What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger.....right?

The point of this blog is to one day look back on and remember the ups and downs. Sure seems like we've had our fair share of downs lately, but what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Sydney has had her first real problems at school. The thing about Syd is that she's a grudge holder. First impressions mean EVERYTHING to this girl. If you're sweet to her, she loves you and calls you her best friend. If you're mean....she doesn't like you....forever! Take Kennedy from gymnastics. Kennedy decided to turn the warm-up at class into a competition and when she reached the other end first, she looked at Sydney and said "I wiiin" That uhm, really irked Syd. It turned into an all out drag race and at one point I saw some shoving back and forth while the teacher had her back turned by the balance beams. Every week after that when Syd saw Kennedy, she'd scream "I don't like that little girl!!"

So enter in Faith from school. A little girl who used to be extremely part time. Recently having issues at home and is now full time and in Syd's class. And like the other meanies, she hit Sydney and that's where it all begins. One time Syd was going to the bathroom and got slapped. Another time it was a brawl on the playground which ended up with Sydney having her elbow dislocated (a doctor visit). Then a few shoving moments here and there. Then the doozie. Faith walked up to Syd and a group of her friends a week and a half ago and Sydney told her that she couldn't play with them. Faith sat down anyways, they all played and pretended to fall backwards and Sydney decided to hold Faith down so she couldn't get up and had her hands by her neck. Faith then bit Sydney on the arm so hard that it broke the skin and bled. With her favorite teacher no where around, we've then had to piece together that Sydney must've been extremely traumatized by this. No one there to comfort her, probably getting yelled at for holding Faith down, in pain from her bleeding arm. I receive a call from her school, they say she's doing ok, but I tell them I'm on my way to get her anyways. I pick her up, take her to the doctor, we're doing ok. She gets two stickers from the doctor's office and we play at home the rest of the day. Three days later she woke up with a full-blown stutter. Not just a small one, but every sentence "l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-look at this mommy" It's so hard for her to talk sometimes, she gets frustrated and changes what she's going to say or puts her hand to her mouth to try and get her mouth to do what she wants it to do.

It's been a really difficult week and a half for us, I've had my break down moments with it where I just cry and wonder why this had to happen to her. I worry that she may have the type where it could be permanent. That being said, we're working REALLY hard with her to try and de-stress every aspect of her life. We had a lot of fun trips this weekend, went to the zoo, to Seamus' house, swimming at Papa and Lala's. She isn't going to school right now and we're talking slowly to her, not asking her questions (questions can increase stress) and definitely not letting her know that she's talking any differently (if they're aware, they'll be more self conscious). We've noticed that she definitely has triggers and it seems to be worse when excited, nervous and when tired. Praying for a miracle here and that this is short lived. Everyone seems to try and calm our nerves, but it's best to be over prepared. I've at least made sure that Sydney will never be in a class with Faith again, so that is very reassuring. Hate seeing out girl suffer and not be able to control her own body. Hoping that my next post on this topic is that she's made a full recovery, but I know it's a long road in front of us!

Telling me that she has a "zebra" on her shirt



Our pretty girl

Two weeks later...

I suppose I should've finished my post about the end of our trip with Sarah, Neil and Savannah. Apparently I got busy or something?!? Anyways, Syd suddenly over the weekend, went from face in the water for a nano-second, into one of those swimming across the pool with face in the water for 8 seconds or so. It was absolutely bananas and we've been so proud of her. She has such a blast swimming around, looking under water and shocking the heck out of us. Her swim instructor was so impressed with her progress that he bumped her up to learning to swim with her arms. She actually swam half the distance of the pool at lessons by herself! Granted a lot of it looked like a drowning runner under the water, but hey, she got there...and under the water!!

Look at the girl go!! She's swimming across the pool supah fast to Chris!

I had to get a shot of Savannah's infamous launches into the sky

It was a great trip and Syd was begging for them to stay forever. Miss them already.

Apple Annie's Orchard

Our friends from California, Sarah, Neil and Savannah decided to hop in the car last weekend and head out to Tucson to hang out for the weekend. I had a wee bit of camera envy over their new Nikon D90. Good things come to those who wait, right? We had plans on Saturday to head to Apple Annie's Orchard with my parents, so it was fun having everyone there to pick apples. Papa brought walkie talkies, so I was able to thoroughly annoy everyone in the other car. I really need one of those to just randomly leave around the house. We left as early as we could, which is always a hard thing to do with two little ones. The goal was to get to the orchard for breakfast. There wasn't much of a diner there, more a small stand with apple pancakes, your choice of toppings and sausage. Beggars can't be choosers.

Chris and Sydders before walking in to get our pancakes

So here's where it gets good. We ordered Syd pancakes and being the first in line, we had to act fast before the mob stoned us. We quickly just put maple syrup on the pancakes. I mention this only because normally she insists that we only put butter on them. She freaks out when we put any type of "sauce" on her items. So, we sat down, I cut up the pancake and quickly put one in her mouth...and she LOVED IT! "Yummy in my tummy. I like syrup!" Breakthrough!!!

