Wordless Wednesday - Random Recap

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Tucker's Surgery Updates, Day 5

Today will be a big day for Tucker as they are going to try and wake him a little. He needs all the prayers and love you can send his way. Mommy posted an update early this morning, so that's posted below. I am awaiting another update soon.

Thank you, everyone, for all of the love and support you have given to Tucker and his family. *hugs*

Update:

OK, so yesterday was extremely quiet. We actually got out and walked around..Sheena and I were in flip flops which was not the best idea. We saw Fenway park and tried to find the Harley shop but when we did, they had closed it down. Then we ate some dinner and came back to the room. The girls headed back to the sleep room and Todd and I hang out until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. I think I was asleep way before 10 and had very little awake time last night. We had a great nurse that takes good care of Tuckman. (as you can see the stuff on his forehead is gone, the first of many things to be taken away....yeah)

Yesterday they worked on getting Tucker in the right place with the medicine mix. They added Methadone and Ativan, on top of the morphine. They are a constant drip. Then when they mess with him he gets bulbous doses of Versed and morphine. They are weaning him from the morphine ever so slowly as they tend to withdrawal after days on it....hence the methadone and Ativan. With this new mix his pressures have stayed in the teens where they want them...but he isn't awake and moving around either....so we will test him again today.

They did an echo yesterday as well to check heart function. It all looks really good. His left side is pumping, very little leakage around the valves....very little as in hardly worth mentioning the doctor said. He is still peeing very well, getting that fluid off. They do an EKG once to twice a day right now. His heart is currently being paced, meaning it is on a pace maker making it beat so many times in a minute. This is done so that the heart is beating fast, pumping more blood through it, trying to make it used to the new plumbing. Each day they come in and take the pace off, letting Tucker do the work to see what the heart rate is and to ensure it is pumping in sync. Well, Tuckers heart is not in sync. His rate is good but the heart is not pumping all at one time, one chamber pumps then the next currently. This was not the case right after surgery so they are not too concerned at this time. Sometimes it takes a while for the heart to get back "in sync". They would be more concerned if he had never, since surgery, been in sync...but he has. So the pacer wires will stay in until that fixes itself. Worse case, absolute worse case, is that the heart doesnt and he has to be paced all the time...then we would look at putting in a pace maker. They really dont anticipate that but it is always a chance.

We received a care package yesterday from Kim, Wills mom. It was like Christmas... a pillow case for Tuckers pillow, a laundry bag, laundry soap and change for the machines, a razor (OMG how I needed that)all kinds of goodies. Thank you Kim. We also received dinner from Michele, I might have mentioned it...I cant remember but wanted to say thank you to her as well. (Enchiladas were great!!)

So today is just about getting the paralyzing medicine off and let him move around a little. The goal is to get him off the vent within this week....so things could progress quickly, praying for that anyway. I will post when I get new news or something happens other than that you can assume all is quiet.

Wordless Bum

I'm not in the mind set for blogs lately. Too much going on with Tucker and of course my family. The girls are good though and Izzy so kindly informed me at lunch time that I "work for her now." It's a Spongebob thing. lol!

I took some photos of the fireworks show on Saturday night but that's it. Nikon has been snuggled away in his bag otherwise.

I've been visiting all my favorite blogs but haven't been commenting. I'm lurking.

Be back soon, Unless Alicia wants to take me to the beach with her. ?? lol!

Tucker's Surgery Updates, Day 4

Update #20

I find it hard to sleep with Tucker in the shape he is. I am struggling with the fact that we brought him here a very happy, loving , active boy....and now he is hooked up to so many machines! I am struggling with "the unknown".

We know today would have been a world record on waking up from this surgery....it was a major surgery...but because they tried and we failed, because we are now blowing i.v's, because we are on that up and down roller coaster of good numbers vs bad numbers on saturations/blood pressures/arterial pressures.....the reality of the whole thing is setting in. We have been in Boston one week....it isnt even July 1 yet. We still have a lot of up and down days ahead....and to be very very honest....I just dont know how we will get through it.

Tensions are high, nerves are frazzled...I think if we had not been here before then we would not be so fast to be frustrated but we have been in this spot twice before....two other surgeries that we have gone through on Tuckers heart.....and to know the long road that we have ahead is hard to know.

Update #19

Sorry about the downer post.....just a lot on our minds and hearts.

Well we are back to sedated, paralyzed.....he was responding to us too much....pressures were up. So we will try again another day.

