How can it be my baby is FIVE

My dearest Calleigh pillar, I can hardly believe you are 5 years old today. As the baby of the family, its hard for mommy to adjust to the fact that you are absolutely, no doubt, a big girl now. I can't imagine life without you in it. You are such a perfect fit in our family, a little of Bella's Sass, a lot of Caitlyn (what can I say you are clones), and your own unique twist of personality. I love you THIS BIG Kokomo. One day when you are older, you are going to have to ask me about that. Because it comes from you.

Summer 2014 Bucket List

So I sat down with the girls and we made out a bucket list, in which they keep adding to daily. In no particular order here are the things they want to do this summer.

• Make tie dye shirts
• water balloon fight
• go to the lake
• Movies
• bake cookies
• bake cupakes
• bubbles
• bleach distressed shirts
• Make journals
• Volcano experiment
• Go to the library
• Read books
• Draw pictures
• Make friendship bracelets
• Rainbow loom
• Felt boards
• Puppet show
• Play in water hose
• Bake brownies
• Eat watermelon
• Go out for ice cream
• Make homemade crayons
• Make smoothie popsicles
• Decorate tote bags
• Learn to sew (Big C)
• make blankets
• fishing 
• fireworks
• Make homemade pizza
• Make kabobs
• Play dough
• play at the park
• plant flowers
• play xbox
• Tea party
• Donuts
• scrapbook 
• hide and seek
• sharpie shirts
• boat ride
• swimming
• smores
• science experiments
• pics of kiddos
• penpal letters
• Play with the dogs
• Eat at Ihop
• Dolce Gelato
• Make bath salts

I'll edit in as they add more and strike through what we do!  

 

Happy Tenth Birthday Caitybug

10 years ago, a decade, Wow. Just wow. Give me a moment to wrap my head around this.

Ten years ago, I was blessed with a tiny, but perfect little human replica of my husband. The feminine version.

I remember it all clearly, even now, all these years later. After dealing with the PUPPPs and other not so fun things, I was happy and hopeful for my induction. It started well, I was feeling not a thing and life was good. And then.. YOWCH. I don't remember a lot about the labor itself. I remember the heart decels, and the nurse thinking she had turned breech, I remember yelling at my mom that I seriously wanted my epidural at that time thank you very much. And I remember that after hours of effort, I was whisked off to the OR for an emergency c/s (Thank goodness for that epidural, so I didn't have to be put under)

I don't remember the actual c-section. I don't remember them showing Caitlyn to me. I do remember finally being in the recovery room and my mom and everyone coming to tell me how beautiful my baby was. I remember viewing pictures on phones and cameras and all I wanted was to see and hold my baby. I remember the nurse coming in often over the next few hours telling me "You should be sleeping." "You need to rest" As if I was ever actually going to drift off before I held my baby, NO thanks nurse lady. No thanks.

I'll never forget meeting her for the first time, some 7ish hours after her birth. This little 5lb whimpering thing. She was perfect. I remember bringing her home finally and freaking out over everything. But hey -- your newborn ripping off her own umbilical cord stump is quite a feat, right?!

I didn't know then what life would bring for her or me. I didn't know the fear of Kidney diseases. I didn't know her organs could turn against her. In the years I've been blessed to be Caitlyn's mom, I've learned a lot. About life. About love. About pain. About strength. I never would have expected all these lessons and I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to grow myself as a mother as we both learned to adjust to things outside our comfort levels. (Catheterizing your own child for one)

I've fought for you all your life as I also have taught you to fight for yourself. I hope you are paying attentions to these lessons girly. You are over halfway there, you are only years away from being an established adult (not that you won't always be my baby).

My wish for you on this tenth birthday, is the same as always. I hope as you grow and learn everyday you remain the strong, brave, beautiful, kind loving girl you have been all your life. May the years bring you more grace, more understanding, the best of friends, the joy of sisters, and the life you absolutely deserve.

