Rachel had a Birthday…

…shout “HOORAY!!”  Five years old.  FIVE!!  I swear it feels like yesterday when she came flying into this world.

Celebrating with Grandma L. a few days before her actual birthday.

She had a fun day on Tuesday – even got the royal treatment from the older siblings.  Since the weather was so nice, they all had water fun outside.  She chose meatballs and Rice-a-Roni for dinner and picked out an ice cream cake from Cold Stone for her dessert.  (She requested cake, but we’ve been in cake overload this week with Daniel’s birthday, his party, and Rachel’s preschool cupcakes.  Cold Stone was the easy, tasty alternative.)

I think it nearly killed her to have to wait ALL. DAY. LONG to open her presents…but thankfully she made it!

Loving the cute girlie Legos.

A thoughtful sister got this for her at the school book fair.

Every time I asked Rachel what she wanted for her birthday, she always answered with, “A BIKE!!”  No surprise.  She’s been asking for one since she could talk!  We decided to make the plunge this year, but didn’t give it to her with the rest of her gifts.  When she was done opening presents, I asked her if she got everything she wanted.  Yep.  EVERYTHING?  There’s not one other thing you would want?  “Well, I guess maybe a bike, but there’s not one.”  We had a little walk into the garage, and what do you know?!?!

A BIKE!!!!!

We love this girl to pieces!  She has so much spunk, yet she is so tenderhearted.  She loves to make people feel happy and she loves cuddles and snuggles and bedtime stories.  She is almost always humming a tune, and she plunks out little songs on the piano when she can steal a few minutes from the other contenders.  She is so excited to start kindergarten in the Fall…AND…she can run faster than a 4-year-old!  (She has demonstrated her new 5-year-old skills at least several times a day.)

We love you Miss Rachel!

Let Him Eat Cake

We only had about 20 minutes for Daniel to dig into his cake (I had mutual).  He LOVED it!!  Well, I guess he loved the frosting, because he didn’t get much into the actual cake before he got frosting-induced sugar overload and started gagging.  Just a little photo bomb of some fun shots from the cake binge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One too many bites…urp!!

Look Who’s ONE!

One year ago, this precious little man entered our lives.

He just couldn’t wait to join the party, and he even had to get in on the tax season fun!  He was so perfect, so precious.  I couldn’t bear to set him down, and the several hours he was away from me were excruciating.  With his first breath (actually it happened long before), he  claimed a huge hold on my heart.

I told myself to remember every second: how wonderful it felt to have him snuggle into my arms, his new baby smell, the sound of his grunts and squeaks, his precious hands and feet, the perfect roundness of his head, his cute little nose.  I was never going to forget this perfect moment in time.

One year later, I almost can’t remember Daniel as a new baby.  But I continue to tell myself to remember every second: how his excitement upon seeing me causes the biggest, heart melting smile and arms that flap nearly as fast as the wings of a hummingbird; how amazing it is to have him snuggle into my arms and play with my face and hair; what a joy it is to see him play with his reflection; seeing the effect he has on everyone.

No matter what I do, I know I will never be able to remember every moment with my precious Daniel.  But I know I will never forget how he makes me – and everyone around him – feel.

We love you sweet Daniel.  You are my little hero.  You have had such an amazing year and I am so proud of you!

Easter Fun

We had a little Easter party with Grandma L. and cousins last week.  These happen to be the only pictures I took of Easter festivities, so I’m glad I pulled out the camera.

We had our party at MY grandma’s house.  She has some fun toys AND wheelchair ramps for playing on.  The kids never want to leave when it’s time to go home.  We ate some yummy food and had an egg hunt, and then Emily read her story (scroll down a few posts) to all of us.

Enjoy the photo bomb!

(Sisters = best friends and helpers)

(Picking up candy that fell out of an egg.)

(Yummy candy.)

(Loving the zebra (??) toy.)

(Taking stock.)

(Oh look, just the right height to find this one!)

(Just wants to play.)

(Happiness is playing in the grass…and that is a bump on the noggin’.)

(Never too big or too old to have fun!)

(Beautiful.)

(Beep beep.)

(Grandma love.)

Happy Easter!!

All Better

There’s nothing that can’t be cured by a Game Boy and a surgical hat!

 

Poor guy wasn’t too happy after all was said and done.

The break wasn’t as bad as the doc. thought, but both ears were full of fluid.  One bone moved back into place, and two ear tubes inserted.

How’s that for a Good Friday!?!

The Latest Shocker

We know how to live.  Who else spends a third of spring break taking care of medical procedures?!?!  That’s right…PROCEDURES.

The ENT shocked me today by saying that Caleb needs to have his nose fixed.  The bones are flared out from the break, making the bridge of his nose quite wide.  So much for the E.R. doctor’s analysis of “It’s a pretty straight break.  It shouldn’t need anything done to it.”  I really had my hopes up.  In fact, I was a little irritated at having to schedule the appointment, thinking it was going to be a waste of time and money.  I hate it when I’m wrong.

Oh, and while we’re at it, one of his ears is full of fluid.  No, I’m not joking.  This just seems to be how we roll.  Remember what I said about needing a standing appointment with the ENT? I think I was more serious than I even realized!

So Friday is surgery day for Caleb.  Setting his nose, draining his ear, and replacing one tube (he got his first set about 2 years ago).  He’ll come home with a splint on his nose.  It’s supposed to stay on for five days.  HAHAHAHA!!!  That’s a good one, huh?!?!

I have a dream.  Not one of my crazy dreams that keep me up at night.  My dream is that somehow, some way, we can go one entire year WITHOUT MEETING THE DEDUCTIBLE ON OUR INSURANCE PLAN!!! 

(But with five kids and their mom who has Crohn’s disease, I think it really is just a dream.)

Broken Nose Progress

End of Day 2 (Saturday night): not a great day…lots of pain and bleeding

Day 3 (Sunday): doing better, but still bleeding and lots of bruising

Side view.  I wish you could truly appreciate the look of his nose from the side.  It looks like a fake thing stuck on the front of his face!

Day 4 (Monday):

 

We’re headed to the ENT today to see if everything is still looking straight.  Crossing our fingers for that!

And tomorrow, we’re headed south for a little spring break fun, and so we can do another sedated echo for this little guy…

Wish us luck!