Life As We Know It - stories from the Farhat family

Almost a year.

2011-08-15T08:36:00.002-04:00

Yes, I hate to say that I tried this Blogging thing and I just couldn't get the hang of it. Every day I would say "today I will post about the funny things Sarah says" or "today I need to write about that huge milestone Evie has reached," it just never happened!! Life just always got in the way. Too tired, too busy, blah blah blah.

Well, I'm turning over a new leaf. I am going to REALLY start documenting this crazy life of my family and I'm starting TODAY! Stay tuned for preschool transitions, Down Syndrome woes and wins, managing kids and a marriage, having a hubby that works ALL THE TIME, potty training, summer vacation, weight loss trials and tribulations, training to run my first 15K.... etc, etc, etc.

Bet you cant wait :) Lol.

Backpacks and Lunchboxes!

2010-09-07T20:43:00.005-04:00

The day that I gave birth to Evelyn feels like just yesterday. I remember every second of it, her tiny little face, her little fingers and black hair that stuck straight up. Today I packed her backpack, made her lunch and dropped her off at Pine Spring Elementary for her first day of Preschool. She was so happy to be there that I barely shed a tear, surprisingly. I love this kid so much.

And the lifelong friendship begins...

2010-09-03T20:20:00.002-04:00

I have dreams of my 2 girls being best friends. Sharing a room, sharing clothes, walking to school together, looking out for one another and loving every second of it. Well... okay, maybe not every second. I know, I have a sister, there is drama, tears and slamming doors. But there is still so much love.

Today was my first true glimpse of the reciprocal affection that Sarah now has for Evie. Evie has always LOVED Sarah. She follows her around, wants to hold her hand, and kisses and hugs her all day long. Unless she takes a toy from her, then that's another story. Anyways, for the past few months now that Sarah is walking, she has been almost running from Evie. She pushes her away when Evie tries to kiss her, she cries when Evie tries to hold her hand or dance with her, its so sad. But- today was the first time I have seen a glimpse into the future.

I took the girls to play at MoBu Kids during open play to wear them out before dinner. There were a lot of kids there and they were all running and screaming. Sarah got a little freaked out from time to time and kept scanning the room for me to save her. After she ran up to me and gave me a hug I said to her, "Go find Evie and give her a hug!" She turned around, scanned the room, ran over to Evie and then put her arms around her and hugged her tight. Evie in return put her arms around Sarah and it was the best thing I have ever seen. They hugged each other for an eternity it seemed and I LOVED IT.

I am so blessed.

A Year Comes and Goes

2010-07-08T16:35:00.007-04:00

A year seems like a long time, but when you have kids it really does FLY by. As I am both emotionally and logistically planning for Evelyn to move onto preschool in September, I cant stop myself from thinking about her still being such a baby in my eyes. I know she is 2 1/2 and that she is walking, talking and playing like a "little girl" but she is my baby and I want to do everything I can to protect her from the world. I cant believe she will be away from me for 4 hours a day and possibly even be getting on a big yellow school bus. I am not convinced I can put her on a bus, but maybe I will come around when September hits. Just a year ago Evie was only crawling for God's sake!!! I just cant imagine letting her out there in that world all alone without me by her side.

I recently saw a movie with some girlfriends that really helped to put things into perspective for me. Monica and David is a documentary about an adult couple that both have Down Syndrome... their life, their love, their family, and most importantly (at least to me) their independence. It is actually premiering on HBO coming in October, so please check it out. Anyways, I found myself really doing some soul searching after I saw this film, mostly about letting Evelyn experience life, the way she wants to do it. I know she is only 2 and that she still requires all my love and guidance and support at her age, but I really want to do my best to set her free when the time comes. I know she can do it, and as her Mom, its my duty to really let her live. I just need to keep reminding myself that she is a strong little girl and she knows what she wants- that will serve her well in this world and she will without a doubt reach her dreams.

Evelyn July 2008

Evelyn July 2009

Evelyn July 2010

Lunch Date with the President

2010-06-24T21:32:00.003-04:00

Yeah that's right, I ate lunch today with President Barack Obama and Russian President Dimitri Medvevev. Well, maybe I didn't eat with them, but I did get to shake both their hands. It was definitely a lunch I wont ever forget!!

