Axel's last day of school

Last weekend Axel wanted to ride, ride, ride. He rode for over 30 minutes straight without stopping. His skills have improved tremendously. He no longer needs help with starting or stopping even if he is on a slight incline. He can go up and down hills. He can ride in grass and through obstacles that daddy makes up. 

 It is amazing to see how much his confidence has improved and how much fun he is having.

 Phoenix acclimated to her short cast quite quickly. She mastered running, walking, climbing and jumping. Here she is being silly in the swing.

 The past couple of weeks Phoenix has become obsessed with stickers. She sticks hundreds of stickers on paper and when I let her all over herself.

 Axel's last day of kindergarten was this Wednesday, June 10th. It is hard to believe that school year is already over. Axel has matured by leaps and bounds emotionally compared to the beginning of the year. His math and reading have improved as well, but nothing compared to his attitude and perspective on life. He is happy, content and loves to build, play and create.

Phoenix got jealous of me taking pictures of Axel so she joined in to capture a great sibling photo.

 I was able to take a long lunch on Wednesday to attend the end of year "party" where the kids sang to us and received their memory books and summer survival packet.

 It was a tear wrenching song that they sang twice with lots of snacks and treats before and after each performance. Here is Axel being Axel during one of the snack breaks.

 There was also some free time for us parents to take pictures of our kiddos. I absolutely love this picture of Axel and his friends (Liam B. Logan and Liam F.). This captures how comfortable he is with himself. It took him nearly 3/4's of the school year to realize that size doesn't matter and that he can do everything his friends can do and everyone likes him despite his size. I am so very proud of Axel. I want to cry just thinking about it!

 And what a wonderful experience Axel had this year under Mrs. Tolbert's guidance. We were blessed to have a wonderful teacher who was not only a good teacher, but a caring, loving Christian!

I pray and hope we will be as lucky in the future.

Phoenix got her cast off yesterday morning, but I was unable to get any pictures as I was holding and carrying her around most of the day. We managed to go swimming in the afternoon, after her 3 hour marathon nap, which helped her get confidence in moving her left leg. She finally managed to walk around dinner time. Yesterday we also started potty training again. This time she is finally ready. She had one accident while taking her nap, but otherwise was successful. She even held her bladder all night last night! We have been busy running errands and going to the doctor so I have been thoroughly impressed and excited at how easy it is going. She might be as easy as Axel was.......time will tell.

Phoenix walks, climbs and rides! and Axel r ides without training wheel!

On Thursday morning Phoenix and I headed to Jack Fischer Park after dropping Axel off at school. I wanted her to be able to play as much as possible before heading to the doctors. It was perfect timing to get the cast removed because on Memorial Day she started walking and standing on it.

 Here she is smiling away.

 Look at this little climber!

 What a trooper!

Here she is cool and collected on the drive to the doctor. She wasn't so happy at the doctor. I wasn't able to get any photos because I took her alone, but the event was pretty traumatizing. They had to put sound blocking ear muffs on her to keep the sound of the saw from being "too loud and scary". Luckily, all went well and she has a new short cast for the next two weeks. She has 50% healing right now and the cast comes off on June 11th when she has 75% healing. The doctor says she will be at risk for re injury for 2 weeks after the cast comes off and that we have to be super diligent about not letting her jump or twist. We will see how that goes. By the grace of God nothing bad will happen!

 On Friday night we had my best bud from high school over for dinner. Tiffany and family were in town for a wedding. They just bought a house in Seattle where they relocated a few months ago. Axel and Avery had a blast playing together. We hope to visit them some time this year and check out there new amazing 6 bedroom home!

 Here is our little one walking now.

And here she is riding her bike....

And kicking the ball....

 And being silly with daddy.

 The big news of the weekend is that Axel can ride his bike without training wheels. We took him to Marshall Lane and within 2 pedal strokes I let go and he was riding. It was as easy as potty training for him. The great thing with Axel is when he is ready and decides to do something he does it very quickly. Keith and I are so proud of him. He even tried to ride home without the training wheels on. He is still figuring out how to start on his own and brake without dragging his feet. We hope within a week or so he is proficient at all components of riding his bike so that we can start doing family bike rides!

After bike riding we headed over to the Zimmermans pool. Since they are out of town Axel and Rishaan had a blast swimming. Axel has improved since last summer without any lessons so we are really excited to see how much he improves when swim lessons start in a couple of weeks after school ends. Axel has mentioned wanting to join the swim team. We told him if he can learn free style that he is more than welcome to try swim team next year. We are excited to see what the next year unfolds. It is hard to believe summer is almost here!

First Baseball Season Complete

We had quite an eventful weekend last weekend. It started with the mom's softball game on Friday night. I had so much fun playing in it. It made me want to play more often. The only bummer part is that I am not in sprinting shape and my legs have not been very happy ever since. Anytime I do a quick movement my quads want to seize up on me. 

Saturday morning Axel had his first game of the day. Here is my handsome young man playing right field, one of his favorite positions (besides catcher). 

Here he is batting. His form is much improved since the beginning of the year.

