If I had a quarter...

for every single doctor and exam where Aspen's heart murmur was missed- I would be rich.

Mid May when we returned from San Diego, the trio got sick. Of course I immediately self diagnosed swine flu and took the to the doctor. My Ped is great-slightly odd and quirky, and aside from the one odd scarlet fever diagnosis, is pretty darn good.

So the fact that he caught a heart murmur that had never been mentioned before was something that caught us off guard. Sure, it slipped by the 5 previous visits to him, but hey, the 6th one was the charm. After all, why wouldn't it have been picked up by one of the NICU doctors who examined her every day for 3 months?

So yesterday, after waiting a month, we finally saw the cardiologist. He was amazed that it had never been picked up before, but quickly realized that the location made it almost impossible to see from the ultrasound (behind the breastbone), yet easily more noticeable from an auditory standpoint.

So he diagnosed her with a muscular Ventricular Septal Defect. Thankfully, it is a pin hole size, and he is optimistic that it should be completely closed in the next 2 years, avoiding any surgical intervention.

He also cleared her for her upcoming tendon lengthening surgery in mid July, since she has not gained the abduction results that the Ortho would like to see. He is concerned that the tightness could compromise the positioning of her hips. At least she will not be in a cast this time, but only a brace. Which is good, considering I just loaded up on tutus!

Aspen at dance class

No Gymboree at gym class???

I am an unprepared mother.

I signed the trio up for a "Ballet, Dance and Motion" class at a local rec center. Word on the street is that since they went to a lottery system for their highly recommended preschool program, it's a good idea to schmooze a little.

I can schmooze with the best of them.

So I enrolled them in this class. One, because it is on Saturdays, and Two, because, well, it was the only one in the time frame I needed. If it was Skeet Shooting Basics 101 from 11:30-12pm- they would have learned to have a damn good shot.

Imagine how I cringed when MY LITTLE GIRL was the only one not in a TUTU. "The Father" said she wouldn't need one since it wasn't strictly a ballet class, and besides, I was not putting the boys in tights. You will notice that Ryan is missing from the pictures. That is because he prefered to spend his class enrollment fee on crying and watching from the window.

So off I go to figure how to get twinkling lights on Aspen's new tutu- I must leave a lasting impression.

Aspen performing to world renowned "Squat and Twirl"

"What the heck has Mommy done to me?"

It's a SeaWorld birthday!

Considering that my "not in the least spoiled" children still have Christmas presents that have not been taken out of their boxes, the whole idea of gifts seemed unrealistic. So, after very little planning, we made reservations to go to San Diego. And for the 1st time in my life, I booked a non refundable hotel room.

And then that pesky swine flu hit. Damn those pigs.

However, after spending enough time researching and lingering on the CDC website that I am now an honorary employee- we went to San Diego anyway. I was armed with enough Purell and Lysol to sanitize a small third world country. I looked like Monk. I glared down anyone within a 12 foot radius who even dared to cough.

We still did have a good time, even though I managed to get sun poisoning. All the Purell in the world will not help you if you forget to put on sunscreen. My poor forehead is flaking and leaving little bits o' DNA everywhere.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

The trio turned 3 on Friday! Happy Birthday my sweet ones!

Big juicy...

boogers.

And who is the snot fisherman in the household you ask? None other then sweet, ladylike Aspen. Yep-shoves her THUMB up there like she is deep sea diving.

And she loves to share her new hobby with anyone. She even hoards them in the crib until she gets up then will politely hand them individually to you as a nasty slimy present.

She even handed one to her Ortho doctor the other day as he is examining her abduction progress (which looks like a tendon lengthening procedure is going to occur by the end of the year). He was less then amused. And this was after she already broke the "NPIP" rule (no pooping in public).

Is Miss Manners still alive? Does she do housecalls?

A marching we will go...

Yesterday we participated for the first time in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Henderson with LVMOMS. It was held on a street with the same inclination as Mt. Everest. Luckily, Don and Drew dropped Laura and I off with the kids at the top- or the buzzards may have started to swirl again.

It was a hoot of fun...and very random with participants...see for yourself!

The choo choo wagon was all pimped out...