Santa Was GOOOOD!

Before Christmas..so perfect, so pretty on the shelf at the store in pink...

After Christmas!! Santa heard my begging plea! One, pink, Kitchenaid, Artisan stand mixer to make all my gluten free dreams come true! A girl couldn't be more thankful and tearful!

Christmas!

Dwyer Christmas with all our fun cousins!

tired parents refueling in the afternoon...THANK YOU STARBUCKS!

Dwyer family Christmas portrait at Aunt Mona's on Tim's side

Christmas Eve charmer..setting out the goods for Santa

Christmas brothers! Jack tinkled in his Christmas jammies overnight so he had to have his photo in random race car nighties:)

We had a great Christmas, busy, lots of wrapping paper, and running around. They boys were spoiled in surpluses of toys! I enjoyed so much the snow falling and the chance to curl up and enjoy a real black & white classic, Miracle on 34th Street on Christmas Eve with popcorn and coffee:) NEVER happens! Of all of the gifts to be most thankful for, my boys, my very, loving husband and faithful friends and family surrounding us.:)

Santa, I really, really NEED one! :)- especially in pink!

Cooking, cooking, cooking is what I've been doing everyday for 2 weeks now. I have attacked gluten free dinners every single night for my celiac kiddo and rest of the crew. I'm fairly proud of myself, pulling off all "new" recipes, crockpot creations and such. Everyone has gobbled up every bit of their food each night. So thankful! I am ever so thankful for my crockpot these days too! I feel like a pioneer woman, back to the old days, making pizza dough from scratch everytime we have pizza. No more orders out from this house! I have made 2 gluten free pizzas already in the last few weeks and they were outstanding. I have most thankfully been borrowing a kitchenaid stand mixer from a client of my Moms' and have come to realize I can't live without this thing! I use it everyday, sometimes 2 times a day! I under estimated the "need" or luxury of having one of these, shoulda put that sucker on the bridal registry back in the day..I am kicking myself. I wish that I didn't have to, but looks like I have to return this great luxury back to it's owner :(. so Santa...would you PLEASE BRING ME THIS OF MY DREAMS (or at least crunch numbers with my Mom to make it possible)?! xoxox Steph

Brothers

Icecream..outdoors..in 40 degree weather

tickle, tickle!!

amazing dress up apparel! not sure what sort of expedition they were headed on that day!

God give me the strength to keep a brave face. In spite of all my worries and fears of this little guys and all he is going through, my mind is weary from it's constant racing. The pediatric Gastroenterologist needs to perfom an endoscopy on my sweet little 5 year old. Looking for a variety of things, and most importantly a more clear definition of the celiac. Although I don't understand the off chance it couldn't be when he tests positive for it on bloodwork, never heard of a false positive. But you know doctors, they seem to want to be 100% sure on everything and feels like run a million tests and labs. I am overwhelmed. We left the office in shock and worry of a procedure that doesn't sound quite like a picnic to an unsuspecting kindergartener. On top of that, sent back to the lab to stick the kid yet another time. :( This is probably Parker's 4th or 5th time having blood taken. My heart breaks that his little body has to do all of this. While I am super grateful we aren't dealing with chemo and the most horrifics of pediatric scenarios, it's hard for me as a Mom imaging how scary and upsetting for him this must be. I never once was hosptitalized as a kid, never had any severe allergies or even had any bloodwork taken until I was in high school! So for that, I am sad. I just want to get him feeling better. More waiting...more uncertainties and anxieties to brew. Praying

