Scorpion Hunting and Stanford

This picture pretty much sums up our week!  Daddy has been driving the car with air conditioning, so we have been hanging out at home.  There have been a couple big haboobs pass through, which is basically just a giant dust storm, that passes by and makes everything dirty.  Swimming hasn't been appealing because it's so hot outside during the day and the evenings are bringing dust.  So, we have spent a lot of our time indoors playing games, reading chapter books {Owen's new fav thing} and watching movies.   

Kam had an orthodontist appointment on Wednesday morning, so we rushed around to get out of here on time.  I threw my tank top on the back of the couch and was running around drawing up meds.  When I came back to throw it on I noticed something crawling on it.  I freaked a little but couldn't see what kind of bug it was. I shook it and shook it and nothing would fall out.  I finally sat it on the floor and had Kam watch guard with tennis shoes on while I ran upstairs to grab a new shirt.  When I came down she said "I got it!"  It was smooshed in the kitchen.  I didn't take a picture because I was so freaked out!!   A baby scorpion!!!!  I am an AZ native and have never encountered a scorpion yet, which I realize is rare.  We don't have bugs around here, no crickets or black widows, so I'm hoping it just came in on one of the boxes we have delivered with Owen's medical supplies.  Ewww.. so nasty. 

I bought black lights last night on my way home from dance and the boys {yes Owen too} went scorpion hunting.  Owen comes in the room and with a super bummed expression says "I didn't find a single scorpion mom." 

(source)

I'm still grossed out.. everytime a hair brushes my shoulder I freak out.  Since I found it on my shirt on the back of the sofa I am scared to even sit down.  I'm scarred for live.

Oh.. I finally heard from Stanford and Owen has appointments scheduled on July 9th!  It's coming up fast!  Since we don't have time to arrange portable oxygen rentals and decent priced airline tickets, we decided we will drive up the coast of Cali.  We have free tickets for a few theme parks thanks to Give Kids the World from Owen's Make A Wish trip.  I'm still working on plans, but this will be our last family vacation for a while.  Based on the information from cardio, they plan to list him for a new heart as soon as the 13th of July!!  Yikes.  I have the sucker punch, think I'm gonna puke, stress down deep in my gut and it is awful.   I am hoping a little vacation with my favorite three will help take our minds off things for the short term. 

Time to cook dinner and then Owen is stoked to do a little more scorpion hunting tonight.  I think he really wants to find something and I am praying we don't! :)

Waiting

I am feeling like a big ball of stress this week.  I don't want to eat, my skin is breaking out, and I have the down deep in my gut stress.  I know transplant is on the horizon for Owen and that is just weighing on my heart. 

I called the GI team at LPCH last Thursday to schedule Owen's liver appointment and was told the soonest they could get him in was July 25th.  Cardio said it was too far off and they would take care of things to move his appointment to an earlier date.  It is now Tuesday and we still don't have an appointment and I am growing more frustrated each day.  I called cardio yesterday morning and they said they "sent an email to GI requesting an earlier date".  Then she called at 5pm yesterday and said we should hear from GI in the next week to schedule Owen's appointment. 

I am just so overwhelmed and exhausted with the calling back and forth.  In order for Carson to get off work to travel this trip, we need to leave the first two weeks of July.  If it's later than that, then I will need to fly with the kids and I need to start reserving airline tickets and portable oxygen .. like yesterday!  If it's during the first two weeks of July, then we will drive and I need to start making hotel arrangments because CA hotels mid summer are not inexpensive. 

I decided to be proactive and call the GI department again, myself, instead of just waiting for a phone call.  I was on hold while the rep went back and forth and finally came back on the line to say.. "Katie is our NP and she is working with Cardio on scheduling.  She is off today but hopefully you'll hear from her in the next couple days."  Big Sigh.

So we wait. 

I am trying so hard to destress, I really am.  I just want to plan this trip and get my questions about transplant answered.  Remember our last trip on May 29th when they answered absolutely nothing because they needed more testing. Major fail on their part. The tests are all complete and now I need specific answers. 

When are they going to list him? 

Can we wait in Arizona while he is stable?  Did they get insurance clearance for this? 

