Video - make sure you pause the music on my page to hear...

Prayer for wellness

Just sending a quick prayer request: our whole family has been bitten by the sickly bug.

Eric has bronchitis & a touch of pleurisy.

Madison has a touch of pneumonia

and I just started feeling really achy today and my throat is starting to throb.

Please pray that we all get better soon - Eric & Madison are both on antibiotics but unless I start the coughing I'm going to try to tough it out. We are throwing Madison's 3rd birthday party on Sunday...Lord willing we will all be there!

Thanks so much for all your prayers!!!

is 3 months too long...

OK - I just noticed that I haven't blogged in almost 3 months! OOPS! This has been a crazy busy summer and now that school has started things are even more crazy.

Brief summary of the summer to catch everyone up...

Eric was off for 6 weeks from July - Aug. We really enjoyed having him home. He got so much done around the house. Our doorwall is in and the back room is all finished. We took a few trips to the zoo down in Toledo. I love having a membership there.

We got to spend a little time with our cousins Jaime and Zach from AZ. Its always nice to see them - it stinks that there is not more time when they are in town. We did get to enjoy a day with them at Greenfield Village (courtesy of Aunt Mary & Aunt Betty - thanks!) This was actually the first time I have gone on the annual trip to the Village in the summer...needless to say it was HOT!!!!! and muggy! We were all rejoycing for museum.

Madison also had a few accidents this summer. Your typical 2 yr old things falling down and getting bumps and bruises...but there was one day that she fell at the local McDonalds playland and was rushed by ambulance to the ER. She was playing with a little girl and the girl hugged her and they fell backwards off 2 stairs. I rushed over to pick up Madison...her head was tilted to the side and when she straightened it out her eyes rolled back into her head and she stopped breathing. This was obviously terrifying for any mom. She came to after about 40 seconds and they rushed her to the ER. She was released after about 2 hours with a very mild concussion. She is doing fine right now. We did find out a few later that she seems to have fractured her nose. There is a small bump and she isn't wearing her glasses much these days - they really bother her. But we were told that she should recover soon and life (and glasses) will go on as normal.

I had right thyriod removed in August. It went very well and I am recovering quickly. I was in the hospital overnight because the thyroid does something with your calcium levels and that affects your heart so they keep you just to be sure. I did end up having about 3 EKG's while I was there - 1 before the surgery and 2 after. I was having a lot of heart palpiations...something I had grown accustomed to with my thyroid. My blood pressure fell down to 90 over 58 at one point and my heart was skipping a lot - that was scary. The EKG showed nothing unusal so they just gave me a more mild pain medication and everything went back to normal. The next morning I was given morphine again and my heart started skipping again...needless to say I am now allergic to morphin & dilaudid (spelling is probably wrong on that word). I see the surgeon on Wednesday to get the stitches that just won't come out on their own removed and then I will go back to see my doctor in October. As long as the left side of my thyroid picks up the slack from the right side then I should not need any medications - PRAISE GOD! I have gotten most of my energy back so that is good...something must be working in there :)

Eric's Mom was in the hospital due to low blood sugar in late August/early Sept. That was a very freightening thing for all of us. I know from Eric and I it made us realize just how UN-prepared we are to loose Cathy. I know you can never be ready but it all seemed too real too fast. She is doing well right now - better in some ways than she had been in months and then not so great in a few ways too. The Lord is keeping her strong though - so please continue to pray for her! Thanks

Eric's Aunt Ella passed away a few weeks ago. She had some tests done not too long ago on her heart and they had found a tumor wrapped around the back of her heart. The biopsy alone was hard for her. She came out of the hospital and was immediately had Hospice brought in. She passed 2 weeks ago this past Saturday I believe. There was a memorial service for her on Saturday afternoon. It was lovely - bagpipes (she was born and raised in Scotland) and it really seemed like a celebration of life - not a mouring of loss. Thats the way it should be :)

OK - I think that sums up the summer - now the PRESENT!

Madison started school on Sept 3rd. She goes to preschool 5 days a week from 9:15-11:55. She LOVES it! It has helped her so much already. She looks forward to it each morning.

Madison has just graduated out of OT this week. Her last day is Wednesday. Her mouth, cheeks and tonuge all have full range and are no longer tight. This has been a long road (a year) and we are so proud of her and greatful to the Lord for the therapist that have been in her life. She will likly go back to OT in about a year to work on some low muscle tone things but they want her to take some time and work with us at home and get accustomed to her new schedule at school.

Lastly, we just spent a lovely weekend with Eric's dad and stepmom. Russ and Donna came down on Saturday afternoon for a birthday bbq. Eric's Aunt Carole and Uncle Vic came over too. It was nice that the rain could join our party too :) On Sunday morning Granma & Pa took us out for breakfast and then we all headed out to Commerce to attend my nephew Devin's birthday party. He turns 3 on the 17th of Sept. Russ and Donna left this morning before Madison and I woke up - its always sad to see them leave. They are looking to move downstate to see their grandkids more often...we would love that. We really want Madison to know all of her Grandparents. She is SOO fortunate to have all of her Grandparents and all of her Great Grandparents on my parents side!

Madison just started the her MONTH of birthday celebrations. On Saturday she had the first of 4 birthday parties. The next is Sunday with my family and then the following Saturday is Eric's brother, sister and mom. Then we will finish off the month with (or even early Oct) with GG, Gramps, Aunt Betty and Aunt Mary (when she recovers from her shoulder surgery). Her actual birthday is the 19th - I can't believe she is 3 already...makes me want to cry actually!

