Catch Up… Catch All

Spring…what spring?  I live in Boston we have two season Winter and Summah!

I’m not complaining… except I am.  It’s hot… record high heat in early June is not fun. 

Reason #1 It is  too hot to swim… all water options are still way too cold unless you are 2 & 3 and look adorable running through a sprinkler.

Reason #2 Allergies are still wicked bad… I think this is the worst year ever, for allergy sufferers and I am an allergy sufferer, and it stinks.

Reason # 3 I am WHITE! OH. MY. AM. I . WHITE and freckly… Katy loves to point that out to me! 

(Notice, my Boston accent slipping out… summah…wicked! Usually only happens when I have had too much to drink.  Not the case tonight!)

Truthfully… I love summer and am totally ready to embrace it.  Looking forward to many cookouts at my dad’s.  Eating…chatting… swimming…laughing… cruising through the back yard.

So my girl… you know the dancer!

She has her big recital this weekend.  Her dress rehearsal was yesterday.  It’s killing me not to post a picture, bit I don’t want to ruin the surprise for anyone who is coming to the recital.  Anyway… she did great on stage, much better than we expected,  I totally felt like a crazy Toddler & Tiara mommy.  But, my girl she shined, she smiled, she ROCKED it.  So proud of her.  Yes, I bawled like a baby!! The bad cry… which made her dance teachers cry… we were a mess.  Hopefully it’s out of my system and I can just watch Katy girl shine on Saturday!

We are gearing up for our big walk for Children’s Hospital on Sunday!! So happy to give back to a hospital that has done so much for our family.

Katy has a big week coming up.  Monday she has a long day of Pre Op at Children’s and then Tuesday she has a  Cardiac Cath & MRI.  We are hoping it is just a day visit, but we know we might end up overnight.  Oddly enough this is the first appointment I have really no anxiety, ok let me rephrase that.  I have no additional anxiety. 

My feeling is that there is nothing they can tell me that can be worse than what they told me last year after her cath & MRI.  I am not expecting any huge changes, and if there are, there is really nothing that will change… the only fix is a new heart. 

The only thing that may happen is, we may learn that her heart is failing faster and the pressures are too high and she needs a different medicine regimen, which may mean we are hospital living until we get a heart.  Not ideal, not how I want to spend our summer, also not completely a surprise.  We all want what is best for Katy, and we are all working towards a common goal that gives Kate the best childhood possible with the situation she has been given. 

Thanks for your prayers, thanks for thinking of us and Katy Girl.  Will update as soon as we know something.

 

I’ve Been Busy

I know you have heard me mention a mysterious new blog.

It’s a no go.  However I am going to try and be more purposeful in posting more under my craft button.

I have been busy, busy doing one of my favorite hobbies, paper crafting, particularly scrapbooking.  I have recently found my mojo after being in a creative slump for so long, and it’s great.

Some ladies have asked me how I got motivated again, I think for me it is because I have just jumped in and have taken away all the rules that were embedded in my head from my days as a Creative Memories consultant.  My books will still be chronological (I haven’t lost my mind) but, I am not necessarily scraping them in order, which is something I was limited to when I was exclusively using CM albums.  Now I just work on what makes me happy,  I have been working on our 2010 Family Album and Katy’s 1st Year. 

I have also began doing single page layouts, which has freed my creativity.  I have been stalking Nichol Magourik  she is so talented and inspires me to get in my craft room and play.

Also, I had my great idea that I was going to have a craft blog…hahaha! So I had to have something to write about. 

Here is what 40+ pages looks like

She doesn’t get this from me…

I am a lover of many things… creepy crawlies are not one of them! My girl loves them all!!

Weekend of Family Fun

WOW! I am exhausted! And I can’t believe we are already in June.  Where is this year going?

