Shopping!

As you are working through your list, and completing your Christmas shopping this year, please consider shopping at Mavuno Market.  Not only will you be purchasing amazing items, but you will be helping families out of poverty, one purchase at a time.

This quote was taken right from the Mavuno Market website, to explain their vision...

At Mavuno Market, we believe we can lift people out of poverty by supporting micro-enterprises, encouraging trade education, and creating job opportunities.

Here it is, Black Friday, the largest shopping day of the year.  What could be sweeter than shopping AND helping others!  Check out Mavuno Market today!

Cardiology Check-up

Jersey #2 had her annual Cardiology check-up.  I love that word:  annual.  Once a year.  In the Cardiology world, a once-a-year heart check-up is the ideal.  That means that her heart is in such good shape that the doctors do not expect anything to change much anytime soon.  Surgery is not around the corner.  A series of tests are not necessary right now.  Keep living your life and enjoy, for another year.  Whew!  Annual check-ups are awesome!

Jersey #2 did great.  She commented over the summer that she actually missed her heart doctors.  She has seen them so frequently in recent years, that it was an adjustment to suddenly go a full year without an appointment.  She missed the attention, for sure.  Jersey #2 was fully cooperative for her evaluation.

After her vitals were checked, and her growth was measured, Jersey #2 had an EKG (electrocardiogram), to check her heart's electrical activity...

Her Pediatric Cardiologist came in and chatted with us about lifestyle improvements since surgery, and any concerns.  She then examined Jersey #2's heart sounds, pulses, and abdomen.  

Next was the echocardiogram, an ultrasound of her heart.  The tech is a pro.  He has a movie playing to keep the kids entertained while he runs his magic wand and captures all the images and blood flow.  The Cardiologist can view the images from the room next door, in real time.  If anything is of concern, she will step into the echo room and ask for additional images from specific angles.

We return to the exam room, while the Cardiologist completes her review of the echocardiogram.  Then, she joins us and gives her report about the current status of Jersey #2's heart.

The report was excellent.  Any leaks, sounds, or enlargements are the same as they were a year ago.  That lends to the belief that there is no concern at this time.  Jersey #2 is free of medications and activity restrictions.  She was encouraged to keep playing, growing, and enjoying the life of an 8-year old.  She does not need to have another Cardiology check-up for 1 full year!  

School Days

When we went for family photos, I asked the photographer to also give me "school photos" of each of the kids.  I usually like individual photos with the number blocks, showing their ages.  This year, with more kids school-aged than not, our whole focus seems to have shift to more school-like themes.  I am quite pleased with the way these pictures turned out.  I love pictures of my kids anyway, but it is fun to see how they grow from grade to grade.

Jersey #1

5th Grade

9 years old

Jeresey #2
3rd Grade
8 years old

Jersey #3
1st Grade
6 years old

Jersey #4
Preschool
4 years old

Jersey #5
Preschool
3 years old

A handful of candy

Family Photos

I dragged the whole team out for family photos.  I love, love, love pictures!  I especially love pictures of my precious children.  So, going to a studio and getting pictures made is one of my absolute favorite gifts.

I like to go to portrait studios that will give me a disc with all of the digital photos taken.  It makes it nice to email them, and also to make my Christmas cards.  There is also digital scrapbooking....which is something I have just begun to dabble in.

This year, I knew exactly what photos I wanted.  I had an agenda.  I wanted the American flag background, with the family in red, white, and blue shirts.  I wanted photos of the kids together, dressed in their M&Ms t-shirts.  And, I also wanted a "school photo," where it is just the head and shoulders of the kid.  The photographer understood my request, and granted it and so much more!

For the most part, everyone cooperated really well.  The older three children were models.  Jersey #5 is not as well trained to look at the camera and smile.  He wanted to wander off and play with the props.  Jersey #4 had a few moments of imitating the photographer, by blowing raspberries with her lips.  The photographer was doing that to get Jersey #5's attention.  But, it intrigued Jersey #4 so much she imitated it, and often was making that face when the flash went off.