The Results

I got a call from Hayden's doc last night. She told me that there is a tear in between the right and left ventricle (sp?). Apparently all babies are born with this, but it heals itself by the time they are 6 months. She said Hayden may have it all her life, but the chances of anything happening because of it are low. On the other hand, the results she got had a completely wrong birthdate on them. She is not sure if that truly is her results or not. She is going to call Cooks today and let me know for sure by this afternoon. All in all, this truly is good news. I guess Hayden is going to be just fine and have no more tests run for now.....YEAH!!!

The Echocardiogram

Hayden had her dreaded echocardiogram yesterday. Everything went well and she was such a big girl!! They told me to try to get her to sleep......they apparently don't know this 2 yr old very well. She sleeps, just on her time, in her bed, and doesn't always need a nap :) After about 25 minutes of trying, I finally told the nurse that she was not going to sleep and that she was becoming hostile with me for trying to rock her. You know, SHE'S A BIG GIRL!! Atleast, that's what she thinks and tells me all the time :) So, the nurse said she'd try doing it. Hayden laid extra still and watched the screen and then when she started to get restless, the nurse pulled out her phone and an episode of Dora. It worked like magic. She was able to finish with no problems. We have to wait for Cooks Children's Hospital to look at the pics and make a decision on what to do next, if anything. This being the week of Christmas, we may not know anything until next week. Thanks for all the prayers during this difficult time. Keep your fingers crossed that we won't need to do anything else :) And A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

Please excuse her hair.....oh and the open mouth.....

Dylan Barrell Racing

Dylan is a horse rider! She does horse shows from March until Sept. and has been doing it since she was 2. There are always photographers at the horse shows and this year we got a disc with all the pictures he took of her from the Lorena show. In the horse shows she competes in several different events which include Speed race, Straightaway Barrells, Goat Slapping (yes this is true), Pole Bending, Clover Leaf Barrells, Keyhole Race, and Flag Race. This year she placed 3rd in overall points because she had to miss a lot of races for 3 different weddings this summer. She won a belt buckle (her 3rd buckle), a hay holder for the trailer, a jacket, and a horse blanket for her pony, Starbaby. Here are just a few of the pics.

She's giving her tongue a good workout just like her daddy did :) Just click on the pic to enlarge it.

Speed Race turning the barrell.

Just out of the gate.....this is the scariest part of it all. I almost pee myself EVERYTIME she comes out of the gate and starts kicking!!

Hayden's Cardiologist Appt.

I just heard back from Hillcrest and they have scheduled Hayden's ecocardiogram for Wed. Dec. 22 at 9 am. I have suddenly become more nervous than when we first found out she would have an eco done. I'm praying it's a benign murmur and that no further testing will be done. It's also a little strange to think that I have 1 extremely healthy child and that my second may not be so healthy like we first thought. It's looking pretty scary from where I'm at. I will continue to update as I learn more. For now, look at this sweet face :)

Bad News

Today I took the girls to the doctor for Hayden's 24 month check up and they were both going to get a flu shot. Hayden has had a heart murmur since she was born. They thought it would go away by the time she was 1. It didn't. Then they said it would go away by the time she was 18 months old. It didn't. Today her doctor became concerned because she thinks it's worse than it was when she was born. We were sent over to the lab to have her blood drawn to see if she was anemic. She said that anemia could cause the murmur. The doc is going to call me tomorrow with the results from the blood work. If she is not anemic they are going to schedule an eco gram of her heart to find out what the culprit is. I'm sure it's nothing serious, but i'm very worried. I will update tomorrow as soon as I know more.

The Pioneer Woman

My sis and I went to Dallas in hopes of getting to meet The Pioneer Woman. However, it seems ALL of Dallas had the same idea on Tues. It was a MADHOUSE!! They handed out colored wristbands (100 of each color to be exact) so that you knew when you were supposed to line up. They had 4 colors lined up and still had 4 more colors to get to. Ours being the last color. She got through 8 people in only 45 minutes, so Heather and I decided to get some of her tshirts and get her girls to sign the book. We got pretty close behind her, so I snapped a quick pic of her. The problem was, is that people were bringing up HANDFULS of her cookbooks for her to sign making the lines wait longer. Maybe next time...