He has been connecting almost every time within the first one or two pitches. It doesn't go very far, but he consistently gets a hit, which is better than being inconsistent!

The sun came out just as we were finishing our first game. Here is most of the team and the coaches.

We had a wonderful visit from Auntie Shannon, Uncle Ryan and Braylin. They arrived during Axel's first game and then came over for an hour of playtime. I did not manage to take very many pictures, but the one picture I did manage to capture is super cute. Here is little Braylin pushing Pheeny around in her wagon. So cute!

Auntie and family headed home for lunch and Braylin's nap time. Axel was excited to have a couple more hours of playtime before he had to head back to the field.

Before Axel's second game was the Red Sox home run derby. Axel was really swinging hard and getting his body into it. Keith and I are so impressed with how much Axel has improved with his attitude. To see him try and have fun has been quite the accomplishment this season.

After Axel's second game Keith played in the coaches softball game. He pitched and was having a great game until the last inning when he sprinted to second base. His hamstring gave out and he dove face first into second base. I felt really bad about not getting any pictures, but I was busy trying to get the kids fed since it was dinner time. Axel enjoyed a cheese burger from the Snack Shack. After we got home daddy was down for the count. While he iced he read Axel a book.

The next day was Axel's end of the season party. The kids received their trophies, Tshirts and year books. Can you believe they do year books for baseball? The kids enjoyed swimming, popcorn and cake.

After they received their trophies the kids got to push the dads and coaches into the swimming pool. They had so much fun pushing the dads into the water.

Every child had the chance to push in each of the dads and coaches. Here Axel is pushing in Coach Keith/ daddy!

Axel swam like a champ regardless of the cold weather. According to Keith the water was warm. Most of us moms couldn't even think about taking off our jackets and long pants although a couple of brave moms managed to go for a swim.

Here Axel is playing football with a few of his teammates. The transformation of Axel's attitude, confidence and general desire to do things has been unbelievable. Praise the Lord for allowing everything to fall into place with the last minute registration and the amazing group of boys and parents we had for Axel's first team sport experience.

On Tuesday evening the kids and I attended Annika's graduation from middle college. She spent two of her high school years at the community college taking classes. She is officially done with middle college and high school and will be entering one of the top nursing programs in Oregon next year. It was definitely bitter sweet watching her graduate. It is hard to believe 5 years has gone by and that she is a young adult starting the next chapter of her life. We hope and pray that we will be able to find another trustworthy babysitter that truly loves our kids.

I threw this last picture in here because Phoenix wanted to build a big train track yesterday for the first time. Up until now she only wanted to build a little track that she can sit and and push the trains around. She now appreciates the coolness factor of having the trains go around a bigger more intricate track. It brought back so many wonderful memories with Axel. We hope to have a low key Memorial Day weekend. Axel and I have been fighting a bad cold all week. Check back next week because if all goes well, I will have pictures of Phoenix and her new shorter cast!

Happy Mother's Day 2015

The Szolusha household has settled into our new routine. We have gotten use to the hectic schedule of school and baseball and we have gotten use to a 2 year old with a cast. We have acclimated to missing normal working hours each week. I find it amazing at how quickly children adapt to their surroundings.

Phoenix is an absolute champ at living life regardless of her cast and inability to walk. She has had her moments of frustration, but in general she tries to do everything she use to do. 

The girl loves tea. I never expected my 2 year old to enjoy tea as much I as do. I use to drink tea every day, and sometimes multiple times per day. I gave it up years ago, but have recently been revisiting it since Axel and Phoenix took interest in having tea parties. Our current flavor of choice is decaffeinated cinnamon tea.

Sometime last week I had to let Phoenix start playing on her own outside. Within a matter of minutes she had figured out how to climb the slide with three limbs. Since then she can now climb up facing forwards, sideways and backwards which appears to be the easiest. She goes down the slide in all positions as well.  I am so proud of her for not letting a little broken leg get in her way of having fun!

Here is another picture of her at Jack Fischer Park yesterday. She played for 2.5 hours non stop. We were both ready for a nap after we ate lunch!

Axel and his school spoiled me this year for Mother's Day. The teachers had them do 4 projects. He made me a nice card, gave me a picture of himself holding flowers that says, " I love you mom", made a mom poster with his picture in the middle and a heart necklace. I was very surprised and honored that Axel worked so hard on his mom projects.

The kids and daddy picked bouquets of flowers for me. This has become a lovely tradition. I have been enjoying the beautiful flowers all week!

I was able to get out for a bike ride. We also went out for dinner at our favorite sushi restaurant. I wasn't able to get a good picture of me with the kids, but I was able to spend the day with them, which is exactly what I want to do. I have been so struck with what an honor it is to be a mom and be able to experience God's unconditional love for us through parenthood. I am overcome with emotion and love for God when I realize that he loves us the way we love our children.

I took Phoenix to Westgate shopping center on Tuesday to ride the merry go round, but it was out of order. Instead she played in the little kid play area.

She was so happy climbing and playing.

I took her there again today because she had to much fun on Tuesday.

