http://www.ensslefamily.com Our family adventures. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:01:36 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I just uploaded about 3 months worth of photos. I don't really have much of an excuse for not posting them sooner. Time just got away from me, I guess. I have lots more to write about, and now that the pictures are out of the way, ... http://www.ensslefamily.com/2008/07/02/at-long-lastphotos/ This weekend we took it easy. Anna's managed to catch "hand, foot, and mouth disease" from some kid at daycare which means she's running a fever and has a sore in her mouth that makes her not want to eat much (besides ice cream...). Surprisingly, though, she's been ... http://www.ensslefamily.com/2008/06/23/the-best-game-ever/ Dear Mama, I love you so much! Thank you for your smile and for all the hugs and especially the snuggles. Thank you for reading me books and playing games, for taking me on adventures, and even for the tickles. Thank you for letting me eat yogurt and cookies and beets ... http://www.ensslefamily.com/2008/05/11/happy-mamas-day/ We just learned that Tara's grandmother passed away earlier today. Anna Winifred Hess (our daughter Anna Rose was named after this great lady) would have been 92 in June. She passed very quickly and without any pain. We were looking forward to a planned trip out to Kansas at ... http://www.ensslefamily.com/2008/05/07/goodbye-grandma-winnie/ Today is Neal's birthday. Anna has been practicing her "Happy Birthday" song in preparation for the day. By request, we are posting a video of Anna singing "Happy Birthday." It isn't the best she's ever sung this song, but we think you'll find it cute nonetheless. Happy Birthday ... http://www.ensslefamily.com/2008/04/06/happy-birthday-neal/ There's been a lot going on since we last posted, and I'm happy to report most all of it's good news! March opened with a change in the lineup here on Team Anna. Tara's mom flew out from Kansas on Saturday (3/2) so that she could pinch hit for me ... http://www.ensslefamily.com/2008/03/12/home-stretch/ I'm finally on the road to recovery after being sick since this last weekend. Thank God for Dayquil. Hopefully I'll be completely well by the time my Mom arrives this weekend! Anna is doing a great job with her therapy. Her therapists are constantly amazed ... http://www.ensslefamily.com/2008/02/27/road-to-recovery-and-photos/ Cut to the chase: The tornadoes that threatened Birmingham missed us this morning. We're all okay. But we did spend some time hiding out in the bathtub very early this morning. I was very soundly asleep, oblivious to any danger when Kansas girl Tara woke me up at about 3:30AM, ... http://www.ensslefamily.com/2008/02/26/twisters/ Our first week of therapy is behind us. Anna's doing much better, health-wise. The steroids took effect almost instantaneously, and while she still has a runny nose and cough, at least she's not croupy. More importantly, by Wednesday she was pretty much sleeping through the night. She's working so incredibly hard ... http://www.ensslefamily.com/2008/02/23/week-one/ It's official, Anna has croup! After yet another fun-filled night of little to no sleep and a couple of 15-minute sessions locked in the bathroom with the hot shower running, we decided to take her in to see the doctor. We went to see our therapist's pediatrician at ... http://www.ensslefamily.com/2008/02/19/croup/