Summer is coming to a close...the past month has flown by...probably because it was so full. A couple of weekend trips away and a visit from YaYa, lots of backyard play time, a day at the beach, and more swimming!
We made it to Carmel with Maffew, KK, Bea, and Millie...so much fun! Crazy, silly kiddos, and overall good times with the cousins!
Grady and Henry finally started playing together...it is so sweet to watch and listen to. Now that Henry is mobil, he follows Grady around everywhere and wants to have his hands on whatever G has his on. Some of my favorite overheard conversations have been in the living room fort, which we are in the habit of building quite frequently...I have to pick up and fluff pillows a couple of times a day! Grady will get in and hide from Henry, and call him over to come find him and knock on his fort door.
Henry seems to really like trains also...I'm not sure if this is by default because he has watched and listened to his brother love and play with them so much, or if it is really in his blood! Nonetheless, the thought of them playing together at the train table is so great, but we are already facing the challenge of little brother messing up and taking big brothers beloved tracks and trains. It's so hard to watch...Grady gets so frustrated and upset and hasn't quite figured out how to handle it. And Henry just wants to do what his big brother is doing! He's not big enough or coordinated enough to not "mess" everything up...oh, the first of many sibling quarrels and frustrations ;) With that being said, Grady sure does love Henry. He is the first thing he asks about when he wakes up. And often the last person he wants to see before going to bed. Grady is so good at making sure Henry has safe things to play with, and good food to eat, appropriate books to read, and plenty of hugs and kisses.
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| In the Fort with Norman |
Grady's favorite hiding spot in the house is under the dining table...when anyone walks in the door, he runs under there to hide, even every night when John gets home. So naturally, Henry likes to go under the table too!
We had a fun week with YaYa--very full, never a dull moment. Oh, Henry may like playing with trains, but he did NOT like riding trains...he was very scared. We have tried two different trains. I think it must be the noise or something, because he doesn't seem to be afraid at all of movement...he loves to be thrown, literally, around the pool, and loves bouncing and jumping on anything.
My mom snapped this next picture when she was here...she thought she would delete it and it would never be seen again, but I instantly said NO! It will probably end up being one of those classic pictures that we always have around and laugh at. It's just the typical minute around our house right now :)
I think this was the last summer that Grady and Malin can fit in the infamous tub!
August was a transforming month for us. We had the opportunity to get together with a local family who has a 13 year old boy, Will, with Barth Syndrome. Our doctor at Stanford connected us, and it was such a significant marker in our journey. Not only was it great to meet a 13 year old living and thriving, it was great to just be in the company of a family who can understand first hand what life is like for us, especially with a family who has seemed to have taken everything in stride and with great perspective.
Will had written an autobiography last year (that he actually won an award for!) and he brought it for us to read. It was a story of his life, his journey, his struggles and accomplishments. The most striking part for us was the last paragraph...I will copy and paste for you here. I removed a couple of sentences, but left the most important part, and the last sentence here was his last sentence as well:
"This may sound like a sad story but I can attest that it’s not...I’m twelve years old, and I am in sixth grade. I am pretty much a normal kid... I’m not sure exactly what the future holds, but that makes me no different from anyone else."
I share this with you in hopes that you can find comfort, perspective, and inspiration from this wise young man, just as we have. He's right, no one knows what the future holds! I told his mom that I have often said that I thought Henry was wise, even thought he is only 1. I know it may sound silly now, but I believe that with the things that sick little ones go through, God gives them such perspective on life that most of us take years to understand! I pray that Henry has the same outlook as Will as he grows into a young man. We are so thankful to have a family near by that we can go through this with.
Henry has gotten proficient in cruising this past month...he pulls himself up and is pretty comfortable moving between surfaces and furniture. His balance is unsteady, and we still have some core strength to work on, but we will get there eventually.
Happy Fall! Another post will come soon...
