Seven Heaven

Seven years ago I spent the New Year's holiday in the hospital. Abby was born a week late and came out running and hasn't stopped since!! She is my first born, a natural leader, quick minded, obedient, kind and loving and beautiful to boot! The best oldest child anyone could ever ask for.We spent Monday out on a photo shoot despite the bright sunshine glaring in her eyes and temperatures of 22 degrees she smiled, laughed and posed, all in celebration of her delightful seven years of life!Abby's favorite color is "Royal" blue; therefore, this is her favorite outfit that she wears anywhere and everywhere!
Her favorite food is pasta, much to her father's pleasure.

Her favorite subjects in school are Art, Math, and PE. She "MUST" get 100% on all her spelling and math tests or life is OVER!

She has started taking piano lessons and LOVES it!!

Pixo's and the Leapster are her favorite past times, well, along side drawing, painting, coloring, creating projects...

For her party she wanted to go bowling. She invited a few girls from her school class and we all had a wonderful time.The highlight of the party would be when they announced her birthday and everyone in the building clapped and cheered, then they presented her with her own bowling pin that her friends could sign.
She received many wonderful gifts from her friends and then we went and picked out a new bike for her. She is so excited to better keep up with Louisa and Kadin down the street this spring!! As she informed us "bigger wheels means faster speed!"
Happy Birthday Abby we love love love you!!!!

Merry Christmas

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will to men."

ST Luke 2:13-14

Frenzy

Christmas is almost here!! The excitement is palpable at our house, how about yours? I can't even get the girls dressed without them jumping all over the room singing carols and giggling in new octives barely audible to the human ear. All are out of school, no carpool for TWO weeks and Santa has already delivered my greatest present EVER!!! Can you tell what it is?

Done, and Done

Who ever said you can't wait until the second week in December to do your decorating and Christmas shopping!! I am living proof that it can be done, and to perfection!! All the decor is out, Holiday cards are made and mailed. Packages to siblings have been shipped. Gifts have been purchased and all now lay beautifully snuggled under the tree. Santa has completed the girls lists and now we just await his arrival.

That being said, I do have to start baking tomorrow for class parties and neighbor gifts, but today? Today I am going to snuggle up on my couch, watch a show or two (maybe I can find While You Were Sleeping on a channel somewhere, it's a guilty pleasure I like to watch every Christmas) and relax after my previously busy week.

Just so you know- the mall yesterday was CRAZY! It took me 45 minutes to get from the freeway exit to the parking lot. No, I won't be going back until after the holiday!!

California Dreamin'

With our temperatures now plummeting into the teens, along with falling snow and Christmas parties galore scheduled the rest of this week I have decided to take a vacation in my mind- back to California, back to sunny days with temps in the low 70's. Morning runs outside amid the glorious coastal breezes. Jazzercising the pie away under Audrey's instruction! Lazy afternoons spent at the park or gliding around in the pool. Time spent with our cousin sister's (and brother!) who played well into the night. There was no need to entertain, the children took care of themselves!!

Memories of a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, sitting around a full and delicious table talking and laughing and feeling content with such wonderful family around.My mind floods with highlights of our day spent in Santa Barbra picnicking at the beach amid beach Volley Ball and Frisbee. (even though some thought it was cold! Crazy people!) Lazily strolling the paths of the zoo, awaiting the animal surprises around each corner, and slipping down Ant Hill on cardboard boxes (truly the highlight of the day!).Lights and music crowd the senses as I wonder who can resist a Vintage old town Carousel? Nobody I tell you!! Smiles abound.I am filled with peaceful sounds of waves crashing and infusing with giggles and delight as the cousins attempt to keep their clothing dry from the encroaching waves while the sun gives it final golden farewell.Visions of Liv walking off into the sunset with Uncle Kevin at her side on a hunt for lost treasures lapped to shore by the foaming waves.It was delightful, warm, relaxing, comfort:

A Wilson Thanksgiving at its best!!

Just Breath

I had intended on doing a post about our wonderful California Thanksgiving Vacation we took to visit our Wilson family but things took a turn on Monday.

We arrived home late Sunday night put the girls to bed and awoke bright and early to get the them off to school. All seemed fine. I unpacked, started in on laundry, took down all the Thanksgiving decor and had begun hauling out all the Christmas stuff when Liv awoke from her nap screaming in pain. She was holding her belly and was more upset and scared than I have ever seen her before. I carried her into the bathroom and told her to try and go, she just screamed and screamed and begged to lay on the floor. I let her, ran for the thermometer and took her temp. It was OK but I gave her some Ibuprofen anyway because she was hurting so much. Then I began to push on her belly and ask if this hurt- she proceeded to throw up. I PANICKED. This was not normal Liv behavior, she was in a ball writhing around on the floor. I had flashes of Paul doing this exact same thing seven years ago. I called Paul at work and he jumped in his car and rushed home. With the history he and his family have with Appendicitis we both were thinking the same thing. We woke up Eva called my mom to take care of Abby and rushed to the ER. They too were immediately concerned, especially when the blood work came back and her white blood count was high and she now had a fever of 102. A belly X-ray was done and they ruled out the appendix and decided that she had an intestinal blockage "Volvulus" or pinch/twist in her intestine and she needed a Barium Enema to get a better look. I was beyond distraught to take her in and have them do this. How scary to a 4 year old child who couldn't understand what was going on, who already was in extreme pain and was terrified. Those eyes I tell you, they just break your heart. I insisted on a sedative for her, they finlly gave her one. She was brave as the radio active dye registered on the screen and her crocodile tears rolled down her cheeks. After getting back to her room the doctor came in and said he didn't think the procedure had worked to his liking and he was transferring her up to Primary Children's Medical Center for the pediatric specialist, he thought surgery was imminent. Upon arriving there we were greeted by Paul's parents and it was so wonderful to have their support, to feel of their love while we were so scared. Of course the doctors at this hospital were convinced that it was her appendix and were upset the other doctor had done the Barium Enema because the dye was still in her system and they couldn't do an MRI. After much debate it was ultimately decided that they would pull her off all meds and admit her overnight to see if it worsened. (At Primary Children's with her new Butterfly and Blanket, the only smile we saw for two days)

