10 things I have learned in the past 3 days

There are many things I have learned over the past few days:

1. I will take a miracle wherever I can get it. Having your child unresponsive and turning blue on the same day 2 EMTs and an ER nurse happen to just be sitting in the back of your church is a miracle in my book. And I will take it.

2. USA Womens and Children is one stinking good hospital. Every single doctor, nurse, tech we met was polite, caring, attentive and compassionate. The volunteers were kind and spoke to Ansley and not about her. The teachers and volunteers at the school on the 4th and 5th floor were exceptional and Ansley was thrilled to go for the little while we were there.

3. Med students and nursing students like to ask questions. And I didn't mind answering them (or attempting to answer them) at all. They were all eager to learn and we were happy to help in the process. We had at least 6 student nurses ask permission to look in her chart or examine her and 3 different med students. All were polite and appreciative.

4. Caffeine and cardiology are Ansley's new words of the week. She is off of it completely. Now when the cardiologist told her no caffeine and explained what kind of drinks contained caffeine she replied, "Those are the drinks my mommy wont let me have." Whew - at least she didn't tell him she drank Dr Pepper with her cheerios that morning (which she did not by the way). I am pretty crazy about no caffeine for my kids and always have been so this is nothing new for us. I will admit though, that I do let her have sweet tea when we eat out sometimes - but as we don't eat out much anyway, it was few and far between. But goodbye caffeine! See you again, well, never if I have my way.

5. The pediatric cardiologist and his nurse get 2 thumbs up from the Duke family. He is straightforward about her heart, but also discussed with us his addiction to texting ( I also suffer from this addiction) His nurse patiently explained her heart monitors and had everything ready for us before we go there so we could "get right on out of there as quickly as possible." She also told Ansley up front she would not be poked, squeezed, scraped or mashed with an ultrasound wand. Ansley was relieved to hear it.

6. I have the best family and friends (some are coworkers, but as I consider them SO much more than just a coworker I am just calling them my friends) in the world. Of course, I already knew this, but they really raised the bar the past few days. Good job guys. And thank you from the bottom of my heart.

7. Going on a cruise to Mexico while wearing a heart monitor is completely possible as long as the cruise ship has a phone. Which is does. We will also be passing the hat to help pay for phone calls of heart results to the doctor back in Mobile... Kidding, Kidding...gotta love modern technology though. Because of it, we are home and NOT still in the hospital.

8. We WILL have a plan of action for the next time Ansley passes out. And according to the cardiologist, there is a good chance this is something that might happen again and again. Ok - so we know its going to happen. Now we write a plan. Everyone who even MIGHT take care of my baby at school, church, dance, sleepovers, will know exactly what to do if and when it happens. So I apologize in advance if I make you listen to a lecture, take notes and then repeat to me the instructions I just gave you. I'm pretty sure no one minds though - and having help is a great relief.

9. My 2 kids and Jamey are my world. Of course, I knew this one already too, but as I am not going to cry today ( I decided this morning) I will not type a lot of mushy stuff. But I will tell you this - Ansley, Jamey and I have laughed all day at Stephen telling us about his new "arts and CRAPS" kit from Aunt Peggy. He has been doing Arts and CRAPS all day. :)

10. And last on my list, I learned that visitors, balloons, cards, emails, singing cows and dancing flowers bring out giggles that make even a hospital room a nice place to be. But I AM glad to be home with both my babies.

Now, we press on with figuring this new world of cardiology out...thanks for walking with us along the way.

And out of nowhere...

We spent this evening at a birthday party for a classmate of Ansley - a sweet little boy turning 6 years old. After an hour of playing it was time for birthday snacks. Ansley bites into a cookie and turns to me with a small frown and says - "My tooth feels funny!" A quick close inspection revealed......a loose tooth! Ansley's first one. She has been checking her teeth every night in the mirror. Hoping and praying that one is loose. And finally - it happens.
Her cheeks flushed and her eyes got really big. She whispers to herself, "My tooth - its loose - it's really loose."
I must admit I was probably as excited as she was. She immediately made her way around the room showing anyone who would listen and look that her tooth was indeed wiggling quite nicely. When we left the party, my cell phone was on her ear and she was calling grandparents and aunts and cousins. "It's loose - It's really loose. I can wiggle it with my tongue."

Stephen meanwhile is sitting listening to the phone conversations. He then says, "Mama, I don't have a loose tooth. They don't wiggle."
"No." I said. "But you will one day."
"But Mama," he says, "My tongue can wiggle - Is is gonna fall out too?"
"No baby, your tongue will not fall out."
"That is good." he says, apparently satisfied that his tongue was not about to fall out of his mouth.

My mom asked me if I had a tooth pillow and I don't. Why have I not thought of this? Why am I not ready? Its not like losing a tooth at age 6 is a surprise...I just am not sure that I was ready for it. Ansley sure was. She is wiggling it as I type this while she watches a movie. My mom tells me she is growing up.....oh, that just keeps happening! Really I don't know how my mom did it. If a loose tooth makes me this crazy inside, what will I do with other milestones?