Update #18

Well, they have the new i.v. in and the medicine switched to it. They are going to run all of them at once until they see the sign of pressures coming up,as not to make there be a lull of no medicine. Then they will shut the old one off and take it out. They have turned the medicine off that paralyzes him, so in about an hour or so we will know how he is going to tolerate it. As long as his pressure stays good we will continue to keep it off....if not then we go back to heavy sedation. PRAY PRAY PRAY.....

Update #17

OK, so last night , or this morning whichever you want to call it, the groin re-thread didn't work. They tried an i.v. in his right hand, that didn't work. (A break was taken to look again) Came back and got the groin re-threaded on the 2nd try. So it is drawling blood nicely again but the pressure numbers are not consistent.
So, they just rounded and here is the plan for the day. A new line will be put in the other groin and in his arm/hand/wherever they can find it. The line in his neck is now misplaced and they cannot call it "central" line any longer....but they can continue medicine through it. That line will be taken out once the other i.v's are put in. He has pee, did good output all day yesterday and we have officially put out more (500 cc's more) than we have taken in, which is very very good. They dc-d (discontinued) the dylaril (the other diuretic to get flood off) and he is now just on lasix. They talked about putting something in his belly and getting the gut going....and after all this is done they will try to wake him. Wake him as in take off the medicine that paralyses him. He will still be sedated but he will be able to move his body. At that point, all pressures, everything will be monitored very closely..and in all reality he might just have to be put back to sleep. They usually see pressures go back up, oxygen level in blood go down, heart rate go up...all signs showing he is not ready....they have warned me so we wont freak out if and when it happens.

This is what I will not be able to handle. Him seeing us, feeling all the stuff hooked up,,,,and he is going to freak out. This is what I don't like, the helpless feeling of him laying in the bed, AWAKE, and I cannot do anything but try to sing to him, touch his head and try to soothe him.....this will be the longest and hardest day for me.....

So that is the plan for the day....but we all know plans change. It is the "game" that is played during surgery, during recovery.....plans are not in our hands or the hands of the doctors....the plans are on Tucker time.....slow and steady.

Sunday Citar - Generations

"Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known."
-Ronald Reagan

Four Generations

Tucker's Surgery Updates, Day 3

Update #16

Well....it is like 3am and they are doing a procedure at Tuck's bedside. His i.v. that is in his groin is clogged or something. They cant drawl any blood from it....so they have to thread another one through the vein and take this one out. This particular spot also has a line in it that monitors the arterial pressure. This is the i.v. that they drawl all his blood gasses from, so as to watch all the settings on his ventilator, to ensure he is properly oxygenated.

This is the same vein that they used to do the heart cath on Tuesday-it goes into the heart, the vein that is. I can vaguely remember this being done at one of Tucker's other surgeries as well. Although at that time we didn't have one in the groin and they put one in at bedside. Tucker has terrible veins in that you cannot see them and they seem to collapse and go bad. It is not uncommon during one of these visits that he gets new i.v's a lot. The first heart surgery they had done so many that they ran out of spots and had to put one in his head....UGH. It was a good, thick vein though and stayed until they took it out because it was time to take it out.

Update #15:

Dr Del nido came by. The issue we are having with Tuck is the pressure on the left side of his heart is running in the high 20-30's. With the left side of his heart not being used to all the blood flow this is normal, however it should be coming down. As long as they keep him comfortable, heavily sedated, his pressures stay in the 20's. The higher pressure causes fluid, which backs up into the lungs. Ideally we want that pressure in the teens. What they will do is continue to keep him very comfortable and attempt to get rid of the fluid from the surgery, via pee. As his fluids come down that pressure will also come down. They will attempt to wake him, however if the pressure in the left side goes back up, they will sedate him again and give him more time to recover. This will be the balance we will keep attempting. He also said on Monday or Tuesday he would re due an echo cardiogram to look at his heart. Make sure that left side is not oversize, that the valves are not leaking and that it is working correctly. Right now he sees no need as everything is in line...again as long as they keep him sedated, if he starts to wake it all goes haywire. The right side, which was doing all the work before the surgery, has pressures that are great...right where they need to be. Again, this is all things they have seen with this type of surgery, they assure me, so it is finding the right mix for Tuckman, getting fluid off his body, and letting him rest and adjust.