A Massive Update

2010-06-22T20:55:00.010-04:00

Okay, so yeah... it's been quite a while since I posted anything on my blog. I don't know what it is- lack of time, lack of motivation or just a lack of clarity about the thoughts in my head. But I find it so hard to stay on top of this thing. Maybe its just working, raising two babies and everything else that goes along with it.

Anyways, in recent months there have been a lot of things going on in the Farhat home. Here is a quick little rundown...

April 2010: We bought a house!! From Georgetown D.C., to Arlington VA, to Jacksonville FL, to Falls Church VA, to Annandale VA. That's a lot of homes, a lot of boxes and a lot of packing for one family in a matter of 5 years. However, I will say that we are happy, getting settled and will be here for a l o n g time!

May 2010: Packing, packing and more packing

June 2010: Busy, Busy, Busy. First of all, We moved!! It was a lot easier than I had envisioned with 2 kids. Thank you to my amazing nanny for the girls who took them to her house the entire moving day so we were able to do it kid-free, which made all the difference. And, if you are in the market for a moving company recommendation, I can really say that I LOVE the guys that we used. Give My Truck Buddy a call!

Also in the month of June, my little peanut turned 1!! I really cant believe that the little tiny girl that I used to hold in my arms not that long ago... seems like yesterday... is already a toddler. Running around, stealing her sister's toys and talking and signing up a storm. Amazing.

Lastly in the month of June was my first trip away with girlfriends (since Mommyhood), leaving the family at home to fend for themselves. It was so much fun and desperately needed. Although I walked all over NYC in the heat, got little sleep, drank way too much and had to drive hours in traffic going through the Lincoln tunnel, it was SO RELAXING. Not to mention I got a hug and kiss from Donnie Wahlberg :) Sorry Bethany!!

Looking forward to the summertime now with the family... pool time, playdates, BBQs and a beach vacation. Bring it on!!!

Oh and I forgot to mention... Evie goes to preschool in just a little more than 2 months from now. Eeeekkkkkk! Are you KIDDING?? Where has the time gone?

"Oh No!!"

2010-03-19T08:08:00.003-04:00

Dont worry, nothing's wrong. Its just Evie's new favorite saying...

She throws something and says "Oh No!"

She spits her food out on the floor for the dog and says "Oh No!"

She pushes her sister over onto the floor and says "Oh No!"

Apparently if you are really cute and say "Oh No" after everything bad you do, you can get away with anything! :)

The Sun Shines On

2010-03-18T20:01:00.003-04:00

I feel like this winter has lasted for an entire year!! Sarah was born in June of last year and I barely can remember enjoying the summer at all. I guess that's just it- I was inside the house most of the time with a toddler and a newborn for the summer months. Well... after a long cold winter filled with record breaking snow storms, I am thrilled that we are finally seeing the Sun Shine On!!!

What is going to make this Spring and Summer so special for me is that Evie is really going to be able to enjoy it. It was so tough to take the kids outside last year given that Evie would just want to crawl all over the place (dirt, gravel, the street, etc.) and Sarah couldn't even sit up on her own. This year I am so excited to spend quality time outside with the kids and let Evelyn truly explore her world - ON HER OWN!!!

Yesterday I took the kids to the park to enjoy the 70 degree weather and I was almost in tears (of joy) when I could walk from the car to the park holding Sarah in my arms and holding Evie's hand.... yes, just holding her hand! It was so amazing. What makes it even greater is that she is so proud of herself. She laughs and giggles and smiles the entire time she is walking. Now of course we had a few episodes of her getting down on hands and knees and taking off crawling in the sand and on the grass because it was too uneven for her to keep her balance - but who could blame her, I can barely walk in sand! Lol. Nevertheless, she amazes me everyday and I am really looking forward to her getting stronger and faster over these next few months.

Now I know I'm really going to be in trouble when both of these girls take off on foot and I am left to chase them all over god's green earth. But I just cant wait :)

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-17T20:53:00.003-04:00

Sarah Bear - 8 1/2 months

A Weekend Well Spent

2010-03-14T20:13:00.003-04:00

This weekend some girlfriends and I headed down to Roanoke, VA to attend their local Down Syndrome Conference. Its the first DS conference I have been to, and to be honest I didn't have very high expectations. Actually, I just didn't really know what to expect. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement!

