Halloween 2014

This year there may have been a million and one little girls that dressed up as Elsa and Anna from Frozen. But they are two sisters who would do anything for each other! So how could I avoid that even if the girls would have let me? And there is no question that the two very cutest ones of them all live right at my house! They were just precious! It was also the first time either of them had worn make up!

Their dad and Grandma Debbie are here so we all went the the Klein ISD Halloween Fair and it was really fun! They played lots of games, went trick or treating, went on a hay ride and enjoyed the petting zoo!

Happy Halloween to my two princesses!

















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My Lil Pumpkins

But of course they picked the princess pumpkin to carve. Jasmine it is.











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Sneak Peek

After a really great lunch catching up with Riley's old teacher and my friend Melissa Lindhman...


And a cuddly nap that I cherished...


It was the dreaded 6 year old/Christmas card picture taking night. We gotta two for one with the Fosters again so man that makes for a whole lot of beautiful girls together!

Just a little sneak peek.



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Presenting...

Tonight the girls and I did something a little scary and a lot of fun. We represented Texas Children's Hospital and introduced the Hocus Pocus show of the Houston Symphony! It was at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and our host estimated there was 7,500 people there!

The girls and I went out on stage right before the show started to talk about how TCH is building a new campus right down the road from the Pavilion, and how great it will be to have TCH in our community! It was SO nerve racking! I was SO thankful that Gamas was there with us! We only spoke for two minutes but it felt much longer.

But, before the show was the really fun part! My little Queen Elsa and Princess Anna got to meet the real thing!! It was incredibly exciting! And probably the first time that Riley has ever been really excited to meet a character! We stayed for a little bit of the symphony and then got two exhausted princesses home.

It has been quite a day!




















Backstage...








And us onstage! We are that little dot off to the far left. This was taken by some friends in the audience.


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Pumpkin Run

Who knew signing up to help at the Pumpkin Run today would be so fantastic? It was a gorgeous day to help mark the kindergarteners cards each time they completed a lap for their cute PE race. I wasn't planning on how fun it would be to see...

Keagan try her best and do an awesome 13 laps!

Riley have the time of her life running with all the other kids and have sweet kids stop to encourage her!

And the very best was when Keags ran and gave Riley a hug and was so excited they could run together!!

I'm so thankful today that some moments just make all the other yucky stuff so worth it!


















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So Grumpy!

I just got a million I'm not tireds from a certain little six year old. Well this momma is wiped out! So I told her she didn't have to go to sleep but she had to lay down, stop moving, stop talking and close her eyes! And wa la! That did the trick! Thank heavens!!

It's been a rare one for me the last couple of days. I am SUPER grumpy! Which is SUPER rare. And no mater what I do I can't seem to snap out of it. I have even invested my emotional needs in good food like I do so well. And that didn't even work! That's when you know it's bad! My sister suggested today that I wear a warning label. I'm hoping she will craft me up one.

I'm just exhausted. Sound familiar? I have my stupid auto immune rash on my leg which requires prescription strength Benadryl and a steroid. So that may be our first problem. Second problem is I'm a single mom! Exhaustion is par for the course on that front! And third, I have a gazillion (actual number, don't fight me) things going on and a to do list longer then Rapunzel's hair!

But then my babies fall asleep and my head clears a little, despite all the meds I'm on, even in all my grumpiness, I think the same thing I do almost every night. I do all the work, but that means I get all the blessings! And blessings from the two cutest six year olds that the great state of Texas has ever seen makes it all worth it!


It may not help me snap out of grumpy for a couple more days though. So don't say I didn't warn ya!


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Overwhelmed Again

The last couple of days have been rough! We know tough days around here and usually we take them in stride. But my heart has hit a little stumbling block on this one and I'm having a hard time bouncing back.

I've been trying to think of how to post this all to the blog, but I'm not sure I have wrapped my own head completely around it yet. So I'm really not sure what to say about it. But here goes.

