The girls and I have gone to the pool a lot this year. We will spend 3 to 5 hours there when we go! It is so relaxing, the older two are off on their own and they will meet friends there, and Alexandria loves the sand and wadding pool. Anyway, this year Mary finally worked up the guts to go off the diving board (not to mention I bribed her with money, but only because she is a good swimmer, and has been for years, but she just never felt like she could swim in 16 feet of water!) I knew she would love it when she did it, and she sure did! The rest of that day she only went off the diving boards, well the low dives anyway. When we went the other day she went off the high dive, on her own, without me having to bribe her!
Now, Anna, she has been asking me (actually begging me) to let her use the diving boards since the day Mary first went off of them in the beginning of this summer. I have been hesitant only because she has only been able to swim well since this year and she wouldn't go where she couldn't touch the bottom. I told her that if she could jump in 5 feet and then swim to the edge I would let her go. Well, the same day Mary went off the high dive, Anna was practicing in 5 feet and finally felt comfortable in water that was deeper than she was tall. I still had a lot of hesitation just because Mary has been swimming for years, and Anna for only months. I let her try it. It was funny because the first few times up, she went to the edge and chickened out. She then told me that she'll need to wait till she is seven to do it, which I was fine with! Next thing I know she comes up to me and tells me that she's gonna do it, and she went right up there and jumped like it was nothing! She swam up to the edge just fine, and after that she wouldn't leave that area!
Ok, so that same day, Alex decides she wants to try the water slides. These aren't just little baby water slides, they are big, fast, and long and twisty slides that you would find at a big water park! She was just tall enough for them, secretly I was hoping she wouldn't be tall enough. The great thing about this pool is that the lifeguard will catch a non swimmer at the bottom if you ask them to. After waiting in the long line, down she went. To give you an idea about how long these slides are, I had enough time to run down a lot of stairs to meet her at the bottom in time! Poor baby, came down sideways, and it looked like that big bad slide whipped her all over the place! She was crying, so I thought she was scared. She was only upset because she had water in her eyes, she said the slide was not scary, it was fun!
So, ok, Mary goes down the high dive, Anna down the diving boards for the first time, and Alex down the giant slide..........Oh, my babies are growing up so fast!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Over a month!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so sorry to anyone who might still be checking in for updates! Anyone? I am so sorry, we've just been enjoying our summer, and school for myself is taking up a lot of my free time! We haven't gone anywhere on vacation this year, and the girls start school in less than a month, so I don't think we will. I can hardly believe that summer is almost over and I will have both older girls in school full time. I don't know what Alex and I will do without the older girls around, but we have lots of time with Anna going into first grade now. Anyway, Mary is doing a summer orchestra, and Anna has started gymnastics. Mary is getting really good on her viola, and Anna is obsessed with perfecting her cartwheels, roundoff and hand stands into back bridges ( I don't know what the term is for that). So, look what she can do now! HERE
Saturday, June 21, 2008
GO CUBS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS CUBS/SOX SERIES TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Rainy day!
So yesterday it rained, a lot, all day! The girls were bored, and since there wasn't any thunder or lightning, I let them go out to play in the rain! This brought back so many memories as a kid. We always went outside (in the summer) when it rained. I don't let my kids do it a lot, and I have no idea why. When I told them to go outside they looked at me like I was a nut, like I had totally lost my mind. This made me feel bad, so I felt like I should take a couple of cute pictures to document. A couple pictures turned into a lot, and some videos too! Then, I thought of a song that Mary loves, that would was running in my head the whole time they were out. This inspired me to create a Montage! Watch it, it's not too long. They were so adorable!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
On Mother's Day
Mothers day was great! Actually, it was more like a Mother's day weekend! Jason decided to take me shopping for clothes the Friday before Mothers Day because I was in serious need of some new clothes, and I would never go out and buy for myself because I always feel that the money should either be saved, or the kids need something more than I do. I'm glad he made me get all we did, but it didn't stop me from feeling bad about it and cringing when the lady was done wringing us up at JC Penny. Jason told me to just keep breathing. It wasn't that bad actually. I got a lot, and we hit some great deals.
Saturday I also went to get a contact lens eye exam. It has been months since I threw away my last pair of contacts. Again, I didn't want to spend the money so I was dealing with just my glasses. That is hard for me to do because I hate wearing them, they make me feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable, so I'll go without them while dealing with terrible headaches from eye strain. Not a good thing to do. Anyway, I did a little research before deciding where to go and I found a great deal. America's best sells a membership that gives you 3 years of free eye exams, and 10% off of contact lenses for 99 dollars! A regular contact lens eye exam will cost 69 dollars, so for 30 more you get a whole 3 years worth. That will give me no excuse to let my prescription expire. So, anyway I did that, I got my contacts, I even got a cheap pair of sunglasses. It feels good to wear new clothes, to be able to see without feeling uncomfortable, and even look stylish!
