Remembering Six Years Ago

Today marks the sixth anniversary of a very sad day.  Alex and I were told that there was very little, if any, chance that our little Adeline would be born alive.  I wrote about this day here. 

When I read Adeline's story, I find it hard to digest.  There is so much joy and celebration in our lives when it comes to Miss Belle that I often don't feel the great sadness that we experienced six years ago.  I have it carefully folded into a corner of my heart.  Every now and then something will trigger those emotions that flooded our lives but for the most part, I am crying tears of joy or tears of laughter.  It all depends on what Adeline chooses to focus on for the day.  As I wrote about a few posts back, my girl is quite a character.  She is smart, personable and hysterically funny.  She is endearing and forges ahead with her trademark determination.  She is everything they said she wouldn't be!

Alex and I got some nice time with the Belle tonight.  After sitting in bed for an hour, she snuck upstairs and asked for her left over "meat burger" from dinner.  She discussed in length her plans for the future.  If you ask Adeline what she wants to do when she grows up she will tell with great confidence that she is going to be an astronaut and fly into space.  She also plans to marry (my other two are still determined to live with me forever.)  The only aspect of growing up that troubles Adeline is that she doesn't know what she will look like and that is unsettling for some reason.  She is also troubled that she doesn't know which house will be hers.  She is a deep thinker. 

We love her and celebrate her each and every day!!

(If Adeline were to choose the picture for this post, I believe this would be the one!)

Miss Lois

How do we say goodbye to Miss Lois - Adeline's IU preschool teacher?  Miss Lois started teaching Adeline at age three.  At that time, Adeline was barely talking, in diapers and couldn't walk the entire way to the school's playground.  It was hard to find people that thought Adeline was going to beat the odds of prematurity.  Miss Lois had her work cut out for her.  I placed my hope in her.

Miss Lois provided an environment that helped my girl soar.  She helped Adeline slowly overcome many of her sensory issues that kept her locked up.  Lois helped Adeline find her voice and with time, helped my girl grow into a leader.  We kept her with the younger kids during her second year there so that Adeline would have a chance to step up to the plate and lead.  That she did.  Another example of Miss Lois and her magical knowledge and experience. 

Adeline loves school which surprises me because school is hard work.  Adeline's gross motor and fine motor skills are challenged each day.  One would think that it would get old and tiring after three years.  Not when you are with Miss Lois! 

Adeline doesn't remember a world without Miss Lois.  She has been a constant source of positive support.  She LOVES her.  I know most kids love their teachers but when you have a teacher for three years that sees you through all that Adeline has achieved, that teacher becomes family.  My heart is sad because we are losing an important member of our family.  I worry that Adeline will lose some of her confidence, determination, and willingness to try when not under the wings of Miss Lois.

Miss Lois changed Adeline's life.  There is no doubt in my mind that Adeline is so much more than what she would have been if we had not found Lois.  My heart is heavy but full of gratitude.

First day of school photos from the past three years. 

Reuniting with Miss Lois after a summer break.

15 Minutes with Adeline

This girl is something else.  After a very long week of staying up late and attending the summer session of her IU classroom, I was expecting Adeline to pass out tonight.  We went swimming and didn't get back home and upstairs for bed until 9:00.  Too make the bedtime process easier, I offered to shower with her.  Here is just a sampling our of conversations during our 15 minutes together.

A:  Mommy, it is my dream come true!  You are going to shower with me.

A:  How much do you think a fire jet weighs?  (She refers to airplanes as fire jets.)  Maybe 60 pounds?

A:  Mommy, you always want me to stay small but I want to be big.  I am going to get big on my birthday because I will be six.  Mommy, it will be OK.  I will be like a very big pumpkin when you try to pick me up.  SUPER HEAVY.

A:  Why do you drive when you are 16?

A:  I am going to be a Mommy when I get big like you.  But it will hurt when they cut the babies out of my tummy.  Did it hurt you Mommy?
Me:  No sweetie.
A:  Why did they use stitches on your tummy?  Why are stitches blue?

A:  Mommy, I love your snuggles.  Can I have one after my shower?

And to really give you an idea of how her brain is just a little bit outside of the box and ALWAYS thinking, here is a conversation we had a few weeks back.  We just started using the correct names for certain body parts.

A:  Mommy, do you have a penis?
Me:  No, only boys have penises.  Girls have vaginas (not my favorite word but I was on the spot and needed to name it!)

Adeline thinking...Long pause...

A:  Vagina rhymes with China!!!  (Stated very enthusiastically.)
Me:  Yes it does but don't tell your teacher.
A:  Penis rhymes with Venus!

That's my girl.  She keeps me smiling and on my toes!

15 Glorious Days

We had the best vacation this year.  I can honestly say that we didn't have the itch to return home.  We left with sad hearts and tears.  There is something to be said for setting the wallet and watch aside for two weeks.  Our beach is quiet, retail free - with the exception of an ice cream shop, and very family friendly.  I always say it is my slice of heaven. . . my favorite two weeks of the year.

There were two snafus this vacation. I suffered viral pink eye which left me with a bulging eye for at least seven days that didn't respond to drops.  It was a contacts-free week.  Not my favorite but it could have been worse.  Lila was running a fever a week before departure which resulted in an ear infection.  She perked up the day we left which focused all eyes on Adeline.  I thought we might be in the clear because she had a fever the first two days of vacation and then was fever free for the most part.  Just when I had forgotten that sickness was a threat, she started to wake each night with a high fever.  Luckily, she responded well to ibuprofen and was able to participate during much of the day.  The kicker (and there always is a kicker with Adeline) was when she woke up miserable with hypothermia.  She dipped to 94.3.  Don't Google that temperature in children.  It will make your heart beat fast since there is an overwhelming arrow pointing to sepsis.  I knew in my heart that she wasn't septic but it was scary.  I had a hard time letting myself fall asleep next to a girl who was freezing on the inside.  She rallied but wasn't top of her game the rest of our trip.   

Here are some highlights from our trip. 

Crusty was set free.  Yes, I know they are meant for captivity but this crab ate all of his roommates so it was time for him to GO!  Two years of this crab was enough for me.  The ceremonious good bye was very cute.

 Lila and I made many birthday cakes.

 Head first into any and all waves.

Savannah spent hours boogie boarding.

 Watching the ocean from the deck.

 The annual trip to the ice cream shop.

 Sea life!

Many holes were dug.

Many jumps were taken.

 

 The pool in the back yard was HUGE hit!!

While I love it all, this is what I love most!

The Annual Beach Pictures

 While the above pictures look nice and pretty, the faces behind the scene usually aren't.  I can safely say that my family (me included) dreads the beach photo night.  We all have to be showered and looking nice when we are typically in suits and under ten layers of sunscreen.  We power through and hike onto the beach in 85 degree, sticky humidity.  There are always lighting issues, camera issues, and sitting still issues.  The only reason we walk away smiling is because before we leave the beach that evening, daddy gives everyone some spins and throws.  As you can see in the pictures, we were taking photos multiple nights this year.  Adeline was sick one of the nights and wasn't up for the shower but was able to partake in some of the fun. 

This was our ten year anniversary with our dear friends at Holden Beach.  We fought tooth and nail to get this picture.  With some Photoshop magic, we got all 14 of us looking at the camera.  I loves these people!!

More 4th of July

Happy Independence Day!