Rubber Duck Race

The creek on the ranch where we raced the ducks.



Our friends on the bridge watching the ducks come down the creek.


The ducks floating in the creek.


The final winners- all the loser ducks are in the net.


The boys riding back from the creek to the house.

Last weekend we went to the south end of the ranch to Byron and Shelia's home for duck races. Our duck lost miserebly, but we had a great time getting to know more of our neighbors around the Oshkosh area!

The Horrible Day!

This last Tuesday Daraby and I traveled two hours to see our Doctors. What a day! First we stopped in to my Dr and I'm doing really well. All healed and feeling great. Daraby on the other hand wasn't feeling so well and hasn't been feeling that great for a while. Andrew and I thought Daraby was just a cranky baby. Yes, she had fun and active times but at night and throughout the day she would scream and be really mad- her stomach was in pain. It was getting worse and she was throwing up most of her meals too. So when I went into see the Dr I told him that I thought she was allergic to milk or had seasonal allergies. He then asked me a long series of questions and he pointed out a rash- I thought was baby acne- but was an allergic rash. In the end I found out that she is lactose intolerant and needs to eat special formula.
Not only is she lactose intolerant but has acid reflux. It was getting so bad that she didn't want to eat anymore. That is scary. She had an aversion to eating because it would make her feel bad and would have acid build up in her stomach. It would take her an hour or more to eat and then she throw it all up. In response, she was very nasally and plugged up so she had trouble eating and breathing. She also had diarrhea. I can't believe I didn't recognize these symptoms- I didn't know how sick she really was. The signs were all there. I didn't even read about these issues in the baby books because I never thought my child would have any of these issues. Now I'm a reading fool.
At the Dr she measured 25 inches long. That is amazing! She is in 6 month clothes length wise but they are so wide on her. She is 10.15 pounds- she is on the light side for where the Dr would like her to be.
At the appointment she got her 2 month immunizations. I hate shots so I felt horrible for her. The Dr asked me if I had given her tylenol before her shots and I said no. I didn't know that I should have given her tylenol before going to the appointment. Well after we left the Dr's office we ran around town on some errands. When we were halfway through Wal-Mart she started wailing and turning red. She would barely catch her breath and would scream nonstop. I was terrified and people started giving me mean looks. I had never heard her scream like that before. She was in pain. Well after going through the check out and having the manager lady question me about my child. I rushed out and drove to the pediatrician's office. I was crying and she was still wailing. Her leg has swelled up to the size of a pop can. The Dr held her and looked her over. In the end he gave her a large dose of benadryl and tylenol. She was having an allergic reaction. What a scary/horrible day for both of us! I then drove 2 hours home with a wailing child. She was so worked up she was scream for 5-10 min and then sleep for 5-10 min and then repeat. That night she was sick and out of it.
All in all she is NOW feeling the best she has ever felt. Her rash is gone, her nose isn't stuffed up, her poopies are more solid, she isn't throwing up anymore, she isn't as cranky, she sleeps better/has better awake times and is gaining weight. I'm so thankful that we know what we know. I'm sad that she has those issues but I'm glad we can treat them. She is on medication for the acid reflux and drinks special formula with rice cereal for her lactose intolerance. The Dr thinks she should grow out of the lactose issue around 1 or 2. Thank the Lord that she is doing so well! I'm so thankful that she is doing better!

The National Guard- Bridge

My Mom, Denton- nephew and brother Darrell on portable bridge.


Two sections of the bridge put together. The boats are alongside.


A closer view of the bridge and boat.

While in Pierre a couple weeks ago Andrew and I were able to see my brother work. He has been in the National Guard for 20+ years. He was sent to Iraq a couple years back. Well the weekend we were home they put the portable bridge in the water and drove it around with the boats on the side and one on the back. It was incredible! We had no idea the whole bridge unit was going to move and then it did. We were standing on it chatting with Darrell. In addition they gave several boat rides. Many people came down to the river to get Coca Cola floats and ride the boats. Darrell said this bridge was similar to the one they used in Iraq. It is neat that they can carry the boats on semi trucks and then put them in and out of the water in minutes. I'm proud or Darrell and all his hard work with the Guards.