Sunday morning I woke up to breakfast in bed. Jason and the girls do this every year and I love it! I spent the day cleaning my house because it needed it. As much as I would have liked to just lay around, this needed to be done. The girls helped me, so that was great. They cleaned their room and did a really great job on it, which is very unusual for them. Mary did the morning dishes too. They were really very sweet all day, and that made all the cleaning I did that much easier. Later Jason's parents came over and when Jason came home from work we ordered Chinese food. This is Jason's mom, and my, favorite thing to eat. We have gone to restaurants on Mother's days in the past, but that is such a pain. They are always so busy, it takes forever to get seated, and it's all just such a hassle. This way it takes 15 minutes for the food to get done so you can just basically leave to pick it up right after calling it in. It was very good, as usual. Later we gave Jason's mom her gifts. We got her a DVD version of Anna's 6 year Transplant Anniversary Montage that is on the side of this blog. She loved it, and It really nice to watch on a bigger screen. We also got her a nice toaster. Sounds lame, but she really needed a new one, and she is like me, she won't spend money easily. That was it, it was a nice mothers day. Hope you all had a good one too!
Alex decided that is was just too messy with the wrapping paper on the floor, so she took it upon herself to clean up.
Saturday I also went to get a contact lens eye exam. It has been months since I threw away my last pair of contacts. Again, I didn't want to spend the money so I was dealing with just my glasses. That is hard for me to do because I hate wearing them, they make me feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable, so I'll go without them while dealing with terrible headaches from eye strain. Not a good thing to do. Anyway, I did a little research before deciding where to go and I found a great deal. America's best sells a membership that gives you 3 years of free eye exams, and 10% off of contact lenses for 99 dollars! A regular contact lens eye exam will cost 69 dollars, so for 30 more you get a whole 3 years worth. That will give me no excuse to let my prescription expire. So, anyway I did that, I got my contacts, I even got a cheap pair of sunglasses. It feels good to wear new clothes, to be able to see without feeling uncomfortable, and even look stylish!
Sunday morning I woke up to breakfast in bed. Jason and the girls do this every year and I love it! I spent the day cleaning my house because it needed it. As much as I would have liked to just lay around, this needed to be done. The girls helped me, so that was great. They cleaned their room and did a really great job on it, which is very unusual for them. Mary did the morning dishes too. They were really very sweet all day, and that made all the cleaning I did that much easier. Later Jason's parents came over and when Jason came home from work we ordered Chinese food. This is Jason's mom, and my, favorite thing to eat. We have gone to restaurants on Mother's days in the past, but that is such a pain. They are always so busy, it takes forever to get seated, and it's all just such a hassle. This way it takes 15 minutes for the food to get done so you can just basically leave to pick it up right after calling it in. It was very good, as usual. Later we gave Jason's mom her gifts. We got her a DVD version of Anna's 6 year Transplant Anniversary Montage that is on the side of this blog. She loved it, and It really nice to watch on a bigger screen. We also got her a nice toaster. Sounds lame, but she really needed a new one, and she is like me, she won't spend money easily. That was it, it was a nice mothers day. Hope you all had a good one too!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Celebrate life!
We got to go to Navy Pier tonight for the Celebrate life party at the Children's museum. What a place! The kids had a blast, I was a nervous wreck though. Jason was out of town so I went on my own with the three girls. First of all, I have never driven into the city on my own (I mean into the heart of the city, and Lake shore drive), I can get to Children's with my eyes closed, or drive around that area, even the north side where we used to live. Driving in the city is very intimidating with all the traffic, the one way streets, the people, the angry drivers, the angry cab drivers, they all hated me today because of my driving slowly and not knowing where I was going. Mapquest got me as far as Navy Pier, but I had no idea where to go from there. Somehow I found a parking garage and parked. Then somehow I found out how to get to the museum from inside the garage. This was enough to make me wonder why I bothered in the first place. Once we got there though, we were there. I felt more calm as the night went until it was time to go home and get back into the car, and find my way out. That's a whole other story though. HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
It was fun, the girls had a blast. Just a museum full of miracles! We saw lots of new faces, and lots of old faces. We saw Oliver the magician, who is also Anna's make a wish, wish granter. He is great with the kids. Anna warmed up to him right away, she remembered him so that was great. The secretary of state was also there, and some of Anna's doctors and nurses. We ran into a couple of kids that are in the same withdrawal study that Anna is in. One of them has been off for a while and is doing great! No complications at all! I think the other was almost done and is doing great. This gives up so much hope for the future. I am so happy for these kids and their families, and so grateful to the wonderful doctors and nurses for conducting such a study. It's amazing to me that my daughter will be off all meds by Christmas this year, since we were told in the beginning that she would be on medicine for the rest of her life. All these advances in medicine!