Update #14:

Rounds went pretty much the same. Today they will keep Tuck sedated however they are going to up morphine, taking away the versed drip which causes hypotension(low blood pressure). They also put some more diaretic on board to help the "pee" process. He is holding some fluid so he needs to pee it off. More out than in.....so today pray for PEE!!!

They think they will start waking him tomorrow, that may change though...it is day by day and ever so slow making sure Tucker is ready. I am sure all of you remember the saying "Tucker time"....we are all on Tucker time now. I so want to hold him, kiss him and here him say "mom" "mom" "mom" repeatedly until I answer.....and to see his smile. When the smile comes then we will know he is better......

The sun is finally shining here. My "bed" is a cutout with windows all around, it sets on the edge of Tuckmans room...so the sun will be nice to see today. I will post a little later as well....for now all is quiet.

Bubbles Make Everything Better

This photo is barley in focus. It's not even cropped at a nice angle. And yet, I love this photo.
The expressions are clear on those Princesses faces;
Bubbles are the best.

The camping trip went great last weekend and the family reunion was a wonderful event. The girls did great sleeping in a tent that leaked during the hours of pouring down rain and Daddy was only bitten by 16 ticks. Yep, SIXTEEN! He's a tick magnet! Hee Hee!

The girls have free rein the entire time and did very well. They both played in the mud, looked for bugs, ran in the weeds and roasted Smore's by an open fire. We were so proud of them.

I hurt myself pretty badly less than 3 hours into the drive there, therefore making me pretty much unable to move most of the weekend. I tried to get as many photos as I could, but I didn't get as many as I would have liked. Including a photo of our tent. Duh!

There are a few random shots that I still need to upload, but there are a good 150 photos uploaded for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy them while I keep up to date with Tucker's progress and catch up on everything else that I missed over the week.

Oh and if you are looking for Tucker updates, look over there to the right at Twitter. There are also Day 1 and 2 links. Thanks!

Tucker's Surgery Updates, Day 2

Update #13 9:29pm CST (10:29pm Boston):
From Tucker's Mommy

Tucker in flight to Boston.

Tucker resting after his heart cath.

Well, today was a lot of nothing going on which is good. They continue to take the setting of nitric oxide down on the ventilator. His blood gases came back good still, so they think they will wean it down a little more tonight at rounds...which will be about midnight.

He is twitching a lot, the sedative isn't working very well anymore...he is out but not fully. They think he can hear what is going on around him so we still are not touching and whisper....he is going to be so mad at us when he gets up.

We have turned a corner in there is more output of pee vs input...awesome!! Dr Del nido is on the floor but we haven't seen him yet, not sure we will.

We had a few visitors....thank you to Michele for sending out emails to the area Down Syndrome Congress. Jessica and Dawn came by, both have DS girls..both had heart defects.....it was so nice to see a smiling face. They brought comfort food CHOCOLATE....and a book and shirt that says Cape Cod on it for Tuckman. Also a gift card for the pastry place in the hospital....YUMM! We also got to see Johnny's mom Trisha. They are on the ICU floor as well. Johnny came from Cincinnati for a heart transplant,,,,,NOPE, Dr Del nido fixed it instead. (he will require one more surgery to fix a valve that leaks..but that is nothing) I have been following his story for a while now and knew they were here. She let me know the very first night she had BAGS of comfort food and to come down anytime we could have a junk food night....so nice, people are so nice and caring. It is just amazing. Tucker has brought out so much good in everyone....

We got out and wandered for lunch and dinner tonight since they told us we should take advantage while we could. It seems Tuck doesn't want to be asleep and is fighting it. Soon he will be awake and we will not get the chance to wander....so we found a book store. All of us girls have read one book already and have started new ones. We found a pub where we ate and Todd tasted the local beer...then it was back to the room. I am OK for a little bit to leave but I am much more comfortable being in here with Tuck, even if nothing is going on.

I haven't taken any new pictures of Tuck. Nothing has changed but as soon as things start coming down, all the pumps and stuff....pictures will be pouring in. It is great to see the pumps slowly be discontinued. The room looks tiny now but will be big again as soon as it starts.....so in the meantime i am posting pictures of Tucker's flight to His Whole Heart......he did very well on the plane. One picture is of him with his earphones on, listening to his signing time music, and another is of him after his heart cath this week.....sleeping like the angel he is.

I cant thank you enough.....keep the prayers coming. We have a ways to go yet. HUGS TO EVERYONE!!!!

Update#12 12:23pm CST (1:23pm Boston):

So many of you have been asking for the addy to send Tucker and his family gifts. I am ready to pass along that information.

