The smiles say it all with my two girls! You can see there very different personality types just by looking at this one photo!

Arwen will be fitted in the next week for hearing aids! She is excited about getting her “new big earrings” I have explained to her they will fit around the back of her ears and inside her ears and will help her hear better. I have also showed her many photos of other children wearing them. Arwen’s ENT doctor ordered a genetic blood test to be done regarding her hearing loss. The test has determined that according to her DNA her hearing loss was inherited. It will be monitored closely for any changes over the years.

Todd just finished his first Opera with Opera Tampa under the baton of Anton Coppola. Hopefully this is the begining of new relationship with this highly respected company.

I have been trying to find time to enjoy photography and digital scrapbooking. I just had a wonderful 1 week visit with my sister that lives in Australia…she came here to the US. Maybe someday I will get to see her there! We got to both share our passion of photography together…what fun.

Finally able to get a full family photo, click on photo to see the full size!

The girls palying with chalk on the patio. Arwen as Tink…but the costume no longer fits:0 Aubrey singing All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth…even tho she has never lost them. Then the fun all ends with Fairies in Fight…

I’ll try to remember what things have been going on here in the past 3 months.

ARWEN:
She started Speech Therapy classes after having her second set of ear tubes placed.
She then failed another hearing test following the tube placement.
1-5-09 she had an ABR  ( Auditory Brainstem Response )  performed        
The ABR test is reliable, objective, noninvasive and painless.  Brain wave activity
in the auditory centers of the brain is recorded in response to a series of clicks presented to each ear.
She was lightly sedated for this test.  The test revealed Mild-Moderate Hearing Loss…very sad, but we
are very grateful this issue has finally been diagnosed and is not worse.  This degree of hearing loss will
require hearing aids~$5,000-$6,000 that insurance will not cover!!!!  Most insurance companies will not pay
for hearing aids…..   Time to apply for and break in a new credit card!!!!  Let’s see now, an active 3 year old with 3 grand
hanging off of each ear …I think I will either get some super glue or insurance!!!!  Seriously I can’t wait to see
the improvements that  she makes once she can hear better.
Just before we got the news of Arwen needing  Hearing Aids, I decided to buy myself a new camera…bad timing on my part for sure! 
So we are selling our gorgeous Nautical Corner Crib…we no longer need it anymore anyways, so if you know anyone interested just
let me know.
Aubrey:
Now 5, with no more talk of wedding plans!!!  She loves to draw, color, write and place stickers everywhere.
The family portraits always reflect a very happy family. 

Todd:
I refer to Todd as the  “Donovan Vortex”  if you keep a safe distance you will be alright
and you can just watch the show…scary at times, but usually very entertaining!
Unfortunately, if you get too close…you get sucked in!!!!   At that point it is very
difficult to ever get back out of the Donovan Vortex (DV),  and if you do get out,  it should be a
lesson learned…but it never is for me.  I guess that I must think I will develope an immunity
against the effects of the DV, but it never happens.
What is he doing?  EVERYTHING!!!!  Aside from working FT and being daddy & husband,
he has started USF to work on his Masters Degree in Music.  He finished his Masters Degree
in Biblical Studies in August last year from Dallas Theological.  He did the extension
classes here in Tampa.  He is also performing with various Opera Companies here in Florida. 
he has done several competitions in New York and I am sure will be doing more.  There is
really way too much going on with the Vortex…I  mean Todd, to mention it all here so I
just try my best to keep his website updated.  http://ToddWDonovan.com

Myself:
Following my second medical opinion, this time with a Neurosurgeon, I was told I needed to have
the cervical disc between C6-C7 removed  and those two vetebrae fused together using cadaver bone
(Anterior Discectomy with fusion).
I feel this Neurosurgeon, is one of the best around, so if I end up deciding on surgery he will
definately be the one to do it.   Right now the pain is being well controlled, although I am still
reminded of it daily.  The initial pain was unbearable, but I have been very careful and I think
taking a month off of work to allow my body that initial time to heal has made a big difference.  For now Dr Clarke is keeping a close watch on me…thank you all for your prayers.  My primary concern and focus right now is getting Arwen into some good hearing aids.

The girls this past Christmas:

I finished Aubrey’s 2006 Digital Scrapbook!!!  So now I have 2 years worth of books to do for
both girls in order to catch up.   http://www.lulu.com/content/2752839 (it takes almost a full minute to download if you want toview the book online)

