Weekend Wrap Up: Canada

Hannah came home from Canada Friday.

She had an incredible time.

We are grateful she had the opportunity

to see Niagara Falls

and ride an elephant

and can now say she's been outside of the US.

When I sit back and think about my little girl,

I cannot believe how fast time

goes by.

Today Canada.

Tomorrow, high school.

Next week, college.

Little ones at home?

Hold them close,

Hug them tight,

and give them all of your free time.

One day you will wake up

and realize they grew up

in the blink of an eye.

The Final Concert

3 Children

1 Cello

2 Violins

1 Flute

1 Clarinet

While we all love playing music

The final concert of the year

is a welcome break

 

It's been a while.

It's been a while.  My how I've missed you.  I know there is no way I can catch you up on what we've been up to.  I can only say, what a ride.  Never in my wildest imagination would I have been able to dream up life with 5 girls.   I can say, we are here.  We are healthy.  Lauren is doing remarkably well.  And for the first time in many, many months we are dreaming about the future and making plans for our children, our family and ourselves.
I am, hopefully, back in the saddle.  As always,  I hope you'll come along for the ride.  But buckle up.  These girls of mine are going to give you a run for your money.

Indianapolis Children's Museum and the 3 month post op

It's hard to believe it has been three months since our big surgery fest, but time flies when you are having fun.  We were just in Indianapolis for Hannah's 3 month post-op appointment.  The great news is Hannah's x-rays were spotless and the doctor is very pleased with her progress.  She has been released for normal kid activity, but she will still need to avoid any activity that may cause chest trauma.  We struggle a bit finding a decent balance for a child with a bar in her chest.  I do not want to hold her back.  I think she should be cautious, but she needs to move on with her life.  Al is afraid to let her to do the most normal kid activities, such as ice skating and riding a bike.  It was comforting to hear the bar has mostly settled by now and the best out come will be from Hannah moving and doing everything she had been doing prior to surgery.

As with all the trips to see the doctor in Indianapolis, we did try to make a day out of it.  The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a can't miss destination if you are ever in the area.  They have a number of long term exhibits that are a child's paradise.  The Dow Science center is always a very hand's on place the girls' could spend an entire afternoon in.  The short term exhibits are a fun change to the museum my girls know by heart.  They have a new Frogs exhibit that was our first stop of the day.  I don't want to spoil the fun, but from Poison Dart frogs to a tomato toad to a bull frog, Frogs will keep you hopping.  It was just a fun exhibit for everyone.  Other stops on our agenda?  Barbie, of course.  There is nothing like a mid-day fashion show to get everyone smiling. The Dow Science center for boat bulding and water fun. Most trips to Indianapolis include the Children's Museum.  I can't say enough about it.  If you are in Indy it is a must see.

The girls in Frogs

Abby modeling with a new buddy

Emily and Abby having a fashion show

Hannah in the Dow Science Center

Lauren modeling the latest Frog attire

Maddy, Abby, and Emily walking the run way.

Note: We were not compensated in any way for endorsing the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.  It is a family favorite that we visit often.

We have a big appointment

I haven't been around much.  I'm in one of those don't feel like talking moods.  Tomorrow Lauren has an appointment with the specialist we have been waiting a year to see.  To say I am nervous would be an understatement.  I am terrified.  I am terrified of getting answers we don't want to hear.  I am terrified of not getting answers.  I'm terrified of being told we've spent the last year worried sick for no reason.  I am terrified of everything. 

If you believe in prayers, can you include Lauren in them today and tomorrow?  Can you send her  positive thoughts and vibes, our sweet girl needs as many people praying for her as she can get. 

My one saving grace, Lauren is and will always be perfect to us regardless of what any doctor tells us.

Lauren's AFO's

Lauren's the proud new owner of a fancy pair of pink and white AFO's.  Yes that is a pink Colt's logo on her braces.  What fun would flowers be, it is football season after all?
So far, she has had an emergency shoe shopping trip to find something that would fit over the braces.  She has only tried to take them off a handful of times.  And she is clearly walking better.  She seems much more confident and to have much better posture as she walks.  But, that's only day 1.