Are we going to proceed with IVIG treatments?  If so, how frequent?  Also.. where can those treatments be done?   When do we start them?

How frequently does he need to be seen by the heart failure team while he is listed if he is waiting in Arizona?  Bi weekly?  Monthly?

These are serious questions that impact our lives greatly and I feel like we are just hanging.  I don't want to drag things out anymore. 

We continue to wait.

My 33rd Birthday!

I celebrated my 33rd Birthday this weekend!!  Saturday was my actual birthday and I slept in, while Carson took the kids to pick me up breakfast.    Bliss.  Then we decided to get a move on and make it to the 10am showing of Brave.  It was a really cute movie.  It was brutally hot outside at about 110 at 12 when the movie let out. 

Instead of coming home and getting cozy in the air conditioned house, we decided to run a few errands.  Let me tell you.. getting gas in this heat is just about the worst thing ever.  Just having the car turned off for five minutes is so miserable.  We finally made our way to Olive Garden and enjoyed some soup, salad and bread sticks!!

My hair is such a frizzy mess in the heat.  Ugh.  I am proud to call myself 33 now .. frizzy hair and all!

We came home and took a late afternoon nap... bliss.  I also used my new Clairsonic face brush {thanks Sis and Gma} about a million times.  My skin feels so great after that I can't stop using it.  My parents gave me money to use at the spa and I took full advantage of that today!  My mother-in-law gave me money that was spent to buy a new outfit and my uncle's giftcard went to good use today as well!! I tell you.. it all just burns a whole in my pocket and I have to use it right away!!  I got a fantastic surprise this morning when I checked the mail to find a giftcard from a few of my friends.. also heart moms.. and it was so thoughtful of them!! THANK YOU all so much for all the birthday wishes.. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by so much LOVE!!!

Daddy and the kids made me this perfect birthday cake that was as yummy as it looks!  My birthday was great and I am looking forward to a great year!!!

Happy Birthday to ME!! :)

Sink or Swim

After yesterdays heavier post, I thought I would lighten up my mood with another Owen story.  He is so matter of fact.  I need to be better about documenting everything he says! 

Owen is at such a great age and some of the things that come out of his mouth are so priceless!  Last week we were swimming with the girls and he wanted to float on all four noodles.  He is mister independent and wants to swim on his own, but I know he doesn't have the skills yet, so I just followed him around with my hand on his bum while he floated on the noodles.  Every few minutes he would turn around and ask me to let go and I did.  The noodles would roll over and he would float onto his back.  I caught him each time.

When I let go for the hundredth time, the noodles rolled over and he fell onto his back.  I grabbed him, but he slipped and went right to the bottom of the pool in .2 seconds.  I pulled him up immedietly and he did the shock and wipe your eyes maneuver that all kids do.  I tried to ease the fear by saying 'YOU SWAM all by yourself buddy!!  I am so proud of you for swimming!" 

His reply... "Ummm.. I was sinking."

"Oh no" I continued, "you were swimming all by yourself!!"

"Mom.. I'm pretty sure I was sinking all the way to the bottom."  Very matter of factly. 

He wasn't scared and proceeded to do it again and again.  He knew not to swallow the water and blow bubbles as he has been taught that many times.  I'm thinking it's time to teach him to swim on his own.  I always get nervous because he has the oxygen cannula, but he also has to live a little.  Our setup with oxygen is a large portable tank sitting in the shade with 50 feet of green tubing that follows us around the swimming pool.  My kids are fish.  Sinking fish in Owen's case.

CT Scan Results.. Transplant Info

I just received a call from LPCH and they said his CT results are in.  The cardiac CT looks good and they have plenty of access for biopsies and caths.  His abdominal CT looks fine as well.  The only red flags were in his blood work and it showed that his liver enzymes were elevated, as well as his bilirubin.  They received all the documents from Owen's liver episode last October when we gave him Amoxiciillin and he turned yellow.  Remember that?  His bilirubin went crazy high, so I stopped the antibiotics and we moved forward with liver medication until things stabilized.

The NP said they want Owen seen by GI at LPCH by a hepatology specialist.  I asked her what they could possible conclude by seeing him when they already have all his lab work and CT scans?  I know they can examine him and feel his liver, but cardio does this at every appointment so we already know his liver is descending at a "2". 