Hayden's Birthday Party

Nov. 22 we had a little birthday party for Hayden. It was really just family and a few of my neighbors who had children as well. She had a great time and got a ton of cool toys! Here are just a few pics from the party and some from her actual birthday on the 24th.

Dylan and Hayden before everyone got there!

Aunt Wee gave her a "pack-tat" (back pack) with her name on it and she loved it!!

Blowing out her candle!

Anytime we tell Hayden to say cheese, we get a pose like this....no smile :)

Blowing out her candle on her actual birthday....and yes that's a cookie :)

Here's the pose again :) Silly girl!!

Hayden is 2!!

Hayden Birkes is 2 today!! I cannot believe 2 years has already passed since she has been born! So much has happened since that day. Since my camera is gone, I've left you with a few pics from when she was born. When my sis emails me the pics from her party I will post those. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET PEA!! WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH, MOMMY, DADDY, AND SISTER!

Mommy and Daddy (Please excuse the way I look. This was 5 AM and I had NO sleep :)

Right after.

Big Sis...not so thrilled :)

My mom (Nana) and Hayden (this is the first time she got to hold her. she was VERY ill when she was born.)

Sleeping soundly in her bassinet.

I still can't believe she is SO big now...where does the time go?

Halloweenie :)

Halloween this year was a ton more fun than last!! We just went around our neighborhood and the kids got a ton of candy! It was really neat to see what a years difference makes. Hayden only walked up to 2 houses last year, but wasn't quite sure of what to do. This year she jumped out of her wagon and ran to every front door. She was really scared of a guy dressed up in an alien costume though. I don't know why people do that anyway. There are little kids that would be scared of them. Weirdos!! Anyway, Nate took exactly 2 pics with his phone. I really should buy a new camera, but I'm waiting for Santa to bring me one :)

Hayden the lamb....BBBAAA!

Hayden, Braiden, Quinn, and Dylan

Red Ribbon Week

China Spring Elem. had their Red Ribbon Week this week. The kids had a few special days to wear/bring something that went with the theme. Today was "hats off to drugs" day and everyone got to choose a hat to wear all day. Dylan of course picked a China Spring hat to also show her spirit for the game tonight against Glen Rose. This picture is not very good quality because I took it with my phone. I hope everyone has a very Happy Halloween :)

GO COUGARS!!

Pumpkin Carving Party

Tuesday night we had a neighborhood pumpkin carving party in my driveway. We have a TON of kids all the same age that live on our street and we have all become good friends this year. The kids had a blast, but since my camera is in peices somewhere on HWY 6 I stole just a few pics from Amy. Enjoy!!

Me, Sara, Amy, and Prissy (we're missing Erika, Landy, and Christie)

The Real Housewives of Peony Ln. :)

Just finished

Dylan and her pumpkin

Peony Posse (boys)

Amy, Blain, and Paige

China Spring Jamboree

This morning Nate, Hayden, and I attended the China Spring Elem. Jamboree!! It was SO exciting because we couldn't tell Dylan that we were coming to see her. She was surprised to see us there when they all walked into the cafeteria!! I received a letter last week asking us to attend because Dylan would be receiving an award. We weren't supposed to tell her because she didn't know. She was so happy to receive the Principal's Award (she was the only one in the class). One child from each kindergarten class received this award :) It was the last award given!! She received this award for positive attitude, perfect attendence, and academic achievement!! She was so proud of herself and we were proud of her too!! Here are some pics!!

Just sat down!

Dylan and her bff Jill! (Red-heads unite!!)

Getting her award from the vice princapal.


SO proud of herself :)


Singing the school song!

