'S' is for... She's on the move!

When she feels well, there is just no stopping our girl. She pulls herself into all kinds of funny positions, amazes us at therapy with what she can do (even though she is literally breathless at the end), cruises furniture (freaks me out), wants to try things her brother does, and just prefers, in general, to be busy... and, of course, undressed! 

(These photos are sort of blurry because they're all hastily clicked with a phone rather than a real camera!)

Note the upper right photo... "Gracie yoga."

Little Miss will get herself up to a stand at the couch and cruise it, trying to reach Preston.
He jumps over to the chair and she follows, slowly, steadily reaching between the couch and chair to take an independent, very shaky, yet successful step. 

Although it's great that she's up and cruising, I'd prefer her to face the furniture!

When she heads to that side of the couch, she turns around and attempts to reach for things that are too far away... frequently giving this mama a near heart attack!  I'd left her sitting up in the middle of the floor to go into the kitchen and throw something away and take a sip of water.  We can't really leave her unattended when she's ready to be up and moving!

Taken the other night while John was at work. 

I was doing dishes and Gracie scooted in at warp speed (completely naked, which is another story!), signing, "Daddy, where?"  With wet hands, I grabbed my phone and clicked a pic to prove to daddy that she signs for him when he is not home.  He has worked the graveyard shift for the last quarter and it has completely thrown off the evening routine for both kids (and mama!).  Typically, while I do dishes, prep meds & formula for the night and morning, Daddy is playing & cuddling with the them.  ALL of us will be very glad when he goes back to days on October 1st. 

(This photo cropped considerably to protect the guilty party who stripped off her diaper!)

Thoroughly enjoying a quick spin on her brother's bike (and wearing his new helmet)!

Love the look of satisfaction on her face and Preston's gentle, helpful hand on her back.

'S' is for... Sous Chef

Preston is no stranger to the kitchen.  He has always loved helping me bake and started with the simplest of tasks before he turned two.  As he's gotten older, he takes on more responsibilities in the kitchen... like preparing sandwiches, measuring ingredients, pouring, mixing and stirring, putting things away, clearing the table, helping with basic (non-breakable!) dishes and so much more. 

It takes my breath away sometimes when I watch him and realize just how big and independent he's gotten.  The other night, he told me he was thirsty and asked to go get some water.  He took his stool over to the cupboard where his cups are, retrieved a cup, got some ice from the fridge, moved his stool to the sink, turned on the filtered water from the faucet, filled his cup and then moved the stool back out of the way.  Sigh.  So unbelievably big.  A couple of days ago, he had a yogurt for a snack and, as I came down the hall with Gracie, I saw him get up from the table, throw his yogurt cup away, retrieve the stool, rinse his spoon and put it in the dishwasher.  HOW did this happen?  Wasn't he just a toddler last week?!

My boys in action last month.
('S' is also for Sunglasses... check out the sunglasses tan lines on my hard-working man's face!)

Over the last several weeks, because of his interest in all things kitchen related and his growing independence, John has taken on the task of teaching Preston more about cooking and his 4 year-old role in meal preparation.  (John is the main chef in our house.  I like to cook, but only if the kids aren't home!  Otherwise, it's just too stressful to manage them and prepare a "real" meal.  Baking, on the other hand... and eating someone else's cooking... not stressful at all!  I also actually enjoy the clean-up, so it works well for all of us.)  Anyway, John is reinforcing all of the kitchen safety rules and continually quizzing Preston while they prepare meals together.  Preston is allowed to stir certain (non-splattery) things on the stove (with CLOSE supervision, of course), he measures, pours, helps tenderize meat (which he thoroughly enjoys!), and loves spending that time with his daddy.   We've also found that he very willingly eats what he helps prepare - - little man has gotten pickier as he's gotten older... bummer.  The good thing is, he is still willing to try bites of new things without protesting.  If he likes it (he usually does) then he will eat some... if not, then he is only obligated to finish the bite.  I sure hope he remains that agreeable!  And, I hope, like his Daddy, he continues to enjoy cooking for his family.  :-)

'S' is for... Sibling Sweetness

As the kids get older, it's harder to sneak candid pics of their sweet moments together.  I either get too much "cheese" from Preston, they stop what they're doing once I have retrieved the camera or one (or both) of them simply refuse to cooperate. 

