PKS meet Crossfit

It's the best time of year for Juliet and I, getting ready and excited for the St. Lucia White Party on September 26 (see www.stluciawhiteparty.com to purchase your tickets!).  Its hard to believe that life could get anymore exciting but it just did in a big time way!   However, before I tell you the story, let me give you some background. 

During the months following Lu’s birth I would try and go on a jog once a day to clear my mind.   However, I spent most of the time obsessing on what Lu would be like as an older child, how long would she live, or whether PKS was bad karma for all of the dumb things I had done to this point in my life.  Rather than making me feel better, running made me feel significantly worse.   Around this time a good friend of mine Galo Garces introduced me to Crossfit.   He explained that every day was new, I’d get strong, the workouts were competitive, and that I’d meet a bunch of good people. 

The crew at CFPH

Galo was absolutely right about Crossfit.  It was life changing for me.   I did get in shape and I love the workouts. However, by far the best thing about Crossfit are the people.   I have made dozens of awesome friends at Crossfit Park Hill and at other gyms.   In fact, Jules mentioned one of the few places she would feel comfortable dropping Lucia off in the case of an emergency would be the gym. 

I’ve written before that Lucia attends the Saturday workout with me.   Originally, I brought her to give Juliet a break. However, I quickly noticed Lu loved the music and people would stop and speak to her.   On the way home, Lu typically chats away.   Not only have I made great friends, but so has Lucia. 

About a month ago, my good friend Amelia Dwyer called to ask whether I would be interested in competing in a 2 day charity competition as part of a six person team with four other CF Park Hill friends Laura Mahony, Brian Rossbert, Michael Davis, and Sarina Cranage.  I was so happy that Amelia and the group thought of Lu and that we would have an opportunity to raise money for PKS Kids.  We’ve named our team Lu Bird’s Bandits and I can’t wait to give it my best with my good friends.  The team has also put together a Lu Bird work out fundraiser to be held at CFPH on September 26th (details to come)!   Check out the bad ass team logo. 

This is where the story gets truly amazing.  After speaking with Amelia, I went to the competition’s website and realized that is was one of the largest competitions in Colorado and that first prize was $22,000 to be donated to the charity of the team’s choice!  PKS Kids is such a small organization, winning this tournament would no doubt change the lives a plenty kids and their families.  

I immediately asked two of my good friends who are also two of the best Crossfit athletes I’ve met, Michelle Kinney and Emily Schromm, if they would be part of a  super team for Lucia and PKS Kids.   They both said yes!  Over the next several weeks we’ve been able to track down 4 additional world class athletes who competed in the Crossfit Games, Gabriel Ramero, Steve Parsoneault, Stephanie Brady, and Robbie Davis.  Without exception, you hear nothing but great things about this group of people.   Two of the athletes have rearranged travel schedules to join the team and Lucia and I have not had the opportunity to meet any of the four in person!   They’ve all agreed to join and compete for a little girl they’ve never met!!

Michelle owns CFPH and has become a good friend since she moved here a year ago.  She has finished as high as 8th in the world at the Crossfit Games. 

Emily is one of the sweetest people I've ever met and is an awesome coach.   She's always been great to Lu.

Stephanie Brady coaches my niece's gymnastics.  She's gone to the Games a few times as part of team. Ashley says she's an amazing coach.  I've spoken to Stephanie a few times and we can't wait to meet her.

Gabriel Ramero finished 18th in the world this year.  He saw a post I made looking for athletes that could compete for Lu and contacted me the next day

Robbie Davis lives in Carbondale and is taking a red eye to Tennessee Sunday night in order to compete for Lu.  Robbie finished 29th in the world at this year's CF Games 

Steve lives in Boulder and rearranged a weekend trip to compete for Lu.  He finished 2nd in the world in 50+.   His nick name is Paleo Steve.  He's supposed to be a great cook. 

I believe we have a great shot at winning the event, and it would be huge to do so.   However, what’s most amazing is the continued generosity and goodwill of the Crossfit community.   I can’t thank Crossfit enough for befriending our Little Lu.  Part of the competition is what team can raise the most money.  To support the event, see click here  or
https://www.crowdrise.com/lubirdsbanditspro/fundraiser/jasondawkins1 
The Crossfit event will be held on October 4th and 5th at Front Range CrossFit.
These events mean the world to our family.  Go BANDITS!

Lifting me higher!!!!!

She smiles.  She laughs.  She gets tickled.  She giggles.  

She loves to hold hands.  She loves music-classical, rap, heavy and LOUD!

All these amazing things are happening more and more and more and more..thank you God for allowing our girl to shine SO bright! This is what it's all about! Check her out! The song lyrics couldn't be more perfect "your love keeps lifting me higher"!!! #washparkband

https://youtu.be/y9Tkp0-JU_c

Thank you mom for a GREAT girls trip to the mountains and for capturing that moment.

