Snow Bunnies

We had our first big snow - BLIZZARD - here in the midwest. The girls couldn't wait to get outside! The 8 inches of snow was just tempting them, but the 8 to 10 degree temps were keeping them in...at least for a while. We did let them go out, but we could only let them out for a few minutes. They had a blast, jumping and running around and didn't want to end the fun.


Carli is doing sooooo good!! You would never know that the week before she could barley take five steps. She's so strong and brave! We're so proud of her.
They thought sliding down the slide into the big snow pile was hilarious.



Snow angels!



Shake, shake, shake!

Rosy-cheeked and ready for their hot cocoa




Trying to walk through the huge snowbank






We are NOW ready to get back to routine. I said that last week, but with snow days and a doctor's appointment, the girls were only able to go to school Friday this week. It was the first time since November 20th they've been in school. Now they will each have a week and then be off for Christmas break. I wish I could have a Christmas break. :)

Carli's Home!!!

Carli got to come home Thursday. She got up, got bathed and walked a tad bit, very gingerly. The doctor told her if she kept walking, she could go home. She understood that and just wanted to walk! She was going slowly down the floor hallway and about 10 or 12 doctors and residents were in the hall. They made a bridge for her and were cheering her on. She sped up and grinned from ear to ear as she went under their bridge. It was so cute. Then we turned the corner and the therapy dogs were on the floor. She basically ran over to them. The nurse was walking with us said, Okay, I'll get the discharge papers ready. :)

After we got home she took a nap and woke up in a lot of pain. All that walking caught up to her. AnLi got home shortly after that and they were soooo happy to be back together again. AnLi thought she needed to help Carli do everything, and she also wouldn't let her be more than a foot from her at all times! They sat in the recliner and colored together, they needed to sit on the same side of the table for dinner and they slept together. Throughout the night they would tell each other how much they missed one another.

Friday Carli was doing really, really well and we were able to hold off on the pain meds for a longer period of time. She thinks she can do the things she used to do. She's resilient and bouncing back much quicker than I ever, ever expected.

The girls have been playing doctor/nurse/patient a lot! Either with each other, with me or with their stuffed animals. On Friday Brian and I were discussing our schedules because we both needed to do a few errands. AnLi overheard us and said "No one is leaving! We are a family again." Everyone is very happy to be home and getting back to routine.

These are pictures from AnLi's bowling excursion:

This picture was from a couple weeks ago.

The princesses and their papa.

I'm very thankful our girls are happy and healthy, and my heart goes out to those families who are in hospitals for weeks or months with children with life-threatening illesses. I couldn't even imagine! We are truly blessed beyond belief!!!

Carli Update 2

Yesterday, after getting some good meds and sleeping most of the day, she got up and was able to take a few steps with the nurse's assistance and then sat up in the chair for dinner. Yay!!! She was back to being my happy-go-lucky little girl with a ferocious giggle...except when the nurses needed to check vitals or administer meds. Lots of screaming.

Yesterday during one of the happy times she said, "I not mad at you. I love you." Ahhh... Then about 30 minutes later I needed to hold her arm so they could get her blood pressure and I got the "I no like you!!!" Soon this will all be over. The CNA painted her toenails and did her hair last night, so she was feeling like a princess. Princess Belle, that would be, as we've watched that movie ad nauseam.

AnLi, on the other hand, is living it up with Nana and Papa. They went bowling yesterday and I guess she did pretty good - including a strike! She was pretty excited about it, but she only talked to me for about 15 seconds. She just wanted to talk to Carli. :)

Thanks again for everything!!! We are hoping to come home tonight or tomorrow.

Update on Carli

As most know, Monday Carli had surgery to have a spinal cord untethering and also get new ear tubes. The surgery went as planned. They said it was really tight and had created a little scoliosis from the first MRIs in April, so it's a really good thing we did this when we did. She has to be on her side or tummy for three days. She can't get up AT ALL!

She's just generally uncomfortable. And finding things to keep a 4-year-old occupied while only on her side is a little challenging. Nights are the worst. She just doesn't sleep well because she's got a lot of pain and just can't get comfortable. I know she's very confused as to why this is happening. The first day she would cry off and on "You don't love me", yesterday it was "Mommy's mean!" I'm not scoring any brownie points with my usually sweet girl. She doesn't want anyone to touch her anymore. She's just downright sick of the nurses poking and prodding her. Today will be day three. We'll probably read a million books and watch "Beauty and the Beast" for the 80th time. :) I'm thinking we'll get to come home Thursday...hopefully! And then it will be limited activity for a while. The poor thing has just been through so many tests and poking and prodding in the last 18 months. This is the FINAL thing, and it was a big one.

We had explained to the girls that Carli was going to the hospital, AnLi would be going to Nana and Papa's because she's not allowed at the hospital, and that after a few days we would all be together as a family again. So, over the weekend they had lots of conversations about this between the two of them. On Sunday night I had to wash Carli with an antiseptic wash. AnLi started asking questions. So, as best I could, in 5-year-old language, I tried to explain what they would be doing to Carli. AnLi started wailing, then Carli started, and so those two, in my arms, nose to nose, sat and cried and cried. It was so sad to see.

