The Original Monkey Brains

There are people in your life that make everything worth it, and for me Isabelle is one of those people. She is my first little girl. She's tough. She's smart. She's kind. She's positive. She's all smiles. She's funny. She's crazy. She's sensitive. She's caring. She's my princess. She's an actress. She's an example. She's amazing. And today she is a teenager. WHAT???!!!

When she was born we couldn't take her home from the hospital for about 8 days because she had aspirated formula (thanks, nurse) and ended up with a pneumonia. We watched her as she struggled and struggled to breathe. But she fought and she conquered. Did I mention that she's tough? She is. How many trials have we had throughout the past 13 years? Many. In those trials, who always kept smiling and dancing and lifting us up? Isabelle. Through all the trials, she stayed strong and kept all the smiles and all of the love in her heart. Remarkable.

You are an amazing girl, Isabelle. You can do hard things. I couldn't be prouder of who you are, Isabelle, and what you do every day to make life brighter for us all. You make me laugh. You care so much about each member of your family. You've always been such a light in your family's life. You are a star.

I remember sitting in my hospital bed (one of the many times) and this time I truly believed that I couldn't possibly go on (cue Isabelle) and in comes my little princess and sits by me on said hospital bed, smiles, doesn't even say a word, holds my hand, love radiates from her. In that moment I find the strength to carry on. God surely loves me and our entire family to send us an angel like Isabelle.

I've mentioned trials, but we've had far more blessings. Isabelle has been a huge source of those blessings.

HAPPY 13th birthday, daughter (a.k.a. Monkey Brains)!!!

A I D A N

I'm Aidan's number one fan (well, Katie and I both). He has a huge heart and he cares so deeply at such a young age for his sisters.

Last night we were over having dinner with our sister-in-law and her kids. At one point, Aidan came over to us with some medicine vials and said that Ivy and Eliza had drank a little bit of the medicine. I could tell that he was pretty worried about this (he has a tendency worry quite intensely about some things). We asked Eliza and Ivy if they did indeed drink any of the medicine, and they confessed that they did. We quickly tracked down the actual vial they drank out of to see just how much they drank. Luckily it was not very much at all, but we researched to see if it was dangerous and it turned out that it wasn't. They would live. :-) Well, the whole time we were researching and trying to determine what had happened and what we should do, Aidan was right there waiting for the verdict, very worried. He kept asking questions and wanted to make sure that we quickly got to the bottom of things. It was clear that he would not rest for a second until he knew that Ivy and Eliza were going to be okay.

At one point, Aidan looked at me and asked me if the medicine could make them, and then he spelled out the word quietly, "D-I-E" so that Ivy and Eliza wouldn't hear him say it. I reached over and pulled him in to give him a hug and tell him that Ivy and Eliza were going to be okay. He put his head into my shoulder. He was trying to be strong, but I could feel his deep concern and see the tears in his eyes. He was genuinely worried that his little sister and his cousin would die. I always knew he loved his sisters very much, but I realized right then just how deeply he loved them and was concerned for them. He would do anything to keep them safe.

Aidan, you are amazing! I can't count how many times I've learned valuable lessons from you. You make me happy and I could not be prouder of you.