Denver - 3rd Time is the Charm!

Man, I'm a little Morgan posting heavy, but I swear Aidan is still around doing great! Morgan had some food allergy blood work done in the fall and we quickly sent the results to National Jewish to see if there were any more foods she could food challenge. Food challenges are basically where you sit in a room, with a whole bunch of medical people watch you eat foods that you were previously allergic to. If that doesn't sound fun enough, it gets better! You get to see there for 4ish hours per food and progressively eat a whole bunch of food you kind of hate because it's made you so sick in the past. But let me tell you, the results were worth it. So, so, so worth it. Morgan ate and passed to peanuts (I KNOW!!! PEANUTS!), eggs (I KNOW!), a whole bunch of nuts, some fish (but important fish because now she can have french fries in restaurants!!!), garbanzo beans (random, but okay). She is now only officially allergic to sesame seeds, cashew/pistachio, salmon/tuna. I'm getting a little teary just typing this. Truly a life changer.

Remember that late night concert, yeah, my puffy eyes don't lie. An early morning flight to Denver.

Asian pear styrofoam on your face, ok.

If you have to spend spring break in a hospital, you get a bit spoiled in the sugar and shopping departments. 

And then we sit. And sit. And sit. Thank you to the creators of the show Friends. Yes, she did watch EVERY episode.

Shockingly, this skin testing is much improved. But still some pretty big ones.

So excited to eat nuts. SO EXCITED (kidding).

We celebrated a successful first day of challenging with a movie at Alamo Drafthouse. (Truly my favorite way to watch a movie!)

And then we sit.

And do some testing type stuff.

And then eat. Lots of eating.

And lots of coloring and watching Friends.

And play kiddie games. 

After the biggest day, we had to go and get some groceries. This was the day she passed eggs and peanuts. Did I start crying in the grocery store looking at the ALL of the foods she can eat. You bet I did. I used to cry (regularly, sorry people of Boise, that sobbing mess was me) in the grocery store trying to figure out what in the heck I was going to feed her. So it was a bit emotional to be on the other side of that. 

Since it was another day of challenging, I limited my celebration. 

And since National Jewish is the #1 respiratory hospital in the country, of course more lung function testing. 

Cod for breakfast, sure! 

She could have challenged hazelnuts, but she'd had enough and we settled on nutella. Unfortunately, that she means she's not cleared to eat actual hazelnuts, but nutella will do until the next trip.

Tuna and ketchup, coming right up.

I wonder sometimes if the staff miss seeing us sitting in this same spot for 11 hours a day for a week, coloring and watching Friends? Likely, someone else is filling our spots. But I bet they don't color nearly as well as we do.

And we are free! Exhausted, thrilled and ready to go home! 

It's really the simple things!

Morgan thought this was a bear habitat in the Denver airport. Ummm no.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you National Jewish. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Winter 2018!

Oh Boy, it's kind of pathetic that I can pretty much get caught up with the blog in two postings. Someone force me to take some pictures!

We had some pretty spectacular weekends of skiing this year. Don't  tell the kids, but this knee/hip deep powder was when we left them with the babysitter for the weekend and needless to say, had a blast. You could hear people squealing down the mountain and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. 

Meanwhile in Boise, Morgan and Aidan were freezing their faces off at a tournament. I did catch this game and am still recovering from the hypothermia....

Baylee is in love with Ryan. I am wanting for the day that she changes the locks on the doors so I can't get into our house. 

Baylee has a new buddy! Teddy battled Parvo, thanks to his owner, and is now one of the funniest little guys. 

March was Social Work Appreciation Month. I'm having my 15th anniversary of being a licensed social worker and let's just say, some days this meme is spot on! 

Once again, Kearneys are LOVING their new schools! So many great things to be a part of. After kicking herself all winter for not playing basketball, Morgan tried out for volleyball. After never having touched a volleyball, she said she thought she might make varsity. *we cringed thinking no way. Then she told us there would be two varsity teams and she might be on the top varsity team. *we cringed again, hoping there would be no tears. It's not like we don't believe in her, but she's never touched a volleyball before. In true Morgan fashion, she made the top varsity team. And that my friends, calls for treats! 

I mean, c'mon, could she be cuter!?!

And then it was the Dolly llamas birthday! Happiest of birthdays to our fine little chickadee matriarch.

We all love her so...

It's shocking that Morgan and I are the way that we are, especially seeing the serious role model we have... 

If you haven't caught a volleyball game in a  while, I highly recommend. So much fun to watch! 

Kind of random, but Ryan's good friend from high school manages a Seattle band in town for Tree fort (Thunderpussy). We met up with Chris for happy hour and spent some time with the band. So much fun, so much fun that Morgan and I decided to go to their 1 a.m. show. I know! 1 AM. I'm still tired and questioned, what am I doing? But TOTALLY worth it.

Morgan cringed at the taking of this picture. But I really don't think anyone in the crowd was concerned with the old lady and the young kid in the audience. The band was absolutely great! They are kind of bad-assy and Morgan LOVED it.

So fun to see them all bad assy on stage and then totally melt meeting their youngest fan. They were so kind and sweet to Morgan, asking her a billion questions and giving her big hugs. She was thrilled! 

Despite our rock star night the night before, Morgan and I headed to do a little marching. Kids shouldn't be in fear of getting shot at at school. Mmm kay. It's that simple. Ugh, blood boiling.

Christmas and NY!

I know, I KNOW! I'm blogging about Christmas when it is 70 degrees out. Total fail and then when you see the pathetic display of pictures from the holiday season, additional FAIL. But since I haven't worked on a photo album since 2008, I've got to get these blog posts done so they can be become a blog book. See kids? Mom was fun sometimes, when she wasn't a rushed, crazed mad woman following detailed lists of where each child goes each day for activities and losing her mind when soccer shoes are left out of the soccer bag. I digress.

Can I just say how much the Kearney kids and their parents are LOVING their new schools? Okay, I did. Anyway, Aidan had a Christmas band concert and I was given strict instructions to sit in the back row and "be cool." Okay, he didn't say "be cool," it more something like, "don't you dare embarrass me" or something like that. So pardon the long distance iPhone shot. I can tell you he was as cute and talented as can be. I see a big flutist future for this kid (just kidding, he wants to quit). 

Now that Baylee is on the proper diet and medications, she is slimming down nicely. Who knows, you may even see her on the cover of People magazine soon for an extreme weight loss photo spread. 

Thank God for Morgan.

This was our first year of not using a professional picture for Christmas. Cue the 500 shots to get one where we don't look absolutely ridiculous. Well, maybe we do here, but I don't care. 

We fit in some hockey time! Aidan loved it. 

I also entered a pie eating contest. I swear I needed insulin after that. I'll never look at pumpkin pie the same. And sadly, I didn't bring home the pickle jar trophy, but there's always next year folks!

It was a white Christmas, hooray!

This is an all too common scene in our house. 

So lucky to have Grandma and Grandpa visit before their big Arizona winter adventure!

"Shitters full Clark." I love my dad. 

After Christmas, it was off to McCall for some skiing and fun times with the Hamiltons!

Again with the food eating competitions, I think the Kearneys have a problem.

But it allowed us to fit in nicely with the Lardos crowd!

We even convinced Jesse to join in. 

Not stellar ski conditions led to an impromptu spa day. I think Quinn captured my youthful side quite well. Sadly, I think I wore similar makeup in the 8th grade. 

Aidan also does a lovely job with the make up.

Always such a treat to spend time at the Bryan's cabin! I hope this gaggle carries on the tradition of McCall fun!

It just isn't McCall ski season without some hot tub time machine!