Summer is officially here...

This year the tree in our front yard is finally large enough to do us a service.  It provides wonderful shade against the front of the house in the hot afternoon sun. Sunday morning after breakfast I found Phil sitting under the tree in a chair watching this.

Throughout Father's Day Weekend the kids begged us to play out front so they could ride their bikes. Katie was the only one who had mastered riding. This statistical fact will be short lived. Watching Jack concentrate and trying to get it so he could keep up with his sister was fun to watch.

The extreme concentration and the protruding tongue made me laugh.

He is trying to enjoy it. See the tongue?

He's getting better. Do you see it?

I am not going to lie his legs have a few learning abrasions. At one point he became a little too confident ran into Katie. They bumped front tires, went over their own handle bars and crash one on top of each other and the bikes. I didn't run to them right away as I was so stunned at what I just saw.

Katie was so mad and in such shock she started yelling at Jack. I had to remind her he was still learning, she was the better rider and she should avoid him. After a few minutes she settled down and wasn't quite so mad.

I must say I could have sat under that tree all day watching them. The TV wasn't on, the computer was being ignored, it wasn't raining we just immersed ourselves in it. It was wonderful. I know they need to read and work on their studies during the summer but I think this could have been extended recess day.

TTFN~

The Travelling Wall.....

This was not our first visit nor will it be our last. Saturday we took the kids to the Vietnam Memorial Travelling Wall at the local VFW. It is such a beautiful piece of property to begin with the Wall almost takes your breath away. This year they brought alot of extra things for the kids to see. Several military vehicles from deuces, to helicopters, to motorcycles with the weapon attachment. It turned into quite the history lesson.

One of the largest American flags I have seen.

58,272 names are now on the wall.

It was BEAUTIFULLY displayed.

United States Navy

United States Marine Corps

United States Army

United States Air Force

It was quite stunning to be that close.

May they Rest in Peace.

I believe they enjoyed the history lesson.

They loved the tent.

So the true History lesson is this.....

-Over 2.7 million served in Vietnam

-There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall

-31 sets of parents lost two of their sons

-31 sets of brothers are on the Wall

-39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger

-8283 were just 19 years old

-The largest group, 33,103 were 18 years old

-12 soldiers were 17 years old

-5 soldiers were 16 years old

-One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock, was 15 years old

-997 soldiers were killed on the first day in Vietnam

-1448 soldiers were killed on the last day in Vietnam

-8 women are on the Wall

-16 chaplains are on the Wall

-Number of Medal of Honor recipients during Vietnam - 244

-153 Medal of Honor recipients are listed on the Wall

-West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation with 711 KIA

-The most casualty deaths in a single day was 31 Jan 1968 - 245 deaths

-The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2415 deaths

Phil's step-father, James, had a friend who was killed in Vietnam. We were able to find him, do a rubbing of the name and mail it to him. Phil's father, Gene, was in Vietnam (he lied about his age to serve). Many of Phil's family members served even though he could not.

I know they could not fully comprehend the concept of why we were there I still think the kids enjoyed themselves.

TTFN~

Endings and Beginnings....Part 3

The day after school was out for the summer Katie and Jack had their last soccer games of the Spring season. I had no idea what a difference it would make for them to play sports. Not to mention Katie did really well for her first season. Jack on the other hand just showed them what he has learned.

He has really developed strong legs.

He loves his orange shorts.

He looks so at home standing there.

She may be the smallest....

and one of the only girls on the team.....

but she gave the boys a run for their money.

I had no idea she would love it so much.

I think she found a home in playing soccer.

We actually register for fall soccer this week, have evaluations in July and the first practice in August.

Madelynn has also asked to play but she has to be cleared by the heart and lung doctors first. She has a series of tests with the pediatric pulmonologist in July and I still have to make the pediatric cardiologist appointment. If they say she can play, we will sign her up. Originally, Phil and I talked that when she started kindergarten we would sign her up. However, Phil decided if the doctor says yes, she will be on the roster this season.

TTFN~

Endings and Beginning.....Part 2

I am not sure who was more excited that school was ending, Maddie, Katie and Jack or myself.

Maddie has been out of school for two and a half weeks prior to Katie and Jack's last day. During her million question a day conversations, she would always ask how many days until Katie and Jack could stay home with her. Finally that day came.

Good-bye boots, sneakers

....and cleats

Hello flip flops, crocs, slides

.....and bare feet

We don't have many big plans for the summer except to spend as much time together as a family. Needless to say, this will make Maddie one Happy girl.

TTFN~

Ending and Beginnings......Part 1

In the last few days I discovered I had not posted since the end of May. So I am going to attempt to catch up over the next few posts. Since the Memorial Day Holiday life spun out of control. Besides my involvement with Levine Cardiac Kids (LCK) and Family Advisory Council (FAC) at Levine Children's Hospital and the required meetings, I feeling like I have been chasing the bus I missed.

I attended a meeting at the hospital where we invited families who had recently joined LCK. We met some amazing families. I met the Jackson family whose son is in the hospital now and earlier last week had his third open heart surgery and reached the 100 day mark in the hospital. I am not going to lie I felt incredibly blessed Madelynn was only in the hospital just under 30 days all together. The strength it requires to be a parent of a heart patient or any other chronically ill child is almost unbearable.

In talking to some of these families and my heart family friends, I discovered something I am not sure I ever did until recently. At some point in life you have to grieve the loss of the perfect baby with all 10 fingers and toes. You have to let go of the normal life you dreamed about and accept the massive curve in the road during a rainstorm that is now your life.

For us personally, we had to accept all the 'ologists', the revolving door medical bills and most important find the new "normal"; what ever the he** that is. I used to shelter Madelynn and I believe in some cases hold her back. But I have discovered when given the chance to fly she will soar with the best of them.

Don't get me wrong there will always be that reality check when  we walk through the pediatric cardiologist door and I mentally hold my breath until we walk out. Most parents just get an annual physical for their child, Madelynn also has to get a heart and lung check too. Because of the way Madelynn was diagnosed, I am always leery walking into the appointments. I will never assume everything will be fine again.

On a day to day basis, I let go of that stomach twisting chaos and focus on the fact that Madelynn will be four at the end of the summer, can write her name, log-on the computer and play games and asks a plethora of questions everyday. The amount of questions she wants answered is absolutely exhausting. However, I just remind myself it is how she learns.

Every heart family has a different but similar journey and are also at different mile markers on that road. Knowing we are all traveling together and there are certain things you never have to explain to them is a huge comfort. I am grateful to them and hope I can always return the favor to new families.

TTFN~

Happy Father's Day!!

To my Dad......I am sorry we will not be together today. Knowing what you are doing and I have been with you there before, I truly hope you enjoy every minute of it. I will see you when you return.

To my Husband......You are a great Dad. To see the three of them sprint to the door EVERYDAY when you get home, or want to call you the instant they get home from school and tell you about the day, you are loved beyond measure. Today is all about you and how you want to celebrate. I hope you have a WONDERFUL day.

TTFN~