Children's Hospital Boston
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
617-355-6000

Attention: William Bryant
Room 27
CICU, Floor #8

PLEASE, PLEASE remember, NO FLOWERS or PLANTS of any kind will be allowed to be delivered. Do not send them. It is a medical rule with patients in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Also, please notice that you need to send them to William instead of Tucker. Don't worry, William is just how the hospital keeps track of Tucker.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact me directly. crackerjacks51603@yahoo.com

Update #11 From Tucker's Mommy

Love the banner! It turned out great!

Hey everyone! Its Karen. I am sitting beside Tucker, cant touch, but am here and I feel such relief. My baby boy is pink and doing the very best that could be expected. The "no touching" is due to the faint possibility that he is a little bit aware of his surroundings and we don't want to get him upset. His blood pressure is finally stable so we are watching but not touching. He gets upset and his pressures go haywire when they suction his tube....so they are thinking that there are times when he can feel or knows what is going on, but is paralyzed...can you just say OMG. The best I can explain this is, Tucker has had these medicines so many times that they don't work as well, and it takes more and more to keep him sedated and under. He is at his max for his blood gases....so we are doing a transfusion to try to get more blood flow therefore more sedation. Until that time..do as little as possible to him.

They did end up cooling him down. When a body is warm the vessels are relaxed and the blood pressure is low. They needed his pressure to be higher so they cooled him down 2 degrees by putting him on Tylenol, some ice blankets and turning the air down in the room. This is to let the heart rest and not work so hard pushing blood to the body. This was part of the solution in getting his blood pressure under control. It took about 4-6 hours for them to accomplish the lower temp. This also keeps infection down as bacteria cant grow if it isn't warm and cozy for them.

I stayed in the room with Tuck and Todd got a room downstairs in the hospital. I got a few winks ..enough to get me through. I like to be here, listen to what everyone is saying, figure out what machine does what, what they are adjusting and why....I had the nurse dictating everything she was doing as she did it last night. Tucker seems more comfortable today than he did last night...as they say, the dust is settling.

The banner is hung above his bed...the nurse loves all the pictures of everyone! Gotta make Tuck know how much he is loved..not that he doesn't know it already. Sissy got him a stuffed animal already, it is being used as a "prop" for his arms, legs or whatever else they need to move around.

Plan for today is pretty much the same as last night...adjust and keep him comfy so healing can continue. They are pacing his heart, stepping up the beats so as to work the heart and get the blood flowing through that left side. They came in and tested his heart rate, EKG, and it is a NORMAL rate, NORMAL heart EKG....it is a little slow for where we are right now in recovery but if it was a few days from now it would be GREAT!!! So they will continue to pace his heart at the higher rate for a while longer.

Cardiologist just came in....he said IT COULDN'T BE BETTER!!!!! He is peeing, his drain tubes are slow.....all good things!!! GO TUCK GO!!! We are so proud of our superman!!!

OK...I think that is it for now. We are in the room, Todd and Sheena just got back from showers. Hunter is still sleeping. So we are settling in.

Update #10 8:11am on Friday Morning (9:11am Boston):

Tucker had a fairly quiet night after surgery. His blood pressure was a little low and so this morning he is currently undergoing a transfusion. Mommy said she may have time to update with more details soon.

Remember to keep checking Twitter for small updates through the day. Thank you so much for all of the wonderful prayers!

Update #9 10:45pm (11:45 Boston):

Tucker, 11:45pm Eastern, 06/25/2009

I know I said no more updates, but I couldn't resist.

Look at this handsome little guy!! This is a cell phone pic but I know Mommy and Daddy are taking tons more with the digital. Hopefully we can get some more in the coming days.

Urine output is fantastic and there is little draining from his chest. I want to also let you know that Tucker came off of Bypass fine and did not need any assistance with ECMO or anything. All of those tubes are draining his chest and supplying a little extra O2.

If you missed the play by play updates from today, start a couple of posts down. Here.

PhotoStory Friday - Czech Nursery Rhyme

Tucker Updates Are Below This Post.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Last weekend for Father's Day, we went camping up in a small town in Nebraska. We were attending a family reunion. This reunion was for my Mother's side, specifically celebrating my Mother's Mother. Make sense? lol!