Well the two days following my last post were absolutlely horrid.  I was in massive pain over that weekend and close to admitting myself to Bayfront Emergency, but when I called they said they did not even have a Neurosurgeon on shift for these emergencies and that they would not want to read my MRI since they did not do it!!!!!  It was not until today that I stumbled across this article explaining Bayfront’s Neurosurgeon issues: St. Pete Times Article
Then I started barfing the pain meds…surprise, surprise!  That did not help.  Monday could not come quick enough.  When Monday did finally arrive the orthopedic surgeon said ” You realize you are seeing the wrong doctor!!!”  Great… now I had to wait until Friday, I just wanted pain medication that would work and that I could keep down.  So at least he gave me a script for an anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant and pain medication.  He said I had a bulging disc, and I needed to see the Ortho Spine specialist. Between Monday and Friday the pain had definately decreased, but it was still not at a long term tolerable level.   Friday came and I met Dr SpineMan he examined me after reviewing my MRI and said in a very matter fact way…you need surgery, it is the only way to fix this degree of a ruptured disc!!!!   Anterior Discectomy and Fusion….this can’t be.  So I pleaded for a Steroid pak and better pain and anti-inflammatory medications, Physical Therapy, and an at home cervical traction unit.  He said alright to everything!!!!!  So here I am feeling much better than I did a week ago….I have a LOT of friends and family PRAYING for me…THANKS!!!!!
I got my at home traction unit today, I was so thrilled to get it.  Insurance paid for it with a Doctor’s wriitten order…retail is close to  $400! 
As of right now the “severe” pain is gone.  I have finished the steroid pak and start the Celebrex tomorrow…I am going to try to do tomorrow without the pain med!!!  I am starting to get use to the “pins and needles” sensation in my index finger and thumb of my right hand.  Please keep the prayers going!
I still have full function of my right hand….if that changes then surgery is probably in the picture.

“Bossman” at work called to let me know my job will always be there for me and to take as long as I need…how awesome is that.  I sure hope to be back to work soon!

Thanks to all my friends and family for your support!

I am sitting here waiting for pain medication to work!!!!! I hate taking medications…but the pain is back in a very bad way, my entire right arm and into my hand. Strangely it is not as bad in my neck although I am sure this where the the real issue lies. I was ordered a stat MRI tonight…GREAT…I am claustrophobic! I placed eye sheilds over my eyes before I got on the table…I still almost called it quits and walked out. Off to the orthopedic surgeon for a consult on Monday morning…please say a prayer for me if you think of it. Special thanks to GiGi and mom who are ALWAYS around to help when there is a need! Well, the combination of Tylenol#3 and Ibuprophen are definately helping to take the edge off of the pain.
In celebration of the Devil Rays, even though Todd & I are not into sports, I wanted to share a Scrapbook LO I did for Aubrey. This was several years ago back when the stadium was not very full for a Rays game..but Aubrey still had fun. The only reason we were at the game is becuase Todd was singing the National Anthem Click on Image to enlarge.

I just scrapped a page of Arwen from February of 2007, it was her first time in our backyard after arriving back in the USA from adopting her in China. I used Danielle Young’s  Sweet Baby Cakes kit and I submitted it into her Weekly Challenge and won a $10 GC to her store!!!!   I will love shopping there!

Arwen will get her 2nd set of Ear Tubes surgically placed tomorrow!

Also tomorrow night we have about 16 singers coming over to our house to have a BBQ Baby Back Rib dinner and then rehearse and record a large choral work Todd has composed for a competition.  It will be submitted annonymously.  The Master Chorale will perform the winning piece!  Regardless it is a Great work and a Great accomplishment.   I look forward to singing the Alto part!

I have been away from the things I love to do for a while due to a badly pinched nerve in my lower neck/upper back area.  It is now at a tolerable level of pain….with pain medication around the clock.
I am just glad to be feeling a lot better.
Arwen will get her second set of ear tubes placed this Tuesday, then in three weeks we will have another hearing test done.  She has not passed a hearing test yet.  We definately noticed an improvement following the first set of tubes so we hope this will do it.  Please say a prayer for her.
CLICK on IMAGE to view in detail:
                         
CREDITS:
I used  Danielle Yong’s   Drama Queen kit  for this LO

I remember taking pictures of my niece wearing this dress, I would have never guessed then that I would have a daughter of my own that would be wearing the same dress someday!  God has blessed us so much!

BTW, if you want to have a go at Digital Scrapboooking Snowmoons Designs as a lovely Freeblie kit on her blog. It is called Enchanted Garden. She has posted 3 portions of it so far. Her link can be found in the right hand column of my blog.

Tonya

Just a quick update about my husband, Todd Donovan.
He recently placed 3rd in the 2008 Altamura Caruso International Vocal Competition that took place in New York last month!  This is very exciting as he was competing among finalists from around the world.  Just had to brag for a quick moment.  Hopefully, I will get to post another LO this weekend and a family update. 
Thanks for stoppping by!

Tonya

 CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Seaside Dreams of being a Mermaid
It may be a while before I get to do another LO of this style which is more correctly referred to as a photo manipulation.
Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, thanks for stopping by!

Credits:
Mertail &  Background by JLStock
Seaweed by FairyandTurtleStock
Starfish by FourEyeStock
Light Beams Obsidian Dawn-aka-RedHeadStock
Light Stake by Artress-Design

Arwen’s Photo taken 8-2008, Aubrey’s photo taken 3-2008

Enjoy watching our very talented Arwen…