BUSY BUSY BUSY around here. I will say this, with a little guilt, I really do enjoy my 2 1/2 hours alone everyday. I get so much done. I was actually in and out of Target the other day in 4 minutes...I walked out with new dress shoes for Madison and a box of diapers. I didn't know 4 minutes was possible >:)

Now that life is starting to slow down - or I at least have down time when Madison is at school I will do my best to update more often. I will also try to get some picks posted from her party this coming weekend - SOON.

I was shocked when I read this...thought I would share

I know we are all feeling the crunch in our pocketbooks. I was just floored when I read this...when will someone begin to realize we can't afford our own society ;=(


Companies offer less for your dollar
‘Short-sizing’ saves manufacturers money but gives you less for same price
By David Ushery and Alex Johnson
NBC News and MSNBC
updated 6:59 p.m. ET, Mon., July. 7, 2008

With fuel and delivery costs rising, food manufacturers are faced with raising their prices or giving you less, and it seems that less is the growing trend.
To Dean Smith, the two containers of Breyers ice cream looked exactly the same at his supermarket in Evansville, Ind. Then he looked closely and figured out that the old package was 1¾ quarts, while the new package was just 1½ quarts.
“You can’t tell at all,” Smith said.
Tod Marks, senior editor for retailing at Consumer Reports, says you’re not imagining things. What the consumer protection Web site Consumerist.com calls the Grocery Shrink Ray is hitting products all over the store.
The practice is called short-sizing, and it’s becoming increasingly common to shrink how much stuff goes into the same old box to keep costs down.
“Years ago, I think the first product we saw with the incredible shrinking package had to do with coffee,” Marks said.
“You remember the can of coffee, used to be typically one pound? Some of them are down to 10 ounces now for your pound of coffee,” he said. “Then it started spreading.”
Like that ice cream.
“We’ve gone from a half-gallon to 1¾ quarts to now as little as 1½ quarts,” Marks said. “That’s a tremendous, tremendous short-sizing of a package [at the] same time the price is rising.”
Less bang for more bucksWhen inspectors for the Nassau County, N.Y., Consumer Affairs Office went looking around last month, they found that all sorts of products were being short-sized, none more so than breakfast cereal.
“We’re seeing it more and more given the high cost of flour and wheat,” said Roger Bogstead, the county’s consumer affairs commissioner. “Consumers are trying to get the best bargain they can, and the manufacturers don’t want the consumers to know that they’re raising the prices.”
Inspectors found two boxes of Stop & Shop brand shredded wheat cereal in supermarkets. One was 19 ounces. The newer one was 18 ounces. The boxes were identical, as were the prices.
Likewise Cocoa Magic, which Bogstead said had shrunk from 18 ounces to a bit more than 16 ounces.
And it’s not just food. Inspectors picked three-packs of Irish Spring and Dial soaps and found that they had been short-sized, too.
Nationwide, Kellogg Co. hiked its cereal prices last month for the second time this year. A spokeswoman acknowledged that it had reduced the sizes of Froot Loops, Cocoa Krispies and Apple Jacks, among other brands.
General Mills made a similar move earlier this year. NBC News found two boxes of the company’s Cheerios cereal on sale in a New York supermarket. Both were $3.39. One was 10 ounces; the newer one was 8.9 ounces.
A price of $4.89 used to get you 32 ounces of Hellman’s mayonnaise. Now it gets you 30 ounces. Unilever PLC, which makes both Hellman’s and Breyers, told NBC News that its products had been reduced to offset increasing energy costs.
Lesser of two evils?Manufacturers said they were being pummeled by the high cost of both fuel and raw ingredients. Faced with disappearing margins, these and other manufacturers said in general that they had a choice: shrink the product or increase the price. Short-sizing, they believe, is a legal way to save money without giving consumers sticker shock.
But Marks said the practice was just a way to hike prices under the radar of consumers.
“It’s a shell game, call it what you will,” Marks said in an interview on NBC’s TODAY. “In these tough economic times ... the worst thing that can happen for a manufacturer at this point is to raise prices. So they use this sneaky tactic of giving you less and charging you more.”
And consumers do notice.
“When you find out you’re paying more but getting less, you’re left to believe somebody is doing something wrong,” Randy Compton said on a recent shopping trip to an Apple Market in Mobile, Ala.
Of a can of corn he pulled off the shelf — previously 14 ounces, now 11 ounces, and costing the same — he said: “The size of the can is the same, but the net weight of the actual corn is smaller. They’re magicians, and they’re pulling an illusion over your eyes.”
Leah Ransohoff of Evansville was more blunt. “It’s like a rip-off,” she said as she strolled the aisles of her local market.
For retailers like Pat Locurto, owner of Pat’s Meat Farms in Farmingdale, N.Y., short-sizing is a monumental headache. Locurto hears his customers’ complaints, but he says there’s really nothing else he can do.
“A lot of packaging is getting smaller for the same price. The weights are getting changed,” Locurto said. “A lot of people don’t notice, but a lot of people do, and they’re mumbling and grumbling.
“They think it’s us, but it’s not us,” he said. “It’s coming from the company.”
Angelo Lucarelli, manager of De Cicco Food Market in Ardsley, N.Y., said: “It’s almost like I’m the middleman. I’m between what’s going on with the manufacturer and what’s going on with the consumer. But I’m the one who’s got to answer to the people.”
The best advice, consumer affairs experts said, is to keep a sharp eye out in the store.
Look for the “unit price,” which is usually right on the store shelf alongside the full retail price. It will show you how much you’re paying per ounce or per pound. And save your supermarket receipts for several weeks so you can compare them over time.
Paul Dholakia, a management professor at Rice University in Houston, said manufacturers were banking on customers not noticing changes in quantity unless they changed significantly.
“I think it’s important for us to us to teach people how to make good decisions,” Dholakia said. “My advice to consumers is that you have got to be vigilant and not be driven by habitual decision-making, but instead, pay attention to the actual quantity information."