I was frustrated at first with this, but truly it was the best course of action because in the morning her white count was going down and she was doing much better. So they ruled out her appendix and decided that it had been a blockage and the Barium Enema had helped to open and clear. Finally, they sent us home last night.
It was such an ordeal, but I am so grateful that Liv is OK and doing well. Having your child sick and her care and well being outside your control is so hard. I do still wonder if it was her appendix and it was just a flare up that went down (my mother's was like that for years before they realized the problem and took it out), because they were never able to do an ultrasound or MRI on Liv to completely ruled it out. Still, I am happy that she didn't need surgery and she is home. And honestly, how wonderful is family? What would I do with out them? Thank you everyone for your love, concern and help during our time of need- it was all appreciated!!

Can I take a breath now? I feel like I have been running non stop for two weeks. I need to catch up on some sleep! I will post up about the holiday when I get a chance. Now I am even more behind on my list and I need to tackle that first.

Kiss your little ones a few more times today and tell them you love them more than than they know!

Eva Eva Eva

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet GirlShe had her first party on Friday with a couple of her playgroup friends. It was really fun stringing fruit loop necklaces, playing Birthday Bingo and Freeze Dancing over and over!! They sang Happy Birthday and she blew out the candles.Eva is the greatest (well all my girls are the greatest!), we all just love her beyond measure. She is CRAZY, and silly and happy all the time. When I asked her what color of balloons she wanted, she said "Dreen and aurange" Really? Green and Orange. OK! Here are a few of her favorite things:

- Chocolate Balls with NO MILK for breakfast every morning
-Baths NOT Showers
-Sharing a room with Liv and singing songs together all night
-Having Abby read her stories while snuggled in blankets on the couch-Playing with Little Ponies, Pet Shops, Polly's, Barbies, Baby Dolls (she is a girl!)
-Helping mom put on her Make-ups
-Pineapple and Grapes
-Combing Moms hair at night and putting in clips
-Peanut Butter and Fluff sandwiches-"Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga (She sings and dances to it like no ones business)
-Dora
-Playing Mom and Kid with Liv
-Library Story Time
-Being with Dad- she is a Daddy's girl and he LOVES it!Happy Birthday Eva- You overflow my heart!

It was

a leaf jumpin' kind of afternoon!!!

The Recipe:

A mountain of leaves

4 rakes

1 neighbor friend Kate

Lots of laughs!!


A Dash of this:

Mixed with a lot of that:Sprinkle with grins like these!

This is cold enough for me, can it be spring yet?

Confidence

I have finally figured out my new Photoshop CS4! It took several hours of browsing around finding tuts to help me. It is the same, but very different then Elements and it has taken some getting used to. I now feel comfortable, confident and proficient- which is great.

Here are my pages this week. I know, I haven't scrapped again in ages- but 2008 is officially complete in all three of the girls books- can I get a Whoot Whoot!!! (Don't even mention to me that 2009 is almost over, I may have to hurt you!)

I am in full creative swing, more to follow soon- I will get caught up, you just wait!!!

Back

Sorry for being slow to post. I always find myself doing this after a vacation.

Yes, Paul and I took a fun little weekend get away last weekend in celebration of my birthday. He asked me what I wanted and I told him- to go away, be away, just him and me, all to myself. No work, no kids, no responsibilities, with sunshine- and he provided. It was wonderful. We slept, we ate, we played golf, we reconnected, we had a blast. As we awoke Sunday morning Paul leaned over and said "I don't want to go back". It was a great break, the only thing that could make us return was the anticipated smiling faces of our sweeties. So, like all good things, it came to an end. Far to quickly we were right back into life and all that it brings. Do you find yourself ever feeling this way? Why can't life just ease us back in after a brief reprieve? Why does it come to such a screeching halt!

Laundry, cooking, cleaning, dishes, shopping, carpool, exercise, sleepless nights...

I guess I will just focus on the good things. The ability to run away together for a moment because I have AMAZING in laws, for little hugs and kisses, for laying around in pajamas with Eva all day, for chocolate dipping pretzels with Liv, for laughing with Abby at silly things, for a girls night out with friends, for a treadmill that just keeps spinning, for TiVo and it's ability to let Paul and I unwind at the end of the day together.

It is the ebb and flow of life, it is what makes it all worthwile.

Birthday Girl

Last Monday. My 32nd to be exact.It entailed:

-Homemade gifts and cards from the girls
-5 mile run
-School carpools
-Lunch with Paul
-Lovely calls from friends and family
-Visits and beautiful gifts from friends
-Took the girls bowling for the first time ever!
-Blew out candles on my cake

Another year flies by and the adventures continue- the 30's really are great!!!

PS: I don't want to hear it from my family about how runny that frosting turned out!!! It still tasted devine:)