I can honestly say this is one of those years that I am ready to leave behind me. Lots and lots of lessons learned, some of them on going but it's time to move forward. I am going to try and take my lessons and quit looking back and second guessing myself. So I didn't really do a Christmas letter this year and directed everyone to here. So let's try and sum up the year and catch things up. All of the kids are growing up so fast I get a little sad at times. I miss the babies. I know I work with them but it's just not the same as watching them all develop, learn and grow up. They all have such distinct personalities, likes and dislikes now. I can't always talk them into seeing things my way and sometimes I wonder where they come up with the stuff that they do. I definitely worry about them as they step out the door in the morning. Have I have taught them to stand up for themselves, keep their ground even when everyone around them is going in a different directions and be good people in general? So here we go.Ariel turned 13 years old this year. Oh MY gosh, a teenager. And while she can't go slam her door and not talk to her parents when she is done with us she certainly has her own way of letting us know that she is a teenager. She had to have major surgery this summer on her back. Her scoliosis had gotten so bad we had to do something to improve her quality of life. Her curve was over 90% and had started to twist, she was never comfortable and in general having a lot of problems. It was the first time as a parent I had literally felt helpless. Her scar runs from her shoulders to her tailbone. We had a week's stay at Phoenix Children's but it was half of what they had said we should expect and she has come through it like a trooper. She doesn't have to wear a body brace and in general looks great now. She grew 12 inches with surgery and has put on 20 pounds since this summer. For a kid like Ariel that I have been lucky to get a 5 to 10 pound gain a year on, it really is such a blessing. She is probably the healthy she has been in years. She started Jr. High this year. It was such a change to leave our little elementary school that she had been at since Kindergarten. We miss our aides and teachers but know it's all part of growing up. She is settling in nicely and has transitioned quicker than I certainly thought she would.
Michaela is turning into such a little lady. My sweet, shy kiddo is growing into a beautiful young lady and is such a blessing in all of our lives. She has dabbled in quite a bit this year. Piano, gymnastics, swimming and soccer. She really excelled in swimming this year with breaststroke as her favorite and swims the IM regularly as well. She decided early on this year that she wanted to play goalie in soccer and has decided she is a "defender". It has been a lot of fun watching her decide what she likes and dislikes and develop in her areas of interest. She learned to roller blade and asked for a skateboard for her birthday in November. I never thought I would be going out and getting her a skateboard but she was so excited to get it and you catch her regularly out in our driveway on it. She is such a help to me with Ariel and helps keep me grounded. Of all of her accomplishments I think the one that means to the most to me is her devotion and sensitivity to her older sister. She is so sweet to Ariel, tries to include her when she can and even helps her friends learn to be more excepting of people with differences. She still says she wants to be a vet and eats up just about anything to do with animals. Such a kind heart:)
Bailey Bug is my handful. Strong willed, quick on the emotions and a constant blur of movement. I have always heard parents say, " I love all of my children in different ways" and not quite understood what they meant. I think I am getting the point now. I love Bailey for all of the things that make her such a challenge at times. She is so smart, so emotional, so busy. I watch her in amazement on some days. She has been in gymnastics and swimming this year but I think her niche is dancing, performing and I have a feeling singing. She is not shy in anyway and loves to be the center of attention. Her first grade teacher was telling me about how protective she is of Easton and how the two function so well apart but if you watch them they are like polar opposites, always aware of the other one and ready to jump in for support if one needs the other. Hopefully, I am bringing her up to know right from wrong and to be a leader. She naturally jumps out in front of others and I can see where this could get her into trouble later if she doesn't learn now how to make good choices.
Easton is such my little guy. E-man is such a snuggler with him mom. I don't know if it's just because he is the only boy or what but he is such my boy. His speech has greatly improved this year and he is doing really well in school. He says he is a scientist. Always building things out of nothing. Whatever he can get his hands on empty water bottle, boxes, tape (and more tape). I am amazed at how quickly he builds things out of Lego's and puzzles and runs to show me his latest invention. He has kind of dabbled in a few different activities this year. He swam, did gymnastics and played soccer. We think it is safe to say at this point he's probably more into the individual sports than team sports. My son is the one daydreaming in the middle of the field instead of running after the soccer ball. I think of all of them this year he enjoyed the gym the most but the juries still out.
Joe has been really busy with his normal array of things. He is the varsity baseball coach at Mesa High School, continues to be on the State High School Baseball Board in charge of all of the all star games and was appointed to a national position on the National High School Association, he coached Easton and Michaela in soccer this year and in general busy with his teaching. He played some softball this fall after taking the last few years off and had some fun with it.
I have been extremely busy with the kids of course and work has been good. After working weekends as an RN in the NICU at the children's hospital for the last couple of years I am going back to full time days in about a week. So I will be working 3 shifts a week and am looking forward to going back to a more normal schedule after working nights for the last couple of years. My father in law retired the year and I don't know what I would do without Jean and Mike. Mike has been playing taxi for Ariel and Jean is still going to be coming over on the mornings I work to get the kids off to school. I absolutely love the relationship my kids have with them. My sister Tania has been helping as well. She will be helping on the afternoon's that I work which is such a huge blessing to me. I know we all have trials in our lives and I have to say that this year seems to be one of those for me. I just hope that I learn from mine and move forward in a positive way. I guess it's how we handle those trials as to how we come out on the other end. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Year ahead. Until next time. Tam
