The little things can be HUGE

I remember seeing pictures of one of Lucia's little PKS friends, Isabella from Alabama, sleeping on her side.  I thought to myself "Wow! Isabella rolls and sleeps on her side! That's really cool."  I have also watched videos of Isabella bouncing like a maniac in her bouncer.  And as it is with all special kids- to see one achieve something new is so BIG- something that might be so little to most, it's amazing!    We have watched Isabella bounce and bounce and bounce and I have sent them a video or two back, "here's Lu hanging out in her bouncer...maybe someday Isabella can teach Lu her tricks".
Well.... Lubird has been enjoying sleeping on her side and rolls from side to side all the time! And Lu has shown us that bouncing most certainly may be in her future, which makes us think that standing might be too!!!!!!!!!  In the video below you will see her do some amazing things..here are a few...

she holds her upper body up-and did so for about 30 minutes!
she busts out laughing while playing and touching some toys!
Lubird bears weight, straightens her legs and does a wee bounce...TWO TIMES!

http://youtu.be/h74UFI3ZD2o

The little things are HUGE and she has made us so HUGELY HAPPY and proud with her new bouncer skills!  To see her play in her little station is fun in itself, to see her discover new skills...awesomely HUGE! Thank you for the inspiration Isabella. God bless you little LUBIRD!

Giving Thanks and...!

Little Lu, Little Lu, How we love thee Little Lu
Little Lu, Little Lu, You're our only girl, the one and only you!
But Little Lu you know we have a secret and the time has come to share
It's about someone special, probably not so rare
Little Lu's mommy is 3 months pregnant today
a little baby brother or sister is on it's way
WE'RE PREGNANT! WE'RE PREGNANT! IT'S WONDERFULLY TRUE!
THERE'S A BABY IN MY BELLY and next June, it is due!

Jason, Juliet and Lubird Dawkins would like give out a BIG tweet that we are expecting a baby!
Little Lu is going to be a BIG SISTER!

We are so Thankful for our baby bird, she is the light of our lives, and we know that her younger brother or sister will be her best friend.  They will learn so much from each other.

I am so thankful for our baby Lu, and so thankful for our baby to be.  And so thankful for us to be able to grow our family.  We love you Lucia.  We give thanks for you every day, and the amazing little girl you are, and we are especially thankful on Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, God Bless

Juliet, Jason, Lucia, Frieda & Blue & wee baby too

Wait for YOU!

I've been slacking.  Slacking on blogging about my little bird and slacking on taking time for myself to exercise.  Tonight I did a yoga class, making it 2 days in a row and making it the first classes since the St. Lucia White Party weekend benefit class that my friend, Billy taught-making it TOO LONG AGO!  I already feel better!  I know that when I feel better, I can be a better mom, a better wife, a better friend and a better person.  As I stretched and moved, and focused on my breath and my movements, I felt a sense of calm and a sense of rejuvenation.  Since having Lucia,  every time I have taken a yoga class I think of her.  I think of how incredible the human body is.  How it can move, how it can balance and how strong it can be.  I think of how hard the movements are for kids like Lucia.  I dedicate each class to my baby Lu and I relish the feelings of the poses as we practice and flow.  I leave the class with a deep appreciation of how complex our bodies are, and I leave knowing that I want to move Lucia and teach Lucia how to use her body as best she can!
Little Lu works hard.  She uses her mind, her body and her awesome spirit to try to achieve what are the littlest things, so little we don't think about them, achievements.  Sitting, seeing, eating, bearing weight to stand, using arms to push.  Those are all soooo challenging for Little Lu and will be monumental when she one day is able to achieve those goals.  Lucia keeps a busy schedule to help achieve some of these goals, and she also loves the friends she has made, included with each appointment.  Physical Therapy 6x a month, Occupational Therapy (eating, using hands, playing) 4x a month, Speech (mostly eating right now) 2x a month, the Anchor Center every Monday and Wednesday from 9:30-11 where she plays alongside other kids and works on vision therapy with lights, sensory skills, and music class. And also the alternative therapy called ABM, which helps her make brain connections to her body, which we do 8x a month.  She is making progress, and although there may be some steps forward and a few steps back, she is working hard and most importantly, she seems to enjoy it most of the time.   One of the songs the teacher played in tonight's class was I will wait for you by Mumford and Sons.  It was the only song that I really listened to in the 75 minute class.  My little Lu,  I WILL WAIT FOR YOU, however slow moving that journey may be, there is not doubt that your daddy and I will wait for YOU!
The life of Little Lu is not so typical, but it's sweet and, at times, although it seems complex,  its actually quite the opposite, it is very simple.  She is as precious and laid back as ever and she is growing and getting more and more beautiful every day.  19 months old!
I am going to make an effort to continue to practice yoga regularly again.  I am going to do it for myself, because when I feel better I truly know that I am a better person and when I am a better person, I will be a better wife and mom, like my husband and daughter deserve.  I'm giving myself a little pep talk there :)  There is nothing I want more in life than to be the best mom I can to this little bird.
Tonight the teacher told us that she was 17 weeks pregnant.   I tried to do the math but then with a hunch, I just decided to ask her due date.  She replied, April 26th.  I shared with her, that was the date my daughter was born! and thanked her for a wonderful class.

me and my beautiful lu!

I'd also like to make a special shout out to the other little lady in my life.  My Lady Frieda turned 11 years old this week! I Love you my Lady Freeeeeds!

And Shanna,  we are thinking about you...and the loss of your sweet, sweet dad. He will live on through you.

Souls set free

end of the balloon release at Reyes' Memorial service-pink was his favorite color

Today I went to a memorial service for a 4 year old, Reyes Che Casias.  Reyes was the grandson of our next door neighbors, and he passed away from a rare form of Leukemia.   Prior to his diagnosis in February 2012, Reyes was a typical little boy who did typical little boy things, wrestle with his older brother, play outside, pretend to be a superhero, which earned him the nickname "Sonic".  Reyes passed away too soon, at the innocent age of just 4 1/2 years old.  Despite the unimaginable sadness of losing a child, it was a beautiful service and a celebration of his life.
As I sat at the service, I thought of another small child that passed away a few months ago, Hayley Randell.  Hayley was not a typical child, she had PKS.  In her 4 years of life, she was never able to run around with other kids, or play dress-up, or even communicate her wants and needs.  As most kids are with PKS, Hayley was severely disabled from head to toe.  She passed away from a heart complication and she too, passed away too soon.   I also thought of our other next door neighbor's daughter, Sophia Chappel, who passed two years ago, at just over 1 year old.  As I thought of Hayley and Sophia and Reyes my heart began to smile.  I realized that they all would soon be friends.  Friends in Heaven free to run and jump and play together, as equals.  Where there are no handicaps, no Leukemia and pain to overcome!  I know they will meet and they will live in eternity, free to fly, free to laugh, to live in happiness forever!

At Reyes' service today this was written in the program and I thought it was so beautiful, I'm going to pass it along to Hayley's family too.

Miss Me-But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me, 

I want no rites in a gloom filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little-but not too long

And not with your head bowed low,

Remember the love that we once shared

Miss me-But let me go.

For this journey that we all must take

And each must go alone, 

It's all part of the Master's plan

A step on the road to home. 

When you are lonely and sick of heart

Go to the friends we know, 

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.

Miss me- But Let me Go...

The pain of losing a child is something I could never imagine and something no parent should ever have to endure.  I'm so sorry for the loss of Reyes, and Hayley, and Sophia, and Maelynn and so many more...I know they are playing together, with their 'souls set free' in Heaven, and happy forever.