If we are going to schedule another appointment to LPCH, then I told her they need to put their heads together and think of anything and everything that could possible need to be done so we can avoid multiple visits.  I then asked if everything comes back as a green light from GI would we be moving forward with listing him and she said YES! 

So.. that's that.  Owen is going to be listed for a heart soon.  We will have a cardio clinic while we are there as well and I suppose they can now answer all my questions about antibodies, IVIG treatments, waiting for a heart in Phoenix {even though he's listed 900 miles away in Palo Alto} and any other crazy questions I have. 

I'm emotionally a bit exhausted.  I am starting my work on second/ third opinions at CHOP and Boston so I'm anxious to hear what they have to say.  I know the Fontan isn't the best option for long term outcome, but with his 93% antibody sensitization, I'm not sure that transplant is going to be easy peasy either.

Ok.  Off to cook dinner and be "normal" for a while.  Nothing I just blogged about is "normal".  If they have to start talks about liver transplant as well, I think I might just start going crazy. :)

A Conversation with Owen about his Heart

Owen loves to ask us questions about his heart, past surgeries, what's upcoming, and all things medical.  I like that he is so involved in his medical care, as much as a four year old can be.  He knows that he has half his heart, that he is on a lot of medications, that he requires oxygen constantly and that we travel to Stanford a lot!  He also knows that we are going to get him a new heart and all that entails. 

The other night, we were talking and I could just tell he was thinking hard.  He said.. "Remember when I was a baby and the nurse cut me open?"

Me: Yes son.

Owen: "Well, she dropped half my heart and lost it and now I only have a half left.  So we are going to put me on a list and they will say OWEN {yelling} we have a heart for you, and then I will go to Stanford and they will put a new heart in.  Then I can be a bigger boy and not need this {pointing to his cannula} or oxygen any more."

Me: Exactly.. well most of it is accurate. Ha.

Owen: "Well.. when does my name get to go on the list?  If I take another kids' heart, then they will need my oxygen."

Me: {A very difficult discussion to have for a 4 yr old to understand}

Well, they won't actually need oxygen because the heart comes from a person that is already going to heaven.
Owen: "Oh.. "  {his little mind was processing the information, but he didn't quite understand}

Owen: "Okay.. so when will I get my new heart so I can feel better?" 

Me: I wish I had an answer.  We will hear back from your doctors at Stanford at the end of the month and hopefully know if they are going to put your name on the list yet.  Then when they call your name, we will go get your new heart.

I am so grateful that Owen can communicate so well with us and he knows that nothing is off limits.  He has been opening up about things a lot lately and while it's hard to come up with age appropriate answers, I try to be as honest as possible.  Love this boy. :)
----------------------------------------------------

After receiving these gorgeous flowers from my main man, we celebrated our Anniversary together at the Keg.  It was so nice to finally have a date night out!  Our waiter asked how many years we were celebrating and when I said 13 years, he replied with "you just don't hear that number anymore."  There are many ups and downs in marriage and when you have a sick child the stresses are monumental, but we have made it work.  It's about never giving up, communication and compromise.  Love you babe!!

Anniversary and Father's Day!

Today is our 13 year wedding Anniversary!!! 

{repost}

We were married in 1999. It was a HOT, hot day in the desert. I spent the morning getting ready and running back and forth to the church to help fill up the helium balloons for the reception. I was running on little sleep because we were up late dipping the strawberries in chocolate. That was a good time! I didn't even think of getting pictures taken prior to the reception because the thought of putting my wedding dress on in 115 degree heat seemed miserable. On top of it all, I was in my first trimester with Kamryn and I had some serious all day sickness.

What got me through the morning, besides all my friends and family by my side, was knowing that I was marrying an amazing man. In hindsight, I would have eloped. Joking. Maybe.

I have little memory of walking down the aisle and saying my vows, but every memory of dancing our first dance as a married couple. It was perfect.
I didn't eat one thing that night. Except for the cake that Carson fed me, before I smashed one in his face in return.We spent the night at a local hotel and it was less than romantic as we were so exhausted. Then we took our first road trip to Vegas for our honeymoon. It was a great time!! Music, talking, puking (not so fun) and laying in bed. If only I had been 21, it might have been a little more fun.