Here are some pictures. Enjoy!
Anna with Oliver, her wish granter.
Water fun!
Digging up dinosaur bones!
It was fun, the girls had a blast. Just a museum full of miracles! We saw lots of new faces, and lots of old faces. We saw Oliver the magician, who is also Anna's make a wish, wish granter. He is great with the kids. Anna warmed up to him right away, she remembered him so that was great. The secretary of state was also there, and some of Anna's doctors and nurses. We ran into a couple of kids that are in the same withdrawal study that Anna is in. One of them has been off for a while and is doing great! No complications at all! I think the other was almost done and is doing great. This gives up so much hope for the future. I am so happy for these kids and their families, and so grateful to the wonderful doctors and nurses for conducting such a study. It's amazing to me that my daughter will be off all meds by Christmas this year, since we were told in the beginning that she would be on medicine for the rest of her life. All these advances in medicine!
Here are some pictures. Enjoy!
Anna with Oliver, her wish granter.
Water fun!
Digging up dinosaur bones!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Catching up
*********************Upadate***********************
Perfectly normal labs!
Did I just dream that this child had a liver transplant?
********************Update*************************
It's been a couple weeks now since I posted. Not a whole lot has been happening, so that's why I haven't posted. Everyone is doing well. Anna had her labs done yesterday, so I'll hear back results today I hope. Two weeks since her first medicine reduction, and I think she's fine. I am watching her very closely, but it was such a small reduction it's hard to think anything (for example, rejection) would happen. That's why I'm so comfortable with this study, the weaning is done so slowly, and so carefully. I will make sure to keep her prgress updated.
Today I get to take Grandma for her last radiation appointment. This is very exciting for us. We are going out afterwards for lunch, and then this weekend we will be celebrating her birthday! I can't wait to show her what a special lady she is. I'm thinking I'll get her one of those digital picture frames (good thing she doesn't read this). They still use a film camera, and since I have gone digital, I never get copies of pictures. I should, but I don't. And at this point it would be hard, and expensive, to get all the pictures from my computer to paper. So, a digital picture frame would be perfect! And they are mostly pictures she hasn't seen, so that will be even more special. Any other ideas for this special lady would be appreciated!
I have pictures from Alexandria's birthday too. She had a blast. She is such a sweet little girl. She is still thanking us for her birthday party, and it's not like we had a big party. Just us, Grandma and Papa, and our friends Michelle, Ben, Hunter, Maya and Sophie. She still remembers her cake with the strawberry's in the middle, that is what she talks about when someone asks her about her birthday. Silly girl. She got her very special Giselle dress from Enchanted, our new favorite movie, a play guitar that when she opened she said she got her very own Guitar Hero. She's funny. Her big gift this year was her big girl bed. Take a look at her special day.
Perfectly normal labs!
Did I just dream that this child had a liver transplant?
********************Update*************************
It's been a couple weeks now since I posted. Not a whole lot has been happening, so that's why I haven't posted. Everyone is doing well. Anna had her labs done yesterday, so I'll hear back results today I hope. Two weeks since her first medicine reduction, and I think she's fine. I am watching her very closely, but it was such a small reduction it's hard to think anything (for example, rejection) would happen. That's why I'm so comfortable with this study, the weaning is done so slowly, and so carefully. I will make sure to keep her prgress updated.
Today I get to take Grandma for her last radiation appointment. This is very exciting for us. We are going out afterwards for lunch, and then this weekend we will be celebrating her birthday! I can't wait to show her what a special lady she is. I'm thinking I'll get her one of those digital picture frames (good thing she doesn't read this). They still use a film camera, and since I have gone digital, I never get copies of pictures. I should, but I don't. And at this point it would be hard, and expensive, to get all the pictures from my computer to paper. So, a digital picture frame would be perfect! And they are mostly pictures she hasn't seen, so that will be even more special. Any other ideas for this special lady would be appreciated!
