A Walk Around the Block

The first, of I hope many, many walks around the block this year!

The Last Dance Class

I'm not sure how well this session went for Alice.  I aged her up and I'm not sure she was ready.  I think her free spirit wasn't ready to be reigned in.  It wasn't a total loss.  Alice participated more than she didn't.  Kate loved it.  There wasn't a concern about that.  I thought it would be cute for the girls to be in class together, and it was.  They did dance.  Mom and Dad, aka Grandma and Grandpa came for the last class, although I think Grandma was a little embarrassed by Alice, and Fiona too for that matter - they were both all over the place.

Either way, I'm grateful for the opportunities the girls have to take classes, and I'm grateful for their teacher Andrea.  Dancing is good for their little souls!

Seventy-Five

We've called him old man for as long as I can remember - us kids that is.  Seventy-five seems like the number for the anniversary of a store, not the age of my father.  I look at his face, I'm not sure what 75 is supposed to look like.  What does 75 act like?  I'm not sure what age Dad has ever acted. 

We had dinner at Mom and Dad's tonight.  Mom made roast beef, roast potatoes, carrot and turnip, and peas.  She ordered Swiss Chalet for my crazy fussy children - so above and beyond, I was both touched a slightly depressed thinking about it - the fussy children that is.  (They really don't like meat - or cooked carrots, who are these children?!)  Andrew brought a Billy Miner Pie from the Keg, but Dad didn't tell Mom, so they got a Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake from Baskin Robbins.  Andrew also picked up donuts for my girls - as per my request. And for his birthday we gave him butter tarts and oh henry bites.  I suppose it makes sense that there should be extra dessert when it's Dad's birthday, he's always loved treats!

We had a fun night.  The girls love playing with Rayna and Andrew.  Mom was in the kitchen lots - taking the turn for dishes from Dad.  And Dad, he just sat enjoying it all, taking it all in.  Watching his crazy grand-daughters and loving it.  He was a happy lad tonight - not grumpy at all.  He didn't sneak off to his bedroom, and he didn't fall asleep in his chair.  I guess I would say that 75 agrees with him!

I took some pictures with my phone because although I charged the battery I forgot the battery at home.  ARGH!

Happy Birthday DAD!  We're so glad we got to celebrate with you! Here's to many more! 

Zoo

We renewed our membership to the zoo today.  We received a 15% discount to renew a month early.  I had been thinking about our pass expiring in April.  When it came right down to it, there was no choice but to renew.  I am so NOT done with the zoo yet!  I love it there!

Today we went to the pandas first, then to Australasia, then lunch, and then to Africa.  Walking around in the warm, humid (albeit stinky) pavilions, I felt like I was on a tropical vacation.  I did.  Call me crazy, but I did.  A fun, warm, slightly stinky holiday!

 The bird - a Blue Crowned Pigeon, came out from behind the bushes, and poor Fiona lost her mind.

Taking this picture...

...made me think of this picture, pregnant with Fi - in March 2013.

Today we learned about the gorillas.  Charles is the silver back of the group.  A group can only have one silver back.  Charles is 43 and is mellowing in old age.  The oldest gorilla is 48, a female named Josephine.  Johari, daughter of Charles and Josephine, carries around a stuffy - she was hand raised, she's 14.  Ngozi, 17,  is mother to two of the gorillas currently at the zoo - Nassir 5 1/2 and Nneka 18 months.  And last is Sadiki 10.  At some point Sadiki, who is also Charles' son, will have to be separated out from the rest of the group because he will become a silver back and he will fight his Dad.  The keeper explained that after a certain age, males leave their groups and form bachelor groups until they are old enough and tough enough to start a group of their own.  When Sadiki is about 18 he'll be introduced to a new zoo to be a silver back there.

We also learned about the pygmy hippo - his name is Henry and he's 21.  There used to be a female at the zoo, but she died.

I love the zoo!

Twenty-One

I've been thinking all day about what to write about Miss Fiona.  And now I'm tired and it's gone again... okay wait - MINE!  One of her new words this month was mine.  Oh my goodness, so funny to hear her say it.  Even funnier (well sometimes not) when she's saying it about something that isn't hers.  She also wanders around the house calling Mommy - that is when we're not in the same room, and even when we are in the same room she likes calling Mommy over and over and over again.  Her language is coming along slowly.

