Code Name: Heinie

It's the winter of 1994. Brian and I meet behind the closed door of our bedroom at 10pm each night. He holds a black Sharpie in one hand. I hold my bulging belly.

"Well?" he asks. "Which one tonight?"

Generous Surprise Gift from a Stranger: The Memorable Night

Brielle and I were sitting in the waiting area of our car dealership service department in early January when a stranger approached us. With hardly a word, he handed us

Friday's Photos - Catching Up!

Been a while, so lots of pictures to share!

Ashley is home for Spring Break! :)

Great timing to be home for her 19th birthday!

My girls doing homework together!

Our 23rd Anniversary!

Our wedding day!
Hard to believe this was 23 years ago!

Brielle is ready for soccer!
She's trying out this new activity on a special needs team and loves it!

Is that snow on the roof?
Cold day in Atlanta!

A warm day in Atlanta with the windows open!

Signs of spring!

Playing outside on a warm day!

Practicing her soccer skills!

Visiting our friend, Cooper, who was affected by CMV as well.
He is such a cutie and THE BEST cuddler I know!

Thursday's Teaching HIghlights - Sam and Love Notes

Our teaching week was cut short last week since I went on a long weekend with friends. So, we didn't have school last Thursday and Friday. No subs available at our school! :)

Here's our (shortened) week in review:

- Faith: We learned that we shouldn't expect anything in return for doing a good deed. "The Lord bless you. You have shown kindness." - 2 Samuel 2:5

- Reading: The little apricot miniature poodle, Sweetie, we've been reading about is living up to her name. But, so far, no new forever home for her.

Brielle's letter to her big sis

- Handwriting: Brielle wrote a sweet note to her big sister, Ashley, who is away at college. We try to send her a letter once a week and include a note from Brielle, any mail that's come here fo rher, maybe a fun gift card, and coupons she might be able to use.

- Language Arts: We're still working on putting the basics to work by correcting punctuation and grammar in sentences. She does great, but adding the correct punctuation for dialog (adding quotation marks and commas properly) is still a struggle.

Uncle Sam

- Social Studies/History: We learned about Uncle Sam! Although no one is quite sure of his origins, it is believed that it is based on a butcher named Sam Wilson who provided meat to soldiers in the War of 1812. The soldiers referred to the "U.S." stamped on the outside of the boxes as a mark of the meat being provided by "Uncle Sam". Cool bit of trivia!

- Science: We learned about how sound travels through gases, liquids and solids. We "experimented" by putting our ears to the top of the table and tapping on it. It was so loud!

- Life Skills: Brielle has been very interested in cooking. I tried to get her involved in as many parts of the process as she is able to. Food always tastes better when you help cook it!

"I think careful cooking is love, don't you?

The loveliest thing you can cook for someone who's close to you

is about as nice a valentine as you can give." - Julia Child

Wednesday's Wacky Words - Chatting (With Herself!)

Brielle wants a cell phone SO much. She even knows which kind (an iPhone) and which color case she wnts (a pink one!). Unfortunately, we have little confidence that she won't become a pest and text people too much. One reason we worry is because she has these little "chat sessions" on her iPod. She creates these long chats with people she knows.......



"Chatting" with her big sister

"Chatting" with her babysitter

 

"Chatting" with her grandma

.....and even with a people she doesn't really know!

"Chatting" with Matt
(a character on "Victorious")
 

Although this is great writing practice, it's just more evidence that she might not know "proper etiquette" for texting friends and family. So, for now, no cell phone for a few more years. :(

But, isn't that wacky the way she does it??? :)

Monday's Making a Difference - CMV Mommies

Everyone needs to belong. There are few places I feel like I belong more than when I am on my CMV Mommies group. It's a closed group on Facebook of moms (and a few dads, grandparents, etc.) that all have a child born affected by cytomegalovirus or CMV  (the virus that affected Brielle) and some that have even lost a child because of CMV. Although I have only met three of them in person, they are all like family to me.

CMV Mommies
Closed Group on Facebook

As the description on Facebook describes:

"The purpose of this group is to give families of children affected by CMV an avenue to share good news; ask for support through hard times; to ask advice from those who have been there before us; share our experiences; make friends; to have a place to go on sleepless nights; and much, much more. We are linked in a way that bonds us. We have our CMV angels to share....but we also have our own health to talk about....and other family members. CMV affects everything in our life...this page is for all of it...the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY. I love you all and thanks for for being here for me and my family." 

