Santa Claus came to town

This will be a short post but we had to capture the overnight visit from Santa. The kiddos got bikes and power wheels, beautiful look-a-like dolls, and sleeping bags.

Maddi got her long-awaited Barbie bike that she has ridden everyday in Palm Desert (which will change once we return to Portland's rain). Sammi got a BWM convertible Power Wheel (guess that's the difference between Santa in Portland and Santa in Southern California)

So wonderful to share the holidays with family. We had delicious french toast a la Chris with extra crispy bacon and tons of beautiful fruit. Again we were hosted by amazing family - this time Aunt Sarah and Uncle Chris in Wildomar. Their house is gorgeous. Our family had a little suite with two rooms and a Jack & Jill bath (something we want in our next house). The girls skinny-dipped in the hot tub, and rode their new bikes in the park-like yard. We played Taboo and Dumb Ass. Both are must-have's. Don't worry Stuart, Aly, and Susan - we will certainly have those at our next wine/game night.

The adults got to go wine tasting in Temecula the next day. There was a little something for everyone. Oooh, I love the Temecula wineries. 

We also visited downtown Temecula and found a wonderful spice shop called the "Old Town Spice Merchants." Imagine vanilla infused sugar, a four peppercorn blend, truffle salts galore, or a mole spice rub. They had it all.

 

Together with family

It all happened so quickly.

My due date, November 18th, arrived along with family members from across the West Coast. Elizabeth joined our world in a matter of seconds. (http://thedalefamilyblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-adventure.html)  Then we rolled right into Thanksgiving, cherishing new life and saying thank you for our health and togetherness. In a matter of weeks, Christmas showed up and disappeared just as quickly. Now it's the last day of 2011.

It's Lizzie, but hard to distinguish
from Maddi at this age

The year's most valuable memories are not those of new iPhones and iPads or finally fitting into skinny jeggings. It's not even the promotions at work or finishing law school. Sure, those are major milestones (fitting into skinny jeans included), but this was a year of family for me and Elliott. We learned a lot about our families; we spent a lot of time with family; and we developed relationships with friends who essentially became family.

I was reminded most of this when we hopscotched around southern California this past week to visit our family. The homes we visited were overflowing with relatives, delicious food, gifts and more gifts, and holiday cheer. We were all so happy to be together.

All the grandkids

We spent our first two nights with my sister Jamey, her husband and two kids. Our parents were also there and we celebrated two nights of Hanukkah together, including one at our grandparents. We sang the blessings (together), lit candles (together), played Dreidel (together), and feasted on brisket a la Irv Weinberger (together). Did I also mention that we played Just Dance on the Kinect (together)?

Everyone opening gifts at my dad's.

Early on Christmas Eve, we packed our bags into our rented Ford Edge (which is a nice cross-over SUV) at 9am to get to my Dad's in Huntington Beach. It was a miracle that we showered, packed and got two kiddos ready so quickly. Let me see if I can count the number of people who greeted us at my dad's ... my sister, her husband, three kids, and in-laws, my other sister, dad and step-mom. It was a full house! We texted back and forth all the way down - I'm turning on Crest, turning on 10th... Finally we're here, and I'm leaping out of the car before Ell has time to perfectly parallel park. It's hard to describe the excitement and thrill of seeing family you haven't seen in months.

We got to have this feeling of excitement over and over -- every time we entered another relatives' house.

From my dad's we headed to Uncle Butch's to await the traditional afternoon arrival of Santa Claus, and feasting on takeout Mexican food. My dad even grilled a delicious turkey that had everyone talking for days (he is from Misourri after all) Dozens of family and friends were there enjoying a warm Christmas Eve on the back patio.

Lizzie stole the show. Everyone asked for a turn to get a fill of baby-snuggles. They remarked on her beauty and her thick head of hair. Some of them knew about her Down Syndrome and others didn't. As a mom, I thought to myself - I hope everyone dotes on her like this even when she's older.

 Today, no one would guess that Elizabeth has Downs, but that will change in one year if the books tell the story right. They say her facial features will change, and there will be delays in speech and motor skills. I guess I fear the unknown and shouldn't. I am enjoying today and I love how our family and friends embrace Elizabeth with every bit of love possible. I'll bet that's how it will always be.

The family visits continue .... next stop The North Pole! Just kidding. Actually, we headed south near Temecula to see Chris, Sarah, and cousin Samantha. And this is where the real Santa visited overnight as we slept. Samantha is just a year older than Maddi, and they are two peas in a pod.

The girls were careful to layout treats for Santa and then off to bed without a fuss.

Write, Shoot, Document

Since Elizabeth came along, I've been inspired to write more, take photos more and simply document our lives more. Somehow, her birth reminded me how quickly life changes and how it doesn't follow expectations.

My grandmother Dorothy, at 94 years old, simply lit up when we brought the "great" grandkids to visit for Hanukkah. I'm so glad to be capturing these precious moments again. (welcome back to life Canon SLR camera - maybe I'll convince Ell to get me a really good one soon)

I wish I had time to write down everything we've done and how I've felt, but then I wouldn't really get to live in the moment. So when I can, I sneak a few minutes in the early morning before the kids rise (while sipping my coffee) and find my place on this blog.



