The Celebration of Nine!

Since Lorelai's birthday comes third in our birthday season, it is very important that I don't lose steam. So I take special care to go above and beyond; to let Lorelai know that even though her birthday is last, it is most definitely not least.

I hereby present the celebration of nine:

 

Treat bags filled with silly string and Cracker Jack - to go with our circus theme.

Highlights of Lorelai's day: 

~ A gymnastics meet.
~ Lunch at Costa Vida
~ Trip to Costco
(Where I said yes to things like ginormous boxes of brownies...
because she asked and she was the birthday girl.) 

 For Lorelai's 9th Birthday she got:

~ Skateboard

~ Crystal garden

~ Rainbow loom

~ Clothes

~ Leotard

~ Guinness Book of World Records

And now, my favorite picture of the day:

 

Two sisters, whispering, whilst holding a can of silly string. 

You can imagine what happened next!

Ha!

That's a wrap!
 

It's Lorelai's Birthday!

This one of 

mine

just turned 
nine!

 


Now isn't that fine?

Portraits by Photography by Lee Ann

A Disney Legend

In 1991 my grandfather was awarded the Disney Legend Award (alongside Mary Blair and Julie Andrews...aka...MPopp!!). 

Recently, my brother discovered this video of the awards ceremony. Memories came flooding back as I listened to my Grandfather's acceptance speech; I hadn't heard his voice in over twenty years. In an instant, this long-lost video became a family treasure.

I hope you will enjoy watching this clip of Roy Disney presenting the Disney Legend Award to the 1991 recipients. If you fast forward 7:10 it will take you directly to my Grandfather!

And here is part II (In case you want to see Ms. Andrews!)

The Pumpkin Patch

This year it was Alexandra's turn to have a friend birthday party, so she invited a few of her friends and went to the local pumpkin patch.

 

And then home for [another] cake!
 

There, that birthday is officially wrapped up!

Now to prepare for the next
(on Saturday!).

The Subway Experiment

Are you familiar with Joshua Bell? If not, you should be. He just so happens to be my favorite violinist - and one of the best in the entire world. 

A few years back he did a social experiment with The Washington Post. Bell anonymously situated himself in a D.C. metro station, case open, playing his Stradivarius during rush hour. In the video you watch as hundrends (thousands?) stream past him. Few acknowledge him much less stop and listen. Joshua Bell is a virtuoso who regularly sells out concert halls across the globe, yet in a subway station, dressed in a ballcap and jeans, he went unnoticed.

So what is it? Is it our fast-paced life that doesn't allow us to slow down long enough to enjoy something truly beautiful? Or is it our fascination with labels? (No matter how beautiful the music - a musician wandering the streets does not carry a prestigious label.)

This story and these thoughts were fresh in my mind after re-watching the video on Monday night. As a result, my ears perked up when I heard the sound of music while passing through the hospital lobby yesterday. I looked over to see an elderly man playing piano in the corner. The seats surrounding him were empty. People, in a hurry, passing by quickly.

Immediately, I thought back to Joshua Bell in the subway station. I knew I didn't want to fall victim to what I saw in that video - people moving so fast that they didn't see [hear] the beauty right in front of them.

 I lifted Elisabeth from her wheelchair and we sat in one of the vacant seats. It wasn't a world famous musician. It wasn't an invaluable instrument. But nonetheless, we stopped, we listened - and it was lovely.

Mini Me

Take a good look at what Alexandra wore on Saturday:

 

Do you see that shirt? 

I repeat, do you see that shirt?!

That was my shirt once upon a time.

 

[Me circa 1998]

My daughter turns 11 and suddenly she fits into my old teenage wardrobe.

Bizarre, I tell you!

Simply Be Genuine

A woman approached me yesterday and said she wanted to meet Elisabeth; that she couldn't stop staring and just had to come closer.

Even from afar, she said she could feel Elisabeth melting her heart. How by looking into Elisabeth's eyes she could see pure angelic innocence.

Then we did my favorite thing in the world - we talked all about QE! Seriously, I can't get enough of it. I told the woman about Elisabeth's struggles as well as her triumphs. We discussed her initial prognosis, various surgeries, and my love of g-tubes. And I told her how lucky I feel - how I look at Elisabeth and feel like I won the lottery..

I am grateful to that woman and for her courage in approaching me. So often, in this age of being politically correct, I find that people fear saying the wrong thing - therefore they say nothing at all.

But we mustn't live in fear. 

We simply must be genuine, as was this woman.

