Dexter's last 24 hours

                                    Skinny, but still so full of life. Why?

                                   Just clowning around.

                                     I already miss you Nooners.

We spent the morning at the dog park with our good friends here and did our best to show Dexter a fulfilled day.

I really don't have much to say right now........ today is a sad day all around.

Remind me again why we're willingly choosing to go from THIS ...

... TO THIS!!!!!!!

I spoke with my mom yesterday afternoon, while on my way to the beach, who left the house for the first time all day- "Amy, it's so cold out here it hurts!"  Why again, are we spending the holidays back home???????  Family, you MUST know we love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

And really, dear friends and family, if you want to see me you're going to have to come to me, b.c I'm NOT LEAVING THE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!

BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!

ADORABLE!

'Tis the Season

The girls with their all-time favs, Nani and Gagi, watching Santa come through the village awaiting the tree lighting.  It was hot cocoa and carolers abound as we awaited the big man's arrival- a little "Polor Expressesgue", what pre-schooler wouldn't love it!

And, with the winter chill in the air, we even got to sport our Holiday sweaters - I think it hit 50 that night- BUUURRRRRRR!!!!!!!

Taylor sitting Birds-Eye view... it's so hard to be a munchkin!

HE MADE IT!  Our neighborhood's annual Santa's Pre-Flight Parade was a success in this house!

Now who doesn't love a little holiday baking- this year we used up our post-op house bound recovery time with some holiday yummies: wreathes and gingerbread men!

This year the Christmas spirit has been a little slow going being that our normal seasonal triggers for holiday cheer are not present, but we've managed to get things going with our seasonal baking and Santa parade.

SHAMU! SHAMU!

A few weeks back my parents took the family to Seaworld.  And with Ana's love of the Aquatica world she was in Shamu Heaven.  The show was incredible and Seaworld itself was top notch.  Here the girls are enjoying the Shamu.  It was all squeals of glee until we got splashed.  Poor little Taylor doesn't think audience interaction via Shamu's tail is all that cool! Get over it Tay :) :)

TECO Manatee Viewing center

 Manatee Viewing Center

Just a normal weekend trip to Lowe's

WHAT?  Your kids don't go to Lowe's dressed like this? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU BORING PEOPLE!

It is fact, after Ana dressed herself in her Sunday best, we loaded her and Taylor up (also dressed like this) and headed to Lowe's................ I couldn't seem to find any reason why not to and they were just so proud of the ensemble they put together, Daddy seemed to think we all lost our minds, but us girls had fun with it!  Somedays I wish I could just be!  Why make them conform so young?

Busch Garden

One of many trips to the infamous Busch Gardens.  Did I even tell you that WE LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!  Every morning Taylor wakes up saying, "mommy we going to Busch Gardens today.  PEEEAAAASE!"

Here's Ana walking 60 ft in the air suspended on one of many rope bridges for the kids.

I'm not sure who of you have been here, but the best way for me to describe this place to you is the zoo meets Disney's magic kingdom or a REALLY nice Great America (for you northerners).  I highly recommend this place if you haven't yet been!

AND, the best part-the  Busch Hospitality Room- FREE BEER (as much as you want, but just one glass at a time please!)

Happy Juice in Action

Ok, so there really isn't much to see here, but just look at her very delayed movements and large pupils....... do any of you recognize this "feeling"?  NOT ME!

Ana Blesses the OR

Today was another pivotal moment in our lives.  Dear Ana had her first operation.  Bye Bye tonsils and adenoids.  And, in true Ana fasion she did it with complete Grace. Complete with a performance for her OR team of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer to her sleep dr- Dr. Rudooph (that really is his name, a sweet jolly grandpa doctor)

Here she is bright and early getting all "geared" up and connected to her monitors- we had to be there at 5:45 AM.  The nurses are still talking about how laid back and patient she is.

Ana and daddy scrubbing in.

The "happy juice" is taking it's effect.

Oh, what does the happy juice do to an inquisitive little 3 year old.  Perhaps today was the day that Sarah, Ana's triceratop protector, came to life- dreams really do come true Ana Lu.

1 hour post op, no sickness, no crying, no violent awakenings.  Just mellow little sweet Ana requesting popsicle after popsicle- but no green ones- Ana's one disappointment of the day!

