brother and sister enjoying each other...

there were several times today when the kids were right back in their previous practice of cuddling and giggling, it is so adorable to watch, h will say she loves her c...  :)  here is one bout i captured:

Moments catch up...

Here are some of the moments we captured over the weekend through today, some that we didn't that I can recall include C & H (our 2 little monkeys) bouncing on H's bed (C assisted by Daddy), they were both giggling out loud, kids love bouncing on the bed at all ages I guess!

H has this idea that toys soothe C, so she piles them up on him to "make him feel better"...  :)

C still giggles when we nibble the side of his belly, big drooly baby giggles...

Enjoying my baby sleeping on my shoulder peacefully...

The rest are from today's walk, H finds an interesting leaf...

H gives daddy a big smooch...

C against the fall leaves...

Gratitude

While C was in the hospital I never left him unless I was physically made to (surgeries and MRIs).  This was only possible because of the kindness of friends and family who helped us through that difficult time.  Friends took turns watching H when B had to return to work, and Grandma flew in for a long weekend to help out (even cleaning the microwave, that made me smile this weekend when I noticed it despite the fatigue :) and make sure H still had a chance to enjoy her first real Trick or Treat excursion.  Here are a couple of pics from that week.  Thanks again, we really benefited greatly from knowing our daughter was in good hands while we were separated, and we appreciate all the ways we've received help from prayers and good thoughts (much needed now) to a warm meal and beyond...

At the hospital...

Big hugs to Gma....

First cotton candy at Burke Lake Park, Ghost Train ride...  (she decided she didn't care for it after the first bite...)

Home

Last night C and I came home after 9 days in the hospital.  These were the darkest days of our lives to say the least.  I won't recount the experience here as this blog was intended to be light, but I will share that we learned that our seemingly healthy perfect baby boy has a terribly malignant, inoperable, rare and deadly type of brain tumor, ATRT. 

I only wish I had seen this coming sooner to potentially have improved the outcome, but I also feel like some part of me always knew this was coming in some way.  Our little boy was a beautiful gift to complete our family, it had seemed as though we couldn't ask for anything more, and of course we've never been that lucky to expect that we could hold onto this moment of perfection. 

While I'm sure the darkness that we feel at this time in our lives will of course touch these pages to come, I'm trying to keep in the moment.  Just like many things that seemed to fall in line with this moment, the name of this blog could never be more true.  The past is most certainly history, those thoughts and dreams are long gone and will not be recaptured.  The future, though bleak, is of course a mystery, and frankly I'm happy to let it remain that way for as long as we can manage it, that is really the goal now.  All we have is today, and going forward I'll try to update more frequently with images and notes of the special happier moments we'd like to keep in mind in the future, while we are together, however long that may be.

For today, here is a picture of our first meal together at home, late last night after we finally got home from the hospital, enjoying takeout pizza from Tony's and of course, Mum-Mums...

C seems so much happier now that he is home, I've heard him laugh several times, and smile more, and he is enjoying being able to play unfettered by IV lines, despite his recent surgeries.  He has developed a fine pincer grasp recently, here he is picking up a little puffed cereal...

A Halloween themed meet-up...

Couldn't pass up another opportunity for H to don her fairy gear...  She played very nicely and made a few new friends today!

 

 Added this pic by another mum, mainly because this is probably a very good example of what I look like all the time these days.  :)  Here I'm helping H with her stickering activity while C snoozes in the carrier....

Green Festival + Air & Scare

Today was a busy day, heading to DC in the A.M. to catch this year's Green Festival, we spent a lot longer in the green home improvement aisle this year, which H found mostly boring, but she did enjoy these hand made hammock chairs...

Then we went to the Udvar-Hazy Center’s Air & Scare where we caught a puppet show and visited 1 treat station but mainly felt a bit claustrophobic, lines everywhere!  This might be attempted again in future years, maybe going earlier when it opens...

H makes a lovely fairy princess though!

Zoo

Some photo highlights from today's last minute trip to the National Zoo, H was more than happy to wake up to being hustled into some clothes then the car for breakfast on the road to meet up with her friends J & E there...

 The kids love to buckle themselves into these communal strollers...

 J shared his sweet potato fries with H (Note:  This was the only polar bear seen on this trip, though H couldn't stop talking about them)...

 Petting the prairie dog...

 Dinosaurs too?!  This is the best zoo ever...

J & H riding the bear....

We timed it just right to see the orangutans make their journey...

H walks the elephant trail...

The zoo is decorated for upcoming Halloween events...

No comments here, just had to get a shot of this one...

And finally C's shot, poor kid never gets out of this thing.  Wearing H's hat and rainbow leggings on his arms as Mommy forgot his coat, but still all smiles.  :)