A Day at The Zoo

So I guess it’s tradition…

Father’s Day we go to The Southwick Zoo!!  Our trip last year!

It’s great that we go with Justin & his crew so Mike can spend time with him and we love any excuse to see Logan, Mason & Conner.

Our day in pictures!

Father’s Day Shout Out

There are two very important men that I need to pay tribute to on Father’s Day.

First is  my dad

My dad is a kind and hard working man.  He continues to guide and care for all of his children (although we are all adults) and his grandchildren.  The love and admiration that he has for Katy & Patrick melts my heart.  It is wonderful to see the bond that the three of them share.  They both adore their Papa.  Thanks dad for always being there for all of us.  We love you!

Next up…

My Rockin Husband

Is there anything you can’t do?  I am so happy to have you by my side on this journey through parenthood.  You make all our days great!   I can’t imagine my life without you. I could not have picked a better daddy for Katy & Patrick.  Our days are not always easy…but you make the manageable.  You go out of your way for others, you are always willing to help.  Some day's I wonder how you do it all, and so effortlessly.  You support all my crazy endeavors and help me meet my goals.  You are the bomb.

  I love you more  then you will ever know. 

Happy Birthday Baby

Today we celebrated Mike’s Birthday.

I had class ALL day… but I made sure I drilled in Katy’s head to say  “Happy Birthday Daddy"! as soon as Mike came in her room… (and she did)

So because I was in school all day and we had the crew coming over for cake… Mike cleaned and cooked and even made his own birthday cake.  (yes, I am embarrassed… I offered to stay home and do it! I did decorate it when I got home!)

Seriously, how do we celebrate the guy who as my mom said is the one we all lean and depend on. 

We sing Happy Birthday!! We hang Super Dad banners!! We shower him in kisses and hugs!!

Happy Birthday Murph!!

We love you!

XO

Family Ties

3 Generations of Murphy’s

Products Used:

Cardstock :

Bazzill: Bitter Chocolate, Whirlpool

Unknown: White

Pattern Paper:

Hedi Grace Designs: Baby Boy Stripes

Journal Box:

Making Memories Spiral Journal

My Minds Eye: Life Is

Wild Asparagus: Our Family Wild Letters

Family Ties Sticker (Unknown)

Font: Antiqua Bold Italic

American Crafts: This & That Foam Dots

Katy Girl Update

Yesterday was a big day for Katy.  She had a Cardiac Cath.  The first one she has had since last year, when the results landed her on the transplant list.

Yesterdays cath brought GREAT news…

NO new damage to her heart or lungs!!! 

I was eerily calm heading into this surgery.  I usually (as you know if you have read any of this blog) a hot mess leading up to Katy’s appointments.  For whatever reason I wasn’t this time. I think I just knew that there was nothing that could be worse than last year! 

It was a long day (15 hours) but we avoided an admission!! Which is always a good day in my book.

Kate was supposed to be first case, but was bumped for a very sick baby from the CICU.  It’s hard to get upset about being bumped when you know the circumstances.  We are just thankful that Kate is well enough to be bumped.

She was handling the delay OK (considering she was probably starving) 

They finally took her back around 11:30 after giving her some loopy juice, Mike walked her back to the Cath Lab.  Once she was settled . Mike and I grabbed a bite to eat and went back to see her at  around 2pm.  Katy was very agitated and was having a difficult time coming out of the anesthesia.   Which was difficult since she needed to lay flat for 5 HOURS.  As a result of her being upset she kept lifting and thrashing her leg, and complaining that her incision was hurting (my boo-boo is hurting) she had disturbed the clot and was bleeding.  I came back from the bathroom as the nurse was calling for the fellow and for anesthesia.  There was a lot of blood (probably looked like more than it really was) They gave her more meds to relax her and they were able to stop the bleeding by applying pressure for about 30 minutes.  After that episode, amazingly Katy was able to lay flat and watch Disney movies for 5 HOURS.  I still can’t believe it.

She then needed to have a chest x ray and then we were released at 9:15pm.

It’s hard to believe that we are quickly approaching the 1 year mark since being listed. 

Thanks for your continued prayers and support.

 

Children’s Hospital Walk

Today we walked to raise money for the hospital that has done so much for our little girl.

We walked with family and friends who came out and walked in honor of our girl.

Together Katy’s Rock stars raised over $3500 dollars.

Isn’t She Lovely

That was Katy’s dance song.  So fitting.  I am so thankful that Katy had the opportunity to dance in her recital.  She joined the class late in the year, and her dance teacher was so understanding regarding our unique situation and the need for this mama to get her in to the class and in the recital.  Dance class was not only good for Kate it was good for me. 

For me it represented another normal activity for my girl.  Another opportunity for her to do a normal kid  thing.  I wanted the memory of her making friends in dance and trying it out to see if it is something she would like.  Really at  2 & 3 we as parents choose what the kids do as far as activities and play dates and such.  It is our jobs as parents to introduce them to various activities and opportunities to see what they like and enjoy.   

From day one Katy loved dance class.  She couldn’t wait to go back.  So exciting since I was pretty sure my shy girl wouldn’t want to leave my side and I would be doing heel, toe, shuffle, step… right along side her.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  The moment Katy walked into the dance studio in her pink tutu she blossomed.  Katy gained independence, and self confidence that I never could have dreamed of, in addition to her social and emotional growth, she made leaps in bounds in her gross motor skills. 

She was so very excited to go on stage and wear her costume, while daddy and mommy sit in the audience.  Again, I was a bit unsure if she would really do it… but she did, and she loved every minute of it.

PS  I will have the video up once Mike can get it edited for me!

Our Journey 2010

This is the title page for our 2010 Family Album(s).
For this page I picked and cropped 12 photos from our year to 2x2 using Photo Shop Elements.  The family picture is a 5x5.  I then arranged and matted all of the pictures and matted on a 9x9 square black cardstock.
 
Products Used:
PSE 8
HP Printer
HP Photo Paper
Black Cardstock
Basic Grey Blush Devotion
K & Co. Echo Modern Metal Art
Making Memories Brads
American Crafts This to That Adhesive.