My Mother's side of the family is Czech. A very unique and wonderful heritage flows through this side of my family and I am always intrigued and want to know so much. At this reunion, my Great Aunts are the ones you want to sit by. They tell stories and remember so much about our family. In fact, some of them even still speak Czech. Not to mention they are the best cooks. Everything they have every made and I have tasted, I've liked.

We had a great reunion and visit. I was so glad the girls were able to spend time with these amazing gals who are Izabel and Emily's Great, Great Aunts. In the photos you see here, Emily is sitting with GG Aunt Caroline. Caroline was singing her a Czech lullaby and Emily loved every minute of it.

I've tried to do a little Googling to find the words to this song, Czech or English translations, but I have not been able to. I'm emailing her to get them. All I do know is that it was a hand game and a lullably at the same time. Something about spiders and porridge and crawling up her arm. It was the sweetest rhyme and I want to learn it.

Emily had no problems with anyone holding her or anything this weekend. Many of you know that this is huge! lol! She loved being around all of these wonderful people. Izabel had a blast with the cousins and she also attached herself to a GG Aunt; Lucille. Lucille had lots of fun games and crafts to keep the kids busy (and out of the mud) and that is right up Izzy' alley.

I was so glad to have gone and I am even more elated that my girls got to meet so many members of their family and spend some time with the Great, Great Aunts.

Tucker's Surgery Updates, Day 1

Update #8 8:34pm (9:34 Boston):

Tucker is out of surgery!! Yay!! Karen and Todd and sisters have not seen him yet but they will within a few minutes. Tucker will be moved to his room shortly as well. So here are the details.

There were NO SURPRISES during the Whole Heart Repair. Dr. Del Nido said it went very smoothly and very well. Tucker is currently at 100% O2 which is awesome. he's never been able to reach that even when on assisted O2. So that is wonderful!

The left side, which was the "bad" side of his heart, is performing very well. It's learning how to operate and pump the blood through. Before, the right side was doing all of the work.

Both sides of the heart are doing what they should, however, the pressure in his heart is a little high still. This will correct itself once the right side realizes it doesn't have to do all of the work and when the left side starts growing bigger and stronger. The high pressure is normal but is being monitored of course.

Tucker will remain heavily sedated for the next 3-4 days. They want him to be still and relaxed and let his "new" heart learn to work the proper way; to heal. Tucker is also in-tubated and will remain so until he's awake and they are sure everything is progressing as it should.

And finally, another VERY GOOD piece of info, Dr. Del Nido is sending Tucker into recovery with his CHEST CLOSED. This is fantastic!! The doctor felt that everything went so well that there was no need to keep Tucker's chest open for the next day or so. In Tucker's previous open heart surgiries, his chest was open for a couple of days after.

So, that's what I have thus far. It's been a long day and it was nice to hear the relief in Karen's voice. We are so happy that things went so well. Unless something comes up and The Bryant's feel the need for an update, I will not post any more updates until Friday morning.

The next 24-28 hours are going to be critical. Tucker will be monitored very closely. PLEASE keep those wonderful thoughts and prayers coming his way.

Update #7 5:56pm (6:56pm Boston):

Tucker has come off Bypass. The surgeon will be out to speak to the family within the hour. At that point I am sure we will have more info to report, specifically in regards to how the surgery went.

Update #6 3:45pm (4:45pm Boston):

Tucker went on Bypass about 10 minutes ago. Tucker's heart is being worked on now.

Update #5 2:46pm (3:46pm Boston):

Surgeons are still dissecting. Tucker has not been placed on Heart and Lung machine yet.

Update #4 2:25pm (3:25pm Boston):

There has not been any additional information since the incision. Karen and family are hanging out in the waiting room "eating junk food and watching Grease 2".

I'm going to take this update and pass on some important info about what to send Tucker and his family if you choose to do so.
First things first, NO FLOWERS will be allowed in Tucker's room. Please do not send flowers. Balloons, Cards, Toys and Stuffed Animals will be okay.

Other things you might consider sending the Bryant Family are fruit baskets, goodie bags, and meals. There is a Bertucci's accross the street from the hospital that will deliver. (Blackfan Circle) We all know how hospital food can be sometimes.
There is also a CVS available to them and gift cards might be a nice idea for any snacks or such that they need.

And finally, to help pinpoint a time frame, Tucker's Whole Heart Repair will take around 6 hours. Give or take. With that in mind, it could be around 7pm (8pm Boston) before he is out of the OR.

Update #3 1:10pm (2:10pm Boston):

The first incision has been made on Tucker in the OR.

