Madeline's 5th Birthday

Usually when my children turn 5 then they can have a friend birthday party.  Well in Madeline's case that was out of the question because of her heart surgery.  We wanted to do something special for her day and that is when I thought she might enjoy going to a little girl salon and getting the royal princess treatment.  Madeline was so excited when it was time to go, and boy do they treat them like princesses.  You could see that Madeline was just soaking it all in enjoying every minute of it (except the hair washing).  She loved being the princess.  Afterwards we went to McDonalds per her request for her birthday dinner and then waiting for her at home was a surprise princess cake with butterflies celebration.  Madeline was ear to ear smiles during her special day which tells me that she enjoyed herself, and after all that she has been through this past month she deserves to enjoy being the princess.   After we washed the glitter off and out of her hair, she paused and told me that she was no longer the princess.  Well we were able to talk about what makes a princess and I told her that she doesn't need glitter to be the princess that she is the princess because she is special, because she is a Child of God, and Daughter of our Heavenly Father; so Madeline was able to learn that glitter doesn't make you a princess, but just being who you are makes you a princess.  It was a nice way to end a very special day.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Good Shot

The past few weekends, Anthony has been participating in the mini camps over at Bass Pro Shop.  Anthony learned about fishing, BB gun, and Archery.  He was able to shoot a BB gun, fish in their pond, as well as shoot with a bow.  What we learned is Anthony is a good shot.  With the BB gun both times he hit the bulls eye and with archery he was right on the line of hitting the bulls eye.  Anthony must have a natural talent for this kind of thing as we have a rule in our house that you have to be eight to have a BB gun or a bow and arrow.  Now that Anthony has gotten a taste of both, he is excited to get his own BB gun and follow in his father's footsteps of shooting his army men.  Grant is excited for future hunting trips as well as trips to the gun range with Anthony.  What I have noticed is Anthony has a natural talent for anything that requires precision and timing.  On the piano he excels with technique and as we learn with the BB gun and archery he has a good eye.  The guy at the mini camps did tell Anthony to tell us that they sell BB guns and Bows and arrows in the store, we took it as he felt Anthony was good enough to pick it up as a sport.  In a few months Anthony will be eight and might just get his wish of owning his own BB gun.  

Mailbox full of love

For the past two weeks our mailbox and front porch have been filled with gifts, cards, and well wishes.  My father-in-law started a card chain from Florida and we have received cards from all over.  Each day I would bring up the latest batch of cards and show and read them to Madeline; and each day it would put a smile on her face.  Often times she would respond to me by telling me the cards were to help me be brave.  In her 4 year old way she understood what the cards and well wishes meant.  As her mother I found comfort in them as well.  Looking at her hospital room wall filled with cards let me know that there were hundreds of people who didn't know me or Madeline but cared and loved us the same.  With the cards, prayers, and well wishes I knew I could go on as long as it took, and I know that it gave the same encouragement to Madeline to keep on enduring.  Thanks to our friends from all over for your kindness and for thinking of our family.  Our plans our to take all the cards and create a scrapbook so that years from now Madeline can look back at all the people that thought of her and sent her butterfly kisses to cheer her up and help make her recovery a little easier.

Madeline went in on June 2nd for her last heart surgery.  The surgery was a success and in the words of the doctor it was uneventful.  Recovery went well too and 10 days later we were home.  The neat thing for me to see when I saw Madeline for the first time were here fingers and toes.  It may seem weird, but Madeline has always had purple fingers and toes due to circulation and lack of oxygen.  Now that Madeline is 92% oxygen she is pinker and her toes and fingers are now pink.  We are so happy to be able to put this behind us and to know that we will not have anymore heart surgeries.  Madeline is recovering well at home and is pretty much back to her normal self.  I enjoyed the time I had to spend with Madeline in the hospital, and in the evenings when we were together as a family.  We even had a celebration party for Madeline to celebrate her last heart surgery and the fact that she was so brave.  

Make a Smilebox slideshow