Summer 2014

It's been a crazy summer. Koda was in baseball, all 3 kids took swimming lessons, we walked in a Parade with the Iowa Children's Alopecia Project, bought our very first camper and did many camping trips , Vannah got glasses, and all 3 crazy kiddos are now in school. It's been nuts around here. 

As I said, Koda was in Baseball this year and absolutely enjoyed it. He had an amazing coach that really made it a lot of fun. 

Kodas alopecia really flared up during the last part of school and early summer. So he decided that he wanted to shave his head. We bought Koda an electric razor and started shaving his head. The first time was a lot of fun. He decided that if he was going the shave his head then he gets to shave his daddies head. And that's exactly what happened.

I just love my baldies!

Over the summer, the kids started swimming lessons. We had put it off for so many years that finally we made it our top priority. Koda and Cady did very good but Vannah failed and has to retake level 1 next year. But they all had fun and Vannah will get it next year. She just needs to be a little more comfortable in the water. 

During this time, we got the opportunity to walk with the Iowa Children's Alopecia Project in a parade down in Des Moines. The kids had a blast and it's always fun seeing Koda proud of his alopecia when he is around other kids with it as well. 

We bought our very first camper and a truck on July 3 and started our Camping adventures. It's one major purchase that has been completely worth the money. The kids have really enjoyed camping and I truly hope it's building amazing memories.

Little Miss Vannah got glasses. I was certain that she would break them within the first hour but she has been extremely careful and takes excellent care of them. She is also adorable in them. 

The biggest Change in our lives is that all three kids are now in school full time. Vannah started Kindergarten. That means I have 8hrs a day to myself (it is Heavenly) 

It's been a crazy summer. That's exactly how we like it.

Yes, Kodas hair all grew back for a little while! And yes, he was doing his homework on the toilet and made himself a 'desk'.

November Update

Its finally November.  Koda has not developed anymore bald spots and his spot is now starting to grow back in,  just in time for him to have school pictures tomorrow.  He is also now on meds for ADHD. He was started on 10mg, he should immediate improvements but was still fidgety and excitable.  So he was upped to 18mg, nearly doubled! I was worried it would be way to much and I didn't want Koda to be a zombie. But thankfully this seems to be the perfect dose. He came home with a perfect spelling test 2 wks in a row now. He is so proud of himself  and doing really good now. His speech also seems to be doing better as well.

Anyways, here are some pictures over the last couple of months

Girls in the play yard

Koda and Vannah catching ducks

Duck got revenge and pooped all over Vannah

First snow of the year

Hard boiled eggs in the spirit of Halloween!

Spiderman

A Southern Belle

A very cute Cleopatra

All three together before Trick or Treat

Vannah discovered an issue with hoop skirts

 

 

 

 

 

The bald spot

 Poor Koda woke up the other day and I noticed he had a bald spot.

 

So I immediately called grandma since I had no clue as to what would cause a kid to suddenly lose their hair. She said it could be ringworm and to take him in. I wasn't convinced because there was no rash or anything....just nice clean scalp. But we went in just to be safe....didn't really want all the kids to start losing their hair.  Thankfully he is not contagious.........unfortunately the Dr thinks its Alopecia Areata. Its a skin condition that causes hair loss. At the moment it is just a small spot the size of a dime or a nickel, it could get bigger or it could stay the same. Eventually it could grow back in and eventually he could get another bald spot. Its also possible that he could end up completely bald.  But at the moment I am not 100% convinced it is Alopecia. Its fine if it is and we are not going to make a big deal out of it, He is healthy and its just hair. There are lots of really good looking guys that are bald. And lets face it, if we look at it as being normal and not make a big deal of it then he wont make a big deal out of it too.  So we are just letting it be and going to see what happens.  And in all honesty.....there really is nothing we can do about it so why dwell on it.

 

If you want more info to read up on what Alopecia is here is a website:

http://www.naaf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_alopecia_intro

 

Hiking

My family is really starting to enjoy getting out and visiting parks where we can go on nature hikes. I remember going hiking as a kid and really loved it so now I am passing that love on to my kids. Over the summer we tried to go on a few and next year we are hoping to go numerous times each month if not every weekend. This past weekend we headed over to Pine Lake State Park. It was a last minute trip and all we told the kids was to get in the car we had a suprise. We drove around and they kept trying to guess what the surprise was. Koda actually thought the surprise was driving around Eldora HAHAHA.  They were thrilled to discover that the surprise was a hiking trip.

First Day of School 2013

The School year has started for all three kiddos. I can't believe they are all in school now. Not exactly sure what I will be doing with my free time. Its been 7 1/2 yrs since I have had free time so I am really looking forward to it. Anyways here are the first day school pictures!