Parker Update

My sweet little guys. I love this picture of them. It's been a tough fall for us here at the Dwyer household. Many of you know we've been trying to come to the bottom of what has been "wrong" with Parker over the last few years. Symptoms have gotten worse this fall, and while we were grateful and treating restless leg syndrome, the result of a low "ferritin" level, this kiddo is barely able to handle just half a day of kindergarten everyday. 3 weeks ago, I received a personal phone call from the pediatrician himself verifying that Parker had antibodies in his blood test suggesting Celiac disease. Celiac disease is an auto immune disorder in which the body turns gluten into a toxin and actually causes damage to a person's small intestine among other serious complications if not treated. I can't tell you how that phone call has already changed my life. We have been waiting, researching, trying to piece this all together mean while waiting to see a pediatric gastroenterologist. We finally see him tomorrow and are anxious to start the journey of treatment and what sounds like a gluten free lifestyle for him for the rest of his life, and our household too. It's been such an emotional roller coaster for me as a Mom, the reality of feeding a kid so differently than I have for the past 5 years, and adjusting to different taste and texture of "baked" goods for all of us. Part of me is so tired of talking about it, reading about it, but it is very real for me and always on my mind. I've always been a huge baker, enjoyed gourmet cooking when I get the time.. so for me a huge challenge to relearn everything I've ever done with baking, now having to use several combinations of flours and weird ingredients to "bind" things together. Gluten has become a devil word in this house! i am finding it in everything! From frozen chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese, to tomato soup, bread, crackers, soy sauce and some salad dressings! No more donuts, cookies, McDonalds, or our favorite ordering out pizza. Chinese food is toast, although P. F. Changs..you rock. You have a gluten free menu of some tasty varieties!
Through all of this I've seemed to make a very special friend. A woman who has worked tirelessly as a chef herself with celiac studied in France for 4 months, mastering the art of GOOD gluten free cooking, no one ever knew that she taste tested her food on! (A woman after my own heart...anything french..sign me up!) Not only does she have her own cookbook but has mastered the art of making the best bread ever. If you know me well, you know I used to revel in making homemade bread and perfectly so back in the day. This is exciting for me! This woman has really reached out to me and offered to custom design any of Parker's favorite dessert for me gluten free! I am feeling such a big hug from above, a lot of support, ideas, suggestions are pouring in. Another step of faith for me as we venture down this road. I will post more once we see the new Dr. on Friday. I'm grateful we have a diagnosis and glad we caught it when we did.

Things That Make Me Smile

my ghosts!

few weeks ago..when they both were so sick, found them like this in my bed watching The Grinch

:) Grinch viewing from Mommy & Daddy's bed

back to Halloween.

this ghost got too hot..became super hero instead!:)

This Is How the Dwyers Roll...

Oh lovely family of 4...all boys seated nicely..

ooop...and the most wiggly is down...

and then there were 3....

leaving Him and Me! :)

My best photog buddie did an awesome annual family photo session with us crazy Dwyers, and I had to post these in order of the shoot. Totally describes our family to a tee! She did such a great job on the pics..visit her sight http://amandamannphotography.blogspot.com

annnnddd...the husband must have read this post and charmed me with these beauties!

What a perfect time to be surprised with these gorgeous, fall, dandies! Kudos, Mr. D.! You don't even read my blog, but you must have telepathically known a girl needed some sunshine! Feeling extra loved and appreciated, an extra sparkle in my step. :) Thanks, doll!

A Few Weird Months..But Better Times to Come!

Well it's been a while since my last post. Feel like life's got me by the pony tail lately! School started and the homework and the backpack checking of the kindergartner daily, the reading books and tallying them up for that oh so fantastic Book It program (remember those personal pans people from Pizza Hut?!) So tasty! All of these little details and a 2 year old who has somehow morphed into an alligator that I wrestle most days to change a diaper, get a shoe on, put it back on after he removes it, or simply to wrangle him into the car seat on any given day.:)
Oh, and we are in the heart of Cross Country season which my over energized husband who can cram more into life than I have ever seen is coaching it. Not to mention...have I mentioned we have managed to pass around/ ingest about 4 different viruses in the last 3 weeks?!
I am not a fan of a Debbie Downer, so I do apologize to my most of loyal friends and family if I've seem to lost my sense of humor or ability to even crack a smile lately..excuse the recent Debbie Downer in me if you've seen her.:) My goal is to turn that frown upside down and count my blessings, to remember to laugh at my alligator and strive to be that Mommy that my kids really do need and want around. Nobody wants a grouch for a Mama! So....my pledge to the world..I promise to be my happy self and to not let my ship go under, even though it feels as if it's been hit with a few minuscule torpedoes!! Hold me accountable friends, family and fellow creatures!!:)
Love, ME! MYSELF and STEPHANIE

I Got Me A Sickie

Feverish in Mama & Dada's Bed...

