Hi, hi, hi.

[x] To get this party started, I need to first give a huge shout out to Vote4Hope for featuring my Little Flower as an Ambassador for Hope on 27 September (thank you again, Janis!)! IMHO, any awareness and/or attention brought to Septo-Optic Dysplasia is a GREAT thing. Have you been voting for hope? I certainly hope so. It's not too late to slam a few votes in, so please...get to voting! Oh, and feel free to read more about The Global Genes Project if you'd like as well. All the Ambassadors and Angels for Hope are so very inspiring--some are fighting the good fight every day and some have left legacies that will continue endlessly, paving the way for change...

[x] And if you're looking for further inspiration to vote, check out the blog of one of the most amazing women (who just happens to be a special needs mama as well--and the co-founder of SFSN) I've ever had the chance to encounter on this crazy thing called the Internet. And wish her beautiful daughter a very happy ninth birthday while you're at it! You should watch this , too--but get the kleenex. It positively gave me goosebumps. Happy Birthday, Quinnlin!

[x] And now that her first mom knows, I can break the news here: LF does NOT need the skull surgery her endo was CERTAIN she would! We met with her neurologist today (and let me tell you guys--he's awesome!) and we went over the MRI films, etc. Even better news? We don't even need to be on "watch". While I appreciate her endo's concern greatly, I'm entirely relieved and rejoicing it was for naught. Her neuro recommended a follow up every year or two--RIGHT ON! I was so happy to hear my sweet LF is avoiding surgery, I could've cried. What an awesome and amazing morning!

[x] October is shaping up to be an insanely ridiculous month. Lots of good stuff (LF turns ONE, for starters!) but lots of day-in-day out stuff, too. One year well visit for LF, a doctor's appointment for me, an ortho consult and urology appointment for Beauty, and so on, and so on. Oh, and I can't forget Halloween. The costumes are almost all set, but I think Bear might need a size smaller than the one he has. The kids are going to look fantastically adorable (or as Bear would say "rock awesome"): Bear is going as Batman, Beauty is going as a butterfly (again! She was one two years ago and wanted to be one again!), and Little Flower is going to be, well, a little flower of course! Her costume is ridiculously adorable. I have a picture of her in it from a few weeks back, but I'm going to hold off on posting it here (only K. and LF's first mom have seen it so far). It is so cute, in fact, that I lack the vocabulary to express the cuteness quotient. Seriously.

[x] Bear has a little crush on one of the girls from his preschool. He is shaping up to be quite the ladies' man. He plays with Ericka almost every day and when he comes home it's "Ericka said this..." or "Ericka likes that...". It's pretty precious. I should note that E. and her little sis (also in preschool in Beauty's class!) live quite close to us--we're actually almost neighbors. We have to get a play date, stat. Their mom is super rad, and from what I hear from K., their dad is, too. Oh, and in case you were wondering...the roster of Bear's "preschool favorites"? All girls. Lord, have mercy.

[x] Both Bear and Beauty are still loving preschool. I hope Beauty starts to come out of her shell a bit more, as she tends to take some time to warm up in newer situations. They both received a sticker for good behavior today and came home beaming. I have my first "mom assignment"--whipping up a few tasty treats for the upcoming bake sale. I'm geekily (and yes, I know that's not a word!) excited. How much does a dozen (or two) cookies go for nowadays? Any suggestions?

[x] I also made another batch of red velvet cake balls (truffles) for my favorites at three tonight. K. was off for the first 12 today, so I decided to try my hand at another batch--in the hope of making them a bit...neater. It kind of worked. But The Fireman (of The Fireman and The Pirate--two of my favorite people ever!) sent me some reassuring text messages and I feel a bit better about the whole thing. Naturally, I'm sure K. put him up to it, but even still...

[x] Tomorrow night we are celebrating my dad's birthday! K was under the weather on Tuesday so we didn't get the chance to celebrate on my dad's actual birthday, but tomorrow night we will tear it up. Bear picked out Grandpa's gift himself and I have no doubt in my mind he will love it. Happy Birthday, daddy!

[x] I'm a very happy girl tonight. This day had a few stresses (to be sure), but my family is healthy and happy and that's all a girl could want in this world.

Well, a million dollars wouldn't hurt, either. But I'll gladly take what I can get. <3

<3