Thoughts

Earlier this week I picked up Anthony at Nana's house after I got out of class. Watching him run around outside enjoying the beautiful weather, my heart felt so full of love for him that I thought it would surely burst. I say this so often, but it's always so true. You'd never know that this little boy was so sick so soon after birth. You'd never know that he was just hours from death now. And having been there, and lived that horror, just makes the now so much better. Anthony wasn't doing anything silly or unusual; he was just running around being a boy. But watching him enjoy being outside was so awesome. I could have just picked him up and squeezed him (if he would have let me!).

In other Anthony news, I think we will start potty training today. I have all of my "things" ready: training underwear, "big boy" underwear, MnM's, books, potty seat, sanity, Anthony acting like he's ready...let's just hope it goes smoothly. I expect accidents, and I know it's not going to be perfect. I'm just hoping he's as ready as I think he is. If he's not? We'll try again later. MnM's will not go bad.

This week has been very uneventful. It's been full of studying (me), work (Mark) and day care (uh, Anthony). He's enjoyed going to day care this week, so the drop off in the morning has been easy for both of us.

This week, two of my "liver moms" and I have started making plans to meet. Stacy , Lisa and I will get together in Tampa in early August for a short weekend! I can't wait to meet two of the women I have become so close to. Both of their sons had the same liver disease as Anthony, all three sons have had transplants, all three sons are close in age, as are we. The three of us just clicked when we "met" in our liver support online forum. We've talked on the phone alot, chatted on instant messenger almost every day, and now we'll get to meet! Just don't tell them how crazy I am, OK? :)

Also this summer, we're going to Disney World! Nana, Grandpa, Uncle Matt, Parrain, Mark, Anthony and I will spend a little over a week in Orlando visiting with Mickey et al. I haven't been to Disney World since the summer between my 7th and 8th grade years (16 years, I think?), so I'm excited to see all the new things there. I'm also a little nervous about how Anthony's going to do, but there will be enough of us there to help run herd on him.

Another trip this summer will be to Omaha for the hospital's transplant reunion. Mark won't be able to take time off of work for that trip, so Nana and I will take Anthony. That will be in early July, and we're hoping to see some of our other transplant friends there! I'm glad that we get to go; I'd like the team there to see Anthony once a year so they can see how well he's doing (and make sure nothing's going wrong that we're not seeing).

Next week, my college will start review of the applications for the Clinical Laboratory Science program (the program I've applied for). While I'm PRETTY sure I'll get in, I'm still a little nervous. I should know within a week after their decision is made whether I got in or not. If I do get accepted, I will start the program this summer (three classes) and will take classes in the fall and spring semesters, too. NEXT summer and fall, I would do my student work in the hospital (clinical rotations). I would graduate in December 2007. I'm really excited about (hopefully) entering this program, and going through it with the people I've met at school who have also applied for this program.

So that's all the new news here. Hope everyone is enjoying life as much as I am!!!

Love, Laurie, Mark and Anthony

Coming up in Anthony-land:
Friday: speech therapy and start potty training
Saturday: DADDY'S BIRTHDAY! (he'll be two years older than Mommy for a whole 25 days! ) Oh, and more with the potty training
Sunday: A to-do at the zoo with Nana and Grandpa; a visit to Maw Maw and Paw Paw in the afternoon, probably!