Cecily is really moving around these days. She still specializes in the army crawl, but more and more she is cruising in her walker, getting up on all fours and climbing about. And I do mean climbing!  The other day I had to send a quick email after our lovely nurse Kim went home for the day.  Cecily loves to crawl around Brien's man cave so I put her down on the rug and quickly hopped on the computer. Cecily took off in the direction of Brien's futon.  She likes to rub the soft green fabic and can often be found laying her head down or hugging the pillows.  But not this time!  Before I had typed the url address Cecily was pulling up to stand and climbing onto the futon.  I lunged out of my chair and dove over to Cecily -  in a less than graceful maneuver -only to find my little monkey sitting up ont op of the futon, clapping (in her Cecily clapping way) and smiling with a big, Cecily's proud smile.  She crawled to the edge of the futon and looked down.  She crawled to the other edge and looked down.  She sat up and gave me this very mischievous smile with her toothy grin and chubby cheeks a glow! I was very nervous and proud and happy and wishing I had my phone to capture her victory.  And then she looked at me and said, "Mama down".   I smiled and she just kept saying, down down down.  I was so excited she was saying the word "down" and using it appropriately.  She had climbed up, sat up, clapped and strung two words together to communicate her desire.  Go Cecily go!  This is a HUGE accomplishment and she is now using the word down multiple times a day! (And she now can't be trusted anywhere near that futon!)

I shared this story with anyone who would listen that day and I had to write it down and share it again for those Moms (and Dads) who may need some inspiration.  I believe the impossible is possible with Cecily and she continues to inspire us every day.  These are the magical moments that made up another wild week for our family.

If you pray or believe in the power of positive thinking we'll ask for some prayers or good thoughts for Brien's Grandmother who suffered a stroke and is now recovering in VA.  Brien is hoping to take a "boys only" trip back east to visit his Dad's Mom.  Brien's Grandma is a very special lady - smart, sassy, loving, generous and very sweet.  So we'll take your prayers for health, peace and comfort.  We wish we lived closer so we could bring the kids for a hug and a cuddle.  And while I'm asking, send some to my Mom who is currently undergoing chemo for breast cancer.  She is one tough cookie and we are very proud of how strong she is being during a challenging time.

And because things never seem to slow down we have some more exciting Cecily's Closet news... but I'm still not sure if I can speak about it in detail yet so just know that we're working hard on something special! As mentioned before, we took this month off from a room makeover because we are busy, busy, busy figuring out how to keep ourselves funded!  Tomorrow we should find out more about the next family we'll be helping and we're looking forward to taking a break from grant writing and fundraising to decorate a kids room! It's what we do best!

And last but not least, our accidental invention, the Cecily's Closet Belly Bands have become very popular thanks to a few unexpected Facebook posts. It has forced us to reconsider how we provide them and we have now kicked off a patent process in hopes of scaling our operation!  This is good and bad news.  Good news because more families can benefit from our simple, stress-relieving invention and bad news... because we now need to scale this operation quickly without breaking our piggy bank.  We will pray that our grant to help fund the belly bands will come through.   We know how much these fabric wraps have helped our angel and so we want to share them with others, too! 

We're looking forward to a lovely weekend... and to hearing the sweet sounds of Cecily and Noah fill the house with 4th of July shenanigans...oh yes there will be a few of them with Brien leading the charge!

Onwards and upwards!

San Diego Family Magazine is celebrating the summer in style! They are giving away a DREAM getaway at San Diego's own Hotel del Coronado!

Can't afford to get away this summer! Enter SD Family Magazine's "Summer in Style" contest at http://www.sandiegofamily.com/contests/this-months-contests for a chance to win two nights accommodations (including parking) for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids under 12) at the Hotel del Coronado, one breakfast for 4 at the Sheerwater, one lunch for 4 on the Sundeck, a private 1-hour S'mores on the beach for 4 and access to the Hotel's "Kidtopia" camp for 2 children. The total value of the getaway is over $1,000.  What a deal!