Prayer Request

As most of you know my mother-in-law Cathy is living with cancer. She has done so well with all of her treatments. The Lord has blessed her with good reports and great doctors.

I do have a request for prayer regarding her though. Until recently she has felt God's presence in everything. She has felt His comfort, feed off His strength and heard His calling in her life. Lately she has really felt lost and confused as to where God is...she doesn't doubt He's there but she just doesn't know where to start looking again.

She has asked that people pray for her...to find His strength for her, to feel His peace and to hear His sweet voice telling her "well done".

Cathy is a wonderful person and we do love her so much, it is sad to listen to her pain. I know I have struggled with hearing God and finding God...I can only imagine how she feels. Please join me in praying for her to regain comfort and peace. I know all of you love her and that your thoughts and prayers are heard by the Lord. When I asked her if I could post this request she said, "Of course, you can never have too many people praying".

You are prayer warriors and for that I am grateful. I have learned in the last months since I started this blog that when I ask for prayer the Lord listens...He makes mountains move in this family. All of the praise goes to HIM!!!

Thank you for your love, prayers and support.

Camping with a 2 yr old

Well - we are home from camping. Actually we have been home since Tuesday night. That was by far the LONGEST 36 hrs EVER!!!

We learned a few things... (1) don't buy a tent from Cabelas (2) small 4 person tents (the back up tent) don't make good homes (3) make sure the electricity at your site works AS SOON as you get there & (4) 2 yr olds with OR without Autism don't love camping as much as you think they might :)

The first day of our trip was stressful to say the least...just one thing after the next happened. The second day we checked out early (luckily they gave us a refund for the 3 nights we didn't stay) and headed down to South Haven for a day at the beach. If you haven't been to Van Buren State Park I highly recommend it. The beach is awesome, clean and has a really nice sand bar in the lake...we love it there :) After our day at the beach we headed into town to do some shopping and grab a bite to eat. Madison fell asleep within minutes of being in the car so we just decided to forgo downtown and head home. We were home by 8:30 and I was completely unpacked with 2 loads of laundry done by midnight :)

We did enjoy our time as a family but we certainly were glad to be home! We were gone for such a short time I didn't even take any pics...sorry.

Well things picked right back up at home. Eric is working very hard to get our sun room done - I can't wait to have our first game night in it :) Get ready Aline, Andrew, Mom & Dad...the trophy is up for grabs this time...TRIVIA TIME!!!!

Time to get the day going. I love you all and hope to see you soon!
Sara

Just catching ya'll up

I am SOOO sorry I have not posted the events of last week. I thought I had called everyone but I found out I did not. I DO NOT HAVE CANCER!!! In fact I don't have anything - just translucent mucus glands - gross :P Thank you all for your prayers - the Lord was watching over me and my family that day.

My mother-in-law Cathy got a great report from her doctor that day as well...the cancer has NOT grown - PRAISE HIM!!!!! He is working wonders in her life. Yes she still has down days and not feeling great days but He is keeping her strong and her eyes are focused on Him! Again I say PRAISE HIM!!!

Well this week is Eric's last week of work. He is off for a guaranteed 5 weeks with the possibility of it turning into 8-9 weeks. We are starting his time off with a FAMILY VACATION!!! We are going camping at Muskegon State Park (sorry Nikki but we have a pretty packed trip and we won't be able to stop by)...Eric and I went camping together last year alone - this year we are a little bit braver...we are taking Madison. She just got this really cool new portable tent crib thing (technical terms I know LOL ) It looks just like a dome tent and it has a built in blow-up mattress...we are excited to try it out. No more lugging around a heavy & uncomfortable porta crib! We plan on going to Michigan Adventure while we are gone and then doing some beaches that we discovered last year on our family vacation...and a trip out west isn't complete without a trip to the John Ball Zoo :)

I will update everyone on our trip when we return. I will have Internet access (I still have to work while I'm out of town) and we will have our cells on at all times (except while we are going down the FUNNEL OF FEAR!!!!). We will be gone Monday 23rd - Thursday 26th...but we may have so much fun we might stay an extra night or two.

I hope everyone is enjoying the cool weather - I'm sure Aunt Alice is :) Love to all and I will blog again soon!

Cancer...a word you think you will never hear

For those that do not know...I saw my dentist this past weekend and there are/were concerns of me having oral cancer. There are a lot of factors involved that I won't bore you with details of BUT I do have some glimmers of hope today...

I saw my dentist today and he is referring me to an Oral Surgeon. I will see him on Wednesday (the 11th) and he will biopsy both sides of my tongue. There are tumors on both sides but the dentist said it just looks like PRE-cancer displasia (I know I just spelled that REALLY wrong). He said that he would be very surprised that this was in fact cancer but wants to take a look anyway. He also said at this point it is still possible that they will remove the cells anyway.

