See that little boy in the front?

I'd have to say he is the sweetest boy in the world...

This morning while we were in the hurryupandeatandputonyourshoesandgrabyourbackpack rush the boys missed the bus.

PJ didn't take the news so well.

Jesse replied "that's ok, I'll get droved to school".

PJ still wasn't taking the news so well. He earned 5 laps. (his punishment for not controlling his temper is to do laps around the tree in the center of our cul-de-sac.)

So, after he heads out to (hopefully) walk off his anger I say to Jesse "Oh my goodness, Jesse, how in the world do you live with him?"

He stopped eating his pancakes and just smiled... "Cause I love him, Mom".

H Info...meeting the plastic surgeon

So, today Sami and I set off for the big city. :) Last week when we met with the pediatric dermatologist she referred us to a plastic surgeon. When I called to make the appointment I realized that her office was in the same building as the perinatologist I had seen for those last months I was pregnant. I thought this was great because I already knew where the building was! However, I wasn't prepared for what happened when I got there. As I turned into the hospital parking lot I almost vomited. Nice. And then, when I pulled into the parking garage I started crying. Who'd have known that was going to happen? ack! So I parked, and then it hit me...I was coming back here WITH my baby, not coming here alone scared to death that something bad was going to happen to her. So, on the way out we stopped by the peri's office and saw my favorite nurse. It was so great seeing her holding Sami!

Anyway, I of course, wasn't sure if I'd like the plastic surgeon - cause I'm just that way with dr's. But, surprisingly I did. She was very smart, kind to Sami and knew a lot about Hemangioma's. She did do that kooky thing that some people do...talking to me through my baby. "sooooo.....what is your name?" I didn't answer because I hadn't figured out what she was doing yet. Then she said "and how old are you?" Ummm...... Then she looked at me and asked how old she was. Oh, then I figured it out. So, we went on. She looked at our beauty spot and we talked for a long while. Her approach is to keep her on the Propranolol until she's 1, come back to see her and then come again every 3 months. She will plan surgery when we have 6 months with no change, good or bad. The reasoning on this is that the less there is of the heman the less invasive the surgery will be. I agree. So, say we go back at 12 months, then 6 months later it is still the same, we may talk about doing it then. However, if after those 6 months it is improving on it's own noticeably we will still wait. I agree. But, then she said that she could be 2,3,4 years old before it would be the right time. And that kids don't gain their self-consciousness until they are 7 anyway. I don't agree. So, all in all I liked her. I liked that she knew what she was talking about - she treats mostly children with facial malformations. She also supervised the pre-surgery treatment of hemangiomas prior to coming here. I have no doubt she knows her stuff.

On the way out as I walked past 2 ladies with an infant carrier. I heard the older one whisper "that's a hamangioma, too". So, I stopped and asked if their baby also had one. He did, right under his eye. He was also a preemie - weighing 4 pounds 1 ounce. He was born at 30 weeks and had a hard time, he spent 10 weeks in the NICU. It was apparent he had other issues, but he was very sweet. As I walked away I thought how lucky we were that Sami was and is so healthy. This hemangioma is NOTHING compared to what could have been. We are so lucky.

I have mentioned before that we are talking through email and phone with a surgeon in CA. He wants to do the surgery now, or before 14-15 months. He is well-known and respected in his field. I talked to him and loved him. And, I know a couple moms who have been to him and had him remove their childrens hemangiomas.

So, the dilemma is who/what to go forward with...

On a lighter note I was thouroughly annoyed when I left the parking garage. I was TWO minutes over on my time and had not gotten my ticket validated. So, of course, they were going to charge me $1.50. At this point I had visions of pulling a Frasier (ever see that episode where he's being charged for 2 minutes and refuses to pay?). Instead I asked her if we couldn't just pretend I had gotten it validated? Nope? Well, I told her I had no money, just a debit card. So, she tells me to give her my license and she'd give me a "promise to pay" coupon. Well, my wallet was in the diaper bag in the back of the truck. And, when I went to open my door to go get it I couldn't get out because I was too close to her little ticket booth. So, she waves out the window for the car behind me to back up. I have to back up, get out, get my wallet and drive back up to her. So, just because I was feeling spiteful when she handed me my ticket to sign I wrote Angelina Jolie...

My sweet girls...

They adore each other...and I adore them.

Super Happy Little Girl

Super Happy Little Girl
Originally uploaded by MrsSuperSpy

Sweet Sami

Sweet Sami
Originally uploaded by MrsSuperSpy

The sweetest laugh...

The sweetest laugh...
Originally uploaded by MrsSuperSpy

My Sweet Face

My Sweet Face
Originally uploaded by MrsSuperSpy

9 months old

Miss Samantha is 9 months old today. She is just the light of my life. I can't imagine starting my day without being greeted by her big, gummy smile. She has come so far in this last month. She is sitting up so straight and tall. She will pivot side to side and reach out to get a toy. She also holds herself up with her arms if she starts to tip. She has started saying more little words. DaDa and Tay are her favorites. She is eating more and more these days. I'm letting her try table foods and she is loving them. She even had some Spanish rice at the restaurant the other night! She loves her family and most everybody. She is literally the most happy child I have ever met in my life. She smiles and coos at everyone in the store and is very, very interested in little boys. I can tell she misses her brothers very much when they are at school. When we go out and she sees a little boys she tries so hard to get his attention so that he will interact with her. I am just so lucky to be her Mommy!

Sami's new bling!

Yesterday Gramma came out to spend the day with Miss Samantha (oh, and us, too!). She brought along with her Sami's new bracelet's! She had given her the ID bracelet a couple of weeks ago, but it was a tiny bit too big, so she had to have her jeweler shorten it. It is absolutely gorgeous! She also brought her another bracelet! It was made from one of Gramma's favorite bracelets that had broken. It is so pretty, kind of a twisted rope chain. Both are so light that she doesn't really even know they are there. She did fuss with them a bit yesterday whenever she noticed them but today she hasn't touched them.

When Gramma got to our house we loaded up and headed to the mall. We dropped Sam's bracelet off to be engraved and then did some shopping and had some lunch. We headed back home just in time to get the boys off their bus and let the baby have a nap. When she woke up we headed to dinner with all the kids and them did some shopping in town here. By the time we got home we were all pooped. But, as Jesse said..."This was the best day ever!"