Patients of a patient ...

  So I went into the dermatologist for a regular checkup and they found a suspicious mole on my lower left leg. She said she wanted to remove it and send it in for testing. We got the test results and all margins were positive and it was classified as a moderate atypical Nevis. Which was not anything close to melanoma but they didnt want to take any chances, because there is no way of knowing if it would eventually become melanoma. And since it runs in my family she wanted to be safe. So I went back in to have the rest removed and ended up having to have more removed than initially anticipated. They had a difficult time closing up the incision and they are concerned that if I don't take it easy it will break open and then need a graft to get extra skin to close it again. Yikes! So of course my Mom is the one to always draw the short straw (haha) with the kids. I can say I'm not the best patient in the world. Especially when I'm not sick. It's so hard to just sit around all day and have everyone do things for me. I tend to get cranky (to say the least). 

  I am just so lucky and fortunate to have the amazing support group that I have. I don't think I could ever express to my parents how thankful I am for everything they do for me. It just blows my mind how selfless they are. Truely the most thoughtful and loving parents there ever has been. And Austyn is sooooooo sweet. She has made me get well card, picked me flowers everyday, given me endless compliments, and is always checking up on me. She is so thoughtful for being 4 years old. Quade has also chipped in on taking it easy on me. He has been told to not rough house with me or have me do anything for him. And he has acted like a complete gentleman and followed all directions. What a change in behavior he's had in the last week. Finally!!!! And Jordan decided to build closet organizers for the office. I am just beside myself excited to have the closet organized. It will be amazing once I get it done. And I can't leave out all the amazing offers from family and friends to help out in anyway they can. Mostly with watching the kids. My sister-in-law brought us dinner and cookies and also lent us her amazing husband to help Jordan with the shelves. 

Before

After

  I can't get over how extremely lucky our family is to have such wonderful loving people around us. So far my leg has hurt more than I had expected. But fortunately I have left over pain medicine from my back surgery. I hope by Friday I won't need anyone to help with the kids. Thanks again everyone. 

  Besides the leg procedure, we have just been enjoying the early spring weather. We got ALL our sticks picked up, mowed everything, and we even got an early spray on. I'm am definitely ready for flowers now! We should be having baby goats anytime. We know for sure 3 out of 5 are carrying, and w are pretty sure the 4th one is pregnant. But our favorite goat didn't take. We are hoping for twins from all the mama goats. Austyn is doing outstanding in school. She is recognizing all letters and numbers. She knows the sounds of all the letters and is beginning to sound out words. I've started to work on sight words with her and she loves it. Quade has turned a corner (knock on wood) with his behavior. We can't figure out what went on in those terrible two weeks. And I'm not saying we are out of the woods just yet either. But it is considerably better, back to his old self. Jordan has been doing honey-do chores and working on his "new" truck. He also has done an outstanding job on his diet and excersise. He has leaned down and toned up. He looks amazing. What I wouldn't give for a smidge bit of his motivation. 

  I hope everyone is happy and healthy. 

Birthday Boy Blog ...

  So I definitely feel like I owe Quade a great and positive blog. Especially since the last couple haven't been quite in his favor. On Feburary 13th my little man turned 2. We decided to go to the beach since he loves playing in the sand. It was a beautiful day and he got to run around naked and burn some energy. Being naked and playing in the sand, everything he loves. The only thing that could have made it any better is if he was naked and riding his quad on the sand. We finished his Birthday off with dinner at Outback. We had a great day. 