I was very relieved to hear all of this from him. I have called a few of you for prayer and I thank you all for your prayer. I am trying to remain calm and not over plan (Nikki :P) but at the same time I am living with the knowledge and thoughts that this could be a bus that hits my family head on. The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful supportive family & an extremely anal retentive planning capabilities :) There are parts of our family that I "run" and Eric really doesn't know the in's & out's of it all...I will spend the next few days getting everything ready...heck I could really be hit by a bus tomorrow - ya never know ;)

This really has put a perspective on my life...all these years I have hated my double chin - now I just want to keep my chin :) Gotta laugh right?!?!?!

I will keep you all updated, I will also send this in a mass email so I know everyone sees it. Thanks again and I would appreciate prayer until we have an answer :) Love you all!!!

My little out of tune singer - too cute not to share!!!

Where to begin...

I just want to say THANK YOU to all who have prayed for us in the last few weeks - GOD IS LISTENING!!!!

Things are going very well at the Behm home :) We are all getting along wonderfully, the Lord has answered prayers in many ways. PRAISE HIM!!! Again, thank you all for your prayers and kind words.

So many things have happened since I last blogged...I have pics to share as well.

Eric has been working non-stop on the house - inside & out. We FINALLY were able to finish landscaping the front yard...after 9 yards of white rocks (that were removed LAST year), 150 landscaping bricks, 9 yards of topsoil, 3 yards on compost & 1 yard of red mulch...here are the before & after pics:

We have also removed a LARGE and UGLY tree from our back yard over this past weekend. Russ & Donna (Eric's dad & Step mom) came to town to help us...we had a really nice time with them. We wish they lived closer...but who knows - anything can happen :)

Madison has a lot going on as well. As most of you know, she has been in Occupational Therapy for low muscle tone in her mouth & sensory issues for the past year now. Well last week for the first time EVER Madison drank from a straw!! I know this sounds trivial to some, but this is HUGE for her. I am so proud of her - I keep buying her new cups with straws every time we go to the store. Very soon sippys will be a thing of the past :) YEAH Madison!!! She is now working on drinking from a regular open mouth cup. She really struggles to keep her tongue out of the way - but she seems to understand the idea - just not sure what to do about it.

Madison also is just about to finish her first year of school. I can't believe its been a year already. She is growing up WAY too fast for Eric and I. She is starting preschool in the fall - there are 9 other children in her class...she will most likely be the only girl. Luckily that never seems to bother her. We evaluated her class on Tuesday of last week and I spent a lot of time asking the teacher the most paranoid parent questions ever. Miss Keri was really nice and Madison loved the room. Before you think - wait, I thought you were going to homeschool...we are still waiting to see where God leads us on this. Madison has a lot to learn about "learning". This first year of preschool (she's still going to be 2 when school starts) will help her understand what learning is. Most preschools (so I hear) are glorified daycare...not this one. This is a Special Ed preschool where almost all of the children have some form of Autism. It really works on following direction and understanding how to communicate with others. She really needs this.

I actually called my former High School (Baptist Park) the other day about enrolling here there. According to the woman I spoke with - they currently do not have a "special needs" program and really don't have the funding to get her a Para or other assistance - BUT she did tell me that there are 3 other alum who have children with Autism and they too want to send their children there. They really are starting to see that there is a need and maybe will try in the next year or two to start a way to help our kids. That would be great! I personally didn't like BP but I was a rebellious teenager who didn't know anything - I now think its a great idea.

While all of this school stuff is going on - Madison is growing up in other ways. She is using the "potty" on a pretty regular basis. Last week she used it at least 1 time every day...one day there was 2 times :) She has a problem communicating that she has to go - so we try to look for the signs. This is a lot harder than I thought it would be...but we are hoping by Sept (start of school) that she will be all ready to go. She does not have to be potty trained to enter this preschool...in fact in the special ed program I don't think they can require it for any age. COOL - I can wait till she's 16 :)

Lastly - Madison has moved on to a BIG girl bed :) We converted her crib to a toddler bed last week. She is doing fairly well considering everything that is going on. Tonight it only took 1 hr & 15 minutes to actually get her to sleep. She was able to get out of her room (breaking door handles / climbing gates - etc...) but this weekend Eric & his dad also cut her door in half. We can lock the bottom from the outside and leave the top open so she doesn't feel trapped. I love this door!!! Now I don't have to follow here around the house when she should be in bed.

OH MY - I almost forgot. The LORD has answered another prayer - not for me but for Cathy (my mother in law)...for the first time EVER on May 10th - ALL of her kids, their spouses and her grandkids were all together!!!! We had a cookout for her 61st birthday and Mother's Day. It was so lovely. Eric & I have always wanted to send her to Scotland (for those that don't know she was born there and lived there until she was abt 8 yrs old). Since we never really had the means we did the next best thing. We brought Scotland to her and hired a Bagpipe player. She loved it - actually told me she felt like the queen! It was such a wonderful day...I hope and pray the Lord keeps this family together - if only for her while she is still here. BTW - I hope to have an update for you all in about 2 weeks - after all of her tests are done again on the 4th of June.

Well I think I am done blogging for now...I hope everyone is doing well. We love you and thanks again for all you do!!!!

