May Gray

But the girls are troopers. We started swim lessons early this year and the weather hasn't been cooperative.

 So I bundle them up as soon as they get out. . .

and the smiles return.

Revitalizing

 We're painting around here, and someone is really happy about it.

 She really is. In fact, she asked to help--all the girls did--and each girl took a turn and the trim and doors look so nice now! Next, we'll paint the walls in the hall and living room. We've narrowed it down to these:

And the winner is. . .the lighter, brighter red that looks a little pinkish. It's called Strawberry Wine and will look very nice with our leather couch and accessories.

An Important Decision (bark) to Make and an Update on Our Garden

We're looking to add to our family. Yes, a puppy. My first choice--

an English Bull Dog-Shar-pei mix. I have a few votes in my favor. An equal contender (though it doesn't have my vote)--

A Pomeranian. My second runner up--

A mini Australian Shepherd. Also on our list of possibilities--

a Shiba Inu. However--

There's some definite cuteness going on here.
We want a dog on the smaller side. One that is good with children. One that will alert us of intruders or fire, etc.

Now, our garden:

 Maddie's Roma tomato plant.

 Lilah's cherry tomato plant.

 Ava's red bell pepper plant.

 My yellow bell pepper plant.

Maddie's science fair experiment--one with pesticides one without.

We have had such success with our garden (flowers are flourishing, too!) that I am considering investing in a green house so we can plant all year long. We have 65 tomatoes and 28 peppers growing strong.

Fit Bit Update

How did I do the first week? I worked out much more than usual and started strong with healthy eating but we ate out 4 times last week and it took a toll on my weight loss plans. I gained a 1/2 pound. I reached my water goal and step goal every day and I have a lot more energy this week. I swam laps yesterday and could have gone another 20 minutes or so (did 30 minutes), but the girls were done with their swim lessons and I didn't want to end up over-doing it and start avoiding exercise. Tonight, my work out includes cardio (50 minutes) and weight machines (25 mins) while Ava is downstairs in gymnastics class. Wednesday is lap swim again and 45 mins in the gym while Lilah is in gymnastics class. Friday is gym work out again (while Maddie is in gymnastics class), and Thursday and Saturday is a jog/walk for 45 minutes (walk for a minute, jog for a minute for 45 minutes--I love this work out best because it boosts my metabolism and cuts me a tiny break between jogging but still shows up as full intensity on my fit bit:)). This week Sunday would be my day off but we'll be at Sea World and that's a lot of walking.

One feature I really love on the Fit Bit is the sleep tracker. I am surprised I get as much sleep as I'm getting!

All smiles on the way into gymnastics tonight.

Happy Mother's Day!

My crew were mostly unresponsive when I asked for photo ops, so I culled the best from the lot:

Yesterday, we all had pedicures and a few manicures thrown in there, too. Today we went out for frozen yogurt while we waited 90 minutes for our table to be ready at Olive Garden. We spent most of today working on school projects that are due this week. In a few minutes, we will all have cheesecake and then it's bedtime (well, a little past bedtime, as usual:)). It was another awesome Mother's Day!

VADER vs. VACTERL

I am a Star Wars fan in remission. I was a teenager when the first Star Wars film hit the theaters and with two younger brothers, spent many hours watching the super heroes of space duke it out. Eventually, I started to enjoy this baby-sitting gig. Now, as a single mama with a house full of girls-- and not a single Princess Leia among them--well, when we do get to the movies it's usually The No Bummer Summer types or, most recently, Home. But I digress. . .

Today, Lilah had three doctor appointments at Children's Hospital. We started out in great spirits:

But it's never hard to get a smile out of her.


Up next, here she is stepping into a "fun" looking x-ray machine:

Which revealed some unexpected news.

Afterwards, we had a little time for breakfast at McD's:

 And to stare at this ball and maze contraption.

Then we sat in the exam room waiting for the surgeon and entertained ourselves taking selfies:

 One of us didn't get a lot of sleep last night...yep, it was me.

 And one of us is taking everything in stride...yes, my babe. She is a trooper.

 But both of us know how to have a little fun.

