Happenings from Mid February

Elle in physical therapy working her upper body strength using the bicycle

So this is the first of several back dated posts to catch us up through today...beginning with Valentine's Day. So on February 3 when we received the good news from Elle's cardiologist that we could start planning her 2nd birthday party...it hit me like a ton of bricks...Elle has 3 little girl friends. I did a mini mommy freak out and confided in my friend Ali that I was scared Elle doesn't know any other children. She is really only around children for a 1 hour a week gym class and then play dates with out friend Maddie who lives across the street. Ali got me the in on a moms and tots group and thanks to her good word...I was able to sign Elle and myself up. This group is seriously awesome...stuff to do every single day of the week. If Elle didn't have therapy every day we would be at these awesome play groups as much as we could possibly handle it! So....our first adventure with the group was a Valentine's Day party. I even canceled therapy for the day so Elle could attend and be around kiddos for a change. It was so much fun! We met some fun new people but we mostly hung out with Elle's friends...Maddie and Kayla.

trying to get three little girls to smile was a task in and of itself!

lee's valentines gift to Elle was a set of golf clubs...the girl LOVES them! Every day I hear "dadda golf...momma golf....outside." Music to my little ears!!

Elle and Kayla at the park during another fun play date with our new play group

Where did February go? I have so many more posts to get up and on the blog...it might just take me the month of March to get February caught hope...let's pray it doesn't!!

To Make A Donation for It's My Heart

To make a donation to our team for the It's My Heart Walk....or to join our team click on the link below:

It's My Heart

It should take you directly to our team's homepage. You can click on General Team Donation and it will take you to the donation website or you can choose to join our team as a walker.

Thank you for all your support! The more walkers....the merrier!!!

Gearing Up for the Heart Walk

February 3 we had Elle's check up with her cardiologist. Poor little girl knows what is going on and as soon as they opened the door for us to be called back, the screaming and crying began. We see her cardiologist at the same location she goes to therapy every single day so no one was prepared to see the usual happy little lady break down into massive tears. She's terrified of the blood pressure machine....so much so that the nurse couldn't even take it! After weight, height and oxygen saturation check...it was time for the echo. By this time she had calmed down and sat perfectly still for the echo...thanks to Elmo being played on the television. After the echo it was time to wait for her doctor. One of the nurses brought Elle a crown to wear since she did so good during the echo. Dr. W came in and gave us the news...Elle's heart has gotten worse since her last echo in September, but we definitely don't have to rush into the operating room. We can wait until late spring or early summer before we have to go back! Whoo hoo!! God has answered our prayers and has given us more time for Elle to grow bigger and stronger before her next surgery.

Elle and Lee waiting for Dr. W...yes....that is Elle's smile when you ask her to smile for the camera...

It was wonderful news to get right before Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (February 7 - February 14). I know I have posted it before but it is just staggering to think that nearly twice as many children die each year in the United States from Congenital Heart Defects as from all forms of childhood cancers combined. Yet funding for pediatric cancer research is 5x higher than funding for Congenital Heart Defects (source: It's My Heart website: Children's Heart Foundation). Right now, we are gearing up for the It's My Heart Fundraising Walk. I've had the countdown on the top of our blog for several months now and we are less than a week away from the big event! Next Saturday we will be walking on Team Elle's Angels and Witt's Warriors to benefit It's My Heart and help change the statistic written above.

Join Team Elle's Angels and Witt's Warriors!

Keep the Beat It's My Heart Awareness Walk

Sam Houston Park: Allen Parkway

1100 Bagby

Houston, Texas 77002

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Registration starts at 8:30 - 10:00am

Walk starts at 10:00am

Family fun day from 11:00am - 12:00pm

I attend a Beth Moore Bible study during the week. This past week she asked if we could sum up what God has done in our lives in just one sentence. I've thought about it all week and here's my sentence: Two years ago, God blessed us with a baby with broken heart and many other medical problems, but it is through HIS grace that we see the miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ on a DAILY BASIS!