On Wednesday both of Riley's occupational therapists surprised me with a meeting. They both feel that Riley has plateaued and that there is nothing more they can help her with. They want us to switch to a different therapist and see if she can help Riley make any more progress. The therapists are both sweet women and have the best intentions. But I wanted to fall at their feet and beg them not to give up on my baby! I refuse to believe that Riley will never be able to feed herself, throw a ball, open a door or do so many more things. I refuse!

The girls had their 6 year well visits on Thursday. Last year Riley weighed 29.4 pounds. This year she weighed 29 pounds. She did grow an inch and a half but lost weight over the course of a year. Obviously this is concerning.


She also failed her hearing test four times on her left ear. Hearing loss could be associated with CMV which Doctor Clark suspects may have caused her PMG. The hearing loss is one of my worst fears for her. We need to see an audiologist now. Plus, Dr Reed wants her to see an optometrist because of concerns about her eyes.

Just when I think I've got things handled, this is what happens for my sweet girl. As always, I don't want her to have any more challenges, any more doctors, any more tests. But her little body has different plans.

And those different plans have left me feeling very overwhelmed and near tears at the drop of the hat. I just keep reminding myself who is in control and to rely on Him!

I've repeated Phillipians 4:13 through my head a million times the last couple of days. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." I'm so thankful to know that is true for both my sweet Riley and for myself! That part I've got figured out! But the rest of this is still tough to get straight. So I'll just have to keep you posted.

As usual, prayers are always appreciated!



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To My Girls...

Last night I put my babies to bed for the last time as five year olds! In the cutest jammies ever that Miss Taryn gave them none the less.


And then just like that they woke up as SIX year olds! How did that happen? I'm still in shock!


To my two precious girls...

My wishes for you this year...

Keagan,
I know six is going to be a wonderful year for you! I know you are going to learn so much this year and fly higher then you ever have before! You are one incredible girl and I am so lucky to be your mom! Please continue to be the strong leader, good example, absolutely hilarious and smart girl that you are! Keep the one liners coming and whatever you do please don't stop saying "pueter" (computer), "kachews" (cashews), "alleygator" (elevator) and many more. I'm so proud of you for continuing to be an incredible sister and a huge helper to me! I will always be here to listen to your stories and questions, to kiss you WAY more then you would like and scratch your back. I love you with all my heart sweet pea! Happy Birthday!

Riley,
In the last year you have accomplished so much! I can't wait to see what surprises you have for us this year! No matter what it is I'm sure I will be proud of your hard work and strength! You continue to amaze me and teach me so much everyday! I'm so blessed to be your mom and to be able to cover your face with kisses whenever I want! Thank you for the perspective you have helped me discover! Please continue to be a source of joy and light to all who meet you. Never lose that famous smile and drive to keep up with your sister and all the other kids! I will always be here to be your number one cheerleader, biggest advocate, and favorite snuggling partner! I love you with all my heart angel! Happy Birthday!

Time to Party!

Last night we celebrated the two big SIX year olds with pizza, the most amazing Barbie cake I've ever seen in my life, a hefty dose of loud and crazy (of course) and the Fosters, the Frenchs, Nana, Gamas and Coach!


























And of course what kind of party would it have been if Coach didn't take the kids outside to try and light the Barbie on fire? Who knew Barbies were flame retardant?

Do Over

So what do you do when you are two picture obsessed dorks when your phones died at Seaworld and you didn't get the pictures you wanted? Well obviously you go back the next day and take some of the photos you would have! And maybe they turn out even better because no one was there yet!














What a fantastic trip!

It was three full days of partying and celebrating the two cutest girls in the entire world turning six! And things couldn't have gone any smoother! I'm SO thankful that Gama Linda came with us! She was a huge help and we just adore her! And again I'm SO thankful to Paul, Susan, Derwin and Nana for making this possible!! But all good things have to come to an end.

I guess it's probably a good thing cause we are exhausted! Just ask Gamas who got kicked and snuggled to death by a little Riley all night!














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