christmas baking

today was a wonderful day. marlee, naomi, levi and i went to my mom and dad's for some baking. my sister in law and her kiddos were there too! it was great to bake with the cousins. it did bring on its challenges with a 4 year old with diabetes who likes to lick the batter and try a piece of everything we were making. i can't even remember how many shots i gave her for whatever she put in her mouth. thank heavens she doesn't complain about the shots. i tell her "you will need insulin if you want to try this" and she looks at me and says "just give me more insulin, i want another cookie." the pump will be easier when we get started the end of the month. i then will just have to push a button!

intro to pump...

today was our intro to pump day for marlee. we have much information from kev's mom about the insulin pump and know that it is a much easier way to handle insulin so we have been moving as quickly as possible with the goal of getting marlee on the pump. levi has been pointing to this day on the calendar saying "pump". marlee came with us to the appointment. we talked through much of the information with our nurse and then she attached the pump to marlee. she showed us how to place the port in her and then how to attach it. for now it is empty. this is just a trial to see how her skin does with the adhesive and also how she does having it on her all day and nite. when she first got the needle put in she did great. a few seconds later she looked like she was going to start to cry and said she didn't want it on anymore. we then talked to her about how this is a practice one and her real one will be pink and sparkly or however she wants it to look. when we got home getting her down for a nap with it was a little hard at first. she came out crying saying how she didn't like it (i thought it was the whole thing) but she only wanted it to be pink... you gotta love her fashion sense:) she has never liked sticky things on her-especially in the ER. so, i hope she will start to have some understanding that having this will help us stop doing shots every time she eats something. so, after swimming and time for shower marlee wanted the port off again and naomi totally took her mind off it by talking about princesses and fairies and they played in the shower. in that time together naomi also talked to marle about how the pump works and how it will give her the insulin a little at a time (as naomi learned how it works from grandma). naomi just floored me tonite as to how much she loves and cares about marlee. it is one of those moments when i looked at naomi and was so thankful for the wonderful little girl she is. she knows how to comfort marlee and is a natural caretaker. so, we will do the pump but now until october or november as they want you to wait about 6 months after diagnosis. marlee also starts preschool and we don't want to many new things at once. so we will keep doing what we are doing and take each moment as it comes...

the three little robots

i have had these canvases for over a year. they were all painted at the base for a long time and i didn't know what to do with them. thanks to my she art class i have been inspired greatly! these are all originals for me and i am proud to say they were all my creations!
these will hang staggered in levi's room. i have to find a place he can't reach to tear them down! he smiles at them when i have them out. so, it will be fun to see them on his wall. i can't wait to get them up!

robot #1-18x18 this first one is the largest canvas i have done. so fun to have so much space to fill in.




robot #2-12x12 orange is awesome. this little guy turned out great! he is bright and has a funky personality.




robot#3-10x10 i totally love this blue. mixing paint colors to make my own unique blend is great fun. i did that with the blue on here. the book paper in the background goes along with his head. the look of the book paper is one of my favorites.

collin the teenager

i love this kid. our kids adore him. marlee calls him "caghee" and talks about him all the time. he is a smart kid and fun to be around. he is an oosterhouse kid magnet. he turned 13 today. wow! we love this little man. and i love these photos i captured of him. especially the first one-my favorite.







collin and his sister anastasia

Loving the Great Grandparents

Today we went to Grandma and Grandpa D's. I love to see how the kids just climb up on their laps and read or play. It was great to capture some great shots of them just being Great Grandparents to our children.
Marlee was so tired that she sat in a daze for a bit reading with Grandma.

Levi loved Grandma(who also got to feed him a bottle).

Love this stretch of both of them with the kids here.


Levi so comfy here. You can see the movement of Grandpa moving Levi's legs around.

I had to get all the boys here.

at the campground with Jori, Jadon, and Aunt Maria

The kids all have a great time riding on Grandma's golf cart. They are quite spoiled with rides to the little store and crazy rides in the woods. Always a good time with Grandma.

It was Easter here this day. The kids got to make and decorate their own eggs.



Sweet Levi tagging along wherever we go.

my eight month old cutie

You are army crawling and getting better every day.
All of your sisters and brothers can make you laugh like crazy.
Sitting up is starting to happen a little if you stop throwing yourself back.
Two teeth came through this week. One on top and one on bottom.
We went "camping" last week at Grandma and Grandpa's house and campground.
You love to swing.
You like to lay in the grass and play with it.
Your helmet has been an adjustment this month and your head is starting to change a little.

campground time

We love hanging out at the campground when it gets warm. Finding frogs is a big hit and the playground is wonderful fun to run off all the energy. Marlee was daring and went on the swing. She has not liked to swing for quite a while but now loves it as long as she is not going very fast. Levi also found a happy place on the swing. Noah, Naomi, and Max are all a bunch of little troopers going around the ponds looking for frogs. It is just great to be outside.




Marlee got into deep thoughts on the swing. She was jello.