Thank You Teachers!

Teacher Appreciation Day is upon us. . .  and I can't find the words that adequately describe the adoration I have for my girls' teachers.  These woman greet my girls with smiles and hugs each morning.  They work tirelessly to be an extension of my love and high expectations.  I feel incredibly lucky to drop my girls at three different doors each morning, knowing they are safe, loved, and pushed toward excellence.  What is even more gratifying is that these teachers "get" my girls and appreciate their unique qualities.  Savannah's teacher revels in her sweet/compassionate ways.  Lila's hard work and attention is never overlooked while Adeline's sweet perseverance is celebrated time and time again by her many teachers.

 There are 11 full time classroom teachers helping my three girls grow and develop.

Music to My Ears

My girls have been using their manners abundantly these last couple of weeks.  For example, while in the middle of dinner tonight, Adeline said, "Thanks for dinner Mommy."  Immediately, the other two did the same.  I couldn't believe it.  Sometimes Savannah will thank me and then the twins will follow suit but today it was Adeline.  Being thanked for making dinner is one way to make this Mommy feel super appreciated.  (Do you think it matters that dinner was pancakes, strawberries and scrambled eggs??)

The Lion King with Miss Green

I had the opportunity to take Savannah to The Lion King in Philly.  It was absolutely amazing.  She is the perfect age and appreciated the craft and hard work that went into the production.  She was captivated the entire time.  It was fun to get dressed up, go to dinner in the city, and go to a "grown up play" together.  If you haven't seen it, it is worth every penny.  The only problem is that once you see The Lion King, other shows become a step down in the visual department.

During intermission, Savannah was washing her hands.  She had turned the water off while soaping her hands.  She turned to me with a proud smile and said, "I'm saving the Earth."  If one person could single-handedly change the world, I think Savannah would be the one to do it.  She is green, almost to an annoying fault, and compassionate about the many corners of our world that are often over looked.

The Lion King worked nicely into Savannah's school curriculum.  They are studying Africa.  Last week, I had to drop the girls with Mr. Byron (yep, that is one daddy and five kids) while I went to work.  I offered to pay Savannah $2.00 to help Mr. Byron babysit.  She mentally counted how much money she would have after the job and came up with $40.00.  She then told me, "I want to send my money to Africa.  I know most kids would want to buy toys and sometimes I feel like I want toys but I know in my heart that I should help other people who don't have very much.  How can I send my money to Africa?"  I responded with many different charitable operations that are active in Africa and she narrowed it down to using her money to help provide clean drinking water.  I told her I would match her dollar for dollar which caused her to set a goal of $50.00.  "Then we could send $100.00 to Africa!" 


If I could live outside of myself as much as my daughter does. . .

March for Babies 2010!

I am humbled by my girls. . . their determination, joyful disposition, and love.  They are full of life.  A life, at one point, I doubted.

I am humbled by Savannah and her prayers for the little babies while on our walk, her heartfelt poster about her sisters, and ability to delight in her sisters' successes.

I am humbled by those of you who rallied around us with supporting words and generous donations.  We are wonderfully blessed to have such and amazing community of friends and family.

THANK YOU!!

We have come a long way.  Our first March for Babies landed Adeline in the hospital the next day.    The other walks can be seen here and here.

This year, we were full of health and positive energy.  We truly are the lucky ones!

Here we are after our five mile run/ride.

March for Babies, Here We Come!

We had shirts made this year which we were excited to sport.  The girls enjoyed matching their Mommy and Daddy.

Here is our "before" shot. . .

March of Dimes

We are going to pound the pavement next Saturday in order to raise money and awareness for the March of Dimes.  Their organization played direct role in the twins' lives.  Without their contributions that funded the research for surfactant, my Adeline would not be with us today.  The same could have been true for Lila Grace.  I sit here today and try to imagine my world without my baby girls.  I can't wrap my head around how devastating that world would be.

I remember very little of Adeline's birth - my eyes were closed until she was out and being worked on by the NICU doctors.  I wanted to see her but all I saw was more than twenty pairs of scrubs surrounding my one pound baby.  I kept repeating, "She has a name.  Please God, let her live, she has a name."  She was my baby, a life, a life that I so desperately wanted to live.  While I was chanting my incoherent thoughts, Dr. Chang was ventilating my baby girl and administering surfactant inside her tiny lungs.

By the grace of God and modern day research, both of my girls are alive and thriving.  We are the lucky ones.  I don't know why we were chosen to carry our babies out of the NICU when so many others never get to take their babies home.  I struggle with this thought frequently.

As we gear up for our walk next weekend, please feel free to join in.  There is a fund raising button on the side of this blog.  A big thanks to our very generous donors thus far.  We would love for you to lift us up next weekend as we walk.  It is an emotional experience.  It is a time when we are forced to face what "could have been" which leaves me holding my girls close to me while my heart swells with gratitude.

Here is our story. . .

Sisterly Love

I dropped Adeline at Sunday School first today while Alex took Lila to the bathroom. When walking Lila into Sunday School, she seemed hesitant. Possibly, because Adeline was already in and settled in a chair. When I directed Lila Grace to sit down, she told me, "No, I want to snuggle my sister." She then snuggled up to Adeline and put her head on her shoulder. Adeline responded with, "Lila Grace, you sit right there." Lila reiterated to Adeline that she wanted to snuggle her. So. . . Adeline, the one who doesn't like a lot of touch from siblings or friends, kept on coloring while Lila was attached to her side. It was very sweet.