Snow Day

The snow has been falling!! Hailey has her first snow day from school today and Nate's been plowing all night!!!! We've had our taste of fun though...

One Year Ago...

It has been exactly 1 year since we received Hailey's WS diagnosis. As I rushed home from the doctor and sat at this computer and typed in the google box "Williams Syndrome," I had no idea what a huge part of my life it would become! It is definitely something that I deal with on a daily basis. Just a few days ago a little WS girl, Sophie, with the same heart condition as Hailey, (SVAS) died due to complications from her heart surgery. I can't even imagine what this family is going through it. If you could lift them up in your prayers...

I treasure each and every day that I get to spend with Hailey! As she wakes me up in the morning with "Good morning mommy! It's time to get up! Come on you can do it!" to literally her 20th time asking if she can have a cookie! We are so blessed to have her in our lives and to be her parents! Hailey has her annual tests and her cardiology exam coming up on Nov. 4th. (I am still bitter that for 2 1/2 years the California doctors led me to believe that Hailey had a simple heart murmur when we were later informed that it was actually a SVAS) We are so lucky not to have hardly any medical issues at this point. As I check out my WS friends on Facebook or other blogs...most kids have so many health issues!

I do however, still feel clueless in so many areas. Knowing when to step in and when to let her be, when to tell people and when to let them think what they will, when to discipline and when to let go...I'm sure as a parent in general so many people deal with this. Hailey recently had a school field trip to a nature exhibit that I attended with her. The guest speaker didn't know that she was special needs. As I stood in the back holding the baby...anxiety spread through my body as the speaker had to tell Hailey numerous times to sit down and not to touch her props. "Do I go up there...do I intercede, do I let all the other parents think that I'm a bad mom and that my child is crazy or do I just let it be?" I mean it is just a silly preschool field trip that at the end of the day doesn't really matter in life at all! I gave in, handed the baby off, and sat amongst the children with Hailey in my lap so that I could help her to be what I wanted her to be at that moment, just like the other children. We then went on a nature walk and as I was calling Hailey's name for probably the tenth time to catch up, one of the teachers' looked at me and said "we just love her so much and are so lucky that she gets to be at our school." That was the moment (for that day) that I decided it's OK for her to be different and her strengths out weigh her weaknesses. It is, however, something that at those special moments, I have to remind myself of everyday!

BIG NEWS: Hailey qualified to take the bus to and from school everyday!!! They pick her up at our house at 11:10 and don't drop her off until 3:45!! It is unbelievable how much I get done in that time! (I will also be able to work!) It was always such an ordeal to take her to school (10 min drive) and then walk her to the back temp building...esp with another baby!!!! We are so thankful for the bus now!! I was definitely shaking when I took this pic and a tear might have shed as I headed back inside!!!

On another note...if you could be praying. Nate's boss's wife (Nate and his boss are very close) just found a huge cancerous tumor in her intestines. It's too big to operate on and she has to take a pill for 3-4 months to try and shrink it. They need a miracle...good thing I believe in miracles!!! Nate was just starting to slow down a bit and I'm sure he will have to step it up to help out!

To make things a little bit crazier...I got a job! As a server at an adorable Mexican Catina in a nice new area outside of Denver. I work 3ish nights a week and absolutely love it!!! It gives me a chance to have a life outside my life (ha) and Nate a chance to spend some catch up time with the girls!

Here's a few videos of my honey's... we'll catch ya'll later! (Connie they are mostly for you!! We wouldn't want you to miss a beat!!!)

Just Trying To Stay Warm and Healthy!

Home Away From Home

What a refreshing and amazing trip to Cali!...It was unbelievable to be able to spend 5 straight, uninterrupted days with my best friends in Kingsburg....we stayed up late and got up early and barely had time to breathe! I remember driving through Kingsburg 5 years ago and wondering to myself "what the heck kind of people would live here?" I still don't understand how they are all crammed into one little town!

Thank you ladies for such an amazing trip and for loving me so much! Thank you to the Silva's "my adopted family" for being so amazing in my life!

I love you Mary...and Scott!!!

My dear friend Jen...(why are all the coolest people named Jen?!?!)

Denver and Amanda...the start of a wonderful life together!