Look! I've resorted to taking my own temperature!

:( me no likey what vaccinations do to my little body!:(

Poor Jack, the 2 year old vaccines have reared their ugly heads. How is my kiddos can seem to spike these horrendous fevers after shots? I mean I'm talking 102 on TOP of being on Motrin! If not for that miracle substance, we'd probably be at a whopping 104 degrees.

Extra hugs and cuddles to my Jack today as he whimpers through his day. Lots of Thomas the Train, popsicles in Mama's bed and snuggle time with blankie.

~B-L-i-i-S-s~

A New Life Plan...COOKIES!

So my 82 year old Sicilian neighbor has recently revealed his secret to his longevity. Aside from the part that he is a vivacious, fun spirited man who takes his dog for walks every morning and is seen doing most any kind of house project on a daily basis, this Pete starts his day off right. Get this..a cup of coffee and cookies! Cheers to you, Pete! So this morning I shall start the process, it will be cookie central here this morning...counters full of fresh sugar cookies on this rainy morning.:) pics to follow...

Lovin' From the Mug

" Good afternoon from my counter!" says this friendly little cup of cheer. Nestled under that pile o' whip is a butter toffee cup of joe with hazelnut cream. mmmmmmmm..

It may not be Friday yet, but this keeps things promising in the world of cheer up.:)

Imagine how this photo will be when I have my dreamy black counter tops (some day).

Cardinal Game With the Boys

View from our seats :) I love that Arch!

Me & my Boys

We had a great day, perfect, cool weather for Jack's 1st ever time to the ball park. Amazingly we lasted 3 whole innings in the seats before we got a case of the squirms. We loaded the boys full of blue cotton candy and they snuggled in for some good ol' fashioned baseball. Jack was even yelling "Charge!" at the most appropriate times.:)

I enjoyed the day with my little Cardinals birds. I love this picture for obvious reasons, but mostly if you look closely Parker is holding both of my hands, just on his own doing.:) This makes a Mama smile.:0)

Big Muscles But Also, Big Hearts

Just when you've lost yourself in the rough and tumble of boys, witnessing their countless attempts at wrestling, couch jumping, monster truck toy crashing a brilliant break through! Had to share, this is too good to be true. Today, a normal Weds. after lunch, the boys are loudly playing in the other room and I am emptying the kitchen trash. As I pull the very full kitchen trash bag from the can and lift the can with it, it suddenly drops onto my 2 smallest of unsuspecting toes. The pain that results from this is almost in fathomable! haha. I yelp and go hopping across the floor and what to my wondering eyes appear..two wide eyed little boys, stopped dead in their tracks! Now what is funny is that my youngest who just turns 2, he's hanging out in just a diaper mind you, comes running over to me "mommy, k?" "Mommy OK?" he's asking. He then rubs me on the shoulder to console me and sits in my lap to hug me.:) I was flattered, all my work of consoling them when they crash is starting to set in? Nah..but then, Mr. Jack goes one step further. He goes into the kitchen, sees the trashcan out and the cabinet door still open where it usually resides. He grabs the can (that's every bit as large as him) and GRUNTS as he flexes his baby muscles to pick it up and places it back into the cabinet, closes door! I couldn't believe my eyes..takin' care of his Mama! What a gentleman! More than the hugs and shoulder rubbing, I think that grunt he let out and seeing him lift that ginormous thing in Pampers was my favorite moment of it all. *sigh..I truly do love my boys and all of their "moments." :)

Jack Is 2!

I am a cowboy in a polo!

slick willy heading to church

one "Ma" cake..translation..."Monster Truck Cake"

I lost my pants in the sandbox, and also, this is the only organized photo of me at my party because I am kid #2 and my parents have dropped the ball on photos for me.:)

We had a great day outside celebrating! The culdesac in front of our house was soon taken over by little Tykes cars, hot wheels and bikes with training wheels. To some, it would appear a Shriner's circus..to us..just a normal day with our family and closest of friends.:)

Parker Goes to School..Kindergarten Kiddo!

watch yourselves ladies!

hugs for little bro


Charming...

not happy at all that more pictures were taken!