It is hard to believe that Axel's baseball season will be over this weekend. I am playing in the mom's softball game tonight. We have a double header tomorrow with the home run derby and festival. Sunday is the end of season baseball swim party. It is going to be an action packed weekend.  I hope to get a few good pictures, so check back soon.

I leave you with two very cute pictures of the kids being their charming. wonderful selves.

Phoenix breaks her leg!

Life has been interesting for us over the past few months, with the past week the peak. I received a phone call Tuesday, April 27th that Phoenix woke from her nap at daycare crying. Angela, her daycare provider, could not get her to stop crying so she called me to let me know that something was wrong. Since I was at a doctor's appointment after work I told her to let me know how she was in 10 minutes.  I then received a text that she had stopped crying, but was unable to walk. She tried to get her to walk but she just collapsed. Ten minutes after that text I received another that Phoenix was fine if she held her and that she still would not walk. So, after the last communication that Phoenix would not walk and all the other kids were playing in the water and Phoenix did not want to play in the water or walk I left my appointment. I of course tracked down the medical assistant to let her know that I was leaving. 

 I was so angry at myself. I had wasted nearly an hour to be seen by the doctor and ride my bike to daycare, while Phoenix waited for me. Of course on my quick ride down Lawrence Expressway I had all kinds of awful thoughts cross my mind as to what was wrong with her and why she couldn't walk. I also had to pray for my safety as I was riding as hard and fast as I could and traffic was picking up as rush hour was just starting.

When I arrived Phoenix was quietly watching the other kids play from Angela's lap. She did not want her left leg touched and cried when I tried to touch it. I rode her home in the Burley. I luckily ran into my neighbor and asked her if she could pick up Axel from after school care. I was able to get a hold of Keith on the way to Kaiser and told him he needed to head home and that Axel was next door at Rishaan's house.

Axel and Daddy managed to arrive at Kaiser at 7pm, We had already had xrays taken from the hip down to the ankle and were waiting for the results when they arrived. The doctor wanted to rule out any infection in her joints and of course any fractures. Within 5 minutes of their arrival the doctor came in and said, "so she has a spiral fracture of her tibia". I was shocked. Keith was relieved. We both thought this was the best case scenario as bones heal and any other causes of her inability to walk were not good. They splinted her and sent us home with an appointment to be seen by ortho and casted the next day. The splinted her leg straight as seen above. You can see that it was really easy for her to learn to stand with her leg straight. We quickly learned from Dr. Cappiello, an orthopedist who I have worked with for years, that they cast this fracture with the knee bent to prevent what you see in the picture above!

 Phoenix was not excited about the cast. Axel was kind enough to pick out a pink sparkly cast for her.

 I believe most of Pheeny's tears were from fear and not knowing what was happening to hear. She really was very brave and cooperative.

 When we got home Annika came over to visit. This of course brought lots of smiles. Phoenix surprisingly slept really well that night.

 On Thursday Phoenix learned to scoot on her butt around the play room and throughout the house. We ventured out for groceries and then to Axel's baseball game. It happened to be over 90 degrees that day so we stayed in the shade. Daddy and Axel were not too happy that we were not on the field. Phoenix was initially upset, but quickly changed her mind when 3 other moms and their kids joined us in the shade.

 Phoenix had fun playing peek a boo with Easton.

 On Friday, Daddy stayed home from work to watch Phoenix while I took off for a conference. I mention this for two reasons. One, Keith told me that Phoenix learned to pull herself up to standing and onto the couch and back down while I was away. Which is great but scary since we don't want her to hurt herself. I also mention this because ironically Friday was one month after we found out that the baby I was carrying had past. On April 1st we excitedly went to our perinatology ultrasound and amniocentesis appointment in hopes to find the gender and the health of the baby only to discover the baby had past. On May 1st, this past Friday, while I was at a very expensive conference I finally received the two phone calls I had been waiting weeks for. I was a little worried about missing part of the lecture, but was happy to finally have answers. I was able to first speak with the doctor and later to our genetics counselor, Michelle. We learned that the baby was a girl and had triploidy. Michelle said that this is still considered a fluke of nature even though this was the second triploidy baby that we have had. This was actually the best possible news for us because if the autopsy and genetic work up did not reveal anything wrong with the baby then they would have had to do a work up on my health. Although Keith and I are sad, we are also very hopeful that one day we will be able to have another healthy child like the two beautiful children that we already have. We are also okay if this doesn't happen.

 On Saturday on the way home from the conference Keith's 20 year old Saturn's transmission finally decided to blow. My Knight in shinning armor quickly came to the rescue. He drove the two kids to me and then let me drive home, while he stayed and took care of the car. He was able to drive it to the repair shop in first gear! I am glad that he didn't have to wait the expected two hours for the tow truck to arrive. After he got home we headed to the park as we always do. We just had to be a little more creative. The kids played catch while sitting.

 They also played seated kick ball. Axel has been extremely charming and understanding. He is an amazing big brother. He is always great about taking care of and playing with Phoenix when she needs attention. After seated kick ball we played on the play structure. I took Phoenix up and down the slide and she happily swung from the bar just over the slide. We feel so very blessed for our health and the time we have together.