Wild and Crazy

April and May are jam-packed, wild and crazy months for us. Our calendar has events scribbled all over it, and I've tried to transcribe it onto my computer calendar so it looks more organized. Now it looks organized, and overwhelming. The upside is that we will be spending so much time with family and friends, it's totally worth the craziness.

And, in keeping with the craziness theme, Addy's medical "stuff" is ramping up again. I started blogging on CaringBridge when Addy was 4 days old, but moved to Blogger when it was clear that her medical issues were (thankfully) taking a backseat to regular life, and had more pictures to share than CaringBridge would allow. I don't have the time to double-blog, so I'll be doing the medical-focused updates here too.

We really enjoyed being in a holding pattern with just laser treatments and well-baby checkups as we were getting settled in, but I think the end of the honeymoon is right around the corner. We went to ENT (Ears, Nose, and Throat) for her ear pit, who scheduled a hearing test and strongly recommended that we be seen by genetics. The ENT doctor said that they recommend genetics for any child with an abnormally placed ear pit, and she mentioned some other findings she noted that indicated we should take a "bigger picture" look at her. We did see genetics in DC, but they didn't feel there was anything concerning enough to test for. Our pediatrician had mentioned going to see genetics at our well-baby appointment last week, although I didn't push her on why she brought it up. She is a wonderful doctor, so I will probably give her a call to see if there were any specific findings that she noted so I can mention them to the genetics team also. So, we are working on getting an appointment to see the genetics team in Boston, and maybe they will have some ideas. Addy's next laser treatment is in early May (just a few weeks away!). We have an appointment set up to go back to the Vascular Anomalies Center in June, and then will do the angiogram sometime after that. We also are working on getting appointments with orthopedics about her feet, and neurology - just to be thorough, since she is at risk for seizures with an intracranial vascular anomaly. PHEW! I had to make myself a list of all the specialists/tests/procedures that we have scheduled or need to schedule, to keep myself organized. Sometimes I feel like each time we see a doctor, they recommend seeing two more! Luckily, we can spend the summer getting things done, since Chloe spends most of the summer in NJ, we won't have to worry about dragging her along.

Alright, enough of that. I know everyone really comes here to see the pictures-- so HERE!

This is Addy's and Cinnamon's favorite spot. They would be happy to sit there all day, watching cars, or even better, big sisters jumping rope.

Celebrations

Yesterday was a great day. The weather was absolutely perfect - sunny and warm. We gathered in the backyard with family and friends who traveled from near and far, and celebrated Addy's first year. I have in my mind all the cute, artsy photos I didn't take, because I was kicking back and soaking it all in. So, there aren't as many pictures as I thought I would take, and they aren't all amazing shots, but I loved all the time I spent chatting with everyone instead of snapping pictures of everyone chatting.

 Thanks Jube, for grabbing the camera and taking a family shot!

More cakes, more bragging.

If there was any question if Addy partied hard, I think the fact that she slept an extra hour this morning and then took a morning nap that lasted more than 3 hours speaks for itself.

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Last week, as I was preparing dinner, I grabbed something out of the fridge and turned back around, not noticing that Addy had managed to sneak her hand out and stop the fridge from closing all the way. She found the blueberries (her FAVORITE), and grabbed the container and dropped it on the floor, where it popped open. She must have realized that her time with the blueberries was limited, because she was shoveling them in as fast as she could. I snapped a few pictures before cutting her off...

Chloe had a half day on Thursday, so we gathered some friends and went to the Science Museum. We spent a half an hour in the Butterfly Garden. It was hot and humid (we were a bit overdressed for that experience!), but practically empty (of people). The kids got a kick out of the butterflies - like bubbles, but they don't pop!

We also spent some time in the Discovery Center, where the babies could play on the floor.

Today was another gorgeous day, and we spent time on the sun porch and at Horn Pond. It has been a joyful week, and an amazing weekend. Thanks to everyone who was able to come to the party - and we definitely missed the friends and family who couldn't make it. We look forward to catching up with each and every one of you soon!

Reflections

Yesterday was a great day. Addy woke up an hour early, which normally I would cringe at but fit into our plans for the day quite well. After morning nap, we gathered some friends and went to the aquarium. As an unrealized bonus, the new Shark and Ray Touch Tank was open, to members only (which we are). Because most members are locals, and most locals are in school, we practically had the tank to ourselves. Almost like we rented out the aquarium for the day! We spent about an hour at the touch tank, before the kiddos started to struggle with the heat and hunger. We ate, and packed up to head back home.

 Chloe thought it was important that she be in the first picture taken of Addy now that's she's 1. I totally agree.

After a celebratory dinner, and getting the kids tucked into bed, Pete and I found ourselves sitting on the couch holding hands. And reflecting on life exactly one year before. It was a sweltering hot week in Virginia, and the trees bloomed and covered everything in a thick coating of pollen. At that exact moment, we were in that blissed-out euphoria that follows the birth of your baby. That week was simultaneously one of the hardest and most joyful weeks we endured. By that Thursday, the pediatrician was talking about ultrasounds and tethered cords. On that Friday I sat in the ultrasound room at Children's as I cried silently and held my newborn still, as the radiologist explained to me, in the calm practiced voice we learn as healthcare providers, the additional tests we needed and touched on all the possibilities of what could be wrong. And when I first ached to be sitting on the other side of the exam table, using my calm practiced "provider" voice, instead of where I was. It was a year ago, on that day, that I started blogging.

However, if you had asked me a year ago to describe what I thought life would be like in a year, I would have been way off base. Not just the small things like where we are living, but the big things like Addy will be starting to talk, starting to use sign language, so close to walking. That Addy would be beautiful, and not just in that "in your mother's eyes" sort of way. (Remember, we thought we were dealing with a huge hemangioma, that would grow and cover a significant portion of her face.) I wouldn't have thought that I would be OK with not fully knowing what caused Addy's venous anomaly, and what the future still may hold. I couldn't have known I would be a stay-at-home mom.

And now, we eagerly look ahead to the next year. When we will again sit on the couch and hold hands, and reflect on our journey.

 Some throwbacks. A year ago, this week.

Easter Shoot

I know I don't normally do back-to-back posts, but I wanted to share these pictures from an Easter Photo Shoot we did today with the babies, as the next blog is going to be devoted to a very special someone turning 1!

So, we gathered, a group of Moms with our Easter props, and tried our best to get the babies to smile, and look at the camera. I'd say we did pretty well.

We started with our group shot

Then one by one, we tried for cute poses

Yep, cute poses of most. Addy and Jack weren't really havin' it today. But everyone else did rather spectacularly!

We stopped to eat, and chat, and take some candids...

And the cuteness went on, and on...

(Oooooh, there's my child!)

 Seriously, could Livvy be more photogenic?!?

 (Tough day for Jack-man)

Ladies, it was wonderful. I'm so glad we could capture it so well!