At the end of the day, with three more diagnosis/discoveries, it has become crystal clear to me that my babe does indeed have that syndrome impacting the midline--some call it VADER syndrome, some call it VACTERL. I knew she had it before today, what with four diagnosis on the midline already (more than 3 and you're a shoe-in), but today I was given information on new discoveries and information not shared with me in March (how could the doctor forget to tell me Lilah's kidneys are not the same size?). And I am sad, because my girl, she deserves a break, right. (Yes, I am tempted to throw a pity party, but Lilah would be the last one to attend and the only way she'd arrive is kicking and screaming--which is a reflection of her indomitable spirit and the way I am raising her--to see herself as mighty). And the truth is, everything that could go right, is going right. Her open heart surgery was nothing short of a miracle. And all the damage to her organs for having gone 3 years without a repair, healed itself within a year of surgery. She was detethered long before any permnant damage could occur. Her kidney reflux--stage 2, people--healed itself!

So, what are the unknowns we face?
1. She has been diagnosed with spina bifidia occulta, but it is pretty much a static condition and anything that could go south with it has already happened--tehthered cord and now this prominent bone (size of a BB) near her tail bone. Many people are born with SBO and never even know it.
2. Her spine is curved. It's only an 8% curvature. The ortho specialist believes this is due to her open heart surgery. Normal range is up to 15% and no human being has a straight spine--we're all a little curved.
3. And the kidney size disparity, a lot of people are born with this and never even know it.

So we follow up, every year unless something indicates further action is needed.

Now the fistula--that big surgery is scheduled for June 23rd. The surgeon believes it will be difficult at minimum, complicated enough he has requested a specialist in an anatomical area close to the fistula be present in the operating room because he suspects involvement. And the recovery? 6-8 weeks.  Oh, and he wanted me to know that it will be the most painful surgery she could have. Yeah. Open heart surgery, spinal surgery pale in comparison.

So, my friends from the adoption community, what is it like to raise a child with VADER/VACTERL--nothing short of miraculous. She truly makes my heart sing. I am a better person for having and holding her. Each of my children have taught me more about Grace and faith than I ever thought was possible. They have taken me so deep into love that there has to be another word for it. But in keeping it real--yes, tonight I will find a moment to myself, lock the bathroom door and shed a few tears for my sweet girl, because in 6 weeks I will hold her hand and walk her into the most intense pain she has ever known so that she can live a life full of possibility. And tomorrow morning she will wake up and wrestle the sun into the sky and laugh that deep belly laugh because, after all, she holds the world in her hands (and my heart, too).

(More on that VADER/VACTERL thing later. . )

Weekend Fun

Yesterday, we went to the mall. I am not a fan of shopping unless it involves midnight hours and a mouse that clicks as opposed to squeaks:) Anyway, we ate at our favorite Chinese food restaurant, went to the movies (HOME) and got a little shopping done. JC Penny is one of the few stores that sells slim pants/shorts/capris with an adjustable waist (Ava is petite--that's the only word we're allowed to use;)). We also received a gift certificate for Bare Minerals (Thanks Tamara!). It was lipsticks for everyone. Lilah asked me several times if she could have the woman apply her color choice--there were a lot of ladies in on a Saturday and having makeovers, which fascinated her. Maddie and Ava weren't interested in doing this, which surprised me as all my girls are into make-up and makeovers but they were far too busy checking out all the eye color and lip color and making their purchase selections. Anyway, a few photos of this first:

I let her get a very sheer pink that's really more like a tinted chap stick. She loves it. Maddie and Ava chose brighter colors but the shades go so well with their skin tones and coloring. I'm pleased with their choices.

Also this weekend--I bought a Fitbit for myself.

I resisted at first. But I love it. It manages my goal for me (lose 22 lbs.), keeping track of my exercise, calorie intake, makes adjustments to how much I can eat according to my calorie intake, exercise output, and my goal, logs my water intake (a huge challenge for me as I don't like drinking water but the fact that I have to log it and get to watch my glasses fill up toward success--I'm a very visual person--works for me). It also keeps track of how many steps I take daily and that also adjusts how many calories I can eat. It also calls me a "champ" when I reach my activity level, footsteps (10,000) and cheers me on with a "hooray! when I meet but don't exceed my daily calories. It tells me how many more calories I can have throughout the day. This is day 2 of wearing it:)