The Reeve Family

Monday, October 12, 2015

Everyday Stuff, 2014

September 8 - October 15, 2014

Life happens...

We do science projects just for fun.

Sisters play in the rain.

And dance and leap.

And get terribly wet. And love it.

We go out just for potato skins and pizookies...

Just me and my sister-in-law.

Cousin Kendall visits on her birthday. She's not 80.

The girls put on a puppet show.

And convince daddy to join them.

We plant a tomato seed and watch it grow. Big.

Irelynn gets a new doll. Thank you, Nana.

Natalya goes on the 5th grade field trip. Annika thinks she's in 5th grade.

My baby bump gets bigger.

Annika and Rachel help me grocery shop with their big helper carts.

Annika cuts her hair. Ugh.

And I find this on the floor. Sigh.

Uncle Corey visits.

And they have a blast.

The kids miss him already.

We go to a car show in Henderson.

Irelynn likes this one. It sparkles.

Branson likes this one. It's tough.

Annika picked this one. It's small.

Natalya chose this one. It's cool.

Dad picked this one. Because I wanted to take his picture.

And I chose this one...

Because it's been my favorite classic car since I was a kid. (I love cars.)

Natalya and I go on a date to Cafe Rio. Then to Women's Conference.

Annika needs a Band-aid.

We treat Rachel to a donut for her birthday.

Annika falls asleep like a rag doll.

Annika puts stickers all over her arm then goes outside to do bubbles.

Annika strikes a pose...

And wants her picture taken...

Again. :)

I cut my hair.

A lot. Yay!

Life happens. And I never want to forget it.

Natalya's Journey Begins, 2014

September 8, 2014

Natalya has always been a good eater. She loves to try new food and can usually eat as much as I do. That's why when she started complaining of stomach pain and cramping then became a finicky eater, I knew something was up.

The pain would come and go so we didn't think too much of it. Maybe she should drink more water. Maybe she needed to use the restroom. Maybe she ate something that disagreed with her. Maybe she's allergic to something. After passing this off for a while, we tried home remedies. We rubbed essential oils on her tummy, vitamins, increasing her fiber intake, we made sure she was eating very, very healthily.

Some days were better than others. She started getting canker sores in her mouth (which I never related to her gut problems) and they didn't seem to heal. This dragged on for months. Finally, she started passing blood in her stools. I took her in to see her pediatrician in February of 2014 and he claimed that she probably had a lesion from her system being backed up and to take Miralax then after a month she should be better. That was a bad idea. She had terrible diarrhea and the problem only seemed to get worse.

Her cankers were multiplying. One morning she woke up and her face was swollen. I took her to the dentist because I thought she could have an abscess. He claimed there was no abscess and she probably had a virus that would run it's course. He said she was healthy.

That wasn't a good enough answer for me so I returned to the pediatrician's office and saw a different doctor. He hemmed and hawed. He heard about her cankers and swelling then examined her. When he pressed on her belly, the thought came to me to tell him about her previous experiences with belly pain and passing blood. I told him that her past doctor had her try Miralax and that made it worse. The doctor sat back in his chair and I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. His eyebrows shot up and he took a deep breath. So glad that he seemed to have an answer, I was on the edge of my seat! He explained that she might need to see a gastroenterologist (a specialist that deals with the digestive tract). He went on to say that she could be suffering from ulcerative colitis but he wasn't sure. He ordered a blood panel for her to do and sent us on our way.

I was nervous about what might be wrong with my baby, but grateful for possible answers and a treatment plan.

Her first blood draw was a little frightening. She was so brave. I was impressed with her courage. After getting poked and the blood not flowing (for several minutes!) they were going to have to try another vein. They poked her other arm and she started to pass out. The carried her to a table to lie down and pressed ice packs behind her neck. Once she was alert, they finished the blood draw. That was the first blood draw of many in her future.

We saw a pediatric gastroenterologist and she ordered more blood work, and an endoscopy and colonoscopy. Natalya had just turned 10. I couldn't help but think of how difficult it would be to go through all this as a child. If she was scared she didn't let it show. She endured the procedures like a champ! I was so proud of my girl.

Here she is just before her endoscopy/colonoscopy.

Endoscopy and colonoscopy complete. Next, an MRE/MRI with contrast. Then a bone scan...

You're a trooper, Natalya!

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Besties, 2014

September 6, 2014

Lunch with my best friend since 5th grade: Emily Ishkanian. Our parents are also good friends so they came too!

Love ya, Em.

Backyard Fun, 2014

September 6, 2014

Irelynn and Annika play in the kiddie pool (even though we have a real, full-sized, in-ground pool just yards away) while Branson flips on the trampoline. Life is so sweet. Summertime is awesome.

Annika Goes to Preschool, 2014

September 3, 2014

Annika was SO ready for preschool. With 3 older siblings she couldn't wait for her turn! Ms. Kandee let Annika join her pre-k program even though she would need another year of preschool until she was old enough for kindergarten. Annika is such a smart little cookie that she kept up with all the "big kids" beautifully! Way-to-go chickie!

Annika with Lynken Rosequist, our little carpool buddy.

Hey, wait for me!

Annika with Kandee Mlaker, her pre-school teacher extraordinaire!

Have FUN baby girl!!

Braces. again.

August 27, 2014

I'd rather not post any pictures, but just know that I got braces on this summer. Again. With my teeth getting progressively worse and having some pain with my front teeth, we decided they weren't going to fix themselves so it was time to visit the orthodontist. Hopefully they will be off in 9 months or so!

First Day of School 2014

August 25, 2014

Another school year begins! Natalya started 5th grade with Mrs. Frehner for homeroom, Branson in 3rd with Mrs. Stout, Irelynn in 1st with Mrs. Fisher, and Annika in pre-school with Ms. Kandee. Phew!

Somerset SkyPointe Eagles

and preschool too :)

Irelynn's 6th Birthday, 2014

August 18, 2014

YAY! She's a whole 6 years old!! It's hard to believe how quickly she's grown. Irelynn is our tough, sweet, thoughtful, creative, courageous, smart, tender-hearted, beautiful-inside-and-out girl. She's an important part of our family. Irelynn glues us all together. We love you, I-wee! (When Irelynn was little, she couldn't pronounce her name, so she called herself I-wee and it stuck.)

Donuts for breakfast. Mmm.

Her favorite gift? Lunchbox.

Jumping on the trampoline while the sprinklers are on. The perfect birthday morning activity.

My little baker helped me make her birthday cake. Angel food cake for my little angel.

This year we didn't throw a birthday party for her. Instead she chose a friend (her cousin Ashlynn is her BEST friend) and we took the family to the Excalibur to see Knights of the Roundtable for dinner and a show! It was amazing.