Grace's heart update

Yesterday was an interesting follow-up cardiology appointment for Grace, who was born with pulmonary atresia with an intact stenosis. She hasn't seen Dr d for 2 years and really this is the first time Grace knew what was going on. She voiced the things that bother her....taking the leads off after her echocardiogram. I held her hand throughout the extensive, nearly hour long echo while Grace watched Barbie Nutcracker.

After the echo, Grace had a quick EKG. Dr. d came in and gave us good preliminary news that there didn't seem to be significant change in the valve leakage since Grace's last visit. So, we'll follow-up in another year. This is always so good to hear!

We're thankful to have more time before we have to talk valve surgery.

We're thankful that Grace is such a brave, strong girl.

We're so thankful for the care she's received for her heart condition; for doctors and professionals who take their time with us and make sure we understand.

We're thankful to KNOW what we're dealing with and have an idea of what lies ahead.

We're thankful for research and medical development that will make Grace's future heart procedures less invasive.

Grace reminds us to be thankful for and to really live each and every day!

We celebrated on the way home with some Blue Ribbon BBQ & IBC rootbeer for dinner. Happy Day!

A few gems

In 2009, I discovered a few new blogs that I've added to my sidebar & subscribed to.....take a peek!

• Little Green Notebook - Interior Design. Her post today highlights '09 projects.
• Anne Marie Horner- fabric designer. Here's her most recent Quilt Market booth.
• Sis Boom by Jennifer Paganelli - fabric designer. Here's my kind of office chair.
• Nesting Place- interior decor. I love this collection of robots.
• Cluck, Cluck, Sew- quilting. Here's her '09 project collage.
• Simplify, by Camille Roskelley- fabric designer, quilter

These ladies inspire me to create & to surround myself with beautiful (& fun) things!

A car play mat just for Wes

Dear Wesley,

I love that you're an easy to please, simple taste kind of boy. You love your cars and are content playing on the floor with them for good chunks of time. When you decided that the rug at the top of the stairs was a good car play mat, and started playing on it regularly, I knew we could do better. So, your special Christmas gift was this car play mat I made with much love.

I used your largest small car, the little people car to come up with the size for the white parking spaces stitched on each building. I left several buildings blank, so I can add more names later. The Christmas tree found at the town center needs decorating too. Did you see that our favorite cannoli maker from Boston's North End, Modern Pastry is right there? This play mat is about 62x40...a great size. It's like a quilt. The only thing I did to bind the front to the back was machine quilt around each of the buildings, the tree. each of the signs and parking spaces.

Zooming in on the embroidered signs & different buildings your cars now frequent:

your favorite park where you caught your first fish....

"the Chicken Store" is an inside family joke (should I add a Milk $2.19 sign?)

still to come: a "U-Pick" sign for our favorite orchard, Tougas...

and the CITGO sign for Fenway (maybe the bases too)

I'm so glad you have a new, fun spot to drive your cars around, and it's something that will always remind you of your Beantown roots.

I'm glad you like it!

Loves & Loves,

Wesley's lesson in independence

The other morning I was thirsty,

so I fixed myself some cocoa.

What, mom, I should ask for help? I don't understand.

I scooped a whole cup of cocoa powder and a bunch of

marshmallows in my mug ALL BY MYSELF!

It was missing something, but it was still yummy.

What? I made a mess? Where?

I'm not in trouble, am I?

I LOVE YOU!!!!

-"We-ey"

Mom's note: Wesley can't express himself in so many words quite yet, but his expressions are PRICELESS. We are all wrapped around his chunky fingers & adore our Wesley to pieces.

BUSTED!

Dear children,

Next time you gather to reek havoc....

Make sure you're ALL involved. Because clearly the one who took this picture (Caroline) is the only one who isn't BUSTED!

(PS. Don't you love surprises on your memory card?)

The dollhouse Dad built

Christmas 1974

Gotta love shingled roof, the damask wallpaper, and the shag carpet.

I love the colors & that my DAD built this amazing dollhouse

(for my sister, but that's beside the point).

Christmas 2009

Unfinished & awaiting the personal touches of the ladies in the house. We're so up for this task.

This pine dollhouse is about 5' tall, so us girls, mom included, can play with it at the same time.

There's even room for army men to come visit.

Made with love (& in about 2 days) by dad.

PS....Find the dollhouse plans HERE. We opted to omit the bottom drawer to enable more play space. We'll store all of the dolls and accessories in storage bins in the dollhouse.