it’s been awhile since i’ve shared an update on the big girls and how much has CHANGED! we’re comin up on 3.5 years and these girls have grown SO much, i’m not even sure where to begin! they’re hilarious and overall, i just feel so blessed they call me ‘mama.’
of course, there have been hiccups, but overall, life is good.

piper lynn

after posting this picture on instagram last week, i received a LOT of very kind questions about piper’s overall health. i shared in a post a couple of months ago that she’s truly been doing amazing…her dizzy spells have stopped, and she’s making amazing progress in her gross motor development…but. after a recent appointment with her physiatrist because of pretty constant knee pain, we learned that all of this progress she has been making is basically at the expense of her own body. my heart broke, again, after the doctor explained that she is showing early signs of arthritis in her left knee due to the hyper mobility from ehlers-danlos syndrome + her inability to control movements from the cerebral palsy. the hope was that as she became stronger and more aware of her body, she would be able to control the hyperextension and prevent it…but, her body is telling us otherwise. it was time for a new brace and what we were hoping would be a temporary fix {thinking she wouldn’t be going to kindergarten with an AFO – ankle foot orthotic} is looking more and more like a long-term solution. we’re also now in search of a neoprene knee brace to try and offer more support…in hopes of staying away from bracing her all the way up to her hip. we’re walking a fine line between giving her body enough support and being too invasive to prevent her muscles + joints from doing what we need them to do…get stronger!
it’s frustrating and often times i feel like we’re fighting an uphill battle.
do we celebrate the fact that she’s running, jumping, riding a bike + scooter?? of course. it’s just so hard knowing that it’s wearing on her body so much..

she’s tough. she’s strong. she’s brave.
and while getting casted for her new brace, she looked right at me and said, ‘mama, do you think god wants me to have a bwace so that girl at the park doesn’t feel alone?” {a girl we met who had walking sticks + AFOs on each leg}….
‘maybe sis..’ + a whole lot of tears was my answer.
she’s always called her braces ‘superhero’ braces…even when she had both legs in braces… and when we discovered they finally updated their bracing color options, ducky was SO excited they now offered batman as an option! homegirl is finally getting her real superhero brace!

for as much as we talk about it…piper is so much more than just this brace. so what else?!
she’s sweet as pie. she’s loving. she’s emotional + temperamental and goes from 1 to 100 in .3 seconds. she loves to take care of animals, babies, and anything teeny tiny cute. she can sit and watch tv for hours if i let her and would also read books all day long. she has such an old soul and there’s just something about her that is wise beyond her years.
she loves to play kitty, has the biggest sweet tooth {she gets it from her mama} and loves to help me cook…yet eats like a bird. she’s stubborn and hard-headed {clearly from her daddy ;)} has zero patience and is a perfectionist. i keep praying that someday it will serve her well as a CEO of a company and not the lead of a gang…kidding… but seriously.

goodness, girlfriend. i could go on and on about you… you push my buttons harder than anyone else and the number of times i’ve texted grammie saying, ‘please tell me she’ll grow out of this’  is unreal. BUT. then you turn on your sweet little self and i’m lost in you’re beauty, both inside and out. you love coffee + ice cream and have a deeper understanding of jesus than most. you’re the most like me and we butt heads because of that… all that sass + emotion. you have my whole heart, ducky and your daddy hangs the moon with all the superhero talk. we can’t wait to watch you beat those odds and get stronger with each passing day. we love you, girl.

lila marie

ohhh, our sweet lila bean. where to begin!! she’s CRAZY with a capital C and i’ve never seen someone love life like her. she’s funny, sweet and all around happy-go-lucky. she has a pep in her step and the most contagious smile + giggle. she’s the breath of fresh air i catch in life’s craziest moments and she’s absolutely nothing like what we thought she’d be when you were so itty bitty. of course, she’s 3…and it comes with stubbornness. she’s the most like her aunt tine {my sister}, which is why we get along so well and rarely butt heads and even when we do, it’s over in about 2 minutes. she’s logical + as long as i can give her a logical explanation for things, she’ll easily change course and be flexible.

she loves to sing + dance, her favorite color is pink and sis is her best friend in the whole world. she’s loyal yet can make everyone feel welcome. in new situations, she’s shy and often will work herself up to an event, getting all worried in anticipation…but as long as she has  a hand or leg to hold on to, she’s easily comforted and then will happily join in. she LOVES preschool and watching her grow into this big + beautiful love for learning has been so rewarding. she can’t watch more than 20 minutes of tv {if i’m lucky} but begs to paint, color, ride her bike + play outside every. single. day.

our little lila bean. you make me laugh harder than anyone i know and you simply make our days brighter. you’re the silliest of sillies, you’re sweet and this beautiful bundle of love all wrapped into one. you love sports + friends, dancing + singing and your all time favorite thing to do is sit in the dark doing your lite brite. you love to rough house + be loud, often times needing a reminder to calm your body. the epitome of a toddler little girl, i’m already dreading the day i will be missing hearing your loud toddle down the hall at 3am to ask for snuggles. you’re dramatic and need every b0o-boo kissed but someday i’ll be begging for these days back that my simple squeeze + kiss can solve all of your problems. we simply adore you, girly. you’re one of a kind!