Here is her last face of seven. . .
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Our Last Look at Seven. . . sniff
Our baby girl turns 8 tomorrow. She decided to forgo a birthday party and, instead, spend a few days together as family in Baltimore. This choice speaks to Savannah's nature. She is still so sweet and family centered. We are proud of her on so many levels, especially how she has made a name for herself in her new school. I have heard from both faculty and parents that Savannah is one the sweetest and best behaved kids in her class. Somehow it makes her getting older easier to swallow. I have serious pangs in my heart when I think of her age but am filled with joy when I think of who she is growing into. All that I hoped and dreamed for her, she is and more.
Here is her last face of seven. . .
Here is her last face of seven. . .
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Expecting?
Monday, September 19, 2011
They Said She Would NEVER Run!
Before I even start, I must note that I cannot do this post justice. There are only two people in this world that understand what was accomplished. . . Adeline's parents. Regardless, I am going try.
A month or so ago, a friend clued me into a running series for kids. Basically, all three girls will run an appropriate distance based on age for five weeks in a row. I thought it would be a great way to spend Sunday evenings together. It would also give each girl an opportunity to meet a challenge head on. I didn't really think about how far the girls were expected to run or how hard the challenge just might be.
The little girls were expected to run a quarter mile in a group of Kindergarten and first grade girls. This put them, more than likely, the youngest girls in the bunch. Savannah, was right in the middle for age of her second and third grade group. She was expected to run a half mile.
As noted earlier, Savannah has been training (I use that word loosely) for this run and had set a goal of running her half mile under four minutes. Once we saw that the course was on bumpy grass, up a large hill and likely to bottleneck in a few areas, I tried to lower her expectation.
I was pretty nervous about the twins completing the run. The first half of the run was up a very large and drawn out hill. I knew Lila could do it but WOULD she? That is always the question. I tried to gear her up and prepare her for feeling tired and still pushing toward the finish line. Adeline, well that was a different story. I wasn't sure I should even have her try it. What if she started crying half way through the run? What if she recognized that she is the slowest runner?
We decided to meet the runs head on and the girls were soon split up into groups and stretching. Oh so cute! The twins' group ended with all hands in the middle and yelling out some sort of cheer. Lila was very sweet in making sure Adeline's arm was pulled into the group. They were stuck together like glue in this unfamiliar situation.
The girls made their way to the start line with Alex while I found my view of the finish line. Soon they were off. I was thrilled to see Lila sticking with the crowd but was immediately nervous when watching Miss Adeline. She fell way back quickly and I was worried she was frustrated. Boy did she surprise me. As hard as it was for her to move those legs, manage adequate breath support and run in the back all by herself, she kept moving.
Here is a clip of the start. My little Belle looks lost but notice she doesn't stop those feet.
Daddy decided to jump in a be her running partner. Up the steep hill she climbed, huffing and puffing! Alex was worried she wouldn't make it as her breathing was VERY labored. Adeline kept telling Alex that she was tired but she never stopped.
Half way through her run I was over come with emotion. This little one pound baby was shuffling her way to the finish. She was working at least twice as hard as every kid out there but she was going to finish. After every kid had crossed the finish and the volunteers were making their way over to the next heat, I called out, "You have another runner out there." Everyone stayed put and watched my little girl fight for the finish. Even the race coordinator was down on one knee to meet her at the finish. As tears streamed down my face, my Adeline did that which all the docs in the NICU said she would never do. She did what she does best. She persevered. She ran a race!!
Alex had to push her to the finish tape because she wasn't sure where to stop but other than that he never touched her along the way.
In the context of her prematurity, my baby girl moved mountains and I am ecstatic. I had no idea how emotional the run would be for me. She did that which no one thought she would ever do! She was proud and in that moment, I wished she could understand just what her accomplishment was.