Enter once per day, every day through July 31, 2011.  Tell your friends!

Onwards and upwards!

Every day is bringing new surprises... This weekend after my shopping spree (running wild at Target...) we found a few necessary accessories for Cecily's new walker. Hello... we have to be stylin' if we are going to be working that hard!  Noah helped as Daddy attached the basket, pink horn (you can't see it here) and the cute basket. Now baby and horsie can cruise with our angel as she works hard for every step. I just love that we all worked on it together and that Cecily seemed to like the changes...

Here is Cecily taking to the streets of Cardiff.  Look-out!  Perhaps the new horn is a distraction... she just kept honking her horn as if to say - get out of my way... I'm coming! And what would the day be without a little competition? Girls vs. Noah! He won... but he was a good sport.  (If he lost this may not have been true... alas he is only 4!)

Oh... and there were more horsie lessons.  We swung by our new favorite ranch, PoVa in Poway to say hello to our sweet BlueBelle! Just look at Cecily's face... She is thinking about whether she is going to pat her new friend. BlueBelle is a gentle soul. We love her.

And with a little help from her friend Kathy, Cecily lifted her hand to pet her! All smiles! She was so happy today and we see that sparkle in her eyes when we are next to the horses.  Sure there were some tears... but the smiles, shrieks and happy kicks won the battle and it gives us the confidence to know we're doing the right thing for our angel.

Today Cecily sat on BlueBelle's back like last week - but she also tried a few new positions.  Cecily lay down on her back on BlueBelle's back.  She eventually relaxed and enjoyed looking at the trees and the birdies.  She even lay on her tummy, too. She was so much more comfortable today with her new friend than she was last week.  We had so much fun! So much fun that  big brother Noah has decided that he would like to ride, too.  Luckily sweet Nicole has offered to help us out with this request and once she returns from the land of Oz we'll be headed down to Cole Ranch for a ride.  (Due to capacity, PoVa specializes in children and adults with disabilities.)

Life is an adventure. Each day with the kiddos we learn something new and we experience something that we never expected.  We laugh at our crazy schedule and how busy it all seems but we're making it work for everyone.  I wonder what tomorrow will bring? I never would have dreamt I'd have a toddler on a horse... Onwards and upwards!

This is another one of those pictures that  captured the moment perfectly... We were camping out Saturday at 15th Street in Del Mar... umbrella, blankets, beach chairs, and beach babies ready for a day of summer fun.  Noah and Cecily sat on the grass above the bluff looking out at the ocean - loving on each other and enjoying the perfect day.  The bond between these two sweethearts is one of the best gifts of parenting. To see your children enjoy each other, love each other and protect each other is a gift that keeps on giving.  Noah has had to defend Cecily a few times lately.  He won't stand for anyone making fun of her - or asking "why" she doesn't do things yet.  He is also quick to point out her abilities in the face of negativity and we just look at each other with absolute pride. I have to fight my urge to turn into Mama Bear...and try and remember that kids are kids... Noah actually handles these situations much better than me.  We just love our kids and watching their love grow is a dream come true.

Today Noah and Cecily were having fun in in the playroom. I was frantically trying to pick up the house for yet another showing...(we're still trying to sell this place!) and I smiled when I saw them.  Cecily was crawling on top of Noah and smiling from ear to ear.  She shows her love by grabbing your face or head and placing her head right next to yours and banging it up and down.  It is hard to describe but it is her unique way of giving love.  We treasure it because we know when she is doing this that she is very, very happy. 

I ask Noah if he needs any help and look and  Noah grins and says. "This is the life..."  I was careful not to laugh out loud with delight because this produces a negative result from Noah.  He gets easily embarassed these days but I quickly turned away with a big smile and scurried off to tell Daddy!

Another lovely weekend with the family.  Onwards and upwards!

