Wheelchair Day!

In true Annie fashion, she jumped right in and started wheeling around like she was an expert! Independent angel in a hot pink wheelchair!

More pics later-still don't have internet!! :(

Bittersweet Growth

Annie gets her wheelchair Monday! I'm excited for her but sad for me...

Most kids become independent gradually and early in life: crawling 6-8 months, waking 8-12 months. That's why it's hard for me now because I've had her as basically an infant (physically speaking), for 2.5 years! Yes she can crawl and can take take steps, but it's more of a "trick" than a means of mobility.

When she gets her wheelchair our entire lives will change! Yes, it's exciting to start a new chapter with my mobile/independent child, but I'll miss our "baby"days. Tears have been shed this weekend. I'm grieving the loss of my "baby." So bittersweet- I'm so excited to get her wheelchair, but not ready for her to "grow up." *sigh*

Pics Monday! :)

Make a Wish

Whenever we think of the Make a Wish foundation, we think of children that are terminal and getting one last wish. Well, it's actually for any child with a life threatening condition. Annie has 3 life threatening conditions: Spina Bifida, hydrocephalus, and the darn cyst on her brain.

Since we've had her she's had 5 brain surgeries, been hospitalized 7 times, spent over 9 weeks in the hospital, has therapy 3 times a week, and has spent more time in and out of drs offices than Paul and I have in our lifetime, combined!

And that's not including her time before she came to us: premature birth, closing of her SB, first shunt placement, said shunt gets infected, battles infection for 2 months in the hospital alone until another surgery is performed, enters foster care where a loving therapist accidentally breaks both of her legs and her Achilles is cut at one point to try to help with her clubbed feet.

We see no end in sight for her surgeries...her cyst is still there but is communicating with her shunts. :) But we can't breath any sigh of relief until it is gone (and once it's gone, we'll still have to worry about shunt issues because of her hydrocephalus).

(not to mention her mobility and bathroom issues)

I will be contacting M.A.W.F. soon to set up her wish. We are taking her to Disney World for her 5th birthday, (a little more than a year and a half from now). For her Wish, I'll be asking for them to make her a princess for a day on her birthday-complete royal treatment. I'm thinking a special photo shoot before the park opens with her favorite princesses around the park/in front of the castle, maybe ride in the parade, have a dinner with her favorite characters alone (from the crowd), stay the night in Cinderella's castle, a shopping spree at the gift shop, not having to wait in any lines, prime seating at all shows, etc. We'll be paying for the trip, I just want M.A.W.F. to be able to provide for her wishes (my ideas will be impossible without their help-for instance, no amount of money can get you to stay in Cinderella's castle!).

My point to this post: what are some things that seem impossible that I could ask...like riding in Dumbo with Mickey, riding the Tea Cups with Fairy Godmother...do you have any good ideas? :)

Silly Chickadee

7 6 3

7 years ago yesterday Paul and I found each other online. :) 7 years ago yesterday I knew I found my husband. :)

6 years ago today, I married the man who exceeded my dreams!

3 years ago today Annie went to live with her foster mom.

Date coincidence? Nope! The Keierlebers were created 4.7.07 and God started creating our forever family 4.7.10, (behind the scenes, without our knowledge). :)

Pics from early April 2010 and late November 2010. :)

Gym Rat

Annie had her first gymnastics class Monday. She listened to her teacher, did what she was asked, and even socialized a bit with another class. :) She freaked out when she was on the swing, (more like a roller coaster ride than the swings at the park). She was screaming at her instructor, "miss heather! You're my best friend! I love you!" (she has never called anyone other than me her best friend so you know she was laying it on thick trying to get out of it! Lol). After she wouldn't stop talking about gymnastics and she couldn't wait till Wednesday for her second class. :)

Today I heard her screaming from the swing again. But afterwards Miss Heather told me that she completed the WHOLE OBSTACLE COURSE! The reason we wanted to do this was to get her to listen, and she sure is! And she's having a blast! She cried when we left, (she never cries, so you know she loves it!).  I'm one proud mommy today!

Miscellaneous March

We still do not have internet, but I was able to post this and Saturday's post over the weekend since we were out of town. Here are a few shots from March to finish out the month- today is April 1st! 2013 is flying by!

 

First up, St Patrick's Day photoshoot. :) We do not do much for this day...everything we do do is shamrock related, (not 4 leaf clovers but shamrocks and NO leprechaun). The shamrock was used to share the gospel, and we think that aspect is worth celebrating. :)

 

 

 

Playing with grandma's cocktail rings:

 

 

Modeling her cute outfit :)

 

 

I feel like such a boring blogger- I can't wait to have internet again so I can get back to daily blogging. Miss y'all, readers!