Many of you are asking about an addy to send flowers, cards, balloons and gifts. This will be fantastic, but please wait to send anything until Tucker is out of surgery and recovery and has been placed in a room. Boston Children's is a massive hospital and the staff will be running all over trying to locate him. Once Tucker gets his very own room, I will make the info available. Thank you!

Update #2 12:05pm (1:05pm Boston):

The time has come and Tucker has been taken back to the OR.

Update #1 11:56am (12:56pm in Boston):

Tucker and his family are waiting to be taken back for surgery. Tucker was doing good this morning with the exception of a slight fever. They believe the fever is from the 14 coils put into his heart yesterday. The fever is common after heart coils are placed.

As soon as Tucker goes back to the OR, I'll update. Keep the prayers coming.

ORIGINAL POST BELOW.
ALL UPDATES ABOVE and on Twitter.

There will be no Thursday Thirteen for Izzy 'N Emmy this week. Instead I will be be focusing on Tucker's Heart Surgery and any updates I can offer to the many of you who have been following his journey for a whole heart.

**************************

Tucker has been cleared through pre-surgical testing and will undergo the surgery we have all been waiting for. Tucker and Karen have been in Boston since Sunday night and have underwent 3 days worth of testing. Every test you can imagine along with blood-work has been performed to ensure Tucker was a match. (Daddy and Sisters are there too.)

Tucker is a perfect match. He's on the surgery schedule for Noon tmrw, Thursday.

I have asked before but I am asking again, please keep Tucker and his family in your thoughts. Send him good vibes, prayers, happy thoughts, and well wishes.

Thursday will be a hard and long day for Tucker and his family. If you would like to send them a message or a special prayer, do so by leaving a comment or emailing me at crackerjacks51603@yahoo.com

I will be able to send them directly to the Bryant's through out the day.

I will be at hand to update as news becomes available. You can check here or over at The Bryant Family News or I "Heart" Tucker. I'll also be Tweeting any small updates, marked #Tucker. You can follow me (Alisha) on Twitter.

We "Heart" you and your family Tucker.

Godspeed Little Man

Wordless Wednesday - Mud Bug

*Sorry for the quality of these photos. Someone took them in a pinch and I just love the look on Izzy's face.

Visit Wordless Wednesday, 5MFM and Ordinary and Awesome

You Are My Sunshine, Emmy

We are home and more than survived our first camping trip with the girls.

Here's a taste of the festivities.

I'll have lots more to share in the coming days. Right now I'm just trying to get through this heat wave. lol!

Happy Father's Day

A little girl needs Daddy
For many, many things:
Like holding her high off the ground
Where the sunlight sings!
Like being the deep music
That tells her all is right
When she awakens frantic with
The terrors of the night.

Like being the great mountain
That rises in her heart
And shows her how she might get home
When all else falls apart.

Like giving her the love
That is her sea and air,
So diving deep or soaring high
She'll always find him there.

Author Unknown


It is difficult to put into words how wonderful my husband is as a Father. All one needs to do is look at the faces of our Princesses when he walks into a room. The laughing that floods our house when he wrestles with them, plays "haircut" or tickles them.

Greg is a fantastic Father. He changes diapers, gives them baths, reads them books, tucks them in, takes them to the park, chases them around the yard, gets up with them in the wee hours of the night, and cares for them when they are sick. He draws with Izabel and snuggles with Emmy. He sings to them and watches cartoons with them. Daddy goes to their doctors appointments, holds their hand through shots and praises them for being who they are. The list goes on...

Daddy is their Best Friend. Greg is Izabel and Emily's world...and they are his.

Thank you Greg, for being such a wonderful Father to our children. Love you!

And to our own Dad's, Happy Father's Day Papa and Popah. We love you and hope you are having a great day!

Gone Camping...

...With a One year old and a Three year old.

...If not back by Monday, Please send help.
Hee Hee!

PhotoStory Friday - Carnival Classics

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Last weekend we attended a company picnic with a Carnival/Circus theme. The girls had so much fun on the slip n slide and bounce houses, whacking pinatas full of candy, watching a clown, dancing, sipping home made milkshakes, playing The Limbo, munching peanuts and popcorn, exploring their gift boxes full of goodies and being adored my hundreds.

Each year we attend this picnic and it only gets better and better. This year, Emily thought the Cotton Candy was a big hit and Izabel liked her Pinwheel.