Feeling very very blessed.  

paddle boat for five please!

Girls Trip!

loves her sisters chair

loving the music

p.s. lu has decided - after 4 years!!!- she doesn't need oxygen at night anymore-not even at 7,500 feet elevation! Bird!!!!! Say Whaaat?! You keep on lifting us higher Lucia!!!! 

Introducing Charley and Lucia!

Little Lu, Little Lu,

so many adventures did you do!
Sister Scout, Sister Scout, 

oh yes you sure partied about!

The girls and I visited my hometown of New Philadelphia, Ohio before and over the 4th of July...here's a little recap- so many special memories!

Hicks Reunion, rides and ducks at Tuscora Park with grammy, The Farm at Walnut Creek (Amish Country style Jurassic Park-so cool) , fishing with grampa for the first time on Marsh lake, taking the girls to my elementary school playground, backyard fireworks, catching fireflies, s'mores and sparklers with cousins, First Town Days festival full of fresh squeezed lemonade, french fries soaked in vinegar, frog jumping contests, and....the winner of the 2015 Fourth of July best moment award is....Charley Hicks and Lucia Dawkins dancing in the First Town Days Talent Show!!!!!   That's right!

Lu and cousin Charley ready for the show!

Charley can no doubt dance and she and Lucia took the stage together, adorned in two outfits from my childhood dance recital days.  We sprayed their hair pink, decorated Lu's stroller in red, white and blue, and the two of them stole the show (at least in our eyes)!!!!

Lu smiled SO much in this outfit! Is she a pageant girl?!!!

Charley practiced her dance about 100x in my parent's house, backyard-about everywhere, different every time, and she put on a spectacular show with her somewhat unchoreographed routine to the tween version of Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars.  When it was showtime, Jason and my brother Joey lifted Lucia onto the stage and when she and Charley came out... the crowd went wild!!! #brunomarsbackupdancers

Truth be told I felt like a full fledged pageant show mom!  Sweaty palms, heart racing, cheeks hurting from smiling and tears of so much happiness and a heart bursting with joy!

Charley danced around Lucia and, as planned, she pushed Lucia around in a circle on stage and the crowd cheered like she was taking flight!  Actually she did almost take flight or a bite as her stroller almost rolled off the stage but...it all added to the excitement of their show!

They may not have placed but it was a moment that was full of fireworks and huge WINS in our eyes! SOO crazy proud of our Charley and Lu! Check out Lu's arm at the end of the performance :)

https://youtu.be/RxcobVhAwVA

Another highlight was getting the chance to meet an online friend, grandmother and caregiver to a little 23 year old girl named Ashley who has PKS- the amazing Linda Jones!  Linda lives about 40 minutes from my parents.  She is a remarkable woman, with so much on her plate,  who just recently has gotten connected w PKS Kids..before she and her family were in the dark about others affected by this rare and disabling syndrome.  We loved finally meeting you and Ashley, Linda! It was obvious how much love you two share. You are truly an inspiration to so many of us parents.  And Kristen Desantis-always so awesome to see you and Bells! Wish we all lived closer to each other.  

Isabella, Ashley and Lu- PKS sisters

Thanks mom and dad for a nice visit and watch out New Philadelphia, the Hicks granddaughters might just be back next year with more moves, twists and turns...it was too much fun!

First Fish with grampa!! Thanks Dad!!!

South School-swings for Lu too!

Brande and Brandi came back too!

the intense audience

Charley-born to dance!

visiting the Hootmans! 

Our angel

God bless the USA! 

Happy Birthday Scout!

Our Scout turned TWO today AND our Lu had her last day of preschool. What a double special day it was.  Lu had a special part in her class graduation ceremony, leading her friends during circle song time.  My mom was there with me and we both had tears of joy streaming down our faces.  She sat before her peers as the music played, the kids sang and her teacher helped Lu use little bells to lead the group.  When the teacher called her name to lead the song all the classmates cheered so happily and loudly! They truly love their classmate, Little Lubird.   It was BEAUTIFUL!  Our Lubird has just been amazing in the last couple weeks...so many smiles, happiness, feeling good and healthy.  

And now about Lu's little sister...her little 2 year old sister.  Wow, it seems just months ago I was getting ready to welcome her into the world and now here we are with a spunky, hilarious, adventurous little person.  Having our special bird and then having a girl like Scout is completely a trip- like two different trips, but in the same vehicle.  Jason and I have said it many times how Scout amazes us daily.  The way her little brain works and the things she does... Diapering her baby dolls, learning to sing little songs, making forts in her room, picking out her outfits and shoes, discovering bugs, helping with chores...Jason and I are often telling each other- 'you gotta come see this' at the little things she does- it's so cool.  At night she makes her round giving everyone a kiss- "muuuuwah" and hug- before she goes to bed,  disder/sister, boo/blue, dandee/candy, dada...and then off to bed to read 'dis one", then "dat one" on picking out her books..  

