Monkeys in the Bed

...and then Mama had to call the Doctor for herself.
The end.

First Days - of Kindergarten and Preschool

 I cannot believe I have a Kindergartener now. But it's official. She goes to a big-kid school...even though she is the smallest sweet pea there =)

Moriah knew it was her first day of school.

She crawled right over to her wheelchair and stood up, ready to go!

There is the dynamic duo! M and her Nurse, Sharon. Sharon takes Moriah to school every day, M-F. 

I give Sharon an A++ for perfect attendance. We are so thankful to have a consistent, reliable Nurse to be with Moriah at school. It makes it easier for Justin and I to know she is in safe hands if there were ever an emergency. 

 Jadon just had to accompany his Ya Ya to her school bus

And he just had to make sure she got strapped in safely...which of course means he got to sit in the school bus too =)

 Aaaand she caught me. 

This was my cue to leave because I didn't want to be a total distraction on her first day. 

Moriah's teacher, Miss Jannette is so wonderful, and hopefully next time I will be able to get a picture of the two of them...maybe before or after class when I won't be a disruption.

 And as if having one child in kindergarten wasn't enough for this mama, my other baby started preschool!

 But, boy, was he ready for it. He is so social, and curious, and ready to learn about anything and everything.

 Even if I'm not totally willing to accept that he's growing up so fast

 Hold on...just about a dozen more kisses and hugs and then I'll be good

 But, the moment Jadon got there, he planted himself at the train table, and said "Bye Mom" and "Bye Dad," and didn't even look back. 

His teachers Miss Kristi, Miss Erin, and Miss Mary (not pictured) are so, so sweet, and once again, we are thankful to have such wonderful people in our children's lives. 

A Catchall Summer Post

I just wanted to remember a few more moments from our summer. It was rather low-key despite a hospitalization for M at the end of July. 

We are all doing well now, and are excitedly awaiting the arrival of Olivia.

A few things we did get to enjoy...

Children's Recovery Center Family Reunion

 Moriah off to visit all her buddies

We got to see a family who is very dear to us...sweet baby Alexa's story reminds us so much of Moriah's in the beginning. We hold her and her beautiful mama and daddy in our prayers everyday.

Our own family photo

Monitored Sibling Love

Auntie Nina, Summer, and Skyler Visits! We have so enjoyed them coming up to see us this summer...and I have so enjoyed the little breaks they have given me from my very active little boy =)

Play time with Vivian and Luke

Visits to Happy Hollow

One of our favorite family's came to see us from SoCal - the Garcias!

Regular playtime at home.
One of Moriah's favorite things to do - trap Jadon in the laundry basket...and get him!

After a minute, Jadon wants out

Lots of park time

He is such a boy

 M on the teeter totter while J takes her walker

 And playdates with friends. 

Jadon and Savy playing together. 

(I have been so thankful for the help of our friends to get us through this summer by watching Jadon. I have been so busy between my Obgyn appts and all of M's follow-up Dr. appts. We are so thankful for this incredible support system in our lives).

Outings to different places like the Rose garden

Where the kids can play and explore

At the end of July, our sweet girl did have a setback, and had to be hospitalized. She had a urinary tract infection, but what really landed her in the ICU for days was the fact that her lungs filled up with fluid. A month beforehand, we had weaned her completely from both her diuretics (bumex and spiro). She had been doing fine, but it seems like the infection pushed her over the edge, and she puffed up like a little marshmallow, and couldn't breathe very well =(. After about a week total in the ICU, she was feeling better and ready to go home-so were we! Equally, we were so happy to be in a place where they knew her, and knew us. It is always a reminder of why we chose to move to the Bay Area - to have her care at LPCH, truly the most family-centered care facility we have ever been. 

The other awesome fact is that this was Moriah's first hospitalization in over a year. Additionally, earlier this week before hospitalization, M completed her first 5-minute trach collar trial (off the vent), and passed it with flying colors. I remember back to several years ago when she was tried off the vent for the first time, and she couldn't even last two minutes. 

We are so thankful for the progress this girl has made. 

#babysteps

#onedayatatime

And helping us during the week Moriah was in the hospital was Kuma Amy who flew out from Colorado! I tell ya, she is the bestest friend ever. Between my Auntie Nina and Kuma Amy, Jadon was well cared for, and Justin and I were able to just focus on M, and take turns being with her. 

On top of her UTI and fluid in the lungs, this little girl also had a fractured hand. 

It was a rough few weeks for her there!

We rounded off our summer, and what was probably mine and Justin's last daytime date (at least for a while), with a trip to the beach on Labor Day.
#8monthspreggo


All right, I'm ready for Fall.
Bring on baby Olivia, fun festivities at the kids' schools, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, warm, cozy sweaters...and hopefully a flu-free home! 

No Words

Just as hard as it is for Moriah to learn how to walk, so is learning to share for Jadon.

They will both get it eventually.