Some Pictures for you all :)

Ana has the GREATEST teachers.  They both are certified elementary school teachers, choosing to teach PreK.  This is just one example of the great things they do for these kids.  Here was Ana's 1st "camp out" to close our their Fall unit.  The teachers made a "bonfire", set up tents and had the kids "make s'mores" and "roast" marshmallows while reading a story by firelight.  The kids absolutely LOVED IT.... the very next week they had a tea party to close out the table manners unit.  WHAT A GREAT WAY for kids to practice what they learn, have fun and use their imaginations. I LOVE THIS SCHOOL!

Another great reason we LOVE THE SCHOOL.  They had their annual fall fest, complete with jumpy gyms, face painting and PONY RIDES!  The girls had a blast!

Nina and Papa made the trip North to check out our new home and the girls were hostessess with the mostess!

So, I've been a little behind on the visual postings lately (a reality of which I getting some slack from you all) so here you go:

It's been a busy busy busy busy couple months for us with all our fun visitors, school programs and just living the FL fall lifestyle, where unlike you northerners, is our BEST TIME OF YEAR to play outside.  We've been to Sea world, Busch Gardens, parks, pools, hikes and manatee feeding grounds.

Here are some random shots from the last few weeks to please enquiring minds and show off our little beauties!

What is the Purpose of tonsils? Adenoids?

Let's hope it's nothing too important because Ana is about to have hers out!

Next Tuesday, barring no infections (currently she's with sinus infection), she'll be admitted and put under waking less 2 "body parts" (ok they're not really "body parts" per say, but it sounds better than MASSES so I went with it)

She's already processing it all and telling everyone about her "ENT and how her tonsils ARE SO BIG and need to come out.  How they'll hurt for a little, and there will be a little blood, but that she'll be a lot better afterward."

This decision was made this AM at her 1st ENT appointment for snoring, drooling and sleep apnea as well as multiple cases of "strep throat" in her short 3 little years of life.  

To be honest I wasn't expecting to leave the office with a surgery scheduled for 1 week away, but I guess why post pone the inevitable, right???????

Now both girls will have one more right of passage under their belt- a visit to the OR under anesthesia.  Who would've thought it'd happen so young?!?!?!?!?

We'll keep you posted, but in the meantime.... happy thoughts for little Ana's quick and painless recovery!

:)

God, Heaven and Death...

are 3 things of great concern and hours and hours of pondering for dear Ana. 

She is such a processor and really needs to figure these 3 out.  

She knows they're related bc for years- 3 1/2 to be exact- we've talked about our loved ones in Heaven.  And she now really knows, thanks to the methodist pre-K, that God is Our Father in Heaven, but what she can't figure out is why Heaven is so great and Earth is left with all of those who haven't died.  And, more importantly, what happens when EVERYONE dies except her.  Poor little thing is really trying to understand this, but is somehow always drawn to the very scary conclusion that everyone and everything is going to die, including her parents and Nani/Gagi.

2 comments yesterday, just for examples sake bc these come at me all day long, mostly when I'm TOTALLY off guard:

1- Mommy, what happens if You, Daddy, and Taylor all die and I don't?  Will you die too so that you can come to Heaven with us?

2- Mommy are we all going to die so that we can have Heaven on Earth like God wants? (she has learned the "Our Father" and really needs to UNDERSTAND EACH AND EVERY LINE)

I MEAN REALLY! 

 HELP!!!!!!  

Where does a mom go from here?????????? 

Ana's First School Program- Fall Festival Sing

We had a right of passage this fall with the first of many on stage productions at school.  Ana and her little classmates put on their first show of the year- a sing along in the gym at the church's annual Fall Festival.  Beautiful Chaos~

Ana and Max, her new best friend here in Tampa.  They are in class together, the neighborhood play group, gymnastics class and us moms are quite close too!!!!! (my CC connection)

A very proud Nani, watches the rest of the show with her star performer.

Here is Ana gleaming with pride after her debut appearance on stage.

Something is adoringly funny about a whole swarm of 3 year olds performing Jesus hits.

/sign/ "I Love you Lord"- Ana's new favorite song, in which little ones adorn Jesus with sign language and words

Little sister giving her support before curtain call.

Ana, with new friend Emma, signing aloud!

The star of the show... Ana Lucille

The Answer to My Prayers

Someone is going to get very rich off this product.  I know it will be #1 on my Christmas wish list!