I can't wait to see what day 2 will bring.

Tiny Prints Christmas Cards

I think I have settled on a Christmas card.  I am not sure why it is such a difficult process for me, but every year I search endlessly for the perfect Christmas card.  Part of the difficulty is I like (or more like Love) photos cards.  I love to have a variety of options that would allow me put both individual photos of the girls and group photos.  There are very few options available for large families.

Some time last year I discovered Tiny Prints and I have not looked back.  The Tiny Prints website is so easy to navigate.  The easy drop down menus make it easy for me to find everything I am looking for.   When you can search, you can easily narrow your search options by colors, number of photos, cost, etc.  It makes finding exactly what you are looking for quick and easy.  As a working mom, quick and easy is exactly what I need.

The best thing about Tiny Prints, though, is the quality.  Tiny Prints is a high quality card that is beautifully printed.  I was astounded the first time I got cards from Tiny Prints.  They are small cards that pack a very powerful punch. 

This year the Tiny Prints selection of Christmas cards is amazing.  You can check them out here.  They have classic cards, holiday cards, religious cards, photo cards.  They have something for everyone.

As far our Christmas cards this year.  It may or may not appear on this post.  What fun would it be if I told you now?  I can tell you, our Christmas cards are coming from Tiny Prints.  It's our family favorite.

Mam Baby Rock-A-Bye Baby Party

 I recently has the opportunity to host a Mam Rock-A-Bye Baby Party thanks to Child's Play Party.  I was so thrilled to have an opportunity to share the Mam line of products with my friends and family.  Unfortunately I lost most of my party pictures thanks to my lovely computer but I wanted to share with you the wonderful products we had the opportunity to try.

Our first game was Test Your Baby IQ.  When our mom's and expecting mom's came in I had each one put 2 baby related questions on an index card.  We took turns trying to answer the questions.  I included a number of fun questions I remembered from when I had my first and second babies.  Each mom got a Mam Baby Single Anti-Colic bottle for participating in the IQ game.  The Mam Anti-Colic bottle was a huge hit.  Everyone was really impressed with the soft, unique nipple.  Our favorite feature was the vented, twist off bottom.  It's easier for Mom and better for baby.

We the played the My Baby Rocks Game.  Watching my closest girl friends singing answers to some very silly questions was absolutely hilarious.  For participating in this game, each mom got a Mam Baby Cooler Teether.  It's unique shape is ideal for a teething baby.  There is no more need for those silly rings that sit in the freezer and baby refuses to touch.  This has a handle that makes baby doing it himself much easier.  Plus, the unique shape is much easier for baby to actually get teething relief from.  Another huge hit.

Our final game was the Baby Loves to Dance Party.  It was our own personal dance party.  It was so much fun to turn on our favorite Laurie Berkner CD's and dance with our little ones.  Each baby and mom had such a unique style and was thrilled by the opportunity to show off their own moves.  For participating in the dance party each Mom and baby received a Mam Baby Night Pacifier.  We all loved the unique shape.  The best feature had to be the glow in the dark top.  What a wonderful change to have some hope of finding the lost pacifier in the middle of the night.

It was such a fun day to share the wonderful Mam Baby products with my friends and family.  While we were snacking, we also took a look at the Mam Baby Oral Care Rabbit.  What a neat idea.  We all knew we should be wiping baby's mouth but, honestly, there was never anything that was really appropriate for that task.  Until now.  We also tried the Mam Baby Learn to Brush Set.  It really was great to have one system that would take our babies oral care from infant to toddler.  The Learn to Brush set was had a small head and unique curved handle that made it really easy for the babies to hold it own their own.

We were all so grateful for the wonderful opportunity to come together with our children and have an amazing afternoon while learning about and trying such a baby friendly and family friendly line of products.  The Mam Baby line was constructed well with both mom and baby in mind.  Thank you to Mam Baby and Child's Play Party for the wonderful party pack that made this opportunity possible.