 

Members from all over the world
and (unfortunately) growing each day

There are over 500 members from all over the world (literally), from all walks of life and have children with all sorts of challenges (some who you'd never know were affected to others who struggle to stay alive each day). But, on CMV Mommies, everyone is welcomed and members can share anything about their lives openly.

Every day, members share triumphs, challenges and questions. Sometimes, there are as many as 20 new posts a day. The members responses to the posts are amazing. Some posts get more than 20 or more members responding with suggestions, encouragement or cheers.

Part of Ashley's college paper
about the CMV Mommies group

When Ashley was working on a paper for her college course in Communication last semester, she interviewed me about my unique experiences in that group and how we communicate. I was so proud to be able to share that with her.

When I get on Facebook each morning, it's the first thing I go to read about what my friends are facing in their day. I find hope and strength through their stories.

Thank you, Ladies! (and Gentlemen!)


--> If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, please protect yourself and your unborn child from CMV:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for 15-20 seconds, especially after

• changing diapers
• feeding a young child
• wiping a young child’s nose or drool
• handling children’s toys

Do not share food, drinks, or eating utensils used by young children

Do not put a child’s pacifier in your mouth

Do not share a toothbrush with a young child

Avoid contact with saliva when kissing a child

Clean toys, countertops, and other surfaces that come into contact with children’s urine or saliva

(from http://www.cdc.gov/cmv/index.html)

Thursday's Teaching Highlights

With our rainy week, we were stuck inside a lot. That made it a productive school week indeed! Here's some of the things we learned:

- Faith: We know that God is always with us. "He is always watching, never sleeping." - Psalm 121:4


Connecting the dots!

- Reading: Cocoa, the chocolate lab, finally found a new forever home! Yay!

- Handwriting: Dot-to-dot pages are a fun way to warm up and do better at handwriting!

Mad Libs!

- Language Arts: We had a Mad Libs page this week ABOUT Mad Libs!

- Creative Writing: Brielle loves anything about the computer. Every day after lunch, she writes her dad and sister, Ashley, emails about what she had for lunch. She always includes some funny thing about what she's thinking about, like how much she wants a new PINK computer for her upcoming birthday! I check her grammar, spelling and punctuation before she sends them. But, sometimes, her emails are just too cute just as she writes them.

Brielle and me (July 2012)
Overlooking the Columbia River
where Lewis and Clark traveled

- Social Studies/History: President Thomas Jefferson hired Lewis and Clark in 1804 to explore the new territory of the Louisiana Purchase. On their journey west, Lewis and Clark's expedition went right through the area when Grandma and Grandpa live in the Tri Cities of southeast Washington State. Maybe they even walked on the land where their house is!



Some of Brielle's leg and hand braces
from when she was younger

- Science: George de Mestral invented Velcro after noticing burrs stuck to his dog's fur. The word "Velcro" comes from the French word "velour" (velvet) and "crochet" (hook). We looked around the house for things that use Velcro and found lots of items. For example, all of Brielle's leg and hand braces have Velcro on them!

Double digits!

- Math: Brielle is on a roll! She's mastered adding and subtracting double digits (as long as she doesn't have to carry or borrow - although she's starting to learn how to carry).

Brielle loves bowling
with Special Olympics

- Life Skills: It was another busy week learning to do more things for herself. Clean, snooze, mac, and doggie -- oh my!

- Physical Activity: A rainy week kept us inside. :(  But, Brielle had fun bowling with Special Olympics last Saturday. She has this weekend off and then the big Georgia State Winter Games the next weekend!

- Music: Although not really a "teaching lesson", Brielle has been totally into listening to Taylor Swift music this week. She is so excited about going to her concert in April since the stranger gave us tickets!

"Oh, what a shame. What a rainy ending given to the perfect day." - Taylor Swift

The Sleepover



Ashley in her dorm room
August 2012

Last weekend we traveled from Atlanta (where we live) to Orlando (where Ashley is going to college). We couldn't wait to see Ashley! We moved her into her dorm a month ago and hadn't seen her since -- other than video chatting, which just isn't the same at all.

