Dance Recital...

Since Kaitlyn was about 2 she has been involved with dance class. It starts with Rhythm and movement. Teaching them animal walks, following instruction, etc. They have always been so adorable. As she grew she wanted to try Tap and Ballet. Ms. Betty across the street from us used to sneak into Proctor's Theater and tap on their stage. Kate would always go find Ms. Betty's shoes and they would put on a show. Since Kenny has been born he has had to go to dance class with us. As he grew he became interested in the classes. I'm not sure if it's because he just wanted to go into the classrooms because they were always off limits or maybe the big mirrors. Regardless, once he got big enough to open the doors I often would have to chase him down pulling him out of the rooms. This year was his first year of actually being able to go into a classroom and participate. I thought it might be good to have him try to follow other instruction. I also thought it might be good for him as well since his therapies have changed.

In the beginning of the season he love, love, loved dance class. The teacher was young and wanted to know all about Kenny's diagnosis in order to try to help him out. I thought that was great. He seemed to really like her and the other little girls in his class. I was thankful that Kenny's class was small. There were four students. Once choreography started my darling little boy had no interest. He did OK for the first 10-15 minutes but after that it was mischief. I put him in time out, the teacher put him in time out, he put himself in time out. Class, after class, after class.

There came one day that I held him after he started being boisterous. Trying to get behind the piano. I told him we were going to stay and watch the others. He kept telling me, "No, time out." He wanted to go to time out instead. I held him and thought, if he doesn't want to do this, why am I making him? Is this too much for him? This isn't for me, he really liked this, what happened? Now what do I do? Do I keep him in class? Then I hear a teacher say that they couldn't believe that there were six more classes until recital. And then I thought six more classes... six more, we can do six more. I mean we teach Kate to stick with it, why should he be any different? But will it just be easier for everyone if we opted out? No, we can do six more, we can do six more, and we will see how dress rehearsal goes. If it works it works if it doesn't, it doesn't.

Six weeks later, in costume on stage in the theater with props for just in case, Kenneth my little Kenneth who had spent half of his dance classes in time out, did an amazing job! We couldn't stop laughing, we couldn't believe how he followed the girls and how he knew the choreography! Boy did he have us fooled!!!

As the dance recital took place I was a little nervous. He had to stay upstairs with the others and couldn't come sit with us. As his dance approached Kevin says are you as nervous as I am? I said I think I might be... The curtain opened, Surfin in the USA started... and that little boy and those three little girls came out. They marched out like little ducklings with my Kenny last in line hands on hips. The crowd roared with laughter. He stepped on the boogie board (a last min change) and applause! He smiled, and applause! He spun, and spun and almost fell over and you cold hear the crowd gasp... he recovered you could hear giggles. He decided to stop for a minute and find us in the crowd, found us, waved, smiled, and ran back into place. Did the rest of the dance, so proud, looking for us again getting almost closed in the curtain... and once again laughter and applause. That little boy did it! He did it! He didn't need the extra props, he knew what he was doing! We laughed. Kate danced shortly after and showed us her grace. She did a beautiful job... we were so proud!

A few performances later I thought about Kenny baby. I thought about how great he did, I thought about the classes, and the time outs. I thought about the day I thought about taking him out. I started to get teary eyed. This feeling became very overwhelming in my body. The joy and pride I felt that he did it! How could I have thought to take him out? All along he knew what he was up to, I however was putting a limitation to him... what a lesson to learn. I still get overwhelmed to think about it, about the pride, about the emotions, about the wonder of doing the right thing. I cant be happier with the way it all played out. He continues to teach me that life is all about taking risks. We were told by many that he stole the show... I know he has certainly stole many of hearts.

Kenny's birth story as told to Kenny and Kate...

