Another one of those heartbreaking moments.  Chloe had prepared all week for the kindergarten wedding.  She was excited about it until last night, the night before the wedding.  She had drawn the role of "reader."  We practiced all week with the karaoke machine so she could get used to the microphone.  As Ben and I tried to help her and explain to her not to hold the microphone so close to her mouth, she started crying.

She went on to say: "This is the third time today I've cried!"

I asked her what the other two times were about and she really started sobbing. Through the tears I could barely understand her.  She tearfully explained: "I don't have anybody to walk with at the kindergarten wedding."  Not quite understanding I asked her what she was talking about.  She said she was supposed to walk with Elijah but he had chosen Belle.  My heart sank.  Ben assured us this could not be the case.  He just knew that Mrs. Niedrach and Miss Taylor would not let anyone walk down that aisle alone.  Being the worrier that I am I needed reassurance.  When my baby's heart is broken, so is mine. 

I emailed both of them to try to get some reassurance.  I expressed to them how upset Chloe was and they both reassured me it was a complete misunderstanding.  I received email responses quickly from both of them.  Elijah had volunteered to walk with Belle back to class after wedding practice on Thursday.  Chloe assumed he had decided not to walk with her at all.  I was able to tell her right before she went to sleep that no, she would not be walking alone.  She smiled and went on to sleep.  This was one heartbreak that was averted, this time.

If this is any indication of my future heartbreaks then I should really sign myself up for counseling now.  I can honestly say I am dreading this growing up business.

The kindergarten wedding is an 18 year tradition at Berry Elementary.  The children draw names out of a hat to determine their roles.  Chloe drew the role of a reader.  She read a poem by Mr. Rogers.

It's you I like

It's not the things you wear.

It's not the way you do your hair, 

But it's you I like.

The way you are right now, 

The way down deep inside you,

Not the things that hide you, 

Not your toys or diplomas,

They're just beside you.

But it's you I like.

Every part of you,

Your skin, your eyes, your feelings,

Whether old or new.

I hope that you'll remember,

Even when you're feeling blue, 

It's you I like,

It's you yourself.

It's you.

We are so proud of her.  There are 21 kindergartners and out of those there were only six speaking roles in the wedding and she was one of them!  She got up in front of about 200 to 225 people and spoke confidently.

The processional...

Reading the poem....

The recessional....

Chloe's picture was chosen as the design of the guestbook!

The reception....

Proud parents of "The Reader"

My Wedding

This is a questionnaire that was sent home from school today.

My Wedding

(save to read at Chloe's rehearsal dinner)

by Chloe

Date March 9, 2011

When I get married, I'll be about 19 years old.

My groom will look like just like Elijah.

The place we will get married is my church.

I'll wear a white dress.

My groom will wear a tuxedo.

For a present, I hope I get a real bird.

I will invite about 19  people.

My maid of honor will be Bailey.

At the reception, we will eat cake, green beans and peanut butter sandwiches.

The song we will dance to will be Love Story by Taylor Swift

I am going to feel happy.

We will go on a honeymoon to Florida.

The wedding will cost about 1 cent.

We will live in Rome.

I will kiss the groom Yes  or No.

After a very stressful week we enjoyed a beautiful but cold day at the zoo.  Chloe got season passes from Gramps and Meemar for Christmas.

The pandas hold a special place in our hearts!

One cute, scary baby tiger!

Open Heart

Last Thursday night (Feb. 24th) got a call my daddy was in the emergency room.
He is admitted that night.
Friday morning they do a heart catherization on him.
Dr. comes into the room and says: "Open heart surgery"
Daddy is transferred on Monday to Redmond for open heart surgery on Tuesday.


Monday evening the education nurse comes in and nearly scares us all to death.  I actually thought after hearing her my daddy may get up and leave the hospital.
She explained that the family does not really get any updates during surgery except at the point where he is 'off the pump.'  This is the definition of 'the pump.'


~Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a technique that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery, maintaining the circulation of blood and the oxygen content of the body. The CPB pump itself is often referred to as a heart–lung machine or "the pump". Cardiopulmonary bypass pumps are operated by perfusionists in association with surgeons who connect the pump to the patient's body. CPB is a form of extracorporealcirculation. Cardiopulmonary bypass is commonly used in heart surgery because of the difficulty of operating on the beating heart. Operations requiring the opening of the chambers of the heart require the use of CPB to support the circulation during that period. 


~ If this is not enough to scare a person to death, I don't know what is.  Imagine how God made our bodies to function on their own.  We shouldn't need "the pump." 




After the education nurse leaves, we all  get ourselves together and prepare for Tuesday.  Two of my daddy's friends come by to pray for him.  It was one of the best prayers I've ever heard.  His friend David prayed that my daddy would see himself in the future doing the things the loves, like playing golf, taking care of those kids at AHS.  He prayed my daddy would not worry about the immediate couple of days that would be hard.  Then they annointed him with oil referring to James 5:14-15.  I will forever be grateful to those men.  


Tuesday morning at 10:45am my daddy leaves for surgery.  After a tearful 'goodbye' the wait begins to hear: "He's off the pump."  I knew so much more could go wrong but I was basically just waiting to hear those words.


4:55 Tuesday afternoon a nurse comes into the room that we were waiting in, closes the door and says: "He's off the pump."  Now, I know it sounds a little funny I keep referring to 'the pump.'  Make no mistake that I know and understood the seriousness of all this. I had four stress cold sores to prove it.  A flood of tears came when I heard those four little words; "He's off the pump."  What a relief to know a machine was no longer doing the work that my daddy's heart should be doing.  His blood was now circulating back through his heart and it was beating on it's own.  


At 6:25 we talked with the Dr.  They had to place four grafts. (Quadruple Bypass)  The Dr. said he had good 'flow.'


At 7:10pm we get to go back into ICU to see my daddy.  Keli, Kaci, my mother and I all make our way back into the room.  Kaci gets quite upset seeing her "paw paw" on a ventilator.  But daddy looks better than I expect.  I am relieved.


At 9pm we get to go back again.  Daddy at this time opens his eyes and nods his head when we ask him questions.  He's still on the ventilator.  He now says he doesn't remember that but we know he understood us.  When we asked if he was cold he barely nodded yes.  


I am thankful that Chloe and Kaci still have their "paw paw" and Keli and I still have our "daddy."


He is doing good now, recovery is slow for this type of surgery.  We are grateful that so many people prayed.  


"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." ~ Hebrews 4:16