I should also note that there is a flip side. To some degree the doctors are right. When you watch Adeline try to run, it is clear she just can't like the rest. It isn't a leg thing but an oxygen thing. I don't quite get the science behind it but she doesn't move the air through her lungs in a capacity that fuels her body. While I was crying tears of joy I was also saddened by another mark of her prematurity. While Adeline will never run long races, today, she ran the race of a lifetime! It was absolutely inspiring.
Miss Adeline wasn't the only one to knock socks off today. Lila finished nicely and definitely left some in the tank as she was smiling/posing when running past me. Too bad the picture is blurry. This is not to say that she didn't dig in and push herself. The first thing she told me, after noting that she got an apple as a prize, was, "Even though my legs were tired, I kept running!" I was so happy to see her run hard. I almost expected her to be the girl in pink behind her in the picture below.
After the girls ran, Savannah was up. My big girls was nervous. The horn blew and Savannah was all business. We lost sight of them for awhile and when she reemerged, she was fighting for second place. I was blown away. Alex met her at one turn and called out her time. She was tired and out of gas. There was an obvious digging deep that transpired and the girl kept going hard. Savannah and two other girls were fighting for second, third and fourth. Savannah almost clinched third but came in fourth place (out of about 20 runners) with a time of 3:52!! Her Daddy and I are still stunned. My girl left all she had out on the field and blew past her expectations.
Our family of five walked away very proud!
A month or so ago, a friend clued me into a running series for kids. Basically, all three girls will run an appropriate distance based on age for five weeks in a row. I thought it would be a great way to spend Sunday evenings together. It would also give each girl an opportunity to meet a challenge head on. I didn't really think about how far the girls were expected to run or how hard the challenge just might be.
The little girls were expected to run a quarter mile in a group of Kindergarten and first grade girls. This put them, more than likely, the youngest girls in the bunch. Savannah, was right in the middle for age of her second and third grade group. She was expected to run a half mile.
As noted earlier, Savannah has been training (I use that word loosely) for this run and had set a goal of running her half mile under four minutes. Once we saw that the course was on bumpy grass, up a large hill and likely to bottleneck in a few areas, I tried to lower her expectation.
I was pretty nervous about the twins completing the run. The first half of the run was up a very large and drawn out hill. I knew Lila could do it but WOULD she? That is always the question. I tried to gear her up and prepare her for feeling tired and still pushing toward the finish line. Adeline, well that was a different story. I wasn't sure I should even have her try it. What if she started crying half way through the run? What if she recognized that she is the slowest runner?
We decided to meet the runs head on and the girls were soon split up into groups and stretching. Oh so cute! The twins' group ended with all hands in the middle and yelling out some sort of cheer. Lila was very sweet in making sure Adeline's arm was pulled into the group. They were stuck together like glue in this unfamiliar situation.
Daddy decided to jump in a be her running partner. Up the steep hill she climbed, huffing and puffing! Alex was worried she wouldn't make it as her breathing was VERY labored. Adeline kept telling Alex that she was tired but she never stopped.
Half way through her run I was over come with emotion. This little one pound baby was shuffling her way to the finish. She was working at least twice as hard as every kid out there but she was going to finish. After every kid had crossed the finish and the volunteers were making their way over to the next heat, I called out, "You have another runner out there." Everyone stayed put and watched my little girl fight for the finish. Even the race coordinator was down on one knee to meet her at the finish. As tears streamed down my face, my Adeline did that which all the docs in the NICU said she would never do. She did what she does best. She persevered. She ran a race!!
Alex had to push her to the finish tape because she wasn't sure where to stop but other than that he never touched her along the way.
In the context of her prematurity, my baby girl moved mountains and I am ecstatic. I had no idea how emotional the run would be for me. She did that which no one thought she would ever do! She was proud and in that moment, I wished she could understand just what her accomplishment was.
