Happy New Year

I can't believe 2011 is already over.  This has been a very tough year but also a year of miracles.  My Gracie has turned 4 years old.  She's smart and incredibly sassy.  She's changed the words to LMFAOs "I'm sexy and I know it to, "I'm sassy and I know it!"  We are working on patience on my part and cooling down the temper on Gracie's part.  We both want to be control and it's almost a battle royale some days when neither one of us will back down.  I just can't wait until she's a tween or teen.  I'm going to need to go to Mass every day so I can survive.

As I think about my girl this year, I have learned so many new things about her...
1.  I knew she was brave and tenacious but I didn't know how incredibly strong and brave she is until this summer.  She is way stronger than any super hero...Seriously.
2. She is a scaredy cat...she gets scared of things really easily, even when she likes them...She loves the music and Belle from Beauty and the Beast but the movie makes her very nervous.  When bad things happen on tv, she panics...she gets scared very easily
3. She doesn't like Disney World
4. She says sorry for everything, for example, "I don't like Disney World, sorry!"  Poor baby...I think that is my fault because I am a big believer in apologizing for poor behavior. 
5. She has a 10 minute attention span on most things...toys, playing, etc. 
6. Gracie likes to pretend to take orders...she has a notepad and everything...she pretend to answer the phone and we have to "drive" to pick up the phone...maybe that's my clue to cook more at home?
7. Gracie loves the beach...LOVES!
8. Gracie slept in her own bed in her own room for a while but now is back in my bed...she says she's not ready
9. Gracie loves stickers, paper and big pencils to write with and also likes to stuff envelopes
10. Gracie's favorite foods are waffles, enchiladas, and cheese

It's so weird that here I am, sitting in bed and will probably fall asleep before the NY rings in.  I remember the days when I was younger and childless...my night was only beginning and I would be out until who knows when.  It was fun but now I feel so much more happier and I look at my daughter who is sprawled out hogging my bed next to me.  I know that 2012 is going to be a great year full of blessings.  I pray that everybody has a wonderful and blessed 2012.

Merry Christmas & Gracie is Now 4!

Christmas Eve (Gracie's birthday) and Christmas were even more special this year.  I am so thankful that we have her this year after this past summer.  We came so close to losing her twice.  Right now, I'm honestly a little on the edge because something isn't right.  Thursday night sweet girl was mean girl (which means she is tired or not feeling well or out of control).  We went to Costco with my sister and her kiddos and my girl turned blue...lips and hands.  We went home and I took her oxygen sat levels which were good for her, 84.  But she started complaining of a headache and then she got her low grade fever.  She's had the fever and headache for the past 4 days.  It goes away after tylenol.  She is also on oxygen at night (cardiologist wants her to charge her batteries...he wants it to be in the mid to upper 80s).  I have her on 2 1/2 L right now and her sats are 77...can you imagine what they are without oxygen?  She also has a runny nose.  So, I am watching her closely and calling the cardiologist on call in the morning.  Our doctor is in Hong Kong for Christmas.  I am just a bit on the edge.  I really hope that everything is okay and I'm just worried for nothing.

Our Christmas was very nice.  My sister had to work until 1:30 p.m. so we did Christmas later.  I grilled burgers, hot dogs and sausage because I was tired out from the turkey and ham (crazy I know...I love turkey but I wanted to give myself a mini break from the heavy cooking).  I also made my Popo's pinto beans and mashed potatoes.  Everything turned out yummy.  I enjoyed spending time with my family.  I am very blessed they live within a mile of me. 

Gracie had a nice birthday breakfast yesterday.  She didn't realize she was now 4 years old until my mom said she could now say she was 4. She loved that.  She had a great birthday party the week before at an art place.  She had so much fun.  I didn't realize how stressful it is to plan a birthday party even when it is at another place. 

Gracie was obviously on Santa's nice list.  She got the roller skates and elbow and knee pads she asked for.  As for me, I got some pretty nice things too...super excited about my Mr. Coffee Keurig machine and I don't even drink coffee but I do love me some tea and hot chocolate.  I guess I was on the nice list too.

I hope everybody had a blessed and wonderful Christmas.  I wish you all a New Year full of great blessings. 

Catching Up

We survived our first Gracie & Mama trip.  Right before Thanksgiving, we went to Disneyworld.  We had a great time but I discovered that Gracie wasn't quite ready for the experience...she loved the characters but the rides left a little to be desired.  She did love the two Toy Story based rides because they were interactive.  She HATED "It's a Small World"...the dolls freaked her out a bit.  She got sick...like she was blue on Thanksgiving.  Her oxygen sat levels were okay...not the best but okay.  I took her to visit our friend who is a PICU doctor the next day and they thought she looked okay. But we are now doing oxygen at night every other night.  We had a nice holiday but I noticed that schedules really help her behavior (either that or the idea of being on Santa's naughty list is motivating her)...she was really mean during the rest of the week we were home together during Thanksgiving break.

She has discovered roller skating (via physical therapy)...she LOVES it.  She can skate better than I can.  She's asked Santa for skates and elbow and knee pads for Christmas.  We also got an Elf (Elf on a shelf) which Gracie named Cookie.  He seems to be a good bad behavior deterrant.

We are getting ready for her birthday party on the 17th of December.  It's our first big party with friends.  It should be an interesting experience.  I think I have the goody bags together.  I need to get the snacks, cupcakes, and ice cream cups and drinks. Then I'll be ready to go.

We have a mended little hearts Christmas party tonight.  She'll be styling and profiling. I had to get new black mary janes which led me to discover that all of her shoes were too small and her toes were curling up.  It would have been nice if she had told me.  I didn't know because she dresses herself and puts on her own shoes.