Alyssa is here!

The excitement in itself was enough for Ella to not want to nap this afternoon.  She was in her bed for 1.5 hours...but I heard singing, chatting, and maybe a little sleep!  We ventured out to find a special balloon to welcome Alyssa.  It had to be the giant Elmo balloon!  We made it out of the store and he was a fun friend in the car.  We were at the airport waiting about 5 minutes when he flew in the air.  The guy did not tie the string tight enough.  I jumped in the air and tried to grab it but I failed.  Here's Elmo!  Ella thinks he now lives at the airport and will be devastated when we pick up our luggage someday and he isn't there under the light......

At least the arrival of Auntie Alyssa helped her forget the Elmo tragedy!  I hope he provides entertainment for someone while they are waiting for their luggage....

Alyssa arrived early with no travel issues (rare occasion for us lately)!

RENT!

It's my favorite musical!  It's in Salt Lake in June and I"m going.  I mentioned it to Joe and he's not super excited (I could tell from accross the globe).  I brought it up tonight and I heard much more excitement and an offer for a friend to hang with Joe and Ella! 

I'm going and I'll warn anyone who goes with me....I KNOW every WORD!  This soundtrack helped me drive from Denver to Iowa and back a few times!

Congrats Anthony and Robyn!

I'm so excited for one of my great friends at work. He is marrying an awesome lady who happens to do my hair (and Ella's and Joe's).  She is referred to as "My Robyn" if you ask Ella!

I hired a sitter and had a fabulous night out!  It was therapeutic and I just plain needed it.  I missed Joe, but very much enjoyed my date (Andrea, who's husband was ill). 

I can't wait for the wedding and I've been telling everyone I'll be taking a cab home!  I mentioned the date to my sitter and she's out....so I'll be looking for a sitter to watch Ella!

Weddings make me so happy and I have missed too many due to scheduling and I'm very excited for this one!

Thank goodness Cindy was the photographer tonight....this is the only shot on my camera!  An even bigger thanks to Cindy who pulled off an amazing night!  We had a private room, our own servers, beautiful menu, awesome food and wine....it was the best couples shower I've ever been to!  It is so fun to see my favorite friends at work outside of work!

Thomas Day!

Ella has been excited to go see Thomas the Train and this morning she woke up so excited chanting, "Thomas Day". Dorothy had hear about it and ordered tickets. We drove up to Heber City in the snow! Is it really going to be June in a few days? The rain/snow stopped long enough for us to enjoy the train ride and outdoor activities. 

Dorothy pre-ordered the hat, official badge and whistle.
She was READY!





There's THOMAS!




Ready to go for a ride on Thomas



I'm really riding on Thomas
the Train!

The sun came out and the ride was nice

Cheese!

Ella and the conductor

BUBBLES!

My Hipster

Tattoo time

THOMAS! I've already been lectured on washing
Thomas off.....bathtime will be challenging!

The Pied Piper - Percussion show

Tambourine time

Wipe Out on the bongos

Thanks Grandmar!

Thomas getting ready for the next ride

Bye, Thomas!

Girls Week!

Alyssa arrives on Monday afternoon and we can't wait!  It's girls week at our house and I'm ready!  Thank you Alyssa for spending your hard earned vacation with us!  Words cannot describe how much of a help it really is when Joe is out of town.  Ella is just plain needy right now and an Auntie giving her 110% attention is just what she needs!

It's going to be so hard to go to work every day at noon, but I will and I will know Ella is in the best of hands!

Alyssa, get your rest....this little girl will run you until you can't run anymore! 

We can't wait!!!!!

There's Daddy!

Ella and I were running errands this morning and we could see airplanes leaving Salt Lake.  She kept saying, "There's Daddy, going to Australia" and this afternoon at the park she told everyone it was her Daddy on the helicopter that flew by.  Poor kid!  Skyping helps, but she really misses him.  She keeps saying he's coming home soon.

He's been gone 2 weeks and we have at least 2 weeks to go.  It feels MUCH longer than 2 weeks because we've just had a lot going on!  I think the next 2 weeks will go by more quickly. 

I have so much respect for single parents.  It's the hardest job ever!  You are always "on" even when they are with a sitter, you just know it's only you! 

We can do it!  We never planned on Joe having a traveling kind of job.  It just happened.  He's good at it and he likes what he does.  The travel is hard with a little girl and I don't think he'll do it forever, but for now we can make it work. 

Thanks for the help from so many during this crazy month!

We're coming to Iowa!

I haven't been on a plane since Decemember!  This may be a record for me in the past 10 years!  We will be in Charles City June 25th (arriving very late on the 24th) thru June 29th.  We'll be in Des Moines for the late afternoon/evening on June 29th and flying home on June 30th out of Des Moines.

We'd love to see as many people as possible!  Crystal....when are you feeling up to being on the internet....your girls are coming to see you and the little one will bring such a smile to your face and heart! 

So many people in Iowa have been so worried about Ella and prayed so hard for her.  I'm so excited to show her off and let everyone see in person how truly amazing she is!  Jill, I can't wait for you to meet her!  I'm also very excited to see my grandparents and the joy Ella brings to them!

Let me know if you want to try to get together!  I'm so excited and relieved that we can finally book a trip!

I'm ready for good news!