I should also note that there is a flip side. To some degree the doctors are right. When you watch Adeline try to run, it is clear she just can't like the rest. It isn't a leg thing but an oxygen thing. I don't quite get the science behind it but she doesn't move the air through her lungs in a capacity that fuels her body. While I was crying tears of joy I was also saddened by another mark of her prematurity. While Adeline will never run long races, today, she ran the race of a lifetime! It was absolutely inspiring.
Miss Adeline wasn't the only one to knock socks off today. Lila finished nicely and definitely left some in the tank as she was smiling/posing when running past me. Too bad the picture is blurry. This is not to say that she didn't dig in and push herself. The first thing she told me, after noting that she got an apple as a prize, was, "Even though my legs were tired, I kept running!" I was so happy to see her run hard. I almost expected her to be the girl in pink behind her in the picture below.
Our family of five walked away very proud!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Return of the Binki
Run Girlies Run!
The girls are going to participate in a local series of runs this fall. Savannah will run a half mile with 2nd and 3rd graders and the little girls will run with Kindergartners for a quarter mile. In the spirit of having some one on one daddy time, Alex has taken Savannah out for a couple practice runs this week. Her first half mile run came in at 5:11. Not bad, or so we thought. She whittled it down to 4:40 the second time and boy were we proud. Savannah took her first crack at a mile and came in at 11:07! At this point, we are thinking this girl may have just found her sport.
Tonight, we took everyone out for a practice run. Daddy almost killed himself with a 2:50 half mile when placing my flip flop as Savannah's turn around point. Next up was Savannah. She requested to run solo. Her goal was to run it under four minutes which we thought was a little ambitious. Well, she came in at 4:08! She had to run out to my flip flop and back and while doing so, bent down and grabbed my flip flop and carried it the whole way back. Had she left it and just kept running without anything in her hand, I think she would have made her goal. Regardless, that is a rocking half mile.
The twins had their first taste of running a quarter mile. Adeline wasn't feeling it tonight. She wouldn't eat dinner etc. which probably means she is getting sick. Regardless, she kept her feet moving but they were awfully slow. Her time was right at 4:00. Lila, however, ran a 2:49 quarter mile and left a lot in the tank. She demonstrated this as she ran almost another quarter mile to catch up to Savannah.
Needless to say, we are proud parents. All the girls worked HARD and there was little complaining. They don't always demonstrate these qualities when it comes to athletics. Seeing Savannah run with such determination makes me embarrassed at my slow poke four mile run this morning. Oh to be young again.
Here is Miss Lila in her "running outfit." Knee highs and biker shorts. Nice!
Tonight, we took everyone out for a practice run. Daddy almost killed himself with a 2:50 half mile when placing my flip flop as Savannah's turn around point. Next up was Savannah. She requested to run solo. Her goal was to run it under four minutes which we thought was a little ambitious. Well, she came in at 4:08! She had to run out to my flip flop and back and while doing so, bent down and grabbed my flip flop and carried it the whole way back. Had she left it and just kept running without anything in her hand, I think she would have made her goal. Regardless, that is a rocking half mile.
The twins had their first taste of running a quarter mile. Adeline wasn't feeling it tonight. She wouldn't eat dinner etc. which probably means she is getting sick. Regardless, she kept her feet moving but they were awfully slow. Her time was right at 4:00. Lila, however, ran a 2:49 quarter mile and left a lot in the tank. She demonstrated this as she ran almost another quarter mile to catch up to Savannah.
Needless to say, we are proud parents. All the girls worked HARD and there was little complaining. They don't always demonstrate these qualities when it comes to athletics. Seeing Savannah run with such determination makes me embarrassed at my slow poke four mile run this morning. Oh to be young again.
Enjoying My Time
Now that Savannah attends public school, I no longer drive an hour and a half to get all the girls to school in the morning. I also don't leave the house for pick up because she takes a four minute bus ride home. Thus, another hour gained in the afternoon.