Thank you CA Embroidery & Screen Printing for making these beautiful belly bands for children with feeding tubes!

For those of you that may be new to our blog, Cecily’s Closet offers free belly bands (fabric wraps with Velcro) to children with feeding tubes.  The wraps are designed to protect the Mickey Button or PEG tube that is inserted into a child’s abdomen for the purpose of feeding.  These simple, fabric wraps enable a child to safely proceed with physical therapy because they protect the site from rubbing.  They offer parents peace of mind by preventing the child from grabbing the tube site and reduce the risk of the tube being dislodged. Comfy for kids; priceless for parents; and FREE to anyone that asks.  

Grammy and Grandpa, also the designers by Cecily's room, decided that we needed to do something to stop Cecily from grabbing her tube.  This accidental invention has since proved to be a gift for us and many families in San Diego and across the country.  There is not a day that goes by that I couldn't imagine not having this simple wrap to keep Cecily comfortable and to let Brien and I rest easy.  Yet another reason to be grateful for our amazing Grammy Cecily and Grumpy Gramps... If only we could clone them for everyone.

We are so grateful to Nina at CA Embroidery for producing 20+ bands for us! We love the Cecily's Closet stitching and are beyond thrilled with these adorable wraps.  My Mom, Chief Seamstress for Cecily's Closet, is unable to make the bands right now and Nina has stepped up to help us out and we couldn't be happier! 

Check out this custom fabric donated by our fairy godmother, Gina. We are blessed! Onwards and upwards!

There were a lot of photos today. This can be said on most days... but looking at the shots one could say I went overboard...

This picture however is my all-time favorite! To me the angelic and inquisitive look on Cecily's face says it all! It is that look that told us perhaps we should try Cecily on a real pony.  It was that expression of wonder when she was around horses, or reading about horses that made us say... this seems crazy... she is just two... but let's do it!  I don't even have to write anything else in this blog entry. A picture is really worth a thousand words.  And so... here is Cecily's photo journal of her first ride at PoVa.  

At home we prepared for the big day with her favorite friend, Pony. (pictured below! courtesy of one of our favorite crafty places,  Manley Recycled).

And now she has a new furry, friend named BlueBelle that she will get to play with every week.  This has got to be one of the sweetest horses I have ever encountered. She just stood there while Cecily and Noah gazed at her.  We stroked her gently as we got get Cecily ready for her first ride. Her big brown eyes, soft hair and sweet spirit were very welcoming.  Cecily just stared and never startled in her presence. If we had just had that experience I would have been pleased... but there was more!

Cecily stood while five loving women surrounded her.  I prepared for tears due to the volume of helpers but she just looked as they gently placed her blue helmet on her head.  Then the instuctor, Ellen... if I remember correctly, said ok - time to go!  And I handed Cecily over not knowing what to expect.  I wasn't quite ready to hand her over but Cecily was willing and off she went in the arms of a stranger!  Again, if the day had ended right there I was just so proud.  She was handling this new experience like a big girl!

And here is Cecily enjoying a little tummy time on her new friend's back! I didn't see it but I hear she also took the time to give him a pet on the nose.  What a little love bug!

And there she goes! Giddy up horsie! I don't think I have ever been so excited and so proud of my baby.  She was with strangers - five lovely women - and she went off into the ring all by herself! (meaning without me... she still had her horsie team!)  I am quite certain I would not have done that at her age... and I have to admit I am still a little nervous when on the back of a horse.

We are eagerly awaiting our next lesson.  While there were some tears... she recovered and left with a big smile and more tears ... but those were tears about having to go home! It was another amazing day and we couldn't be happier!  

Onwards and upwards!

Happy Father's Day!  Wow... another Father's Day is here and I continue to be amazed at how much I still need my Dad. He (and my Mom) are always there for me, for our family, and for pretty much everyone they know. How do they do it? I am honestly not sure. They make the time. They devote themselves to others. I am so lucky because they are beyond devoted to me and the kiddos, and Brien, too. 

