Presley's 3rd Birthday Party in Mt. Vernon, Virginia

Wanted to share some pictures of our great day! WE celebrated Presley's birthday today because some of her great friends were in town. We started the day by taking Presley and her 2 friends Bella and Ainsley to get manicures and pedicures. The ladies at the salon couldn't get enough of our three beautiful girls! The girls did so good. They all sat still and were so sweet to the ladies doing their nails. They all picked bright pink for their nails and blue/purple for their toes. It was a perfect start to a great day.
We came home after doing their nails and got ready for the party. We only invited a few kids from the neighborhood. Dallas made some KILLER hamburgers. Everyone went on and on about how amazing they were. And, they were! The kids loved their hotdog dinners and play time together! We ended the night with cake, a happy birthday song and opening presents. Presley got some gardening tools, a mermaid water toy and a barbie guitar. She was in heaven.
At the end of the night when we were getting her ready for bed she looked at Dallas and said "Dad, I am so sad that my birthday is over. =(" She couldn't be more excited when she found out that her actual birthday was next Saturday and that the Tuesday after that she would get to have a cupcake party with her class!! I think she is a fan of the birthday.!!!!!
Here are some pictures of the day! Hope you enjoy them!
Love you all and wish more than anything that you could all have been here to celebrate out special, one of a kind Presley!!
Click here to see some pictures of the party!

Presley's First Day of School

Presley had her first day of preschool today! She looked like such a big girl with her little bag they gave her to carry to and from school with all her work from the day. She is going to Mount Vernon Presbyterian Preschool just a few minutes from our house. The teachers and curriculum are more than I could hope for. She will only be going 2 days a week til the middle of June and then in September she will go 3 days a week. The teachers couldn't believe how well Presley did considering it was her first day ever going to preschool. I explained she has done CDC drop off before but they were still impressed with a new situation and a new group of people that she adapted so well. I was proud. Of course, I am aware that my sweet girl isn't perfect, but adaptable is something she has been from birth!! I couldn't be more excited for this new milestone in Presley's life. I am so looking forward to the plays, field days, and even little homework assignments that will come with this era of her life!!

What has happened Cindy?

So, I was reminded last night by a dear friend that I have not written on my blog in a while! I am so sorry. I got facebook and OPPS only have time for one! I am really liking having facebook but am really wonderin how great it is for me! Something I am still praying over. Anyways, I am hoping to do better with this blog!

Presley and I are currently in Panama City Beach, Fl visiting Dallas. He is doin really good in his class. We are both really proud of him. The days here for us have been hot, hot, hot!! We have done a lot of beach, pool,beach,pool repeat!

We did find a really cool jumpy castle place yesterday. The place is full of nothing but jumpy castles and is only for children 12 and under. They even have a specific toddler zone. I LOVED it! We will probably go back this afternoon. I really think that having somewhere to go inside is important when it is so hot outside!

Well, I need pictures, I realize but have to get my iPhone cord to put some on this post. I will have to do a whole post of my new iPhone 4! Not sure how I lived without a smart phone for so long. Of course, much like the facebook, I have to watch the time i give my phone. It can get in the way of living if you don't watch out!! =)

Check in again soon!!

Lanolium...what?

Apparently my nephew Jonathan doesn't like the feeling of lanolium! Mom and Dad were in Decatur to go to Jonathan's baptism and she got this on video. It is also a great video of Brent,Crystal and Dylan. Although you can't you see any of them you can imagine what their nights at home must be like!! =)

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Embeded Mirena IUD

I have some not so good news and good news. I went to see a doctor here in DC for the ever increasing pelvic pain that has nagged me for a year and a half. I decided to go to a doctor here because on top of my pelvic pain, we were having a hard time conceiving and I was having rectal pain that was getting more and more intense. When I got to the Dr I explained my whole last year with these issues. When she heard me mention that I had an IUD she asked where it was and I said the Dr did an ultrasound and said it "fell out" She, the Dr, then asked if he did an xray and I said, "No." but that I had asked for one. Her response was that you can't know for sure unless you do an X Ray. So, I did. Lo and behold. There is was. However, because of how it was laying they couldn't figure out exactly where it was but that it was just to the left of the mid line.

So, it was still near or in the uterine wall. After an all day search by gynecologist, sonographer and a Radiologist we finally found the exact location! It is embedded in the very outside wall of my uterus right up next to my rectum. It is so close to the outside it took them a while to figure out if it was outside the wall or still inside it. Apparently the cross part of the IUD is actually perforating the uterine wall and poking at my rectum. Yikes. They could see blood about the size of a quarter collecting in the "cul-de-sac" between my rectum and uterus. They are unsure of how much blood and adhesions are actually in there since it appears it was initially placed in my wall instead of my uterine cavity. It is crazy to think that all this time that is what has been wrong. But, because it has been in there almost 2 yrs they have no idea what to expect.

Since it is in the uterine wall they may have to cut me open instead of doing the surgey laparoscopically. My doctor is concerned that there will be lots of blood, adhesions and damage done to the uterus and my rectum. So,she asked the Gynecology Oncologist Surgeons to do the surgery because if there needs to be any rectal repair they will have license to do it all at once and will save me another surgery. The possibility of loosing the ability to have more children biologically with my body is very real. We are, of course, hoping for the absolute best outcome as we understand these scary things are what the doctors have to tell you to prepare you for the worse.

I guess the good part is I know now what is wrong and that I am not crazy. I have not been myself in 2 yrs. I have been tired, in pain, depressed, frustrated and I thought it was just me and that this was my new quality of life. But, apparently not only do I have the embedded IUD but I also have all the other negative side effects. Not to mention that for a year of this I had 2 contraceptives in me. My nuva-ring and the IUD. That is enough to make anyone crazy!! heehee. The doctor actually said to me, "How you are sitting in here pleasant and with a smile is beyond my comprehension. I know many other women who would be crawlin the wall by now!" That did make me feel good.

Thursday I go to meet with the surgeons. Hopefully we can get this surgery over and done with soon! Although we know this could be bad we are prepared for the worse and hoping for the best. I am just glad I serve the Comforter because He has already assured me that in the end it will all be OK!

Fun shots of Presley

After Presley's first haircut last Saturday we had planned to go into DC and meet some friends who we knew from Italy! We spent some time at the Botanic Gardens which was beautiful. They have a great little Kid's Garden area that all 3 girls loved. The girls watered the flowers, played in a little house and were even able to make their own frangrant lotions! Super cute!

Dallas and I didn't get any pics of us with the family but we did get some of Presley! Her Daddy was taken back by how cute she looked after her haircut that he couldn't stop taking pics!!

botanic gardens

Natural History Museum

We had such a great time at the Natural History Museum. This is actually a late post because we did this the Saturday after Presley's B-day but I wanted to go ahead and post it!

Dallas and I just wanted to a have a day that was all about her and us spending time together as a family! We were hoping to do the Zoo but it ended up raining all day! So,we opted for the museum.

Presley enjoyed the Ocean exhibit the most! We didn't do the butterfly exhibit because we used to do the butterfly exhibit in Gainesville all the time so we thought we would do something different. She also enjoyed the mammal area and the kid zone. She is really into magnifying glasses! She also enjoyed the African area with all the tribal songs...how I missed getting her doing tribal dances I have NO IDEA!!

national history museum