Thank you

I just wanted to Thank everyone who sent me such kind words today...it really was encouraging. Each one of you made me cry but I think my cousin Steve was the hardest one to read...Nikki - tell him THANKS from the bottom of my heart :)

The Lord certainly has blessed me with family & friends who love me and that I know will pray.

I heard this song on the radio this morning - while it is not a Christian song - I really think it could be...

Every Day by Rascal Flatts

You could've bowed out gracefully
But you didn't
You knew enough to know
To leave well enough alone
But you wouldn't
I drive myself crazy
Tryin' to stay out of my own way
The messes that I make
But my secrets are so safe
The only one who gets me
Yeah, you get me
It's amazing to me
CHORUS
How every day
Every day, every day
You save my life

I come around all broken down andcrowded out
And you're comfort
Sometimes the place I go
Is so deep and dark and desperateI don't know,
I don't know
Repeat Chorus

Sometimes I swear,
I don't know ifI'm comin' or goin'
But you always say somethingwithout even knowin'
That I'm hangin' on to your words
With all of my might and it's alright
Yeah, I'm alright for one more night
every day
Every day,
every day,
every day
Every day,
every day
You save me,
you save me,
Every day
Every, every, every day-
Every day you save my life

I love you all!

Praising God for Passover

and Kosher products in general!

Sounds odd to say for someone who really doesn't understand all of the "Passover" stuff...(yes I know about the blood on the door and the first born living or not living (if you are Egyptian) and all that).

I found out the coolest thing today - Passover is all about gluten free food! Ok - I know its not REALLY all about that...but to me IT IS :)

After doing one of my many, many, many google searches I found this product called Mother's Passover Margarine. It is gluten, soy, & dairy free! Its a soft spread just like any margarine I would buy from Kroger. We tried it last night and Madison seemed to like it. There were no tummy troubles with it either. Here is the catch - it is only sold ONE time a year...Passover. I was told (and read online) that it freezes really well - not to mention the fact the expiration date on it is Feb of 2009. So we are going to give it a try for another day or so and then go buy about 10 tubs of it.

We also had been having a really hard time finding a spray cooking oil, like Pam. Each one at the store had soy in it (even the olive oil). Again - KOSHER ROCKS! I found one yesterday made out of only Cottonseed oil. Finally we can be non-stick again. Infact I am going to buy and only use this for Eric & I too that way there is no chance of cross contamination.

Lastly - Madison is specifically praising the Lord for Passover because we found ICE CREAM! Well its not ice cream, its called JUST LIKE ICE CREAM and its gluten, non-dairy & soy free!!!!! The ingrediants are water, sugar, eggs, egg yolks (now she is at least going to eat eggs again -lol) and coconut oil & vanilla flavor. SHE LOVED IT!!!!!! Again this item is only sold durning Passover so we will be stocking up on this as well. I am going to have to "ration" it out to her - only a small scoop every few days. It actually tastes really good...so you may just see it at her birthday party.

We are going to be praying our income taxes come back before the end of Passover. We need an extra freezer for Madison's food. That money was earmarked for bills but it looks like that will have to wait - Madison's food really is just as important as a bill to our family. Does anyone have an old freezer they would like to donate or sell? I don't care what it looks like - as long as it works.

Well I hope everyone is doing well. We love you all very much. OH YEAH - I almost forgot...we are thinking of going to Washington DC for a march for Autism in June. Jenny McCarthy & Jim Carey announced it last night on Larry King Live. We are hoping that Cathy is well during that time so we feel comfortable leaving for a short time. Plus we are doing a "Walk" for Autism in the fall - I will let you all know more about that soon (I hope).

I have new pics to share - but my card is in the other room, so I will post them soon!

Love ya all

I ask again for prayer

I seem to be using this board as a begging for prayer site...but if you can't ask family & friends for prayer who can you ask :)

My family (Eric, Madison & I) really need prayer right now. I can't give details but please - the Lord knows our trials & pains so please ask Him to give us peace and comfort and "answers".

Thank you - please let me know what I can pray for in your life :)

lots of love

GHEE

Ok - ghee is BAD!!!!! Madison and I were up from 1:30AM - 4:30 AM last night. Her tummy was so tight...my poor baby. She kept saying, "it hurts momma, it hurts". What hurt more was that I did it to her. (not to hurt her of course)

Back to the drawing board :) The Lord knows our wants...I'm sure something will come along.

Have a wonderful day - its super sunny here!

Ghee, Pee & Three

Don't ya'll just love the title :) LOL - allow me to explain :)

Pee:

As of last night (Saturday night) Madison has pee'd on the potty 2 times now! What a big girl she is becoming. There was no big production such as 'momma I have to go'...I just happened to get her on the potty at the right time is all. We only put her on it when we change diapers. But its a start :) Last night when she went she looked at me and said - "it's water Momma"! How cute - at least to me it was.

Ghee:

If you are not familiar with Ghee it is a kosher all purified butter. It is made from milk BUT it is casein & lactose free. We asked Madison's DAN! (defeat autism now) Doctor about a butter sub and he said this is actually so "pure" that it doesn't seem to affect children on the GF/CF/SF diet. We had been afraid to try it because Madison had been doing so well on her diet but at the same time we were desperate for butter. SO FAR (Lord willing) it has not affected her in any way. I guess the way to truly find out how it affects someone is to use it one day and then not again for about 2 days to see if there are any adverse affects (sorry Mom...she is babysitting all day tomorrow). Please pray with us that this works - I can't wait to use it for baking. I miss making home made things for Madison.

