Natalie can Officially Read! May 27

We finally got the BOB books out and Natalie just started reading. She has been working on sounding out words and so when we got these out she went to town sounding out each and every word. She was so excited about reading that she wanted to keep doing in and she was getting so tired....I'm telling you, it is amazing to watch her learn and so quickly....and I just love watching how excited she gets when something clicks. So here she is reading...

It Feels Like Summer...May 26

Amanda nibbles on her corn on the cob @ G&G's house - Mmmm! It's a good thing she LOVES to floss her teeth!

Ry Ry enjoys a ride in the swing at G&G's house

Barnes & Noble and Chuck E. Cheese's

Natalie had earned a few rewards w/her end-of-year report card. So, a trip to the bookstore was one of those rewards. Here she is w/her new BOB Books and a beginner reader book. She also picked out a Star Wars book - something for her & Daddy to read together! Congratualtions Natalie on improving and achieving your goals! Wow! What a big girl!


One of her other rewards was a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's and everyone was happy b/c we all got to go! Here is Amanda going bonkers over TICKETS! And then Mommy & Natalie pose pretty.




Chuck gave Natalie a 'thumb's up' when Mommy told him she was there b/c she did so well on her report card! Chuck E. got a gig hug from Natalie too!


Ryan tests out the games and the kids pose on the Bob the Builder tractor!

Whoo! What a day!

Natalie's First Lemonade Stand - May 24

We had planned for Natalie to have her first lemonade stand at Grandma Catey's garage sale, the Saturday (the day after) I got out of the hospital. That was the plan before I ended up in the hospital and since I was feeling much better (surely not 100%) we decided to go ahead and do it since Natalie was looking forward to it. Once we arrived, we set up and got the lemonade made. Natalie got to use Mommy's favorite pitcher too.

Natalie even thought to bring her cash register! She is so smart! We needed to decide on a price for her lemonade and so I suggested 25 cents. She said "I'll charge 10 cents". So we thought OK, it's her stand.

Well, her first customer was a garage sale shopper....and then Grandma Catey bought a cup....

and more customers....she ran out of her first pitcher in no time and off we were back in to the kitchen to make more. Once back outside (mind you, she had 3 people waiting for her new pitcher of lemonade) she took care of her waiting customers and then went the front of her stand and started to erase the price. I asked her what she was doing and she replied "I'm changing the price" and I asked her what she was changing the price to and she replied "70 cents" - now tell me this child doesn't have business sense. She saw how quickly she was selling at 10 cents per cup and more than doubled her prices! And she still sold more! Now I forgot to mention that before we started, we had a talk about where the $$ would go. At first Natalie thought she could buy something for herself w/the $$, but then I reminded her of all of the children out there that didn't have all of the things she had and would appreciate anything she could do for them. She loved the idea and we decided on donating to Lazarus House, a local homeless shelter that helps adults and children. Natalie raked in $5.75 in total. No costs b/c her cups and ice and lemonade were all "donations"....so 100% went to charity. We still have to make the special trip to the shelter to make the official donation...and that will be quite an experience her her. I'm so proud of her. She is just such a big girl now. So, so proud!

Daddy & Ryan kick back and enjoy the fun!

I'm gonna live! :)

Hi all. Just a quick update to let you know I saw the pulmonologist last week and it looks like I'm going to be just fine. I will continue on the blood thinners for the 3 months duration (thru August) since I am at at a higher risk of getting another one the first 3 months after getting my first clot. Standard stuff. The clot should already be cleared up (most likely) now. The dr. also described my difficulty breathing as "normal" for lack of a better word. Some people have huge blood clots and no symptoms and find out other ways I guess. And some people like me have more severe symptoms with a very tiny clot. So, I will be back to see my PCP in a month and probably the following month for f/u's and that should be it. I'm just more aware of other symptoms, etc. now.

Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Love to you all.