Ella has had her share of bad luck lately, but she smiles through it all and can manage to find the best in everything.  It's inspiring!

Weather distasters, medical issues, uphill battles....too many sad stories! 

Friends and family are sure struggling right now and it's time for some good things to happen to all of us!

My prayers and happy throughts are will you all!

More Prayers for Crystal

My Aunt Crystal had emergency surgery today!  She's out of surgery and things went better than expected.  She's had an incredibly tough week!  We are thinking of you and saying prayers for healing and a pain medication that works for you!

We love you!

Skype saved the day!

Skype is incredible!  I love Skype!  Ella is behind on sleep and really missing Joe.  She is having major separation anxiety and I finally had to pull her off of me and walk away this morning.  She kept crying, "I need you, I need you" and it broke my heart!  I promised I would take her the park and she made sure it was the park with the yellow slides.  I told her she had to take a nap.

When I picked her up, she told me she took 2 naps (I dont' think that's true).  She reminded me that we were going to the park with yellow slides and we did.  She also told me she needed to talk to Daddy on the computer.

I'm so thankful he could make it work!  Our evening is his working day and he has to be availabe and have a good internet connection.  Thank God it worked out!  She was in the bath and just went crazy!  She made me pose with him and she pretended to take a picture, then pretended to show it to me!  Poor girl just needs both of her parents! 

I didn't want to...

I didn't want to play with play-doh or moon dough today....but I did both!  I feel a little guilty for trying to say no, but I 100% understand why I ddin't have all the play-doh toys as a child!  At least I have tile and hardwood floors (and a Dyson). 

The colors are getting mixed together and it kills me, but the look on her face and her scream of joy when we make confetti, flower or a turtle is worth it all! How do you get play-doh out of those toys?  Should I just let it dry out and fall out?

Moon dough is less messy than play-doh!

Did I mention playing with these is much more fun than taking a nap (and I NEEDED a nap)?

No Shirt over my head!

Ella left the house this morning dressed in a shirt with a wide neck.  I have been very cautious with her head since her surgery. For a while she was fine with anything, but the infection hurt and she has been very sensitive again.

Every time we've been at the hospital she REFUSES to put anything over her head.  I packed a just in case shirt today and I'm so glad I did!  While she was nauseous, drugged, tired and feisty.....I was NOT going to put anything over her head!

My friends shopped and shopped and found the only button shirt in Salt Lake for her!  My Aunt Crystal shopped, and shopped and when she couldn't find anything she had her tailor make Ella a few shirts.  All of these have saved me!  I have to fight enough battles!  I don't blame her for not wanting anything touching her head. 

I'm very thankful for these shirts!  I think they will all still fit her in a year when we do the surgery again!  After that I will pack them in a special place and when I find another 2 year old that needs this surgery I will pass them on with love and joy!

THANK YOU!  I never dreamed I would still NEED them, although they are all cute and she wears them anyway.....I still need them!

An Easy Day at the Hospital

We were due for an "easy" day!  Dorothy was a great help!  Everything went smoothly.  Ella knows the drill and handled it all really well.  I got to ask some more questions today.  Her cat scan (CT) looked fine.  She is missing part of her skull on her left side.  We met with the infectious disease team.  They will continue to follow her.  We will set up appointments with both her surgeon and infectious disease in the next 2 weeks. 

Grandma brought gifts from family in Virginia and others sent gifts so she was happy to come home to presents!  Thank you!

Long term plan:  She could be on this antibiotic for months!  Minimum of 6 weeks and they will just follow labs and how she looks.

She will need to have her head closed.  He wants to wait about a year.  It will be a major surgery like the first one.  I'm planning for next Spring.

Hopefully this is my last healthcare post for a while!  She'll be back in for appointments and labs, but I'm hoping we can avoid the OR for a while!

Prayers for Aunt Crystal!

My sweet Aunt Crystal is like my extra mom!  She's always been there for me in so many ways!  My cousin Elliot left today to head back to Japan with the Marines.  Alex is in the hands of the Marines as well.  He is waiting for good weather for his plane to take him to boot camp.  He is with the Marines and only coming home for dinner after a day of waiting in the airport!

I can't imagine being the mother of a soldier.  She's a mom to two Marines!  Thank you Alex and Elliot for serving our country!  Prayers for all of you!

Grandpa and Grandma Visit! (better late than never)

Making Cupcakes for Grandpa's birthday

I'm finally getting these pictures posted!!!

I've learned to give her a small amount of frosting,
she always eats all the frosting!

She picked out a Cars theme for the wrappers
and sugar pieces on top.  She was so proud!

Happy Birthday!

Swings!

Slides!

Bike ride

Taking Nicky for a walk

She sure kept busy! 

The carousel at the zoo

Swing with Grandma

Using her magnifying glass

Qutie the explorer

She doesn't miss a thing!

Bubbles

Grandma Dorothy arrived with presents from Florida

The bird houses are up!

I met them at Z Pizzeria for dinner

Back to the park

Yeah, the tall slide!

The water is really flowing!

She looks too old here!



Rice Krispie treats!



Yum!

Present for Mommy.  She was so proud!

To Wheeler Farm

She is an animal lover

The baby goat was only a few days old
and was learning to walk

Photo op

Thanks for a great visit!  We miss you!