I can hardly believe it's been 13 years since that day. We were babies. We grew up together. We've made good and bad decisions together. We DID it together. I love you babe!! Happy Anniversary.

Yesterday was Father's Day.  We spent the morning kicking around, eating breakfast, playing games, and I even snuck in an afternoon nap.  My family came over in the evening and it was all that we expected.  Between the kids crying, getting hurt, screaming, shooting darts at each other... welcome to Fatherhood!! :) 

Chris (bro in law) with Livvy, Daddy with Owen and Kam, Greg (my pops) with Gigi.  Thanks for all you do guys.. the kids are lucky to have you!!

We took an evening swim and turned in early.  Such a great way to wrap up our weekend!!

CT scans

Owen's testing is done and another task is crossed off our list. After arriving at PCH at 10am, we headed back to radiology.   They were super busy, but we only waited about 20 minutes before a super cute blond nurse came out to get Owen.  He has always had a thing for the blondies and just cooperates so well with them.  He chatted her up, flirted a bit, we got his weight and vitals.  His weight is up to almost 36lbs again, so a big hoorah for that!! 

The anesthesiologist came in and asked what his medical condition was, asked me about his function, and medications he is currently on.  I assumed they just already "know" this stuff because they do at LPCH, but I filled him in and I didn't leave out any detail.  I made sure he knew it all!  They were all so sweet and Owen quickly asked .. "when can I go pick out a toy?" 

We headed into the CT area and there was a giant toy box and so he picked out a car and a red "snorty" just like his other five!!  Each time he had a procedure as a baby, he always picked a red snort, which is a combination of a pig and bull.  Now he has five.

We had to wait while they set up the room for anesthesia and the nurse went to get ten viles for his blood draws.  She said she had never seen so much blood request from one little guy, but she'd do her best to get it all while he was out. 

While passing the time, Owen wanted to take pictures.  He's such a silly boy!

I took him into the CT room and he was fine until I laid him on the table, and we started putting on his leads, and getting him prepped.  He just knew what was next and then started tearing up.  I sang to him and cuddled while he drifted off with the anesthesia mask.  I may have taken a few puffs of gas too, and was feeling a bit goofy myself.  He finally drifted off and they got started. 

It wasn't an hour before they were done and he was back in recovery.  All his labs were drawn with only two sticks.  They got all the pictures they needed and he only required one dose of Propofol.  In recovery, he woke up feeling like a million bucks!  He said "Wow.. what happened.. I took a long nap and I feel great!"  I think we found his magic drug of choice!   

We quickly took out his IV, unhooked him from the monitors and were on our way to the cafeteria for a much anticipated cheeseburger.  He had been telling me all morning how starving he was and he just wanted a cheeseburger really bad!!  He ate like he hadn't eaten in a week and it proved that he will be a great oral eater when he gets a new heart and I can stop tube feeding him one day.

We are now home and even avoided rush hour traffic.  I spoke with LPCH and they will await the test results this next week.  They have a meeting with the liver team on the 22nd, then they will discuss him at transplant conference following that.  They also will need to meet at HLA conference to discuss his antibodies and treatment options.  They did get his antibody results back and they are not so great.  His class I antibodies were at 30 and his class II were at 93.  It has been a while since I got into the nitty gritty of antibodies, but we need to do some serious antibody treatments, including IVIG to decrease his sensitization.  That will be discussed in depth and a protocol will be established before we move forward.  There will be a big call expect around the end of the month and hopefully we'll have a plan of action!

CT Scans today

Owen was so nervous yesterday when I told him he had to go to Phoenix Children's for his CT scans today.  He pretty much wanted nothing to do with it.  This morning he woke up at six and wanted to know every detail of his day.  He wanted to know what a CT Scan is, if they are giving his anesthesia, will he need an IV, ect. 

After explaining what a CT Scan is and what it can see in his body, he got a little excited.  We talked about an IV, the blood draws and that he'll be a little hungry going in.  He is a champ and says "Okay.. when do we get to leave?  I'm ready for this!"  He is such a brave guy.

His appointment is at 11am and I'm hoping it's pretty quick.  They are planning on using anesthesia so they can get the exact pictures they need.  I'm a little nervous because these tests will be the final tests used to determine if Owen is a candidate for a heart transplant, or not.

