It's time for SERIOUS BUSINESS! If you are my friend on facebook I'm sure you have seen the million posts about voting for Girl Power 2 Cure in the Chase Community Giving contest. But I can't stress enough how important this vote is. First place wins $250,000 and second - fifth gets $100,000. This amount of money would be HUGE for Girl Power 2 Cure and for our girls. We are currently in 10th place and we only have a few more weeks to make this happen.

So what I need from you:
1. If you haven't voted, PLEASE VOTE!!!!! And if you don't have a facebook account - GET ONE AND VOTE!!! All it takes is an email address.
2. Please pass this on to all of your friends!!!!!!
3. Please pass this on to any organizations or clubs you belong to.

Click on the link or just go to www.girlpower2cure.org/chase for full instructions.

We need every vote we can get. It's not too late - WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!!!

To The Best Daddy in The World!!!!!

I would just like to give my husband, my best friend a huge shout out this Father's day. He is the best daddy in the world, sorry if this offends anyone, but he is. Just ask Juliana & Olivia. Me and the girls would like to say thanks for:

1. Being the "BEST get-the-girls-ready-in-the-morning Guy"
2. For your best attempt at pony tails when we are running late
3. For giving Juliana her meds in the morning, my God you should be sainted for that job.
4. For reading stories with your girls at night
5. For building towers with Olivia and playing blocks with Juliana
6. For being the best swim coach for Olivia
7. For being the best griller
8. For rocking Juliana until she falls asleep (and some nights you both do)
9. For watching the news with Olivia
10. For making my coffee in the morning
11. And for all the other wonderful things you do for us!

We are one lucky family to have a daddy like you!

Golf for a Cure - April 24, 2010

This year's first annual Golf for a Cure was held on April 24, and to say it was a success is an understatement. Not only did we raise money for research that day, but it was also a day filled with hope that we WILL find a cure for Rett Syndrome. The pictures in this video warm my heart, as you will see so many people that truly LOVE Juliana and are willing to do whatever it takes to cure her! You will also see a very happy Juliana, because she knows she has a lot of dedicated people in her corner. So once again, to everyone that helped make this day possible . . . THANK YOU!

I Love Summer - Warning - Some Pictures May Not Be Suitable For Some Audiences

Well Summer is in full swing and we are loving every minute of it. Both girls LOVE swimming and we get out as much as possible. Here are my two bathing beauties. They have such a strong bond between them. It truly warms your heart to see them.
This was our little project for the weekend. Summer toes. The girls picked out their colors. Looks like Livi might need some touch ups.

Livi adores her sister SOOO much she is willing to kiss her feet. We'll see about that in about 10 years.

Please excuse the topless Juliana shot, but I just couldn't resist this picture. I hadn't realized that Olivia was THAT much darker that Juliana. I guess I've got one German little girl and my little Mexicana.

And this is another one I just couldn't resist. When Livi gets out of the water she can't stand to be in wet clothes. So there's nothing left to do, but take it off.

And finally here is a video of Olivia swimming. She is only 2 1/2 and I think she is doing so well. Ester Williams watch out!

Dress Up 2 Cure 2010 Raffle Winners

Please take a moment to watch the video below! Dream Team - You guys ROCK!!!!!!!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please take a moment to watch the video below! They just announced the winners of the prizes for this year's Dress Up 2 Cure!!!! Thanks to all helped our team get a little bit closer to finding a cure! Dream Team - you are amazing!!!!!!!!!!

School is Officially Out! - Warning - LOT OF PICTURES!

So summer is officially here and we are definitely enjoying the time off. Juliana is still going to daycare since she gets her therapy there. We are also starting Music therapy tomorrow and aqua therapy next week. I know it sounds like a lot, but I figure, while I'm off from work and able to take her to these "extra" therapies I will. Olivia started this week with gymnastics and a Jazz/Tap/Ballet class. Promise to take more pictures next week and post soon.

But I also wanted to share some pictures of Juliana and what a typical day of school looks like. We met an amazing couple Chris & Jeff Leiter, who have a daughter with Rett Syndrome and are also photographers. Check out their website Teeny Bean Photography. They offered to follow Juliana at school and daycare to see what she does in a day. After seeing the pictures it is no wonder that the girl is tired when she gets home.

Juliana gets to daycare around 9am each day. Then the school bus picks her up around 11am to go to school. Here she is getting off the bus at school.

First things first: Lunch. These are the buttons that they use with Juliana to choose between her lunch and drink.

I guess she chose pudding:)

Here she is in one of Ms. Morton's many creations. She stuck a mirror in a box with lots of lights and a switch that Juliana uses to control them. She put her in on her tummy to strengthen the neck muscles. Thank you Chris for getting into the box with her.

Here is Ms. Morton putting her into crawl position and encouraging her with a toy.

Look at her go! She is really building strength.

Now let's practice some sitting.

This contraption is a creepy crawler. It allows her to be in crawl position but with support, while Ms. Morton helps her move her arms and legs.

Here she is in a walker with another one of Ms. Morton's creations.

Standing with Ms. Morton

Her she is with Ms. Morton and Ms. Maribel getting into the "hops-a-dress" I believe that's what it's called. Which is basically a jumper that can support more weight.

With Maribel helping her take steps.

Sticking her little feet in a tub of beans!

Then playing the toys with her feet!

And finally in water!

Maribel taking her out of Hops-a-dress

Playing with the computer with Maribel

Singing and playing

Here she is back at Our Children's House (her day care) for therapy with Heather and Emily. They are her PT and Speech therapists - they co-treat her.

Here she is making choices again!

Here is Emily doing some feeding therapy.

Stretching on the ball

Stretching and catching bubbles.

So basically they present her with two choices of what she wants to play and then she chooses. Here she chose the piggy.

Popping bubbles.

Stretching that neck!

Stretching the arms.

And finally after all that work, a girls gotta unwind on her swing!

While she will still go to Our Children's House for the summer, as well as Music and Aquatherapy, she will miss her school immensly. Thank goodness she will be in the same class with the same amazing teachers in the fall. Happy summer!