I have pictures from Alexandria's birthday too. She had a blast. She is such a sweet little girl. She is still thanking us for her birthday party, and it's not like we had a big party. Just us, Grandma and Papa, and our friends Michelle, Ben, Hunter, Maya and Sophie. She still remembers her cake with the strawberry's in the middle, that is what she talks about when someone asks her about her birthday. Silly girl. She got her very special Giselle dress from Enchanted, our new favorite movie, a play guitar that when she opened she said she got her very own Guitar Hero. She's funny. Her big gift this year was her big girl bed. Take a look at her special day.
Monday, April 07, 2008
April is National Donate Life Month
Did you know?
We went. I was going to post this before the date, which was on the 5th, but I forgot. It was Alexandria's Birthday on Saturday (update on her Birthday celebration and pictures to come) so we were very busy. So sorry to anybody who might still be reading this blog, for the lack of updates and blogging. I am going to catch up on reading blogs I promise.
Anyway, it was fun! People were registering which was exciting. It was great to be there so people could see the miracle of organ donation in Anna, and other recipients there. The girls were a little afraid of Jesse White, but I did get a picture of Mary and Anna with him (Alex wouldn't go anywhere near him). They got a kick out of Morgan D' Organ, who was a giant Liver! So funny to see a giant liver standing outside of the public library! So, good times!
The other people in this picture is a family from Mary's old school in Glen Ellyn. The man standing at the end on the far right side is a kidney recipient. The man standing on the far left holding a little girl is his donor. The recipient is now a volunteer with Donate Life Illinois, and is getting near his 1 year transplant Anniversary. The other girls are his daughters, one of whom Mary was in Girl Scouts with. Very nice family!
April is National Donate Life Month. Donate Life Illinois is a coalition of statewide donation agencies focused on an 18-month effort to register 3.5 million Illinois residents in the state's new organ/tissue donor registry by the end of April. The effort calls attention to the 4,700 Illinoisans who are waiting for lifesaving transplants. During the month of April, Donate Life Illinois will be traveling throughout the state to their "Drive for 3.5" hosting donor registration drive. It is crucial that Illinois residents understand that you need to RE-REGISTER after Jan. 1, 2006 to join the new registry. Donor families, recipients and advocates are gathering to call on fellow Illinoisans to register as an organ/tissue donor. Donate Life Illinois mascot Morgan D' Organ will join Donate Life Illinois Volunteers at 2 locations in Glen Ellyn. A special guest appearance will be made by Secretary of State Jesse White at 10:00a.m. at the BR Ryall YMCA and the at 10:30a.m. at the Glen Ellyn Public Library.
We went. I was going to post this before the date, which was on the 5th, but I forgot. It was Alexandria's Birthday on Saturday (update on her Birthday celebration and pictures to come) so we were very busy. So sorry to anybody who might still be reading this blog, for the lack of updates and blogging. I am going to catch up on reading blogs I promise.
Anyway, it was fun! People were registering which was exciting. It was great to be there so people could see the miracle of organ donation in Anna, and other recipients there. The girls were a little afraid of Jesse White, but I did get a picture of Mary and Anna with him (Alex wouldn't go anywhere near him). They got a kick out of Morgan D' Organ, who was a giant Liver! So funny to see a giant liver standing outside of the public library! So, good times!
The other people in this picture is a family from Mary's old school in Glen Ellyn. The man standing at the end on the far right side is a kidney recipient. The man standing on the far left holding a little girl is his donor. The recipient is now a volunteer with Donate Life Illinois, and is getting near his 1 year transplant Anniversary. The other girls are his daughters, one of whom Mary was in Girl Scouts with. Very nice family!
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Day at the Museum!
My good friend Michelle and I decided to take the kids downtown to visit the Field Museum yesterday! It was a great idea since we have nothing else planned for spring break and the weather still isn't very warm. After a bit of a rough start (having to stop on the way there for a potty break for two new potty trained girls, and Alex getting car sick 2 minutes before we arrived, also having to leave the long ticket line for another potty break for the 2 little ones) we had a great time. I don't think I have been to that Museum since grade school for a field trip, so I was excited as well! You will all be proud of me for remembering to bring the camera and taking lots of pictures! Enjoy!
I think our favorite exhibit was the mummy exhibit!
Taking turns lying on an ancient egyptian bed, and trying to pull an ancient row boat.
Another favorite was the Dinosaur exhibate!
And more, just random pictures!
I think our favorite exhibit was the mummy exhibit!
Taking turns lying on an ancient egyptian bed, and trying to pull an ancient row boat.
Another favorite was the Dinosaur exhibate!