I can't believe the difference this has made in my life. I have time to run errands, work out and get dinner going all before the Savannah and Adeline come home. What I love most though, is spending time with my little girls. I have structured my schedule so that I have Adeline with me during the mornings and Lila with me during the afternoons. Most people look at me with sympathetic eyes when I relay this fact, but the truth is, I intentionally created it this way. I love having the one on one time with girls. It is amazing what I gain by having my undivided attention focused on one of my daughters. Our conversations run deeper, we laugh more because the stress level is decreased and most of all, we participate in meaningful activities. These activities range from snuggling together in the chair, reading new library books, working on letters and their sounds, playing board games or, in today's case, making a cake.
Can I just say it is much easier making a cake with one child than with two or three. No one is fighting to stir, there isn't anyone vying for space and my kitchen stays cleaner. Lila was over the moon when she saw me pull out the cake mix today in absence of her sisters. I love knowing that I filled her "tank" and made her feel like a million bucks. So simple yet so hard when doing it with three.
(photo credit goes to Savannah)
I can't believe the difference this has made in my life. I have time to run errands, work out and get dinner going all before the Savannah and Adeline come home. What I love most though, is spending time with my little girls. I have structured my schedule so that I have Adeline with me during the mornings and Lila with me during the afternoons. Most people look at me with sympathetic eyes when I relay this fact, but the truth is, I intentionally created it this way. I love having the one on one time with girls. It is amazing what I gain by having my undivided attention focused on one of my daughters. Our conversations run deeper, we laugh more because the stress level is decreased and most of all, we participate in meaningful activities. These activities range from snuggling together in the chair, reading new library books, working on letters and their sounds, playing board games or, in today's case, making a cake.
Can I just say it is much easier making a cake with one child than with two or three. No one is fighting to stir, there isn't anyone vying for space and my kitchen stays cleaner. Lila was over the moon when she saw me pull out the cake mix today in absence of her sisters. I love knowing that I filled her "tank" and made her feel like a million bucks. So simple yet so hard when doing it with three.
(photo credit goes to Savannah)
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Turning Five. . . Much Over Due Post
It just wouldn't be a party if Baby Kate didn't come. The icing on her visit was that she gave the girls their first hoop. Along with it, the girls were given their favorite color basket balls, only Baby Kate's parents would think of that. Lila took a while to figure out how to shoot but Miss Adeline has some skill. Her IU classroom has worked on ball skills for the last two years and oddly enough, Miss Belle has a jump shot. I do not lie and, unfortunately, don't have a picture to back it up.
Two days later the girls woke up to this. They exchanged their gifts and were very sweet about giving and receiving. They were equally excited about what the other received. They still have one foot in "what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine." Lila was delighted by her princess dresses and and Adeline was over the moon with her Hungry Caterpillar sheets and sleeping bag. Thanks Aunt Natalie. xoxo
Next on the agenda, was their first trip to Dutch Wonderland. Charlotte met us at lunch before hand for another round of singing and left over caterpillar and duck cakes.
Finally, we were off to their birthday surprise. Dutch Wonderland proved itself and suckered us into a membership. Here is a taste of our Dutch Wonderful DAY!
Who Made God?
Alex and I were very used to questions like this from Savannah when she was four and five. It is just a harsh reminder of how old the twins are when they ask.
Lila: Mommy, you know when we were zero and up high in heaven and God make us? When God was zero, who make God?
Daddy: That is a very good question Lila. Nobody knows.
Adeline: But how did God build me?
Lila: Mommy, you know when we were zero and up high in heaven and God make us? When God was zero, who make God?
Daddy: That is a very good question Lila. Nobody knows.
Adeline: But how did God build me?
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Bitten
Savannah has been bitten by the reading bug. She can't seem to put her books down. Yes, that is books in the plural form. Last I checked, she had four chapter books going at the same time and wanted to crack open, Flat Stanley. I told her four was enough so last night she quickly finished up, Ramona and Her Mother, and is almost done with, Flat Stanley, as of tonight.