Every once in a while, though, I can still sneak in and catch a glimpse of them just being themselves.  Whether it's cuddling up together (which inevitably includes Preston allowing Gracie to fiddle with his hands, feet or hair to her heart's content), or when Preston decides to squeeze into a chair with Gracie and just be next to her, or a special, knowing look between them, I treasure these moments now more than ever. 
Their "secret language" of years ago is now just a memory, replaced by Preston getting right into Gracie's face and signing the basics of whatever he is trying to communicate (accompanied by the sweetest, gentlest, high-pitched voice that he saves for her).   But, if pictures can say a thousand words, then I think it's safe to say that the looks of love and affection between them still speaks volumes in any language.

They were standing on opposite sides of the baby gate in the kitchen, just staring at each other.
I grabbed my phone, muted it so Preston wouldn't hear the shutter-clicking noise it makes and snapped these two photos before either of them knew it.  LOVE.

Preston was talking and signing to Gracie one afternoon after school... and whatever it was he said, or however he looked at her... made her smile so sweetly at him.  So my picture taking would go undetected, I pretended to be texting as I watched them.  Again... LOVE.

'S' is for... Sixteen Weeks - - Flock of... FIVE!!!

Dear Little "Tiebreaker,"

We found out about you on Father's Day, which, this year, also happened to be our 12th Anniversary.  I sort of knew you were already there, though couldn't really believe it.  I took a test on the Friday before and it was negative.  But, late that night, something told me to look at it again.  And, even though tests aren't supposed to be valid hours later, I could swear there was a faint hint of color where it had been blank earlier in the day.  Upon inspection in the morning, it looked blank again... and I was disappointed that my eyes were playing tricks on me.  I still thought it was wrong...  I felt pregnant.  So, I made a lame excuse to Daddy on Saturday evening when he got home from work and ran out to the store to buy milk and another test. 

I couldn't sleep after Daddy left for work Sunday morning.  Finally, just after 6am, I took the test and presto... within seconds a faint line appeared in the positive window.  And, just like that, I had the best Anniversary and Father's Day present for your Daddy!  YOU!!!

This is what I gave him after he opened all of his cards...

This is what he looked like when he realized what it was...

And this is what he said to me the next morning as we sat in the backyard with your sister and brother:
"I feel a bit more alive today."  His excitement about you made him feel more alive... sweetest thing he could have said. 

You were a long time in the making.  Granted, not compared to so many we know who struggled to have their babies, but knowing we wanted to expand our family for the last couple of years and not having it happen... and realizing it wasn't entirely in our control... was a bit of a rude awakening.  With your sister, it was so easy... almost too easy!  We decided, as I was looking for a job (um... okay... we can talk about timing and choices later), that I'd go off the pill and we'd be ready in 3-6 months to start trying.  Three weeks later I was pregnant.  With your brother, I had started a new job and your sister had gone into the early stages of heart failure, so we decided to not "see what happens" and I refilled my birth control prescription.  Before I even started them, I found out I was pregnant.   With you, it wasn't so easy.  We tried for nearly 18 months. 

Earlier this year, we discovered I was having some problems that required some procedures and an outpatient surgery that was done in March.  During all the diagnostic testing, we learned I have a small ovarian cyst (no biggie, really, just causing lots of discomfort) a blocked right fallopian tube and a narrowing in the left.  All of that, coupled with stress of the last fifteen months (and our life in general) and my age, were clearly culprits in our inability to easily conceive again.   As soon as everything was finally pieced together mid-May, we knew it would be difficult at best and resigned ourselves to the fact that it probably wasn't going to happen... that it just wasn't meant to be. We even shared this information with some friends and family.  And then... bam... there you were!   All three of you are proof that what we think is good timing isn't the timing that is meant to be.

So, when I called my doctor's office on the 20th of June, her staff was shocked.  In fact, I was told at my first appointment at 8 weeks that they'd actually figured the girl who scheduled my appointment made a mistake and, instead of calling me to confirm the reasons for my visit (initially it was a follow-up to my surgery... then I called to add the pregnancy visit), they would just wait until I came in and would confirm then.  My doctor walked into the exam room with her jaw dropped open and started to laugh.  She congratulated me and said, "It's really true!  I am floored!" 

You are growing perfectly, we are both healthy and all the testing done so far has yielded great numbers.  You (and the havoc you wreak on my hormones!) are causing me to crave lots of protein, lots of spice and lots of vinegary foods (picture the cliche pregnant lady eating pickles... and even sipping the juice with a spoon!).  A sandwich cannot have too many pepperoncinis (that juice tastes pretty darn good, too!) and there is no such thing as too much pepper on pretty much anything.  I am sure this won't last... the impending heartburn will have to push all these cravings to the curb... but for now, I am enjoying indulging in these cravings.  

