Close to My Heart

Hi there!  Seems like Winter is the new Spring!  Brrrr it is cold out there.

I have been out and about lately and have some new stories to share.  A couple of weekends ago I went to Ohio.  I visited both sets of grandparents.  Here I am with Dad's parents.  I have to give a shout-out to my Grandma:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA M!!!

I wore green in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  Grandma liked the dachshund on the front of my shirt.  While I was at Grandma and Grandpa's house I played the piano and went on a walk with Grandma and Daisy.

Later I also visited with my cousin Megan and Uncle Ned.  It was Megan's birthday!
She turned 8 years old!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEGAN!!!

We had such a good time celebrating her birthday and the beginning of spring.  We even went to a pottery place and painted some really neat things for her birthday.

In addition to visiting our family, we went to Riley Children's Hospital for the last time.  

You see, my doctor, Dr. Havlik is leaving Riley to become the Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin.  He is such an amazing doctor, and I am so lucky he was mine.  He is the surgeon who fixed my palate and changed my life.  We have tremendous respect for Dr. Havlik.  When we moved, Mom and Dad didn't blink an eye when they decided to drive all the way back to Indiana each year to continue our follow-up appointments with Dr. Havlik, because he is just that good.  But now the time has come for us to say goodbye to Riley, which is difficult and mixed with so many different emotions for us.  We have been through so much there.

How can we even to begin to describe what Riley Children's Hospital and the wonderful doctors, nurses, specialists, and staff mean to our family?  If we could describe it, then this is where we would start.

This is the exact chair in the main lobby where Mom sat holding me when I was just one week old.  It was the day I was admitted to Riley Children's Hospital.  

That morning, seven-and-a-half years ago, we had seen Dr. O'Neil in the Developmental Pediatrics clinic, along with several other doctors (including Dr. Havlik), nurses and staff members.  It was all such a whirlwind.  Dr. O'Neil explained to Mom and Dad what Pierre Robin Sequence was and that we would not be going home that day because he felt I should be admitted to the hospital for a while.  He promised that I would receive the very best care.

During the admissions process, Mom sat in this very chair with me while Dad went outside to call our family.  While Mom was sitting there, Dr. Havlik walked by and noticed us.  He could see how upset Mom was--crying and filled with worry--and he stopped and said exactly the right thing.  With his very calm and reassuring voice he said, "Your daughter is going to be alright."  Mom really needed to hear that. 

Doctors have very long and very full days.  He could have easily kept walking by.  Thank you, Dr. Havlik, for taking the time, for truly caring...and thank you for keeping your promise.  It meant the world to us, and our gratitude is endless.  Seven years later, I am a happy, healthy little girl full of energy, eager to have new adventures.          

There are many things about our experience that we will hold close to our hearts.  Some memories we will try to put away because no matter how much time passes they will always hurt.  Other memories will surface from time to time to remind us of the little things that made Riley special:

All the time we spent in the waiting area outside of the Craniofacial Clinic.

The ladybugs I loved to point out on the walls throughout the hospital.

A place to make a wish or two in the lobby.

Even the smell of the soap that we used to wash our hands there is something we will always recognize and remember.  Funny how that smell immediately takes us back to our memories there.  Riley Children's Hospital has been a part of our family's life for the past seven years.  Even though this was our last visit, it always will be part of us.  We will always be grateful for all that we have, all the progress we have made, and for all those who supported us throughout everything.

It was really hard for Mom and Dad to say goodbye.  We will be transferring to the craniofacial clinic at UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh for further monitoring and treatment.  I'll keep you posted!

Stay tuned for Easter fun and softball adventures!
Have a great week!

Spring if Finally Here

Hi there!  Hope you had a good week!  We went from having a bunch of snow to a warm, sunny weekend.  I had a sleepover with my friend Mary!  

It was so much fun.  We had a great time together.

Earlier in the week Dad came to school to participate in my Phys Ed class.  We jumped rope together and even climbed a rope to the ceiling of the gym.  Today, I spent almost the entire day outside playing with the kids in my neighborhood.  

Hope everyone is doing well.  I'm looking forward to another great week!

Waiting for Spring

Hey there!  Guess what I saw this weekend?  Annie!  It was a really great show.

By the end I was pretty tired though.  Today I worked on my homework and then went swimming at the YMCA with one of my friends from school.

Just a few random pictures this week.  In case you were wondering about what you can bake with an Easy Bake oven here is a Whoopie Pie to scale.

I hope you are all doing okay. 

 See you guys next week!