Fingers crossed, prayers are being said, everything will go smoothly today. 

Oh and Owen did have just one request... "Can I get a toy there?" 

A toy can make it all better.

Summer Relaxation

Whoa.. June is half over and we are busy enjoying our long summer days.  My kids didn't get the memo that you are supposed to sleep in past 6:30 in the summer.  They are up early and ready to start the day! Here is a rundown of our week so I don't forget...

Monday:  Family pool party at Gma Monicas -- dance orientation for 2012-13 year
Tuesday:  Completely cleaned the house and caught up on laundry -- then dance
Wednesday: 7am gymnastics -- house cleaning -- grocery shopping -- afternoon naps and dance
Thursday:  Madagascar 3 at the theatre -- playtime (pics below) -- tonight there is more dance
Friday:  Owen has his CT scans at PCH so try and remember him in your prayers!!  Anesthesia always freaks me out with his fragile heart and we haven't done {any} procedures locally in several years, so to say I'm nervous is an understatement.

Today has been the most relaxing as the kids are just playing.  Madagascar was a little on the strange side, but the kids loved it and we stayed cool. 

I'm trying to decide what to do for the men in our lives for Father's Day this weekend.  Our 13 yr wedding anniversary is coming up and also my birthday!  June is such a fun month around here!  I hope you're all enjoying your summer!!

Livv's Party

Livv celebrated her 3rd birthday yesterday and it was a wild night.  Look at this sweet face.

We always fun family parties.  Everything was purple since Livv is obsessed with this combination of red and blue.  She is a girl after my own heart because I even had purple as my wedding color!  Love it so much!! 

Owen had a rough night.  He had a fit of hulk rage and put a nice handprint in Livv's cake.  He felt so awful and kept saying "I feel so bad!!"  He still feels bad and said I wasn't allowed to put a picture of Livv's cake on the blog because he didn't want anyone to know because he is sorry. 

He was so tired and just cried at the drop of a hat.  He cheered up when they busted through the pinata and found little weapons to play with!!  Forget about the candy.. weapons are better.

Livv tore through her presents when everyone was chatting.. she just couldn't wait!! We had a fun night and were so tired when we came home.  That wraps up our weekend.

Dance Audition Results

First of all.. a big SHOUT OUT to the girls on their dance auditions today.   They both made the competition team as well as the performing team!! They are going to have a busy year ahead of them with at least 7 hours of dance per week, half time shows, and local conventions/competitions.  They did such a great job today and spent the entire week preparing for their auditions. 

Dance starts this week and I'm signing them up for a tumbling class at the gym where Owen does his "gymbtastics".  Kamryn, bless her heart, still can't do a cartwheel to save her live, but her kicks and leaps are fab.  Go figure.  So everyday of our week will be filled with physical activity, including swimming in the afternoons. 

{Gigi poses just like I always did as a kid. silly girl. Kam is much more of a modest poser}

On another note... I finally got all of Owen's tests scheduled for this Friday at PCH.  He will have his cardiac CT and abdominal {liver scan} and I am going to try it without sedation first.  If needed, we will try a little sedation and then get all his labs drawn while he's loopy.  CT scans are so quick, that we will be home before dinner and down to bed early.  I'm not overly concerned about these tests as they aren't too invasive, other than the IV contrast.  We should have answers as to when they want to list him for transplant by the end of the month!!  I am getting anxious. 

On his good days I let my mind wander and think.. he's doing so great {for him} he doesn't need a heart!  Then there are bad days where I pray for the day that he can finally know what it feels like to have a fully functioning heart.  He won't know what to do with all his new energy!  It's a daily tug of war with my emotions, but you all know me, I just keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Life is too short to dwell on the unknown and I cannot change the outcome, so we live it up!  I hope you are all enjoying your weekend!! 

Sunsplash

I hadn't been to SunSplash since I was a little girl and was a little nervous about taking all three kids for the 'end of year' dance party. This is not like the little resort water parks we frequent, nor the local high school ones, this is a "real" water park! We got there at opening and met my Sis and Liv. The kids started in the wave pool and Owen wasn't thrilled with big waves knocking him over so we quickly made our way to the lazy river.

