Hello Pancakes

We got some good news today. Tests showed that Cole has outgrown his egg allergy. Living with an egg allergy has not been easy. Eggs are in everything, even in some pizzas. Cole has never even had a doughnut before because they contain eggs. At birthday parties he knew that he was only allowed to eat the icing because the cake part has eggs in it. He never once complained. It is all he has ever known. Tomorrow night we are going to celebrate with some Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Sunday we may have to take a trip to the Waffle House. A place that was definitely off limits before. This opens up a whole new world for him and us. Now we can say hello...

• pancakes
• brownies
• all kinds of cookies
• muffins
• hush puppies
• all pizzas
• waffles
• casseroles
• most importantly birthday cake

Thanks Dalton for your special prayer. It worked!

Poor Cole

Last night we were up with Cole. He was complaining of his stomach hurting. Finally he threw up and fell fast asleep. He has been doing this for about a year now (throwing up randomly). The doctors don't know what's wrong with him. I had a feeling it was something he was eating. After researching on the computer, I think I have diagnosed him myself. We are now going to add sodium benzoate to a long list of things Cole is allergic to. This is a preservative used in many drinks. The culprit last night.... Hi-C from Wendy's. I really dread telling his preschool teacher that, "By the way Cole cannot have sodium benzoate either, it will make him throw up."

I'm writing this blog to let all you mamas know what else I found out while I was researching Cole's problem. They have now found a link between this preservative and cancer, specifically leukemia. The problem is when it is mixed with ascorbic acid (added for Vitamin C). It makes a cancer causing chemical. I know that they are saying everything is causing cancer these days but this preservative is making Cole throw up. There has to be something bad in it. Luckily, this preservative is in drinks you don't usually give your kids (maybe for special occasions). But I still wanted you to know. We shouldn't be drinking it ourselves either. Click on this link for a list of drinks that contain sodium benzoate plus ascorbic acid. (You have to scroll down to the bottom to find the drinks. ) http://www.microcosmotalk.com/thefacts/

Cole has unfortunately inherited his daddy's food allergies and we will continue to pray he outgrows some of them. The Oliver household is really thinking about going organic.

Eggs, peanuts, milk, wheat, soy, green garden peas, sodium benzoate are all on the list, but luckily not SNOW!!

Can you believe it?

We woke up to snow this morning! Cole was so excited. He has never seen snow other than a few flurries. He could not believe it. He had to go out in it right away. I just let him run to the road and back in his pajamas. He stopped along the way to eat some off the ground.

We all bundled up and went out after breakfast. We ran around in it and even tried to make a sled out of a swimming pool but the snow was too fluffy. This snow will not even make a snowball but we are not complaining. It is beautiful!

Ella wasn't a big fan of all the clothes she had to wear. She wanted to sit in the snow and I was worried she was getting too cold. She loved eating it. She would take big scoops with her hands.

Cole had a blast making snow angels, eating snowcream and he even rode his four wheeler around in it. It was still snowing like crazy and very cold, so none of us made it very long. Maybe tomorrow we can play in it more. We are off now to try out the Pathfinder in the snow. Scott has been dieing to take it out for a spin.

Boys

Boys... there is something about them. How is it that they can turn something as sweet and innocent as a Hello Kitty house into a rolling ball of danger? Recently Target had their pop-up tents on sale and I decided to get one. Cole really wanted the Batman tent but it came with poles and looked more like a real tent. I just didn't want to deal with it. Plus poor Ella, being born second, she just gets a lot of Cole's old toys and I wanted her to have something girly. So we ended up with the Hello Kitty house. She loved it! She looked so sweet inside the little tent and I smiled because she actually had a new toy made for girls. I was wondering what Cole would do with something so girly. Would he play house in it? After a few minutes of playing inside it, he somehow figures out how to make the house roll and roll. He looks like a gerbil on a wheel. After he was done the house was completely flattened. Luckily it is a pop-up house and seems to be okay. Only a boy is all I have to say... only a boy.

Before the mass destruction

Ella knows what's coming and gets out of the way.

This is way better than the batman tent.

Poor Hello Kitty house

Ella's Carseat

Ella hates her carseat. It's not that she minds riding in the car. It's the being strapped in that gets to her. She is so funny to watch. She will pull and tug and huff and puff. Trying to pull her straps off. She will eventually give up and sit out of breath. Once I looked back at her and she had her leg all propped up and she just looked so comfortable. When I looked again I saw that I had forgot to buckle her in. She was loving it! Of course I immediately pulled over and buckled her in. Another day she had wiggled her arms out of her straps. She knew she had done something wrong because when I went to get her out she was laughing. I am very clostaphobic and I think she may have gotten this from me. I couldn't stand the thoughts of being restrained either.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Since it is New Years, I thought a top ten list would be fitting for my Dad's birthday. So here it goes.....

The Top Ten Things I Love About My Dad

1. His Work Ethic: He worked so hard all of his life to provide for us. I'm not sure how he did it sometimes... three college tuitions, two weddings, five cars to insure, pay for and put gas in. He will probably never get to retire.
2. His Handymanness: (Is that a word?) There is not much he can't do. He is a jack of all trades. I called him once about my dryer and he listened to it over the phone and told me what was wrong with it.
3. His Sense of Humor: He really is so funny. He plays jokes all of the time and I love this about him.
4. The Fact That He Has to Be Right About Everything: Clearly I got this from him. But he really is right 99% of the time. We use to get so mad growing up because he would say, "Oh it's not going to snow." Even if the weatherman said it would. He was usually right.
5. The White Spot of Hair on the Back of His Head: Probably got there from the stress that comes with three kids, but I love it.
6. His Faith: Not many people know this about him but I believe he has been given a gift from God. When he speaks about Jesus, the words just come to him. I could listen to him for hours. He never puts it in your face but you know how much he loves the Lord.
7. His Ability to Remain Calm in All Situations: Funny how I married someone that has this ability too. Mom and I definitely need a voice of reason every now and then.
8. He Was Always There for Me Growing Up : I remember once crying over a boy and he said, "Who has hurt my baby girl." And then he hugged me and let me cry on his shoulder.
9. His Dark Eyes: There is such wisdom in his eyes and when I was younger I would look into them when I was afraid and I knew everything was going to be okay.
10. How He is With His Grandkids: It's so fun to watch him with the grandkids. He gets right down on the floor and plays and wrestles with them. He really is a big kid himself. Ella and Cole absolutely adore him.
    

Daddy-I sure am lucky to have you in my life! You mean the world to me. Thanks for always being there for us and for all the sacrifices you made. And the next time I have a weird smell coming from the vents you know who I will be calling! Love you so much! Happy Birthday!