SHE CAN HEAR US!!!

Mattea had her audiology and ear-nose-throat consult appointments today. Dad took her while Mom was home trying to sleep off a migraine... A more precise hearing test under anesthesia has been ordered, but they told him she can definitely hear from her right ear!!! We don't know how well yet, or the status of her left ear, but this is such GOOD NEWS for her!!! We had thought she was completely deaf as she does not respond much other than to very loud noises. Now I am anxious to find out the results of the next hearing test, but we will have to wait until June for that. Her ears were also NOT full of wax which was a nice surprise but they felt she may possibly need ear tubes. Her tonsils and adenoids were expectedly very enlarged, so I am anticipating taking care of ears and throat at the same time. But very thankful tonight that our little girl can indeed hear us.

199!!!

I haven't really posted on this blog about my Weight Watcher's adventure, but my resolution this year is all about weight loss. I started Weight Watcher's online program on Feb.13th at 216 pounds. Well, I was thrilled today to finally break that 200 pound mark when I weighed in at 199 pounds for the first time in forever. Still quite a ways to go, but it sure was good to see that 2 go away!!!

Snow, paint and haircuts!

On Friday we woke up to almost 5 inches of snow, and still snowing! The schools were closed, which hardly ever happens so the kids got an extra long Spring Break.

This is Bubs' first real experience at playing in the snow as he was too young to want to last year. He had a blast!

He did pretty well at driving in snow!

Even more fun when big brother joins in!!

We are majorly renovating the whole house, starting with the kitchen and my sewing room. Bubs had to help me paint.

Notice his shaggy hair 'cause Mama's going to cut it shortly...

Here's the haircut! I am so happy that I am learning to cut the boys' hair myself. Estuardo does NOT do well at the barbershop any more. My Mom gave me the clippers she used to cut my Dad's hair with and they work great! I am getting pretty good at it too!

Kory got a haircut too.

Now I am not responsible for Jesse's hair. That's a Dad haircut.

And of course the little blonde Princess! Speaking of hair, hers is finally starting to look nice. And thick!!! She is almost ready for her first haircut but I will take her to the beauty shop and let the experts do hers. The orphanage haircut was a real chop job and needs a professional to fix.

And Daddy's Girl!

Happy Birthday to our Angel, Breanna Arielle

Happy 14th birthday sweet Breanna. We miss you!

If Tomorrow Begins Without Me

By Martha White ©1996
When tomorrow starts without me

and I'm not there to see..

If the sun should rise

and find your eyes..

all filled with tears for me.

I wish so much

you wouldn't cry..

the way you did today,

while thinking of the many things

we didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,

as much as I love you,

and each time you think of me

I know you'll miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me,

please try to understand..

an angel came

and called my name

and took me by the hand

He said my place was ready..

in heaven far above,

but said I would have to leave behind..

all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,

a tear fell from my eye,

for all my life, I'd always thought..

I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for..

and so much yet to do,

it seemed almost impossible

that I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays..

the good ones and the bad,

I thought of all the love we shared

and all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,

I thought, just for awhile..

I'd say goodbye

and kiss you

and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized..

that this could never be,

for emptiness and memories..

would take the place of me.

And when I think of worldly things,

that I would miss tomorrow..

I think of you,

and when I do,

my heart is filled with sorrow.

But as I walked through heaven's gates..

I felt so much at home,

as God looked down

and smiled at me,

from His great, golden throne,

He said,

"This is eternity

and all I've promised you",

Today life on earth is past..

but here it starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,

but today will always last,

and since each day's the same day,

there's no longing for the past.

But you have been so faithful,

so trusting, and so true.

There were those times..

you did some things..

you knew you shouldn't do.

But you have been forgiven

and now

at last you’re free.

So won't you take my hand..

and share my life with me?

So when tomorrow starts without me..

don't think we're far apart,

for every time you think of me..

I'm right here in your heart.

Pizza!

This is a FIRST!!! She is feeding HERSELF!!! I guess she likes pizza!

Just for fun

The ever-elusive Marisol...most of my pics of Marisol are at the dinner table. She is usually hiding in her room listening to her radio.
Jesse, the human garbage disposal. He can eat anyone in our house under the table.

Who is this cute boy who always seems to be in the picture?

Double trouble.

Two brothers!

Don't they look so cute and innocent?!?

The three stooges...

Too cute!!!

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Husband! 3/11/09

Before...

After...
How do I begin to tell you how lucky I am
to have you in my life?
I'll start by saying what an honor it is
for me to be your wife.
You're my best friend in the good times
and my rock in times of sorrow.
You're the reason for sweet yesterdays
and my promise for tomorrow.
I never thought I could feel this loved
until I became your wife.
You made this year and every year
the best one of my life.
(Author Unknown)

Follow-up appointment with Dr. Love

After a two week wait, we don't know much more than when we started.
If anyone knows more about cardiac caths than I do, please chime in--- Dr. Love said the normal pressure is around 2 and Mattea's were in the low 20's. With the nitric oxide, they came down to 13. He said that was not good but hedged around the surgery issue. All he could tell me was that he would submit all the results to Stanford in CA and to Denver Children's hospital and see what the surgeons had to say. Why he hasn't already done this, I don't know. I was under the assumption he would be able to tell me one way or the other already by today, so I am a little frustrated. Then he brought up heart/lung transplants but he said "people with syndromes" don't rank very high on the transplant waitng lists...just what a mother loves to hear.
I need some chocolate.

One Year Ago

I searched and searched my files on this laptop, this is the only photo I have on it of our sweet little Breanna Arielle. Then I remembered, this laptop arrived last year on my doorstep on the day of her funeral.
Tuesday was the one-year anniversary of the day she went Home.
Roberta commented---
"I have to say that this week's been sort of sad for me, thinking about the anniversary of Bre's passing on Tuesday. I think about her and all of you so much, I wish she could have been here to feel all the new life and excitement in the house. "
I agree, Roberta, I wish she could have hung around a little longer. I think she and Mattea would have gotten along super. And she did love the birthdays...Hers is in 3 weeks. I will have to go digging through my CDs for some more pics to post before then.

Pauline Fitzgerald...

Hey, Pauline, could you please email me at chakwaina18@yahoo.com with your new email address? THANKS!!!

Official weigh-in

Mattea saw the pediatrician today for a follow-up visit. Official weight now 29 pounds!! She's gained 5 whole pounds her first month home. Now we are waiting impatiently to find out how the cardiac cath turned out...

LOOK at the difference ALREADY!!!

4 or 5 pounds heavier sure does make a difference! She's only been here a month now, but Mattea is definitely starting to feel right at home, spontaneously approaching the other little ones and making attempts to interact. Getting tackled by a 2 year old... Tomorrow is her first day of "homebound" school. In her case, homebound will be AT the school working one-on-one with the speech therapist for 30 minutes one day a week to develop some type of communication, possibly sign language. (AT the school, because our two little toddlers tend to monopolize any visits in our house)

A Box, a Bath and another Birthday

A trip to Costco means lots of boxes to play with. Bubs got creative!
In the meantime, Onny snagged a pair of brother's prized boots.

Mama, Onny got my boots!

Here's a first. It was only for a few seconds, but it's a start. We just found out Mattea can drink from a straw so I got her a straw cup. I tried letting her hold it herself.

And...guess what, another birthday! Onny turned 2 today!

Pizza party.

It was a race to see who got to blow out the 2 candles.

Mattea finally got to take a bath for the first time since her heart cath. Now she's all squeaky clean!

And here's the clean-up man--- Jesse hard at work cleaning frosting from the high chairs.