If I had to guess whether you're a boy or a girl... I can't really.  By my cravings, I'd say boy... I am eating just like I did with Preston.  If I go by my complexion and hair (ugh!)... girl... just like Gracie. Like with both your sister and brother, my morning sickness was relatively mild compared to most people I know, yet different than each time before.  Since we know there is only one of you in there... I have no clue. 

Here is what mommy looked like at 13 weeks:

Here is what mommy looks like now, at 16 weeks:

I am so excited to get to know you more in the coming months - - as you start getting big enough to feel the rambunctiousness that I have witnessed in some of my ultrasounds.  You have already been caught doing leg lifts and somersaults galore.  Clearly, you're having fun in there... I am glad!  I am doing my best to make a comfy little place in there for you until late February.

Love,
Mommy

'S' is for... Student

Gracie started third grade last Wednesday.  Third Grade.
Not quite sure how that happened.
Perhaps time would slow down a bit if I'd just stop blinking.

Someone was a tad nervous about all the changes last week.  New nurse.  New bus drivers (different drivers and buses in the morning and afternoon).  New students on the bus in the mornings... all high school aged kids... BIG kids.  Huge changes in the classroom.  Someone was anxious and uneasy.  That someone was me... which I know added to the expression of mild bewilderment on my sweet girl's face on the first day.

When Gracie finally got to school, she seemed far more relaxed. Though the rest of us (nurse, bus driver, me) were definitely frazzled by the hectic and out-of-sort start to the morning. (I beat the bus by nearly 30 minutes.) Thankfully, with each day, Gracie has become more comfortable with her new routine, the fact that her class has grown exponentially (as have the number of adults in the classroom) and, I am sure, appreciates that her mother isn't quite as stressed as she was last week!

She has not, however, grown any more fond of me trying to get her to work on school lessons at home.  This hasn't been going all that well for some time now... she protests, throws things (yes... my sweet Gracie has a temper!) and simply covers her left eye (her only sighted eye) and ignores me until I give up.  She often sits there a long, long time as we both have very strong wills!

This was her first homework assignment for the year.  She wanted no part of it and started to cry when I put her glasses on.  Perhaps because it was Labor Day and she was refusing to labor!  However, once we ditched the glasses, she turned the papers upside down, matched the colors on the signal and signed up a storm, all the while looking at me as if I should already know these three colors and what they mean on the signal.  My girl has spunk and attitude... and I love that about her... even when it drives me nuts!

She wasn't so keen on homework tonight... same assignment, though this time, we glued down the colors.  (Check out her cute little homework envelope sweetly decorated by Robin, her instructional aide!) Gracie was far more intent on getting her glasses out of sight than she was matching and signing.  She dropped them on the floor.  When I handed them back, she simply shoved them back at me.  
I hadn't planned on taking any more pictures of her doing her homework, but often when she isn't cooperating with her "accessories," I can get out the camera and she will put on her diva-face and cooperate for the sake of the picture.  This time, not so much!

'S' is for... Sun & Surf with Sage

Just like last year, we were able to spend some time with John's older sister, Satia, and her daughter Sage when they were down in our neck of the woods on vacation.  Although I somehow missed taking any pictures the day they came to hang out at the house, I managed to click a few at the beach while Preston and Sage boogie-boarded last Sunday.  Sage had done it before... Preston had not... though it is safe to say he is now addicted! 

Two toe-heads playing in the surf

These were taken within the first ten minutes of the kids getting in the water.   Unfortunately, Sage is only in a couple because she had to go get lathered up with some sunscreen.  While she did that, Preston started moving further out into the water and I ditched my phone, knowing if I didn't, I'd end up dropping it in the ocean.  The kids spent four hours on those boards, taking minimal breaks to play in the sand and have a quick snack.  As the afternoon wore on, they each got more daring - - thus, no more pictures!  Needless to say, they had a blast and Preston has said every day for over a week how much he misses his cousin!

Pure Joy!

I love how his tongue is out... reminds me of my brother playing soccer... and I am quite certain Preston thinks it helps him steer and balance by having it stick out to the side!  LOL!!!

A Great Day

Today was a good day.  Actually, it was a great day!