Early every morning she wakes and we bring her into our bed.  She wraps her arms around my neck and nestles onto my chest like she never wants to let go, and she drifts back to sleep. When her sister wakes, usually about an hour after her, she hears her voice and runs in to see her "disder" with huge enthusiasm. Scout cheers when Lu works on standing and she gets worried when she cries.  She loves her sister.  Our neighbors have a trampoline in the backyard and we often see Scout climb the fence and peek over with a "Heeeeey"!  If the kids are outside they will lift her over the fence and play for a bit.  It's music to our ears to hear little Scout laughing and playing with the little neighbor kids.  I would love for our bird to be able to fly over and join them too.

Our little girls.  A Scout and a Little Lucia.  I love these girls.  I love to see their relationship develop and I love to see them both grow and learn on their own little journeys but traveling side by side..  Happy Birthday to you my beautiful little Scout.  And congrats little Lu on your first year of preschool! You two keep me busy and keep me smiling with a heart full of love.

Happy Birthday

A few days ago, Jules called to tell me that Lucia had been honored at school.   The entire elementary school meets every Monday for assembly and on this Monday the school had a contest "Crazy Hair Day". The kids chose the winner by cheering for their favorite contestant.  Jules sent Lucia to school with a 1980's mullet wig and she was nominated by her classmates to represent the preschoolers.  When the teacher stood behind Lucia, the whole school cheered and clapped for our little Lu-she won for the entire school!   It probably seems silly, but Juliet teared up when she was told the big news.  Seriously, it feels great knowing that a school full of kids would cheer for our little girl, no matter how trivial the reason. This got me thinking, how lucky are we!!??!

Lucia turned 4 years old April 26th.  Each year, Jules and I enjoy throwing a party for our Lu's birthday.   Each year, we talk about trying to limit the size of the party by inviting only people who we would call Lucia's friends and each year the party has grown and grown!!!   It seems almost inexplicable, but we somehow served 100 hot dogs and worked our way through 4 cases of beer (by the way, Jules has warned me every year that most people don't drink beer now a days!).   Anyhow, her party was amazing, kids were running around everywhere and Lucia seemed to cherish the attention.  

                      

While she didn't smile when we sang her Happy Birthday, she couldn't stop smiling when her best friend and pen pal Rose would stand next to her.   I'm not kidding, every time Rose would walk up and hang out with Lucia, Lucia would bust out in a huge smile.  

Probably once a month I am caught off guard by a comment like, "I don't know how you and Juliet do it".   Those type of comments are always a surprise to me as Lu and Scout give me more joy than I ever imagined was possible.  Lu and our family are surrounded by amazing friends, teachers, family, and mentors.  Thank you to each of you who make life so great for our family and Little Lu.   So lucky to be part of this little family and to have a daughter like our perfect Bird.   

                  School birthday 

Almost FOUR!

In just 2 days our Lucia will turn FOUR years old.  Four years ago I gave birth to my first child, a beautiful, sweet, innocent pure angel.   When our baby came into this world we had no idea the impact she would make on our lives, and on so many she meets.  I get choked up just thinking about the love she has created.  At this moment I feel like I remember every single day of her life and the time we have spent together.  The typical milestones are not a part of these moments, they are mostly filled with cuddles, carries, therapies, and love.  Our Lubird has had her own milestones of course!  Eating, being able to stand more, smiles and laughter, going to school and making friends, fighting sickness', are all a part of HER milestones and we treasure these moments more than we ever thought possible.  In the past month Lucia has been put under anesthesia for dental treatment- giving her beautiful new capped teeth, a few other fillings and a nice set of x-rays to know exactly how her mouth is working.  She did great!  Then we had another sleep study to check in with her sleep apnea.  I really didn't even see the need for it, as I always just feel she will need oxygen in Mile Hi Denver altitude, but it's always good to know and re-evaluate if needed.  Her severe sleep apnea, (at one point looking so bad a trach was being considered) has improved drastically!  Her pulmonologist still suggests wearing oxygen at night but her apnea episodes are so much less than they were!  Wow Bird!!!!
In 6 years we will celebrate her 10th birthday and I don't imagine too much will have changed from now.  I could not love this bird more and I can only imagine that love growing, for both of my girls.
Now Lu- let's celebrate YOU.  Cupcakes with your little classmates tomorrow, a giant bash on Saturday (so many people in her life it's hard to stop the invites) , and then Sunday a family day to do whatever your little heart desires.
So in love with this girl, my Lu!!