It is a week of goodbyes. I wasn't prepared to feel the way I do. All of the people who have helped us navigate through this world on the day to day are staying in New York and we are leaving them.
Thank you:
- To our wonderful family -- we would never have been able to make this move without all of your love and support.
- To our irreplaceable extended family at UCP, NYC -- you have no idea how important and necessary you have been to us and continue to be. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
- To our wonderful therapists -- Amelia has grown so much under your guidance and hard work.
- The most remarkable preschool, Roosevelt Children's Center through YAI -- I cannot thank you enough for making our kids' world as "normal" as possible. Amelia's principal, coordinators, teachers, therapists, aids, and everyone else that makes that school run are exceptional! Your smiles and warmth make it a place we will always cherish!
- Our amazing nurses and respite workers -- you have given me space and place to breathe.
- Our doctors who do what no one else can do for our kids and have made sure that Amelia has all she needs to be as safe and healthy as she can be.
- To Adaptive Design -- for teaching me how to use my own hands to build - whatever I can dream up for my daughter and so many other children, who have yet to "join in" because they just can't...YET.
- To our friends -- ALL of our friends. That's a broad term, because I don't think you can have a team this incredible around you and not consider each one to be a friend.
- To our Jozette -- you are so special to us, like a sister. You slid right in to our family knowing just what to say and do each step of the way. You are ambitious and intelligent. I cannot wait to see what you can do!
It's been too much this week. So overwhelming. It's a week of lasts for me. Each thing I do I say "this is probably the last time I'll be ____________" and it's too much to comprehend.
On the 16th, Amelia had her Luau prom at school. So sweet! Each classroom had a different activity in it and the classes rotated, spending 20 minutes in each room. One room had necklace making with string and paper rings. Another had Pina Colada making (virgins, of course) where each child got to help put in the mix and then use a switch to make the blender work. One class had Hula music and the kids played instruments along to the music. And another had backgrounds, props (grass skirts and coconuts) and even a Hawaiian catwalk where pictures were taken of the kids. The last one had water tables and sand tables -- you know, so the kids could go to the "beach". Then all the classes ended up in the gym for dancing! It was so cute. Amelia was absolutely pooped by then.
beautiful girl!
waiting for the bus
doing the catwalk with Luiza
playing ocean sounds on her keyboard dude!
playing at "the beach"
The Friday of that week, our unbelievable respite worker, Jozette, threw Amelia, Nestor and I a surprise party at our favorite spot, Cowgirl. We were blown away!!! She spent a month scheming this thing out. Inviting all of our service coordinators, former nurses, our other respite worker - Patricia and all of Amelia's therapists. Jozette even got us a scrumptious cake (on table) from her cousin's bakery in Brooklyn - OHHH!
Juliana (MSC), Karen (MSC), Carol(SEIT), Patricia, Amelia w/ Jozette, Nestor, Keisha (LPN), Debbie, Elana (SEIT) (from left to right) at our surprise party
enjoying a chocolate cupcake. what?
What I am trying to remind myself is (it's hard when you're living in an episode of "Hoarders") that as many "lasts" as we are experiencing -- there is going to be a whole new world of "firsts" when we get to our new house. A HOUSE! That sounds pretty wonderful to a girl who has been living in a 600 square foot apartment (with two other people -- along with countless nurses, therapists and others).
Even if it was in the greatest city in the world.
