Day 2 and 3 (or what feels like 23,153)

Anna,

At the end of day 2, you continue to rock this surgery and recovery, while I am feeling my age in a major way!!!

We are keeping up with your school work, which adds another dimension- I am clearly not ever going to home school. Like ever.

You had a post op appointment today and you are on track. You told Dr. G you wanted to save this cast because so many of your fans had signed it!! Yes, fans. Not friends, fans.
Xoxo

Anna!!

Anna,

You are my hero!!! You had surgery yesterday and were awesome. Mommy and Daddy are so so tired:(

We love you so much baby girl!
Xoxox

the foot

Anna,

Your club foot is the perfect symbol of your resolve, undying spirit, and resilience.  We have known about your foot since I was 20 weeks pregnant with you, and your treatment has been ongoing since the day you were born.  Tomorrow, we hope you have your last surgery.
This was the day of your first surgery- July 3, 2007.

Before your second surgery!

After the "happy medicine" before the surgery.

(above) Recovering at home after your surgery last January.  Anna, you are the strongest girl we know and we are so beyond proud of you!  Since the minute you heard "surgery" you have been totally focused on the positive- getting a fun color cast, moving to the guest room, and I am sure the undivided attention of many helps too!

Our fingers are crossed that this will be the last surgery for you, but if for some reason it isn't, we know you will take that in stride too.  In the meantime, Daddy and I are just trying to keep up with you.  While our hearts are broken that you have to suffer through anything at all, we know that you have the strength to get through, and carry us along with you.

We love you baby girl!
xoxo
mom and dad

Cooking!

Dear T, A, and H,

There is nothing better than a fun Sunday dinner. Especially when it is a team effort:)

I shopped, Daddy made delicious burgers, our friends the Kilpatricks brought a great salad, and Tay- you made dessert!! Best of all, one of our favorite restaurants makes amazing bruschetta, so we picked up an order for our appetizer!!!

Such a fun way to end a great weekend. We have a crazy week coming our way so this was the perfect way to kick it off.

Xoxoxo
Mom

SNOW!

Dear Girls,

You have the best dad ever.  I know you both know that, since you both favor him over me, ah hem.  Anyway, so, super dad took you off to the mountains with your cousin for the weekend!

If I were a betting person- I would have thought that Taylor wouldn't love the snow/cold, and Anna would.  It was the opposite.  Taylor, you had a blast sledding and playing in the snow.  Anna, you were cold and wanted to get back to the cabin ASAP.

So happy you got this QT with daddy.
xoxo
mom

Not sure what is going on with this picture?

Sad sickie

Dear Hudson,

There is a whole lot of you here this week.  You and I spent the weekend while your dad took the sisters to the mountains.  They had a great time!  While we liked having a little peace and quiet (those girls are LOUD), we certainly missed having them for playmates.  Unfortunately, you have been under the weather.  You have had a fever, been throwing up, and then over the weekend, you developed a nasty cough and runny nose.  So, we headed off to after hours to get you checked out.  You had some fluid in your ears, and a virus that is going around, but otherwise you were in good shape.  We spent most of the afternoon relaxing, and you looked like the photo below.

killing time at after hours peds.

relaxing with your bestie, Dora.

xoxo
mom

Bunnies!

Dear Buddy,

We had a great walk the other morning and you were OBSESSED with the window at Potter Barn!  Between the eggs and bunnies, you were mesmerized.  We had such a nice time walking from one window to another.  You were so so sad when I finally picked you up to head back to the car.

xoxo,
mom

Love Letters

Dear Taylor,

I was going through my desk here at home and found some treasures that you had written. I absolutely love your notes and letters! You also wrote about how you are a P.E.A.R.L. LOVE!

 And here is your letter about P.E.A.R.L.

Xoxo
Mom

My boyfriend

Dear Hudson,

You and I had a little QT this weekend and I loved it!! We spent A LOT of time with your trains:)

Xoxoxo
Mom

Getting in the Picture!

Oh boy!  I sure hope this face stays around a while when I say "SMILE"!  You crack me up buddy.

I love you and can't wait to have a whole lot of quality time with you this weekend.
xoxoxo
Mom

A Little More Love

Dear T, A, and H,

We had the best Valentine's Day!

It started with many special cards from Grandma and Hubbie, and then Nikki found a box on the front step with these gorgeous flowers and special note from the best Valentine we could ask for- DADDY!!

Xoxo
Mom

Happy Love Day!

Dear Taylor and Anna,

For the first time ever, we are KEEPING IT SIMPLE!  We scoured Pinterest and found so many cute cute ideas, and believe me, I was really tempted to start crafting craziness today, but when I counted that we would have to do 70+ valentine's, I was out on all of it.  We hit Target, and I set the timer for 5 minutes.  You could pick anything you wanted, as long as it had enough for all your classmates to get the same kind.  I would say that within three minutes we had all our supplies and moved on to stocking up on cleaning supplies (how I was spending the day since we were not crafting- deep cleaning:().

So fun!
xoxox
mom

Buddy!!!

Dear Hudson,

You are such a big guy.  Today, we did a massive closet organization for you, which meant moving out six trash bags of clothes you have outgrown, and then moved in four new bags of clothes (thank goodness for hand-me-downs).  Well, nothing made you happier than seeing a stack of undies!  The Thomas pair was your favorite and you wore them around ALL afternoon.

Buddy, you are growing up so fast.  Next up, we will actually get you on the potty so you need the undies.
xoxo

Studying on a Sunday?

Dear Taylor and Anna,

Some might say I am too strict.  Some might say I turn into a bit of a mommy dearest about homework. Some might say tiger mothers.  I say that you will thank me when you can live on your own and support yourself after successfully graduating for a remarkable institution of higher education:) Anna, we are working on perfecting your printing. (not the upper case "C" below). Taylor, you are really working on your multiplication!  I am so proud of how hard you girls are working.

xoxo
mom

Another Saturday at Hubbies

Dear Taylor, Anna, and Hudson,

I don't know what it is, but the minute we hit Hubbie's house, everyone can play independently.  Taylor, you spent almost an hour doing this magnet board.

Anna, you were so happy on the rug building this farm.  You were so so busy and having the best time chatting away.

Buddy, no one will be surprised to know, that you were not interested in playing alone.  You would not let Hubbie get a moment's peace.  You brought book after book.  The best part is that now when I say "smile" you make the face below.  You were so cute eating your snack (banana muffin and string cheese) sitting at the coffee table.

xoxo
mom

Heart Attack

Dear Tay, Anna and Hudson,

If you don't know already, I love you three so much, sometimes I think I might burst!! Anna and Hudson, you stopped by my office today and it changed my whole day!! It was such fun to have so much life in the office.

I wanted to surprise you with a little love tomorrow morning!
Xoxo
Mom