I took her to the Doctor on the 26th of February for her last shot and her 18ish month check-up.  Dr. Nauth asked lots of questions about what she's up to, including questions about gestures.  At the time I thought, yes, she gestures... I think?  Well since the appointment when she gestures to communicate a million times a day, I think oh yeah, that one, and that one.  So many gestures!  She was doing some frantic pointing this afternoon to show me what she wanted.  It's too cute to when she nods her head yes, or shakes her head no.

I'm trying not to think about May 19th, and when I do think about it, I try to think about the positives... she's going to be with Ken three days a week, and it's only six weeks.  Oh my sweet Fiona, I just love you so much.  You are so much fun!

A Novel!

Kate's reading has astounded us for a while now.  It isn't just her ability to decode, it's the way she reads with such expression.  We have wanted her to challenge herself, and have tried and failed to introduce chapter books a few times.  Today Kate brought home her Scholastic order.  In it was Rainbow Magic, Florence the Friendship Fairy.

When Kate picked the book a couple of weeks ago, I didn't think much of it.  It came with three bracelets, and I thought it was kind of silly, but it was within the price limit, and I thought, it's her choice, so whatever.

It was after dinner and I can't remember exactly what we were all doing, but I asked Kate to read a chapter.  The book has little black line drawings on each page, a friendly sized font, and short 3-4 page chapters. 

She read the first chapter, then she kept going, and kept going, and going.  I followed along the first little bit, but then Alice and Fiona would interrupt here and there.  The vocabulary was perfect, there were only a few words in the whole thing she didn't understand.  She just kept reading. 

I don't know how long it took either, but little Miss Kate finished the whole darn thing!  All 157 pages, in one sitting!  I was so impressed and proud of her.  I feel that it's going to be very important for Kate to find the balance between pushing herself and enjoying herself.  She has so many talents, but talents are nothing without hard work to develop them!

Way to go Kate, I'm so proud of you!  (Dad too!)

Ally

Oh my sweet Ally where to begin?  I've known her Dad since our days as youth.  We were both on the Stake Youth Committee and we carpooled to Brampton with one of the high councilors from my ward.  Matthew and I weren't ever close, but we knew each other.

Since our teenage years we've seen each other around and spoken here and there.  He's been a substitute teacher at Blue Willow once or twice when I was there.  When we started going to Cookstown Ward, he and his family did too.  Matt was actually in the bishopbric.  I got to know his sweet wife Emma, and we all got to know Gordon and Ally.  Gordon was in Ken's primary class in 2013 - CTR 7.

Ally was born January 5, 2012.  She was born with Down Syndrome to parents that weren't able to care for her.  Matthew and Emma had been looking to adopt for quite a few years as they were unable to have any more children after Gordon.  I remember Emma telling me about going to meet Ally and just knowing that she was meant to be theirs.  I remember shedding a few Mommy tears while we were chatting.  She told me that she often had to remind herself that she hadn't given birth to Ally.

I copied this from the Facebook group "Love for Allyson".   Allyson Sherlock is a two and a half old girl with Down Syndrome. In August of 2013, she was diagnosed with Myelodysplasia- (smouldering leukaemia). After six rounds of chemotherapy in April 2014 it was determined that Allyson had beaten her illness and was in full remission. Two months later she had relapsed into full blown Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Since the relapse, Allyson has completed two additional rounds of chemotherapy, and tomorrow (October 6th, 2014) she will enter The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto for a bone marrow transplant procedure. Our hope is that Allyson will overcome this illness while informing others about paediatric cancers. This is a place to follow Allyson's journey as she receives her bone marrow transplant.  

They knew something wasn't right for a few months before the official diagnosis.  I remember how brave Matt and Emma were when they didn't know what was going on.  I also remember how optimistic they were.  Ally had so many things going for her.  She was being treated in the best place possible, by the best people possible, and because she had Down Syndrome, she had an edge.  

We talked about Ally and Gordon and their family lots with our girls.  Ally was in our prayers all the time.  Kate ran for Ally in the Terry Fox walk at school, first in 2013.

And then again in 2014.

I always knew there was a chance she wouldn't beat her cancer, but I felt much more strongly that she would pull through and be a survivor.  Matt made a comment on one of my comments on Facebook, about how the girls would go to Girls Camp together someday.  I was so excited at the thought of that and I really believed it would happen.

She did really well with her treatment the first time.  She did really well with her bone marrow transplant.  Things were looking great.  She went into the hospital for her bone marrow in October of this past year having already done two rounds of chemo in the fall.  She was supposed to be in isolation until December, but she defied all the odds.  She and Gordon were reunited November 2nd, and she was discharged to Ronald McDonald house to be with her family on November 12.

