Surprise!

Brian traveled to Hong Kong for 10 days for his MBA class. So it was just Stella and I for ten whole days! That is a long time!! So we decided to fill some of our time with some bedroom renovations. First we started with Stella's big girl room. She isn't moving into it yet, but right now she loves to play in it every night! We decided to paint it a bright turquoise blue with one chocolate brown wall. Then the accents....pink, pink, and more pink! Below is her feather boa showing off her weekly artwork....

Then we decided to really test her art abilities and do a bigger project. It turned out great! She loved to "dip, dip, dip" the brush and paint. So much fun. I see more painting in our future room projects. I then decided to hang her painting with some of her pink beads.

Of course, she had to sign her artwork.....

And we tried for some footprints.....

On top of her dresser....we just need to add some pictures!

I had to test out my art talents since Stella did such a good job. I think she showed me up!

Then came the BIG surprise! Since I was already painting and Sherwin was having a great sale....I figured I might as well keep going. After a few sample colors on the wall, my Mom and I started painting with Stella's "help" of course. She would always find a a way to sit on our lap, climb up the ladder with me, or rub into the wall of wet paint....but who cares....it was FUN! (The pictures really don't show the "true" color...)

His expression was priceless.....a look of shock mixed with the look that says "I love it!"....couldn't have asked for any better!!

Labor Day Weekend

We had such a busy, fun weekend! We headed down to Indy Friday evening after work where the fun all started. Saturday morning we woke up and started prepping for the big ND game! Stella was excited and ready!

Lacey and Jerome added a fun last minute twist to their little shin dig with a huge bouncy house! The kids loved it. Stella hung in there like a trooper even though she would fall every other step. As you can see below, by day 2 when she landed she would just kind of lay for awhile before getting up....it was so much fun!

Stella was all to eager to help out throughout the weekend.....

The weekend flew by and before we knew it was time for Stella's cardiology appointment on Tuesday. This was her first echo since the surgery and we were hoping for the best....and it happened! Stella's heart looked and sounded as normal as can be...what a relief. She has gained weight and her doctor was very pleased. She will continue to get echos and EKG's for the rest of her life but hopefully less and less often. There is a possibility of one membrane/obstruction growing back over time, so we continue to ask for your prayers that it doesn't! She has a few restrictions but everything keeps looking good we won't have to add to that list. Thank you all for the continuing prayers....they have definitely been answered.