Interruption.....

I had one more post about where we have been but It was interrupted by the arrival of a small package this afternoon. Last Thanksgiving we went to Florida to visit Friends and Family. I have to say it was the most fun we have had in a LONG time. I know I posted my photos but these were some photos other people took. Thought I would share.

They clean up well don't they?

At the end of an eventful day, just not sure who fell asleep first.

In the nice Florida evenings, we could take a golf cart ride through Plantation acres you just never know what you would see.

The horses were always a hit.

Enjoying Nana Patti and Papa Dave's ginormous jacuzzi tub. Jack had a ball.

TTFN~

Where have we been.....Part 2

While on this thirty day sabbatical from blogging all of the kids were sick in some fashion. Because we get early Spring the pollen comes very early. Combining that with a week of high winds Jack was one miserable little man.

We made our annual visit to the doctor to get his additional allergy medicine he takes for thirty days twice a year. It took a few days for the medicine to adjust to his system and getting him to take it at the right time of day. A few days later Katie came down with a virus that kicked her butt for about five days. Lucky for me it was over the weekend and I only missed one day of work.

Poor Katie just lay on the couch as I crammed liquids down her and she just slept for what seemed like days. Because I didn't see a significant difference in Katie and she passed it to Maddie off to the doctor we went for a third time in less than a week. We were able to get Katie something else and I saw huge improvements. It took her over a week to get her strength back. One day she slept 14 hours straight.

However, the damage to Maddie had already been done. Maddie had a weight check Friday and weighed over 26 lbs. Monday when we went back she was less than 25 lbs. She lost over a lb in three days. I was emotional wiped out. She officially fell off the chart and did not register in a percentile. I just wanted to crawl in a hole and cry because I felt as if I failed her once again.

I have been told, "Oh she looks great!", "Are you sure she has lost weight?", "What are you so worried about?".

Most of you were not there as I literally watched her whither away and beg the doctors to help her with her eating after surgery. She spent two extra days in the CVICU because of it. I have been to two different nutritionist trying everything I can to pack weight on her without turning eating into a nightmare. My ultimate goal is to pack enough weight on her that if it ever came to pass she would be able to withstand another surgery and lose a little weight.

The brightest side to these most recent events as the weather is changing Maddie is wearing shorts and t-shirts. The shorts are tight and need to be adjusted. It means that even thought she is losing weight and has a lot to make up for she is still growing. If she is growing she is still getting good nutrition just not enough to pack on the pounds but just barely over enough to sustain or gain and ounce here and there.

Trying to focus on that positive is what keeps me going; not to mention the infectious smile or the for no reason at all she walks up to me and says,"I love you Mommy." It melts my heart every time. The last few days have been very successful in the food department. We are making great strides. In about another week or so I will head up to the doctor's office for the dreaded weight check.

In the mean time I attached a few pictures of the scenes I see everyday that inspire me to continue.




This face is what makes me work harder to find a better answer to give her the best possible life sometimes at a very emotional cost.

This is a new photo that will hang in my bedroom. She just had to know what the Hyacinth's smelled like.

TTFN~

Where have we been......Part 1

The last 30 days have been sometimes more than I can bare. To start Spring has more than sprung. I did get some pictures of spring arriving both in the front and back yard over the last month and thought I would share a few.

Two years ago Katie, Jack and I planted the Hyacinth's in the Fall and waited the long Winter to see the fruits of our labor. Katie and Jack now know when the Hyacinth's bloom we will spend a whole lot of time outside.





I have to say that the Plum Tree's are my favorite. It is a slow growing soft wood tree so it is perfect for the front yard. Overlooking the logistics of why I planted it in the front yard it is just a pure sign of spring and I love it. However today the blooms are all done and the dark purple leaves remain. I truly enjoyed my three weeks of blooming tree.

Last but most definitely not least we have the Pear Trees. The buds are pink but one fully open they are a pure white. Fully blooming the trees look like white cotton candy or a giant q-tip. The Pear Trees are EVERYWHERE. One year an old friend had been staying with my mom and he came home one night and was a little disgruntled. I asked him he told me he thought winter was over but when he was driving home it was snowing.

Now mind you this is in the middle of the spring and the daytime highs we in the mid 70's. I asked him where he was at when he was driving home. When he told me I just laughed. This 2-3 miles of road is completely lined with pear trees and it was the white petals shedding from the trees. There are so many of these trees on this stretch of road at night it looks like it is snowing.

So yes we are still around completely drowning in everyday life. But I suppose there are worse things. Have lots more to share and hope to catch up this week.

Happy Monday!!!

TTFN~

A little something to share.......

Thursday I thought it would be a very boring weekend. I was very wrong. After I picked the kids up from school Thursday, I let them play outside. It was the warmest day of the year at 78 degrees and I didn't want to waste it.

Later that evening, Kaitlynn's first grade class performed during a PTO meeting. The bug theme was very cute. I didn't notice until I was watching the show that Kaitlynn had been practicing the songs for weeks. I heard her singing in the shower, cleaning her room and doing her homework. I loved all the bug hats.

