It is so hard to believe that our first born child is now 8. Where did the time go?? I know we have 3 other children, but it is always amazing to see your children get older. I feel like she was born yesterday. She was my only labor (as the others were c-sections), which wasn't too bad, but in the end after pushing and pushing, Ashlyn had her own plans and a C-Section it was.
Ashlyn has been wanting an American Girl Doll for a while and we just couldn't pull ourselves to spend that much on a doll...but we decided to make a deal with Ashlyn. We said we would buy her an American Girl Doll if she chose not to have a party this year...she went for it quite quickly. We upheld our part and she was ecstatic!! She helped design her doll, with freckles and pierced ears :)
We did have a family party on her birthday. We went to Pizza Ranch (her choice) and then back home for presents and a cookie cake. She said it was the best birthday ever...and never once did we hear "this is the worst day ever "...one of Ashlyn's favorite sayings.
Ashlyn before school on her 8th birthday!
Our little diva at the Pizza Ranch
Ashlyn's birthday table :)
Ashlyn wanted a cookie instead of cake.
It is fun now that she can read her own cards :)
Her new sunglasses
She got lots of summer clothes....which she needed.
Roller Blades...she can't ride a bike yet, so let's try skating :)
Her American Girl Doll!
A fishing pole from Grandpa...preparing for our trip to Leech Lake this summer :)
Coming up this week is also the anniversary of Sabrina's cancer diagnosis. We remember it like it was yesterday (along with Ashlyn's birthday). On May 29, 2009, we were told our little 3 month old baby had a tumor and it looked to be Neuroblastoma (which was later correctly identified). We were just numb in amazement and we knew we had to just go on. We didn't know what was ahead, but we took it one moment at a time. There was no getting around the cancer...we just had to face it and try to fix it.
Kadence came to visit Sabrina in the hospital...who would have known in 24 hours Sabrina's life would be turned upside down...
On May 31/June 1 - Sabrina was rushed to the PICU and sedated. Her heart was beating so fast and her blood pressure was going up...once she was sedated, the doctors could help control that. Her tumor was messing with her system and it almost took her from us.
We can't explain what it was like to see our little baby hooked up to so many wires and trying to balance our other 3 children (including another infant)
On June 2, we chose to have Sabrina baptized in the hospital. We didn't feel comfortable with her going into surgery without being baptized first.
I was able to hold her the night before surgery...the first time in a few days. It took a little help from the nurse with all the wires, but we made it work.
June 4, Sabrina had her 3 1/2 hour surgery to remove her tumor...she came out and was a different baby. Cancer free and much happier. Ashlyn came to visit once we were back on the Hem/Onc floor and out of the PICU.
It is amazing how fast the last 3 years have passed, but Sabrina is now able to talk about how she had cancer and she can show people her scar and explain to people that is where the doctors made her better by taking out her cancer. She won't remember any of it, but we want her to know and we want her to grow up trying to help others and help in finding a cure.
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