I love photographing her eating things that she normally doesn't. This way next time I offer it to her and she says "I don't like that" I quickly pull up a photo of her eating it...and liking it! The gang eating breakfast.

Breakfast in our bellies, it was time to start picking our apples!

After waiting for a few minutes, the wagon pulled by a huge tractor pulled up. We loaded everyone and everything up and we were off to find our Granny Smith apples!



It was a short ride around the patch, but after following the signs, we found our Granny Smith! Gotta love when someone eats an apple and impails it on a sign. Now that's classy.

It was an exciting moment once we got in the orchard. Syd didn't really know where to start first. I had to keep reminding her to LOOK at the apples to make sure there aren't bruises.

Luckily they were pretty small trees, so the girls were able to pick them off of the trees by themselves.

It's always fun to try and grab the high ones though. A quick hop on her Dad's shoulders and she was able to pick the ones at the top of the trees.

Showing off her apples she picked....and then turning them into her Dad's ears.



Papa doing a little taste test



Pick the apples and put them in the bucket



Our delicious Granny Smith and Fuji apples



Picking a few Asian Pears before we head back home



The End

Labor Day: Planes, Helicopters & Automobiles

Ok, yes I know that it's Planes, Trains & Automobiles, but I was being witty here. Work with me here! My friend Luke had a wedding he went to out in LA over the weekend, so on Labor Day, he flew to Tucson before heading back to Chicago. I have to say that I think it was a new record for Syd, she's usually super shy around new people, especially men, but she was laughing with him within minutes of him getting in the car at the airport. As soon as we got back to the house, he had a special surprise for her. A Ladybug Pillow Pet. Oh my gosh, this thing hasn't left her side since that precise moment. Luke, you're the BEST!! As if that wasn't enough, he helped us with getting her to eat her dinner, which isn't easy. He played a little game with her because she kept pretending to knock on his front door. He'd tell her she had to eat a sweet potato fry before he'd answer...and she'd do it! After dinner, Luke busted out a toy helicopter. He flew it around the house, taught Sydney to fly it (which she did REALLY well!) and Chris too. I think Chris liked the missiles the most (which he shot at Sydney and then at my face...hmm come to think of it maybe the missiles aren't the best idea).

Here's Luke showing Syd how to fly the helicopter for the first time.



She caught on really quickly and was flying it all over the room!



After helicopter time, Syd busted out her Barbie Karaoke guitar. Little did she know that Luke's passion is singing.



Luke rocking out to her little Barbie guitar singing "Girls just wanna have fun"



She forced Chris to go next...I'm still laughing over this one!



The next day Luke and I took an afternoon ride up Mt. Lemmon to just enjoy the cooler weather (poor Luke was sweating like crazy in our hot Tucson sun). Was nice and cool, about 68 up on Mt. Lemmon. You can see the storm clouds on the left side. Looks like a sheet of dark rain coming down.



Don't just stand there, bust a move



Luke on Mt. Lemmon with the storm quickly approaching behind him. We went for lunch and had the background noise of loud thunder while we ate our chili and pizza. Health food. The ride down was a wee bit wet, to say the least.



Such a great time seeing Luke. Syd keeps telling me that we need to go back to the airport to pick Luke up again. She loves him lots. Come back soon Lukey!

Camera Happy & Sympathy Shots

Ok, it's another hodge podge post. I feel like so much has been going on lately that it's hard to find time to sit down and capture it all, but I sure am trying. Here's what happens when I've forced to be bed ridden for three days. It makes me absolutely batty and I start creating lists of all the things Chris and I are going to do once I'm free from the bed. It usually starts with some serious landscaping. So, on day 4, we were outside trimming palm trees, lavender bushes and rosemary bushes...oh yeah, and my Crape Myrtle trees. We've hung my antique herb crates in the kitchen (LOVE), dyed my lampshades brown, sewed a few pillows for the family room and painted our kitchen again (Finally!) So things are getting done, but it's all types of boring things that no one would want to see or read about. So, in between all this fun, some cute shots of Syd. I received some of the cutest clothes to review for my mommy website, Tralala. Syd's in love with all of it so a few shots of her in them.

One of my favorite Tralala tanks. Can't go wrong with pink and orange. Ahhh the lovely sight of trimmed palm trees in the back. Yep, and the unfinished fire pit....that's on the list!

She's been absolutely obsessed with this little bear lately. Silly girl.



So along with all of the craziness, Chris and I have been at the doctors office A LOT! Primary Cares, Cardiologists, Allergists and the list goes on. Needless to say, we've been stuck with a lot of needles and had bandages on our arms from them. Apparently Syd was feeling some sympathy pain. She walked out of the room for two minutes, came back in and had a big sad lip saying she got a bunch of shots too. Love this girl so much. So cute in her flashy gymastics leotard.



More Tralala capri pants.



So, when I'm down for the count, along with lists I also think of crazy stuff to buy Syd. She's been BEGGING for the Sketchers Twinkle Toes shoes for months. She's finally reached the age where she understands that commercials are items that can actually be purchased in the store....and she wants all of them! But this one is a constant, so I got her a pair. Needless to say, she loves them (and me) A LOT!