Min Mou Jammies

Yesterday morning I experienced a first with my almost 2 year old little lady. As I was getting her dressed and ready for the day, I held up an outfit and said "Elle, it's time to get dressed." She looked directly at me and said "NO!"...all while shaking her little head. Her reaction kind of took me by surprise and so I asked (half laughing) what she intended to wear for the day. She opened up the drawer in her dresser that holds all her pjs.....fished around for a little bit and then came out holding a pajama top with Minnie Mouse on it. She held it up for me to see and proudly announced "Min Mou jammies." Alright...Minnine Mouse jammies it was!

I just had to share these pictures...Elle and Lee hitting golf balls....or rather Lee hitting golf balls and Elle cheering him on

Birthday Bliss

I'm officially in my last year of my twenties as of yesterday. The last few days have absolutely filled my heart with contentment. My birthday celebrations started on Wednesday with lunch with my bestie Shannon and her son Parker. Our original plans were lunch and then a walk around Hermann Park but we soon found ourselves at the zoo. Oh my gosh! It's been probably 20 years since I went to the zoo last and I was absolutely amazed! Elle loved it too....it was her first time to be up close and personal with all those amazing animals.

We had so much fun with Shannon and Parker. I've said it probably 10x in the last few days but we are truly blessed to have them as friends. Shannon and I have been friends for over a decade and it is so amazing to think that our little ones will be able to grow up together!

Wednesday night we met my parents and brother for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. Uncle BenBen and Elle had a great time together. I just love these pictures of the two of them!

Animal Print Friday (yes Elle still wears animal prints every Friday...) we met our friends for our mommy and me gym class and then we met up with my parents and Lee for lunch. We even got to see some of my former co workers after lunch and it made my birthday day even more amazing!

Dinner we met up with Lee's parents and grandparents. What a perfect way to end my birthday!

I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. Thank you to everyone for making my birthday so incredibly special!

one last pic of Elle playing with Lee's earphones....

Just Dance

Elle and Lee like to have dance parties...this one just happens to be in the car....

Momma's Gotta Have Some Fun Too....

This past weekend I escaped the dreary weather of H Town and headed to Mississippi for one of my besties bachelorette party. It was so much fun meeting up with all my favorite girls for a weekend of girl talk, dancing, eating, drinking, spa time and even a little gambling. We partied the weekend away at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi. It was soooo much fun! Lauren made the perfect bachelorette and is going to be an absolutely stunningly beautiful bride.

We spent Friday night exploring the casino and then Saturday afternoon (when we all finally got out of our pjs) we headed to the spa for manicures. After manis we sent Lauren on her merry way for a massage and some time in the sauna while we decorated one of the rooms for a little pre party.

Lauren's friend Lindsay even brought the serving trays and chargers! What a pro!

Lauren arriving for her party (greeted by her beautiful sister)

The first toast of the evening....there were many more to come

After our little pre party we went to dinner and then out for some dancing and eventually some gambling

.

Laura was a big winner....

We all had so much fun spending the weekend together. It was the perfect bachelorette party weekend! Of course, traveling on Sunday was a little long but thankfully Meghan and I were on the same flight from Jackson to H Town. She had a lay over before continuing on to Colorado so she came down to baggage claim with me to see Lee and Elle. Elle was super excited to see her Auntie Meghan.

She showed Megs what a big girl she is and went for a little walk...i love these pictures!

I am so thankful that I was able to spend the weekend with Lauren and all the other wonderful girls. My heart is full after spending time with my girls who I usually just get to talk to on the phone (we all live in 4 different states). It was so much fun spending time and getting to know better Lauren's sister, cousin and best friend from high school. They are all so much fun and we all instantly clicked. The wedding is in just a few short months and after spending the weekend with a majority of her wedding party....I can't wait for the wedding! It is going to be soooo much fun! I came back renewed and ready to face the week and all Elle's appointments. The weekend cemented the fact that momma's gotta have some fun too!