We had a fabulous weekend… spent lots of time with lots of family, and it was wonderful.  There is nothing I love more then seeing my kids playing with cousins, being cuddled by our aunts and uncles, and just loving life.  It was nice to see a lot of family we haven’t seen in awhile, and everyone said the same thing…

”Katy, looks so good!!!” I tend to agree. What do you think?

Hard to believe its been almost a year  since our world was turned upside down.  We have a few big appointments coming up, but before I stress about that we have things like, lemonade stands, dance recitals, and Children’s NSTAR Walk to look forward to.

Happy Summer!

New Blog…

Is a BUST!  So my plan was to have another blog for my craftiness/Murphy Custom Creations It was proving to be ridiculously difficult, and I have already spent more time then I had wanted to on it.  So I have decided until I find the best way to do it… I am still going to go forward and it may even turn out to work better for me, just having to maintain one blog.  SO that is what I am going to do.  Craft Posts will come up on the main page and then archived under crafts still easily accessible if you click the pick Craft Circle. 

Let me know what you think?

Blogging Hiatus

Where the heck have I been.  Working on some big this for this blog… and then I completely changed my mind!  So I have been in limbo…

I will share more of what I have been working on tomorrow.

Then I  will play catch up…need to be back on track! We have a huge Month ahead of us.

For now I will leave you with a few pictures!

Just When We Needed It...

In addition to this blog we have a few other outlets we use to rally support for Katy Girl.  One of them is a Facebook Page Prayers For Katy Murphy which was so kindly set up by a great friend of mine, back when our future seemed so unknown and downright SCARY.

Here we are 10 Months later and our future is still very much unknown but, not as SCARY as it was back then.  We have just been going about our life… still waiting for THE CALL, while driving from play dates, and trips to the zoo, and the weekly Dance Class that KATY LOVES and anticipates in weekly. 

I was reminded of how very long we have been waiting when I got a message from Facebook telling me that the Prayers For Katy Murphy prayer page was going to be archived.  Even Facebook thinks that wait has been to long and that it’s old news. 

It feels like old news… I sometimes feel that it’s been so long, that people have forgotten about it.  Maybe it’s because Katy is doing so well, we aren’t in clinic weekly, and have been without an admission for a long time ( fingers crossed we continue on this path) then I see a Katy Band on a complete stranger or am sent a kind email from someone telling me they added Katy to their churches pray list, or I see another donation made in Katy’s honor to our Children's Hospital Walk and I am reminded that we have so many people praying for us  and especially for Katy each and every day! 

So I took Facebook’s reminder and I rallied… I posted on Katy’s page an update and asking for some activity on her page, and you guys BLEW HER PAGE UP!!! Mike and I both enjoyed reading all your kind words, and it was just the pick me up we needed.  I have been busy printing off the pages to save for Katy. She is a bit young to understand all your prayers or all that has been done for her, I want her to have them when she is older, so she can see how wonderful you all are. 

Katy is getting older and starting to understand more, lately she has been telling people who ask how she is  that she needs a heart transplant.  She doesn’t know what that exactly means but, she knows she takes medicine to keep her heart healthy, and that Children’s is her hospital!   She is amazing!

Thanks for following us on this journey! Thanks for your kind words and prayers. 

 

Last Heard Over The Baby Monitor

Naptime:

Kate: Mommy…

Patrick: Daddy…

Kate: Mommy…

Patrick: Papa…

GIGGLES!

They love their papa!!!

GUESS WHAT?…

DISCLAIMER: Huge Mommy brag…borderline OBNOXIOUS Mommy blog.  Please DO NOT READ if you are sensitive to potty training or blogs about POOP!

Patrick is potty trained!

Just like that.  I can’t hardly believe it.  I never would have guessed it would be this easy.  We are officially done with diapers (except bed time). 

My budget is happy!!

I had decided not to push the issue with Patrick until July.  In July he would have been two and a half and that seemed like a good time to start trying.  I never thought that my two year old baby boy, would decide that he was ready to potty train himself one Saturday while I was at school.  I called home to check in as I do every Saturday, and

Mike said “You’ll never guess what I am doing!”