She was very interested to know how much money the tooth fairy would be bringing when the loose tooth comes out...and honestly, I am not sure what the current exchange rate is for teeth. But the tooth fairy will be ready when it is time...or at least, ready to admit that time is moving faster than she wants. Rainy nights watching movies with my babies, hugs and squeals at the discovery of loose teeth, climbing the ladder of the slide all by themselves...these are the moments I am enjoying right now.

The List - Tagging my blogging buddies to do the same!

Instructions:
Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed), share with friends.

1. Started your own blog - inspired by KPH! Also, much easier than lugging out the scrapbooking equipment!
2. Slept under the stars- many times - I was one of the best Boy Scouts ever!
3. Played in a band - for about 6 years. Some of my BEST friends growing up!
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower - I did watch the comet go over though
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - yes! On my honeymoon!
8. Climbed a mountain - Well, not with a backpack, but have driven up several.
9. Held a praying mantis - held several!
10. Sang a solo - as a kid. Not happening now.
11. Bungee jumped - Yes, at Gulf Shores. It would not have been so bad if I had not gotten a terrible sunburn that day!
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm -oh yes, all summer long and I love them.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty-
18. Grown your own vegetables - last summer was my first attempt. It did not go so well.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - sick days are for fun!
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb - at the fair
26. Gone skinny dipping - I do not think I will explain this one.
27. Run a Marathon - but I am about to do my first 10k!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run - several :)
32. Been on a cruise - no, but going on two this year!
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke Fun! I love it
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - yep - mom had one done of Luke and me as kids
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain - LOVE IT :)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason - a few times :)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - Yep to Blood and Platelets - no to plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone - several bones, several times
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle once - have ZERO desire to do it again
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby - 2 great kids!
95. Seen the Alamo in person - several times. Jamey has family in San Antonio
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee - Several times!

I Chop it in half!

One of the best things about my kids spending time with my mom is they get their hands down in good dirt. My mom is a gardener. Not vegetables so much, but flowers. Her yard is always beautiful. Last night as Jamey and I headed to Biloxi for a fun night with friends, my children were on their hands and knees in the dirt planting flowers with my mom. Ansley was delighted to find the dirt was full of worms. Now, my girl is all about ballet and dolls and cooking and fingernail polish, but this girl also loves dirt and worms and all things in the garden.
She was holding up the worms to show my mom when Stephen eyeballed one worm and raised his little spade saying, "I chop it in half!". Ansley was horrified and immediately rescued the worm from certain death. "Why would you want to chop it in half?" my mom asked Stephen. To which he then replies, "then we would have TWO worms."

This afternoon we are soaking up the sun in the backyard. In a fairly large backyard of grass and toys and treehouses, we have small space of red dirt. Guess where my kids usually end up? At this very moment, they are currently digging a rabbit hole. Yep, a rabbit hole to Wonderland. They have only managed about a 2 inch deep hole, but they are determined. I hope they make it.

But that's the part I like!!

I learned several months ago that getting up a few minutes earlier in the morning and making some sort of hot breakfast means my children are much friendlier at 6am. Cold cereal is not their thing usually. I might can slip in cereal once a week but thats about it. Its not like Im cooking pancakes or waffles - usually I just mix up muffins or put cinnamon rolls in the oven. Stephen actually eats breakfast at home about 6am and then eats a complete other breakfast at Ms. Debbie's at 8:00.

Wednesday morning I made mini blueberry muffins and put the tray on the dining room table to cool. Both kids were dressed but still laying on the couch watching cartoons. While I was drying my hair in the other room, Ansley comes to get me. "Come look what Stephen did!"
I walk into the dining room and see a full tray of muffins with EVERY single muffin top bitten off. Yep, he picked up each little mini muffin and ate the top of it and then neatly placed it back into the muffin tray.

Ansley. was. not. pleased.

With my only other offer cold cereal, she was a trooper and ate the bottom half of several muffins with her glass of milk.

Next time, I will cool the muffins OUT of arms reach.

We love Ms. Debbie!

The picture above is from the Exploreum downtown - the Dinosaur exhibit! The picture below is an outdoor project - creating pine cone bird feeders.

Practicing holding pencils correctly and drawing lines.

During the work day, Stephen stays with a WONDERFUL lady who we have all grown to love so much. She has a home daycare with 6 children and it is truly a wonderful place to be a child. It has the best of both worlds - the comfort of a home and the interaction of playmates. She has a fabulous room with organized areas of play and learning. I really could go on and on about how wonderful this lady is and Stephen has just blossomed. He is learning so much everyday and doesn't even know it! Another bonus is the field trips! Ms. Debbie takes the children on outings as much as she can. The park, the exploreum, the library.
Here are a few pictures she has taken over the past few months. She uploads them during the day so the parents can see them while at work. You will see Ansley in a few of the pictures b/c she stays with Ms. Debbie on days her school happens to be closed. She loves going too.

I really stressed about the right situation for Stephen. And thanks to my friends Shannan and Karen I ended up with a spot here and I have been 100% pleased.



At ChuckECheese, then Valentines Party - and then a few pictures from a few trips to the park.