Papa and the girls



Our new family of four flew to Long Beach on December 22nd and started a whirlwind visit to aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, steps and halves (but we consider them wholes) - and in-laws, too. We set down in Long Beach in the early evening and Maddi says - "I thought this was the desert. It's cold. It feels like Portland." Dad raced to rent the car before it closed for the night, and I kept the two girls plus pulled luggage off the conveyor belt. (Here me roar!!!)



The youngest cousins

We high-tailed it to Jamey and Adam's as we were tired, hungry and anxious to get our family vacation started. My mom and Irv were already there with dinner and a bottle of wine ready to go. Maddi and Abby reunited as if no time had separated them. They play better now than before - more independently and with more imagination (more mess too).



Mom lighting candles with the girls



The next day we tried and tried to get four adults and four kiddos ready to do something, anything - the park, a bike ride, even just pickup lunch! But it was all we could do to get to our grandparents' home on Wilshire by 4pm, and even then we were 30 minutes late.




Maddi and her Aunt Jamey

 

Have I mentioned how much I love the Kinect Just Dance? I must be way behind the times because every house we went to this holiday had one.

A Time to Celebrate

It's 5am and I'm ready to celebrate! After 3 1/2 years of law school, we can close that chapter. Elliott is done! So, what does that mean??? He will be home in the evenings instead of four nights a week in class. He will be home on the weekends instead of 16 hours of studying at the library. I feel like I've won the lottery. We are so thrilled for him to be home with us and share in all the family fun. Congrats honey! You did it!

Of course, life doesn't slow down around here. Today we are headed to California to be with family for more than two weeks because the hap-happiest time of year is finally here.

Four generations at Wenzel Farms
(lizzie is in a stroller keeping warm)

In the last week, we've done many things to celebrate. We watched the Christmas Ships float down the Columbia River from Salty's and braved the cold to visit Fantasy Trail at Wenzel Farms.

Unfortunately, the ships pale in comparison to those I fondly remember growing up in Huntington Harbor and Seal Beach. Nonetheless, the seafood at Salty's was delicious, and it was a time for the four generations (grandma, mom, me, maddi and lizzie) to be together.

The Fantasy Trail on the other hand is not to miss! The photos speak for themselves.

Maddi and her super-fun Papa Terry
who crawled into this Gingerbread
house at the princess' request

The farm serves up hot cocoa with marshmallows (and not at Disneyland prices). There's a mile-long trail that loops through beautifully decorated miniature homes, crossing bridges, lined with candy canes - just the perfect way to get in the Christmas mood.


With school being out for the holidays, we've also had many visits from friends and more play dates than ever before. I love my work, but boy this time of year reminds me just how much I love being a mommy and spending time with my girls. We snuggle in the mornings with nowhere to be (except that play date), and we just don't seem to rush anywhere. It's nice to slow down.

Holiday angels born one day apart -
I was lucky to share my pregnancy with
a good friend at work.

We met my co-worker's little peanut this week. The girls were born one day apart!! In an office of 25 people, the odds of that happening must be so small. I guess as CPA's we should be able to calculate that.

We also made some Christmas cookies with our friends Kate and Nancy. They were delicious. Whenever Nancy brings any food to our house it gets gobbled up in minutes! (just gotta plug her site www.littleepicure.com)

These silly munchkins have known each other since they were
the size of the girls in the other picture (3 weeks old)

As we enter another holiday season, I'm blessed beyond belief with a loving husband, two beautiful girls, and friends and family who have taught me in the last four weeks what it really means to be there for someone when times get tough. Everyone has been so supportive, and there's a few friends who have wrapped up is in a huge bear hug of love and support. They deserve a special thank you - Susan, Nancy, Matt, Kati,  and Pam! And thank you Lisa, Jamey, mom, grandma Patti, Barbara, Terry & Lynn for the daily calls to check-in on us. There's too many to mention. But thank you!

I thought it would be fun to share a few shots of Christmases' past. For Maddi's first Christmas in 2008, we drove to Los Angeles (not recommended with a 9-month-old). But anything to be with family! Three years later, we are headed to Cali again, but this time we opted to fly (I think this will be better, but I'll let you know this afternoon after we get there).

Maddi and her first meeting with Santa at
Uncle Butch's house.
Lizzie will get to meet him too in just a few days!

Maddi and daddy shopping
in Seal Beach.

Where are the tulips and windmills?

The first story we heard about raising a child with special needs starts like this:

"When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your plans. The coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You learn some handy Italian phrases. It's all very exciting.