Daddy & Parks with their morning Starbucks mugs

off to school in a convertible ride!

The first day of school is here! Well..was here, on Monday.:) I could hardly sleep the night before in hopes of rising before the little kindergartener and pushing that button on my coffee pot. I made sure everything was in order the night before, socks out in the shoes ready to go, uniforms washed and actually IRONED...and oddity for me! I packed him breakfast in a brown bag and even put a note in it since he rides to school with Daddy early, he eats breakfast with him every morning in his classroom. What a great morning it was, although I was tired from staying up until midnight, I was just as excited as I was when I went to school. Check out these cute photos!:)

Update on Parker

Just realized....I'm almost in a new category..starting to outgrow the stay-at-home Mom of toddlers identity! I have myself a 5 year old after all, who can do all sorts of things! Vacuums the floor for me, helps his little brother and has even taken on the roll of all thing recycled in this house. While my kitchen counter is covered full of "trash" to be ran out to the recycling bin, I am most thankful for my environmentally aware and helpful firstborn. Kuddos to you, Parks for forcing this family to "go green.":)
I am enjoying my littlest man these days and relishing the last few times of "babyhood" with him, he's about to turn 2, but let's be honest, he's really still a baby! I do more clean up and assistance after him than I can even wrap my mind around, trying to recount doing all this work for Parker! I know I did, it just seems ions ago.
The next few days I will be washing up little boy school uniforms, no more of the 2T, 3T, 5T clothing, yup, real boy clothes now! I am equally excited for my Parkie bear to begin his school career. Now that we finally have an answer to what was making him so miserable, and treatment seems to be working, I am thankful that he will do well at school and everything else. Parks seems to suffer from a somewhat rare iron deficiency, a low ferritin level that went undiagnosed for over a year when we last had a blood draw. From what I understand, a person's level should be over 50 and if it is under, restless leg syndrome (in which you can't sleep well) results and extreme irritability. The poor guy's number was a mere 11. When I got the call from the lab almost immediately after the draw was done, I cried to the lab attendant who gave me the news. I was so thankful and relieved to have finally found something! I knew there was a missing puzzle piece, I knew something was wrong with my kiddo. I can't tell you how frustrating that is as a Mom! But to have confirmation and a treatment plan and that's it's not something serious was more than music to my ears. So far, his treatment of prescription iron twice a day seems to have some improvement, although Dr. says it will take months.
I owe Dr. Luitjohan a MASSIVE plate of cookies for suspecting this, even when the Pediatrician laughed and assured me he's only had 1 child in his 20 years that has ever tested positive for this...Dr. Luitjohan, you were right on! :)

A Kindergartener in the Making!

Here he is and all of his divine school supplies! Can't believe this kiddo is headed off to Kindergarten. I am really excited for him, he will love it. I'm not one of those Moms who's sniffling about it..while very sentimental I am and I do love to cuddle my Parks, I'm excited for this and embrace it full on. I may shed a tear or 2 when it's just Mr. Jack and I..what an adjustment that will be. I'm enjoying labeling all his markers and supplies...would you believe each and every marker has to have a name on it? I also found it funny that I am completely clueless in the world of new Crayola products. What in the world is a twistable?! And whatever happened to regular old Crayola crayons?! Parker will be learning so many news things, and apparently, so will I! Here's to a great year of Kindergarten Parks!!! xoxox

~Mommy~

My Kind of Town, Chicago Is.....

An exquisite dinner at Tuscany

Love my man :)

Me & the Mr.

Cheers to lifelong friends!

Mrs. D & Mrs. D freshly manicured from the spa sportin' our fav. drinks! Cosmos!