September 17, 2008 was a very big day for the Tucker family. Mommy and Daddy had been asked by the Doctors to meet them at the hospital around 6 in the morning to start getting ready for our new arrival. We had left big sister at home all warm and snug in her bed, kissing her before we left. We knew Aunt Nini would take good care of her while we were gone. When we got to the hospital the nurses and Doctor came to check on Mommy. They thought you needed a little help to come out. So they broke Mommy's water...but nothing came out to every one's surprise! You were blocking the way. So Mommy walked the halls, and walked the halls... and walked the halls. Eventually Mommy wasn't allowed to walk the halls anymore and had to stay in her bed and get some medicine. When it was finally time to push Daddy was right by Mommy's side. Nana and Grandma were there too very excited to see you were almost here. You had a lot of other family members waiting excitedly in the waiting room too... including big sister. With some pretty big pushes you finally decided it was time to make your way into this new world. It was very exciting! You were finally here! At 5:21 p.m. you were born. You were 9 lbs 9 ounces and 20 1/4 inches long, everyone said you looked as if you could be a football player! Your big sister came in the room as soon as she could and couldn't keep her hands off of you. She held you , gave you hugs and kisses, and loved rubbing her nose on yours.You were her baby. Your Aunts, and Grandpa's were so proud to see you here. They all watched you in the window of the baby room, laughing at you stretching out and just getting a good look at their new family member.

You were an expected baby with an unexpected surprise. You have something none of us knew you would have. You have an extra chromosome. We would all have to learn all about this surprise and what it meant. It is called Trisomy 21. It means that you have three of the number 21 chromosome in your body and not just two of them. The Doctors and nurses gave us lots of stuff to read and talked to us about what it meant. After the Doctors and nursed were done explaining some things Daddy and I wanted you I the room with us to snuggle you, and we decided you finally needed a name. We decided we would call you Kenneth Hudson Tucker. A very strong name for my very strong boy. Being the big strong boy that you are, your heart was strong and you had a very good appetite, so the Doctors, Nurses, Mommy, Daddy, and the rest of your family were very happy. You were proving before we even left the hospital that even though you had something we didn't expect, that you were a true miracle.

Life was not the same for us on August 29, 2004 when Kaitlyn Elisabeth arrived to our family, and life would definitely not be the same for us on September 17, 2008. We are truly blessed to have Kaitlyn, and we are truly blessed to have our Kenneth Hudson.

                          Tubby time... 
some of the best moments of my life...

To sleep or not to sleep... that is the question...

When you start the process of thinking about having children, you have so many thoughts that run through your mind, well at least I did.

When finding out we were pregnant we couldn't be happier, scared, nervous, hopeful... So many different emotions. I was always happy to carry them within me. Even as their due dates came and went I was content in knowing right where they were, and that they were OK. As the time got closer to them coming the sleep schedule started to change. Some nights the movement kept you awake, sometimes the size of the belly kept you awake, sometimes the babies hiccups got you, maybe tonight was your bladder, but it was definitely interrupted sleep. When they came, sleep patterns changed for the feeding schedule, the just staring at them, the watching them breathe. As they got older it was feedings, diaper changes, teething. A little bit older, it might be my tummy hurts, or their cough, the way they were breathing, the nightmare, the monster, the I think it's time for me to start my day at 3 am. Whatever the reason, the sleep pattern was interrupted.

As Kate is now seven and Kenny three you might think the sleep would settle back in to a regular pattern. But as these few weeks have passed by, it is not the case. Maybe they cant sleep because of the cat meowing in the bathroom downstairs, or the chicks peeping, or that it's allergy season, but those sleepless nights keep coming in. Sometimes I lay there and wonder as I have slept in every bed we own, in this house, in one night if and when the sleep, the good, long, well rested sleep will ever come again. But then I think they are just seven and three, we haven't even started...

The teenage years, oh what about then, will it be even less sleep? As many things as you think about when you begin to think about having children, sleep may cross your mind, but I don't think we give it enough thought. I am coming to grips that when you become a parent, whether they are a newborn or an adult, the bottom line is...you are still a parent, you you are always going to wonder if they are safe  and snug in their beds. Maybe that is why I was so content pregnant, I knew they were as safe as they were ever going to be, right there, with my heartbeat soothing them to sleep, and their hiccup rhythm putting me to sleep.

Eggs...

Eggs are funny things aren't they? Some people love them other people, not so much. They can be prepared so many different ways, and whether you eat them or not chances are you love some of the sweet treats that include them in recipes.

