March brought with it birthday celebrations, the state swim meet, piano festival, Spring Break, and more!
The month kicked off with Jeff finally getting his infusion medication. We are so thankful for how God continues to provide and for this medication that keeps Jeff's system operating well!
The first weekend of the month, Jeff and the boys headed to the State Swim Meet. Eli qualified to compete against the best of the best in the State of Arkansas. He did great, dropping more than a second off his fastest time. It was a fun adventure as the boys dined out and spent some time shopping at the Bass Pro Shop.
That weekend was also the Mom and Student annual dinner and game night at church. We thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship and getting to compete against other mom/student teams. We took 4th place this year overall and walked away with a gift certificate for some pretty amazing cupcakes. It was such a fun night to just be silly with the boys.
The following week, Jeff and the girls were rear-ended on the way home from swim practice. Thankfully, they didn't sustain any major physical injuries. They all walked away with whiplash and the girls struggled with fear and nightmares. The van ended up getting totaled and so now the search begins for another vehicle. We are thankful for the Lord's protection and for insurance!
Can you believe that Anna turned 8 this month??? Anna's birthday celebration this year consisted of a trip to Nana and Papa's. She enjoyed blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes followed by a Snow Tiger Cake and rainbow sherbet. She received many fun gifts as you will see in the slideshow.
The next weekend the boys played before judges at a piano festival. Both did a great job under very stressful circumstances. It is so enjoyable to listen to them play! They have both become very accomplished musicians.
Next up was a crazy week with parent/teacher conferences, doctor's appointments, and therapy sessions. The kids all received great reports from their teachers. They work hard and do well in school. The girls also received glowing behavior reports. We are so thankful for wonderful teachers who set an environment where learning is fun! Marie and Anna love going to school.
The boys had another set of tests done to check on their hearts, livers, and spleens. After analyzing all the tests, Eli's kidney function is just below the 50% mark. Thad's has remained stable at approximately 78%. Both boys have healthy hearts and will continue with their usual course of treatment at this time.
Spring Break finally arrived. Jeff and I were able to get away for two nights by ourselves at the start of the week. It was such a blessing to have our friends watch all 5 kiddos so we could enjoy some alone time. We rented a cute cabin up near Rogers and enjoyed dining out, a trip to the movies, and taking long walks. The kids thoroughly enjoyed their time as they went to two different art museums that had hands on crafts, Sonic, and time with friends.
During Spring Break the kids participated in several activities hosted by our church. There was a bounce around/fun day for the girls. The boys participated in biking, card games, and a movie. They all had a ton of fun!
At the end of Spring Break we were blessed to stay at a friend's Lake House on Beaver Lake for two nights. During our time, we took the kids to a jump place for Eden's birthday. She LOVED getting to fly on the trapeze! The next day we headed to the Jones Center for ice skating with Elsa and Anna followed by swimming. We also dined out, played at a playground, and learned some new card/board games. It was a great weekend to be away from the hustle and bustle and just spend time together as a family!
For Eden's 6th birthday, she requested McDonald's and an ice cream cake. She received some fun gifts as well. She is excited to learn how to play the Ukulele!
As the month, comes to a close, we are so thankful for all the opportunities the Lord has given us. We are thankful for the safety He provided and the blessing of birthdays. Now to see what April holds...
