don't forget to laugh......

I have mentioned this before but, I have been working on my picture project that is far from done. I came across this picture.

 

I LOVE this picture!!

 

However, the amount of times the shutter clicked to get this one picture and the giggles, begging and fussing that came along for the ride was ridiculous. This picture was taken the last day of three weeks of day camp. Kaitlynn was in fine arts camp, Jackson sports camp and Madelynn was in mini camp (for mini people like her). Each week of the fine arts camp, Kaitlynn was able to make a tye-dye shirt. She was so thoughtful and made a shirt for each of them.

 

Thinking Jackson was stronger than Kaitlynn I originally tried something else. However he was having problems balancing Madelynn. All the sudden I hear, "Jack I'm falling", "Maddie I can't see", "Mommy Maddie just kicked me".

 

Which resulted in this:

 

 

 

Whenever I see the the good picture I will always remember what ensued to actually get it. It will always make me laugh.

 

 

Don't ever forget to laugh......

 

TTFN~



A family minute.....

As I was looking for my inspiration for today's post I remembered I had this photo of Madelynn I have been meaning to share.

This is Madelynn stopping to rest on a park bench on our way down Constitution to the Lincoln Memorial. This was a very long, cold day but well worth every minute. As I watched her ooh and aahh over all of the majestic architecture in our nation's capital I smiled ear to ear, the entire day. We walked miles that day, but I had no idea how far, honestly it doesn't matter how far. For her I would have walked triple the distance.

As a family we were some place we had never been, spending the day together, sharing a meal and the kids actually learned something. We couldn't have asked for better. Madelynn rode on Daddy's shoulder's some but she walked quite a bit too. As I watched her it took my breath away. I would have never believed anyone who told me four years ago we would be taking this trip.

We have come so far in such a short period of time. I had no idea how complete she would make our family.

Enjoy your family....

TTFN~

Happy Thanksgiving........

Usually by now I have something I really want to post about to celebrate Thanksgiving. As I have talked about before Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday. It doesn't involve presents or any other requirement just show up to be thankful and celebrate family.

Phil and I are VERY LUCKY. We still have our parents and immediate family but we also have an amazing extended family too. Brothers that you would never know were just 1/2 brothers, sisters that would walk through fire for us, and people that have stumbled into our life that have no blood line whatsoever that we love like family. I don't think two people could be as lucky as Phil and I.

So today we Thank You ALL....to our parents for always being there, our siblings for never forgetting we are family and to those that came into our lives and made us better people for it....We thank you.

Something I never want to forget is to be Thankful for Dr. Alfred Kendrick. Without God's perfect timing and Dr. Kendrick's pediatric knowledge the picture below would not have Madelynn in it. He saved her life. We will forever be grateful he helped complete our family.

We hope everyone finds something to be truly THANKFUL for this year.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Thanksgiving 2012

TTFN~

Love,
The Addler's
Philip, Chelsea, Kaitlynn, Jackson and Madelynn

Over the last week....

During the last week I have been running, running, running.......and I am exhausted.

To start Madelynn finally started school. She was very nervous. To start 90% of her friends she has gone to this school with for the last two years are not in her class this you. She is one of the youngest children in the class. I believe she is also nervous because for the last two years she has had the same teachers and this year she has new teachers. Unfortunately, the day after she met her teachers the week before one of them left. So she started the school year off with a teacher she had never met.

Madelynn was very excited about the classroom and all the fun things to do. This year she has and art center, nature center with a fish tank, kitchen and family care area. She would have been happy to taking care of the babies all day. I was thrilled to see all the things that will challenge her this year. I believe that over the next few weeks she will get acclimated and do very well. Sadly, I discovered she needs help learning how to use scissors. Since she cut her own hair last year I assumed this was not an issue. However cutting hair and paper are two different things. guess we will have to practice.

 

 

 

 

Today was the first GAME Day of the season for Kaitlynn and Jackson. Let me just say when I left for the field this morning it was grey and foggy. However, I came home with face, arms and feet that resembled a roasted tomato. I have flip flop stripes across the tops of my feet, farmers stripe across my bicep and my face looks like I tried a new raspberry makeup.

Enough about me.....Kaitlynn and Jackson did great on the field today. Jackson's game was up first  and he wowed the crowd. The first play of the game he was passed the ball at mid-field without taking a step he used those powerful legs and scored. I and most of the parents watching were stunned. His team won 7-2 and Jackson scored 4 times. He did really well.