Look at that smile :)

The award upclose...I was told to take this home, put it in a frame, and hang it on the wall in her room so Hayden couldn't get ahold of it :)

Skye Gracyn Birkes

My new niece was born on Thurs. Oct. 1 at 3 pm. She weighed in at a bruising 6 lbs. 11 oz. and was 20 inches long! She is the sweetest thing I have ever seen. She definitely looks like a Birkes girl, but I see a lot of her gorgeous mama in her too!! She is already 1 spoiled little girl and I am sure that will never end!! Lots of loving family and friends were there when she was born, but her Auntie Court was running carpool for 3 kindergarteners and I was not able to be present. I figured I'd let Nate go instead :) I finally got to go and spend some much needed time with her on Sat. and I was SO excited to get inside, my bro-in-law David had to go outside to turn the lights off in my car :) I'm sure I will get to see her much more now that they are home and I don't work! I think I may just have to babysit to give David and Jess time to nap :) Here are some pics!

So content :)

Look at that angel face :)

Skye and a VERY proud Auntie Court :)

CONGRATS to David and Jessika!! She's gorgeous and we love her!!

Green Markers Are Fun!!

This morning I was cleaning my kitchen and Hayden was watching her favorite show, Wow Wow Wubbzy......or so I thought. I was re-loading the dishwasher when she came running into the kitchen looking as if she had rolled around in a field of green (no pun intended). As I walked through the livingroom, I happened to see a little of Hayden's artwork. No bare surface was spared. Even the tv!! I wasn't sure of what to do first. So, I grabbed my camera :) It's a good thing I hadn't gotten to the livingroom yet to dust. If I had, I think this little girl might have made a trip to time-out for a bit :) Enjoy these pictures and I have locked up ALL of Dylan's crayons and markers for now :) Oh and the marker was washable :)

Picasso after a 5 min artwork session :)

And my coffee table....

Zebra got tagged too :)

Even my tile needed some color....

Dove hunting anyone.......

Opening dove weekend we headed out to the J4 ranch to do a little huntin'!! They didn't hardly shoot anything, but it was nice to hang out and spend time with family :) Here are a few pictures!




Hayden says...."Let me tell you something!!"
Dylan is holding Nate's bird, but it's blending in with her shirt :)


Hayden had to run to see what Daddy and Dylan shot!!

Not real sure about this one?!?!?

Or this one, but they sure are sweet :)



Monkey see, monkey do.....

Jessika's Baby Shower

This is SO late, but a few weeks ago we had a shower for my sis-in-law Jessika!! It was SO mych fun and she got a ton of stuff for sweet baby Skye :) It's just a few weeks from Skye's due date and we are anxiously awaiting our new Birkes Princess :) Here are some pics!!

Shelly, Mom-To-Be, Ashlee, and yours truly :)

VERY cute cupcakes Shelly got a friend of hers to make!!

Diaper cake for the centerpiece!

Food, and such!

I think she really cleaned up!! It took to carloads to get it all home!!

**UPDATE**

Dylan has adjusted very well to kindergarten. The only thing she gripes about is waking up when it's still dark outside. I can't say I blame her, I hate it too :) Hayden is VERY bored without her sidekick here everyday, but she does get to go to Parent's Day Out every Tuesday! Dylan hasn't learned anything new yet! She says all they do is color and read books! I think they are just trying to get the hang of being at school all day long before they really start to teach them things. That's all for now! Everyone have a great weekend!!

Dylan is a kindergartener!!

Dylan started kindergarten today and her mommy is quite sad! She didn't even look at me to tell me bye! Should I be sad or proud of the self-sufficient 5 year old that I had a hand in raising? I have mixed feelings :) I should have an update about how her day went when she gets home. Maybe I'll take a video and let her tell you all herself :) Here are a few pics that she let me take before she told me to stop :)

Sweet Dylan


Hayden wanted to go too :)

Walking out the door...

Getting in the car.....

About to leave....I think this is when she said I was done taking pictures :)

She just sat right down and started coloring :)