I can pick up the phone at any hour and ask my Dad to do just about anything - and he will do it! He has been by my side during every room makeover for Cecily's Closet. He does so much work that no one would ever know. How does all the furniture get built? How do all the those curtain rails get mounted, and art hung, and shelves mounted? My Dad does it!  Yes, he is an army of one.  Of course I'm there to boss him around (quite a fun role reversal...) but he is there with his British wit to keep me in check.  We have fun. He is a giver and I am so grateful. 

My Dad is an engineer. He loves puzzles and math and figuring out how stuff works. As a child everything was a lesson of some sort. I used to moan and just wish I could skip the physics lesson... or that I could swim in the pool without worrying about density or ride my bike without the lesson on gravity... but I realize now that he was ALWAYS teaching and always looking out for my best interests... even though at times I could not see it.  And oh yes... there were many times that I could not see it!  Like when I wanted to switch my major in college... and when I wanted to quit a few things growing up... and when I wanted to stay out past 11pm because EVERYONE else got to do this!  I laugh now because I am pretty sure I am just as strict, if not more, than my Dad was with me.  I know this because I love my kids more than anything and I want to protect them from everything.  I now look back and realize that my Dad was doing just that... protecting me from everything - and even from myself when I was making interesting choices!  

I am so blessed to have my Dad in my life.  We love that he is not more than a phone call away. He is strict with Noah but he is jelly soft with Cecily. He loves them both fiercely.  He teaches Noah about planets, and geography and makes the every day stuff a lesson.  He dances and sings with Cecily... and when no one is looking he piles on the kisses and they have a very close relationship.  It is very fun for me to watch it grow.  Both kids adore Grumpy Gramps.  When I shuffled the playing cards today for our "Go Fish" game, Noah said Grandpa taught you that? ..."he is so cool!"

And then there is Brien, Noah and Cecily's Daddy!  He is the calm, logcial, beacon of strength when everything gets shaky.  He is unflappable and thank God because we have had a wild ride.  He is always there to listen and to cuddle the kids.  He loves kisses and he loves being silly.  He is not afraid to do wacky stuff (in front of anyone) to get Cecily to stop crying or to get Noah to laugh.  He is everything I wanted in a partner and everything I dreamed about for the kids to have.  Like my Dad, he is always by my side.  He is a gift.  And as you can see from this picture, Noah thinks he is pretty great. He wants to be just like Daddy and for that, I'm very grateful!

Thank you Brien and thank you Dad for being so wonderful.  I love you both.

Onwards and upwards!

This is a milestone for the books! Part of Cecily's amazing team was at the house today to help her with speech AND to get her fitted for a walker. We were not sure how it was going to go... but we wanted to at least try and see how Cecily would respond. She is standing for about 17 minutes (yes... we time that stuff!) and she wants to be upright more and more.  She is pushing herself and trying every day to pull up and stay up - without help from anyone.  So today when her new wheels arrived I was a very excited Mommy.  And my excitement turned to nerves as she cried violently when put into the walker.  So we backed off.  We let her look at it and play with it and we decided to put her dolls inside instead.  She thought that was very funny and decided to play with her toys and leave this new, big contraption well alone.  And she was clearly tired by the end of her two hour session.  We knew it would be a process.  It was ok.  We could try again tomorrow.

Nap time followed! And when she awoke and was playing she decided to check it out again.  Nope... still not interested.  So I sat gazing at it and hoping that Noah might be able to make her excited about it.  I tried once more to place her inside before picking him up. (I know she has to have the desire to do it... but I thought I'd just try once more.)  She was willing so we tucked her dolls in the arm holes and played happily for about ten minutes.  I was happy. She was happy.  Success!  It was time to pick up Noah. 