 

 

 

 

 

Right after Jackson's game we moved fields and settled in for Kaitlynn's game. Kaitlynn's team did not fair as well they lost 9-7. Kaitlynn scored twice and did very well acclimating to her teammates and being one of the smallest players on the team. Even though they lost many of the parents, from the other team, and the official walked over and complimented how well they played. I think it was a good learning experience for the team. Kaitlynn was not disappointed they lost because her coach pulled her aside and told her how great she did. If nothing else I hope this is a great confidence builder for her as the season goes on.

 

 

 

 

Over all it was a Good week and Great Soccer Day. But my favorite pictures of the week are.......

 

 

Welcome to Fall Soccer Season....

TTFN~

Farewell Summer 2012

The end of Summer is here. Like most parents, I am a little sad it is coming to a close. I have truly enjoyed my children this summer and everything it entailed.

It started out with one child mastering her bike, one child brave enough to just take off and ride, and one child finally having long enough legs to ride the big wheel (you would have thought she won the lottery), Vacation Bible School, Family Weekend and three weeks of Camp Gabe took us through the end of July.

Camp Gabe is where the kids really thrived this summer. Kaitlynn was enrolled in the Fine Arts Camp. She came home each week with some amazing art work. Not to mentioned she loved the freedom to just create. Jackson on the other hand spent three weeks in Sports Camp. My favorite part about Jackson in Sports Camp, someone finally wore him down. He LOVED it, but he was beyond exhausted.....best he slept all summer.

Madelynn was in three weeks of "Mini" Camp. Half her pre-school class was enrolled, she loved it. My favorite part about "Mini" Camp was the first day when Madelynn crawled out of bed she pulled her Minnie Mouse T-shirt out the drawer. She looked at me and said, "I have to wear my Minnie shirt for "Mini" Camp." Never a dull moment.

The rest of the summer was spent sitting under trees as the breeze blew by, sneaking off to Brewsters's for after dinner ice cream, magic tricks and wild animals at the library and swimming as much as possible. It also included lots of tests and doctor visits. All three had their annual physicals. except for Madelynn's weight the doctor was very please with all three. We also left the pediatric cardiologist with a great report. We have to wait until next year to find out more about Madelynn's nerve damage in her diaphragm but all is well for now.

I'm not going to lie I LOVE when school is in session. It is nice to know if I leave for work and the house is clean, when I come home it will still be clean. My children are routine people. If they know the plan they depend on it. Ask those who come to visit and the plan is disrupted.

This year marks big changes for Kaitlynn. She will earn real grades instead of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. She will participate in End of Grade (EOG) testing. If she does not pass this testing she does not pass the grade. Each student Must pass both the class and the EOG. I have not talked to her about this yet, it is on the agenda for the week.

Jackson will still be on the satisfactory/unsatisfatory program but his teacher will have a challange. Lucky for us she knows all the tricks, has been teching for 25 years, and been at the school since it opened in 1998. Jackson was very excited when he heard she would be his teacher. I hope this was an answered prayer.

Madelynn starts school this week. She was very sad when we drove Kaitlynn and Jackson to school and she could not go. She cannot wait for school to start.

Enjoy the photos from the first day of school through the first day of school.

So Long Summer...




TTFN~

7 years old today......

Jack,

By the time you were born, I had been awake for more than 24 hours. I had gained more than 40 lbs carrying you. I walked around 5 centimeters dilated for two weeks and you still wouldn't come out. It was in the dead of summer I couldn't sleep, I couldn't sit, I was just plain miserable. Finally, a week before the due date I begged the doctor to get you out. She had an idea and told me she would be surprised if we weren't heading to the hospital in the next few hours.

She said, "No doctor in their right mind would turn a 39 week pregnant, 5 centimeter dilated mother to be away. They will induce you the rest of the way and he might be here by this evening."

Boy was she wrong. He did not want to come out. The doctor in the hospital said the baby will be around 7 - 7.5 lbs this will be no problem. Finally at 8:29 am, the morning after I went in out popped a 9.5lb healthy baby boy.

