Apology

Wow it has certainly been some time since I have had a moment to catch up with everyone!  These weeks are just flying by!  Things are going well on the homefront.  To catch up on Layla's health, she had the endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy a few Friday's back.  (Again the experience of anesthesia with Layla is horrible and unfortunately I was by myself this time.)  Results are in and she went in with colon issues and came out with esophagus issues.  Apply Murphy's Law here!  Her colon looked good, however her espohagus is inflamed, especially the lower portion and the biopsies came back confiming this inflamation.  The cause?  One of two things.  Acid reflux or an allergy process.  My gut is telling me it is the latter of the two since she is our allergy kid.  The fix?  Right now she is on prevacid.  He wants to scope her again once we give the medecine a few weeks to work.  If he doesnt see a change, then we are going to have to figure out exactly what allergy wise is causing this.  Which means at that point we will be going to a Boston Allergist.  He did say that he didnt believe that the chronic diarrhea is related to this condition "Esophogitis" however, in my research I found that if it is caused by the "allergy process", diarrhea and cramping can result.  (This is where I throw my hands up in the air!)  I am very thankful and relieved that it isnt anything serious!  I think it is just going to take some more time to get to the bottom of and I think we have to be really strict with Layla's diet.  Easier said than done when you have a 5 year old devouring ice cream in front of her!  LOL


Last Friday I was also able to finally get my butt out and enjoy some sister time with Julie.  We went to Patriot's Place Showcase Live and completely enjoyed the Billy Ray Cyrus concert.  It was FANTASTIC!  The two of us had more fun than I think I have had in years.  I forgot how much trouble the two of us could get into when we are enjoying a night out.  It had been way too long!  I think I have totally converted her to a BRC fan as she is still jammin to the cd I made her in her car!  It honestly was the stress reliever I needed and I really need to learn to do this more often for myself. 


I have also been trying to get the side business up and running and you can check out my Photography blog at http://kerrimurphyphotography.blogspot.com/  I am really hoping to get this thing going.  My girlfriend Shannon has completely been my mentor and hopefully between the two of us we can really get something going.  I totally idoloze her in this department as she truly has a very unique skill and I want to learn all that I can from her.  So fingers crossed we can generate some business and I can build my portfolio up.  If anyone is interested in doing some shoots, please email me!  (Rianna002@aol.com) 


Lastly, I am trying to frantically prepare for my baby girl's birthday!  I can NOT believe that a week from today, she will be 2!  OMG it is just all a blur!  The whole two years a complete blur!  Why does it have to fly by so quickly?  Her personality is truly showing these days and my dainty little butterfly has turned into quite the little unruly one, but I will say that aside from her frustrating us at times, she still is my cuddle bug and you just cant help but to laugh hyserically at her!  She is just too darn cute!  She just adores Hannah and Hannah adores her as well.  So this week, we are in last minute party planning mode trying to prepare a little something to celebrate the two years we have been blessed with her!  I always have the best of intentions with being organized and yet somehow... I always end up being a last minute ANNIE!  LOL!

September 11th, 2009

Happy 30th Birthday to my dear sister Julie.. welcome to the time in your life where you will continually tell everyone for the next 20 years that you are 29! :) Welcome to the world little Brea (9.10.09). We are so happy to have you join the Foo Foo Club!

Where Were You

Where were you when the world stopped turning

that September day

Out in the yard with your wife and children

Working on some stage in LA

Did you stand there in shock at the site of

That black smoke rising against that blue sky

Did you shout out in angerIn fear for your neighbor

Or did you just sit down and cry

Did you weep for the children

Who lost their dear loved ones

And pray for the ones who don't know

Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble

And sob for the ones left below

Did you burst out in pride

For the red white and blue

The heroes who died just doing what they do

Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer

And look at yourself to what really matters

I'm just a singer of simple songs

I'm not a real political man

I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you

The difference in Iraq and Iran

But I know Jesus and I talk to God

And I remember this from when I was young

Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us

And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning

that September day

Teaching a class full of innocent children

Driving down some cold interstate

Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor

In a crowded room did you feel alone

Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her

Did you dust off that bible at home

Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened

Close your eyes and not go to sleep

Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages

Speak with some stranger on the street

Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow

Go out and buy you a gun

Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching

And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger

Stand in line and give your own blood

Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family

Thank God you had somebody to love

I'm just a singer of simple songs

I'm not a real political man

I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you

The difference in Iraq and Iran

But I know Jesus and I talk to God

And I remember this from when I was young

Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us

And the greatest is love

I'm just a singer of simple songs

I'm not a real political man

I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you

The difference in Iraq and Iran

But I know Jesus and I talk to God

And I remember this from when I was young

Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us

And the greatest is love

The greatest is love

The greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning

that September day

Alan Jackson...

We will never forget..

Twinkle Toes

My twinkle toes thoroughly enjoyed her first lesson at To The Pointe of Performing Arts last night. I have to say, and I know I am totally biased.. but when she was all dressed and ready to go, I actually got choked up at how beautiful she looked. I dont even think the word beautiful could grasp what I was looking at. She has this perfect little muscle toned body and this gorgeous face with a gorgeous smile. I couldnt help but beam with pride as I watched her "Shuffle-Step". I will also add that she was so excited to be dancing that she did not even flinch at putting the tights on. I was in shock and so was Grammy! Her new friends welcomed her right in and I was glad to see that they were all as outgoing as she is. They were running around the studio in minutes of meeting each other and Hannah was in all her glory. She actually asked me if she could dance every night. I think my heart grew at least 3 inches bigger at this comment! Ahhh.. how sweet it is to watch her enjoying my deepest passion.. how sweet it is.

