A Message from Emma-Caroline!

Update on the Drama

Emma-Caroline and Howie just arrived back from the ER with the infamous bead tucked into Howie's pocket, a prescription for an antibiotic, and a stern warning to NEVER, NEVER do that again. Dr. Angela had to flush her ear out because the bead was so far down in her ear. Thankfully it came up. The antibiotic is for the inflammation caused by the bead to the sensitive tissue inside Emma-Caroline's ear. As far as an ER trip goes, this was very mild. I am thankful for that and hope to not have to go with the girls to the ER for a more serious matter. If you are just coming in on this post, see the post below for more details.

Pea Sized Drama!

Tonight, Emma-Caroline decided to invent a new fashion statement, wearing beads on the inside of your ear. Yes, my uber intelligent little 5 and 1/2 year old made a not so intelligent choice to stuff a bead just the right size down her ear canal where it got stuck and began to hurt. Ears are something I know you DO NOT mess with, so I quickly called my doctor friend Angela, who just so happened to be working at the ER at Children's Hospital tonight, and who promptly instructed us to go ahead and bring Emma-Caroline in. Howie is there with Emma-Caroline as I write this. I feel like a bad parent that I am more annoyed than worried about this situation, but I guess this is one of those times when you just chalk it up to "kids, being kids."

I'm Officially a Soccer Mom!

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would be a soccer mom. Nope, not me. I'm not that kind of mom. But the reality is, oh yes I am. Emma-Caroline started soccer today and LOVED it! I was so proud of my little girl jumping out on the field and really doing well in practice.

She handled the ball like a little pro. Not to sound all surprised, but I kinda was! I can say, with all honesty, that athleticism is really not my thing.

I can hold my own for some things, but I lack coordination when it comes to most sports involving a ball. So when Emma-Caroline got out there and just went to town with that little pink soccer ball, I was pleasantly surprised.

She has to definitely take after Howie in the area of athleticism. More than anything though, she had a great time! Here is a look at her first soccer practice.

Getting ready to score a goal!

Learning how to throw the ball in.

Look at that determination!

Future Mia Hamm!

The Littlest Monet

Emma-Caroline has always had a love of art. At two, she painted our family's portrait which included all of us and her Godmother Kristen. I know she is my child, but I was impressed. The other day I watched her as she took Sophie's Angelina Ballerina doll and studied her while replicating her image on paper. She has had no formal art lessons, so the fact that she has begun to study and replicate an image on her own is an indicator that she may have some true natural artistic ability. Her drawings for a five year old are right in line with other five year olds, but it's the way she draws that makes me think I may have a budding Monet. I am not surprised in her love for art as both my dad and my mom are amazing artists. So, art classes may be in order in the near future. In the mean time, I will enjoy the beautiful work she produces displayed in our own refridgerater art gallery.

I Knew This Day Would Come!

Yesterday in the mail, we received a letter. I knew exactly what it was when I saw the envelope peeking out of a group of bills. I couldn't wait to open it and tore open the envelope as I walked back up to the door of our house. Tossing the envelope to the floor, I hurriedly scanned the greeting and panned down to the information I so longed to know, Emma-Caroline's first day of school.
For those of you with children attending Knox County Schools, you know that the regular school start date does not apply to kindergartners because they are staggered the first two weeks. So we found out in the long awaited letter that Emma-Caroline will start school on August 18th. As much as I wanted to know this date, I didn't want to know this date. I knew this day would come, the day my first born child would start kindergarten. And with all milestones that your child goes through, it is always bitter-sweet. I am so excited for her and all the things she is going to learn this year as well as the many friends she is going to meet and the wonderful events she is going to experience. But it also makes me sentimental for the little baby girl she no longer is. Ultimately, I am very OK with it all. I know Emma-Caroline will always be my "baby" and I look forward to experiencing with her the many grand adventures kindergarten will bring.

The Pre-K Graduate!

It is official! Emma-Caroline is now a graduate of Pre-K. On May 26, 2010, Emma-Caroline graduated from Sacred Heart Preschool in a sweet ceremony at the church. She wore the dress I wore when I graduated from Kindergarten that my grandmother Josie had made for me. I think she would have been proud to see her great-granddaughter in the dress she had made. Emma-Caroline's Nana and Great Aunt Brenda traveled to Knoxville from Memphis which made the day even more special. We are so proud of our little graduate!

Getting ready to perform.

All of the pre-K class of 2010

Sneaking a peak in the pews.

Waiting her turn to graduate.

My sweet girl!

Receiving her diploma from Miss Nancy

The three who have been at Sacred Heart Preschool since babies, Harrison, Emma-Caroline and Jenna.

Proud of my little graduate!

Emma-Caroline and Jenna

Nana and Emma-Caroline

Emma-Caroline and her teacher Miss Jennifer

Emma-Caroline and Miss Nancy

Miss Candi Smith, our wonderful Preschool Director!

With her friend Celestina

Tale as Old As Time . . .

Last evening, Emma-Caroline transformed herself into Belle of Beauty and the Beast before we entered our carriage (aka the mini van) and drove to Downtown Knoxville to see the Broadway Production of Beauty and the Beast at the Tennessee Theater.

We arrived on Market Square first to dine at Cafe 4 on such wondrous delectibles as the "Grilled Cheese Dipper."

It is a highly recommended entree by Princess Emma-Caroline and her Queen Mother.

Mmmmmmm!

After dinner we strolled over to the Tennessee theater with our escort King Howard (aka Daddy).

We quickly found our seats

and enjoyed a delightful performance of "Beauty and the Beast"

It was truly a magical evening fit for any princess.

Emma-Caroline and one of her friends from school

Emma-Caroline's 5 Year Check-Up

This past week I took Emma-Caroline to her 5 Year Check-Up at Dr. Shults' office. She has never minded going to the doctor before, but I had a feeling after this visit, she would not want to go back. Unfortunately, my hunch proved correct. Despite some tears, the visit went well and Emma-Caroline escaped with only minor "injuries" from the shots and finger prick. Now she is good to go for kindergarten!

We started our visit here. All smiles and eager to see Dr. Shults!

Then we proceeded to the next step, the urine sample. EC was stage shy so we ended up having to bring this back later in the day. LOL! (PS, this is the empty cup!)

Next came the blood pressure. More intriguing than scary to EC. She was all smiles.

then the finger pulse. Still all smiles!

The hearing test was a hit! I was starting to rethink my initial fear that she would be scared of the doctor.

Height checked in at 46 inches which puts her in the 96th percentile for height.
Weight: She weighed in at 43 lbs,

putting her in the 40th percentile for weight.

Still all smiles for Dr, Shults while drawing her

self portrait.

Yes, this is going rather well. She's not scared at all!

Then this happened!

And it was all over from there. The finger prick, followed by shots did not set well in my little five year old's head. And from that point it was. "I NEVER want to go to the doctor AGAIN! EVER!

But a visit to the treasure chest and a promise of ice cream helped stop the tears and we survived. Whew! I'm glad that one is under our belts, and there will be no more visits to the doctor. At least not for a little while!