Whoa!

You never know when something big will strike with kids.  I am probably more paranoid than most parents, I think I've watched one too many 'Datelines', 'Trauma: Life in the ER', and 'I survived'.  I'll have to go back to the end of April to explain.  Spring was flying by, Gavin's t-ball was in full swing, which he loves.

Gavin and I were trying to fill up on our one-on-one time before the girls got out of school.  Here he is conquering the climbing rock at Suson Park.

On the same day as Ava's last dance competition was Gavin's 3rd belt test in TaeKwonDo.  He still really enjoys TKD.

He is a boy on a mission.  I don't see him ever giving up TKD, as least not until he gets that black belt around his waist.  He is now a blue stripe and with each advancement he gives me the list of what we have left to get to the prized black belt.

 Here he is receiving congratulations from one of the instructors.  So proud of our little ninja and what he has learned.  

Side note: Gavin LOVES belts.  He wants to wear a belt everyday.  He says"big boys and dads wear belts".  If he has loops he won't leave home without it!

It may seem like I am talking a lot about Gavin, but the girls were busy too...They were both still dancing, Ella was still playing soccer, and they were trying to finish up the school year.  I just took a lot of pictures of Gavin for awhile.  Gavin also had the annual preschool spring program.  Here is Gavin with his friends Molly and Louis.  He sure doesn't look like he's the oldest.

After watching the girls practice for programs in the past and then get up on stage and get quiet and shy, I made a request to Gavin.  I asked him to make sure he sang loud and smiled big so I could see and hear him.  And boy did he deliver!  You can kinda see the enthusiasm he used during the performance.  He could be heard over all the kids...he was "that kid"...and he did great!

Right around that time frame we had everything come to a halt.

After attending a birthday party on Friday night and then a busy Saturday with another birthday party that night, we were exhausted.  We all went to bed late Saturday night, only to be woken up by Ella at 1:00 in the morning saying she had a stomach ache.  There was a little vomiting, no fever, no crying, just a bad stomach ache.  Thought for sure it was food poisoning or the stomach flu.  By 6am she was still saying it hurt and she started pointing toward the right side of her stomach as the location of the pain.  Thanks to my Dad's appendicitis years ago, I have always paid more attention to random stomach pain, and this time it paid off. 

By 8am we were at Cardinal Glennon ER and by noon Ella was in surgery having an emergency appendectomy. You could tell right before they wheeled her back she was really nervous, but she put on a brave face and handled it like a champ.

Once she woke up in recovery and got to her own room, they encouraged her to try and drink some water or have a popsicle.  She opted for a cheeseburger and sprite...like mother like daughter. 

The nurses were so impressed to see her up and moving the same day.  She is one tough little girl!

After a whole day of pushing her self, walking, painting, and getting up and down, she was beat.  The pain started kicking in and she had had enough.  She slept like a baby despite being in a hospital, (not like when she was actually a baby with reflux) I however slept very similar to how I did when she was a baby. :(

The next day we got to go home.  She was still doing well, but the strong numbing meds from the surgery were all worn off and she was definitely in more pain.

We spent the next several days sleeping, walking little by little, and receiving gifts.

I must say she has an amazing group of friends.  She got so many balloons, stuffed animals, crafts, art  supplies, cookies, and candy I couldn't believe it.

Even her teacher and the principal of the school sent gifts.   She was blown away by the kindness as was I.  She would wake up and say "who's stopping by next , Mom?".

I can only hope she feels as loved and showered with gifts on her upcoming birthday as she did that week recovering at home.  Unfortunately, she missed the end of her soccer season, which was the most upsetting part of the whole ordeal for her, but she'll be back at it this fall.

Within a week she returned to school and within two weeks she started low key activities.  Within a month you'd never know anything ever happened.  Such a strong, brave trooper.  Hated that she had to go through it, but so proud of how well she handled it!  Love you Ella!  Also, SO thankful we caught it before the appendix perforated, could have been so much worse.