Frank Sinatra said it best...my kind of town, Chicago is! I love, love, love this windy city! So many great memories, the ambiance of the city, the lights, the wind, the coolness and the electricity of the "mini New York" feel. I love Starbucks on every corner, people on trains with black bags, large black sunglasses..Chicago has a fancy feel. A certain fancy feel that I fancy at least once a year! Every year we have started making a tradition of taking a trip up there to see our great friends, curiously named the Dreyers...very close to Dwyer isn't it now?:) It is SO great to getaway just the 2 of us and have a weekend of sheer bliss! I will have to post pics I have from 3 years in a row! Here are some of my favorite memories from that weekend..

Basketballs and Bathing in Clothes...

Well what to my wondering eyes should appear this fine day! I had just removed Mr. Jack from the bath and sent him down the hall to diaper him. I succeeded at wrangling him into a clean diaper...I did not succeed in pulling the drain of the tub in time and leaving the bathroom door open. Back in he went, diaper and all! We all laughed so hard and Parker decided he should get in too in his PJ's, so we let him.

We also put together our fabulous new basketball hoop that was a gift from our good friends, Josh & Jacquie. They have always spoiled our kids rotten! The Parks loves to shoot hoops and it's pretty amazing he lands them in the basket most times! I love my little clowns so much..really enjoying the summer with them.

Parker

Been doing a lot of thinking lately and praying for my little, yet big man Parks. Wondering how his little body is feeling and trying to connect dots for him. Say a little prayer for him if you think of it and for us. Worrying and stewing over your kids seems to be a past time for us Mommies..it's all heart and it seems to be what we do best. I'm thankful I have someone I can dump my burdens on.:) I love my little man so much.

Airplanes & Coconut Milk

Deep into the world of little boys...airplanes! They soar in the air, and down low, ram into your unsuspecting shins as you sit on the couch, the come with noises of spit fire, and really do "spit" on you when they fly by. Their pilots so unpredictable and uninhibited by surroundings and happenings around them....so cute.

All the while I am in a hair funk. It's summer...the mop is all dried out and frayed. I stumble across a dessert for the lifeless hairs on my head...coconut milk conditioner! It's like a tropical dessert for my tired, weary head! Such an easy fix for my blah, dull, hair days. Walgreens, you have once again come to my rescue.

While the boys prefer their planes, I prefer my coconut milk conditioner on these hot summer days..:)

Sizzlin' Summer VaCAtiOn!

What a fabulous vacation! Our first successful big family vacation with the whole Dwyer crew, I loved it! I was so proud of my boys for adjusting well and sleeping great all of us in one room, the littlest tyke crammed into a playpen for sleeping quarters and all!

I am so thankful for my In Laws who planned this trip and made this all happen..grateful for their young and fun loving spirits. I really feel blessed with my family. I loved so much sharing a condo with my nephews and enjoyed watching my kids play with them. Tripping over tractors and dodging play dough balls in the morning on the way to the coffee pot was part of the great experience and of course welcomed by this little boy lovin' Mama for sure! Tickle fests, jumping on the beds..you name it, it happened! We were fortunate enough to do several shows with the kids, a few dinners out, a tad of shopping, some mini golf here and there, and my favorite...time in the sun at the pool and the beautiful Tablerock Lake.Ever since I was a little girl I always wanted to ride the Duck and a lifelong dream came true! We all loaded up on that funky lookin' vehicle and sailed down the Branson strip..Parker even got to drive! I am so thankful we got to get away this summer..our fist vacation all 4 of us! Last time we took one, Jack was in my belly.

Kiddo lost his first tooth on the last night of vacation! Here they are climbing the walls of Arbys...

cousin sandwich!

My little monkey :)

Date night out for Mama & Papa..Florentina's Italian Grill

a Dip under the tree with my sweetie pea! :)

On board that fabulous "Duck"

The whole Dwyer crew..notice my nephew (reindeer) off to the side with his "antlers"!

Catching a muscial show of Noah's Arc..we plucked Parker from his bed while still napping.(hence the face of disgust..)

My favorite picture of vacation..what a face, Parker!

Dowtown, newer, fancier part of Branson..the Landing and it was scorchin' hot!