Good Morning!

Good morning from the Spadino breakfast table!

Update

Yesterday we drove to Children's Hospital for an ultrasound and another test to see how Elena was doing. We looked at the fishes in the tank, we counted books, we ate animal crackers and finally she was called. We first went in for a quick ultrasound of her abdomen to check the size of her kidneys. It was totally painless but Ellie screamed so much and so loudly (just at the outrage of having to lie still)- that the tech said she was seriously going to recommend her as a canidate for complete sedation for the next test. I was able to speak to the radiologist however and with four people, a hoopla of toys, an ipad and glowing lights, we were able to get through it just fine. Children's Hospital is just the BEST. Elena left with bracelets, and a teddy bear and stickers and teddy grahams and crayons and all of that completely overshadowed any memory of what might be unpleasant.
And here is the good news: the GREAT news: parking only cost me four dollars. No. But here is the EXCELLENT news: Elena's test looked amazing!! I am waiting four days for the official news from the doctor's office to be able to say for sure what the outcome is, but the results that I could see on the screen and the info I could gather from the radiologist were absolutely fabulous! I absolutely can't wait for our next appointment to see if she can stop her antibiotics. We'll keep you updated- but until then here are some cute pictures of her cute self. I am so grateful and so thankful, and can't even wait to hear the 'official' report of good news. But today there is good news enough: all three are happily playing legos on the floor. The sun is shining all over our new 6 inches of April snow and I found the can of cream of chicken soup in the back of the pantry, so I can make dinner and don't have to go grocery shopping until tomorrow.



Elena 2 years old in her new birthday dress.



 Elena at five weeks old in the hospital. She was a big five week old baby!

Elena

Today is April 17th. It is my daughter's birthday. She is two years old. I would love to tell you everything that she is; bold, beautiful, loud, independent, funny, active- but I don't have all the words. I have known her since the second she existed in this universe and have loved her everyday. Today we spent her birthday painting with friends, planting flowers and a hope for spring, and dancing to music. She had four sugar induced temper tantrums and three just because meltdowns, we had two battles over hair and one over food and one over the decision to hit a brother. She ran crying to her room twice, and climbed eight times onto my lap to snuggle. She gave me around fourteen kisses and one glare. Over fifty giggles, and about fifteen screams. And if anything is certain it's that she's two.

Today after eight children painted pots and planted flowers and had a pretty fantastic sugar crash- I was cleaning up and realized how full my heart is. Elena still takes daily anitbiotics but has had no breakthrough kidney infection- she is a healthy girl. She fights with her brothers, but water makes her laugh and so does a million other things - she is a happy girl. She looks like Joe, but she is half me and all her own and she is my girl.

Tonight I'm thinking about how much I love her and can barely breathe. And she hasn't done anything at all. All she has done is exist. I sit with this love at the kitchen table and whisper a deep prayer of gratitude that I am her mother.

Happy Birthday my Elena!

 Checking out birthday decorations. Yes. I'm aware that standing on a counter is unsafe.

Elena opening presents from her Aunt Martha and Uncle Chris in Connecticut!

 

The birthday hair (and contents of present! new dresses!)

 The paint party!

 With a dirt cake

Elena did awesome

And Guy wanted you all to see this one because he held the balloon in front of his face pretending it was his face and thought he was hysterical. Absolute hilarity erupted for a full three minutes and of course, I never gained a picture of their three faces.

Happy Birthday!







Colorado!

Some quick pics of our time (2 weeks) in CO with the fam! Totally out of order : )



Joe and I left the kids for four dayswith my parents and drove hours away to stay at this cabin in the mountains!

 We spent two days at this hot spring. We got there early and stayed to watch the stars appear. Joe kept rearranging all the rocks to to adjust the cold and hot water so it was the perfect combination of steaming, then refreshing. It's a good thing he's strong. Turns out I'm pretty demanding concerning water temperature  : )

 Going on a hike with the kiddos and fam. at Genese Park

 Had a wonderful visit with Mom and Dad for two weeks. We love them- and their condo!

 Red rocks!

 This is the cutest picture we could get of all three. I just love it.

 Joe's brother and sister in law came up to visit for a few days. 

Now that I've figured out how to upload them- there will be more pics to come.!Maybe with more thoughtful captions. Perhaps with less typos!