At first, I thought she was picking up books because she knew it made me happy. We purchased, Ivy and Bean, while in Washington and she flew through the first book. I praised her because she was lounging around reading for the first time. I assumed she enjoyed the praise and, subsequently, asked for the second book in the series. I was wrong. Savannah read through all seven books in two weeks. It is evident she enjoys reading.
Her teacher assigns the class 15 minutes of reading each night. This is Savannah's first taste of homework since her old school doesn't assign homework in First Grade. Upon hearing that reading was homework, Savannah was thrilled. "Actually, I am happy that we have to read every night. It's exciting to me."
Enough said. . .
At first, I thought she was picking up books because she knew it made me happy. We purchased, Ivy and Bean, while in Washington and she flew through the first book. I praised her because she was lounging around reading for the first time. I assumed she enjoyed the praise and, subsequently, asked for the second book in the series. I was wrong. Savannah read through all seven books in two weeks. It is evident she enjoys reading.
Her teacher assigns the class 15 minutes of reading each night. This is Savannah's first taste of homework since her old school doesn't assign homework in First Grade. Upon hearing that reading was homework, Savannah was thrilled. "Actually, I am happy that we have to read every night. It's exciting to me."
Enough said. . .
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Sick Already
After four days of school Adeline was flat on her back puking. After trying to purge her very empty belly every 15 minutes for hours, she smiled, turned the corner and was hungry. Not a typical course for her. She likes to drag viruses out for days. The difference. . . no fever. It was strange and intense, yet oddly quick. Fingers crossed it is out of our house.
Here is Adeline turning her corner. If I could only look so good after puking for hours.
Here is Adeline turning her corner. If I could only look so good after puking for hours.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Catching Up
It seems like our life has been a whirlwind ever since we got back from Washington. The girls have celebrated a birthday, everyone started back to school - two of which are in new schools, we had an earthquake, a hurricane and rumor of tornadoes. In an attempt to catch up, here are some snippets of our life leading up to today. I'm still working on the twins' birthday.
She is also back in night time stretching braces. Her heel chords are tight again and she has limited flexibility in her ankles and calves. This will always be true for her but any increased range of motion we can give her, the better. Just a little gift of prematurity.
She loves the idea of these braces and was thrilled to pick out her pattern and strap color. Can you guess what color they are? Blue of course. No pretty butterflies and pink straps anymore. Adeline is choosing. Blue, well not just blue. Blue on blue!
Can you tell which ones I have chosen and which pair was designed by Adeline?
Saturday, we moved everything that Irene could possibly damage into the garage and made a nice cozy vantage point from which to watch the storm. Unfortunately, the storm didn't come until way after dark.
We lost power immediately which woke all three girls. Adeline and Lila are terrified of thunderstorms which are minor compared to the loud winds we experienced. With a tornado warning in place and very tender girls on our laps, we decided to set the tent up in the basement in order to coerce the girls down into the basement for a quieter night's sleep. We finally got their buy in and set up an eight man tent by candle light. We woke up to very little damage and a dry basement; something many of the neighbors didn't have. We were lucky. Our power stayed off for the next couple days but we can't really complain. Irene was more of a camping adventure than anything else.
I woke up to find this yesterday morning. My anxious-to-go-to-school-girlies are rising pretty early and when told to go back to bed, they decided to make good use of their time. I love it.
Adeline threw this duck down from upstairs and said, "Now that is pretty weird!" Followed by an under her breath, "A duck with _____________________!" Can you fill in the blank?
That would be, "A duck with four feet!" She would be the one to notice. Alex and I have seen this duck lying around for at least a year and never thought anything of it.
My final cute snippet is a video clip. Lila and I had some special one on one time yesterday. Our goal was to find her some school shoes that fit her annoying narrow feet. She stopped to dance in front of one of the stores that has a stage like structure. This girl can't wait to grow up and be a singer but dancing isn't far behind. She sings more words than she speaks and she dances as a form of locomotion.
