better because she could sit up but worse because it was a similar sensation to shots...and she had to get two in each arm. This time she really screamed and I really started crying. 

I could tell she was really trying to be brave! After I nursed her she calmed down and was actually smiling. 

By the time her nap was over that afternoon she was back to her normal self. I was the one still trying to get over the trauma. I just felt so helpless. :( 

So the results...Positive to wheat and dust mites. According to the allergist there is a good chance she will grow out of the wheat allergy (HURRAY!) but not the dust allergy. In fact, every six months she has to have her blood tested to check the allergy levels. The doctor needs a baseline level so we can have something to compare to but I talked her into getting the blood work done at her 12 month appointment since they have to take blood then anyway. I was not ready to go through that if two months wouldn't make that much of a difference. So grateful my pediatric doctor told me about the blood work at her 9 month appointment. 

In the mean time we have to do our best to keep her away from flour, and flour dust. So far she is eating veggie straws and also some wheat free cookies that Shaun's co-worker let us try. Some of you mentioned some great websites with recipes. If you know of any, or have any suggestions for wheat free (infant friendly) food I would greatly appreciate it! 

9-month-cutie!

So we officially have one of the smallest 9-month-old children in America. Here's how small:

weight: 14 lbs 12 oz (5th percentile)

length: 25.75 inches (2nd percentile)

The real mystery is how her huge heart fits into such a tiny body. She's a sweetie and smiles ALL of the time. I mean ALL of the time! We can't get enough of her. Plus, when I pull out the camera she smiles even bigger. :) 

 Eating has been a challenge for her. She has her dad's stubbornness and independent streak. When she realizes that we are trying to spoon feed her the lockjaw starts and she turns her head away from the spoon. Nicolette was getting concerned that she was going to be the next nursing mother on Time Magazine. :) 

We found some wheat-free finger foods that she loves. Basically they are potato chips (veggie straws) and cookies. Not the most healthy of diets, but she could stand to put on a few pounds.

 Her new trick is raising both of her hands above her head. This probably is a result of watching mom and dad doing P90X in the morning.

Getting ready for a morning run. The chest straps just barely miss her face.

Claire is rolling and scooting but not crawling yet. No teeth yet either, not even a bump.

We are coming to grips with her wheat allergies. Tonight we just realized that store-bought "Play-doh" will be off limits for this girl's childhood. Play-doh is made up of water, salt and flour. Maybe we can make some quinoa-based Play-doh :). We have an appointment with the allergist this week. Hopefully there will be better options in the future for treating allergies. The most common allergy treatments of today date back to more than 100 years ago. It's time for a modern twist on these treatments with more effective outcomes. Time to get cracking science!

Thanks for your love and support.

What's a Mom to do?

This last week has brought a discovery that will possibly change our lives forever. We discovered through a series of events that Claire is severely allergic to WHEAT! Yes, you read that right wheat!? (We are pretty sure it is just wheat and not gluten.) 

How did we discover this? 

I gave her a scrumptious animal cracker...she got hives all over her fingers, mouth, and face

I ground some wheat into flour outside...she got hives ALL over her body and she didn't even go outside

Shaun ate a piece of bread and then picked Claire up. She was just wearing a diaper. Where his fingers touched her skin she got hives.  

Shaun put a little flour on his finger and let her eat it...horrible hives 

What does this mean? 

First, a lot of tears. I honestly could not even wrap my head around this for a full day. I kept crying every time I thought of something she won't be able to enjoy because it has wheat in it. No goldfish crackers, cinnamon rolls, pie, etc. I'm sure you are now thinking of all the delicious things you love that have flour in them. 

 I know it is not the end of the world, I know that there are so many other things that would be worse for her to deal with and I know that there are alternatives, but I am still a little sad. 

We have her 9 month appointment with her doctor on Friday so we will see what she thinks we should do. We were going to eventually make an appointment with an allergist but I think that will be much sooner than expected. Shaun has done a lot of reading on the latest research and it this is most likely something she will not grow out of.  We will see what the doctors think.There is also talk of vaccines in the future for people who have sever allergies but that is a few decades off. 

I don't want you to think I am completely doom and gloom. We feel extremely blessed that Claire is developing well, loving life and thriving. She is such a great joy in our lives. Every now and again I just have a sad moment where I think of how this could really change our lives. 

In the mean time here are a couple of pictures for you. This first one was at the end of the photo shoot. She was beyond done with smiling...Maybe this is the frown she will give us when she finds out what she can't eat. 

This picture just makes me laugh. :) I think she learned the frown from Shaun. He He 

This is my one of my favorite pictures from her 8 month shots. Such a beauty. :)

Grandma & Grandpa Broderick come to Visit

Shaun's parents were able to come and visit us for a week! YEAH for visitors!

 They have never been to the church history sites so after we picked them up from the airport we kept driving to New York. My sister was gracious enough to let us stay with her while we toured Palmyra for a few days. Shaun actually got two days off from the lab (A MIRACLE) so he was able to join us. 

My sister watched Claire while we did a temple session. Thanks again, Seleta. :) 

 Claire loved watching her cousin, Daphne play. I know they will be great friends! 

 Brett made some delicious bobs on the grill! 

Grandma Broderick reading a bedtime story  

The Sacred Grove...we went on a Thursday so it was very peaceful. Such a gorgeous place! 

Me trying to push the stroller through all of the rocks and roots. 

Friday we headed back to Ohio. We enjoyed taking them to Amish country, Kirtland, The John Johnson Farm, and local attractions like Shaun's lab. Hehe   

Shaun's dad got the flu on Sunday but was back in the saddle on Monday. I think I would've bowed out. 

Getting ready for a picnic after touring Kirtland 

It was a VERY hot day so we kept wiping Claire's head down to help her stay cool. She was a trooper through all of this traveling!!  

 John Johnson farm. This was the first time Shaun and I had made it here and it was AMAZING! This was the home the prophet Joseph and Emma stayed at for awhile. It was amazing to see how far the homes had evolved from when the saints lived in Palmyra. 

This was the door where Joseph was dragged out by his hair and tarred and feathered. :( 

Look at this sweet room! This is the room where Joseph and Emma stayed for awhile. Apparently yellow was the most expensive color of paint back in the day. Also, check out this floor. Pretty awesome to hear all the history behind it. Our Tour was given by a Senior couple and the husband was a wealth of knowledge! Seriously, such an awesome place to visit. 

We enjoyed spending the week with Grandma and Grandpa!