Friends

We are so lucky to be surrounded by so many friends who are so supportive and loving and we are even more lucky to know incredible SMA families, who we call our dear friends.  

 Well, our friends, the Strong's, had to come to Stanford for some appointments this week and they were so kind to spend time with us!  We absolutely love spending time with them.  Lucy kept asking me all morning if Gwendolyn could come "right now"!

They were so cute together and G was even laughing at L during dinner.  Jocey and Dallin had fun communicating with Gwendolyn and Lucy was so excited to share her ponies with G.  

Lucy has a major crush on bill and this picture below is when Bill was running towards her to give her a kiss (she wined almost the entire time because she wanted him to kiss her again and again and again).  After they left she was smiling and she said, "I love Bill, he is soooo cute!"  Watch out Victoria!!!

We just love this family because they are so kind but they also do SO MUCH for the SMA community, it is just crazy to me how much they do for everyone while taking care of Miss G.  

We love you, Strong's, and I can't wait to run with all 3 of you in November! 

Family Dance

I've taken on the enormous job of sifting through pictures and videos and finding a way to store everything and make it accessible for us to watch and keep forever!

I came across this cute video.  I really love it and I love my little family even more.

Spreading Awareness

My friend, Jane, wrote the sweetest post about Lucy and SMA here.  We think it is so amazing because Jane is a super blogger and now so many more people know about SMA.

Car Wash

We decided to keep our Labor Day low key since Lucy had such a hard day on Sunday (horrible tummy ache, fever and high heart rate).  She seemed fine on Monday so we went swimming and then to a car wash.  I sat her in my lap so she could see what was going on.  She was so proud of herself for pointing out birds to us and counting cars.  She was enthralled with the car wash and sitting up in the car.  

Later in the day when we asked her how much fun she had swimming she explained, "The car wash!  I loved it!"

Laughing

Our nurse was starting Lucy's treatment and one of Lucy's machines wasn't turning on and the nurse couldn't figure it out.  I heard Lucy laughing so hard.  I have heard her laugh before but nothing like I heard then (and SMA makes it so hard to laugh).  I tried to get her to repeat her laugh here, I just love it.

Ponies and Bronies

Lucy is obsessed and we can't help but feed the fire.  Plus, who doesn't like a good wedding? Speaking of weddings...

Lucy has been so vocal about what she wants to do everyday.  When she asks for things I just can't help but do what she wants.  One day she wanted to put on make-up and I forgot that I had thrown their play make-up out so I went to the store and bought some new make-up (yes, she is that spoiled).  That afternoon, Lucy and I were in the car a lot taking D and J to their after school activities.  Lucy took her make-up and she was playing with it and putting some lip-stick on while we talked.  She said that she wanted to get married to Dallin.  I told her she couldn't marry her brother and so she went with her second choice, Chad!  When we got home, she made sure we put on her wedding dress and crown.   When Chad got home, he put on his suit jacket and we had a little wedding party for Lucy.  She just lights up and she is so grateful when we do the smallest things to make her feel special.

We had a wedding dance party and Lucy requested to dance with her own feet on the floor. 

Overheard

Me:  Hey guys!  How was school today?
D:  I learned three new words today... abduct, ____ and ____.  Then he told me the definitions, etc.
Me:  That's cool. Jocey, how about you?
J:  You won't believe this but do you remember Charlie? Charlie, the one I had a crush on in preschool (of course I remember him).  Well, he has had a crush on me FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS!  I just can't believe it.

I can't either.

Swimming and Sibling Rivalry

We started D and J in swimming lessons about two months ago and then we had to reschedule because of school and now they are in the same class.  Well, Jocey passed a level (but they stay in the same class) and when they gave her the ribbon she yelled in the pool "Dallin I just passed you!"  The teacher was sensing some tension and said something to her.  Jocey then hollered, "But he's older than me!" The teacher handled it well and then looked at me laughing.  I asked her if she knew anything about sibling rivalry:)  Dallin will pass to the next level soon, the only thing he isn't doing is tucking his chin when he rolls to get air.  Anyway, on the way to the car, Joceymrsknowitall, says to Dallin, "D, all you have to do to pass is pretend that there is a delicious pizza and some hot dogs at the bottom of the pool and you just CAN'T take your eyes off of it, then you will pass and be in the same level as me."

Thanks Jocey, we all appreciate your words of wisdom.

And maybe you can tell from the photos, Jocey is much more proud of the ribbons she earns that Dallin is.  He just likes to swim!

Last year of Preschool

Did you know that this year is Lucy's last year of preschool?  I didn't until I had my meeting with her school staff.  She was ecstatic to begin school again. 

Dawn Marie is Lucy's nurse again (and we hope she can always be Lucy's  nurse) and that makes things much easier for me being away from Lucy- not easy, just easier.  She is the best and we just love that Lucy gets to go to school with her.

On Thursday the older two have early release so they get to pick Lucy up with me.  

Also, on Thursday, Lucy started riding the bus again and this may be her favorite part of school.  Here is she is telling me "Bye Mom!  I love you!" And I am saying "Remember if you need help, tell Dawn Marie that you need suctioned, or your mask, or you need to lay down. I love you too!"  She always replies, "Okay Mom, bye!"

A new year...

The kids started school this week.  Dallin got stung by a bee or a wasp and he had an allergic reaction that caused his face to swell.  So besides making silly faces, he has a puffy face.  Dallin supposedly has the coolest teacher around that teaches his lesson from a podium and Jocey has the same teacher D had last year so we are hopeful this year will be a great one.

Mom...

if you just cut the rest of my bangs, I will learn my lesson to never cut my hair by myself again.

-Jocey's way of trying to get what she wants

Soccer

This is the first year that our kids have an actual schedule besides school.  I have to be honest, when I look at my filled calendar I am a bit intimidated.  Mostly, I get anxious that Lucy will get sick because it is my least favorite thing and it also turns our lives upside down.  I am not being pessimistic, these are real fears.  Anyway, D and J started soccer and I get so nervous for them, maybe because most other kids have been playing soccer for several years...I don't know.  They are having fun and their personalities are exactly the same on the field.

Jocey is more aggressive and isn't afraid to get in the middle of things.

Dallin is much more passive but he still does well.  He is playing on the big fields now and I think he will have to go running with for some conditioning:)  He came running off of the field and Chad was like, "What are you doing?  You're still playing!"  Dallin replied, "But I'm tired!"  Ha!

Overheard

We help out a friend by feeding their dogs about once a week (perfect solution to my kids begging for a job - besides house chores) and when we got there, Jocey let them out and told Ewan:

J:  I've got a treat that is gonna rock your world!

*Just wish I would've had my camera out when she was dry heaving while picking up dog poop

Dallin complaining that our Labor Day wasn't as great as he expected...

D:  This day was supposed to be Epic!

Jocey and Dallin were having a wand duel and Dallin's spell knocked Jocey to the ground.

L:  How dare you Dallin!!

Goodbye Summer