Family fun in North Carolina - Race Day

It sounded like a great idea - signing up Annika and Lauren for a 200 yard dash to raise money in the fight against breast cancer. Pre-race activities.
The starting line - I see cousin Alex, but where are Annika and Lauren? Hmmmm.
There's Lauren - in my arms. Don't I have good form? It's a good thing it was only a 200 yard "dash." Annika, however, didn't even dare to step onto the course. She did enjoy the T-shirt, medal, and painting.

Cousins Annika and Alex. They had so much fun together.
Look at all that pink!
Sisters. We did the 5K walk while the men watched the kids. Yes!
Annika could have spent all day at the painting wall.
Back home at the playground.

September Happenings

Annika loved showing us around her pre-school on Open House night. Notice the words they are water-coloring. . .I should have tried that in my high school classrooms! Dress-up at the dry erase board. No wonder Annika loves pre-school!
I'm singing in the rain. . . can you tell which one doesn't have her own rain jacket?
Aunt Lesley came to visit for a few days! Annika is somewhere in the yard throwing a fit about not wanting to get her picture taken. . .it's like she's 3 or something.
Somehow Aunt Lesley was able to get us all to smile.

Fun at the Church Retreat

Our church retreat was at a new place this year. We had fun (the boats and "sleeping" in a tent were the highlight for the girls) and everyone (except Daddy) fell asleep on the way home. Lauren running away from us. The pavilion is where we had church on Sunday morning.
Nothing more fun than a rock pile.

I believe that is our Pastor's wife, Lisa being shot up into the air on the BLOB. Impressive height, Lisa!
Our "camp." The girls started out both nights in their own sleeping bags, but sometime around 3 AM ended up next to us on the airbed. Annika chose this occasion to decide she needs to get up in the night to go potty (as opposed to just going in her pull-up).
Moss time with Ella.
Lauren running away from us. . .again.
Meal time at the cafeteria. It was so nice to not have to cook and clean up.

This is actually part of a ropes initiative course. We found out later we really weren't supposed to be playing on the tires - whoops.

Daddy's co-pilot.
The McBrides having some fun in the sun! It was pretty cute when Annika and Olivia started yelling back and forth to each other.
Lauren and Mommy out for a ride. For some reason I ended up doing all of the paddling. . .

Fun with Grandpas and Grandmas

Notice the plastic bug in Lauren's mouth (can you say choking hazard?) as she goes upside down on top of Grandpa. The girls love to "Hop on Pop."
Note the freshly painted porch - thanks to Grandpa!
Art time with Grandma!
Giddyup Grandpa!

Return to Sender

Address labels are the best stickers ever; now I can let her play outside without having to worry about her getting lost. Doesn't that face have "fun" written all over it?

Cast-off

Yes, that sounds and looks like a circular saw. Lauren just sat and watched through the whole thing (while her sister cowered in the corner).
The scissors was the worst part for Lauren.
Check out that healing?! Apparently the inside of Lauren's elbow was not a big fan of the cast. No wonder she kept asking for it "off."3 more weeks - but this time with a splint.

July Road Trip

Over the course of 10 days Annika, Lauren, and I flew to Chicago, drove to West Michigan to spend time with family and friends, drove to NW Iowa (a 14 hour car drive!) for Great-Grandma's 90th birthday party, drove to Minneapolis for follow-up procedures for Annika, and then drove back home to St. Louis. Grandpa and Grandma Blankespoor were very patient to have us in their van for all of those miles. We had a good time (aside from having to go through the procedures), but it was also very good to be home again, sleeping in our own beds and spending time with Daddy. April 5, 2005 This was Annika's first trip out of the hospital - to see Ronald at the Ronald McDonald House - our home away from home for 3 months.

July, 2008. Thanks be to God! In the radiology area with Grandma and JoAnne Tobak. JoAnne lives in Minneapolis and had never met us before we came up with Annika 3 years ago. She has blessed us in so many ways.
Dr. Foker - the man who connected Annika's esophagus. He has retired and the esophageal atresia "team" is breaking up. We came up for one last check-up.
The gastric emptying study. Over the course of 90 minutes Annika had to lay on this table 9 times for one minute each time. The machine was recording how quickly the radiation-laced oatmeal Annika had eaten was breaking down in her stomach. This picture was taken towards the end (notice she is not screaming in protest).

Post-op. On the first day Annika had her esophagus and airway looked at and a biopsy taken of her esophagus. She was a real trooper. Thankfully, she woke up quite a bit more content than she has in the past. We received a good report!
A popsicle helped soothe her sore throat.
Playing indoors at the Ronald McDonald House.
Surgery in the morning - wading pool at night. Vroom Vroom!

Pre-op (This picture is out of order). Pre-op on the first day was definitely the worst part of the 2 days. Annika started crying and went running down the hall away from the nurse when they called her name. I had to get her and drag her kicking and screaming into the pre-op area.
Reading with Grandma. Annika is very excited about her new school backpack (notice how she is wearing it while in her pj's).
Helping Grandpa with the gardening.
Checking out the farm with Uncle Harv.

Pigs!

Lunch with buddy Liesl.
Riding bikes with buddy Garrison.
Fun at the Inwood Hotel with Grandpa.
Happy Birthday Grandma!
A new scrabble board for Great-Grandma.

The girls loved swinging in the swings Grandpa hung up for them.
Playing with the boats in "Lake Michigan" at the Meijer Gardens.
Giant Horse!
Pure joy!
Annika LOVES the beach.