Some of the speakers that we were blessed with hearing were Dr. Brian Skotko, a genetics fellow at Children's Hospital in Boston and Pat Winders, the PT guru and author of "Gross Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome." Both were amazing. I also got the pleasure of hearing Kathie Snow speak, who is a die-hard advocate of inclusion of kids with disabilities in schools. She definitely left me both in tears and questioning a lot of where I want Evie to be in the future.

To give you a little taste of some great things we heard, here are some of my favorite quotes from the Conference...

"Never deny the diagnosis, but always deny the prognosis"

"Disability is a natural part of the human experience"

"Electric lights are just assistive technology for those who have sight" (funny)

"Low Expectations are bigger barriers than our disability will ever be"

"Your children are worth taking risks to have a life well lived"

"The true value of a person's life isn't what he becomes, but sometimes what he overcomes."

What did I do when I got home.... went right into Evie's room (who was sound asleep), put my hand on her back and told her how much I love her. She honestly is AMAZING and it is my mission in life to help her be the best she can be. Most of all, to be happy, healthy and loved.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-10T21:04:00.003-05:00

The countdown has begun..... until we move into our new home!!!

2 Years Ago .... Today

2010-02-19T08:40:00.005-05:00

2 years ago today, my first born child came into this world. It was a day I will never forget. Filled with excitement, anticipation, fear, sadness, and pure joy. To be honest I remember the day being a complete emotional rollercoaster from the moment that Evie was born and they wisked her away to the NICU. The hours and days and weeks and months that followed were the most difficult time in my life. However, today I find myself 2 years along in this journey of life, marriage, parenthood, and Down Syndrome, and I can honestly say with every breath of my being that I feel truly blessed. If I could go back in time to that day Evie was born and tell myself and Isa that in just 2 short years from now Evie would be a happy, smart, witty, active and beautiful little girl, full of life and potential, I would. I realize now that I had to feel those feelings and learn what I have learned, to be the person I am today.

To my sweet Evie,

Words cannot describe the love that I have for you in my heart. With every smile you give me, every step you take, every word you say, you remind me just how full of life you are. If given the choice today, I would not change one single thing about you. I want you to know that your life will be full of challenges, as all of us face, but you will have a different hurdle to overcome. I am confident that with the love, guidance, and support of your family, you will do amazing things. In just 2 short years, you have changed my world forever. I am now a more compassionate person, a more patient person, a more understanding person, a more giving person and a better parent. You have taught me more than you will ever know and I look forward to standing by you for every laugh, milestone and major accomplishment that is in your future. Without you, I would truly not be living.

I love you so much. Happy Birthday Evelyn Riisen!!

Love Mommy

12 Days of Giving- Day 8

2009-12-13T09:01:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago a friend of mine, Bethany, told me a story about an amazing family who is struggling this year during the holidays. Not only are they going to be struggling financially, but they have a great son who has had to endure many health battles, and they are amazing parents to him. I don't need to go into all the details, but this Christmas my friend decided to reach out to her friends to help this family and give them a Christmas they can really celebrate. See here: Life With Bubba, Chicky and Nika

I am blessed to know Bethany, someone to has so selflessly donated her time and energy to helping a friend in need and blessed to have been part of making their Christmas one they will never forget!!

12 Days of Giving- Day 6 & 7

2009-12-11T12:51:00.003-05:00

Please consider making a donation as part of your holiday giving. CLick here for more information on this little angel : Reece's Rainbow

12 Days of Giving- Day 4 & 5

2009-12-07T16:38:00.007-05:00

I woke up this morning wondering how I was going to "give" today and I thought, I will just look for the right moment and when it hits me, I'll know it. I got up, started the standard morning routine on little sleep as usual... got Evie up and settled in the basement to play while I got Sarah changed and nursed. Then, as I was feeding the girls breakfast and waiting for our nanny to get there (so I could finish getting ready for work), I was thinking about about how much I really am thankful to have her in our lives. Her relationship with Evie is amazing and her love for both of my kids is always evident.