My whole body felt like I deflated a balloon. As soon as they laid him on my belly I felt my insides collapsed. My first thought was 7 lbs? She's dreaming. The doctor comes over and says, "I am so sorry, I had no idea he would be that big." Tell me something I don't know.

New born baby clothes didn't fit, you cried all the time until I finally realized you are still hungry. You were drinking 8oz bottles at 5 months of age. One of my first thoughts was I am going to go broke feeding you......what happens when you are a teenager. I might have to take a loan out just to feed you.

Well some things never change.....at 8:29 this morning you are officially 7 years old. I still can not keep you fed, you are just as stubborn as the day we tried to make you come out.

But I love everything about you......your gentle heart, peaceful soul. I love the fact that you tell me everyday that you love me and I don't have to say it first. I love the fact that you still want to hold my hand. I love the fact that you randomly give me hugs.

I could go on and on about all the things I love about you. Most of all I love the fact that God trusted  me enough to gift me with a very intelligent, inquisitive and special little boy. I know you won't be little forever but you will always be mine.

I hope you have a Wonderful 7th Birthday!!

I love you to the Moon and Back, to Infinity and Beyond, Forever and Ever Always, Mom.

TTFN~

100,000

Back in September 2011, I posted about the 88,888 miles we had travelled in our van. We bought it new. We put every single mile on that van. In September 2005, some time in the afternoon that 2006 Van was rolled off the delivery truck. They hadn't even pulled all the delivery stickers and tape off of it yet and we signed papers to drive it home.

 I am not going to lie I felt like I was driving a tank. Earlier last month we reached the 100,000 mile mark. I was so caught up in the everyday events of our life to even notice. Phil finally had some time at home, so he did a little tune up on her before we left for Family Weekend to Mason and noticed the numbers had turned. To be honest, I liked the fact I didn't notice.

If we aren't careful we can spend our whole lives worried about the numbers and what they mean. Until Madelynn had her surgery I always worried about the "numbers" and every little detail they represented. While Madelynn was recovering, the nurses were constantly telling me, "Don't look at the numbers look at your daughter."

That phrase rings so true in too many aspects in life. I know sometimes the little details are incredibly important but if I spent all my days on the little details I would miss the big picture. I want to share my big picture.....

Quick side note......sometimes I have difficulty and am technically challenged. I recently figured out how to link my phone to my laptop to transfer pictures. To most this is an easy task but I finally just spent the time two hours exactly and educated myself. Because of my recent education I can share the following......

This is Madelynn's Heart 10/12/2008.

In a recent visit to Madelynn's Pulmunologist, he showed me x-rays from the day the Urgent Care Doctor realized there was a problem (the one saved her life). Her heart was boot-shaped, deformed from lack of blood flow. The only reason this x-ray was taken was to rule out a different condition.

This is a picture of Madelynn's Heart last week (7/5/12)

The second x-ray is from the week before her appointment to the pulmunologist. You can clearly see how much she has grown but her heart has also re-shaped. This is that bigger picture that brings me so much JOY!!!

The side view from 7/5/12 that shows the reminder.

If you look closely at the this third x-ray along the breast bone you will see the metal wire wrapped around her when they broke it to repair her heart. We were told the bone would eventually infuse over the wire but I don't think it will ever disappear from a x-ray.

We have come so far in 100,000+ miles. We bought the van because our CRV just couldn't manage our two car seats and everything else you need for a 2 month and 21 month old children (Madelynn wasn't even a thought at the time). The van has seen beautiful beach filled coastlines and crazy bitter winter weather. It has heard hoards of crazy laughter and silently cruised as tears streamed down.

Hopefully, with Phil's mechanic background it will easily last another 100,000.

For those of you, wanting an update on Madelynn's Pulmuology appointment. We did not get any bad news but still nothing concrete. They did do a quick lung study that confirmed her lungs appeared to be functioning normally. There is a more detailed study they will do around her birthday next year. If she is cooperative they will be able to tell how much nerve damage there is from the collapsed lung and paralysis in her diaphragm she suffered days after her heart repair.

The doctor's best estimation is that the nerve damage will be minimal. The best explanation he gave was that she will be allowed to play sports but she would never be a marathon runner. We will know more next year. In the meantime, we will do our best to keep her healthy and enjoy all the every day moments with all of our children. Spending the days enjoying the bigger picture and worrying about the details as they occur and not let life control us with them.

TTFN~

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~