Peter Rabbit, Peter Rabbit

Today was the big play! Grace was one of the narrators for her kindergarten class play. She has been practicing for about a month. Everyday she would say, I need to remember to slow down and speak clearly. She did a great job, even if the microphone wasn't working optimally. She not only knew her part but everyone elses too. She could have directed, acted and narrated the whole thing today. She even physically moved someone during the play. She is such her mother's child, a perfectionist to the end. She was jumping for joy with excitement when she saw Mommy, Grandma, Lily and then Daddy and Papa. She made sure to smile for all the cameras and got in some good hugs with her friends. Her first question upon opening her eyes this morning was "Mommy what if I get stage fright?" (Um, you have been stage a bazillion times for dance recitals, preschool performances and put on shows with your best friend down the street daily....)"You won't sweetie, you will do great." "Ok, can I watch tv?"(crisis averted)

The next crisis was over the required dress for the play. Her teacher got the blame for this one. me - "Grace, you have to wear the kakhi pants that we borrowed from your best friend and the white shirt, your teacher even wrote it on the homework."

grace- "I don't like wearing pants, they make me itch"(I'm thinking of another word that rhymes with itch but starts with a b)

me - "Ok wear the pants and the shirt and you can wear this cute sweater over it and take it off to put on the special shirt that you made for the play."

grace - "Can I put it back on after the play?"

me- "Yes" grace- "ok"

(This is pretty much every morning after Grace gets up, a battle to the door over clothes, food, lunch, and anything else she can whine about.)

Daddy was nervous for her. She did great, smiled, sang, spoke clearly for the most part. I know this is probably the first of many performances for Grace. I am so glad that she is happy in Kindergarten, she loves learning, reading and math. It is hard to believe that in two short months that she will be graduating to first grade. I hope she continues to love school and make great friendships.

18 months

Lily had her half birthday yesterday. She celebrated by only taking a 40 minute nap and going to bed on time only to get in bed with us at 11:30.

Today she had her 18 month appointment and about a five minute nap in the doctor's office. She officially weighed in at 23 pounds and 5 ounces and is a little over 30 inches tall. She hasn't gained much since her last doctors appointment at almost 16 months. Mommy was able to convince the doctor that her prevacid needed to be upped after more than a year at the same dose, and that Lily has allergies and needs help in the form of an antihistamine. Small victories. They keep asking me about her words, most of them end with a long e sound and are hard to decipher without looking at the hand motions or the surrounding environment. She clearly says ball, daddy, sissy or Gacie, and Mama(only when necessary). If you are looking at her she will say please with the hand motion(sounds like peas with a swipe across her chest), tv with the remote and Mickey, also with the remote(sounds like tv, but if the tv is already on she is telling you to put on her show). She is starting to say book and likes to sit on your lap before bed time to read.

Lily loves to color, she uses every crayon in the box to make her mark on the world, this includes paper, tables floors, herself, basically anything the crayon will mark on. (She holds a crayon better than her 6 year old sister.) She is a mover and a shaker. She moves toys, furniture, clothing and anything she can lift to various locations throughout the house. She also likes to shake any and everything she can from shoes to her booty.

Lily has a lot of milestones coming up before her second birthday, like her 1st and 2nd plane trips, two different beaches, swim team with sister, pool days, working with mommy and finishing up her first year in preschool. Stay tuned for future posts.

special giveaway

I read a lot of blogs. Some that are listed to the side and some that I find through those posted to the side. I identify with many of them for several reasons. It is a great network of moms out there. Each is unique and special. My only hope is that no one goes through anything alone. That being said, losing a child can be very lonely. One of the blogs that I read, along with another blogger and jewelry artisan have put together a necklace memorializing those special losses. They are giving away two of these special necklaces. So head over to the artisans site and leave a comment and maybe you will win one. I hope I do. Here is the link to the special necklace. Take care!