...So good in fact, Emily savored each bite. lol!

This weekend will be a whole new adventure. We are taking the girls on their first real camping trip. A lake for swimming, a tent for sleeping and the perfect evening snack; Smore's by the fire.

Thursday Thirteen- Edition "X"

Thirteen words that start with "X"!! My brain began to hurt the more I thought about this list, so I am cheating a little!

1. X Ray - Izabel had her first done last Summer when she fractured her left Tibia going down a slide.

It wasn't until the next day when they actually put her leg in her favorite color of Fiberglass; Purple. She had to wear the cast for 2 months. The X-Ray above is Izabel's actual x-ray. I had the hospital put the x-ray results on a dvd for me to keep.

2. X-Men - Greg and I saw this movie twice in theaters when it came out.

3. X Box 360 - Video games sure have come a long way!

4. To The Extreme - Ah, Vanilla Ice.

5. X - Daddy recently taught Izabel how to play Tic Tac Toe.

6. Xylophone - The girls both love their toy xylophone.

7. The X Files - The second movie was a shell of the show's former self.

8. X Marks the Spot - Daddy and Izzy play a game where they act like pirates and take turns burying 'treasure' in the front yard, and then dig it up!

9. Xiphosura - Saw lots of these while vacationing in Florida this January.

10. Xylocopa - Having a problem with these right now! Does anyone have any info or experience with them in their home?

11. Exterminator - We hate bugs!

12. Xavier Roberts - Cabbage Patch Kids!

13. Xris - (pronounced 'Chris') this is what Greg used to talk about naming our first boy!

Wordless Wednesday - Shock and Awe

Visit Wordless Wednesday, 5MFM and Ordinary and Awesome

Emmy's Well Baby Check-Up

Last Thursday, Emily had her 18 month well baby check up. I was the only one looking forward to the visit. Emily hates doctors and has ever since she was itty bitty.

It all starts when they lay her down to measure her length. She panics and refuses to cooperate. From that point of the visit, it only goes down hill. Poor Princess even hates to have her heart listened to, not to mention someone taking a look at her ears. lol!

As soon as the ordeal is over with and the doctors back away, she's happy as can be like nothing happened.

Everything looks great with my wee little Emmy. She's talking up a storm and presenting 3-4 word sentences, singing songs, counting as high as 9, following directions, assisting while dressing, kicking/throwing objects, stacking blocks, feed herself with utensils, name most of her body parts, running, jumping, walking backwards, taking stairs, somersaults, and all kinds of other good things.

We are trying a few new angles on the separation issues and so far we've had no biting for a little over a week. All is awesome. Now, as for her actual growth, well, we have a super baby!

Head Circumference: 19 Inches (90th Percentile)
Length: 32 Inches (60th Percentile)
(I will be reassessing length for a more accurate measurement.)
Weight: 28 Pounds, 6 Ounces (90-95th Percentile)

Emily is healthy and happy and we are right on track. She will be seen again in 3 months and then again at 24 months. I believe we see her nutritionist next month as well.

Keep up the good work Emmy. Daddy and I are so proud of you and love you bunches!

Izzy's 18 month check up can be found here.

I ♥ Faces - Sepia Toned

This week's theme at I ♥ Faces is Sepia Toned.
Be sure to hop on over and check out all of the beautiful faces this week.

This photo is of Izabel, My kids entry, hanging from the Monkey Bars at one of out local parks. She was so proud of herself, but Daddy kept his hands right there just in case.

Buh-Loon-S

We had a great weekend with the girls, especially during a carnival picnic event. Both girls walked away with bumps and bruises but all was healed with Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Balloons, Clowns and a bounce house.

I have lots to catch up on, including the 18 month check up for Emmy. Yep, my wee-little princess had her well baby check up on Thursday, you won't believe the results.

More to come at some point on Monday. I don't have anything Macro this week, but these two photos were taken by Daddy. Balloons make everything so much fun.

Sunday Citar - Clowning Around

"All the world loves a clown."
-Cole Porter

PhotoStory Friday - Sadness

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Daddy and I took the girls to the Zoo this last Wednesday. I took a whole three photos of the girls. The remaining one hundred and fifty others were of the countless animals we encountered. This is one of two favorites.

These are the fingers of a very old and very large Orangutan; Rufus. I can't say how long he's been at our Zoo, but it's been awhile. His eyes look sad and so do these massive hands.

He wants out.

As much as I enjoy the Zoo...

I want him out too.