First, I need to apologize for being out of touch the past two weeks! We went on vacation for a week, so including the preparing days, the recovering days, and my grasping at the last couple of days the kids have of spring break, I've been off the computer for 2 weeks! Once again, I find myself thinking, how did these two weeks fly by so fast? The trip was wonderful! It was great to visit with my family and enjoy the beach, beautiful weather, and a taste of DISNEY!
Before I share the TON of pictures I'm posting below, I did want to share something else significant about this week. Tuesday, March 13, marked the 6th anniversary of our first admission to Le Bonheur. Talk about time going fast; sometimes it feels like yesterday that we were sitting in the Emergency Room with our 10 month old wondering what was going on. It's strange because every January, I start this cycle of remembering Madeline as a baby that 8th, 9th and 10th month. I remember things we did, places we went, playgroups, clothes she wore, etc. so vividly - all leading up to this week. Every March 12, at some point during that day, either Tim or I will say to the other... "Do you remember this day? Remember how we went to feed the ducks and you carried our baby girl on your shoulders? Remember how we strolled our neighborhood before dinner and Madeline got startled by a dog barking and cried so hard that it looked like she sort of passed out? Remember sitting on our deck before bath time - Madeline was standing against a chair and lost her balance, cried, and sort of 'passed out' again? Remember what the nurse said when I called the doctor's office (it was a Sunday night) - 'She's probably just holding her breath when she's crying... lots of babies do that, but go ahead and bring her in in the morning.' Do you remember what it was like before we knew she was sick?" This week is always a bitter sweet anniversary. Of course, we are so thankful for March 13... had we not found out what was going on in her heart, we wouldn't have her here with us - it really is sort of a birthday - Madeline's second chance! However, it is the day that we mourn the loss of a healthy child. Don't get me wrong, we love her however she is... but some days, it is difficult to accept that she will always have cardiology check ups, she will always have medication, we will always have that talk with her teachers, her friends' parents that she spends the night with, it is always something that will have some attention given to it. And, our lives forever changed in so many ways that day. So much for the better - another post another day for that -I've already gone on too much! So, we are right in the middle of that remembering... each day of that admission, all the tests, waiting, findings, etc. Her surgery was March 23 and we went home March 28. You know how anniversaries are, they just get you thinking....
So, it is with grateful hearts that we are a family of five enjoying time with our
family in a beautiful place!
Here is a glimpse of some fun we had on our vacation!
Heading in to the beach - Friday - our first full day there! This is a beautiful public beach, "Barefoot Beach." It's great because you have to pass through a park ranger to get to the parking lot, and they limit how many cars get through. so, the beach gets busy, but not covered over!
Dolphins were so close!
The kids really had a fun time in the sand and water!
They also loved finding shells...
Susanna thought it was hilarious playing with our sandy toes!
The water was about 74 degrees - a little on the chilly side... but after a few minutes, we really did get used to it. Susanna really liked splashing around!
Pop playing in the sand with the kids!
We went back to the house for a rest... it was raining and there was a rainbow behind the house! That was so awesome and beautiful!
Pop's annual "jumping in the pool with his jammies on!" The kids think this is hilarious!
The next morning, we headed out for a sort of last minute trip to DISNEY! It's about a 3 hour drive from Ft. Meyers. So we all thought it would be fun to share together and just get a little taste. We were there Sunday afternoon/evening until Monday afternoon.
It was raining, but that didn't stop us! I think Eli was a bit overwhelmed when we first walked in. There were a ton of people, it was raining, and I don't think he had any idea what to expect. Susanna fell asleep about 5 minutes after this picture was taken. Madeline was ALL ABOUT IT!
The "People Mover" in Tomorrow Land - this was great! Very calm ride, got everyone sort of ready for the fun!
Now, Eli is totally on board!
Susanna loved the Pooh ride, we could not get her to turn around for a picture!
We all loved "It's a Small World!"
Bounding from ride to ride, we were in a bit of a time warp! Before the nightly parade, we got some food for everyone and got a good spot to watch the parade!
This was a highlight - apparently, according to Eli, "Tinker Bell pointed her magic at us!!!" She did point and wink in our direction!!
All the kids loved the parade.. the lights were great and the characters were so fun to watch!
Even though the kids were tired, we stayed for the part where Tinker Bell flies by the castle. The best part was just watching the look on the kids' faces!
The kids were done at this point!
The next day, we went to Hollywood Studios. We thought there was more to the Cars experience, but it was just a photo op... that was fun, and we also watched a Star Wards Jedi training show, Muppet Show, Little Mermaid Show....
Toy Story Mania!
On our way in, a family leaving gave us 2 fast passes! When we got there the fast pass time was for 8 pm, so we were so thankful to have these earlier tickets! Eli and Tiff did that together!
While they were in the show, we got to see a Green Army Man and get his autograph!
"Hangin' Out" waiting for the Little Mermaid show!
Sweet cousins!
Yum!
We loved having one more day at the beach to share with Brad, Tiff and Sabrina!
There was a mound of sand that Susanna kept climbing, sitting on the top for a while, then belly sliding down! So fun!
We celebrated my birthday a couple days early! It was so fun to be together!
Thank you, Mimi and Pop for a wonderful vacation!
Already itching to go back!
