Christmas Christmas Everywhere

I just love doing crafts with the kids especially this time of year.  I think it makes our house even that more cozy.  Our life is CRAZY to say the least so I feel very accomplished when I can plan a craft out and actually do it!!  Here are a couple that we managed to complete yesterday. 

   M's Christmas Tree                                                                                               K's Christmas Tree
         

 

                               And we must teach them always about the "Reason for the Season"

Elf on the Shelf - Week 1

The adventures of Jack and the Johnson's

We have had the priviledge of having a guest in our house this year.  His name is Jack (I know quite original) and he's straight up out of the North Pole.  He is suppose to be watching over M and K but he is just adding up to be a 5th child....yes I said 5th.....A, M, K, Sam and now Jack.  I thought I would share in some of our fun experiences with Jack to date.


Day 1 - Welcome Breakfast
Jack brought breakfast consisting of powdered doughnuts and cocoa

Day 2
Jack found the crayons and starting coloring in their new Santa coloring books he brought them

Day 3
Just watching over the kids enjoying a Dum Dum

Day 4

Someone's been playing in the tree....serves you right

 

Day 5

Now Jack, we don't TP our own tree...just others

 

Day 6

Jack typed M and K a nice little letter on my laptop for them to read when they woke up

 

Day 7

Looks like Jack found a good read and brought the kids some candy as well

 

So there you have it...week 1 is a wrap.  Anxiously waiting to see what Jack comes up with this week.

 

Happy Halloween 2012

Our day really got going with my first attempt to put K in her costume for her preschool party.  I realized that she didnt to much care for it when the tears started to fly and she starting trying to rip it off.  I thought maybe she just didnt like the costume which was some kind of Doodlebops looking outfit.  Uh no....when I asked her if she would rather be a kitty cat she clearly stated "NO" and said "take this off".  I just love to hear her words even if she was being a party pooper.  As for Miley she was a NICE witch and always loves any opportunity to rack up as much candy as she can.  So here is how our day went.....

The Preschool Party (note costume)

 

 

Trick or Treat

 

                                                                        

 

 So did you end up having fun tonight K?

THE END

 

 

 

Daniel

It has been some time since my last post, actually too long.  I just can't find enough time in the day to do everything I need and want to do...Does anyone else have this problem?  Some time is spent fulfilling my OCD nature which I note is not healthy but hey my house is CLEAN and organized!!! 

I felt led to Blog about my latest Beth Moore bible study that I have been doing, it's called Daniel. 

Let me tell you that this bible study is the BEST one yet, and I have done quite a few.  I have never been more interested in learning what the Bible has to say than in the book of Daniel.  I knew about the story of Nebuchadnezzar with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  I also knew about the story of Daniel and the lions den but never had I known there was so much MORE until this study.  The prophecy that is in the book of Daniel is amazing. I won't say any more other than if you have the opportunity to do this study...DO IT!!  If not, READ IT, the book of Daniel that is.  You won't regret it!!

 

 

When you just know....

School has started for Ally and Miley, as for me I am trying to find a routine that fits.  Kerrington will be starting another year of preschool in a couple of weeks so this week we have been enjoying our days together....just me and her.  I know it has been quite some time since I last blogged so I will just pick up in the here and now. 

Ally, who just started the 8th grade, does not like going to school.  Miley, who started Kindergarten, was very excited on her first day (Wednesday) but that has slowly diminished.  I am just excited to have a couple of hours of ME time each day after Kerrington goes to school.  The Lord keeps blessing my husband and all his hard work with our personal business.  PRAISE be to GOD!!

Kerrington has been in good health.  She had her Cardiology appt. yesterday and passed.  Dr. Schneider said no change since last echo 3 months ago which was unexpected actually.  We do not go back until December.  YAY!!

During her appointment yesterday I took this awesome video of Kerrington actually talking.  For those of you who do not know her journey with Apraxia of Speech has been a difficult one.  Her words are as sweet as honey to us.  I know this might sound CRAZY but I am madly in love with how she says LOVE DORA LOVE BOOTS!!

As I sit at my desk reading email and listening to Dora on TV, I hear Kerrington vocally tell Dora where to go next (with the help of Map of course).  At that moment, but very emotional, I realize she will be fine....even more than fine....she will be GREAT!!

Alot Going On!!

It has been some time since my last post so I will do my best to catch everyone up with the happenings in our family. Kerrington turned 3 in January and Miley is getting ready to turn 5 in April. 

As you know I took a leave of absence at work which ran out officially March 27th.  I am now taking a week's PTO as we get ready to make the decision whether or not I am going to change my occupation to a stay at home mom.  This again has been a tough decision, hard on the heart at times.  When I have been at home, there is no other place I would rather be but then I realize what kind of job I am leaving behind and it makes it more complicated.  We have totally had to hand this over to the Lord.  He is working for sure and we have great faith that he will guide us in the right direction and take care of us along the way. 