• Things went smoother at home with Gracie's nurse and getting her off to school.
• For the first time in over a month, John and I got to take Preston to his swim lesson together.
• Preston ROCKED said lesson.
• The three of us had a breakfast date where our little man gave us a glimpse of how "refrigerator poor" we will be in just a few years by eating: Two scrambled eggs, two slices of bacon and three pancakes.  (He had already eaten a bowl of oatmeal before swim lessons!) Good grief.
• After breakfast, the three of us went miniature golfing.  It's the first time I've been able to go with them and Preston thoroughly enjoyed having both of his parents all to himself.  John and I really enjoyed it, too!
• Gracie (and her nurse) had a really good day at school!!!  (Woo Hoo!!!)
• The four of us played out front for the remainder of the afternoon... so fun.  Gracie rode her trike for about 30 minutes and kept her clothes on the entire afternoon!  (Shocking!)
• John made a wonderful, healthy dinner.
• While I cleaned up dinner and prepped meds & formula for the night and morning, John played with the kids and read them a few books.
• Chores and baths were done, lights were out and we were all piled on the couch for "Wipeout" at 8pm.

Such a great start to September!

Still battling the scale... Reconsidering TPN

We saw the GI doctor last week and Gracie was in a fantastic mood, wheeling herself all around the clinic to look at the pictures of all the kids on the walls. She was bossy, focused and insistent that she see every single picture. If I tried to redirect her toward the parking lot elevator, she pushed my hand away and wheeled as fast as she could in the opposite direction. I love when she is like that (even when it’s frustrating)!  Unfortunately, that was the best part of last Tuesday's clinic visit.

Her doc was less than thrilled with the fact that she has lost two more pounds (as am I, obviously, and I didn't need a clinic visit to know that she is, once again, going in the wrong direction). Last year, after the summer of horror, we had her up to 33 pounds. As the space between ends and another round of feeding issues begins (due to abdominal migraines, sinus infections, respiratory infections, gastritis and general intolerance at times), we're fighting to keep Pedialyte in her... calories are not even an option. If we were to hospitalize her every time she is in this state, she would be inpatient more than out.  And, they wouldn't be doing anything for her that we can't do at home - - or that we haven’t already tried numerous times. Needless to say, we are constantly chasing her weight and trying to build back up to her highest weight.  As months pass, the "high" number we are chasing starts to get lower and lower. That is, a year ago she was 33 pounds and after every illness we would do our best to pump extra calories in and try to get her back up to that weight before the next issue set in. Six months ago we were chasing 31 pounds and doing so fairly well. Last Tuesday (the 16th), she was 29.5 pounds and having a great day... two days later, she was down for the count, retching continuously for four days, barely tolerating Pedialyte and barely sleeping. It was a nasty abdominal migraine. I refuse to weigh her until I have five solid days of full feeds back into her little system... but I know she dropped more. Yesterday was the first time in nine days that her intake was over 1,000 calories… her goal is 1300.

Her current weight and constant battle with feedings prompted the GI doctor to suggest another round of home TPN. (If you don't remember how that went last year, you can read more about her summer in the PICU caused by her issues with having a central line by reading all the posts between June, July and August of last year… it wasn’t pretty.) The whole team agreed at the end of our summer of horror that it will be incredibly difficult to get a line in her again, let alone keep her infection free. Every line placed last year became infected no matter where she was... home or hospital. And, the infections (and yeast) were so bad, she was septic four times and in septic shock once. It's not a place any of us want to revisit. Yet, we can't continue on this path of weight loss either. Unfortunately, her body fights so hard and burns so many calories for her heart to function, for her breathing, etc., that when she is well, she often burns more than we can get into her. So, when she is sick, you can imagine how hard her body works to fight infection or pain on top of the regular work it does. 

The issues are deep. In her eight-plus years, we’ve tried every med, every type of feeding and feeding tube, multiple alternative medicine approaches and she has had surgery to repair every possible issue. The problem is, the roots of Gracie’s feeding issues are Central Nervous System (CNS) and Neurological and, at this point, there is nothing left to try.   What will we do? I have no idea. We go back in three months… or sooner if things get any worse. For now, we are continuing to ride it out, and do our best to beef her up in the space between.

Previously Unpublished - Socially Ignorant

The post below was written August 14, 2008... almost exactly three years ago. At the time, I wrote it to express myself, not so much to others, but to get some things off my chest. I was still fairly new at blogging, and wasn't really ready for the blog to be a "heavy" place - - I was still really finding my true voice. I shared this post with my dear friend, Hannah, so I could talk (email, really) about it and deal with some of the frustrations and fears I was having. But, it never saw the light of day on this blog. It's about real things that happen in our everyday life. And, heavy or light doesn't matter to me here... real does.

