Today has been full of SO many emotions...it is unbelievable that our girls turned 12 today. They are growing up so fast, not only physically but emotionally as well. They are turning into young ladies right before our eyes. We had a party with my side of the family yesterday, spoiled them with french toast for breakfast this morning, took birthday treats to school and basketball, had sushi for dinner, and just enjoyed the day.
McKenzy Faith
McKenzy loves to laugh and act goofy. She is a daddy's girl through and through. She is smarter than she gives herself credit for. She enjoys her AG dolls, writing, playing with Keyan, games with mom, and needs her downtime desperately. She enjoys great food and her daddy's pancakes. She is a sensitive little soul who wears her emotions on her sleeve...she loves fiercely but also feels anger and sadness deep with in her. She is caring and looks out for others who may need help. She knows a lot of the medical stuff for Keyan and can often be found curled up in Keyan's room soaking up the presence of her sister. She has always been the mother hen to the girls and she continues to play that role, always being in everyone else business! She is organized and even likes to clean when the mood strikes her. She LOVES animals and wishes to be a veterinarian when she grows up.
Abagayle Grace
Abby is a party wherever she goes. She is always singing and dancing and is enjoying learning more of the theory behind music. She plays basketball with more heart then anyone else on her team but just doesn't touch the ball all that often! She is thriving in middle school despite mommy being certain it was going to be a disaster. She studies hard and despite some learning differences tackles every challenge put in front of her. She is a girly girl who loves fashion! Abby is obsessed with all things "doll sized" and is constantly doing her dolls hair and putting different outfits together. She is a master crafter....she can turn a box in to absolutely anything. She takes her time doing everything but she enjoys the process like no one else. She is our IT girl who is not afraid to try anything on the computer and she loves making videos! Abby is outgoing, fun, kind, and passionate about fairness and justice for all. She looks out for people who may need a friend and has the patience of a saint when it comes to explaining things to her sister Keyan...even when I am at a loss for words.
Sidney Ann
Sidney is our quiet, serious girl but if you can get her to let loose, her laugh is contagious. She doesn't ever say much in a group but get her one on one and she will talk your ear off. She is a history buff who loves facts and knowledge. She too has done amazing in middle school thus far and loves the independence it allows her. She LOVES to read, play basketball, water polo, swimming, and her big brother. Sidney enjoys reading everything she can get in front of her face and can often be found up in her loft devouring the latest book. She is our ice cream and chocolate lover who always manages to find room for dessert despite being full at dinner. Sidney is a great observer of what goes on around her. She does not like the spot light but she shines anyway. She is nurturing and soft in her interactions with everyone. She is kind and is always conscious of when people are hurting.
Keyan Elizabeth
Keyan...oh our Keyan. Keyan is joy, love, kindness, and caring all wrapped up into one little body. She is neurotic, obsessive at times, and keeps us laughing with all of her questions. She can be quite chatty at times and really quiet at others. She loves 6th grade and being in the cognitively impaired class. She has a love for astronomy and reading. If it colder than 70 outside she is in her winter gear and complaining about how cold she is but she cant stand to be hot either. She is the most positive person I know and resilience is the name of her game. She knows how to adjust to a new norm and does so with much more ease than her parents! Keyan LOVES her iPad, her friends, her sisters, playing Uno, music, movies, the Disney Channel, ice cream, cooking, and her comfy bed and own bedroom. Keyan makes our lives a little better everyday and challenges us to look deep wth in ourselves and face who we really are.
Moana book...she can't wait for the movie!
Nike clothing...it's her style!
Abby is excited no matter what she gets! A MC2 doll and experiment
Finding out they can get their ears pierced later this week!
McKenzy wanted a curling iron and a stuffed goat....oh this girl and her goats!
Meet Patrick the pygmy goat!
Keyan's health is not good and I can't pretend otherwise. I could leave these two pictures out but as I have said more and more recently, I am compelled to be authentic in my digital footprint. The above picture was at their party Sunday afternoon with my family. Keyan was able to be out of bed for about an hour before she the pain get to be too much and she crawled back into her bed. We honored that for her and we all moved into her room to sing our four versions of "Happy Birthday." She was so happy to hear them all from the comfort of her bed.
The picture below is my traditional picture of the birthday girls before school. Keyan is missing here because she cant get up in the morning and go to school. She was still sleeping. Her body needs lots of down time and rest..it is tired. It was hard for me to snap this picture without her but the camera hid my teary eyes because these three girls deserve some normalcy. It is hard to wrestle with where she is health wise. It is terrifying and yet at the same time the grace she lives thru her actions is beautiful and inspiring. We have slowed her days down. Most weeks she makes it to school only about 6 hours for the whole week but she loves being there so we will keep figuring it out!
We got a wonderful hour and a half tonight where she was up, excited about her birthday, talkative, and engaging. It was just what my heart needed....its been awhile since she has lived life with us besides from her bed or chair. We all feel the little bit of heaviness at her current situation but we continue to make the best of it, keep fighting for that quality of life, and live on...loving the good moments and leaning in to each other during the storms.
Sisters....quadruplets, individuals, the best of friends, and each others biggest cheerleaders. We would all be lucky to find a bond like these girls have. It has been a roller coaster but an absolutely amazing ride these12 years and I can't wait to see what the next ones bring! We love you girls!!!
In recent months, Keyan's days have been hard...filled with pain, gagging and great fatigue. All that we thought to be normal has been disputed. Comfort care has taken on a whole different look.... one that I wasn't prepared for and one that has caught me off guard. Her doctor and nurse in Cinci say that this is how this disease progresses and that we should slow her days down in order to preserve her strength, energy, and reserve. I find myself at odds with that because we have done everything in our power to keep her woven into our busy lives but it is apparent that her body can't withstand that right now. It is so hard to wrap my head around her limited ability to interact with "life." However, as I look back at the last four years....and really the last twelve, I know that we have done everything humanly possible to give this little girl an amazing and full life....and I won't stop now, even if it looks different than it has in the past! 
