Photo Friday

Evan put this hat on himself at the mall the other day
and then went to the mirror to check himself out!

Alex trying to self feed with a spoon!!

Evan LOVES water!



Alex in his swing!

This was too cute NOT to post!

A Day Like Today

I will admit that there was a time early on in Alex and Evan's lives that I feared a day like today would never happen. I was so afraid for so long because of all of the grim news that the Doctors were feeding me about my son who has Cerebral Palsy.

What I have learned over the past three years, is to take everything they say with a grain of salt. No one can tell my what my son will or will not be able to do. They can follow all the research they want but that's all it is...research. The only person who is going to SHOW me what he is capable of is Alex himself. I have also come to learn that I may never find another human being with CP in this world who is exactly like Alex. Anyone whoever comes close always seems to have one small difference.

When I learned of Alex's brain injury, he was a mere 4 weeks old. I had no idea where I would be three or six or even ten years down the road. One of my biggest fears was having twins...boys...and them not being able to play together or be close to one another.

As we truck along in this journey, so many of my fears have been pushed aside. He may not be a typical toddler; he may not be able to run alongside his brother; he may not be able to jump up in the air, but he has taught me more about life than I ever thought someone could.

So, getting back to the first sentence of this blog: Today, my twins, my boys played alongside each other in the pool. They laughed, they splashed and they enjoyed every minute of it. Tonight before bed, Evan had a toy that pops up and he was encouraging Alex to push it down so he could pop it up again. This moment made my day. To see them playing and interacting together was so awesome. Today my fears were pushed aside yet again...because a day like today DID happen.

Zoo X 2

This week we visited The Detroit Zoo not once, but twice in three days!! Tuesday we went with our friends Rhiannon, Blake and Casey and Thursday we went with our family from Georgia. Both days were so much fun and here are the pictures to prove it!

The Fabulous 4

The Gorillas

King of the Zoo

This guy was just showing off!

Blake and Evan being goofy

The boys

Casey and Alex

Rhi and I



Brook, Grandma, Evan, AnnaMarie and Alex

Anna, Tappy and Brook

My little monkey

Alex LOVED the Carousel!

Tappy and I

Photo Friday

This week's Photo Friday is for Eric, my wonderful husband and Father to our twin boys. Here they are on Father's Day last weekend with their Daddy.

Photo Friday

Enjoying the long summer days



Last Day of School yesterday, singing the snack song.



Alex waiting for his cupcake

Whirlwind of Fun!

This year is just flying by. I cannot believe that it's already June and the boys only have two days of preschool left. I already know that these next three months are going to go by fast because we already have so much going on. Before I know it, they will be back in preschool but this time it will be four days a week on top of Alex's therapy sessions.

 
Because life is crazy and I don't feel like I have a moment to process anything, I don't think I have fully realized what life is going to be like come September. My twins, my itty bitty boys are going to be three years old and in preschool four days a week for three hours.

 
Then I sit and wonder if this is the right move. Are they ready for this? Is Alex getting what he needs? Should I take a step back and rethink this whole process? It's funny because I haven't had the typical stay at home Mom kind of life. I have to an extent, but for two years Alex has had therapy appointments twice a week every week. We have been involved in the Early On program at school since September and Preschool since March and they aren’t even three yet! Now full time preschool is upon us and I am left wondering how we got here so fast.

 
The countdown to their birthday is on now and I am starting to plan out the party. I wasn’t even sure if I should have a party, but then I realized that this is the first year where I think they might really understand what a birthday is all about. Now I am looking forward to it. That and all the other fun stuff we have planned for the summer!

 
You don’t realize how crazy your life is until you have kids. I remember when I was in school counting down the days until summer break or waiting to graduate.  Now, all I want is for life to slow down so I can enjoy each and every moment with my babies. We have a lot of things coming up this summer with open houses, fireworks, birthday parties and a trip to Myrtle Beach! It's crazy busy but I cannot wait for this whirlwind of fun!

Photo Friday

I couldn't WAIT to post these pictures that we took of the boys last weekend!!!

I absolutely LOVE them and I hope you do to!!!

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the World Baby Laken

 

 

 

Meet my new Nephew!

 

Laken Matthew Adair
June 4, 2013
8:56 AM
5lb 7.8oz
18in

This morning my Sister gave birth to her second child, Laken. I tried my hardest to make it there in time for his birth but the little guy couldn't wait. He made his arrival pretty quick this morning. Mom and Baby are both doing well. He is a beautiful little boy and I am so happy and proud to be his Aunt. I can't wait to hear what his big sister Layla has to say. I am sure she is ecstatic.

 

 

 

 

Here he is sleeping in my arms this morning. His Cousins Alex and Evan cannot wait to meet him.

 

Congratulations Kristy and Patrick!!!

In Memory of My Grandma

Eighteen years ago my beloved Grandmother passed away. Cancer took her away from us at the age of 77. She had only been 77 for twelve days when she died...most of it in a coma.

I was sixteen and had just gotten my license in March. I never got to drive her around anywhere because she had been in the care of Hospice since January of that year. She didn't get to see me graduate, get married or meet my babies. I have so many wonderful and funny memories of my Grandma. I think of her so often because I loved her so much and I know how much she meant to my Mom.

For as long as I can remember we would go and visit her almost every Saturday. My Grandma never learned how to drive, so we would take her grocery shopping, to the bank and sometimes to lunch at her favorite Coney. My Mom would help her plant flowers or clean up around the house. I remember her always having a can of spaghettios in her cupboard for my sister and I to eat!

After my Grandpa passed away on August 12, 1981, my Grandma never married again. She loved to sit in her brown recliner, cigarette in hand watching the Price is Right. She loved her game shows and bingo was one of her favorite hobbies.  She had her friends and family to keep her busy and plenty of Grandchildren. She loved each and every one of us and we loved her.

I admire her for her strength all the way up until the end and I miss her so much. I just want her to know that I will never forget all of our memories together and how I wish she could have met Alex and Evan. I know she would just eat them up!

 

Gone, but not forgotten...

 

Helen Teresa Snowden

May 21, 1918 - June 2, 1995

 

Another year has come
and you're still so far away
You're always in my heart
each and every day.
Although I cannot see you,
I feel your presence near
I will hold you close in memory
While I wipe away the tears.