Another school year has begun

Hi everyone... I have not posted lately because we have been so busy. We camped all summer. Monique really enjoyed the outdoors! She started the second grade this year. She is getting so big. She also got glasses. Wait til you see... they are adorable. She looks so distinguished.
Monique has a cardio check-up at the end of September. I am really hoping it goes well. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Tea Party

What an amazing event! Monique had so much fun. She looked like a little Snow White. The events consisted of tea, cupcakes, singing, magic show, ballerinas, hip hop dancers and a belly dancer. Then there were arts and crafts and a ballon guy making balloon animals for the kids. Monique was the centre of attention... she will never forget the event I am sure of it.

The highlight of the day was seeing her face when she saw the Disney Princesses. Her face froze. Her feet froze... she squeezed my hand tight... "mom... look!" Too precious! Tink was her favourite!

Here are a few pictures...

Easter

Here come Peter Cottontail...

So Easter falls on my birthday for the 1st time this year. I think it's kinda cool.

Monique has been fabulous!! She is super excited for the princess tea party the Children's wish foundation is organizing as a fundraiser. She is super excited to wear her Snow White costume and is a beauty in it!! As you can see!

She wants a pink iPod for Easter... she is growing up fast and wants all the new 'cool' toys that come along with knowing they exist i guess...

Happy Easter to all!

Update!

Hey everyone!
Monique went for a check-up this week. Her cardiologist said that he was happy with what he saw on echo however her aortic valve is leaking a little. He said that it was because they had to tighten her valve so much to repair it, that it made the opening smaller, therefore there is more pressure going through that smaller space.

There is no way to predict how long the repair will last and she must be watched for signs of failure always just in case it lets go. It could be months or years.

Monique got her Sleeping beauty dress for the Princess Tea party. She is going to a photo shoot in her dress for the program. She is excited and the dress is beautiful and fits her perfectly!

Princess for a day

Hi everyone... I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for following my blog. It warms my heart when you can stop me and mention it, to know that so many people care and are rooting for Monique is amazing.

Monique is back in school full time. She has also started at a new babysitters. She is doing amazing.

Monique has been invited to be an honorary Princess at the 1st annual Princess Tea Party at a local hotel on April 18th. This is a fundraiser for Children's Wish. She will be presented as a wish child at the event. I have also been invited to speak as a wish parent. It will be an amazing experience for all of us. :)

School

Monique started school this week. She went for a few hours yesterday morning. She would not let me leave though! Which was so completely OK. She took the bus this morning and went to school until noon all by herself. She was excited and I could tell a little nervous too. I think she did fine though. When I picked her up she was happy so... she is tired though. I am planning on sending her for a full day tomorrow and see how she copes. I am hoping it will be fine. I have to go back to work.

Monique's incision is all healed! Looks beautiful. She is so proud. She only has pain when she hick-ups or sneezes. She is hesitant to cough too. We go in for her post-op check-up on March 15th.

Healing

The healing process is well on it's way. Monique's incision stitch tape is all off. Her scar is a little raised right now but it is new (well new old scar) it will go down. She is having a little trouble with the top stitch. It has not dissolved yet and surrounded by red so... I am bringing her in to see our family physician tomorrow. She was a little nervous going to bed about the whole thing but I think she will do great.

Tomorrow is my mother's birthday. We are bringing her out for supper. Monique was slightly excited to be going out in public. She looked at me with a puzzled look on her face and was all like... it's ok? but i can't... Poor thing.

As I was talking to mom tonight. I realized I had completely forgotten Monique's other grandmother's birthday (Mique's father's mother). I have never forgotten before, in the whole 11 years I have known her. I feel super bad, so I invited her too.

The plan is to bring Mique to school Friday afternoon for their Valentine's day party. I hope all will be ok. I am staying with her though. We went to pick up work yesterday at school and she was very shy, didn't talk much. She did show her incision scar to all her friends though. Right up with the shirt. Sorry to all those parents who would rather not their children to have seen that. She is proud of her battle scar. It is the reason she is alive.