Early Birthday Celebration

Last week we were in Houston because Tex had to go to Canada for work.

 

Since Carousel's birthday is weeks away, my mom spoiled showered Carousel with birthday gifts.

 

As always, Carousel's birthday and Christmas gifts revolve around Disney Princesses and Doc McStuffins.

 

Carousel opened many princess dolls from the Disney store and she also received Princess Palace Pets.

 

Princess Palace Pets- think Disney Princess meets Littlest Pet Shop.

 

Two of my favorites from growing up, made into one! Needless to say, it was a NEED!

 

My mom bought her the whole set- gave half of it to her now and will save the other half for Christmas. :) 

This is Cinderella's dog named Pumpkin. :) She can be purchased here, as well as Target and Walmart. :)

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 Nana Nell was done buying gifts for Carousel. BUT like many spoiling benevolent grandmas, my mom had a little spoiling let up her sleeve. Here's why:

We will be celebrating Carsouel's birthday a little differently this year.

Instead of a birthday party, we will be taking her to the American Girl Store and we will be buying her a Bitty Baby.

 

I have been planning on buying her one since we first got her. I got the American Girl catalog in the mail and Carousel looked just like the Bitty Baby!

 

 They changed the way they looked a little bit, so the resemblance is less uncanny, BUT we still love her! We are naming her Bristol! (if you follow me on Pinterest, now you know we are not adopting again- the Annie and Bristol board refers to this! lol)

 As you can see in the image above, this book comes with the Bitty Baby. I showed it to Carousel, and she said, "Look! It's Carousel and Bristol!"

 They also have other books, and this is the other one that stars Carousel and Bristol. Not that I am complaining- if I had to choose one book, it would be the one about snow! :)

 

So where does my mom come in? Well, a big reason I am stoked to get this for Carousel is that I can't wait for all of the matching outfits that you can buy at American Girl. Carousel matching Bristol on a regular basis- are you kidding me?! I am so excited!

 

Well, American girl has only a handful of outfits, and they are pretty pricey! :/

 

Since my mom was done buying gifts, she considered returning some gifts and then buying Carousel some AG clothes. We didn't want to do that, but what to do about the pricey clothes?

 

We went to Kohl's and remembered they carried some matching outfits. We found Dollie & Me.

We found an outfit was originally $50/60. It was marked down, marked down, marked down, and my mom only paid about $7!

 

We were on a mission!

 

We drove to every Dillard's and Kohl's to find the ones on sale. The most she paid was $20 for one outfit, but she paid less than $15 each for the rest of the outfits! Even at $20- that's $15 for Carousel's outfit and $5 for Bristol's. Do you know how much it costs at American girl? Over $20 for the Baby outfit! ALONE!

 

Now, these outfits are made for 18 in dolls, (which are the large American Girl dolls), but they fit 15 in dolls just fine, (Bitty Babies are 15in).

 

Also, the $50/60 original price... while that is significantly cheaper than American Girl it is still over priced. DO NOT PAY MORE THAN $40 for the outfits! On the Dollie & Me website, the STARTING prices are about $38...that is the first sale price at Dillard's and Kohl's. If you want to pay full price, only do it at the Dollie & Me website!

 

So, even though Nana Nell was done buying Carousel presents, she still bought Carousel a new wardrobe for herself and Bristol! :) THANKS NANA NELL!

 

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If you have been following this blog for the last few years, the name Bristol is nothing new to you. Bristol is what we will name our next daughter if we ever decide to adopt again.

 

Her full name was to be Bristol Emmy Kate.

 

Bristol after George Mueller from Bristol, England. Click here to see an old post from here explaining the awesomeness of Mr. Mueller.

 

Emmy Kate is named after two amazing girls!

 

Emmy: Emma Saunders

 

She moved to Uganda to serve the orphans, (and she has already adopted a little boy there!). She has been called since she was 7. Get to know her here. You'll be glad you did! I just love her!

 

Kate: Katie Davis

 

Moved to Africa, now mother of many former orphans :)  founder of Amazina Ministries and author of Kisses from Katie

 

These are 2 girls that love Jesus and the orphan, and I greatly look up to them! :)

 

Well, we know that Carousel is in love with her stuffed elephant, Dumbo. I wanted to get Bristol a little stuffed elephant of her own and we would name it Emmy Kate as to incorporate all of the names, (one day Annie will learn all of the meanings of Bristol Emmy Kate and she'll have 3 new heroes to look up to). American Girl sells one for Bitty Baby, but it is HUGE- like an inch smaller than Bitty Baby! Also, it is a whimsical color and since Dumbo is more "realistic," I wanted Emmy Kate to be that way too! At my mom's I quickly looked through some old Beanie Babies and found her!

 



This Beanie Baby is the perfect size (and coloring!) for Bristol's BFF. :)

 

BUT....

 

then I noticed one of my sister's books, (she is a future teacher and is building her library). 

UMMM.. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

 

A girl whose BFF is an elephant?! That was so written about CAROUSEL! :)

 

Y'ALL, BUT THE NAME!