OK have to add in the high light of the trip....Two words "HOEDOWN THROWDOWN!" That's right about 30 of us learned Miley Cyrus' dance and preformed it at the wedding...unbelievable...so wish I got it on tape!

Jen and Emily...there aren't even words!

These girls have such a special place in my heart! I will never let these friendships go...no matter how far away we live! I told everyone that I'm on the 3 month plan and I'm due back in December! (many important people did not get pictured...sorry guys!)

Not to mention my Ahna...who unfortunately was out of town for a funeral :(

Thank you for an amazing vacation!!!
(and thank you to my husband, sister and mom who took wonderful care of my girls!!!!!!)

Being Prepared

As I was preparing for the sitter while I am away...I made a schedule of Ashtyn's typical day...I also thought I would give her a idea of Hailey's typical day:

A Little Time In Steamboat

We took some friends and family up to Steamboat this past weekend! The trees were just starting to change color so it was beautiful up there! We were lucky enough on Saturday to take a hike and lay by the (heated) pool...followed by a Sunday of rain and some slight snow! AHHH Colorado is crazy like that!
Incredible view from our balcony!I admit to being a little anxious to bust out the hoodies and hats!

Our friends Bri and Ted joined us...we stayed up til all hours playing games in the condo!

Our wine box turned into a wine bladder...
Ready for the Bronco game on Sunday...the Broncos kicked some serious booty!!! Excited to see what they can do this season!

Well I'm off to Fresno tomorrow...for 5 days...with NO KIDS!!! I can hardly believe it myself! I can't remember the last time I got to fly on an airplane with no kids and no hubby! Our good friends Denver and Amanda are getting married...since the Silva's are like family...I couldn't miss it! I'm going to miss the girls like crazy...this is the longest I've been away from Ashtyn...however they are in good hands and I think I'll survive! I am a little sad that Ashtyn just started taking some steps and now I have to miss 5 days of progress!!!! :( I guess I don't have a whole lot to complain about...I'm sure I will have plenty of pics to post when I get back! See ya!

Uh Oh

Such an exciting day for a mom!

Too Hot In Texas!!!

We had a wonderful time in Texas this past weekend visiting for Nate's grandma's 90Th Birthday party! We had a blast enjoying the boat all day on Saturday with the cousins while Connie and Aunt Linda watched the girls! (and thank you for that!)

The Lake was quite a happenin' place that day!Possibly the most relaxed time I've spent with the hubby in awhile...

There were about 75 people that joined us to celebrate Grandma Rosalie!
You can't see the clear tacks very well...but they are placed everywhere that she has traveled!...we were very close to running out of tacks! The final dinner in Dallas.

My Little Girl Turned 4!

So my little girl turned 4 on Monday...a day I was actually dreading all year!...I just wanted my precious little girl to stay 3 forever!!!!

Hailey has been doing amazing lately! She still goes to preschool 4 days a week in the afternoon and is learning new things everyday! She is starting to be able to tell me different things that they are learning and things that they have made...she is so good at remembering the words to new rhymes and songs. She is also sleeping much better and often sleeps through the night!

Her favorite hobby is puzzles! She does amazingly well with them and can do a 30 piece puzzle by herself. She has also learned to ride her tricycle and can ride all the way down the street.

As far as health goes things are also going well. She has all of her checkups in October as well as her Cardiologist apt. She had a very special Birthday party with my family at the Spaghetti Factory in downtown. Hmmmm a yummy Ice Cream Cake from Maggie Moo's!

The always happy lil sissy

We are off to Texas this Friday for Nate's grandma's 90th Birthday...

The Wave and a Face Plant

The Annual Burg Family Camping Trip

We had our annual Burg family camping trip this weekend! It was the first time the entire family has been together since Aaron's wedding in January...and it was a blast! Aaron and Tighe actually just moved back here from New Jersey and Jordan is back from her internship so we are now one big happy family!We went on a 2 hour train ride of the Royal Gorge...My mama always told us we were "normal"
Mimi and Papa made us DELICIOUS steak for dinner!

The 2 brothers playing with fire....never a good thing!

Nate unfortunately couldn't make it because of work...he is still in his very busy season.

The chefs were amazing!

Hailey absolutely loved camping..there was a lots of wildlife and Hailey kept seeing "reindeer" pass through our site! She also enjoyed lots of bike riding!