We did the typical "College Parents Weekend" things -- walked around campus to see where her classes are, listened to a few guest speakers, walked through the craziness of tailgating, went the first home football game, and went out to dinner.



Ashley and Brielle coming out of the dorm
the mornning after their sleepover
September 2012

As fun as the whole weekend was, by far the most special moment (other than getting my first hug from Ashley in a month) was watching Ashley take Brielle by the hand to take her up to dorm room for a sleepover. I was overwhelmed with warm, fuzzy feelings.

Unlike most 16-year-old teenage girls, this was Brielle's first sleepover ever.

Ashley and Brielle saying their "good-byes"
before we left to travel back to Atlanta
September 2012

Since we dropped them off close to 10pm and were picking them up at 8:30 the next morning to go out to breakfast as a family, there wasn't much time for the traditional girly sleepover events. Ashley, of course, did a great job taking care of Brielle overnight, but she also made Brielle feel special and made the whole event fun. Brielle was SO excited about their sleepover and has been chattering on and on about it ever since.

For being just less than two years apart, my girls don't get to do a lot of the "sisterly" things other sisters get to do. But, that sleepover will forever be precious to me as I know it will for both of them.

*Check out more sisterly love here!

Ashley's Graduation!

Today was a memorable day. Ashley graduated from high school with honors!

It has been a busy 10 days preparing for family and friends to arrive and planning for Ashley’s big party. I was so uncharacteristically calm despite all of the work and stress. My mantra was, “Focus on the memories” and we made some great memories this week!

Family and friends at the graduation ceremony

My parents, Brian’s father and sister, and a close friend from Texas came into town earlier this week to join us in the festivities. 

My High School graduation (1986)

Graduation ceremonies have always seemed boring and anti-climactic to me. Although I attended my high school graduation, I skipped my college and graduate school ceremonies.

I swore I wouldn’t get emotional during the ceremony. To my surprise, I got all teary eyed during several parts of the 90-minute ceremony. As we waited for Ashley’s turn out of her 425+ classmates to walk across the stage of the huge church where the ceremony took place, I just kept thinking about how she has her whole life ahead of her and how she is now in control. Scary, exciting thoughts.



Brielle and her big sister

I also couldn’t help but to think Brielle will never go through a graduation ceremony like this since we homeschool. Like the overpriced school pictures, a big graduation ceremony is one of the few things I miss since she is no longer in public schools.

Brian, Ashley and me

Despite my misty eyes during the ceremony, it was a happy day and I am so proud of Ashley! We had more than 50 people at her party this afternoon to help us celebrate. Although it was 93 degrees in Hot-lanta, we stayed cool with tents and water misters outside and cool AC inside.

Although our family and friends will be leaving this week and the festivities will be over, I know it was a special week and day for Ashley. Today begins the rest of her life!

Brian's sister and  Ashley



My father, Brian's father, Ashley and my mom

On to college in just 10 weeks... I'm trying not to think of that part.

Big Sister's Birthday

Ashley is 18 today!

Wow. How can that be? It seems like not long ago we were taking our first born child home from the hospital, healthy and sweet. I remember Brian and I just looking at one another after we took a few minutes to get settled. What now? How could we ever know how to be good parents?

Eighteen years later, we are Ashley's proud parents. She's a great kid, never gave us any trouble, works hard, gets good grades, active in a few school activities, has a part-time job, has many friends, and, most importantly to us, is happy, bold and confident.

In less than six months, Ashley will be going away to college a the University of Central Florida in Orlando to study Hospitality Management. I still can't believe we are letting her do that. We are going to miss her SO much.

I think of it often, but especially on birthdays..... How would Ashley's life be different if Brielle had been born healthy?

In so many ways, Ashley is more like an only child. Even though they are about 23 months apart, the sisters never swap clothes, whisper about boys, or even fight like so many other siblings. Ashley is kind to Brielle and very generous with her time to Brielle.  But, I can't help wonder how Ashley's life would have been different.

At moments like this, I especially try not to think about how different Ashley's life will be going forward, especially when Brian and I are gone and Brielle ultimately becomes Ashley's responsibility (directly or indirectly).

Instead, I am focusing on the joy that Ashley brings us and enjoying her special day. We watched old home movies from the day she was born until she turned one year old. We all went to the movies together and plan to go out to her favorite Italian restaurant before heading home for cake and presents.

Today is a good day. Life is good.