Three:
Madison will be 3 in September. Eric and I just can't believe it. We found out this past week that she is scheduled to start Pre-school in the fall...I'm sorry - SCHOOL!?!?!? She is so little...my baby going to school 4-5 days a week for a half day each time. We need prayer for this as well. We know Madison is ready "mentally/education" wise but she just seems too young. This will be a special education preschool but none the less she will be out of our sight (and we will not be in the school) for the first time EVER...at least out of the care of someone we had selected. As most of you know we really are interested in homeschooling but I have always said that I would want her to attend "real" preschool. I just never thought it would be here so soon.

This whole 3 y/o thing got me thinking about birthday parties too. Yes I know, her birthday is in September...6 months away BUT its never too early if you ask me. Normally at parties and functions we have to follow her around or yell all day "don't eat that"...not at her party. Her birthday will be 100% GF/CF/SF. I can't wait! It will be so nice not to have to worry. She even has friends now - so there may actually be a child or two her age :)

Well I hope everyone is doing well. This is a busy week. Cathy has her biopsy on Monday, I have meetings with my boss (and start with new things for work) and I am wanting to start on a new craft project.

Lots of love and I will blog soon...

Its time to POTTY!

After watching signs given off from Madison we decided it is time to start PRE-potty training. I saw PRE because there is way too much going on in out lives to really start. According to what I've read you really have to make sure nothing "major" is about to happen or did just happen. And while Madison doesn't understand what it means for Grandma to be sick...she will notice that she is not around as much.

Anyway

We bought a really pretty pink potty the other day. Its so cute...really, I know that sounds strange to say about a potty. Eric said that I am not allowed to post any "potty pics" but I will share that she is sitting on the potty everytime we change her diaper and she is sitting there for about 10 minutes each time. She has yet to 'use' the potty BUT I know one of these times it will happen...then that will get me excited to go all the way with this.

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful wintery day!
Lots of love,
Sara

My heart is heavy...

I have been meaning to blog about some things for a while - but life has really overwhelmed us lately.

As most of you know - Cathy, Eric's mom was told she has pancreatic & liver cancer. As of right now we do not have a biopsy to tell us what stage, what treatment options are and most importantly...how much longer will she be with us here on earth (I'll tell ya...I would rather be in Heaven than here!!!!) Please pray for her and all of our family…I have found that the people who read this blog are prayer warriors because my requests get answered! (thanks)

Prayers of many have been answered - the FIRST time in over 2 years Eric, Russell & Michelle were all together with their mother. Not only that – most of the Behm grandkids (Mylin & Wyatt were unable to make it....Richard too) were all in the same room for the first time EVER! Now some may think this is a little odd but if you knew our family you would know what an amazing PRAISE GOD thing this is.

I'll use this as a segway to something that is really lying heavy on my heart.

If anyone knows me, or has known me for the last few years, they will know that I have had an enormous amount of hate in my heart for quite some time now. This hate has consumed so much of me and torn through a lot of layers of my mind & heart. This hate has interfered in not only my family but my relationship with the Lord.

For a long time now the Lord has been pushing me to release this anger, this pain, this hate but I didn't want to. It was getting so easy to ignore what God was telling me to do with this that I am starting to think He stopped talking for a while all together. He was just sitting there waiting for ME to come back and say -"I give in".

While I have not been able to "give in" all together I have allowed my guard to be lowered a lot. I have opened my life, my heart and family up to things that have been closed off for as long as I can remember. This is a scary situation for me - I am afraid of getting hurt, I am afraid of my family getting hurt. I am also sad for those I have "left behind". While my family is healing and moving on there are others who are still in pain and wanting their families healed. I pray that ALL are healed...I'm going to be bold and ask SOON!

This whole awakening has really made me see what hate does to a person. It also makes it much easier to see when it’s happening around you. Its easy see the way families just truly can't stand the idea of someone living...basically not caring if they die. I just don't understand that. Human compassion alone would say that you should care if someone is living or dead. It’s easy to see jealousy being hidden so poorly that it makes me GREEN with sickness to my stomach. It’s easy to see how someone could be destroying their own family and not even see it themselves.

I say this, and not from a high horse (trust me I'm about as low as they get)...I pray for those people. I pray that they see how much they are being eaten alive by an enemy that only feeds off that hate. I pray that their families do not turn their back on them - I am blessed that mine did not...although looking back I'm surprised any of them wanted to ever talk to me.

This week has really made me see just how short life is...there is no time for petty BS (for lack of a better term). Parents feuding with their children, siblings fight each other, in-laws fighting their "out" laws. As I have been told for years and didn't listen - IT ALL HAS TO STOP! Too many lives have been hurt by these things. I have been in the middle of every kind of these situations...not just by having it happen to me but by causing it as well...it’s a sad sad way to live.

Life is short - PRAY HARD!

I hope everyone is doing well and thanks for reading (its nice to get this off my heart). Love to all

Sara

Prayer

I just wanted to post a quick prayer request...

Madison has had a cold for about a week now - we took her to the Dr today and they actually think she has this nasty flu that has been going around. (we will have the test results tomorrow)

ALSO they are treating her for pneumonia. Evidentally this flu is all upper respiratory and has been known to turn into pneumonia rather quickly. She is on 3 breathing treatments a day. They are hoping to head off any possible risk of this getting worse.