After a few times around, we made our way to the kiddie slides.  Kam took him down a few times and he loved it!!  The kids had soft pretzels and then went to check out the big slides!  Liv and Owen played in the splash pad with the big dumping bucket, water geysers and mini slides.  Since walking on the pavement feels like flesh is burning from your feet, I carried Owen all over the park and his oxygen was cradled in my other.  My biceps are burning today!!

We had a big catered lunch of burgers and dogs with all the dancers.  It was so fun to see all their teachers outside of the studio and we had a blast!! 

After lunch, I was almost out of oxygen and Owen was feeling tired. I had left in such a hurry and with so many bags, that I forgot extra oxygen. I was super bummed about the drive home, but it worked out perfectly! Owen got a long nap in the cool car and we both got a little break from the water park. He got oxygen and tube feeds and we were back in an hour!

I gave my Sis a little break and took the little kids back to the water slides to play in the shallow pool, while Kam and Gi were off with their friends.  Kel and Liv had enough after 5 hours and headed home, but we had another hour before the awards were handed out.  I couldn't get Owen out of the little kid area.. he was in heaven!  He also really loved the wave pool after we discovered the tube rentals. He sat in the shallow end of the pool with his life jacket on and then sat inside an inner tube.  The waves came relentlessly, but they stood no chance against all those floatation devices.  He loved it!!

As we were lounging in the lazy river he said "this is the perfect day!!  I just wish daddy was here with us too!"  Daddy was at work, but I told him he'll have to take a vaca day soon so we can go back together.  I would love to go on all the big slides with Kam!!

The awards ceremony was fun and all the girls got recognized with trophies.  Here they all are being silly.

They serve Iceberg milkshakes at the ice cream shop inside the park and the kids went crazy for the Grasshopper shake!

It was a toasty 102 yesterday, but not too hot.  The kids were sun blocked at least five times and they barely even have tan lines to show.  Gigi was laying out getting warm before the awards.

I thought for sure we wouldn't make it more than a few hours at the water park, but we ended up shutting the park down! Eight hours at the water park..spending time with our kids... playing with friends...splashing in the wave pool...floating in the lazy river.. burning out feet on the pavement...tons of sunblock.. daring slides..two tanks of oxygen...laughter...frizzy hair.. and we were exhausted!! It was such a fun day and we can't wait to go back!!!

I did receive a call from Dr Stock and also from the NP at LPCH while we were there.  Dr Stock had all the orders for the CT Scan and labs, but then was told by the Stanford cardio team that they aren't sure if they want a liver ultrasound or a liver CT and they want it done there.  Ugh.  So I called again today to speak with our NP at LPCH and it sounds like Dr Rosenthal said okay to having testing in Phoenix, but the liver specialist wants it done there.  I told her to speak with the team together and let me know by the end of the week! We should also have his antibody results by then as well, which I'm a bit anxious for.

Tonight kick starts dance auditions for next year.  I know the girls are going to do great!  I am sending Carson with my car two days this week {he carpools since his car has no air} so I can stay home, stranded, and get my house in order!!  There is something so nice about not being able to go anywhere, spend any money and just be productive at home in our comfy clothes.

Oh.. and don't forget that we are still running a giveaway on this post.  Leave a comment for a chance to win a $50 VISA gift card.  As of now, you have a 1 in 35 chance.. so go leave a comment!! :) 

Grateful

We are so excited our crazy weekend is over!!  We spent a peaceful Sunday at home and I even snuck in afternoon nap.  Today we are attempting SunSplash for the girl's 'end of year' dance party.  We've done lots of small resort waterparks in the past, but never have we attempted a giant water park with oxygen.  Owen woke up this morning saying "I am so excited to float in the lazy river all day!!"  So I suppose we will be found floating around the lazy river with a giant tank of oxygen for the day.  Not a bad way to spend a Monday!

I also haven't had time to unpack yet.  This is sitting at the end of my bed and I have tripped on it a million times.  I really should find the time to put it away.  Kam was relaxing all day yesterday and I promised I wouldn't bug her for much help so she could rest.  Owen just wanted me by his side constantly!  "MOm.. I just need your LLOOOVVEEE!"  Anytime I'm away from him for more than a few hours, he turns into a  momma's boy.