 

[Looky, looky, Elisabeth's school portrait arrived!]

p.s. My encounter yesterday has me remembering a post I wrote just over two years ago. It happens to be one of my favorite posts - ever. And considering I have some 1600+ posts, that's saying something! So please, click the link below and have a read.

A Declaration  by Lisa Sorenson

She's 6, By Golly!

If you look past Elisabeth's unkempt appearance (and the socks on the floor), you'll see a little girl that actually looks six!

 

So often she is curled up into a tight little ball and sucking on her pacifier
(which gives her a much more infant-like look!).

The Celebration of Eleven!

Eleven 

Eleven-year-olds want things like skateboards for their birthdays.

 

Do you remember Back-to-School Night?

Do you remember that I told Lex she was getting a little plastic cup for her birthday?

Did you think I was joking?

I was not:

 

Beads aren't just for Mardi Gras.

 

Once again, Brigitta was dolled up for the occasion. She loves a good party.

 

Until she gets squished in a sister sandwich. In which case she looks like this:

 

"Uh...someone get me away from here. 

And out of this sweater."

  

Behold, the cake!

   

And that's how you turn 11. 

Got it?

To Be Meek

Over the past almost-6-years of authoring this blog, I haven't written much on the topics of religion or politics. This has been intentional. I wanted the focus to be on my experiences as a mother;  especially my experiences as a mother to a handicapped child.

But today I feel like I need to say something about religion. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This weekend was the semi-annual general conference, broadcast from church headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT. Over the course of the weekend there were four sessions of conference, two hours each. And within in each session church leaders spoke on a variety of topics.

Donald and I decided that rather than have the the girls sit for some 8 hours and listen (with wandering minds), we would use our DVR to record conference and listen to the speakers one at a time over the course of the month. I feel that this is more developmentally appropriate for their ages and will allow us to discuss the things we hear together as a family.

Last night we listened to the words of Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy as he spoke about being meek. We hit the pause button many times to talk about what it means to be meek and how we can apply Elder Soares counsel to our lives.

Each of the girls sat with a paper in front of them, taking notes on things that seemed pertinent to them or made an impression.

As I write this post I am glancing at Alexandra's notes. She wrote,

"Meek - teachable, humble, patient and God fearing."

"Being meek does not mean weakness, but goodness"

"Learning how to control your temper is one of the challenges in life. Instead of losing your temper, use gentle persuasion. By controlling your reactions, being calm, and avoiding contention we will begin to qualify for the gift of meekness."

How true those words are. I know that I need to work on being meek. Indeed, I need to follow His example. And I know that as I strive to follow His example I will find peace and comfort amidst the confusions and conflicts of life.

It's Alexandra's Birthday!

My firstborn came into this world  
eleven years ago today.

[Photography by Lee Ann]

~11~

In Stitches

 

Stitches, stitches, everywhere!

I was a little shocked when I saw the incisions. I mean, when Elisabeth had her first shunt surgery the incision was an inch long - at most! So I thought, that's brain surgery, so this won't be much...

And then I discover a total of 21 stitches!

You can't really tell from the picture above, but when you look at Elisabeth you can see a clear outline of the VNS under her skin; a round circle about the size of a silver dollar. And, much like the tubing from her shunt that goes down the right side of her neck, you can feel the wire from the VNS going up the left side. This girl is just full of implants, I tell you! 

Here is a diagram showing the placement of the VNS in her body:

  

The device isn't turned on yet. We want to give Elisabeth a few weeks to heal. 

But once we flip the on switch...we will hope for miracles!

Surgery Successful!

 

[Farewell, family.]

Elisabeth and I left town on Sunday afternoon and spent the night in Spokane. With a 5:30 check in at the hospital, that's just what you do.

  

[Our hotel room had two beds, but Elisabeth and shared one and snuggled all night. ]

Surgery went perfectly and they sent Elisabeth home just a few hours later. For the record, I think it is crazy that they sent her home so fast. I understand that this wasn't the riskiest surgery in the world, but a) she has many medical complications, b) she can't communicate to us how she is feeling, and c) we live two hours away from the hospital. I feel all three are valid reasons to watch her for a night, but send her home they did. 

 

[In recovery. Still snoozin'.]

  

All bandaged up! There is an incision on her neck and another just underneath the collarbone - and they are big! With Halloween around the corner I'm thinking she would make an adorable little Frankenstein...

I'll post pictures of her incisions tomorrow.

(The expression on Elisabeth's face in that last picture cracks me up!)

(Doesn't she have the cutest profile?)

Happy October! 

My favorite month!!