I am afraid to admit it but I think I too am coming down with the flu...so please keep us all in your prayers. Luckily Eric is home this week ( I hope he doesn't get anything ).

Thanks to all and we hope you and your families are doing well and staying heathly.

Love,
Sara

Story Dadda...

This week has been a major change week for Madison. She has been doing so well...actually TALKING! Not just repeating things we say...

When Cathy (grandma) put her coat on to go outside, Madison looked at her and said "Bye" (she is putting situations and words together)

When Donna (granma) was here she told her she loved her :)

Just last night when we had her all ready for bed she said, "Story dadda". (A) She never likes stories read to her (B) she never asks for things like that (C) she actually picked 6 books for us to read with her.

So much has been going on. She has been GF/CF/SF for just over 2 months...not counting eating the dab of paint the other day. PRAISE GOD FOR THIS DIET!!!

love to all

Should I cry, scream or just be greatful?

Janice (sister) just called me and told me about an article on YAHOO.com about a family of 6 children ALL with some version of Autism Spectrum...ranging from Aspergers all the way to full-blown Autism. WOW - 6 children! I can't imagine. As I watched the interview from Good Morning America I actually started to cry. It is heart wrentching to see how the affects everyone in a family and how it really takes its toll on a person.

Something that related closely to me as that the mother had a melt down not too long ago basically giving up and blaming God...I will be honest - I have been there. Not to the extreme that I left or didn't love my family...but to the point I questioned if I am the mom to raise Madison. What hurts more to think back about that is - I blamed God for what He is putting ME through...UM HELLO!!! Madison is the one with Autism!!!! How selfish can I be.

I have not had day go by that I don't wonder what Madison's life would be like if it were "typical" but I know that the Lord picked her to be this way. He picked Eric and I to be the best parents for her, to be the parents she needs...He knew that we would be exactly what she needed...God didn't do this to hurt us - He did it because we were important enough to see His work first hand in Madison's life and actually be a part of it. So I guess we should be praising the Lord...not yelling at Him huh?

I went to the site for this family http://www.autismbites.com/ and to their blog site...they were talking about the comments left of GMA site. OH MY GOSH!!! There are some real cruel people out there. I know why Eric wanted to keep this a secret - because people are not just cruel, they are extreamly ignorant. People actually said that these people should have started having abortions after the first 3 children were diagnoised with Aspergers. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?! What kind of nazi thought process is that - only keep the "normal" ones!?!? What is even more insane about that comment is, NOT ALL KIDS ARE BORN AUTISTIC!!! I don't believe Madison was...

There were some situations and events that took place in her life that we truely believe geared her life of Autism. I believe the Lord allowed those events to happen and this was what was planned for her life - but I do not believe for one minute she was BORN with autism.

I would like to end this by saying I am beyond greatful for Madison. I love her with every ounce of my heart & being. She is truly the COOLEST kid I have ever met in my life and I wouldn't do anything different in her life even if it meant I would change her outcome. I know I will have my days of being selfish, I know there will be days I think, "I didn't sign up for this", I know there will be times I just want to get away from it all...and I know that MAKES ME A HUMAN! I human that LOVES her little girl and a human the God loves inspite of her imperfections.

On a lighter note - these are two t-shirts that I found on the autism bites site...I LOVE THEM!

Can I get an AMEN!!!

AMEN!!!

I just finished reading through all of the posts on this site - there has been so many miracles in Madison's life since the beginning of this journal. I want to thank all of you for your diligent prayers. Also for your interest in Madison - I know so many people love her and through this site (when she is older) she will be able to read just how much she was loved. Make sure you leave comments too - this way she knows who was here!



Yesterday was a good day. I had a girlfriend come over with her 3 yr old Maddy (Madalyn). Madison actually played with her and didn't steal everything from her! Infact the one time Maddy was crying Madison showed empathy...that is a new emotion for her. It was really nice to have some grown-up time with my friend and for Madison to make a new friend.



This picture really sums up a lot of Madison's life lately - emerging from a clouded coccon into a child that is enjoying and thriving in her new world!!! Please continue to watch and read as she spreads her wings and grows up.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

I had the strangest dream last night - about a 5 foot tall Groundhog.

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!!!

Shave and a hair cut...SNOWMAN!

I want to start this blog by clearing something up. Some people have questioned my last blog...I guess it does lead the mind open to question things - no one is sick, no one is hurt - we are just experiencing life at its "most wonderful" - NOT. Sorry if I caused anyone to worry. But thanks to all for your prayers - we still need them.

Ok...now that I have cleared that up a bit.

Madison got her FIRST haircut yesterday. She did AMAZING!!!! Praise God, there was no crying, no meltdowns, no tantrums. She just sat on Eric's lap and watched the Backyardigans. I'm embarressed to say I forgot my camera at home but was able to snap a few on my phone ( I just haven't downloaded them yet). Here is a picture that I took last night after a LONG day - she looks SO cute! Finally her hair is out of her face.

Today was a snow day for school, so Eric took Madison out to play in the snow & rain. We were supposed to get 6-10 inches (we only got about 2 1/2) and now they are saying its done. Waste of a snow day if you ask me. They were able to build their first real snowman too - I will have pics to come on that!

Well this is Eric's last 3 days off work. Part of me is sad - the other part - GO BACK TO WORK PLEASE...NOW!!!