Sleeping sisters

After months of eager anticipation, the day arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome To Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say, "What do you mean "Holland"??? I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place. So you must go and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. (To read more: http://www.ndsccenter.org/resources/package1.php)"


Lizzie's 1st smile (12-19-2011)



We heard this story from the hospital nurses, psychiatrists, friends and family. They all mean well but - come on - Holland? That's a bit of a stretch. We didn't land in the country of tulips and windmills. But we are traveling to an unexpected place, and I was relieved this weekend when I met other Down Syndrome parents who felt just like me.



Our family (all four of us) attended our first Down Syndrome Network of Oregon (DSNO) event on Sunday night. It was a holiday party at the home of the Network founder. As we turned down the driveway, we wondered - "should we do this?? Are we ready? Is Maddi ready?" Then came the strength part - that deep sense of faith that will carry us through these coming years.

As the wide oak doors swung open, we saw couples and kids grinning ear-to-ear - partying just like anyone else. Yet at that moment, everyone stopped to welcome us as if we were celebrities. We were the new kids, the ones with the new Down Syndrome baby. We got hugs and kisses, Elizabeth was swept away by the DSNO founder (who has a severe case of baby-snuggles), and immediately we were embraced by empathetic parents.

We love our children; we are enthusiastic about this journey; and we are terrified about the challenges ahead.



Lizzie's first therapy teaching me 
to hold her to build neck strength



We spent several hours meeting parents of DS kids ranging in age from 5 months to 12 years old. We asked about their development, about their siblings (who were all there), and talked about the moment doctors told us our newborns had DS. To be honest, I'm a little freaked out. Most of the kiddos wear glasses and have severe speech difficulties. I'd be lying if I didn't share this - I never had those struggles and I'm going to need to learn how to support Elizabeth when she has those struggles. And isn't it always true that it is harder to see your kids struggle than struggle yourself. My goodness - that is a tall order!

I'm not in Italy and it's not Holland either. But the truth in this tale is that I need new guidebooks. I need to learn how to address Elizabeth's sleepiness - she is so sleepy that she doesn't even tell us when she is hungry.


Lizzie practicing tummy time -
the most valuable way to strengthen
her muscles at this stage


Her muscles have "low tone," which means we have to work extra hard on tummy time. Fortunately, she is much more complicit than big sis Maddi.

At only a month old, we don't where Elizabeth is on the spectrum but we know she has Downs. We don't know a lot else right now, except that there's a supportive community and our newest daughter is helping us learn in ways only your own kids can.

A new adventure

Dear friends and family,

We want to share with you how our life recently changed course and hopefully bring you along with us on a journey that we never anticipated. Of course, life is about journeys we never expected to have. Those are adventures - and we are embarking on one at this moment.


A proud big sister



On November 18th, 2011, we welcomed a beautiful new life into our family, Elizabeth Piper Dale. Elizabeth is special and unique. She has Down’s Syndrome. We did not know during our pregnancy and were told about an hour after her birth by Dr. Smart, one of her pediatricians. Until meeting my daughter, I had not met a person with Down's Syndrome. As I said, this will be an adventure.



Quick family photo before transport took her to NICU

 Our hospital stay was difficult, which is an understatement. Lizzie was born at 8am on the 18th, and one hour later transferred to NICU at a hospital in another part of town. Elliott rode with her in the ambulance but I was left at the original hospital for the next 24 hours due to no beds being available at the other hospital. Being apart from my newborn was agonizing. The next morning, I was finally transported (in my first ever ambulance ride).



A father's special love



Papa Terry in NICU with Elizabeth

 Elizabeth spent 48 hours in NICU due to respiratory distress. Her lungs were full of fluid, her oxygenation levels were low, and her blood sugar was low. Her doctors also performed the karyotype test to confirm the Down Syndrome diagnosis. It's hard to describe our feelings - they ranged from fear to intense responsibility. Every moment required us to think about how we could be doing the best thing for our new angel.




Grandma Lynn in NICU at 2am



 We owe a huge thank you to my mom, grandma Patti, mother-in-law Barbara, Madeleine, and Elliott's father Terry and step-mom Lynn. Lizzie was never left alone in the NICU - not even at 2am. A loving family member was always by her side with kisses, massages, and the warm touch that only a relative can impart.

In those first few hours, Elizabeth had x-rays, echocardiograms and ultrasounds. We are extremely fortunate that all tests of her heart, brain and digestive tract came back showing no abnormalities - this is rare for a Down Syndrome baby. She is a healthy, strong little girl who has blessed our family.

In recent weeks, we have felt joy and sadness, but most of all we have come together as a family excited to provide Elizabeth with every resource and ounce of love to help her thrive. We have learned that Elizabeth has enormous potential with the support of family, friends and our community.

Some TLC for the big sister

Despite the challenges ahead, we are excited to celebrate this precious new life with you just as any other baby. She truly is a blessing, and she knows it!

Just look at this shot from an ultrasound when she gave us a thumbs up!!

We are home now, and Lizzie just turned four weeks. Wow, the time flies but we are happy to be home as a family and begin our adventure.We wish you a very happy holiday season and look forward to sharing with you all the new experiences in store.

Lots of Love,
The Dales (Elliott, Jenn, Maddi and Lizzie)