  Quade is quite the amazing little man. His communication skills are outstanding for his age. Everyone always says boys are a lot slower in that department. But I can say he is ahead of the game. I love listening to his version of things. He is so entertaining. He sings and just has a spark to his conversations. I love listening to him(unless he's throwing a fit, then I don't enjoy it). He is into doing everything by himself. He is constantly saying "do do" "me do do". Which means he wants to do it himself. He loves riding or driving anything, and if it doesn't move he pretends it does. He has just started to drive the quad by himself (with us on it with him of course). He thinks it's so funny to go as fast as he can. He laughs hysterically the whole time, and screams "watch out to whoever is in his way". I can only imagine what he's going to be like in a couple years on the quads. He even does the back up horn sound when I am backing up my car. It's still so interesting to me how different boys and girls are. Quade has so much energy! He loves to run, jump off things, climb on stuff, pretend to shoot bears (or anything), he has a special power for finding mud puddles, and he is a professional at getting dirty. He is also so rough with everything. He doesn't try to break things, but he just plays rough. Even when I wrestle with him. He is amazingly strong. I love watching him be a boy. My favorite thing lately is seeing him in his super hero undies laying on his tummy playing with his trucks. My heart melts every time I see that. It just screams little boy to me. Another one of my favorite things about Quade is that he is a snuggler. Austyn never has been into snuggling, so I cherish it with Quade. Pretty much anytime of day he is willing to let me rock him and sing to him. Quade has put me through more tough days (to say the least) in his short little life, than Austyn has her entire 4 years. But the one thing I appreciate most is that he's made me a better person and especially a better mothe (Jordan might beg to differ on that opinion). He has taught me patients, problem solving, understanding, forgiveness, I've become more laid back since I've had him. All positive things! They may have been learned in desperate situations, but I'm trying to look on the bright side of things (another thing he's taught me). I know one day I will look back on this time and laugh at myself. And one day I will laugh at Quade when he has a boy just like himself. That is after I help him through it just like my mom does for me. He is doing perfectly with his potty training. He is getting really really good about telling us he needs to go. He is dry every nap and bedtime and he goes poop with no problem. Quades next milestone is to move into a big bed. I don't anticipate the move from crib to bed being any problem. He has always been perfect about going to sleep and staying asleep. I think he's woke up once or twice (at the most) in the middle of the night since he was 6 weeks old. We will see (knock on wood). I look forward to seeing him put his personality to use as he grows up. His strong-will will take him far, and if put to good use, keep him out of trouble later on. Yikes! I would love for him to follow in Jordan's footsteps with his career and determination (amoung many other things of course). And I hope and pray Austyn and him continue to get along and have an amazing relationship. Quade can still be quite onery to her, but that just comes with the territory I guess. 

  This may have been one of the hardest blogs for me to write. Especially with how Quade has been acting lately. I've been working on it for a week😉 He is an amazing little man, that's for sure. One of a kind. I love you little man. 

Just a few moments in time from this last year. 

The Days of Quade. . .

  I'm officially losing my mind! Quade is the strongest willed young man I've ever ran across or heard of. I'm so tired of fighting him to do ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. And I'm not exaggerating when I say it's a fight to do anything with this little "Son of a Me". I'm exhausted. We have a stern approach when it comes to our parenting style. We do whippings and our children have consequences. They don't get too many warnings until it's followed with a punishment. We defiantly stay on top of their manners and have a realistic expectation for their ages. And I know this is not how a lot of people parent their kids. I won't be changing my parenting style, but I NEED advice on how to handle,deal, and live with such a stubborn child. He is a perfect dream kid for everyone but me. I can't take it anymore. I'm exhausted and at my wits end. He's broken me down so much it embarrassing. He is TWO and winning. I've tried everything to gain control of him. But he definitely runs the show and knows it. I know that things will get better eventually, but there has to be someway to not dread the Day to Day with this kid. Please help!!

Daisy and Duke . . .

  I've written several posts and have forgotten to mention the new additions to our farm family. We are attempting round two on miniature donkeys. We got two 10 year old mini donkeys. They are so cute and sweet. We got a boy and a girl, Duke and Daisy. The kids absolutely love them. Quade is crazy about them. He leads his (Duke) all by himself around the pen. It is so adorable. Duke likes to have something in his mouth a lot and he takes the lead rope and holds it in his mouth while Quade leads him. It just infuriates Quade. It Is hilarious. They have started to brea when we pull up to feed them. I love it. Austyn is very comfortable with Daisy, but a little leary of Duke for some reason. I think she likes the size of them. We are hoping to eventually turn them out with the goats, but we have to make sure they will get along first. I've lead them out with the goats several times and the little boy is quite aggressive even while on the lead. So I'm going to keep working with them, but I'm not going to push it. I don't want anything to get hurt. We don't have any plans for them besides pets. Maybe the pet parade!! We've got to win that sucker this year!!!!!

  So far so good on the potty training. He pees and poops on the potty. He is too busy to tell me he has to go pee, but that will come with time and age. So we still have the occasional accident if he is playing or really busy. I'm pretty sure it's a boy thing. But he is getting really good about telling me he needs to go poop though. Im so glad the poop thing came quicker than it did with Austyn. But by this time she was telling me she needed to go pee. Give and take I guess. I'd rather have it this way anyways. We through our diaper pail away today!! It was a weird and good feeling. It's just going to get better from here. I love seeing him in big boy undies.