Kailey turns 5

tomorrow and I can't believe it! It seems like just yesterday she was a baby. I remember her 1st birthday, Kris was in Iraq and we were in Florida, when she went in the pool for the very first time. She was a very good baby and she continues to be a good girl. I don't know how many times I've said it, but she makes me look good. :) To celebrate, I took Kailey to her first concert last night. We saw Mark Chapman Band (a local fave) in Springfield and she loved it. The highlight of the night was when Mark stopped and talked to us, posed for a picture with Kailey, and told her she looked pretty (she did of course). It was very cool. She will wake up to 5 purple (her favorite color) balloons, we will spend the day doing some of the things she loves to do and we will have her favorite cake (chocolate on chocolate) for dessert.

We are very blessed

to have so many wonderful family and friends. There are moments in our life when we reflect upon how fortunate we are to have such people in our life. This week has been one of those times. We are praying for and mourning the loss of one of Kris's crewmates and best friends, Billy. Kris and Billy transferred to Station 1 at the same time when they were promoted to rescue specialists, and they've been friends ever since. Billy was a great friend to us, always there for us no matter what was going on in his own life. Kris is devastated and has been with his crew and Billy's family all week working through the details. We are shocked and saddened. Please pray for Billy, his wife, kids, and the rest of his family and friends. Thanks.

My stupid lung

collapsed while we were in Florida on vacation. I went to the emergency room (Thursday 6/12/08) and within an hour they were inserting my chest tube. I had a thorocospy on Monday the 16th, got out of ICU on Wednesday, and was discharged from the hospital on Saturday evening. I had to stay in Florida for a follow-up with the cardio-thoracic surgeon and we finally got home on Friday, June 27. It was rather taxing, and we couldn't have done it without my family. (So, if you're reading this...THANKS & WE LOVE YOU!!).
Why did my lung collapse? Well that's a blog in itself, so I'll wait for another day.

Needless to say we survived it and we've been enjoying July. The kids are growing quickly, keeping active, keeping me active. They are so much fun (most of the time)! Kailey and I spent the last week getting ready for her 5th birthday party which is at a pool. We thought it would be appropriate since she taught herself how to swim while I was in the hospital. She wanted a princess theme and we designed a cake with princesses, a castle, and a real tiara...how exciting. She really wanted a Hannah Montana AND princess party, but mean mom made her choose. Jayden is...well...Jayden. He is a bundle of energy and determination. He loves choo choo trains, tractors, helicopters, motorcycles...really anything that moves. His vocabulary has grown so much inthe past couple months and his articulation is even getting better (either that or we're just getting better at guessing). More later...
xoxo

Summer is almost over

and I decided to start a blog before I go back to school (work) because hopefully I will be in the habit by the time I go back. This week is my last full week before I go to Care Team training on August 6 and to a conference on the 7th and 8th. Teachers start the 11th and kids start the 15th. Wow. My summer began with Jayden turning 2! We had a fun birthday party at Godfather's Pizza. It was supposed to be at the park, but with rain threatening, we changed it at the last minute. On May 31, we attended Kailey's soccer banquet and then hit the road for Ellijay, GA, for the first annual family vacation. What a blast!! It was a rockin' time - for adults and kids - and a great opportunity to spend time with extended family. After Georgia, we went down to Florida for a week...which turned into 3 weeks. More details later...