I don't know honestly how I would survive going to work without her. I do feel very blessed to have her and I don't think I tell her that enough. With all the love and security that she gives to my family, I am forever grateful.

When she arrived today I made sure that I said "thank you" for all that she does and told her how much I appreciate her. I am also putting together a great collage of the girls for her for Christmas and having her family over to the house for dinner. I need to remind myself sometimes not to take blessings that we have for granted.
A "thank you" each day will go a long way.

12 Days of Giving- Day 4

2009-12-06T21:01:00.003-05:00

I actually had a few hours to myself today, something that I dont feel like I have had in weeks. Isa has been traveling a lot and working a lot, so I have been on single mommy duty a lot. Today I did a little shopping, kid-free, while Isa stayed home with the girls. Of course I took the opportunity to do what I always do each year and that is give a little donation to the "jingle bell" Salvation Army volunteers in front of the grocery store. All in all it was a good day and I hope that my little donation will give someone else a good day as well :)

Happy Holidays!!!

12 Days of Giving- Day 3

2009-12-04T20:34:00.003-05:00

I received this email from a friend and colleague today. It's as if she knew about the 12 Days of Giving, but it was actually just a coincidence. Needless to say, its a great organization and a perfect opportunity to give. Now I'm off to Target to buy this girl a gift card!!!

***

As some of you may know, I volunteer as a child advocate for abused and neglected foster children in D.C. Approximately 2,500 cases of abuse and neglect among foster children are currently in the DC Family Court system, with approximately 1,500 new cases of abuse and neglect appearing each year. My program’s goal is to recruit and train a volunteer advocate to serve every one of these children. As trained advocates we represent one family at a time, with approximately 1-3 children ranging in age from birth to 21 years. As part of our role, we gather information about each child’s situation, submit reports to the court, make recommendations in the best interest of the child (such as where they should be permanently placed or where their developmental needs are), and most importantly serve as a mentor and friend.

How You Can Help…
Each year many of the foster children in our program go without gifts for the holiday season, this is particularly true of our older children as many of the gifts donated are geared towards children under 10. This is where you come in! There’s no pressure, but please consider sponsoring one of our children this season. Her information is listed below:

Shumeka is 19 years old and is a college sophomore. Despite some of the struggles in her life, she describes herself as loving, caring, and goofy. Her true loves are the Disney Channel and writing poetry. This holiday season she would like 1. Gift Cards to a Department Store and 2. A Pink or Purple Full Size Bed-in-a-Bag.

Please let me know if you are interested in sponsoring Shumeka this holiday season and if you would like to donate money towards a gift card purchase or donate a purple comforter set. I would need your gift no later than Friday December 11th.

For more information, please visit CASA DC at http://www.casadc.org/.

12 Days of Giving- Day 2

2009-12-03T20:48:00.002-05:00

I don't have much time, so this one will be quick and to the point :) I found a family through the Salvation Army's Adopt a Family program that lives in our area and has a 12 month old little boy. They are in need of a lot of stuff, but especially a highchair. It is one of their specific holiday wishes. Good news is that I was about to list our Chicco Highchair on craigslist and just haven't gotten around to it yet. Now I am happy it has a good new home!

A shot of the highchair and it's original owner :)

12 Days of Giving

2009-12-02T13:04:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine, Bethany, has put forth a challenge.... or really more of a inspirational message, to "give" for the next 12 days. With that in mind, I will be posting my gifts to others and I hope that in the spirit of the holidays, in the spirit of helping those that are in need, and in the spirit of making someone else smile, you too will consider undertaking the 12 days of giving.

I think I am a day behind.... however, that's okay, because my 12 days can start now!! :) I am going to begin with somewhat of a sad story, because it puts context behind my gift. Raquel is a woman that helps me with the girls on Wednesday mornings. She really only is there to assist with Evie, but regardless, she is a wonderful lady and is wonderful with both of my kids. She is loving, giving and full of faith. About 3 weeks ago her own daughter had a little boy. He was born a few weeks early, but was a healthy 6lbs and 13oz with no complications. On Thanksgiving morning, her little grandson lost his life. They still don't have all of the answers, but regardless of the medical cause, my heart hurts for them. As a parent I cannot imagine the pain that she, her daughter, and their entire family must feel. This holiday season is going to be nothing less than painful.