Me “What?!?”

Mike: “Sitting with Patrick, while he tries to poop on the potty!”

Me: “STOP IT!!!!! What do you mean?! How did that happen?”

Mike: “ He wanted Big Boy underwear on.”

My little man has been sporting Big Boy underwear since. Get this… he has only had one accident! ONE!  He holds it, (if we are in line checking out at the grocery store), he is just rocking it… no potty charts, no prize boxes ( he is happy picking a treat from his Easter Candy!)

I shouldn’t be surprised… it’s just who he is.  So laid back and mellow… doing his own thing at his own time. 

   Auntie Krissie, there is his dirty face, again.

So proud of my little man.

Last Heard On The Baby Monitor

8:50

Patrick: Help Me dada… Help me dada… DADDY HELP ME!!!

Mike: Not Happy…it’s bed time

Patrick: zipper me

( Patrick strips down to his diaper the second we close the door)

Mike:  You want me to cover you?

Patrick: Jammies ON!

Mike: Ok Buddy…

Patrick: GIGGLE! GIGGLE!

Mike: your not going to be happy once you figure out what’s going on

Me (downstairs listening to the monitor) Laughing because I know Mike is putting his jammies on backwards.

Mike:  Night buddy, night little girl I love you! See you in the morning.

Such a great daddy!!!

Happy Mother’s Day

First I want to wish all the amazing moms in my life a very Happy Mother’s Day.  This is the hardest job we’ll ever have but, it is with out a doubt the most rewarding, fulfilling, fabulous honor in the world. 

I had a wonderful day.  It started with the most beautiful babes in the world knocking on my door…(there awesome daddy…let me sleep in.)  and shouting “Happy Mother’s Day!!!”  Music to my ears.  They had made me cinnamon rolls and cards with lots and lots of hearts.  We kissed and cuddled and had a great morning. 

Unfortunately I wasn’t feeling so great this morning.  I had a killer headache and was not feeling up to making our traditional trip in to the Boston Commons. Hopefully, we will head in there this week.

Mother's Day 2008

Mother's Day 2009

Mother's Day 2010

  So I settled for an early afternoon nap and a trip to the local park.

Thank you to all the important ladies in my life… who help me be the best mom I can be.  Who have dried my tears, supported me, reassured me.  I am proud to mother alongside you, and couldn’t do it without you.

To my husband, my rock.  THANK YOU! For EVERYTHING!  There is no one I would want by my side on the crazy, wonderful journey of parenthood.  Thanks for supporting me and help me be the best mom I can be.

Katy, thanks for making me a mom!! Reminding me to enjoy each and everyday.  I love you to the moon and back!

Patrick, I love you to Infinity and Beyond.  Thanks for reminding me not to be to serious, and to laugh each day.

Lastly, I want to recognize all the women who for this day brings so much heartache to, who long for a child, who want so badly to be a mom.  Please know from the bottom of my heart, I know the emptiness, a hallmark holiday like today can bring and I am so sorry.  The pain that is caused by infertility is a pain like no other.  I pray that your dreams come true.

I Tucked Her Into Bed Tonight

Poem written by fellow heart mom Stephanie Husted reminded me of my girl!

I tucked her into bed tonight

(And adjusted her pillow and blankie)
It's been a long exhausting day

(And she sure has been cranky)

She threw every toy from her toy box

And she tossed all her lunch on the floor

She begged me to go out to play

(She just wouldn't let go of the door)

Most people cannot comprehend

The things she has been through

They tell me... "I just can't imagine..."
"How you do all the things that you do."

I sigh... just because they don't realize

How could they ever know?
Just what a precious gift it is

To watch my child grow.

I still remember clearly

Our days in ICU

Hoping, praying, wondering

What were you going through?

Stroking your hand...feeling helpless

Whispering words in your ear

"It's alright my baby"

"Mommy is right here".

