Random pictures!

*****Update...here's those pictures I was looking for, of Madison losing her first tooth!!!

You are probably wondering why a picture of my refrigerator would be on my blog? Well...let me try to explain. I went to take a bath one night, and came into the kitchen afterwards to find that Madison has put all of the ABC's that were scattered ALL OVER the frig in order, and had neatly arranged my papers, and I thought I'd died and gone to TYPE-A Heaven!! It was wonderful!!!

The girls "squeaky-clean" after their baths, one night!! How cute, they are! (You'll notice also Madison lost her tooth!! ...I'll try to find those pictures somewhere and post one of that!)

Audrey's got a little "Mary Kay" in her blood I guess...because she was trying to do her lips...only it was with my eyeliner!!! But...she loved it!

Love ya,

Amber

Happy Birthday Madison (it was in December!)

Madison celebrating her actual b/d with Brody and Chase!Madison got a new bike for her birthday!All prepared to hit the road!!

Looking at bike for the first time!Celebrating with mom, dad, and Audrey at Chuckie Cheese!
Madison and Audrey

I don't have to tell you how late I am in posting...you can see that for yourselves!!! We didn't have a birthday party for Madison in December, well...because it was December, but we had a party later...pictures in another post!!

Trying to go back and catch up on some stuff!!!

Amber

RARE DISEASE DAY:

To My Friends and Family:

I am writing to tell you about a special day that’s coming up soon. On the last day of February, millions of people around the world will be observing the second annual Rare Disease Day. This day is special to us as a family, because our youngest daughter, Audrey, was diagnosed with a rare disease when she was only four months old.

In the U.S., a disease is considered rare (or an orphan disease) if it affects fewer than 200,000 people. Some rare diseases, such as Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), are well known to the public. However, many others are not, and you can imagine the loneliness of having a disease that most people have never heard of, that has no treatment, and that is not even being studied by any medical researchers.

Pediatric Mastocytosis, which is the disease my daughter has, is considered one of these orphan diseases. There is no known cause of Mastocytosis and no cure, with treatment options only available for maintaining symptoms. Thankfully, I am a member of a support group, Mastokids, Inc., which is a non-profit organization aimed at providing support to families of children with Mastocytosis. It is with this network of friends and the support that they give that raising Audrey with a rare disease has been manageable, and enjoyable.

Nearly 30 million Americans (about 1 in 10) have rare diseases. Many rare diseases are serious and/or chronic. Many are life-threatening. Even so, people with rare diseases often have trouble accessing the medical or other services they need because those making the decisions are not familiar with their diseases. All of us know someone with a rare disease. I encourage you to visit the website of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) on or before February 28, 2009, to read about Rare Disease Day activities in the U.S. and the global Rare Disease Day website (http://www.rarediseaseday.org/) to learn what’s being done around the world.

Mastokids, Inc. is pleased to be partnering with NORD this year, in an attempt to bring awareness not only to Mastocytosis that our children are affected by, but to many other rare disorders around the world. For further information on pediatric Mastocytosis and the work that we do to support our children, please visit http://www.mastokids.org/.

Sincerely,

Amber Pittman
Board of Directors, Mastokids.Org
VP - Awareness

Support Research for Pediatric Mastocytosis!!!

Visit http://www.mastokids.org/ today!

Christmas Fun!

Audrey hid from me at my Granny's...this is where I found her.

She was hiding again, but it looks as though she's been naughty, and put herself in the corner!

Madison and Ella stealing sweets!

Austin opening gifts

Walker, Lauren, Madison and Audrey at Uncle Rusty and Aunt Jean'sAunt Stacie and Audrey

What? What gum are you talking about? I don't know anything about gum?

Just what I wanted!

Grant, Grandma, Uncle David and Colby

All of the Pittman grandchildren!

Grant, Rob and my Dad

Putting out reindeer food, and listening for Santa's jingle bells Grant LOVES getting his picture taken!Opening gifts Christmas morning! It's the pony I've always wanted!!!!!

Ella thinks she's on a roller coaster!

I wonder who she got that idea from?

Snow in Mandeville

We couldn't believe that WE were getting snow, too. We went to bed Wednesday night thinking that our family in Brandon and Columbia were going to get to see snow, but not us. Madison wanted snow so bad!!! So...our weather man, said, "maybe," and I woke up early Thursday to scope it out. No snow...just cold and rain!! BUT...at almost 7 am, those rain drops turned white, and it snowed until almost 11 am. We got about 3 inches in Mandeville, but Madisonville got 6 inches. We had lots of fun. School was never cancelled, and we were in the car at one point ready to go, but changed our minds. I mean, after all, how many times is Madison going to get to play in the snow? Audrey wasn't too keen on the snow until she realized she could eat it, so after that she was enjoying it!! Fun! Fun!

Deck the Halls, Ya'll

Yesterday, Madison and Audrey got a special delivery from the North Pole, our Elf on the Shelf. Grant and I had gone out to do some errands, and when we came back we discovered him and a special book. When Madison got home from school, she spotted him, and we read the book he brought. The girls named him Peter. Peter is a special elf from the North Pole, that drops in around the holidays, and checks on the kids every day and goes back each night to the North Pole to report to Santa Claus. Each day that Peter comes, he is in a new spot in the house that the girls have to find. Madison loves Peter and has already told him what she wants for Christmas, so that he can go back and tell Santa Claus. We cannot touch Peter or he'll lose his magic - so the girls just look and talk to him!!!

(Looks here like Madison is pointing to the grimy dirt around the thermostat - NOPE!!)

She's pointing to Peter - and as you can see is excited!!!

Audrey's not too sure about Peter, and keeps asking, "What he's doing here?" She doesn't want to talk to him, but brings me to him all the time for me to talk with him!!!

Yesterday, was decorating day!! Grant got the outside looking festive, and I worked inside!! Madison liked the deer, and thought they needed some hats to keep their ears warm!

Her ears were a little cold, too!

This picture is my favorite. I have laughed and laughed at this picture. I so wish I had the girls in some cute Christmas pj's because it would have been perfect. Madison and I were finished decorating the tree, and the girls had just had their baths. I asked them to just stand in front of the tree and smile. This is what I got out of Audrey!! So typical of her!!

Then things started getting silly!

And they started trying to "outdo" the other one's frown!

Merry Christmas from the Scrooge's!!!

And remember to bundle up!!!