I was trying to rack my brain and come up with something that I thought might make just one moment easier for them and flowers just doesn't do it for me. With that said, I decided to put together a care package for them. So far I have included homemade lasagna, bread & salad, flowers, a card, a necklace for Raquel's daughter with a charm on it with his birthstone... and thinking of a few more stuff. To be delivered tomorrow. I only wish there was something more to ease the pain, but I guess only faith can do that.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-04T20:39:00.001-05:00

Trick or Treat!

2009-11-01T09:42:00.003-05:00

Down Syndrome Moms

2009-11-01T09:07:00.003-05:00

I have a lot of very close friends and family that do not have a child with DS, may not really know much about DS, and give me a lot of love and support. I love them dearly for all that they do to support me, my family and especially Evie.

I don't know how to explain it, but there is just something about the Mom's that I have met through the Down Syndrome community. Something that makes me feel comforted, something that makes me feel understood, something that makes me feel positive about my life in general and something that makes me feel as if I have known them forever.
I know that we have the obvious bond and that they have felt my emotions, have the similar fears and have actually walked in my shoes. But there is more. I think that God must pick certain people for a reason when he delivers little DS babies. He knows just where to find the best people with compassion, humor and a strong sense of what life is all about. I feel so blessed to not only have Evelyn in my family, but to have been given the opportunity to meet some of the world's coolest people because of her.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-30T20:26:00.001-04:00

My Babies- Just Because.

2009-09-11T14:55:00.005-04:00

Big Steps!

2009-08-30T13:08:00.004-04:00

Evelyn is surprising me more and more these days. She has never really responded too much to sign language in general. And well I have not really tried too hard to teach her many signs either since she always has done so well with sounds and words. With that said, we do introduce a few signs here and there when the mood strikes :) Well yesterday not only did she do the sign for "baby" when I brought Sarah into the room(which is so cute) but also did the correct sign for "more" and "eat." I don't know where this kid was hiding these little tidbits of knowledge... it's crazy. And then this morning when I said "Evie say "Up!" so that I could show her daddy how well she pronounces it, she points her hand up to the sky and says "Up!" I think her word count is up to 10 or 12 now. In the area of OT and structured play she is consistently stacking blocks, placing rings on the holder, putting lids on jars, tops on bottles/cups, trying to use a spoon and passing objects to me!!!! And now since I'm gushing over her I might as well add in how much progress she is making in the gross motor area also. This has always been her tough spot and really I didn't progress too much from 8 months to 15 months. In physical therapy last week Evie took 7-8 steps with barely any assistance, just one little finger in the middle of her back for support. I almost cried. I love her! :)

Terrible Two's Already??

2009-08-27T08:26:00.002-04:00

Evelyn is 18 months old and recently she has been throwing legitimate "temper tantrums" when she doesn't get what she wants. This is all so new to me because Evie was the baby that only cried when she was hurt, hungry or scared. Actually she didn't even really cry when she was hungry as a baby. She was an angel.

However, over the past few months Evelyn has started getting really upset when told "no" or when I remove her from a situation I don't want her in. Like pulling an electrical cord or the dog's tail. At first she just went along with it, but now she screams, cries, arches her back, lays down on the ground, etc. I am like, what the hell is this???? Isn't it a little early for these terrible two temper tantrums?

I've always known Evie had a mind of her own.... just look at how she has responded to any type of therapy since she was a baby. Now I guess since she has the confidence to be more mobile she is ready to fight back :) This girl is strong... I can barely hold her down in the bathtub to rinse her hair.

Anyways- I guess my little girl is growin up.

Proud Big Sister

2009-06-24T13:13:00.007-04:00

Sarah O!

2009-06-16T21:11:00.003-04:00

Sarah Olivia made her grand debut today! She was born at 8:33 am, weighs 6lbs 14 oz, and is 20 inches long. Evie doesn't know it yet, but she is going to be a great big sister.

