Today Colin had his 6 month cardiology appointment at Texas Children's Hospital. I'm excited to report that there has been no changes in his heart function, so he does not have to go back for 6 more months! Matt and I get so nervous before these appointments. We know that sometime between now and 5 years old, there will be a point where the cardiologist comes and tells us it's time. Colin also has a leaky value that if stays the same they are happy with, but if it's gets worse, they will have to operate on it BEFORE his next planned surgery. That always sits in the back of my mind. BUT today, Colin's cardiologist said he looked and sounded great, that he was very pleased with how well Colin is doing. Colin is still on the small side, but is growing well, he just started off small. Colin has no restrictions on physical activity and his medicines stayed the same (1\2 tablet of aspirin and Enapril for blood pressure).
The plan is still the same concerning the 3rd and hopefully final surgery, they would like to wait until Colin is 4 0r even possibly 5 years old. As long as Colin's heart function stays strong, we will keep going back every 6 months for a check-up.
Colin loved playing in the waiting room, but once we got back for testing, he changed his tune! Colin would NOT let him get his blood pressure or do the EKG. The doctor was fine with it since he sounded so good. When we go back in 6 months, Colin will get a sedated echo (ultrasound).
This great news today makes it even better that we are celebrating Colin's 2nd birthday this weekend. What an amazing life this two year old has had!
Once Monday comes, I wonder "What happened to our weekend, where did it go?". We seem to keep so busy it just flies by! Saturday morning, Katherine had her first soccer game of the spring season. Even though we don't keep score, Matt did and we won by a large amount. The team did great their first season back, all BUT Katherine were really into the game. Katherine was more interested in the lady bugs and flowers on the field. Her attention span for the actual game was non-existent. So interesting start to the season, hopefully she gets more interested in the actual game then spinning circles on the field. 
After the game, my parents watched the kids while Matt and I went to the Bayou City Arts Festival. It was a beautiful day to walk around and look interesting painting, glass and wood works, jewelry , and photography. I bought some pretty hand blown glass magnets, but we didn't buy any art pieces this time. But it was nice to get out and enjoy sometime with just Matt and I. Sunday we had a picnic at the park/playground with my family. The kids had fun running around and burning off all their energy, and boy they do have a lot! After a few hours at the park, we went home and rested for a FULL HOUR :), before heading off to a birthday party. 
Colin's friend Liam had his 2nd birthday party at in an indoor moonwalk place, the kids had so much fun running and bouncing around with their friends. Colin loved the big slide, but was unable to climb up it himself, so I got to carry him up each time. We would fly down the slide, then he would scream "AGAIN". Man I got a work out doing that. Katherine had a lot of fun, since a lot of her friends have brothers in Colin's class, they were all there too. 
After the party, we came home and grilled fajitas and the kids played in the backyard. It was my parents last night in town before heading off to start their life of traveling nomads. The kids are going to really miss them while they are gone. Katherine got used to having Grandma put her to bed, read her stories, and sleep with her. 
What an eventful week. First of all Aly Jean's surgery was postponed to Monday March 28, she had to be pushed back for an emergency heart transplant for a newborn. I pray that all is well with that baby and of course continued prayers for Aly Jean's surgery this coming Monday! She is going to rock it like a superstar!
I took them to school, then spent the next 3 hours at the tire shop getting 3 new tires, I had two others that looked really bad. My wonderful, amazing husband knew I was having such a hard day, took off half a day and convinced me to do the same. We went out to Rice Village where there's lots of shopping, restaurants, and bars and celebrated St. Patrick's Day there with green beers and green margaritas! It was a nice day to sit out on the patio of a few places and have some drinks and go shopping. Matt always turns my bad days around for me! Seems like most our days off together, we end up drinking :) I was surprised to see so many people out celebrating St. Patty's day in the mid afternoon.. and some of the costumes.. Wow!
Friday at work, I got a surprising phone call from my parents that they were just a few hours away. They have been in Phoenix since New Year's Eve taking care of my grandma. So Friday night we told the kids that we were having dinner at Uncle's Russell's house but did not mention the special guest that were going to be there. Russell sat them on the couch and did a "magic trick" and had grandma and grandpa appear. The kids loved their surprise! They brought some gifts from their travels, but most important, my mom brought me some of my grandma's possessions to keep. I will treasure them always!
After the party we went to Matt's parents house to see how his mom was doing. That day while setting out a pot of flowers on the patio, she tripped and broke her wrist. She is having surgery on it tomorrow. We have such exciting families! Hoping for a quick and easy recovery, and of course it was her right hand!
Saturday we got up early and headed out to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It was a beautiful day, even got some sun. We started out visiting all the livestock, the kids loved seeing the horses, cows, pigs, chickens & baby chicks, bunnies, goats, and even a bee and worm exhibit. Colin went on a pony ride, which he loved. They played on the tractors and even bought candy at the candy booth.
Then we went outside to the carnival. First we went through a Farmers market, where the kids had to collect (fake) eggs, milk, corn, fruit to then sell at the farmers market. With the "money" they earned, they were able to buy a treat (crackers and rice krispie treat). Then it was off to the carnival rides and games. Katherine really enjoyed the carnival games this year, winning more stuffed animals (as if we don't have enough of them). Colin was more into the rides, but he is too small for a lot of them, but luckily we found a few that he could ride. He reminded me of the movie Big, in the beginning where he is in line but he is "too small" to ride with his friends, making him wish to be big. Colin would run and point to a ride but the height requirement was 36 inches and he is 32… hopefully next year. But we did go one the carrousel, a carnival ride that spun us around( which he loved) and a two story slide (which I am not sure how he felt about it, but he didn't cry). On the other hand, Katherine the fearless has now discovered FEAR. Rides that she has done the last two years in a row, she was scared of. She loved the big slide last year, this year when she got to the top, she started crying and would not get on it. So I took Colin down, then had to go up and get her and bring her back down. She also cried on another ride, which she did the previous year. This year was NOT her year for rides :) But she had a great time otherwise!
Of course we pigged out on carnival food! For lunch, we got a LOAF of fries, it was huge! We also had pretzels, funnel cake, and of course the kids chowed down on some cotton candy. Colin was shoveling it his mouth so fast as if someone was trying to take it away! Katherine got a cowgirl hat and lasso, which has become her new favorite toys this week along with all the stuffed animals she won. 
We were at the rodeo for 5 1/2 hours, the kids slept ONLY 15 minutes on the ride home, then were wired for the rest of the day. I was exhausted, why don't they take naps! I like naps.. They should too! My mother-in-law said it was all the cotton candy :)