 

So, Bristol's elephant will be named Emma Kate. Emmy Kate flows better as a middle name, but Emma Kate is great for Bristol's elephant! :) (and considering Emmy was picked in honor of Emma, using Emma instead of Emmy still honors Miss Saunders). :)

 

I've already purchased this book for Carousel, and we will be buying Bristol in a few weeks when Carousel turns 4.

 

FOUR. I'm already crying. Time goes by way too fast!

Straight Haired Princess

In less than a month, this princess will be 4 years old. I am in denial.

 

I had a theory that if you straightened Carousel's hair it would be easier to manage.

 

I was wrong.

 

It took us an hour in the bath to prep and an hour to straighten. Too much torture work. I will be sticking with pom poms and her gorgeous fro. In the future if she wants her hair straightened for a day, I will do it, but that won't be for a long, long time.

 

After all of that work, I knew I needed to at least take pictures of Carousel's pain our hard work.

 

 As a gotchaversary present, Carousel was given a "real" princess crown from one of her friends. :)

 Her hair was twice as long when it was first straightened, but it started shrinking immediately- hence why I don't plan on straightening it often!

Ann Marie with Marie

 I have always wanted to get Marie from the Aristocats for Carousel. They do share a name after all. ;) Well, I found this at Disneyland and knew it was a must have! They had Marie and the Cheshire Cat- stuffed animals with boas for tails! So cool! (instead of a feather boa, the boa is just Marie's "fur.")

 The glare was really bad today, so we had to do one without her glasses.

 

Dumbo had to get in on the action. He is her best friend in the whole world, (second to me of course).

 If you couldn't tell, the 2 hour torture styling session took its toll. She was zoned for many pics, and this was the best I could get with Dumbo- smiling but looking away.  

Carousel requested that Jersey join her. :)

Doc McMommy- Frustrated

Carousel was slightly lethargic Friday, and then got a fever that evening- 101.3 rectal-and she had goosebumps which is always a sign of a legit fever and not just overheating. As she was sleeping, she would awake crying and saying, "my tummy hurts," then she'd go back to sleep (don't know if it actually hurts or if that's her general code for "I feel sick.")

 

She awoke for the day Saturday and was acting normal and seemed fever free (but rectal temp was 100.3). Also, I smelled her urine and did not suspect uti. She went all day with a temp 101.6, but acted normal. There were two instances that she started crying saying her tummy hurt and threw up, (though it was so little it makes me wonder if it wasn't just the fever making her feel crummy and when she cried she threw up- totally happens when she is well. lol). After she threw up, both times, she went right back to acting normal.

 

Sunday she awoke again crying and saying, "my tummy hurts," then she'd go back to sleep. She slept late and her temp was only 99, and it seemed she was getting better. (up to 100/101 at night) Same temp Monday and once again it appeared she was on the mend. BUT she had a fever since Friday and was barely eating/drinking- definitely worried about dehydration. (slight cough developed that day too) so I made her an appointment but they couldn't see her until today. While she had a temp of 99 all day yesterday, it spiked to 103 last night. I was not happy. (ps, 99 is not a fever, but for her it is)

 

This morning her cough settled in, she was congested and her temp was 98. WHAT?! When we got to the dr, her temp was up, but she was still acting ok, (with a few coughs). We ruled everything out, (no flu, etc), but her diagnosis is still unknown. She was given an antibiotic and meds for an upper repertory infection (but I think those were more "bandaids" and she might not actually need them). :/ If her fever is not gone by Thursday, I am supposed to call the dr again.

 

She took a 3 hour nap and her fever is up to 101. I wonder how high it will get this evening. :/

 

I'm not happy with not knowing what is wrong and I am really not happy that her fever is all over the place (and that she acts normal most of the day). Very frustrating. Just be sick or be well.

 

Her cough is becoming a little worse now, (still not as bad as it could be, but she is coughing a few times an hour, and the cough is now deeper).

 

After one nasty cough, Annie turns to me and says very pathetically, "take me to the hospital I'm sick." Oh, just rip my heart out, why don't you!

She Finished Well

I have shared here before about my friend who is my hero and her daughter, Emma,  (also a hero of mine and one of my favorite missionaries). :) I just love these ladies and look forward to meeting them one day!

 

Emma had a friend, Alicia:

Emma on the left, Alicia on the right.

 

Alicia had cystic fibrosis. Terminal in the best circumstances. But she chose to be obedient to God's call and went to Africa as a short term missionary. Knowing the risks.

 

She went to be with Jesus on Tuesday, at just 23 years old.

 

I did not know her at all, but I am inspired by her and I want her story told- it deserves to be known!

 

Here is my friend, Linny's post, and here is a link to Alicia's blog- she requested that her sister do a post after she died.



Let's be obedient to God's calling- regardless the risk! Alicia was an amazing example, and now she gets to hear Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Nail Decals for Gracie

Help financially support Grace's family by buying these adorable nail decals! More info here!

What's Goin' On

• I know I have been absent lately. I just can't get this sweet girl off my mind!

 Please pray for her and follow her story here.

 

She's on her way to Boston as I type, and will be there very soon- if she's not already there.

 

She has certainly had my mind preoccupied.