And more, just random pictures!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Biopsy Thursday
**********UPDATE**********
Everything went well today. We got there at 6:30 this morning, they took her in at 7:30 as scheduled, and we were sent home at 2:30. Anna didn't want to wake up right away afterward, but there weren't any problems, she was just tired. When she did wake up she was very loopy and kept dropping her Popsicle and giggling about it. She was adorable. Everything got done when it needed to get done, and everyone was nice as usual, and Anna got many parting gifts including her bubble gum scented sleepy mask. The only thing that didn't go well was the ride home! Snow again! I am so sick of it! It took us until 5:30 to get home, and it only took us 40 minutes to get to the hospital this morning.
Anyway, Anna is back to her normal self. We will get the results possibly by this coming Monday, and if everything looks good we will start the weaning Monday!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just wanted to let everyone know that Anna is participating in the withdrawal study. I talked about this in a past post, but it's been a while. You can read about it more HERE
When we went to clinic on Anna's anniversary, Jason and I talked to Dr. Ekong more about the study and our worries and concerns, and we decided to go ahead and do it! It only took a year for us to decide! It made us feel better when Dr. Ekong said that they "really cherry pick" the patients they chose to be in this study, and they wouldn't involve Anna unless they were sure that we could all handle it. Anna had some blood tests the week after she had labs done during transplant clinic. When all of those came back and looked good, they decided to go ahead and schedule the biopsy. They want to be certain that everything looks good before they go ahead with the weaning of her prograf, and that's why they do the biopsy for this study. The biopsy was one of the things that was holding me back from wanting to do the study in the first place, but now she is due for one anyway since it's been three years (our center likes to do a routine biopsy every three years).
I am nervous, but excited to do this! The weaning is done over a 9 month period. She will go back to going for clinic every three months, and labs every other week. If everything goes good with the weaning Anna will be off all meds by next year! I'm so excited for that! Maybe Anna will be a help for patients in the future!
Wish us luck tomorrow! We have to stay for 6 hours after they do the biopsy so that they can monitor her liver functions! It will be a long day, and Anna is a little nervous about it.
Everything went well today. We got there at 6:30 this morning, they took her in at 7:30 as scheduled, and we were sent home at 2:30. Anna didn't want to wake up right away afterward, but there weren't any problems, she was just tired. When she did wake up she was very loopy and kept dropping her Popsicle and giggling about it. She was adorable. Everything got done when it needed to get done, and everyone was nice as usual, and Anna got many parting gifts including her bubble gum scented sleepy mask. The only thing that didn't go well was the ride home! Snow again! I am so sick of it! It took us until 5:30 to get home, and it only took us 40 minutes to get to the hospital this morning.
Anyway, Anna is back to her normal self. We will get the results possibly by this coming Monday, and if everything looks good we will start the weaning Monday!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just wanted to let everyone know that Anna is participating in the withdrawal study. I talked about this in a past post, but it's been a while. You can read about it more HERE
When we went to clinic on Anna's anniversary, Jason and I talked to Dr. Ekong more about the study and our worries and concerns, and we decided to go ahead and do it! It only took a year for us to decide! It made us feel better when Dr. Ekong said that they "really cherry pick" the patients they chose to be in this study, and they wouldn't involve Anna unless they were sure that we could all handle it. Anna had some blood tests the week after she had labs done during transplant clinic. When all of those came back and looked good, they decided to go ahead and schedule the biopsy. They want to be certain that everything looks good before they go ahead with the weaning of her prograf, and that's why they do the biopsy for this study. The biopsy was one of the things that was holding me back from wanting to do the study in the first place, but now she is due for one anyway since it's been three years (our center likes to do a routine biopsy every three years).
I am nervous, but excited to do this! The weaning is done over a 9 month period. She will go back to going for clinic every three months, and labs every other week. If everything goes good with the weaning Anna will be off all meds by next year! I'm so excited for that! Maybe Anna will be a help for patients in the future!
Wish us luck tomorrow! We have to stay for 6 hours after they do the biopsy so that they can monitor her liver functions! It will be a long day, and Anna is a little nervous about it.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Easter Pictures
We had a busy weekend. My friend Jessie was here for the weekend, and of course there was Easter! We had good food, and lots of fun. I hosted this year! Gave Grandma a break this year, so Jason's parents were here, uncle victor, and Baily, (the dog) since her family went away for the weekend! There was no playing outside though because of the snow we got, but the girls still searched for eggs inside the house and they got Easter baskets from the Easter Bunny and from Grandma and Papa. I might as well call the dentist and make an appointment for fillings now, because of all the candy they got! I have been helping them eat it though, you know, trying to do them a favor;)
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