We arrived at school and Noah was very eager to get home as we were going to the Del Mar Fair!  I told him about Cecily's exciting day and he was very unexcited.  He didn't care about the walker. He wanted a hot dog, lemondae, candy apples, popcorn, ice cream and to win a stuffed animal AND go on the rides.  He had a long list of things to do...  Then he saw IT...the bright, shiny, walker sitting in he playroom.  He ran over and as I expected (and hoped!) he climbed in and wheeled around saying he was a baby and giggled.  His giggle is not little and it is contagious.  Cecily was hooked.  Noah is her favorite person in the whole world and she WANTED to play with him and the walker.  She crawled over and watched him move about. She laughed and smiled.  It was her turn!  And just like that she let me place her inside... only this time I strapped her in and she took off.  1...2...3.... and how I wish I had taped it.  But perhaps the tape in my mind is the best kind... only it can't be shared with Daddy.  Her face lit up with excitement, fear, pride and delight.  I could see her confusion as her feet touched the floor and she startled as it moved.  Then a very slow smile crept over her face. She squealed when she realized she had moved.  Noah ran out of the way but not before she clipped him and he fell into the couch.  He thought that was very funny.  She thought it was grand.  I decied this was a very good first experience and lifted her out.  I want the association to be happy and this was definitely a happy memory. 

We celebrated the perfect day at the fair! It was the perfect end to a very magical day.  To see a child's face light up, to see Cecily take her first "walker steps" and to see Noah cheer her on is truly the best present. We are so lucky to have these kids and to witness this relationship. We are lucky!

So now I am looking at it (the walker) and deciding how I can make it cute for Cecily.  She likes sparkles and and beads and flashing lights.  This pacer is getting a makeover!  I know it will take a while to adapt to the new wheels... but they are here and we welcome them into our world.  Let's bumper the walls, watch our toes and let Cecily wheel into her next phase of growth and development! Onwards and upwards!

Poway Valley Therapeutic Riding Center (PoVa) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit (status pending) organization offering therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with special needs.   The lessons are led by the program’s Executive Director, Ingrid Mourey who is a certified NARHA Advanced Instructor.  She is working with Program Director Kathy Guiney, also a life-long equestrian and a California Credentialed Teacher with experience in special education.

We are so excited that Cecily will soon be starting riding lessons!  We have long known the benefits of riding - but we were waiting for the right time to try it out!  Cecily is in love with all things pony... from her growing collection of My Little Pony, to her adorable Manley Recycled Pony, to the real live ponies near Noah's school.  In one more week she'll sit on the back of a horse for her first ride and we think she is going to love it!   And it is all thanks to PoVA.

As taken directly from the PoVa web site: "On the surface therapeutic riding may look like fun and games (which it is), a regular riding lesson or a pony ride.  In addition to being a fabulous recreational activity, the physical, cognitive and emotional benefits are tremendous and far-reaching.

The measurable benefits gained with therapeutic riding are vast and extend far beyond the enjoyment of the riding lesson.  The life skills learned and physical and cognitive improvements experienced help with many aspects of our students’ lives.  For example, as the horses are walking, their stride requires the riders to constantly adjust, shift, and rebalance themselves.  Therefore, riding can lead to measurable physical changes including normalization of muscle tone, improved posture, and increased core strength.   Therapeutic riding also teaches motor and communication skills.  Commanding the horse to “go”, “whoa” or “walk-on” may be a child’s first words.  For the non-verbal rider, the physical action of pointing forward or pulling the reins is a powerful form of communication which elicits a response.

Therapeutic riding strengthens the bodies, minds, and spirits of individuals with disabilities.  Our lessons are designed to focus on our riders’ abilities rather than their limitations.  Whether the disability is acquired or congenital, most anyone (with doctor’s clearance) of any age (no matter if they are 2 or 82) can ride."

I love their saying, " As we believe in our rider's abilities, the rider's grow to believe in themselves."  Be sure to check back and follow Cecily's riding journey. Giddy up!
 