 

As a friend to her family, I am heartbroken and can't stop thinking of her and them. I wish I still lived near them so I could help them in every possible way!

 

As a mom, especially to a medically fragile child, I hate to admit I'm a bit traumatized. Normally when I follow kids and they take a turn, I stop following them. I struggle greatly with negative thoughts about Annie's health. Sometimes I sinfully camp out in those thoughts. Reading stories like Grace's usually make those thoughts for me worse.

 

But in the end of the day, this little girl and her family are much too precious to me to ignore.

 

I'm praying that Boston heals her once and for all and she can live her life fully with a healed heart. :) Her fight is really only beginning and it's a hard fight- PRAY PRAY PRAY!

 

• Speaking of Boston, I started a Boston travel type blog last month and am trying to post there daily. SO when you see a lull in my posts here and are bored, go check out my posts there. :) 

 

So, what is the latest with this angel?

A lot is going on actually. Big changes, (well for her lol).

 

We started gymnastics last spring and dance this fall.

 

Gymnastics was more of a glorified physical therapy. She already receives a lot of physical therapy. I was hoping she would be in a main stream gymnastics class.

 

• Well, I was recently at a gymnastics birthday party and met with the coaches who were willing to main stream Carousel. Carousel did forward rolls, (as well as hand stands, backward rolls, cart wheels, work on the bars- she's amazing on them, pics soon, etc) the first two classes, (5 total forward rolls in her braces with assistance). After her second class, she was playing without her braces and I looked over and she did a forward roll all by herself!  

AMAZING!

 

Yesterday at gymnastics we decided she does better without her braces. :)

And at gymnastics yesterday, Carousel asked her friend to hold one hand and asked me to hold the other. Then she said, "let's pray," and she prayed for us! "pray God, thank You for this day. We love you, amen!" I did not encourage this or anything, this was all her idea. Sweetest thing ever!

 

Needless to say, we left her old gym and we are now at the new one. I hated leaving her old coach, we loved her, but Carousel has already accomplished so much in her new class!

OH and this gym has a special needs gymnastics class every other Sunday! She will be joining that too! :) Take that Spina Bifida- Carousel has you, but you do not have Carousel!

 

• Also, at this new gym they have dance classes. I had planned on keeping Carousel at her old studio and have her take one class at this new one. Well, after her first class there it was very clear that this studio too was a better fit for her. So sadly we left her other studio. I'm sad she is leaving her friends and I hope we can keep in touch with them.

 

• ALSO, her gymnastics coach teaches at a MDO and said she was welcome, so she will be going to school one day a week!

 

I will still be homeschooling, but since we are already in town for gymnastics, why not go to school once a week? It will definitely be good for her on many levels. :)

So for those of you keeping track, that's 2 days of PT (on the same day as dance), 2 days of gymnastics, 2 days of dance and one day of school. We are going from laying in bed all day because of my "illness" to now being on the go 4 days of the week (5 including Sunday with church and her special needs gym class). It's definitely a change and we are still getting used to it, but it is a welcome change. :)
 

• ANOTHER great and welcome change in our lives is that we have FINALLY found a church to call home! We are thrilled to listen to great, exegetical, Bible preaching every Sunday and look forward to getting involved in the church. :)

 

Lastly, Carousel has 2 big doctor appointments (3 including her 4 year old check up!) next month. She has to see her urologist and get an ultrasound to make sure everything is still working well. We have been very blessed with everything there and pray that continues!

She also has to see her orthopedic surgeon. This is not an emergency per se, but this appointment has been moved up 6 months and that was quite necessary.  The appointment that was for 6 months from now was just a check up, but now it has been moved up to great importance.  Her feet have always been clubbed, but with bracing it has been manageable. When she got her walking braces last November we stopped using her clubbed feet braces. Her left foot, (her "bad" leg) has been slowly but surely clubbing continually throughout the last year. 

 

 Last month her pediatrician at the Spina Bifida clinic decided it was quite necessary for her to see the ortho NOW. First he ordered a scolio scan to make sure the problem was not because of her spine, (praise God all looks great there!). Then he scheduled the appointment, and I am worried, but almost certain, that she will need surgery. We were told by her ortho months ago that he would not act until it was necessary, but the necessity is growing. :/

 

I have been through 5 brain surgeries with her, and in the light of Grace's trials, surgery on her leg seems so minimal.

 

BUT, she is walking so well, (about to move from her walker to crutches!), and she is doing gymnastics without braces! The thought of doing anything that could set her back or change her abilities in these areas makes me so sad. We have to fix it if it needs to be fixed, but I'm not going to be happy if it does.

 

Not to mention surgery is surgery. Nobody wants their child to go under the knife for any circumstance. And while this isn't life saving, major heart surgery, (Grace), or brain surgery (Carousel's 7 {5 with me} prior surgeries), it is still a pretty major surgery. :/

 

So please pray fervently for Grace, and add a few prayers in there for Carousel's leg! :)

Pray for Grace

Sweet Grace had heart surgery in early October and is not doing well. Follow her here.

 

You can make this picture your profile picture on Facebook or share it on your blog to bring awareness to Grace's desperate need of prayer and to show support for her parents.