Random Photos

Daddy's hands with baby Daraby's hands


Enjoying time with Dad!


Jackson was laying outside on the blanket with Dara and I.


Harley was laying on the other side of us.


This picture was taken by Daron when he was here- I love Abby's expressions.

In the afternoons Daraby and I have been known to lay out on the lawn in the great weather or take a walk. For some reason she loves being outside and will coo in the front carrier as we walk about. Every night weather permitting we take a walk over the sandhills. The last couple days/nights she has been inhaling her milk as fast as it comes out the bottle. It seems she is going through a growth spurt.

Our new cat is adjusting well and he finally decided to be buddies with Jackson. At first Harley cried and meowed incessantly. It drove us crazy. He was so loud at night outside our window. It's bad enough to have a screaming child in the night and then we had a yeowly cat. Eventually he started to like Jackson. They curl up in the camping chair on the patio. In fact Jackson taught Harley how to nurse Abby. These two half grown cats nurse our dog. Abby will even lay on her back with all four feet dangling in the air with two cats laying over her. They are quite a sight. At night the dog and both cats walk with us down the road. Our neighbors think we have deranged pets. Very few people walk their cats- let alone a yeowly one. For a while there when Andrew's allergies were so bad I had to take the entourage for a walk without him. I thought I was really losing it as the babe screamed, Harley yeowled and I tried to soothe them by talking. We are one strange bunch.

South Dakota Visit

She is so alert and awake now! We love laying on the floor and chatting!


Dani my niece is shooting the gun. She is adorable.


My Mom and niece Brittany.


My niece Dacey holding Daraby.


My nephew Denton.

Last Tuesday Daraby and I traveled back to SD to visit my family. While we were home I was able to hang out with my mom and catch up with many of my nieces and nephews. It was fun to attend a couple volleyball games and a football game. The girls are so busy. Dawn, Deryn and Brittany play volleyball, Dacey runs cross country and Daly is starting to play football. The two little tykes Denton and Dani just have fun being little. It was great to talk to Denton about Kindergarten. He loves going to school. I can't believe how much he has grown. He looks so much like my brother Darrell. Dani is just a hoot. She is so fascinated by Daraby.
The older nieces aren't kids anymore and are talking about college and hard HS classes that I never took. It is wonderful to go home and talk to the girls about life. I used to babysit them and now they are driving their own cars and taking care of themselves. I think I feel like a parent when they see their children become who they are created to be. It is fun to see their personalities and their different goals in life. What is hilarious is when I say, "I remember when you were this big." I hated when people did that when I was little and now I say it to them. I especially like it when I tell them, "I used to change your poopies." I still hate to change poopies. Thank goodness I'm married to Andrew- it doesn't phase him a bit.
While in Pierre I took walks with mom/Daraby and caught up on some delayed shopping. It is always good to stock the fridge again. Andrew loves a full fridge! Andrew drove up to Pierre on Friday night and then we traveled back home on Sunday. Today was a day of catch up at home. The laundry and dishes always multiple while we are away. I think they throw parties. Daraby and I also went out with Andrew in the pickup as he had some pasture work to do. Daraby loves the bouncy truck and falls right to sleep. The suburban must be to smooth because she screams when riding in it. Haha!
Daraby is getting so big and can hold her head up and look around. She loves being awake and often coos and even laughs. We melt when she smiles at us. During the day she likes to sprawl out on the blanket- kick her legs and wiggle her arms. She stares at the craziest things. The leg of the chair and the arm of the swing are currently her favs. At the end of the day I always ask myself what I did with all my time and I realize I don't do a whole lot but sit and talk to Dara. :)