Adeline is on her seventh round of orthotics. She has graduated from the Sure Steps that run up and around her ankles to regular flat PattiBob inserts that are worn inside her shoe. No one knows she has them and they seem to do the trick. Adeline is much less of a toe walker when she is wearing them. Of course, that means she has to wear her sneakers and when it is hot outside, that is a problem. It is also a problem when she wants to wear sneakers likes this! The girl loves her rainbows and big flashy lights make these even more desireable. She was too cute running around Nordstrom and banging the shoes together while telling anyone who would listen, "Look my shoes light up." I could tell she had suckered her Daddy so I gave in and let her have them. The lights are like LED lights and can potentially blind a person.. They can light up a room. Her poor teachers.
She loves the idea of these braces and was thrilled to pick out her pattern and strap color. Can you guess what color they are? Blue of course. No pretty butterflies and pink straps anymore. Adeline is choosing. Blue, well not just blue. Blue on blue!
Can you tell which ones I have chosen and which pair was designed by Adeline?
It is important to stretch out Adeline's heel cords but the process has been painful. Adeline asks to put on her braces each night, but each nights spends hours crying in her sleep. We haven't even gotten to the point where they are tight and holding the foot at a 90 degree angle. This has got to change.
Next up. . . Irene. Hurricane Irene shut things down for us last weekend. I never watch TV and wasn't tuning into the news. I did know that a Hurricane was on its way but because I wasn't tuned in, I didn't take things too seriously. I needed to run some errands a couple days before and you would have thought the world was running out of water, gas and food. I just needed Trader Joe's yogurt. Lucky me, panicked shoppers were elsewhere and I was able to manage with my two little helpers. I never take them into TJ's but today I had no choice. While I think the little shopping carts are cute, the other shoppers have to get tired of little kids taking their feet off at the ankles. I struggled letting both girls have their own cart but I must say, I enjoyed not carrying a heavy basket full of yogurt.
Next up. . . Irene. Hurricane Irene shut things down for us last weekend. I never watch TV and wasn't tuning into the news. I did know that a Hurricane was on its way but because I wasn't tuned in, I didn't take things too seriously. I needed to run some errands a couple days before and you would have thought the world was running out of water, gas and food. I just needed Trader Joe's yogurt. Lucky me, panicked shoppers were elsewhere and I was able to manage with my two little helpers. I never take them into TJ's but today I had no choice. While I think the little shopping carts are cute, the other shoppers have to get tired of little kids taking their feet off at the ankles. I struggled letting both girls have their own cart but I must say, I enjoyed not carrying a heavy basket full of yogurt.
We lost power immediately which woke all three girls. Adeline and Lila are terrified of thunderstorms which are minor compared to the loud winds we experienced. With a tornado warning in place and very tender girls on our laps, we decided to set the tent up in the basement in order to coerce the girls down into the basement for a quieter night's sleep. We finally got their buy in and set up an eight man tent by candle light. We woke up to very little damage and a dry basement; something many of the neighbors didn't have. We were lucky. Our power stayed off for the next couple days but we can't really complain. Irene was more of a camping adventure than anything else.
Finally. . . cute moments in time.
Savannah got to go school supply shopping for the first time. She was very excited about this. Her old school provided all of her supplies so picking out pencils and erasers was a very big deal. I took her out one night, just the two of us. We had a great time. She is such a good girl - respectful, appreciative and mature. I love her to the moon and back and love it when we carve time out for just the two of us. She makes my heart sing.
Here are her prized supplies. She used some handmade paper from her Japanese unit in first grade to decorate her new binder.
My final cute snippet is a video clip. Lila and I had some special one on one time yesterday. Our goal was to find her some school shoes that fit her annoying narrow feet. She stopped to dance in front of one of the stores that has a stage like structure. This girl can't wait to grow up and be a singer but dancing isn't far behind. She sings more words than she speaks and she dances as a form of locomotion.
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