Elizabeth is 3!!

Have you ever seen a happier birthday girl? You could almost literally see her soaking up the attention that had been so sparse in the days prior while we were in the hospital. She was so happy and soooo proud to FINALLY be three! And I was so happy her cake turned out! (It is a Barbie pushed into an upside cake-baked-in-a-bowl. I made the wings up an hour before the party! Can't believe it came together!)

Elizabeth had long been planning her "Mariposa" (butterfly fairy) party! It turned out she had to wait longer than the 12 months normally between birthdays, due to Gavin's hospitalization. Needless to say, she was confused as to how she could be three (March 9) when she hadn't had a birthday cake! The babysitters told me about the arguments she was having with her siblings about it and it was one of the hardest things about being at the hospital-she was already having a hard time adjusting to the baby....but, I knew, once we were home, she would have her big day, and her "world" would be right again in more ways than one! (Refer to the photo in the previous post to see how she was feeling on our homecoming day) :)
Following are some highlights of the party---sorry in advance for the sideways photos. I downloaded them before I rotated them and now to fix them I'd have to download ALL of the photos over again-and I am just refusing to do that!)

First, the butterflies were given their wings and danced while we waited for guests to arrive.

Cousins Eli and Isaac were the butterfly kingdom "guards." So cute!

Cousin Cayla made a beautiful butterfly fairy, with "Prince" Levi!

The remainder of the party revolved around enacting our version of the Mariposa story. First, the disguised evil fairy "Henna" (Rachel) poisoned the butterfly queen (Aunt Beebs). Then Prince Carlos (Levi) led Mariposa (Elizabeth) and the other butterfly's on a journey to find the magical flower--the antidote to the poison!

Wouldn't you know it, but the magical flowers were being guarded by the "Skeezites!" Giant butterfly-eating bugs! The girls carefully picked their flowers, making sure not to wake the sleeping bugs (Tim, Spencer and Cameron).

Hurry! They're waking up!











AAAAHHHH!!!!

Attack! Throw the "balls of light!" (Foil) Skeezites can't take the Light! (These costumes by the way were a complete surprise to me. Kudos to Tim and the boys! The girls were extremely thrilled by the whole skit--largely due to the half fascination/half fear of the Skeezites!)

Just in time, the butterflies save the Queen with the scent of the magical flowers! (Allergies, Anne? Eve? Are you in there somewhere?) Little side note: I sent Tim to the store that morning for a bouquet of carnations to divvy up for this skit, and he came home with these beautiful little bouquets--turns out the florist at QFC found out what Tim was using the flowers for, and made these up for him all for just $6 total! I was amazed!

Sweet moment with Auntie Beebes.

Getting a little tired at this point. :)
Cozy with Grandma Conway her new blanket for her "big" bed in Rachel's room! (the trundle)

Follow Up on Gavin

Well, we've been home a week now, and we thought we'd give a short update...everything is going great for Gavin. Today he had his first visit to his official "cardiologist" today. They did a follow-up ECHO and found his aorta healing perfectly from surgery
and the blood is flowing well, etc. As of yesterday we started cutting one
of the doses of meds in half, and his blood pressure is still stable. So
we're moving in a good direction!

He had a stitch from his side removed today (from the wound where the chest
tube came out). He would not hold still and the stitch was embedded and so
he got poked with the scissors and was bleeding. It was a long five minute
ordeal for both of us! I have a follow up visit
with kidney docs later this month (they are the ones monitoring his BP right
now). After his BP regulates, the kidney doctors will "drop" him, but Gavin will always have a cardiologist-to check for recurrance with his coarct and for (rare)complications down the road with his bicuspid aortic valve.

We are keeping a pretty low key pace with regards to other activities this month, which is nice. I pretty much have no obligations during the day except the doctor visits and Gavin's meds, and a few household errands. (Yesterday I took Rachel to get her prescription for her 1st pair of glasses!) In the evenings we have gymnastics and cub/girl Scouts things though, piano wed mornings. But the slower pace during the day is very nice--especially for Elizabeth and I to have plain "old" time together.

I just want to add another quick note of thanks to those reading who may have helped us on the home front while I was at the hospital. So MANY hands helped with child care and meals, even laundry! This all went on without my knowing who did it, as I was away, so there is no way I can properly thank all of you. Please know that your service was of tremendous help to my husband at home and to my peace of mind at the hospital. We look forward to a chance to "pay it forward!" (return the favor)