Kerrington was diagnosed with Auto Immune Hypothyroidism in February and placed on Synthroid.  Thanks to the Cardiology team at Kentucky Children's Hospital for their wise decision to test Kerrington's thyroid.  She is still being monitored every 3 months by Cardiology as her right ventricle pressure slowly increases but we are hopeful that it will still be awhile until her next surgery. Kerrington broke her right humerous at the end of February and had to have surgery to place 2 pins in her arm.  We just went yesterday to have the splint removed, pins taken out, and now she has a cast for 2 weeks.... purple of course!!

We have been doing many fun things during my time at home that I would like to start sharing with you.  This week we have been learning about Bugs and have done numerous crafts after Miley and Kerrington get home from preschool.  I thought this would be great since Kerrington is petrified of bugs at this point in her life.

They learned "I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee" song this week.  Kerrington tries to even sing it.  It's quite fun to sing while doing these fun activities.  I found some of our activities from this wonderful site.

For these cute bumblebees I used 2 different size circles and traced onto yellow and black construction paper.  We then glued black strips of construction paper onto the body and used as antenna’s.  Added googly eyes and the wings are made of wax paper or parchment paper.

For these cute butterflies, we glued pompoms to a clothes pin and added googly eyes.  The kids colored a coffee filter with markers (make sure you color every part of the filter).  We then used a spray bottle of water to spray the coffee filter which makes the colors run together.  After it is completely dry, fold it like a fan then place in the clothes pin and fan the wings out.  I think ours turned out beautifully!!

Well it's been a little bit since I have posted. You can tell that I am new to this blogging thing....I mean am I even doing this right? HA HA Welp we have been busy and February is looking to be even busier. Kerrington started school this past Monday. She did have fun!! I had no concerns that she wouldn’t have a great time, our main concern was the fact that she cannot communicate with anyone except her speech therapist.

Kerrington also saw her new Genetics doctor in Cincinnati this past Tuesday. He was great and I learned they have a VCFS (Di-George Syndrome) clinic there. They want Kerrington to have another hearing test and have a speech\language eval. They also got on me about her diet. I mean the child won't eat hardly anything so if all she likes is carbs then more power to her...what girl doesn’t like carbs, right? Being the specialist of VCFS and Apraxia, they then told me that she wasnt in the best setting for her Apraxia (setting being public schools).

I am so torn about this whole public school issue. Apraxia is more than a speech delay, it is a neurological motor planning issue. She needs extensive speech therapy for any future of being able to communicate. I feel like if the Lord wanted her to go elsewhere that door would have been open during her IEP meeting with the school system. Mom tells me that if she starts in the public schools they would be more accepting of her special needs. But at the same time we want to give her the best so she will have a better future. OK moving on.....

I am getting gearing up for Heart Awareness week which is February 7-14th. Kerrington's Heart will be doing our Awareness Hearts Campaign during the month of February at participating businesses and a bake sale on February 14th. We are also working on our Awareness Video....I am so excited to see how it turns out. I will post once complete!!

February = Heart Awareness events, Cardiology, Kerrington 3 yr. check up, Endocrinology, Cheerleading competition, therapy's, Orthodontist, and Dentist.....so far!! :)

Saturday January 21st 2012

So the girls did not bring home a trophy this year but they did a great job.  There were a lot of great teams there this year.  Ally and I went shopping afterwards then to Subway and finished off the night at Orange Leaf.  Really enjoyed spending quality time with Ally because it doesn't happen very often.  I had every intention of posting the video of their performance but I was yelling and shaking the video so bad that you can barely watch it without vomiting....oh well maybe next time!!  Anyway here are those pics from Kerrington's Heart Cath that I said I was going to post like 2 weeks ago. :)

Before Heart Cath

In recovery

Still sleeping 5 hours later!!

Heart Cath results

State Cheerleading Competition Bound

Up early...getting ready to go to the State Cheerleading competition today. Praying all the Garrard Middle School girls do well and take home a trophy this year!! Watched the movie Courageous last night....a MUST see!! Here are just a few pics of Kerrington eating a cupcake on her birthday. Her party is actually on Sunday so more pics to come.

This sure is alot of icing

This is WAY to messy!

This is MY cupcake!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Kerrington!!

3 years ago today we were blessed with a beautiful little girl who has taught us the meaning of courageous. The Lord has shown us what true strength, hope, faith, and grace is through Kerrington's 3 years on this earth. Kerrington has no idea how many lives she has touched but we are so thankful that the Lord chose us to take part in her journey as her parents. Sooooo blessed!! Happy Birthday to our sweet Kerrington.

Heart Cath Update

The cardiologist said its a grey area as to whether or not they need to schedule her next heart surgery.  He will meet with Cardiology team on Monday and include Dr. Bricker her old Cardiologist.  They will decide what next step will be.

Results were Mild Stenosis of conduit valve with minimal regurgitation
and mild to modern rate stenosis of proximal branch pulmonary arteries.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers today. It makes a tough situation so much easier.