Helpless...scared...bewildered

Wanting to just see you smile

Thinking..."I"m not strong enough"

To make it through this trial.

Knowing that... not all children

Survive these surgeries

Day by day...with patience

Constantly praying...for peace.

And so...that is the "secret"

To doing the things...I must do

There is no perfect...inner strength

I guess God brought us through.

And so...when I see... footprints

All over my freshly mopped floor

Or gooey dried banana's

Smudged on the living room door

I wipe it off...with just a smile

Just praying for more to appear

These are my reminders

I'm blessed to have her here.

I tucked her into bed tonight

And as I walked away

I looked up for a moment...and said

"Thank you...for "today".
~Stephanie Husted

Last Heard Over The Baby Monitor

We hear lots of funny things over the baby monitor.  For the most part it’s just singing and giggling, but sometimes it is down right funny conversations between Kathryn and Patrick. 

Kate: You call mommy, and I’ll call daddy.

Patrick: OK

Katy:  DADDY

Patrick: DADA

Katy: No, Patrick you call mama

Patrick: Mommmmmmy

Katy: Daddy

Repeat.

Stream of Consciousness

Ahh… here it is a Tuesday at nap time… been far to long since my last blog.  Sometimes there is so much to share…others I am struggling to find something to say.

I have been busy.  I am slowly catching up on the books… scrapbooks that is.  Decided to do a different method of scrapbooking for our 2011 Family Album.  I am doing my version of Becky Higgins’ Project Life with a lot of Ali Edwards’ influence.

I wasn’t sure I would like it… Mike was even less sure…turns out we both really like it.  It’s more like a blog then a traditional scrapbook… it highlights the ordinary every day things, that I don’t want to forget.  It gives me lots of freedom to add items, (notes, cards, calendar pages etc.,) I love it!  I love that it is representation of our life right now.   A busy family of four. Our daily grind.  10, 20, 50 years from now I will be able to look back in that album and be transformed to the 30 year old mom with two babes, a husband and dog and cat.  Who liked to scrapbook and knit, sip wine with friends, shop at Target… I will really see what was important to me then (now)

I don’t think it will take the place of our yearly albums… but, it’s a fun project right now. It also gives me the opportunity to get “caught up” Stay caught up.  The pictures in that album are current… pictures from Easter are already printed and in an album on my shelf…begging to be looked at!

In addition to that I am working on Katy’s 1st year (traditional scrapbook) and 3rd year digital scrapbook. 

I have also been busy working on orders for grads, communions and another wedding!  Yay for working doing something I love!!

So Katy has been listed for 9 MONTHS… that is 5 months longer then I expected.  We chatted with the team regarding how long its been… they agree its been a long time.  They are also so pleased with how well our little girl and her oh, so special heart are doing.  So we continue to wait, and its amazing how we have just adapted to this life.  It’s not until a new person learns of our story, that I am reminded of just how incredible and life altering our life is.  That we could not be any less normal….yet is just that our normal. But,  when the phone rings at 10:15 pm on a Thursday night with an anonymous private number in any other household the mom doesn’t get a lump in her throat…while yelling to her husband that the phone is ringing afraid but also excited to answer the phone thinking that this could be THE CALL… the call that will forever change our life and the life of our little girl… and then in the seconds from when you say hello… to when you realize it’s the wrong number… your hopes and dreams and fears all come crashing down, you realize that there is nothing normal about this life. 

Normal or not… it’s a wonderful life and I wouldn’t change it for a thing!

I was reminded once again how selfish and useless some people are… and I made the decision to let them go… not an easy decision but an overdue and necessary decision.  Our time is precious, I want to only surround us with people who are loving, caring and understanding to our very unique situation.  Some people will NEVER get it… that’s their issue.  I will not spend anymore of our energy on them.  There are so many things that are more important. 

So that is that…naptime is almost over and I see a trip to the park in our future!