Yesterday I took the kids to a park that was new to us for a change of scenery and to explore one of the few accessible playgrounds in our area. In addition to the accessible features, it had a splashpad that Gracie, though feeling pretty rough, really enjoyed. She had the freedom to wheel herself through the water spouting from the ground. It was in this, of all places, that for the first time I heard a child (whom I guessed to be right around Gracie's age) use the word "retard" while looking directly at her... and within earshot of my son. Thankfully, Preston did not seem to hear him at all. But, I did. It's one of those moments that will be burned on my brain and heart forever. It was a moment that, for a very brief second, I was so glad that Gracie couldn't hear. And, it instantly brought me back to this previously unpublished post from three years ago. It reminded me that I have to take some serious steps in educating and preparing my son... and myself... for this is only the beginning of a very real and heavy journey of helping Preston cope with (and hopefully, along with his sister, positively influence) the social ignorance in this world.


August 14, 2008

“You sure have your hands full.”

I can't tell you how many times I have heard unsolicited comments over the years - - and especially that one lately... from perfect strangers who really seem to have the need to express their opinion. It's always interesting to me to hear it and the varying tones with which it is spoken.

I am sure I often look quite disheveled in the triple digit heat after having unloaded the big double stroller from the back of our giant, gas guzzling SUV (sorry greenies... I offset our environmental footprint in other ways!), loaded the suction in the bottom (because I can't load it once the kids are in their seats), situated Preston in his seat with a snack and a sippy cup, placed Gracie in her seat (usually followed by a quick suction and a wipe-up of her neck) and then turn off the car (because the air conditioning needs to run until she's out of the car) and grab wallet, keys, etc. Depending on their cooperation level, it can be a long time before I actually leave the parking lot and enter the store. Then I have to shop, pay and reload my little crew. I am sure it's quite a site... and yes, my hands are quite full.

I heard the words from my husband tonight... when he checked in from the Academy, lovingly said with the "I don't know how you do it and thank you for doing it" kind of tone. Yet, too often I hear a hint of pity... sometimes even a "Thank goodness it's you and not me" kind of tone. I don't dwell on these comments... these judgments. They are often said by a person who was caught staring a little too long at my daughter. Make no mistake; I don't ever forget that she has special needs... I carry equipment with me wherever we go that won't let me forget that... but I don't actually think about it - - I just live. And, I really don't remember that she looks different unless I see her reflection in the mirror. When I look directly at her, I just see my sweet daughter.

I should preface by saying that I like to believe that most people, are in general, kindhearted. However, being kindhearted doesn't mean that people aren't also a little ignorant. When Gracie was younger (before she had her trach and the extended hospital stay that altered so much in the way of development for her) we used to try and take her out as much as possible... and for a while (until we grew used to it) it was something we disliked doing. People stared then, too, even without the extra "accessories." Once, in the home section of Macys, a woman backed into a display table and knocked over a crystal vase because she couldn't keep her eyes off our daughter (who was in her car seat and stroller with her g-tube vented to keep her from vomiting). John used to get so furious. Sometimes... rarely, now... we both still do... but it is rare. We've learned to handle it. We know that it comes from a place of social ignorance, not a lack of kindness... not usually. (I have had a complete stranger tell me that Gracie's disabilities are a direct reflection of the sins of her parents and that if we turned ourselves over to God completely, He would heal her. Can you even imagine? Not only do I find that to be a horrific and cruel thing to say - - what kind of God would harm a child to punish the parents? Not any God I can believe in. And if "healing" her were only that simple...)

Most parents look forward play dates at the park - - bonding with other parents while they watch their children play together.  That didn’t happen for us.  The park wasn’t a “fun” place to go; it was only a reminder of what was different in our lives… and a reminder that many people don’t know how to handle themselves or their innocent, teachable children, in the face of a social learning opportunity.  Children were often tugged away when they would make inquiries about Gracie.  They would ask, “What’s that tube?” or “What’s in her neck?” or “Why can’t she walk?”  all of which are innocent questions that were (and are) perfectly logical for a child to ask.  I love it when kids ask me questions… but when their parents don’t give them chance to hear the answers and ask more questions, a wonderful teaching opportunity becomes the wrong lesson learned.  By being discouraged from asking and learning, children are being taught that Gracie, and any other child who is different from them, is scary, weird… or worse.   Perhaps because of their own social ignorance and discomfort, parents who tug their children away from these types of situations, are, in their minds, doing so to “protect” Gracie and me from what they perceive to be an awkward situation.  In fact, what they are actually doing is failing to teach their children crucial lessons about the “differently-abled."  And, by tugging them away or shushing them, they are teaching them to be less accepting and afraid.  Needless to say, there wasn't much socializing happening at the park, but not for lack of effort.  Often, other parents would mutter a quick "hello" in response to my greeting and then quickly avert their eyes. I can remember over two years ago, another mom talked with me for a few minutes and I felt like a "normal mom" at the park for the very first time. I don't say this in self-pity in any way... it's just what our reality was for so long.

