The past month or so has contained such a vast array of experiences and emotions for all of us. I have sat down to update several times, but have not made it very far.
We took 3 weeks to adequately visit with our families in the south over Christmas break. We started out for a week in Pigeon Forge, TN with rainy, mildly cool weather with Gran and Pepaw. We had Christmas, swam in outdoor heated pools, went to the aquarium, and experienced Dollywood. Next we went to my hometown where we spent a week with my parents, Nana and Papalou, and extended family. During that week, Reese got sick with vomiting and fever, prompting an ER visit to an Atlanta hospital where we found out she had acute pyelonephritis (kidney infection). That wasn't fun, but we were thankful that it was not a problem with her shunt or tumor bed (vomiting prompts different worries in a kid like Reese). Antibiotics and fluids set her straight and we left soon after that to go to Edisto Beach to be with Poppy, Mumsy and Aunt Rachael. We celebrated New Years and Charlotte's bday a little early and went for walks on the beach. From there, we went to Augusta, GA and had a family party there on Charlotte's actual 4th bday. The next day, we headed back to Indianapolis. The details are too many to update so I will tell the story in pictures below.
Photos from early December:
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| Reese about to scoot down the stairs. |
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| Philip coming in for the tackle |
The lowest emotion during this past month started on January 7th, 3 nights after we had returned to Indianapolis after Christmas. My mom called me in tears, telling me that my grandfather, Papa, had passed away. Though his health had been declining over recent months, this still came as a shock. We packed up and left the next morning, travelling back the same way we had come just 3 days before. We spent 3 days with family and came back for a total of 5 days gone. The family time was sweet and we enjoyed remembering Papa together, but it was also incredibly sad. He and my grandmother have been like a second set of parents to all of their grandchildren and it is hard for me to imagine life without him. I am thankful for his faith and for the example of commitment/dedication to our family. My life was definitely shaped by him and his love for all of us. Almost immediately on the ride down, I started typing memories about him (to which all the grandchildren contributed during the days leading to his funeral) so that we could share a tribute to him as a grandfather at the funeral. I'm glad to have it all written down so that I can remember him more clearly as time goes on. He will be greatly missed! While we were in my hometown during Christmas (where my grandparents also live), we only saw him 3 times because he didn't feel well enough to get out much and because we were afraid Reese was contagious initially. After we realized she had a kidney infection, we went to see him and Granny before we left town. Reese sat in his lap for the 45minutes we were there and took a nap. It was really sweet and they both enjoyed it. I am so very thankful for that last memory with him. Charlotte and Philip ran all over the house while we were there but also got to give him hugs as well.
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| Reese taking a sweet nap with Papa |
Losing him made me think about investing in the people around me and loving them well. I am thankful that he did that well. This was evident by the long line of people who waited to pay respects to a 75 year old man, with people waiting for over an 1 1/2 hrs to speak with his family. It was very touching and I'm thankful for those that did wait to offer comfort and condolences. So while I still feel heavy from the loss, I do want to rejoice in the memories that we've made and the impact his life had. Christmases have always been special in my family and I've spent almost every Christmas night at my grandparents' house. Thankful to have had Christmas 2012 with our families.
The photos below cover over a month...and should've been broken up into at least 5 posts. So if you like pictures, read on...or take breaks, because there are a LOT of photos!
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| Reese's first time in a swimsuit. Ironically, it's in December! She wasn't allowed to go swimming until recently because of her central line and immune status. She was a pro in the pool even though she doesn't like baths. Apparently, if she's being held, it's fun! |
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| What an outdoor heated pool looks like in the mountains! |
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| Ripley's Aquarium. Please note upside down scuba guy. |
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| Charlotte crawling into the penguin exhibit. |
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| Charlotte of the penguins |
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Philip enjoying a parent-approved climbing activity. I'm truly afraid he's
going to be a thrill seeker all his life. Pass the Tums, please. |
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| Petting a stingray |
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| With Gran and Pepaw outside the aquarium |
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| A laughable attempt at a family photo |
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| Enjoying cartoon number 998 in the "movie theater" inside our cabin. |
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| No Christmas is complete without cookie cake! |
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| Riding tram into Dollywood. |
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| The girls riding the tram |
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| Philip's first amusement ride. He LOVED it! |
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| Reese's first and only amusement ride. She DID NOT love it! |
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| A stroller ride was more her speed. |
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| Charlotte was a super thrill-ride junkie. She wanted to spin the teacups more than the "growing ups" were comfortable with! |
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| A little scrambler action |
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| They were adorable on this one. Charlotte made sure her brother was safe. |
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| Tried to keep Reese on board but she wanted out. |
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Maybe she knew what she was doing by declining the rides?
Total attention from the grownups! |
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| This bumblebee is not made for anyone over 4 ft tall. Brian was laughing hysterically at me from the sidelines and took about 20 photos of the process it took for me to get my legs in and a buckle strapped over them. All of the workers there are retirees and the guy operating the ride was taking up for me and telling Brian that he had to ride next! |
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| A miracle of aerodynamics. |
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| Pepaw and bunny rabbit Reese |
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| Anybody recognize this elf? |
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| Charlotte's first ferris wheel ride |
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| Taking a ride with Charlotte in the cars. I got a preview of what Charlotte will be like as a teen driver. If nothing else, she is VERY focused and would not look at me or talk to me during the entire ride. She kept a look of intensity and only paused to honk the horn on occasion. |
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| Navigator Reese and trouble maker Philip |
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| Extreme focus |
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| Brian's ride was a little rougher. |
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| But ridiculously cute! |
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| What I will look like in about 11 years...only 11 years? ugh, slow down, time! |
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| Keep your eyes on the road, boy! |
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| Feeding the ducks |
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| Philip, Charlotte and Ducky |
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| Hitchin a ride on the choo choo |
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| Choo choo time |
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| Not so sure about this guy. |
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| Philip was kind enough to help get his Daddy to sleep. |
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| She finally opened up about her hopes and dreams. |
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| Happy Birthday, Jesus! |
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| Santa at Cabbage Patch General Hospital |
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| Watching a newborn get checked out in the nursery. |
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| Reese trying to figure out how to feed her newborn. |
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| Charlotte taking the oath of adoption: to give lots of hugs and kisses. |
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| Reese was so serious about her oath that she used both hands. |
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| Visiting with some family-in-law that prayed hard for Reese this past year and a half. |
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| Catching a snooze with nana |
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| Charlotte and a new friend/cousin |
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| Granny and the babies |
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| Catching up with old friends |
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| Tickle fest |
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| Papa at Christmas. Philip upside down. |
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| Visiting with Grandmother Odom |
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Reese's visit to the ER. Notice her diaper boxing glove to keep
her from pulling out her hard-won IV. |
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| Reese, Papa, Papalou and Philip |
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| Begging Aunt Terrie to sing itsy-bitsy spider one more time! |
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| Giving Granny a bye hug. |
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Philip's first trip to the beach. Showed no hesitation and ran
straight for the freezing cold water. |
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| Poppy and Reese |
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| He was going to check out the water, adult or no adult! |
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| Checking out the rocks with Aunt Rachael |
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| Beach ball on the beach! |
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| She didn't care if the sand was cold and wet.. |
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| So sweet. |
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| Father/son tag team |
