Jackson's 1st soccer game....

Attached is a quick little video of pictures from Jackson's soccer game. It made for a crazy hour of trying to watch the game, take pictures during the game and keep Madelynn happy while all of this was going on.

Enjoy the pictures......

While Jackson was running up and down the field Madelynn discovered that I loaded a new game on my phone for just such an occasion.

As for Kaitlynn, she discovered she wanted to take some pictures of her own during the game. So Daddy gave her his phone and she followed Grandpa Bacho around the field snapping her own pictures. I have not checked Phil's phone to see what the result was but It should be interesting.

Happy Saturday!!!!

TTFN~



Peanut's first day of school.....

Well we finally made it to Madelynn's first day back to The St. Gabriel Cradle. She absolutely LOVES her school and could not wait to start back. She watched Kaitlynn and Jackson pick out their new favorite outfits and fill their backpacks....she couldn't wait for her turn. This week is a staggered week and starting next week she will go everyday.

This morning she was a little confused at first, we were walking into a new classroom. I explained she was now three and this was the three-year old room. She seemed to like the comfort of her old classroom and really wanted to stay there. I explained she was now a big girl and big girls went into the big girl class room.

That seemed to be enough for her to explore the classroom. I showed her where the big girl potty was and her teachers showed her some new routine's. I asked her if she was ready to have fun??? She assured me she would love it, threw her arms around my neck, told me she loved me, kissed me and waved good-bye.

She was so ready for school!!

I am sure I will repeat this experience throughout Madelynn's life. Today was so much easier because I take her to school and walk upstairs to my office and walk back down to get her at the end of the day. Knowing she is on the floor below me instead of across town, across the state or across the country today was easy. One day it won't be so easy.

Happy First Day of School Madelynn!!!

TTFN~

The heart doctor........our annual visit.

Because of the way Madelynn was diagnosed with her congenital heart condition (chd) I am always a little gun shy when I have to take her to ANY doctor. For me the pediatric pulmunologist and cardiologist visits rank right up there with some of the scariest events in my life.

Since I didn't really talk about Madelynn's pediatrician visit until after it was over and received such stellar news; I decided to do the same for the pediatric cardiologist hoping for the same result. I have to say even three years after surgery every time I walk into the pediatric cardiologist it takes all I can muster not to puke while ANYWHERE in the office.

This time was no different. I walked in, I felt my stomach in my throat and tried to just remember to breath. As I looked around, I saw Madelynn everywhere. There is a big picture of her on the wall where she is about 17 months old, Camp Luck photo collages for the last two years and there is Madelynn and those big brown eyes smiling back at me.

It was as if Madelynn was reminding me, "See Mommy look at me now!!!"

About 10 minutes later, my breathing returned to normal and I could just wait. When we were called back Madelynn took control and just marched down the hallway like she owned the place. The staff just smiled. She jumped on the scale and told the nurse how to measure her height too. It was very cute. Then into the dreaded exam room. I tried to just focus on Madelynn helping the nurse get blood pressures and other vitals.

I know I shouldn't, but there is a part of me that waits for the pediatric cardiologist to very politely but in matter-of-fact style tell me there is something else wrong. I am always afraid that if I let that wall tumble, my world will change forever AGAIN. To be honest, I am not sure I am strong enough to walk this road AGAIN.

Thankfully, AGAIN would not happen Friday. After her exam and echo I was told that Madelynn was a PERFECT RESULT. She looked great in every sense of the word and her doctor told me he was very pleased. Before we left he would not be doing his job without a word of warning. For the time being she has to come back every year. Because Madelynn needed an "extended repair" there is always the possibility the repaired area will shrink and need to be altered again. He is not comfortable with her not coming back every year just yet.

So while Madelynn enjoys her second year of a pre-school she loves and lives every day to the fullest, I will be on the sidelines smiling, laughing and cheering her on. I won't lie though, there will always be a small wall that I refuse to let tumble.  The part of me that will do everything in my power to protect her with every ounce of my being. To give her every chance to live as normal as life as possible, broken heart or not.

Friday was a GREAT day!!! We received excellent news and it helped the battle inside me rest easy for now.

Who doesn't love a kid in goggles?

Beautiful and thriving!!

TTFN~

Girls Weekend......A little late................

The last weekend of the kids summer break we headed off to one last.....Hurrah!!!

Phil, Kaitlynn, Jackson, Madelynn, Grandma Bacho and myself piled in the van and headed off to Mason, OH to crash Aunt Jenni's for girls weekend. So why are Phil an Jackson going......They only dropped the girls off and headed further on to Phil's brother's for some family time of his own.

So while Jen's house was filled with five sqealing little girls, Phil and Jackson visited with his family and did a little fishing. There is a picture on my facebook page of the first fish of the day on the trip. There were probably 300 pictures from girls weekend. My only regret from this 2nd annual girl time, we never took a picture of Grandma Bacho with her daughters and grand-daughters.

Below are a few pictures of the five raving beauties............

In one year they have grown so much

So we told the girls to line up on the hearth and on the count of three they should jump.

Three!!!!!!!

Silly Girls!!! ....No Kaitlynn does not wear glasses.

They were hot, a little tired and ready to run through a fountain or two.

It was a really great weekend. My hope is that we can continue this tradion every year.

TTFN~

Tooth Adventure Update.....

So with the drama of having her teeth extracted and starting school I almost forgot to share a little something. Kaitlynn was so exhausted the day they took her two front teeth she just wasted to be close to Mommy and Daddy. I think she grew velcro at her hip and attached herself to Phil and I.

I sat down to watch a little t.v. and she had to be right there...touching me. She cried when we told her she had to go to bed she wanted to lay in my lap instead. It really was pitiful. By the time she fell asleep she was all snuggled up to Daddy and her life was simply complete.

It was at that point we did not put her teeth out for the Tooth (or in her case Teeth) Fairy. In the morning, she didn't even ask about it, I just figured we would take care of it that evening.

Well at bedtime that day I found her sitting at her desk writing. I reminded her it was time for bed. She responded, "Ok Mommy I am almost done."

"Done with what??"

"I wrote a letter to the Tooth Fairy." She proudly handed me her note. 

Kaitlynn's Letter

She is in fact excited she lost her two teeth. Her headache's and mouth pain is now also gone.

She received special treats from the Tooth Fairy four gold $1 coins and a $2 bill. She came running in my room the next morning shouting, "Mommy, Mommy the Tooth Fairy left me gold and a dollar bill with a two on it!!"

I wish life could always be that simple. It warms my heart to see her smiling so much after such an unfortunate event.

TTFN~ 

The First Day of School.............



Not sure what is cuter the braids or the toothless smile.




Daddy's Flower Child



He really is ready, he was excited to go.

He suddenly looks so old.

They were so excited to go to school this morning. I was a little disappointed Phil was already gone to work and couldn't be there this. However, he made it home to meet them at the bus stop this afternoon. It just made my heart flutter when the kids lept down the bus steps yelling, "Daddy!" and went running for him.

I have to say I was really shocked when Jackson told me he couldn't wait to go back tomorrow. Over all it appeared to be a fabulous day for them.

TTFN~

Toothless Beauty

The missing picture of  my toothless beauty.........