We never did get around to the haircut.. so Owen has some serious bed head lately and it's growing on me! 

 I almost forgot the most amazing news of the day... Cheri, author of I Am Momma Hear Me Roar chose Owen as her recipient of the "FOR THE LOVE" auction!!  I am so humbled, grateful and excited at the same time!!  Thank you so much Cheri!!  If you haven't read her blog.. prepare to stay a while!  She is the most crafty person I have ever known.  Her house is decorated so beautifully and she gives tutorials for everything!!!  I have so many projects that I am inspired to start, but then again, I need to find time to put luggage away first.  Ha.  Cheri also has two of the cutest boys that remind me so much of Owen with their love of Superheros!!   Thanks again!! :)

Dance Recital 2012

We made it through seven hours of dress rehearsals on Friday and ten hours of dance recitals yesterday!!  The girls are exhausted.  They dance so hard, changed costumes a million times, and had a blast doing what they love!!  There were three recitals yesterday and the girls had several dances in each one. 

Owen only came to the first show so he could watch Kam's hip hop and Livvy's recital debut.  He played iPad through all the contemporary numbers, but as soon as the "Cars That Go Boom" started and the little 4 year old girls came out with all their Sas.. he sure perked up!  So funny!!

Kam loved her hip hop number this year and Nick choreographed a fantastic number!  {Kam is second from right in the front}

They danced to a mix of songs and did a great job!  {Kam is second row in the middle}

Gigi had a bunch more dances than Kam.  Kamryn took a two year hiatus from dance and just started back last year with four hours a week.  She is auditioning next week and will up her hours to 6-8 a week like Gigi.  This was Gigi's competition number.. she's on the far right.  She did such a great job and had a bunch of costume changes!

Gigi's ballet...she was the star of her ballet dance and rocked it!!  Kam dropped ballet in March to start up again in June. 

Livvy had her first performance ever and was AMAZING! She was the only little girl up there that knew every move, didn't look at hear teacher once and was such a ham.  She turns three this week and we love her so much.  There were little girls screaming back stage because they were so scared, bless their hearts. Kam's first performance was when she was 3, I'll have to post pictures this week.

Kamryn was in a couple numbers in the same costume, so that made things way easier!  This was "Whiplash" and she did so great!! This was one of my favorite dances ever!!

My mom and sister purchased all the professional DVD's since we weren't allowed to videotape during performances.  I'll upload their dances when we get those back if you for want to watch.  Gigi also had a tap number, and a second ballet.  I think I covered all their dances.  Whew.  At the end of the night, they do a big finale and the girls come out and freestyle dance.  It was such a fantastic dancing year and we can't wait for the next.

The girls wanted to say thank you to Nana!!!  Nana pays for all their tuition, costumes, and special fees.  She loves to be such a huge role in their lives and they make sure to tell her all the time how much they love and appreciate her.  She came to the morning performance and I didn't get one picture, I'm so sad.  The 110 degree heat and the excitement of dance recitals had her exhausted.  We'll be over this week and I'll get a good picture of Nana with her dancing girls!!  Love you! (Kel, make sure she reads this)

I only took my camera to the morning show, but my Dad was at the evening.  Uncle Rog was there all day, for all three performances, so I have to say "THANKS ROG!!" from the girls. 

Grandpa Todd, Grandma Monica, Daddy and Owen made it to the morning show... as well as my Sis, Chris, and Livv (since she was performing).  {My mom is on the right, then Gpa Todd, Liv, Gigi, Kam, Gma Monica, Owen and Daddy}   I also have to point out Owen's skinny little legs compared to everyone else.  I didn't realize he was so bony... breaks my heart.

Good job girls!!

Kam with Grandpa Todd and Monica.

Oh and yes.. I was there.  Backstage, in the audience, behind the camera, changing tights, tying shoes, pinning buns, and putting on makeup.  So glad that's over. :) 

Tomorrow is the big water park end of year party and awards!!  Then Dance workshops and auditions are Tuesday through Saturday.  Kelli and I grew up dancing, my mom danced and I'm so glad our girls are following in those same footsteps!!  They love it so much!!