More about PoVa

Riding Site: Creek Road Ranch on Creek Road/Beeler Canyon Road, Poway (.8 mile off of Pomerado Road)

Mailing Address: 13943 Poway Valley Road, Poway, CA 92064

Phone: (858) 231-7889

Web: http://povatrc.org/

Email: ingridmourey[at]gmail[dot]com

Onwards and upwards!

There are days when I sit in my chair and wonder what I want... what do I really want for my kids.  It is a simple question but one I ponder ALL the time lately as I beat myself up about doing too much... or the exact opposite... not enough.  What is wrong with me? I always wonder if I'm pushing too hard.  Or, if I'm not pushing hard enough.  With Noah, I want to challenge him and engage him in his environment.  With Cecily, I want to challenger her and engage her in her enviornment.  No Difference!  But why am I constantly feeling like I'm trying to fit Cecily into Noah's box.  Feeding... a pleasurable experience for most of us but torture for Cecily.

I was invited to a quilting group (a delightful bunch of woman that make a big difference to young pregnant teens in the community!) so I was going to miss dinner tonight.  I enjoy sitting around the table so I decided to give Noah a treat and Cecily some ice cream so we could still have table time and Cecily could get some oral feeding in before I had to leave.  She wanted no part of it.  She just wanted to sit and watch him eat. Noah turns and says to me, "Cecily is going to be weak."  I feel a flush of frustration building so I calmly ask why he would say that... it is not very nice and it is very odd for Noah to say something not supportive.   He responds, "She is not eating. Ans she never wants to eat.  She only has milk. Mom it hurts her and it is just going to come back up her throat. Let her have her milk."

I realize he WAS being supportive.  He wanted me to back off of his little sister and let her chill. Am I trying to make her do something she does not want to do?  Or am I helping her achieve an important step that will make her overall healthier, happier and more independant? I honestly don't know.  I just keep hearing Noah's voice..."It hurts her; let her have her milk!"

So because beating myself up is the theme of the week I decide to obsess on sing language... Noah was telling his friends today that his baby does sign language. I love that he calls Cecily "his baby".  She's MY sister after all.  So cute...  We have been doing sign language for fun and for routine activites to help set Cecily's expectations.  Last week she had a play date and the Mom and daughter signed quite a bit. Queue SURGE of guilt... Am I signing enough?  Shouldn't I know more signs right now? Should I be taking classes with Cecily? Oh how I wish this feeling would go away.  I just need to know I am doing my best  and that is all one can hope for, right?

Cecily is happy. Cecily is loved.  Noah is very happy and if I had a penny for every belly laugh he provided we would not only be happy we would be rich!  The blame game, the second guessing every move, the inability to just take "a break" without feeling guilty must END.

And so I'll end this post with Cecily's favorite song.  I love it, too. It is from the co-founder of Signing Times - a constant fixture in our house.  I find even on our toughest days this song can make us all cry - but in a GOOD way!  It is a great reminder that every day may not be easy... but we're going to be just fine.  Onwards and upwards

The Good by Signing Times, Rachel Coleman

It was you and me and the whole world right before us
I couldn’t wait to start
I saw you and dreams just like everyone before us
We thought we knew what we got

And then one day I thought it slipped away
And I looked to my hands to hold on
And then one day all my fear slipped away
And my hands did so much more

So maybe we won’t find easy
But, baby, we’ve found the good
No, maybe we won’t find easy
But, baby, we’ve found the good!

It was you and me and a new world right before us
I was so scared to start
I saw you and dreams just like everyone before us
But how did they move so far?

And then one day I thought it slipped away
And I looked to my hands to hold you
And then one day all my fear slipped away
And my hands did so much more

So maybe we won’t find easy
But, baby, we’ve found the good
Maybe we won’t find easy
But, baby, we’ve found the good!