Now that we are on the sunny side of Washington, the girls are enjoying a lot of pool time. Oddly enough, they seem to still have fun in the backyard pool as well. All three girls were splashing around in it today. Unfortunately, I didn't get my camera until the big girl had already climbed out. She had decided to dry off on her little sister's bike.
Savannah bought her sisters some birthday stickers a few days ago. They came in handy as I was able to get my not so willing artist to do something other than "coloring colors." Lila loves to color large spotches of color on a page but rarely comes up with a story on her paper. Today was different. I asked her if she wanted to draw herself at her birthday party. Immediately, Lila drew her head. She added all the appropriate facial details and even some crazy hair. Next, she added a belly and arms and legs. The stickers were the best part. She enjoyed putting balloons in her hand a cake in the other. I didn't touch a marker but was there to give her ideas along the way. I thought it turned out pretty good.
After she was done, I asked her if she wanted to draw Bobby, our cat, on his birthday. She started drawing a head and belly as if she was making a person. I quickly drew a circle and oval on another sheet of paper which helped Lila organize Bobby's body on her second try. She decorated it with stickers and was pretty proud of her creation.
While the sun was shining and the rain clouds were at bay, we decided to join our cousins for a day that the Point Defiance Zoo. It was one of the rare opportunities we have to be together as a group. Too bad Daddy had to stay behind and work.
Upon arrival, it was clear the kids were going to enjoy the play equipment more than anything. Once we pried them off, they found interest in the baby tigers being licked by their mama. The tarantula and touch and feel sea life tank ranked high as well. After we sufficiently got our wiggles out we headed to the carousel for a quick ride before heading home. Once again, the zoo proved to be a great outing.
After a week of procrastinating, we finally filled our suitcases. Savannah's suitcase was packed and sitting idle at the top of the stairs for a good four days, but the rest of us decided to shove everything in just hours before our flight. With great anticipation, we headed to the airport in search of planes and grandparents.
Even after arriving, I am still not sure if the little girls understand the distance traveled or that it will take a plane to get us back home. What I do know is that the girls were great travelers. I didn't pack toys, tons of snacks or much of anything for our journey west. Traveling light proved to be the better choice yet again. The girls watched their ipods, enjoyed looking out the window and slept a good portion of the flights (Adeline skipped out on the sleeping bit). Adeline was her typical self and slept little but was content watching movies.
I should note that there wasn't any illness or puking this time around. Although Adeline wasn't hooked up the pulse ox, her disposition remained happy and content which leads me to believe that she can handle the less than 21% oxygen saturation of the airplane air. What a relief!
Lila, when left on her own, gets lost in her pretend play. She is rarely in a room by herself because she and Adeline are always together. This weekend, she found herself alone with her Bunny and Ducky. This is what I found.
It reminded me of all the times I have scrutinized her play so that I can check off the pretend play milestone - REAL pretend play. Well, that milestone has been checked for quite sometime but it is always nice to walk into a sweet little scene like this. The only thing that was missing was her serenading Bunny and Ducky. Little Miss barely has time to pretend play between all of the singing she does!
Savannah and her neighbor friend spent hours working on their Club House. They decorated, drew in furniture, moved it out to the grass and coned it off from the little girls (with very little success), and finally gave painting a try. The little girls caught wind of the it and joined in too. It always amazes me how much fun kids have with cardboard boxes
Here is the beginning of being covered from head to toe in paint. Miss Lila just had to get her finger in it and then her hand. Next thing I knew, I was being beckoned to the garage because Lila was painting her legs and feet.
July 26th will always be Adeline's day . It marks the first day of her fight for life. Here is her story.
July 26th is always a tearful day for me. I have a heightened awareness of what I almost lost. I also have a greater appreciation for what I have.
I had to work tonight. As I drove home, I was anxious to go and check on Adeline. I needed to have that quiet time with her. She was awake when I walked in her room. She was sniffling and asked to go into my bed - something she does very rarely. I brought her in and laid her on my chest. I felt her breath, I smelled her hair, and I marveled at how big she has grown. We laid like that for a half hour. She just fit.
As I lay there taking her in, I thought about all the things that I would have missed if Adeline never made it into this world alive. I remembered back to the first time I heard her laugh and how tears fell from my eyes. It was just a tiny gurgle that was over powered by the oxygen flow in her cannula but it was a laugh that made me laugh until I cried. I remembered the NICU nurse practitioner telling me that she could see it in Adeline's eyes - a will to live, a life to lead. I doubted her. Looking back I believe the nurse was telling me something she truly believed. Adeline is the brightest yet quietest presence in the room. Her quiet determination has not only changed my life but has made an impact on her teachers and therapists as well. Adeline has taught our family how to love deeply, dream big, and believe in the unbelievable.
Not too surprisingly, Adeline perked up and ended our late night snuggle. Late night is her brightest hour - just like her Daddy. I thought it would be a good time to get one of our conversations on video. Here is Miss Adeline approaching four years of age. She is the baby that doctors said would never be born alive.
