We were able to get our hands on my childhood boat and take the girls out on the Columbia River. This was the first time that their toes touched down in fresh water. The girls were surprised by the cool temps and lack of waves but eventually found their groove. Savannah proved to be most nervous while on the boat. She and I were took a ride behind the boat on the tube and she hated every minute of it. After being on the river with my girls, I realize how different they are when compared to me at a young age. I was up on two skis by the time I was Savannah's age. I was a go-getter while they are Nervous Nellies.
We also went to the local firehouse again. In theory, Adeline loves to look at firetrucks, but in reality they terrify her. Not to worry, Lila made up for Adeline's lack of participation by asking the fireman if she could wear his coat and helmet.
Our lasting impression is always how much our kids love their cousins. They only see each other once a year but boy, do they enjoy them. We are so lucky to have such wonderful family.
The girls' celebrated an early birthday again at my parent's house. We were lucky to have my brother and his family join in on the festivities. Costco was gracious enough to make us a cake with each girls' name and favorite color flower. We sang three different times and let each girl blow out their individual candle. Then, of course, the girls were inundated with a ton of gifts. Lots of Car's toys, Hello Kitty and Cozy Critters.
Adeline's favorite gift was one that we gave her cousin. Angry Birds has a plastic version and is most fun if you play with an older cousin who will build the structure and retrieve your catapulted birds.
While putting my oldest to bed, she asked me, "Do you remember when I was in preschool and asked you to wait in the parking lot? You always told me you would. Did you really wait?" It was like a light went off in her head and she uncovered yet another one of my many white lies.
I came clean and told her I didn't wait. She giggled and looked back at me with big smiling eyes. Moments like these make her feel so grown up because she can look back at her young self and find amusement.
A day later she continued to grow up before my eyes with this:
"Mommy, you should move to the middle of the country so that we will never have a chance of living 3,000 miles apart when I grow up (stemming from the fact that I live 3,000 miles away from my own parents)."
I looked at her with quizzical eyes and reminded her that she has always has claimed she wants to live with me forever - in my house.
She responded with. . . "Well, I really want to live with you forever and that is definitely what I am planning. The thing is, well, I think you change your mind when you become an adult and don't end up wanting to live with your parents forever."
We are finishing up our three week stint here in Washington. The girls have had another wonderful summer break here in the warm but dry heat. There has been much time spent in water, whether it be by slide, pool, or boat. They have reconnected with cousins, met new cousins, and in general fallen in love with their cousins all over again. It has been good. We are lucky to have such strong ties to family that only see us a few days out of the year.
Here are some of our more memorable moments thus far. .
Upon arriving, we met the newest addition to our family. Savannah enjoyed learning how to hold a new born while I sat in the corner and sulked after realizing my BIG GIRLS are no longer the babies that I envision them as. Welcome to family Vivian.
We found some fantastic playgrounds which Bella and Lila traversed together.
The Point Defiance Zoo is a must see for the kids. They enjoy the playgrounds there more than the animals. Here the twins are pretending to be their hermit crabs, Crusty and Seasa.
Once the weather warmed up on the west side of the mountains, the girls took a dip in Grandma and Grandpa's pool. It would be the first of many. I can honestly say, my girls are burned out of swimming!
While crossing the mountains to Grammy and Papa's house, we decided to stop and see a waterfall. Oddly enough, neither Alex or I have seen Snoqualmie Falls. It was a beautiful day and the girls were impressed by the falls. I loved how I caught the girls pairing off and having fun together. My girls really do love each other. I eat up moments like these.
Almost two weeks ago today, we landed at Grammy and Papa's. The girls had much fun reaquainting themselves with their toys, familiar bike rides, couch tricks and, of course, the water slides. This year Lila navigates the slides solo while Adeline still prefers a lap. Savannnah took a couple of trips down but now prefers deep pools where she can dive. She was able to put those diving skills to use during the Quincy Coin Drop. Four hundred dollars were dropped in the pool. The whistle blew and it was every man for himself so to speak. Savannah proudly came up with nine of those four hundred dollars. Not too shabby. I am proud to report that she wants to use some of that nine dollars to buy something for her sisters since I sent them back to the house for naps and didn't let them participate. Savannah's love of money has inevitably sprouted but she continues to push herself to put her money to good use.
Below is the annual Amazing Couch Trick. Adeline discovered this trick last year but was much more animated and vocal when doing it this year. Now, it is always coupled with a bow - even though she almost forgets it in the clip below. Turn up the volume because the Belle is a soft speaker.
