Oakland Zoo for Columbus Day

Kids' Hand Surgery - Postponed

Our two little patients who were set to have their trigger thumbs repaired with a minor procedure last Thursday weren't able to be seen due to sickness.  Thank you to everyone who sent us well wishes and get well gifts - we truly appreciated it.  We were geared up and ready to go but on the Monday before Josie came down with a high fever with congestion so by Tuesday afternoon the anesthesia group pulled her from the schedule.  And, despite my best efforts, by Thursday morning Annabel was also very congested with a light fever and she was called off the schedule the morning of.

Alison, who is an RN at the Children's Hospital, hooked me up with a Child Life advocate who coached me through how to talk about the procedure with Annabel (who started asking questions I wasn't quite sure how to answer and not create too much anxiety).  This person also provided us with a bunch of resources to demonstrate exactly what the "sleeping medicine" or "medicine air" (anesthesia) would be like.  They really nailed it and Annabel was instantly into treating her "patient" with the tools they provided.  She will definitely be ready physically and emotionally for next time.

We are now scheduled for March 2016!  The next surgical appointment we could get with our surgeon that worked with our schedule.  Hopefully we won't see this again the week of...

School Pictures - #Nailingit

I've been so lazy on the blogging but I couldn't help but put this straight onto the internet.  You're welcome Annabel of 2025.  We got Annabel's school pics today and I just have to say we are killing this picture thing; last year she had tattoos on her arms and this year she looks, well, high and generally disheveled.  Tattoos would have fit the bill, not sure why I held back.

Family - Please don't wait by the mailbox for your wallet sized copy of this year's school picture.  Mostly because I'm afraid someone might see it and I might be reported.

FIVE and ready to jive!

Tahoe - a few quick pics

Just returned from yet another outstanding trip to Tahoe ... Wow, it was beautiful and we enjoyed every second with my family.  Lots of beach time, as well as some biking and paddle boarding. Plus an evening boat outing which was a riot. I even got to eat weight in breakfast Danishes one morning. So, perfection. 

A few quick pics from my phone (which was declared full on day 1). 

Annabel's First Day of TK

Today was Annabel's first day at her new school, George Hall Elementary. She is officially a new TK (transitional kindergarten) student, starting her journey through the rigors of a 5 day/week schedule in the school she'll attend through 5th grade. Woah!


I'll admit that sometimes I take a moment to recognize that if she were born just 5 days earlier we would be sending her off to Kindergarten. TK - fine.  Kindergarten? Seems like I'm the one not ready for that.  The saying continues to stand true - the days are long but the years are short.

Annabel was excited for the day waking early and ready to run out the door. We met up with Quinn who is also in her class and we all walked the two or three blocks to school together.  It was nice for Annabel to have a friendly face in the classroom and made this transition easier (for all of us?). 

The school is very cute pulling kids from our little neighborhood.  The teacher, Mrs. S., is young and enthusiastic. She had a bin of stuffed animals by the door and encouraged kids to take a "friend" since first days can be hard.

As the school bell rang (at 12:25pm) we collected the kids and they had big smiles on their faces. For Annabel, meeting the librarian and being responsible for escorting kids to the bathroom were highlights. (Yeah, not sure about the second one). Playing with the dollhouse "wasn't as fun as I thought it was going to be" and there weren't any art projects like she was used to, but she enjoyed recess outdoors.  At her table she asked the little girl next to her who was fighting back tears in her eyes as her mom was getting ready to leave if she wanted to be friends. It was very sweet and I was really proud of her. She said she was a little nervous about approaching new friends but always seems to come around.

At pick up she declared, "this was the best day ever!"

Now let's see if we can make it on time to school tomorrow...

Annabel - Swimming and Swinging

A couple videos of Annabel these days - she's gotten taller, sassier, and smarter.  This summer she's also getting to be a decent swimmer and an even better monkey bar-er.  We have been so wrapped up in traveling and moving this summer I have had very little time to post, but while cleaning up my phone I found these two videos and had to share.

After swimming with the Guenther and Drennan kids she loves diving and has started to swim across the pool.  She was already a fish, but they got her excited about reaching and trying new things in the water.


And she has a deep love of the monkey bars right now.  Could do them all day.  ALL DAY.  Her hands are getting callused and blistered but she cares not. No pain, no gain.