Fall Festival

Like my leggings? This is my aerobic pose. I am doing my workouts to stay fit:)
Here is K and daddy just hanging out at the Fall Festival. K was a brave little lion for this festival. We had to take her out of it because it was so hot. She was cute in it for the little bit that she was in it.
Grandmom and grandaddy are heading home tomorrow, but they got to see K in her little lion outfit. Priceless moments.
You just can't get any more adorable than this. Aren't those eyes amazing?

Happy Saturday!

K is enjoying her Fall Break with everybody. We have a house full this weekend and K is enjoying all of the extra attention. She is definitely the entertainer.
Here you can see K's beautiful two front teeth. Guess the song "All I Want for Christmas" is not going to be applicable for our little one. She is also getting the two pointy teeth on either side. Talk about sharp!
Life is good!
I'm such a big girl! Daddy's recliner works just right for me. Plus I like being the queen of the household! I run the show.

Trunk or Treat

K got her first Halloween costume from our neighbor. Needless to say, she looked absolutely adorable. The outfit actually says "My First Halloween." She wore it to our Wednesday night "trunk or treat." She had fun.
Here is K's pirate face. She also says "Aargh" when you do. It is so much fun. We now have two teeth on the bottom and she is working on four teeth on the top. Grandmom and granddaddy Wood are on their way to spend some time with us. I am on Fall Break right now so K and I are enjoying our time together. I was definitely ready for a break.

Photo Op Today

Wow! Aren't I absolutely beautiful? Mommy and daddy tell me all the time, but you know they have to:)
Here's my profile. Quite stunning isn't it???
What can I say? I LOVE MY DADDY!!!!!
Can you see the teeth on the top? Now I grind my teeth, which drives mommy crazy! Uncle Eric used to drive mommy insane as a child when he would grind his teeth. She threw stuffed animals at him in his sleep. I don't think she will do that to me, but just in case I have hidden my animals from her. Don't tell her though.
Is there anything in my nose? I couldn't really tell. Isn't that an embarrassing moment? Can't believe mommy would let me get to that point. I'll have to have a talk with her. Etiquette, sugar, chocolate, etc. The list is endless.

Love At First Sight

I never believed that phrase could be true until I first saw K in my arms. Words can't express how much I love this little girl. The past few days have been rough to say the least. Sometimes it hurts to think of the future, but I can't imagine my life without her. Nate and I have had a wonderful life together, but I think he would agree with me in that it wasn't quite wonderful enough. We were missing a beautiful little girl and now that we have her it is something that we wouldn't give up for the world. Having said that, it has been very hard to know that she still has so much to go through. I am thankful that she won't remember this time and I hope that it will be something we can look back on and see that it was a period of growth. Keep us in your prayers because I don't know how we will make it otherwise.

Update from Shriners

We have returned home and have already had a very long day! So K does not have to wear the brace anymore. :) That is the good news.

We met with the geneticist who gets together with one of the foremost experts on Amionic Band Syndrome every month. He informed us that the problems that K has are most likely not genetic related (no surprise to us). K's problems are most likely caused by the band tethering her in a position that kept her bone structure from developing the way it would have had she not been held in the way she was by the band. This is the best explanation we have heard yet. He wants to see us again next year.

We also met with one of her doctors and K does not have to wear the brace anymore. :) That is the good news. The bad news is that the doctor thinks she will be put in a brace for her back in the near future. She has to have an MRI done in December to check her spine and make sure there is no neurological damage. They are also going to check her neck and make sure there is no neurological damage. In addition to this, they are concerned that she may have a problem with her kidney so she is going to have to have an ultrasound done the same day the MRI is done.

We are also going to have to meet with a doctor who is going to check on K's chest. It was determined that because her body is asymmetrical her chest wall is not what it should be. Because of this we have to see what needs to be done to make sure that she does not get her heart bruised which is a real and dangerous possibility if the chest abnormality is great enough. So we go early in November to see what this specialist will have to say. He is said to be one of the best in the field for what K is going to see him for.

So, overall this was another tough day. It makes us wonder if the saga of incessant hospital visits will ever end. We are both tired physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Eatin More Chikin

K is feeling much better. I have stated that we have a new kid she is acting like she feels so much better. She even felt well enough to feast on some fowl for the first time.
As you can tell, she makes quite a mess when K helps mommy and daddy feed her.
Here K has discovered the incredible attribute of her arm clearing things off of her plate and onto the floor. It fascinated her that her arm and hand work much like a window wiper. So much so that she even showed off today at daycare. She allowed everyone to see her new trick when her babysitter put veggie puffs on her plate. What a hit!
She was very happy to help us feed her. Much of the time she was playing with her green beans and kicking her legs.
This is K's stuffed face.
Stuffed, but still playing with food.
At this point in the meal, K rested her chin on her arm and just hung out for a min or two. It was cute because she just sat looking at us like this.
You cannot tell, but I really am a happy baby.
Hey, what is that hair doing in my food. I want to talk to the cook!
Oh Happy Day! K is back to her happy self.