She had some hiccups here and there, but from all of the reports given by her Dad it seemed that she was doing great.  On Dec 5th they received word from their Doctor, that they wouldn't be home for Christmas, he wanted them close by the hospital still.  December 12th, she was amazing the medical team, but there was concern about her weight.  But then December 15th there was concern about her blood pressure and nutrition so Ally was admitted to the hospital.  They all hoped it would be a short stay.  I'm not sure if/when she was released after this, but she was in again getting an NG tube in her nose to ensure proper nutrition on December 30th. January 3rd she threw up and aspirated some of the fluids.

She made it through her 3rd birthday in hospital on January 5th, and she was able to enjoy time with her family.  Emma posted a really cute video of Ally enjoying her musical card.  There were also pictures of Ally with Gordon.  And so many people posted Happy Birthday wishes for sweet Ally.

Early in the morning on January 6th, she was sent to the ICU.  Her heart was in distress and there were indications of a lung infection.  Later in the day on the 6th she was intubated.  January 11th Ally was stable, but critical.  January 17th there was more deterioration.  January 18th stability - critical but stable.  The 19th came with more testing and a diagnosis, a partially collapsed lung, a fungal infection and a heart that was under a lot of pressure.  On the 20th, some peace, seeing small improvements and hoping for more.

Just before I went to bed on the 22nd (Ken's birthday of course) I read the following post in Love For Allyson: Our daughter Allyson Victoria Sherlock passed away moments ago in the arms of her mother and surrounded by love. We appreciate everyone's love and support, we will need some time to make arrangements.

And I was shocked and devastated, and shocked, and so, so, so sad.  I knew she was really sick, but I thought she would get better.  I really did.  I cried and I cried.  I tried to go to bed and I got up again and cried on Ken some more.  At this point it was close to 2 a.m. and I  needed to sleep.  I ended up going to bed with my phone watching a show to distract me.

It was weird, Ken's birthday.  I didn't want to tell the girls.  I wanted Ken to have a happy birthday.  All day I would go along doing stuff only to be reminded, and I'd tear up again.  I kept thinking of Matt and Emma, and Gordon too, wondering how they were doing.

I waited until the next day to tell the girls.  They were surprised but not sad.  They were very matter of fact.  They would see Ally again when she was resurrected so everything was okay.  We talked a little bit about the fact that it would be a long time before Ally was resurrected, but that didn't really make sense to them.

On the 24th Matt posted details of the visitation and funeral.  I wasn't sure what to do.  I wanted to go, but to what, and with who?

Fast forward a week to Thursday, January 29th.  Ken had to work onsite in Mississauga.  I took the three girls to see Sacha and Cohen for lunch in Barrie, and then we went to the funeral.  The girls were a little difficult, but I was so glad that I went.  It was such a beautiful service.

I went back and forth about going so many times.  I'm never sure what people will think about bringing small children to a funeral. The girls okay during the funeral.  They didn't quite make it through the whole service, but I was able to get the hope that I needed.  I was able to hug Matt and hug Emma.  I was able to hear uplifting messages about their sweet girl.

Matt's father gave the eulogy and it was so lovely.  He called Ally a thief, because she stole everyone's hearts.  He also told a beautiful story that was kind of like a parable.  He and his wife emigrated from Liverpool many years ago.  They left on a ship and waved goodbye to the people on shore in England.  Then they sailed away from view.  Their family was sad to see them go.  Then he spoke of sailing into harbour in Canada, and the excitement with which they were greeted.  We can't see Ally now, but she has been greeted on a new shore with love and excitement.

Oh I just can't imagine losing a child.  I hope it is a pain I never have to bear.  I also hope that the friends I have that experience this loss, I hope that I can give a hug and offer them some tiny bit of peace and comfort.  I hope to lessen their burden in some small way.  I am so thankful for the plan of salvation.  I'm so thankful that a Savior was provided to atone for our sins, so that through him we can be perfected and live again.  I'm thankful for temples, and sealing power.  I'm so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Alice continues to pray for Ally.  She asked me to print some pictures so that she'll remember her.  At first she was very concerned about Ally being happy, she was worried that Ally would miss her Mommy and Daddy.  Alice however decided the other day, that Ally is happy, and she's okay, because she's with her Heavenly Father and with Jesus.  The two pictures that I printed of Ally are the one above, and one of Ally dressed up as a chicken.  They travel all over the house, and every time I find one of the pictures I smile.  I am so thankful that the life of this little girl blessed our lives.  I am so thankful that she stole our hearts too.