Disney Here We Come!!!..... Eventually....

I'm not sure at what point my children discovered that Disney was a place and that you could visit it.  But when they did, it was all they talked about. So we made a deal with them.  Collect pop cans to recycle for money and help save electricity and water and we'll contribute that extra bill money towards the vacation.  

In order to see our progress I made a chart.

We sat down, counted all the money already in the vacation jar and filled in the spaces.

The chart is posted on the hall closet door so it can be seen everyday.  Its a reminder to keep lights off and not waste water.  We cleaned our house and had a garage sale to help get some extra cash.  Bree had her own brilliant idea to earn even more money during the garage sale.  A lemonade stand!

Any change they find on the street or money they are given for doing a kind act is their choice to put into the vacation jar or their own piggy banks.  

And you know what?  

They've always chosen the vacation jar.  

Its been a few months so its about time to pull the chart down, dump the jar and coloring in a few more squares.  

And you know what else?

I'm kind of excited to see just how much closer we are too!

AAH or better known as...

A year or two ago, I dropped Bree, Jake and Jim off at a park to play while I went to work for two hours.  In true child nature, someone had to go to the bathroom after being there for 15 minutes.  Since I had the care at work, Jim did the only thing he could.  He walked to the nearest family members house (thank goodness we happen to have a lot of family).  By that point in time and with the fact that they were already almost halfway home, Jim made the decision to just finish walking the rest of the way home.  Along the way Bree kept noticing trash and pop cans and wanted to pick them up.  

Its an event that has always stuck in her head and is the seed that will help her grow into a better person.

(Earth Day report at school)

But then I got to thinking....  

If my daughter wants to make a difference and there just happens to be a program out there that supports it, shouldn't I be involved as well?  

Back in May I submitted my application to 'Adopt A Highway', met with the regional coordinator to pick the highway, and filled out the name plaque that will proudly mark the piece of Earth we promise to keep beautiful.  

And now its official.

The Dominique and Beaty Family are the caretakers of State Route 109 between mile markers 3.3 to 5.4

  

I know what you might be thinking:

Tell me more about this adopt a highway program.  What is involved?  How much time does it take?

I'm so glad you asked.

1. Adopt a Highway program is a two year commitment.

2.  Your commitment is to clean your two mile section of road three times a year.  

Yes just three times, at any time during the year.

Thats it.

On Sunday, August 24th, The Dominique and Beaty Family headed out to do their duties.

It took ten people 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete our two mile stretch.

We filled 28 trash bags. 

We filled 4 bags with beer aluminum cans.

Yep, even Jacob tagged along and pulled his weight.... well kind of.  Somebody might have been pulling it for him in a wagon. 

We found a boat oar, life preserver, beach ball, multiple car parts, and....

...a toad.

The unique silver lining to walking around staring at the ground? 

You notice things you may not have seen otherwise.  Like a beautiful pink rose...

Or a cemetery you have driven by hundreds and hundreds of times but never knew existed.  

So until next time, help keep Ohio's roadways beautiful - Please don't litter. 

THE Big Day

The big day.

Holly's heart procedures to fix her PDA and Pulmonary Valve Stenosis.

Monday, August 25th - 6am

St. V's - Toledo Ohio

Our day started at 4:15am!

At first its not too bad being up that early.  But a few hours later it hits you.  Hard.  Just ask Holly.

It was torture getting blood pressure, O2 stats, put into a hospital gown...  So traumatizing.  But then...

The happy juice came and she no longer cared about a thing.  

They took her from us and began their work around 7:30am.  We were updated along the way by the nurse.  It was all smooth sailing and by 10:45am, the nurse came out and said the doctor was just finishing up.  When he called us back for the consult, he showed us a video of his work with the balloon to open the valve and the placement of the plug in the hole.  It was all so fascinating to watch.  In a weird way I wish we could have gotten a copy of it.  At that point in time he explained it would be another 45 minutes before she got moved to the PICU but we could head up there to wait.

And that we did.

For one hour.

Jim went back to remind them we were in the waiting room waiting to see Holly but we were told she was not awake yet.  "Go have a seat and we'll come get you when she's ready."

So we waited.

For another hour.

This time I went back and was told a different story.  Holly had to lay flat until 4pm!  It was only 1pm - another three full hours to wait to see our daughter.

So we went and had lunch, played around on Pinterest, watched Frozen, started playing some cards when... they finally said she was ready to be seen!!!   

OH HAPPY DAY!!

That is until we saw her....

She had just gotten another EKG and diaper change when we got to her room and she was not a happy camper.  Her throat was so sore from the breathing tube.

She was still so groggy...

And not happy about all the excess baggage on her body.  

Before we could leave she still needed a few more tests done to be sure everything was still where the surgeon left it - another Xray and Echo.

And then it was time to E-A-T!  The first time in almost 24 hours.  She was quite the piggy eating yogurt and pancakes... until the doctor walked back in the room.

He had reviewed the tests and was happy with the results.  She was able to eat and drink and keep them down so we were good to go home - a mere 12 hours after arriving there and only 7 hours after the procedure was done!

All that's left to do is follow up with him in two months and the cardiologist in six months and in the meantime, keep her from jumping off couches and trampolines.  

Should be easy, right?

The most interesting part of the day is hearing both the doctor AND the nurse say that they have received phone calls from parents asking them to UN-do the procedure.  See until now Holly was getting too much non-oxygenated blood in her lungs.  Now after the plug was put in, she'll be getting the full amount of oxygen in her body and therefore will have the energy she never knew was missing!  So excited about the adventures and mischief this child will now be getting into.  Only time will tell.

And what would you do in a hospital for 12 hours while your child is in surgery?

Well... I almost completed a scarf for the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes!

Start 'em young!

Watch out world!  

We have another coffee addict!

That's my girl

A girl after my own heart:

falling asleep reading a Christmas book!

And speaking of hearts, Holly goes in for her heart procedures to fix her PDA and pulmonary valve stenosis.  You can read all about it here. 

Another First Day

First Day of FIRST Grade

2014-2015

Traditional pose by 'Papa up in heaven's tree.

"You can't be in the backyard without going on the trampoline!" says Holly

We went back inside where Bree, excuse me, its Gabrielle this year, finished adorning her hair with multiple clips and headbands.  I tried to get a picture of her all gussied up but she had a bit of a problem keeping her eyes open.

She kept them open this time.  But... well...  yeah....

I give up.

Its the best I got.

Then I tried taking Holly's picture...  Maybe its a family thing.  

Anyways....

At school.  So grown up!

Time to leave. 

No tears from anyone.

Its gonna be a good day and a good year.

That could work....

Bree accidentally bought 'hot fries' instead of 'cheddar fries' at the store. 

So what do you do to make them edible?

Put them in front of the fan to 'cool' them off.