Recovering

K and I are taking it easy today. Nate is preaching today, but we weren't able to make it. K is still recovering and she woke up this morning with her own version of a facial mask. Needless to say, we are quite glad that she is feeling better. Right now she is moving the laundry basket around. I tried to block the television, but she wanted to watch it desperately. The laundry basket was filled with clothes, so she is getting her upper body workout today. Her fever has gone done drastically and she sounds a lot better. You can tell she is not 100 percent, but we are working on it. In the picture above, she is trying to figure out how to make the clowns pop up. She does it on accident most of the time, but she has figured out how to close them on her own. That took some time because she kept trying to hold the clown and close it at the same time. Of course, that meant pinching of fingers, but she has mastered it since then.
Can you tell that she is feeling better? I am trying to teach her not to stick out her tongue, but I think I am obviously failing in that department.
A different outlook on life. Quite dizzying, but she seems to enjoy it.
Our little naked baby. We stripped her down to her diaper because her temperature was so high. As you can see, she was cuddling in this picture. I take it when I can get it because other times she doesn't want to be held for more than a minute. Sick baby equals cuddly baby. Thank goodness we are doing better! Her two top teeth are still coming through, but I don't know when that will happen. By the way, she has just thrown one of her toys in the laundry basket and she can't get to it. She is voicing her great irritation at this. She is trying to pull the whole basket over because she can see it through the holes. How frustrating that must be? Shriners will be this Thursday and hopefully she will be free of the brace. We will keep all of you updated. I better go. K is getting frustrated and needs her toy back. It's not like she doesn't have a gajillion others to choose from!!!

Please Pray for the Sicko

Don't let these pictures deceive you. Our little rose is not doing well. She has been running a high temperature for quite a few hours today. We are giving her motrin and tylenol every other three hours, but it is still a little high. If it doesn't go down by tomorrow we will have to take her to the doctor. Don't know if it is teething or just a cold, but K is feeling puny. In the above pictures, the only way Nate could keep her happy was to give her the cup. She has just been cuddling up and just lethargic. It is horrible to see her feeling so weak. Right now she is cuddling with daddy and if you have ever met her you know she is not a cuddler. Please pray that she will get better. Our big genetics appointment is on Thursday and it would be great for her to be in better shape that day.

The Wonder of It All!

Did you see that? Wow! That sure was weird. (What she sees no one knows)
I am such a happy little girl. I am now working on my third tooth!!! It hasn't been as bad, but then it is just one. So much for the reverse Bugs Bunny.
First experience with mashed potatoes. She wasn't real sure about it, I guess it felt weird in her fingers. We are still fighting some little cold, but now I am not sure if it is the teething instead. Wonders of parenthood!!!

Pictures to Enjoy

Here is one of the only times that K is actually snuggling with me. She isn't one for cuddling so we take it when we can get it. She sure is an independent little girl!
K now knows how to hold her bottle one-handed. She figures everything out. That little hand is so incredibly strong.
Contemplating the wonders of the universe, K has decided that she will stick around with these two weird people. Maybe she can teach them a few things. Doubtful, but she sure is going to try!

Thanks Momma G!

K is modeling her beautiful blue outfit that was a gift from Momma G. I think it is safe to say that blue is definitely her color. It really makes her eyes stand out even more than they already do. Momma G will also probably be helping us out before K's surgeries. We want to try to keep her out of daycare so that she is able to stay healthy for the surgery and Momma G has offered to stay with us and take care of her. Talk about an answer to prayer. That will also be some good Momma G time I'm sure. We are still feeling a little under the weather, but I think most of it is allergies. Just stinks to be sick.

TFC Homecoming

As you can see, I am already bound for college. I think mommy and daddy are jumping the gun just a little bit. I'll humor them. I am in Aunt Amy's dorm room in this picture. I wouldn't be surprised if Aunt Amy would let me spend the night. Don't think mommy would like that much though.
Daddy stop it!!! Those bubbles tickle:) K has just discovered bubbles and as you can see she finds them to be quite funny.
My first soccer game. Didn't really understand it, but I did enjoy just watching all those funny little guys run around. I don't see what all the fuss is about. Just grab the ball!!!
Like my crown? I am the princess of the tub!!!

Sick Sick Sick

K and I are here at home today. I had to leave school yesterday because I lost my voice and now I still have no voice to speak of. (haha) Nate had to call the school to get a substitute because I couldn't talk to anyone. We are just trying to relax because K is still fighting with the pink eye and she has the same thing I have. We just can't seem to beat this thing. We are also looking at how we can keep her from getting sick before the surgery. Prayer will definitely be needed because that is the middle of winter and the colds are spreading like crazy during that time. We don't quite know what will happen, but please keep us in your prayers.
Just thought I would show you what we do for fun around here. Daddy loves shooting K with her little squirty toys. Never a dull moment.

Fun Fall Festival Time

Here is my little balloon. Mommy is reading devotions and I am enjoying the string. I am paying attention though. I really liked my balloon until daddy let the air out of it. I think mommy and daddy were afraid I would try to eat it. It did look tasty.
Here mommy and I are playing my computer game. I am so smart that I don't really need mommy. I just let her think that I need her. It is all about the mind games. They have fallen prey to my intellectual powers.
Here is me in a jacket. I went to See You At The Pole with daddy this week. It was chilly outside so I had to keep warm.
I am on my way to the Fall Festival today! It is my first one ever. Mommy and daddy walked around with me and I don't remember all of it because I feel asleep. It was a wonderful day for an outing.

K will be going to the Shriner's on the 19th of this month. We will be going for a doozy of a day. We meet with the genetics department. We will also be meeting with doctors to discuss her hips, spine, and anything else that might be presented. It will be a whirlwind day I am sure. We also wonder if she has allergies. Nate will be calling the doctor tomorrow. Goldenrods are rampant here and I am sure that doesn't help. We just want to get it in check because unchecked allergies in babies can lead to ear infections. We can't afford that with surgery coming up. Please pray that she will remain healthy because it is going to be difficult keeping her healthy in the winter months. If she has nasal congestion they won't do the surgery. We appreciate all of the prayers and please keep them coming!