On Monday AnLi was very anxious about the surgery and Carli kept saying "I miss my sissy." Right after the surgery, we called AnLi to tell her everything was good and Carli was fine. She wanted to talk to Carli. Those two talked on the phone for a good 15 minutes. It brought tears to my eyes to think about how strong a bond they have for each other. They talked again later that night and then also yesterday. When I call to talk to AnLi, she says, "Hi, Mom. Can I talk to Carli?" We are all anxious to get home and get our family back in one spot. Carli will have a rough couple of weeks, I'm sure, but she'll have Nurse AnLi to help her out. :)

Thanks for all of the well wishes and prayers for Carli and our family. We are always amazed at the outpouring of support for our family.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I had to work on Thanksgiving, so Brian and the kids hung out and played Wii and munched on junk food all day. :) Friday, after I did my annual Black Friday early morning run, Nana and Papa came over for a turkey dinner. That night we went up to Village Pointe for the tree lighting festivities. The girls got to get on stage and sing with the elves, which they loved. There was a small parade with a marching band, several winter characters, and Santa. Santa was in a carriage with Mrs. Claus and a couple of elves. From our side of the street, you couldn't really see Santa, plus he had his head turned the other way. So, after the parade AnLi said, "Did Santa fall off a cliff?" Huh? She hadn't see Santa in the carriage and was adamant that he fell off a cliff. I think she's been playing too much MarioKart. LOL!

Afterwards, they came home and snuggled in the recliner with Max, had their warm milk, and watched the 2008 Disney Christmas parade AGAIN.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We love our girls, wonderful family and friends and have much to be thankful for this year.

The girls LOVE wearing my things. One day they thought it was just hilarious that they had my sunglasses on.




The other night AnLi was supposed to be getting ready for bed. She called me up and told me to bring my camera for a "photo shoot". She had on my boots and wanted me to take her picture doing all of these crazy poses. She feels like a "rock star" with these tall boots on. LOL.

Halloween

(I'm sneaking in Halloween a day before Thanksgiving. How did I get so far behind?)



Both girls had parades and parties at their schools, so we spent a lot of time in the car that day, driving between schools, all hyped up on sugar.
AnLi's school partners with a retirement community and they do things with them on a regular basis. This is where AnLi's parade was. They went up and down the halls and then had a lot of the residents in the activity center to hand out candy. Carli got to join in AnLi's parade.


Carli's parade was at the elementary she attends. They paraded through the halls with all of the students lined up, and then through the gym where the parents were. I walked with Carli and she gave a princess wave the entire way! It was so funny. This is the morning and afternoon classes waiting for the parade.


Take 25! Ko tried a million times to get a picture of us. Why is it so hard to get four people looking at the camera at the same time?


The girls loved handing out the candy.


Carli, AnLi and Carli ready to hit the street

AnLi's 5th Birthday

I've got a lot of catching up to do, and since this is our family scrapbook, I need to make sure I get everything posted. So, everyone is just going to have to bear with me as I try to make up a month's worth of posts, including birthday and Halloween. :)

Since Brian was going to be out of town on AnLi's birthday, we had her little party a couple of days earlier. Nana, Papa and Aunt Beth came for the festivities of presents and cake.






AnLi was insistent that Carli sit with her while she opened presents.


AnLi got lots of great gifts, and there wasn't even a hint of jealousy during the gift-opening portion of the day.




Since spring AnLi has been asking for a Touch 'n Brush. Oh, that's ALL she wanted, along with anything princess. As soon as she opened it, she said "I need suction cups!" We assured her they were in the box. The next day when she was installing it, she was reciting the commercial verbatim. She got it put up all by herself, too. Maybe she watches too much TV?


Then they both got to open a little gift.


Microphones!


Aunt Beth introduced them to Silly String. And it was a hit! I'm not sure we have all laughed so much. Everyone was running around screaming, hiding, and loving it!


Carli...maybe not so much. :)






Aunt Beth and the girls


The girls put on quite a show for us. The $1 microphones were the best gift, of course. They would take turns singing. AnLi would introduce them by saying, "Put your hands together for AnLi and Carli!!!!" And she let us know if we liked their signing, we were supposed to clap. LOL!






Cake and singing was next.


And just like last year, this is when Carli had a little tinge of jealousy.




On AnLi's actual birthday, it was a girls' day at the mall. We did Build-A-Bear first, which the girls really enjoyed. Then it was the time for AnLi's ear piercing. She wanted to do it soooo badly, but she got a little nervous beforehand and had a million questions.


There was only one girl working, so she had to have it done one ear at a time. After the first ear, AnLi kept saying, "Please, no more staples! Please! Please!" The young gal kind of tricked her into getting the second ear done. I was sure we were going to walk out with just one ear pierced.


Five minutes later, over burger and fries, she was all smiles and couldn't wait to show off her "diamonds".


Thanks for all of the birthday presents, cards and well wishes. AnLi had a great "5 birthday" and is already talking about her "6 birthday."