And They are Back!

Erika and Sarah are back from the Ski trip! We brought a friend home for the night. :)
Yuri will be flying to Houston tomorrow.

 This cracked me up.... a Dog potty at the air port. :)

 One last group hug.

 What a great group of girls.

Dr. Ellis and the girls.  They just love him.

Our sweet friend Yuri! :)  Yuri is also from Ukraine and was adopted by good friends of ours. :)

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital For Children

Yes! It was rated NUMBER 1 in then Nation for Orthopadic hospitals! :)
And I think that rating is CORRECT!

We have had amazing experiences at this hospital for our girls and for our son Tim also!

I am so proud to be a part of this hospital!

And guess what!  Erika is a volunteer this summer!

Erika's Ski Trip

 Erika had a wonderful time! We were all very excited to pick her up at the airport after it was over.... We finished off her weekend by taking the family out to Chipotle, so we could just chill, sit and talk. :)

Oh MY! This girl has NO FEAR!  She went to the second highest drop off called Mary Jane and sledded down.

Here are some highlights of her trip!

 At the airport

 Take Off

 Mountains

 There were several staff members from Texas Scottish Rite hospital.

 Getting ready to go down.

 The cooks

 Y also goes to camp in the summer with Erika and Sarah

 Dr. Herring and his lovely wife Kathy.

 Erika and H.

 Colorado refrigerator Magnet! :)  Thank you!

She's Back!

Erika is back home with us.  She had a WONDERFUL time in Winter Park, Colorado, Skiing.
Everybody said she tried everything and did not hold back! :)  That's our girl! :)

After we picked her up from the airport, we took her out to dinner and just enjoyed being together once again. :)
In the car, Erika and Sarah couldn't stop talking and giggling. :)

I asked Erika, "What was the absolute HIGHLIGHT of your trip?" 
She said, there were many highs and she loved it all.... but the VERY BEST part was, on the second night. 
She said the first day and night, everybody was shy and there wasn't a lot of talking.  But the SECOND night, everybody couldn't STOP talking and laughing.  She said she observed Dr. Herring, with such joy on his face, watching everybody interact, and that just made her so happy to see Him so happy. :)
That is OUR ERIKA!  :)  She is very perceptive and such a sweetheart of a girl. :)

For Talent Night, Erika played guitar and they re wrote Taylor Swift's Song "Mean".....
"Some day I'll be chilling at the Denver Airport, waiting on a rental car"......
etc. etc. etc.  :)
Erika will post the song in it's entirety on her blog when she wakes up tomorrow. :) (actually, after church)
And TOMORROW, I get to see pictures! :)
Too late to down load tonight.
These are from the airport. :)

 Alli telling Erika, "I've been waiting forever!" :)

 Together again!

 Somebody checked their legs! LOL  The Duct Tape was because they got broken on the slopes. Duct tape is just AWESOME!

 Back in Daddy's arms. :)

UP UP and AWAY.....

 Erika departed Texas for Colorado today!  It was a HUGE send off for 13 very fortunate teenagers!
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children staff, surgeons, prosthetists and the children are on a Ski Trip until Saturday.

 She said her goodbyes

 She started writing in her journal on the way

American Airlines donates the plane ride, but they also threw them a huge party! There was food, games, media, the American Airlines mascot, and even a dog who lost his leg in Afghanistan!
She was pretty excited to go.  She knows two of the kids going, and that made her feel comfortable.

 Erika and Dr. Herring

 The group!

We watched as the plane taxied to the run way and then the fire department blew water cannons over the plane!  She'll never forget this.  I know I won't!  Wow!

An Update on Sarah

Sarah had surgery on Tuesday and went home on Wednesday.  She is doing AMAZING!
I gave her pain meds as a precaution on Wednesday night.  She hasn't asked for any since!
I am amazed at how quickly she has bounced back.
I am the one who needed to recover from being at the hospital! LOL
She is determined to be in her leg by Christmas.  By Golly, I think she will do it!

Sarah's Surgery

We are HOME!  She did so great!  I can't believe we made it home so quickly!

 Just arrived

 Surgery Hair

 Time for bed.  Telling Daddy good night.

 The elevator

I

 In the holding area

 Waiting while Sarah is in surgery

 Resting

 resting

 Pastor Justin stopped by

 Awake again

 What a surprise on the rooftop of the hospital.

 Santa arrived in this helicopter.

This is the giant tree in the atrium.  Right after this, we had lunch and then headed back home.