There goes my life

I am here, yes I am here. It has been quite some time since I have been able to bring myself to update because I knew in doing so I would be bringing up some raw emotion. Am I being dramatic? Probably. Do I care? No. Kindergarten has begun, and I have had to let go of my firstborn baby. By far one of the most difficult journeys I have yet to endure. The transition was not what I had hoped for it to be. To be frank, it was miserable. Do I have unrealistic expectations? I honestly dont think so since the transition of Hannah attending preschool was so much easier than this. I drove in, parked, walked her to her locked classroom door which was obtainable from the outside of the building, knocked, a bright cheerful teacher greeted us, I kissed her goodbye and inside she went. I then made my way back to my car, waving at the Principal as I went and left never questioning her safety or the ways of the school.

Unfortunately, this is not true for Kindergarten. The first day was a complete and utter disaster. Everyone was a confused. No one knew what to do or where to go. There was no one to greet us and let us know. A total mess. At which point, the hesitant children began to melt because there was no order and they were amongst chaos. One by one I watched these kids start to cry and by the second day, I had had enough and I faxed a letter to the Superintendent's office. Four hours later I received a phone call from the Assistant Superintendent. Although kind and considerate, she refused to take blame for any of the issues that I had brought up. Wait, step back.. I am getting ahead of myself. Lets first acknowledge the fact that ME.. I wrote a letter to the Superintendent's office! Anyone reading this who knows me, knows I am the most non confrontational person you will ever meet. Yet, by the second day of chaos and parents a mess wanting to pull there kids out of the school and put them elsewhere, with my mother in law a teacher, in shock herself at the disorganization and my father in disbelief... I was moved by my fury. I am writing all of this at the risk of me sounding like a complete lunatic of a parent. I do apologize for any teachers reading this. I know that sometimes things arent always what they seem and you should expect some chaos during the first week of school or so, however I can guarantee you this wasnt your normal first day of school frazzle... Back to the return phone call, the Assistant Superintendent started the call off by saying, "By no means is this call an apology so please do not take it in this way." Seriously? This is what you say? Need I rant further? I WILL say that since I have brought up my concerns, things have changed. The front door is guarded now and only the children are allowed in and not every Tom, Dick and Harry. Furthermore, the school's buzzer has been repaired. As for the grounds, I was told that was Public Work's responsibility... and nothing has been done yet. It is so easy to pass blame isn't it though? This is so one of my pet peeves. If you make mistakes, own up to them. Be responsible. It's the Town's job to notify Public Works and get the grounds fixed. My taxes went up $800! Where is this money going??????????? So all in all the first week of Kindergarten was hell. Thankfully, this week has seemed a bit better for both Hannah and I as we now know what to expect. However, I will not say that I am comfortable with the school and I do feel as though we really need to get a realistic idea of what we could sell our house for and move to a town that has a better school district. I am hoping to really get this going and figure things out because again, I am so not comfortable.

On a positive note, Hannah started soccer on Saturday and she did really well. I LOVE watching her play and I look forward to Saturday mornings in the Fall weather looking on as a proud parent. They do an extraordinary job with the kids and are very precise with teaching them all of the basics in a fun way that keeps their interest. She also starts dance this evening at a professional studio. I could possibly be more excited than she. Although a bit hesitant to see her reaction to having to wear tights. If you remember, she is a NO TIGHTS, NO SOCKS, NO SHOES (think we can make a country song out of this?) type of kid, so this should be quite interesting. I am keeping my fingers crossed we can keep her distracted long enough to get them on her and send her tapping on her way. If not, I am truly in for it. TO BE CONTINUED! HA!

Other news on the home front is that Layla has her endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy scheduled for 6:30am Monday morning at BCH. I am grateful since the poor little doll had a terrible bout of diarrhea over the weekend that left her with bleeding sores all over her diaper area. It is seriously painful to look at and I am hoping that ointment begins to help heal them soon. Billy actually described it best when he said it looked like someone burned her with cigarettes. Hopefully, this test will give us some direction as far as it being a condition, or a food allergy that we are unaware of. Right now as it stands she is allergic to the peanut, soy, milk and oats. Possibly there is something else that we dont know about causing this distress? I am not looking forward to the prep we have to do over the weekend for it but I know it needs to be done and you have to do what you have to do. I will say she looks as though she is really beginning to grow. Bitter sweet since I want her to grow and be healthy, but I cant even think about her 2nd Birthday lurking just around the corner!

Also on Monday, my Mom will be undergoing some testing up in Boston. She has not been feeling well for some time and once again Boston has pulled through for us in the medical field. We had made an appointment in the Spring, but the doctor was so booked that the soonest appointment was made for last week. It went well and we are anxious to see what the tests show so that she can hopefully begin to feel like herself again. This is all I will say on the matter at this time, but please keep her in your prayers. It hasn't been an easy summer for her and I just want her to feel better so that she can do the things she should be enjoying!

Any day now I will be welcoming a new baby niece or nephew and the suspense is just killing me! What is it going to be? So far I have 3 nieces! I truly could care less either way and I just pray for a healthy baby for my brother and sister in law. I am excited for them to embark on the journey of parenthood and finally see firsthand what a miracle a child truly is and how very much they can change your life in the blink of an eye. Hopefully I will have good news to post within the week.. although Murphy's Law would state that this child would decide to come on Monday when we are all up in Boston!

I hope everyone is enjoying their week and getting excited for some Fall activities. I cant wait to post some pictures of our favorites! xoxoxo