I am so proud of Miss Lila Grace. This girl set her first goal and achieved it!
Leaving training wheels behind was not easy. Lila could barely reach her toes to the ground and had no previous experience riding a bike without the safety net of training wheels. A situation like this, is often recognized as a difficult and looked upon with great reluctance by Lila. She isn't one to "pony up."
This time was different. Lila wobbled, stretched her toe to the ground and immediately recognized that learning to ride on two wheels was going to be hard work and require some bravery. She hunkered down, said she wanted to keep trying and was riding without us holding on ALL of the time on her first try.
By day two, mission was accomplished. . . at least in her eyes. Lila still doesn't know how to start on her own but has figured out how to stop (unlike in the video below.)
Here is a clip of her second try. The day got away from us so she was sporting two wheels in the dark.
Five years ago we were told Miss Adeline would never be born alive.
Five years ago today, marks the beginning of Adeline's long and miraculous fight for life. (you can read about it here)
Today is HER day.
Today is a day that reminds us to pause and appreciate her strength and determination. . . her will to live!
Adeline's road has been a long and slow journey. Countless hours of therapy, many hours of working hard at home and two years in a developmental preschool have helped Adeline close the gap. While it is not completely closed, all who know her celebrate her remarkable outcome.
What is most impressive is that Adeline is a light that brightens any room. She is happy, social, polite and very funny. She has a winning personality. Just tonight, while saying goodbye to people who were visiting her grandparents, Adeline stepped up, said good bye, and initiated the shaking of hands with men she has never met. She is small and quiet but is a strong presence at the same time. She engages all those around her with funny stories, bright smiles and super, sweet snuggles. Adeline reminds us daily that she loves us with a quiet look up over the rim of her glasses followed by an, "I love you Mommy (or Daddy)." She is my joy, my peace and calm, but most of all, my miracle.
Not what one would expect of a child that had to encounter this world fighting and unrelenting fight.
While driving the girls around the other day, Savannah admired Adeline's sweet ways. Savannah asked me, "Mommy could you imagine our lives without our Adeline?" To which I responded, "Absolutely not." Savannah continued with, "Our lives would be so different without this sweet girl. She is so sweet and funny. Our family just wouldn't be right without our Adeline."
That is how it is with Adeline. I can be walking through the grocery store, sitting at the dinner table or doing something completely mundane and all the sudden I have an Adeline moment. These moments take my breath away and make my heart sing at the same time. I lose my breath from the sudden panic of what I almost lost and come to tears over the amazing gift that I wake up to each day. You have to know her to appreciate her impact.
Adeline is our gentle spirit that reminds us to believe in the unbelievable.
We rattled the girls' cages at 3:30 a.m. for a long day of travel out west. Our itenerary had us going for 13 hours which made me a little nervous. We have flown multiple times with the girls but never have we left so early and traveled so long.
Here are my lovelies after arriving at the airport.
The first of three legs was uneventful. Savannah and I slept while Daddy dozed on and off between the twins who were glued to their ipods. When we got off the plane in Denver, Adeline seemed completely normal. Within 30 minutes she was flat on the floor, unable to get up. Soon she was puking, dusky, and lethargic. We didn't have the pulse ox but it was clear she was desatting. Alex and I were both shocked that the cabin pressure and high altitude in Denver made my little girl, more or less, tank. I carried her listless body onto the plane and soon was surrounded by flight attendants. They wanted to know what was wrong with her and what they could do to help. Getting the show on the road was about all I could suggest. I watched Adeline closely as she slept for the entire next leg of our trip. She was breathing harder but not retracting which made me conclude we weren't in crises mode.
Miss Belle woke up in Vegas. Within 30 minutes she was her old self. Somehow she got it together enough so that the next leg of the trip didn't send her into respiratory distress again.
Here she is in Denver and later, on the plane in Vegas.
Thank goodness for Apple products. Lila and I were stir crazy from Vegas to Seattle but the other three we quietly glued to their devices.
Eventually, Lila found her groove too. A snack, an ipod and straw in her mouth. . . what more could a girl want?
Well, she could want a couple more hours of sleep! When looking for Adeline today, we found her in her bed asleep. She had taken it upon herself to grab a couple more hours of shut eye. Lila couldn't make it in her bed before she passed out.
With Adeline's need for more oxygen aside, the girls did a fantastic job of traveling. Not a fuss, moan or cry. They really are super stars when it comes to this kind of thing.
