Sunday, April 27, 2008

A Choice Encounter


We had a special experience last night. I've decided that this Blog serves as a great family journal opportunity for us so I want to write about it while it is still fresh in my mind.

Lance and I were heading to our Ward (neighborhood Church) Temple night at the SLC Temple. To do this we park under the Conference Center in the underground structure, ride an elevator up a few floors, and then walk across the street. As we jumped on an elevator, some people were getting off which left just a family of 4 (Mom, Dad, Son in wheelchair, and Daughter) still on there.

The family was trying to figure out how to get to the top of the conference center and the people getting off were telling them that they were on the wrong elevator. So, as we got on the family asked us if we could direct them. We told them to go with us and we would help them find someone who could help them on the ground level. I was talking to the Mom and daughter who were on one side of the elevator so my back was to the Dad and Son.

It was a quick 5 second ride but out of the corner of my eye I noticed that the Dad had his arms resting slightly on the son's arms from his wheelchair pushing position. This is something I have seen my own Dad do millions of times to my sister so as to make sure that no one gets an unexpected love grab in a confined elevator space. As we got off the elevator, the Mom was explaining that they were touring the conference center and were trying to get up to the top to see the beautiful gardens. They had been told they could skip the formal tour since their son wouldn't have the patience to sit through it. I laughed and told them that I too had a special sister and Lance and I thus completely understood. That is when I got my first real glance at the son. I immediately said to the Mom "Do you mind me asking you what his disorder is?". She said she didn't and said "It is actually called Angelman Syndrome". I immediately told her that was what my sister had too and started to quickly tear up.

When my sister was diagnosed there were 400ish cases known in the United States. That was 399ish more than we could imagine, but in the spectrum of things that is a VERY small number. Since then the awareness has greatly improved and more and more kids are being diagnosed, but it is still a VERY rare disorder. To most of us meeting another family is somewhat like meeting a long lost family member. Often when I travel in an airport, go to a place like Disneyland, or just am in a busy place I have imagined how neat it would be to run in to another family- sort of a needle in a haystack type moment. Thus, my tears were of love, joy, excitement and gratefulness at this oppotunity to have such a choice encounter at such an unexpected moment.

We got them to someone who was ready to help them and chatted for a brief moment as we both were needing to rapidly get on to our destinations. The family was visiting from NV. The son was 12 and had the same light skin, freckles, and big smile that Whitney does. He reached out for me as I bent over to say hi to him. Before the Dad could pull his arm back I quickly reached out and gave his arm a squeeze back. I didn't need the assistance- I'm well familiar with such love grabs. :)

The Temple is a place we go to feel closer to God and to help us feel a little less lost in this big world. The chances of all of us being on that exact same small elevator at just that moment had to have been next to nothing. As one friend repeated last night when I was telling her the story- "There are No Coincidences". How special it was to have such a choice encounter- especially literally steps from the Temple.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Good Job Daddy!

So we seem to have a trend in our house. Two notable things appear to happen when we are preparing for a new baby to enter our family. I get semi obsessed with getting projects done before the new addition gets here (otherwise known in the pregnancy world as nesting I suppose) and Lance gets on a running kick.

When I was pregnant with Kai he was really disciplined with his running and was covering distances that I think of as quite as quite a way to even drive. Unfortunately, shortly after Kai was born Lance entered the world of new attorney billable hours and the running was mostly put on the back burner. Now we are expecting again and he's apparently decided that he can sleep even less in order to find a little time for running.

So yesterday he participated in the SLC Marathon 5K for fun. Kai and I were very impressed by how easy he made it seem. Keep in mind that we are still having occasional snow these days so it isn't ideal training weather in my mind. This is where it should be noted that I grew up in CA.

Now if only his running could do something for my growing baby belly. :)

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Multi Sport Man

The snow has finally melted so Kai got to set-up and try out the basketball hoop he got for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Utah. He loves it!





His other favorite activity these days is begging Daddy when he gets home from work to go do somersaults on the bed.



Kai conversation of the week:
Ash: Kai are those Shamus on Diego?
Kai: No Mommy. Those are Orcas.
Ash: Oh, right.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Reading Time

Here are some fun picture of Kai doing some familiar reading in his chair (that was mine when I was little):



Sunday, April 06, 2008

Happy Birthday Ashleigh!!!

This was a big one. I hope you had a wonderful day. Kai, a yet-to-be-named baby girl and I love you.

Hope you enjoyed your cake and the time spent with your in-laws, nephews and nieces.




Friday, April 04, 2008

It's A.........

GIRL!!!

We're shocked but thrilled. Kai seems to have known all along. Isn't that amazing? The technician and the doctor both came to the same verdict separately so.... Guess we can start thinking pink. How fun! :) They said everything looked good so we are now feeling able to take a very grateful deep breath.

Here is her first picture:

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Happy Birthday Jack and Jake!

Happy 1st Birthday Cousin Jack!


Happy 5th Birthday Cousin Jake!


It was fun to get to celebrate with you both! Hope you had a great day!

Kai spent most of the party riding on/ driving Kennedy's Jeep. It is way fun!


Tomorrow- Blue or Pink???

So tomorrow is the big ultrasound day. It's funny how you wait and wait for something and then it seems to just suddenly sneak up on you. We are excited to find out what we will be having, but we are also just as anxious to get a look at this little one. This is one of those times in life where you feel like you are getting a sudden huge glimpse at your future. It is strange to have so many strong opposing emotions (excitement, nervousness etc.) all at once. Our hope is just to have a little one that we can meet in person at the end of the summer and get to watch grow up.

Looks like the poll is 50/50 at this point. Classic! Our extended family members seem to be pretty evenly divided as well. In our neighborhood and our friends from Pep there seems to be a a lean towards boys being born- as in most are having or have had boys. Kai has said it was a baby girl since day 1- we have no idea where that came from but he has stuck with it. If it's a boy it is going to take some convincing to get him switched over. :) Either way (girl or boy) it is going to be an adventure. We'll let you know how it goes tomorrow!