Just the way you are

I've started to write and then I don't finish...I've been enjoying my babies, because babies don't keep! But here is a little catch up and then some..

On the PKS Facebook page a friend of mine, mom to a little girl Lucia's age with PKS, posted a few lyrics from a Bruno Mars song.   "When I see your face there's not a thing that I would change cause girl you're amazing, just the way you are!  And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while, cause girl you're amazing, just the way you are..."  and she wrote, " Thanks Bruno for summing up so nicely how I feel about miss Willow today".   I read that post and it melted my heart.  Melted my heart that Debi feels that for her Willow and melted my heart because it's also perfection for how I feel about little Lu.  

Debi and little Willow

I read the post and looked over and admired my girl who was just looking around smiling and holding her hands...I curled up next to her on our shag rug and sang the lyrics to her.  I teared up telling her and she turned her head away, I hugged her tight and said "Luuuu, your mom is a goof, but I just love you so much, and I started to cry a little more" then Lu laughed out loud! Then I laughed out loud and she did back about 4 times.  It. Was. So. Cool.
I believe that our bird knows what goes on, understands what we say and how we feel.   I think she probably also thinks we are a bit crazy in how much we love and adore her..and smother her..  I know she likes it, loves it, but it's sometimes hilarious how we treat our Queen Lu, her majesty!
A couple days later was Valentines Day.  Jason and I had a delicious dinner at home with our girls and then watched a movie in bed.  After the movie I told him to go cuddle his sweet bird.  I remember how my dad would often buy me a box of chocolates, or flowers or a sweet card on Valentines Day and it always meant so much.  Lu is definitely a daddy's girl too.  He went in and cuddled her and I joined shortly after.  We laid on each side of her and kissed and hugged our bird.  My heart pounded for the love I have for her and I also thought how it would always be a Valentine of three...  She would always be with us, her daddy her boyfriend, her mommy her admirer...and for a while at least, her sister the cupid that is bounding around us !

pretty in pink getting her little vest treatment

sweet doggies

And speaking of Love, the annual (third annual) "LuLove Stella & Dot Jewelry Party for PKS" was last Thursday.   It was hosted by my friend Kirsten Vali and held at Megan's house.  I can't express how giving Kirsten is for donating 75% of her commission to Lu and she really insists and LOVES to do it.  And Megan is always quick and enthusiastic to host.  It is such a special night for me and fills me up to be surrounded by my friends.  My sister in law Kim, who is not one to spend money on herself, splurged with a beautiful fun and big necklace.  She told me she bought it for Lu- she would have never spent that money just because..   Gosh, love it.  Thank you friends.  The 'trunk show' goes on until the first weekend of March.  If you'd like to shop for a cause- here is the link.  http://www.stelladot.com/ts/ap8w5   

some of the girls from the night!

And one more thing... LUCIA HAS BEEN INVITED TO BE IN A FASHION SHOW FOR A CHARITY EVENT!  The Colorado Avalanche wives do a charity and there is a fashion show with kids that have "overcome medical challenges" Her ortho Dr. Laurel Benson and kidney Dr. Mindy Banks thought of our Lu.  So proud.  If you're reading this and are interested in attending- we are able to get family/friends tix of $100 instead of the regular $250.

Lu you're amazing just the way you are!!!   xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Dust go to sleep

So they say...time flies when you're havin fun!  I can't believe our little Scout is already 8 months old AND I also can't believe our sweet Lucia will be 3 years old in just 2 1/2 months.  Even though the days can seem long, time is definitely going by fast and it's mostly very fun, and I try not to complain..  The girls have been healthy all winter up until this past week when a little cold has set in..hoping it doesn't stay long! Scout learns new tricks daily and is a constant source of entertainment.  Lubird has been pretty content other than a few tough nights of some molar pain..   We've seen her orthopedist and her 'hips are developing nicely' as Dr. Laurel Benson says.  Her cardiologist, another favorite, Dr. Jane Nydam still sees pulmonary hypertension but not enough to treat with anything.. so that's good too.  AND our Lucia passed her latest hearing test for the most part.  Of course it's tricky to test hearing when your child does not turn to sounds and is non-verbal, but her latest test looked pretty good-Rejoice!  Lu continues to be sweet and often smiley, sometimes giggley,  and she has been working hard at sitting. I believe that one day it will just click and she'll sit, just like that. You can do it bird!   Next week we will start going to weekly swim therapy at National Jewish Health- a heated therapy pool where she'll work with a physical aquatic therapist... I'm super excited for this as I think the bird will love it too!

Lu getting her ABR hearing test

sitting with a special device-A SWASH

getting ready for bed-our beauty

Speech therapy with Mandy! (with food-hence the dogs)

Scout playing kitchen in the waiting room at the audiologist

As for Lu's little sister, she is crawling, pulling to stand, enjoying spilling the dog's water bowl, trying to eat their food, loves to dart for the toilet, thinks her daddy is the bee's knees, loves to smile, fall, eat paper, play with her sister, favors guacamole mostly but is dabbling well with other foods, has sprouted out two front teeth and two little lowers, has the cutest hoarse voice (from her cold) and she continues to amaze us with her strength and big personality.  Soldier Scout is marching ALL around, looking for trouble!  She's so much fun. 

toppled into the clothes basket!

playing with her sister

Our bird and our soldier=fun blessed days.  

When my days sometimes seem tough-tough to get us all out the door, tough to do therapy with Lu, tough to get Scout to take a nap, tough to wash my hair, it sometimes just takes a walk in the fresh outdoor with my girls and my dogs to realize how good it all is. 

The simple life is not a bad thing.  And writing that down makes it all seem ok.  I am going to try to embrace the simplicity of our daily lives and live that to the fullest.  Be it a day where all we get done is swinging in the park, or a day of playing in the kitchen with bottles and pots and pans, or just a day when all we do is eat and change diapers and take a bath..it's a day with my little ladies and that is a beautiful thing!  

I have a pretty awful memory but I clearly remember this poem that hung on our wall growing up as a child. It went like this:

"Cleaning and cobwebs can wait for tomorrow, 

for babies grow up, we've learned our sorrow

So quiet down cobwebs, 

Dust go to sleep

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep".  

Slow down my two sweet babies...Simply put- I love you little munchkins!
I pray that our lives can always be this simple and sweet.....