I think about eggs this evening as it is Easter weekend and although this holiday is not just about the eggs (Jesus is the reason for the season, right?) we have our hands full of them. Kate and her Nana spent some quality time together this afternoon. Nana took Kate and showed her how to boil the eggs to prepare them for decorating later. There were 18...but then there was a casualty so we were down to 17. Although Kate was VERY upset about the loss, I told her it was Daddy's favorite number, so I believe it was OK in the end.

We later prepare the table for decorating and Kate is excited about the tie dye egg kit that she got. We pulled out the other items needed and "set up shop." Kenny decides he wants to join in the fun so we pull him up to the table. We all settle in to our places. Kate starts tie dyeing, and I hand Kenny a white crayon to draw on his first egg. He is very content, and very adamant that it gets put in "bue." (blue) He moves on to his second egg, and once again insists on it going into bue. Kate is still tie dyeing her first egg. Kenny moves on to his third egg and as one might expect he drops it. It gets a good size crack in it. We proceed to say, "uh oh" and "you need to be careful". As we do this he begins to smell the egg. He smiles and says "big plop". Kevin and I look at each other and start to laugh. Kenny refers to his bowel movements as big plops. So we giggle. He then says to the egg "no plop on the table... yucky," something about the bathroom and once again "yucky". "Gross!" We tell him to choose a color he once again says bue, we convince him to choose green since egg two is still in blue, and he leaves the table. We try to have Kenny back to help us, but he decides to go build with blocks instead.

Based on our evening  I am going to have to guess that Kenneth will not be an egg lover any time soon, especially since his egg took a big plop on the table.

By clicking below you can see our beautiful surprise...


What a beautiful surprise...



Celebrating September 17, 2008

The blame game...

Oh the good ol' blame game, doesn't it just figure all those times we told Ms. Kaitlyn you just wait until he can talk. I'm not sure if she ever thought that day would come but it def came tonight. It was met with denial, it was met with dispute, it was met with tears. Tears from both ends.

Getting ready for bed in the Tucker household is not one written about in fairy tales, it is not a "Little Bear" episode, it can be somewhere between Judge Judy, Maury, some nights, Springer and every night sprinkled on top with a little bit of Oprah. There are always some troubles herding one of them up to bed. Some nights both, it's the same thing every night, "Time for bed, brush your teeth, pick out the book, tell the chickens good night (see post below) etc." Then there's the whole who is sleeping in the middle... whoever sleeps in the middle gets to pick out the book. This is where Maury and Springer come in. It's my turn, no me turn... then that normally means I lay in the middle and read the book. Some nights there is everyone holding hands snuggled in tight, with giggles and singing (some of our favorites include Bob Marley's Three little Birds, and the Carpenter's Close to you), some nights there are shadow puppets on the wall, every night has hugs, kisses and snuggles, oh and don't forget daddy's "pokers".  (What Kate calls Kevin's facial hair)

Tonight as I make my way up the stairs I heard a dispute of some sort, I turn the corner to find the bathroom door closed. Not normal in the routine. I open the door to find Kenny in the bathroom, in the dark, obviously upset. I get everything under control and he tells me "Tatee" turned off the light and closed the door. When confronted with that information, Kate goes into defense attorney mode. (Judge Judy) Then she turns to the jury ( Daddy) with alligator tears pleading her case, while the boy secures his place "in the middle". Then her attention goes to it's her turn tonight in the middle, in which I just take the middle to try to STOP THE MADNESS! (remember her Suzanne Powers?) Which invokes a discussion about how Kate is still taking the middle tomorrow night seeing as she is not in the middle tonight...exhale... Finally the story starts, the snuggles set in and the hand holding commences.

There is love at bedtime, there is a togetherness, once asleep a little boy gets moved into his bed. I once fought to have them put themselves to sleep, but then after bringing Kenny home from the hospital one time I thought, how bad is it really if they want to be together? How long is this really going to last for??? Even with the nights the way they are they still aren't going to last long enough, so I will take each night as it comes whether I'm an enforcer, a bouncer, a judge, as long as I'm the Mommy that gets to snuggle in the middle that will be my cherry on top.