Daddy's First Adventure to the Zoo

Saturday June 4 I had big plans to wake up early and get to the zoo by 8:00am so we could spend the morning and eat breakfast with the lions. Of all the days that Elle decided to sleep until 8:15 - she picked the one day where we needed to be out the door by 7:30am! Oh well - while we didn't get to spend the morning with the lions - we still made it to the zoo. Elle was so excited to show Lee all her favorite animals. Lee hadn't been to the zoo in probably 20 years so he was loving every minute of it! This was Lee's first time at the zoo with Elle and I'm not sure who had more fun...Lee being lead around by Elle or Elle getting to play tour guide to her daddy!

Elle's favorite animals are the birds. She wanted to go there first (after we made a brief stop by the sea lions). I love the first picture because when Elle hears something for the first time, she usually points to her hearing aids and then will sign or say whatever she hears. She obviously heard those birds talking!

Telling the Eland to "come here come here" - the funny part was that the big Eland that you can kind of see in the background did start to walk up to the fence when Elle was telling it to "come here come here."

In all the times that Elle and I go to the zoo, we have never once ridden the carousel. I always ask and Elle always tells me no - so we move on. Lee wouldn't hear of not riding the carousel so we bought our tickets and slowly made our way around to pick out which animal Elle was going to ride. She was not a happy camper - so Lee decided to let her sit on a very unassuming log with a snake wrapped around it as her first carousel ride. The other animals were just too much for our little one. She was telling Lee "up please up please up please" for the first few minutes of the ride but once the ride stopped - her reply was "again! more! again please!" She told us she wanted to ride the turtle - so we bought more tickets and this time - Elle thoroughly enjoyed the entire ride!

The pictures don't do her excitement justice - she really was loving riding on the turtle

saying hi to the elephants

Lee and his tour guide

I just love this picture - lee had his leg propped up on the edge while they were looking at an iguana. of course elle had to mimic her daddy....too funny!

I just love the zoo and hope we can get back a few more times before Elle's next surgery. We see something new and exciting every time we go. I am so glad that Lee was able to be with us and share in Elle's excitement and amazement at the animals! Now he knows why the hour long trek down there during rush hour during the week days is totally worth it!

Memorial Weekend Fun - Part II

Monday, May 30 we went to Pump It Up with our Moms and Tots group. It was so much fun to have all the dad's there! It was also so funny to sit back and watch the dads climb all over all these blow up moonwalks and slides. The last time I went to Pump It Up with Elle, I left sweating and my arms felt like noodles after carrying her up the 2 story slide - multiple times. This time I got to sit back and watch as she and Lee had so much fun together.

We loved meeting up with our friends the Ilsevers and the McCowns. You could just tell how much all our little ladies love their daddies!

Memorial Weekend Fun - Part I

Saturday, May 28 we loaded up Mark and Vickie's car and headed to San Antonio for a quick weekend trip to Sea World. Elle had no idea what was in store for her (and neither did any of us!) Lee, Elle, Mark, Vickie, Uncle Jake and myself pulled in to the parking lot around 11:00am on Saturday....an hour later we were finally inside the park! It has probably been 20 years since I had been to Sea World - needless to say I was just as amazed as Elle was at all the attractions the park had to offer!

Elle waiting patiently for us to purchase our tickets...it was already 100 degrees by the time we got inside the park!

We briefly stopped in to watch part of the Azul show before heading to the sea lion show - elle was so amazed to see the dolphins jump!

Checkin' out the sea lion show....Elle wasn't too sure what to think of the performers

After the sea lion show we headed to see Shamu. It was so hot by this point that we had to take Elle's hearing aids out because she had sweat just dripping down her little face. She never once complained or whined and after the Shamu show we all headed back to the hotel for a much needed nap! That evening we strolled along the River Walk and had a fabulous dinner at the Little Rhein Steakhouse....even Elle enjoyed sitting outside and enjoying the wonderful breeze.

Sunday morning we got to the park before it opened and the first thing we did as soon as those gates opened was head to see the dolphins.

Elle didn't want to feed the dolphins but we were lucky enough to have one come and swim right up to us. We all loved it - Elle wasn't too thrilled with the big dolphin being so close but the only thing she really objected to was leaning on the wall to get closer. As long as she was being held - she was totally cool with the up close encounter.

We checked out the aquarium, alligators and playground before heading to see the Azul show with the beluga whales and dolphins.

The Azul show was by far the best show EVER! Not only were the Beluga whales and dolphins amazing but the show also included amazing acrobats and synchronized swimmers. At several points during the show huge parrots flew over the audience. It was just absolutely amazing and kept Elle entertained the entire time. After the show, we went down front to say hi to some of the performers

little did we know that we were going to get a close up with one of the stars....

We had such a fun trip - despite the 100 degree weather. Elle was a little super trooper and did so well for all the traveling and heat! We left for home on Sunday afternoon and can't wait for the next time we get to go see the "baby beluga" as Elle calls the whales! We had so much fun with Uncle Jake, ViVi and Big Daddy. Elle loves them all so much so she was enjoying every minute of our quick little getaway!

A Little Heart Update

We have known since September of 2010 that Elle's heart was going to need another repair. When Elle had her first open heart surgery, her surgeon came out of the operating room and told us that Elle's pulmonary valve was almost completely restricted and he did his best to repair it but there was no telling how long the repair would last. So we kind of had an inclinition in September of 2009 (after her first open heart surgery) that she would be back sooner rather than later. Well...we got the news a few weeks ago that Elle's next open heart surgery is scheduled for the beginning of July. I'm glad to know that we finally have a date after waiting since September of 2010. Now that we have hit June 1 - that day in July is coming closer and closer. I have chosen not think about the upcoming events - rather trust in my God for his name to be glorified. We pray everynight that God's name will be glorified in all that we do and this is no exception. Of course we pray for Elle's healing and her strength. I'm actually terrified of the recovery. She was only 6 months old for her first repair...she wasn't sitting up yet and she was still a little baby. This recovery is going to be so different. How do you keep a 2 year old down? She knows things now - she knows about doctors and nurses and the blood pressure cuff. She knows about shots and needles. I suppose we will cross that bridge when we get there. Elle is such a super tropper so she will probably surprise us all in how she does during the recovery time. For now though, we are packing in as many things as we possibly can before we will be in the hospital and recovery for the rest of the summer. I spent a few hours (yes hours) a few days ago filling up Elle's social calendar for June....our little lady is a social butterfly! Thank you so much for your prayers and support as we gear up for the next adventure for Elle and her little heart.

Animal Print Friday.....Then and Now

Yep - I still dress Elle in animal print every Friday. It's a tradition...and one I absolutely love so it just has to continue! While I was cleaning up some files I found this picture...

Animal Print Friday - May 28, 2010

Funny enough....this is what Elle wore today (Friday, May 27, 2011)...

No planning on my part - this was just a coincidence...and almost exactly a year apart! Too funny. Today in gym class we had the end of the semester awards ceremony. Elle got a special ribbon that she was sooo proud of! She has therapy immediatelly after gym class and when we strolled in the doors of TCH - Elle immediately went up to all her friends (the employees and front desk staff) and showed them her special ribbon.

Triple Trouble...Maddie, Kayla and Elle...these little ladies are so funny!

Elle loves gym class - but I really think she loves being able to play with Kayla and Maddie...and swing from the uneven bars!