When Preston was born, it was such a strange thing to be out with him (and not Gracie) and have people stop to "coo" and "ooh and ah" at him. No one has tripped over themselves and a display table to catch a glimpse of him. No one has ever stopped to tell me that God gave him to me because I could handle him and the challenges that he'll have in life. No one has ever told me that He picked me to be his mom because I am the right person for the job. These are the things that strangers who didn't ignore us would say about Gracie. Such a profound difference... a contradiction that I really can't articulate.

Tuesday I took the kids out and ran a couple of errands - - one of which was to Babies 'R Us. It's the first time I have had both kids in that particular store. It can be an experience to go into a baby store with a disabled child. Some people pay no attention... that's good. Some people are very kind... that's good, too. But a few people (usually expectant parents) will literally look at you with fear in their eyes... pleading with whatever God they believe in to not let "that" happen to them. I can see it in their faces... and I've learned to let it go. But on Tuesday, I think my son sensed something from one of those expectant parents who stared way too long at Gracie. Obviously, at fifteen months, I don't think that he can intellectualize why someone was staring at her (and maybe he thought the woman was looking at him) but whatever he thought about it, he didn't like it. He made this grunting/yelling noise that he only makes when he's mad or frustrated - - and his "stink face" accompanied it. He made the noise three times... and she FINALLY smiled uncomfortably and said, "Wow, you sure have YOUR hands full." I just smiled and said, "Yep, sure do." I sort of wanted to say, "Yep, sure do... and you should continue to stare at us so you can remember what you are witnessing, for I stand before you with my hands entirely full - - full of a love that you can't possibly comprehend... and you should be so lucky." But, of course, I didn't, and that would only be passing judgment on her life, which I obviously know nothing about.

What she made me realize though, is that while I've known for a few months that Preston is keenly aware that his sister is different, he is now sensing things about the reactions of strangers. His awareness will only grow as he does and it is up to John and me to teach him how to respond to others and answer the myriad of questions he will surely have someday. And, I have to always remember that he is keenly aware of my behavior and that to be a good parent and a good example, I have to be dignified, kind and attempt to educate the ignorant... even when all I really want to do is put them in check in a very undignified, unkind way.

LegoLand

(Back-Blogging, Part 7)

On July 19th, we met our dear, long-time friends, the Smalley family, at LegoLand for the day.  They were here on vacation for a few days and let us crash their family adventure.  Gracie played hookie from summer school (the first time she's missed school for fun!!!) and Preston played hookie from swim lessons.  It was such a special treat to see our friends whom we miss tremendously... and an equally big treat to watch our children together again.  
(Another huge thanks to them for the great pics... most of the ones included here were from their camera!)

When we arrived, they had already been going strong for a couple of hours. 
We took the opportunity to snap the only shots of Gracie and Preston together, because once we met up, Preston was all about the big boys, Camden and Cole!
Gracie loved blasting the water and rolling over the splash pads!

Preston loved LegoLand "way more than Disneyland!" (his exact words).

John and Mike
They have been friends for nearly 30 years!

Camden (7.5), Coleman (5.5) and Preston (4)
Maybe in 30 years we will have a picture of them together that matches the one of their daddies above!

So much fun!

Cole and Preston having a blast on the racetrack

Gracie looking on as the boys zipped around the track

Proud recipients of their drivers' licenses!

The three big boys had a blast together... and the little one, Sam, did his best to keep up!

Gracie with "Uncle Mike"
As per her usual socializing, she requested to travel from lap to lap, hanging out with Mike, Natalie, Mike's mom, Randie, and stepdad, Mike.  Needless to say, she thoroughly enjoyed all the love she got during lunch!

We rarely buy the souvenir pics that are taken at amusement parks. 
That being said, one look at the joy on their faces (bummed Natalie's is cut off), and John had to buy it!

Happiness - - the first photo of all six of our kids together!
Cole (5.5), Preston (4), Cam (7.5), Sam (15 mos), Gracie (8) and Cora (10)

Party of Ten!