Easton's birthday

Easton did get to celebrate his birthday this year...he had a super hero birthday party...surprise surprise.  We had it at Jumpin Jack's party shack.  He was super excited as a friend of mine made capes for all of his friends to wear at the party.  Another set of friends made some fabulous cupcakes with different super heroes on them and they were a big hit!  Everyone had a great time! 

Hey how about Christmas?!

Yes, the Rinewalt's do celebrate Christ's birthday around here!!  You wouldn't really know it by my postings here on the blog though would you??  :)  We had such a great Christmas this last year though because I truly feel like both of our children understand the true meaning of Christmas now.  We have always had the birthday party for Jesus since Elle was a baby and I think she has really enjoyed that--and so has Easton, but now we are really able to have some good discussions among the four of us and in the readings in the Bible about the birth and their thoughts about the birth.  It was a great evening of celebration. 

The next morning, we were able to watch the children as they came into the room and saw the presents that Santa brought and that is always a joy as well.  Then we made the drive to Waco to have the Christmas tree at Jason's parents around lunch and then my parents Christmas Tree the next morning.  So, it was a busy few days.  Always fun for the children...to get the see all of the family and of course be showered with presents.  We are getting the to the age of "less but more expensive" with Elle and that just seems crazy because last time I checked I am still crazy young!!  :)  We are working really hard to try to keep their heads on right with not being spoiled rotten little brats, but having some luxuries.   

Elle has a medical issue??

So this is a long overdue post--but that shouldnt be a surprise, because I typically post about 4 times a year to document everything that happens throughout the year!  :)  I have everything documented in multiple locations and then when I have a spare moment, I love to sit down and write it all out on here...so here goes. 

Last fall when Elle entered 2nd grade, she began having all kinds of tummy aches.  At first, we were concerned that could be for multiple different reasons:  I wasn't at her campus anymore (for the past two years that she has been there, I have had an office there and she knows that I will at some point be there-and this year, I do not), many of the friends she had been with for the past two years had been moved around and she "felt" as though she was all alone, the teacher she had was fantastic-but of course she wanted the ones that her friends had--(I had hand picked the teacher she had..so of course felt some guilt over the whole thing)...So--at first we felt it could be any number of these things.  But when the pain continued and she began really not eating and it would keep her from not playing with her friends when at home or at her Yaya and Poppi's house--we knew that it was really an issue.  She is not a large child anyway, so she doesn't have a lot of weight to lose!  I began asking lots of questions of the pediatrician and thankfully she listened!  We were referred to the fantastic GI doctor in Plano that Easton has seen for two years.  He immediately said that he felt like it was the same disease that Easton had!  Eosinophilic Esophogitis!  What??  She wasn't throwing up like Easton and it didn't look exactly like his symptoms did...but when Dr. An explained it to me--I guess it really did...So, we talked about watching it for a little while longer and continuing the current plan we were on for a few more weeks, but if that didn't work--that we should come back and do an endoscopy to be sure.  And that is exactly what we did--and he was RIGHT!  I think Jason and I were shocked!  And so was everyone at her school.  I mean, they didn't think she was lying, but honestly, they didn't think it was something awful like ulcers!!  As soon as we started the medication, she was a different kid and everyone was amazed.  Her teacher had been told by everyone that she was always happy and was helpful and had a willing spirit, etc..but all she had seen was crying and asking to go home...it was terrible.  Now, she was able to experience the child everyone was telling her about!  Elle told me later that she was thankful that we believed her--because Jason and I had left work so many times to come and get her when she called us...that just broke my heart...

The fun begins

Starting in January, Easton began having ear infections again and complaining weekly of having headaches.  It is so odd to have a 4 year old complain of having head aches, especially when you have a history of brain tumors in your family.  It is also hard when the child never slows down for even a second but consistently tells you that he is in pain...what to do, what to do?  We began taking him to the dr often and he would always have an ear infection or a sinus infection...but would get better with the antiobiotics.  His tubes had only been out for a few weeks, so the thought of having to go back in with those seemed a little hasty--but was becoming more and more evident.  We went to the ENT and he recommended waiting and I am pretty sure that he thought I was one of those "over the top moms" based on previous experiences with me...and told us to come back in 30 days if things weren't better...I am pretty sure that my prayer at that moment was not one of grace...but thankfully God is forgiving...and we left that day without an incident.  I did call our pedicatrician back and ask to have a CT scan to rule anything out with the headaches--and she agreed and said that she felt certain that it was the sinus issue, but would help when we returned to the ENT (man, was she right!).  When we went for the CT scan, we were ready to have to put Easton to sleep--but he amazed us all and went through the whole thing without the need for any medicine.  He was such a big boy and we were so proud of him!  The CT scan showed severely impacted sinuses...and ultimately pushed the ENT to remove his adenoids, clean out his sinuses, and put in new tubes.  He told me that it was one of the worst cases of sinus disease that he had ever seen!  That is just terrible!  Now, we have done the surgery and God is so good to take care of my little man...Easton seems to be doing well and hopefully will be continue to do well in the months to come!  Praise the Lord!

Another year

Every year, we set the kids up for Christmas pictures and I am so amazed every year at how much they have grown.  I am also so proud of them that they still adore each other and daily try to show each other.  It sure makes me happy to watch them--and know that they are building such an important relationship in their lives. 

Halloween 2010

It is always fun trying to decide what the kids will be each Halloween and they make me laugh every year because they always want to compliment each other...or Elle want to compliment Easton--so he dictates what their theme is going to be each year.  It is so sweet--but a little sad for Elle since she is the one that always compromises...She ends up loving whatever she picks--so it is all good!  I do love her for being that sweet!  They are wonderful children!!

Easton trying out his shooting skills

Those of you that know how I was about guns when we first had Easton--know that this is HUGE that I am allowing my four year old to be able to shoot a real gun!  My parents know that Easton loves to make guns out of anything and everything and they got their BB gun out and allowed him to try to shoot targets with it...Jason was so excited and my dad and he spent almost an hour working with Easton.  Easton was all smiles and just couldn't get enough of it.  We stressed to him the importance of being safe when shooting a real gun, and he listened--but he is still only four--and the gun will be locked up in the safe.  Seriously, boys are crazy...