He has been off since before Christmas. We are already hearing rumors that he only goes back for 2 weeks. This has good & bad points. Good - he's home to help out with Madison & all of her appointments. Bad - he gets bored and then gets a little cranky. He messes up (my) schedules. It also messes up things when he goes back to work, Madison is very attached to Eric. So she will be out of sorts the first week or so.

Eric is just about done working outside for now - time for lunch.

Love to all & sorry again for worrying anyone about my previous blog.

We need...

PRAYER!!!!

I have an "unspoken" prayer request for my family. I ask that everyone please, if you pray - pray for my family today. We haven't had the greatest time lately - we need prayer.

Thanks so much and I love you all.

I can't believe its not butter...OH WAIT - it's not :(

Well some things are too good to be true... I just got word back from the company I emailed about the butter I saw yesterday - it has cream/dairy in it. Oh well...back to the drawing board on finding a butter sub for Madison.

Hope everyone has a WONDERful day

I can't believe it IS butter!!!

Some may think butter is an odd thing to blog about - but for a parent of a child who can't eat everything and anything it is a WONDERFUL thing to blog about. We have search high and low, near and far to find a "butter" substitute for Madison since the start of the diet. Today I think we found one!!! Praise God! I emailed the company to be sure but I think Olivio Spreadable Butter is the product of our dreams. It says on the package its gluten & casein free...and I didn't see anything that said soy...I am praying they email me back with the good news. First thing I'm gonna make Madison is homemade Mac & Cheese (I need the butter for the white sauce).

Here's a question for everyone - ever feel like you're living in a Snow Globe? It has snowed on and off for almost a week now...then we hear tomorrow its going to be 40 degrees. Normally I hate it when people that's what Michigan is like but SERIOUSLY this is getting a little crazy if you ask me. I'm tired of the snow, I'm tired of the cold! (notice I'm not tired of complaining - ha ha !)

This weekend was good. Friday night we went out for dinner. Saturday Grandma Cathy came over for the whole day...we had a really good time.

Daddy took Madison outside to play in the snow. They were gone outside for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. He really wore her out :)

Well its 9:30 PM and I have a baby blanket I need to crank out for a baby shower TOMORROW night (and I just bought the yarn lol).

Have a great Monday everyone - love ya all!

Praise God!!!

We just received a wonderful phone call from Madison's teacher, Del. Madison was asked to come back to her class at school. This class is only allowed to have 4-5 children every 12 weeks...there were 16 NEW students available this time around. (the invite always goes to the new students first). The Lord has heard our prayers regarding this - PRAISE GOD!!!

I hope everyone is having a great day. Its cold & just started snowing...I HATE WINTER!!!!!! (Aunt Alice - we're moving in !!!!)

Love to all

(Abbey Road?!?)

Have you ever...

Have you ever meant to do something and kept thinking..."I'll get to that"? Well that's what has happened with this blog. I sit at my PC everyday and just don't have the time (or energy) to type. I do apologize - I know there are people that are actually looking for updates.

I won't bore you all with the details of the last month or so...I will just start from the last week or so.

This weather has been absolutely crazy. 2 weeks ago we were at the zoo (2 times in one week) and today we had a white out for a while. NUTS!!!! Madison loves the snow though - she just sits in the window saying, "Snowy, Snowy".

(this pic is a little old but its just too cute)
Last week we went on a mini vacation to Boon to visit GrandPa & Ma Behm. Madison did not have a wonderful time...she spiked a fever right after we got there. She has not slept in her port-a-crib in I can't tell you how long...so needless to say she was NOT happy about that. It was a really long night that first night. Madison was up and down all night :( On Thursday her temperature was down and played outside in the snow with Eric & his dad. That night Madison woke up around 4:30AM SCREAMING - she has really bad stomach/gas problems (has since birth). She suffers so much sometimes. Eric and I were up with her for about an hour or so...all of the sudden she told me she wanted Dora - so off to bed she went to find Dora. Friday was our planned day to leave Granma & Pa's house, we were supposed to stay in Frankenmuth but decided to just come home. It had been a long few days...and it was nice to come home.

We have been having some issues with Speech & OT lately. With our insurance we need referrals to see "specialists". Since the New Year just started we had to renew our referrals for Madison's therapies. Madison is doing really well in OT but she has just started it so all of her goals have not been met yet...the insurance company had no problem renewing her scrip.

Speech - now that's a TOTALLY different story...

Madison is doing very well in Speech. She met all of her goals - this is a problem evidently. The insurance company thinks she is "all better" and no longer needs speech. Her therapist disagrees. This week we had to have a new Speech Evaluation done in hopes that there is a "new" diagnosis. We really need a lot of prayer for this. Madison is far from "cured". She is currently working with her therapist on how to "communicate" or work with others...we have not started working on real SPEECH issues yet, you can't teach speech if you can't work with another person. So please pray!!! Thanks

Besides all of the therapy...Madison is doing AMAZING. She surprises us everyday with new things she knows, things she says and new things she is trying. She is such a big girl - it sure is exhausting keeping up with her :) but worth every second!

Eric is off for another week and a half. Its been nice having him home. He has become a real handy man around here. He has worked on the cars, the dryer, the basement, plumbing - its like being married to Bob Vila.

I will do my best to keep things up to date now. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season & New Year. We love you all very much and are so grateful to have you all in our lives.

I'll write soon :)