During an earlier conversation, I thought Phil would have to work late Friday and most of Saturday. It turned out he made it home sooner than expected Friday and he and the kids goofed around on the trampoline. Maddie and I took a few pictures. It was a fun afternoon and the kids slept incredibly well Friday night. Saturday, except for a short visit with my mom, was a bust because Phil was gone working most of the day.

We made up for it today as we grilled out dinner with friends and rang in the beginning of racing season with the Daytona 500. While nobody's driver, in the room, won I thought it was kind of cool a rookie won. To be honest, I didn't want any of our driver's to win because in the last five years which ever driver won the Daytona 500 the driver tanked the rest of the season.

So although I didn't get to do the things I wanted this weekend I thoroughly enjoyed the First Grade Bug performance, I did have a good time with the kids Friday and excellent dinner and fellowship Sunday afternoon.

Enjoy the pictures. Have a Great Week!!

TTFN~

From this weekend

To my sister.............

So there is no doubt in my mind that I might be slightly in trouble for this post. However, it was done with great love and not for embarrassment purposes. Today is my little sister's birthday. However, my little sister is not so little anymore, in fact she is an amazing woman, wife and mom.

As her birthday approached I wanted to do something other than the mailing of a card with a gift card enclosed. But what for the woman who has everything. She has three beautiful daughters, a wonderful husband who loves her completely and this incredible, charming way about her; even when she is knocked down by the worst curve ball imaginable, she can still find sunshine.

For whatever reason, a very long time ago I collected her school pictures. The first photo in the collage below is prior to kindergarten, then her kindergarten through eighth grade photos. I know when she sees this she will be squirming inside, shaking her head wondering what was she (our mother) thinking at all the outfits.

On the back of one of these pictures she wrote the following: "Chelsea, Parents don't listen but oh well. I hope you like it. To the best sister I love you even when we do fight. Love, Jennie"




I realize some of these pictures are not her favorites and is probably wondering "I thought all of those were burned." I see my best friend I shared a room with, laughed with, cried with and oh fought with. From the outside, we are very different she looks like and sounds like my mom in so many ways and I look like and act like my dad not to mention I am almost 5 inches taller than her without shoes. With shoes, some days I feel like the jolly green giant. Our journeys in life took us in opposite directions until we had children.

From 2003 to 2008 our parents went from having no grandchildren to having 7 grandchildren. However, in 2004 one of those grandchildren, my sister's daughter, passed away due to complications from pre-mature birth. How do you recover from that? The courage, strength and ability to be human she showed all of us, she became my hero. I don't know if I could ever recover from that and she did it with such beauty and grace.

Thank you for being there when I needed it, being a sounding board when I just wanted to be mad and laughing with me when our children did something totally ridiculous. I like knowing when I am sitting in the car pool line with nothing to do, I can call you and we can talk about nothing and everything.

I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful sister and her beautiful family. Although we are not there to help her celebrate, please know we are sending lots of hugs and love.

Anna, Jen, Ruthie, Dave and Lily

And.....Oh by the way.....since we never seem to get our birthday presents to each other on time I didn't want to break tradition, it is on its way....HAHAHAHA!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN!!!

TTFN~

A Mother's right

As a mother we have lot's of rights....the right to run and play like my 5 year old, the right to cry because I stubbed my toe like my two year old or the right to sit on the floor and play dress up with the Barbies with my 7 year old. Today I am going to evoke a different right as a mother, I am going to try and express with words about beaming with pride.

Two or three months ago I received a letter home from school that almost caused my teeth fall out. Kaitlynn's Art teacher sent home a letter asking us to give our consent to allow her art work to be displayed in the education building for an entire year.

My first thought was what in the world did my seven year old produce that required recognition like this. We had to wait several weeks for it to be ready for viewing. About two weeks ago, we received a letter from the superintendent of schools letting us know it is now on display and the hours it can be viewed.

Today was the day we went to go see it. The building is actually a rather boring square box. When we walked inside we were greeted by a very sweet and understanding receptionist. There is a hallway that goes all the way around the building with offices on both sides. About every 4 feet on both sides of the hallway are matted, framed artwork from kids all over the county. My best guess says there were about a hundred framed pieces out of thousands of kids in the county.

Truthfully I was speechless to see all of the beautiful works of art and that my daughter was chosen to be one of these few. As we started our jaunt down the hall the receptionist reminded us to please be very quiet as people are working and we would not want them disturbed. What I did not know was how serious she was about that final comment.

As we rounded the second corner of the hall I hear Kaitlynn say, "I found it."

After taking a few pictures I looked over and realized Kaitlynn's art is right outside the superintendent's office and he was there. I know it sounds kind of hokey but everyday for the next year when he comes to work Kaitlynn's art will start his day off right. When we left I thanked the receptionist for allowing the interruption and left with a HUGE smile.

Below are the pictures of our venture today.

Thank you for allowing me to brag about my artist.

TTFN~