Fun in the Sun

Ok so this post is almost a month late. We had such a good time in Florida visiting Grandma Terry, and Poppop. Grace has so many favorite parts. I think the best was spending time with her cousin Faith, Campbell too(sorry Campbell, girls will be girls.) Grace loved her boat ride with Popop and their neighbor. She loved Mixon Fruit Farms and I highly recommend going if you are ever in Bradenton, FL. They have fresh citrus fruit, juices even ice cream and animals to see. Grace also loved the aquarium, her favorite part being the dolphins that are in rehabilitation there.
Lily loved being outside. Everyday she would go to the front door and fuss until Daddy took her outside. Then she would walk up and down the street. She went for a ride in her car but mostly she liked the walking. She enjoyed all the side trips too, but she LOVED the beach. It was a cold and blustery day when we stepped on the beach but Lily loved picking up the seaweed, and cattails and writing in the sand. She also loved the freedom of the empty beach. I can hardly wait until this summer.
Both girls enjoyed mommy's favorite restaurant: The Beach House. But they both ate the best at Grandma Terry's table. Grace even ate meatloaf and didn't complain once. It is amazing what a Grandma's touch can do to food. Shoot, Grandma Terry can even get Grace to try new things.

The boat trip

The Beach


Looking at shells

What to write

Favorite Beach activity

The Hot Tub

This is fun

Mixon Farms

Mote Marine Aquarium
The cousins

3 years an Angel watches over me

One Year Ago..........(kleenex alert)

One year ago.

One year ago, I spent the night in a hotel holding my baby while she slept. I slept in the chair holding her and praying that tomorrow all would be well.

One year ago, I awoke early to hand my baby over to a nurse and watch her be carried down the hall, asleep again. As I walked toward the day surgery waiting area, my mom came towards me, missing Lily by mere moments.

One year ago I sat in the day surgery area, surrounded by loved ones, but missing the two that I hold dear. Grace was home with Grandma Terry and Pop pop. Lily was in an unseen operating room with capable surgeons, nurses, fellows, and God’s power surrounding her. It was the longest day of my life. From the moment they took her to the time we got home a week and a half later, time ran together into the longest day. But those hours that she was in surgery, they would be good, bad, and prayerful. I will NEVER forget THE CALL. The nurse, who was supposed to call every hour, called and said that they were closing, surgery was over… THEN within ten minutes she called back. They have to go back in; Lily had gone into SVT (supraventricular Tachycardia). Her heart rate was over 300 and her blood pressure was dropping fast. (Now I know this means she was dying). I hit the floor on my knees; friends started calling friends, facebooking, e-mailing begging for more prayers. When all was said and done a total of 7 hours in surgery, Lily left the OR with an open chest, but everything was under control. We got to see the surgeon and his nurse practitioner. Dr. Kanter let us know everything that happened in surgery and that the next 24 to 48 hours would be critical. Then we were sent down to the ICU family waiting area to await the time that we would be allowed to go back to see her. As we got there, they were clearing the CICU (cardiac intensive care unit) for her arrival. When a new patient enters the floor all parents have to leave their child’s bedside until the new patient is stable. So we left one vacant waiting area and entered a soon filling one.

One year ago, I met some of the most wonderful people in the world. The surgeons, doctors, fellows, nurses and everyone at Egleston touched our lives in that one short week. I met other parents, some not as lucky as we……. I met volunteers, and Lily one day will know that her fairy godmother hugged me in the hallway of Egleston………….. I met the ability to sleep in a windowless room and wake up before shift change for a quick visit before the floor was closed for rounds and shift change…….I met a lot about myself, my family and mostly my FAITH.

One week ago, I went with Lily for her cardiac 6 month check up (one year post op), and learned things that scared me. I had hoped we were through that I wouldn’t have to live through this again. Instead I now know about scar tissue and sutures and what that means for the supravalvular aortic stenosis (possible surgery depending on pressures during large growth periods) ((WOW, really sounds like I learned a lot)).

So Today, I celebrate! One year after my baby went through major open heart surgery, she is a healthy 16 month old girl who runs at life full throttle, who loves balls, cars, dolls and being outside. She loves her family, her friends and her FOOD! So bring on the cake, cookies and everything else……..For today is the day the Lord hath made……and I say we PARTY!

It's Heart Month!

It is heart month and Grace's school is joining in by doing JUMP ROPE for HEART. You all know that this is very important to us with little Miss Lily. Check out Grace's link to donate to the American Heart Association http://honor.americanheart.org/site/TR/JumpforHeart/JRFH-GSA?px=1872675&pg=personal&fr_id=1282
Or there is the Children's Heart Foundation, The Sibley Center, Children's Hospital at Egleston and many other organizations that could use your help. We all need our tickers to keep on ticking so ....when you think of making a charitable donation go straight to the heart of the matter and think of all those that need your help.

Thanks!