Moments in Time

Today I was looking through some photos from our trip to Florida back in 2012. Alex and Evan were 19 months old. They were so chubby and cute and their little baby faces brought tears to my eyes. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago, and then there are moments when it seems like forever. Time goes by so much faster than we realize and sometimes I feel like things get lost in the shuffle.

I know I am not going to get these years in their lives back, so I really try to capture moments in time with them so I have it to reflect on later in life. Besides the photos and videos of them, I have a notebook for each of them that I have been keeping since they were a few months old. In them, are little moments like the first time they laughed, the first time they rolled over, certain moments we shared as a family, words they have said or funny little things that they have done that I may not remember 10 or 20 years from now. It is all hand written, and each year on their birthday I write them each a letter to tell them how proud I am and I list out their accomplishments over the past year.

I have always enjoyed writing and have kept a journal myself for years. These are like journals of their lives. My plan is to journal the first eighteen years of their lives and give them the journals when they graduate from high school. I hope they will enjoy them and appreciate them as much as I do.

I just found out today that I have to go next Wednesday and register them for Kindergarten. This is bringing a lot of emotions out of me that I didn't think would. Because of Alex's delays, they have both been involved in school since they were 18 months old. First they attended an Early On program, and two and a half years of preschool. I wasn't sure if they would start school this year or next because they are going to be a young 5 - having a July birthday and all. I also wasn't sure if they would be ready, but after getting Evan's progress report today, and completing Alex's IEP for the next year, that seems to be the plan. Evan is one of the top students in his class and the teacher doesn't seem to have any qualms about sending him onto Kindergarten. As for Alex, his team doesn't feel a need to hold him back from going either since they will be modifying his lesson plan to fit his needs as he will be in a General Ed classroom.

It is crazy to me that this moment has come. Even though they have been in school for some time now, it is still very humbling for me to reach this moment in time. I feel like they are growing up so fast and because they are the same age, this is happening for me all at once. I don't have a younger child to do this with all over again in a couple of years. This is it and it is somewhat sad for me.

Having twins creates a busier than normal life; Having a child with Cerebral Palsy who is a twin creates a life 10 times busier than you would ever expect. That is why I like to create moments and memories with my boys that are going to last a lifetime. I don't want to ever hold back on giving Alex and Evan the life they deserve and I also don't want Alex to feel like we have to slow down or that he is holding us back from doing certain things. Just like his teachers, we will make modifications so he gets to experience life in every way possible and we will record these moments in time for him to remember forever.

Here are a few pics from Cocoa Beach in February 2012 with our babies.

Cocoa Beach 2012

Eric and Evan

Me and Alex

Bright Spot

Let me start by saying that February has to be my least favorite month of the year. Not only do the winter blues set in for me but we always end up sick and this year has been no exception. It has been extremely cold this month. The boys have had 2 snow days and 2 “cold” days. With wind chills at -25 below zero there isn’t a whole lot to do and the cold is just unbearable. I may have said this in the past, but I don’t mind the snow as much as the cold. Then, the first two weeks of the month the boys were sick. First was horrible coughs and runny noses, then the stomach bug hit and it got all four of us at some point within the same week. I am sure hoping that is it for awhile or even the season.

Spring is less than 4 weeks away according to the calendar but here in good ole Michigan, it usually doesn’t warm up until mid-April – if we are lucky. So we have to just grin and bear it for another 6-8 weeks. I really hope that it isn’t that long though.

We were able to get out and about today and it turned out to be a really good day. We took the boys to Jeepers at the mall. They have only been there one other time and it was only to play games. Today they got the all access wrist band to ride the rides and play on the slides. They had a really good time. I was able to climb up and go on the slides with Alex. Not sure that was allowed, but no one stopped me and he loved every second of it. Then, we went on the little roller coaster. First I took Evan, who I could tell on the first hill, was as white as a sheet. It took me back about 13 years when I rode a carnival ride with Eric. Not only was it the first ride, but it ended up being the only ride I ever rode with him. I had a feeling that Evan was going to follow in his footsteps. I was told multiple times that he DID NOT like the ride and that it was way too fast. HaHaHa. Then, I took Alex. We rode it 5 or 6 times. He would laugh so hard throughout the whole ride and then cry when it was over. I knew he was going to love it!!! I am really glad he was able to experience it, because it really made his day...and mine too.

We had a nice lunch afterward at TGIFridays and home we went. The boys were exhausted. I am glad we were able to get out and do something fun and the boys actually behaved and had fun too.

Today has been a bright spot after weeks of cold, snow and sickness. I am so glad it happened. It was something we all needed. Their smiles say it all.

Evan and Eric on the bumper cars

Getting Ready for another ride

Chilling, waiting for Evan and Daddy

Evan had a blast

Evan on the Banana ride

Waiting for our last ride!