She's 1

I can't believe how fast the year has gone-then again I still can't believe I'm even married! Here are some pics from the party. Thanks to everyone who came to her BUG party and to those of you who didn't. . . it kinda bugs! (Hahaha JK)

tweened out

Check out Anna's new look. These chic frames only add to her already existing au courant persona. I loved that not only was it raining all day but this picture was taken in doors. Ya know, I think what makes her so cool is that she didn't even care what people thought-in her mind she IS cool. . . all the live long day!

testing one, two, three. . .

We finished her round of tests and everything looks "normal"-nothing alarmed the doc's. She will be on med's for a year or two and then we will re-test her to see if there have been any significant changes. She was such a trooper and did everything with such ease and of course a sense of humor. While reviewing our information sheet that the hospital has on file, Michelle was listed as the mother so we explained the situation and the secretary said "Ok so Tammy is the Step-mother then is that correct?" Kirsten then pipes in with "yah, but don't call her that!"

We are relieved that she is going to be OK and that she is still Kirsten! The thing with seizures is that nothing is certain. She could have another one in 6 years or never again so we'll just have to wait it out. In the mean time, is there medication for the sudden onset of hormones in a pre-pubescent girl? :)

concert-palooza

Well, Friday night began Jim and Tam's summer concert series. Reason #584 that I love Jim:he loves to go to concerts. We went to the CURE Friday night and it was classic. Classic because it took us back to our high school days and classic because of the outfits those "completely tatooed- painfully pierced- makeup wearing men-dressed all in black Gothic's" had on. WOW is all I can say. It was the longest concert of my life-4 hours-they sang for 3 with 3 encores. I was surprised by how many Cure songs I actually knew-I just wish my sister Rebecca was there, she was big into the Cure and even had pictures of them on her wall taken from her Teen Beat magazine! Here are my favorite photos of the night taken by Nancee who a consummate photographer.

Accordian I purchased for $7 in Juarez Mexico that was found downstairs in one of my "piles"

Kirsten playing the said found accordian outside on the front steps
Noticing the green cup with dollar bills inside


Kirsten explaining that she was homeless and needed money for food

Priceless!!!!!

Stroller

Really?! This is what $3.00 and a major credit card gets you at the mall should you forget to pack your own. What I want to know is who is stealing these kid carting contraptions AND stealing enough of them to warrant such tight security. I am SURE it fails every safety standard (hence Lilly's leg perched on the safety bar) but I will say the basket attached to the back really came in handy-until it fell off when I put my diaper bag in it.

she's ok- phew!

Yup there she is-hooked up to an EGK monitor at Primary Children's hospital. As you can see by the cheesy-ness of her smile she is back to normal but it was a bit scary earlier this morning.
She woke up, got ready for school and as we were practicing piano she had trouble playing. She couldn't use her right hand as it had tightened up, she began to drool and then she completely blanked-She had a seizure. I called Jim into the room and he knew right away she was having a seizure (she has had them in the past but the last one was 6 years ago) She was out of the seizure and back to practicing before he got dressed to take her to the hospital.
We spent the greater part of the day at Primary's, watched some TV in the room, played around with all of the gadgets and thought of pranks we could pull on the Dr's when they came back to the room.
Kirst was a trooper and did so well and Jim-ahh geez what a great man! Reason #1,298 that I love him: he handles stressful situations with such finesse. He took charge and knew exactly what to do and say once we arrived at Primary's. I love that I have confidence in him and that I can count on him when it really matters most.
Since marrying Jim and assuming responsibility for the girls I have often wondered/doubted in my ability to love these girls. "Could I love them like a mother does?" "Will I be able to care for them like Michelle would?" and I have been praying to love them like a mother should.
Today, for me was real and I felt like a mother as I watched Kirsten struggle and saw the fear in her big green eyes as she wondered what was happening . I worried for Anna who wears her heart on her sleeve and I know is scared for her little sister and the emotions of 6 years ago could be resurfacing. The Lord has answered my prayers. Today I shed the tears of a mother as I worried for my girls- oh how I love them. My prayers have not been in vain and to think that I have been entrusted with these precious souls. And with that love comes the weight of responsibility of a mother, that all consuming worry of "will they be all right?" Wow