May you never forget your past, your struggles, but grow from them, retain your strength and determination. Use your story to share these things with others, you have had such a unique experience being who you are and how you were made. Lend that understanding to others.

Welcome to double digits baby girl, I cannot wait to see what the next decade brings. For you. For me. For US.

Izzie Bee. Bella Boo. You are 7

When I was pregnant with you, Isabella, I was SO happy to be having another daughter. A sister for my Caitlyn. I don't think you and your sisters realize just how absolutely lucky you are to have each other. All mommy had was stinky ol brothers. The day you arrived, early, spontaneously, as if you had no intentions of sticking to the schedule you were supposed to, I should have learned. I should have known then that you were absoutly going to be the polar opposite of Caitlyn. Your personality has been clear from day one. You, my dear, are absolutely goign to be famous (or infamous) if you set your mind to it. You are a dreamer, you have such a vivid imagination. I love how deep you feel, I love how sympathetic you are. I love your wild side, I love your sassy side, and I love that you can be DOWNRIGHT Girly then want to turn around and jump in a mud puddle in your Sunday best. I love that you don't let anyone hold you back. You are not afraid to stick up for yourself, but you are not a bully either. I love that you get upset over the silliest things. I remember when you are R were not getting along at school and instead of being upset over the fact that R told you you could not play with him and his friends, you simply told me that you were mad because He didn't say PLEASE. Don't lose your spirit. Don't lose your creativity. May they both ever grow as you do. Love you sweetums. Love you so much.

Wordless Wednesday -- Because HE's Friggin Adorable!

Menu Plan Monday

Back in the blogging saddle, means hopefully back to some organization. I make no promises. But we're trying. So Here's my menu plan for the week. Side items subject to change.

• Monday -- Beef Stroganoff, Peas, and fruit. 
• Tuesday -- BBQ Chicken, mac & Cheese, corn 
• Wednesday -- Beef Stew, homemade bread 
• Thursday -- Nachos
•  Friday -- Chicken Nuggets & FF 
• Saturday --Salisbury steaks, mashed taters, and green beans 
• Sunday -- Soup and sandwiches

Depending on things like meetings, and Jay working late, these plans may be moved around.

ICE

School was cancelled today due to ice. After a week of temps in below the teens and even down to 9 Degrees, we finally got some precipitation.

The roads seem clear enough and Jay was able to get into work this morning, so I'm pretty sure that girlies will be returning to school tomorrow. Here's hoping at least.

But for the day, we are getting the house in order after break. The girls are breaking in their new Chore system.

The cats are lying around and the Dogs are both enjoying the back yard.

It's back to the laundry room for me.

Weekend Plans for us:

•  I'm babysitting Ethan so we'll be stuck at home. 
• Caity wants to finish the fleece blanket craft kit she got, so we'll probably all take a few squares to knot together.  
• Bella wants to make some bracelets, so we'll pull out the rainbow loom and they'll all join in I'm sure. 
• And Mommy is going to be baking!

I'll be reading, of course, when girlies are in bed and during nap time. Beyond that, who knows what the weekend will bring. 

Welcome to 2014

HI everyone! I'm excited for a new year! Our 2013 was pretty good, but I am always hoping for better!
Here's what I'm looking forward to in 2014:

•  NO Kidney follow-up in Boston!  That's right, we don't go back until 2015!!!
• Caity hits double digits the BIG 1-0.  This makes me sad and happy all at the same time. 
• Hopefully finishing the bedroom downstairs and thus having the girls in 3 rooms which maybe will contain the madness (Yes I realize I'm probably delusional)
•  Possibly a trip or two.
•  Lots of craftiness.

 Hope 2014 is as wonderful as I think it will be.


I didn't set any Resolutions, I rarely do because I'm horrible at keeping them.  So as usual, I just have my book goals on Goodreads and that's easy to stick to since I'm constantly reading something.

*edit* 

I forgot the one important thing.  Now that things have calmed down for us medically, I'm going to try to actually blog more.  So look for more of my crazy randomness.