CHD Awareness Week

February 7-14 marks Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. Last year, our Mended Little Hearts (MLH) support group in Sacramento put on a big community event to bring more awareness of our precious kids who have fought so hard. It was so great to be involved in something like that.

This year, I feel like the week kind of slipped by me without much notice. I suppose that is because we moved and I no longer have my support group to be involved with. I have been filling my time with unpacking, getting the kids settled into new routines, etc. But that makes me kind of sad. I miss being involved in a support group. I want to be a part of a group that helps each other but also brings awareness to the community around them.

I have made a couple contacts with other families in my small town who have children with CHD's so I suppose that is a start. Maybe this small town doesn't have a need for a support group. But I still feel there needs to be more awareness. I have another year before this week comes around again, so hopefully by then, I will figure out where/how to be involved!

In the meantime, our whole family wore red on the American Heart Association “Go Red” day – February 3. Caden, Kyler and I all kind of look alike. But that's because we all wore our Mended Little Hearts of Sacramento t-shirts. And, since we live where it's cold and it snows, we had to wear a long-sleeve shirt underneath so we wouldn't freeze! ;)

I appreciate your prayers as I look for a place to be involved and a way to bring awareness to CHD's in my small community.

Vickie's Memorial

I found out about a week ago that there was going to be a memorial for Vickie Altman, Kyler's teacher from Sacramento, in Portland on February 4. I was really sad I wasn't able to make it to the memorial service held at our church in Sacramento so when I heard about this one, I wanted to go. Portland is about four hours away and I have a sister who lives there so I knew we could make a weekend trip out of it.

We left after church Saturday morning and drove straight to the memorial service. We didn't know very many people there, but we found a place to sit as the service was starting. The majority of the people there knew Vickie from many years ago when she used to work in Portland. I'm not saying they weren't sad or weren't grieving her loss, but their memories of her were more distant than mine. I was one of very few people who was sobbing throughout the whole service. I felt kind of foolish; like everyone was looking at me. But my sorrow runs very deep and she was part of our lives so recently. It still doesn't feel real that she is gone... :(

At the end of the service, they opened up the microphone for anyone who wanted to share a memory of Vickie. Greg got up and told everyone about Kyler's last day of school in December when the whole class prayed over him, including the little boy whose parents didn't believe in God. And, he told them about Vickie and the other kids conspiring to make sure Kyler was the student teacher of the day on his last day. Those memories are so special for us and we wanted her family to hear them.

When everyone was done sharing, Greg and I had an opportunity to talk to Vickie's daughter and tell her how much we loved Vickie and how much we miss her. She has heard that a lot lately because everyone who encountered Vickie was touched by her in some way or another. She impacted so many lives and I am so sad she is gone. I pray her light shines in all those who knew her so that we can continue to love others the way she loved each of us. I can't wait for the glorious day when we will all meet again in Heaven! We miss you Vickie! 

My last picture of Vickie:
with Kyler on his last day of school before we moved

Volunteering in Kindergarten!

Yay! I am so happy to say that I was able to start volunteering in the Kindergarten classroom every Thursday starting on February 2! I found a college student who had the morning off of classes so it worked out perfectly. :)

Thankfully there was another mom in the classroom who was able to show me the ropes. There is a lot to know about helping. I have to learn the teacher's system for grading papers, her routine for going over the math and reading assignments, find out where everything is located, etc. I am so excited that I get to make this part of my regular routine. I was never able to do it in Sacramento because I was too busy with therapy appointments for Caden. But I actually have the time now and I love it!

My Birthday

As I get older, my birthdays seem to come and go without much fanfare. And, honestly, that is okay by me. This year, Greg and I went out to dinner the night before my actual birthday because that is when we had childcare available. But on the day of my birthday, we took the boys and went to Dairy Queen. :) Nothing says “birthday” like a little ice cream! We had a nice family evening out and when we got home, we put the boys in bed and Greg and I watched a movie. I am so blessed by my family!

Greg and the boys waiting for the ice cream...

Had to show a picture with the ice cream to
prove we were actually at DQ!  ;)

100 Day Celebration

February 1 marked 100 days of school. Kyler had been looking forward to this day since he started school at Orangevale in Sacramento. He was SOOO disappointed when we moved and he was going to miss the 100 day celebration there. When we found out they were having a celebration at his new school we were both very happy. :)

The Kindergarten class was invited to join one of the 1^st/2^nd classes to have a party with them. Caden and I joined them for the celebration. Each of the kids was asked to bring in 100 of any given item. Kyler brought 100 pennies. But the items varied greatly: from cheerios to rolls of toilet paper!

Each of the Kindergarteners were paired up with a “buddy” in the 1^st/2^nd class to work on a project. They had 100 colored circle stickers they used to make a picture together. When they were done with that, they took shape blocks and formed pictures out of them. It was a fun afternoon and it made me glad I am a stay at home mom so I can easily attend these kinds of school parties. :)

Kyler and his buddy counting out 100 stickers

Jackson and Kyler

The final sticker picture

There's the 100 rolls of toilet paper!  :)