Before We Know It

2009-06-12T12:30:00.002-04:00

Evie just went down for a nap and I am rushing around getting the house ready to be cleaned. I don't know why we all do this, but I feel like I need to have the house cleaned before the cleaners get here. So strange... but I guess I feel like if there is anything out or on the counters, etc. then they wont move it or clean as well under it.

Anyways... this morning was my last OB appointment before our second little girl is brought into this world. I am so anxious and so nervous about the birth. I don't think that I am that nervous about taking care of 2 kids, but just that everything will go smoothly, she will be healthy and the birth will be a joyous celebration. Although I LOVE my little Evie to pieces, I cant help but remember the pain, turmoil and emotion that accompanied her birth. I hate to think that there was anything other than joy and happiness around having Evie, but I guess when you are faced with something so unexpected and so difficult, we didn't have much choice. On that day I felt as if my life was ripped away from me... or as if her life was ripped away from her. Our lives would never be just how I envisioned them in my mind.

God tricked us that day into believing that we didnt get everything we asked for... but we did. We got more than we asked for with Evelyn- she is a miracle and the most amazing little girl that I could ever ask for. I just pray her sister can measure up to her big sis!!! Ha ha.

Stay tuned for pictures of baby Sarah... I can't wait to share them and to take Evie's first picture with her baby sister!!!

Word"full" Thursday

2009-06-04T16:00:00.002-04:00

Evelyn's expressive and receptive language has taken off lately...here are just a few of her recent language accomplishments :)

Mama= Mama :)
Duh-duh= Dada, Doggy, Cat (pretty much all animals)
Buh-ba= Bye-bye, Bubbles, Bottle/Drink
Mmmmm= "Moo" (for what does a Cow say)
A-Dah= All done
Clap Hands 2 times= More, Yes, NOW! :)

I just love hearing her little voice!

Therapy...therapy... therapy. Finally progress in sight.

2009-05-20T20:44:00.002-04:00

Today was our first day of in-home therapy through Fairfax County early intervention. I was actually very impressed with the therapist, and for the first time in a long time, I feel confident that Evie will be making a lot of progress, and SOON! For the past 5 months Evie has been making tiny, tiny steps in her gross motor development, but nothing like we had hoped or anticipated. She is literally just "sitting" at a plateau. The private therapists we have been taking her to haven't been able to accomplish anything with her, and beyond that, I don't think they even really get her at all... what motivates her, what she does and why, her personality type, what sets her off, etc. Its very frustrating. I have been so close to just stopping PT all together because I honestly feel like I can do better at home what she is getting at therapy, and she definitely responds better to Mom, of course.

With that said, our first visit today with Stacey went really well. Of course Evie did spend a small portion crying, but at least we were making progress. She was the first person in a long time to comment on Evie's lack of abdominals or lack of using her abdominals and the effects of that it has on her willingness and ability to crawl. Evie absolutely LOVES to stand, so we are going to use that to her benefit by beginning with crawling up the stairs, rather than across the floor. This way she gets a reward of standing after being briefly on her knees. It was tough for her the first time, but I can envision real progress here. And at least it's something new for her. We are also going to work on building her stomach muscles and rotating across her body.

I hope that in a few weeks I can report some real accomplishments in this area :) Wish us luck!!!

Cardiologist Update

2009-05-18T12:33:00.003-04:00

The past 14 months have been pretty good health-wise for our family, including Evie. We have been blessed with almost no sickness except for a few colds and runny noses. No ear infections, no hospital visits, no vomiting, no fevers and thank god no broken bones. With that said, we have a lot to be happy about when it comes to the health of our little girl. However, when she was born, she had 3 holes in her heart. It was a very scary thing for new parents to understand, nevertheless finding out your child has Down Syndrome. I just wanted more than anything for her to be healthy, and I still feel that way today. Well... we went to the Cardiologist last week and got some not too great news. We knew when she was about 7 months old that two holes had closed and she has one hole left. The cardiologist seemed very positive about Evie's condition and her hope for a healthy life in the future. Honestly I have barely even thought about that remaining hole over the last 7 months- I was so positive that it would close up on it's own. She is such a strong and healthy little girl. Well, unfortunately the hole is still there. Her heart is having to work harder to pump blood and her heart is becoming slightly enlarged on one side. With that said, it looks like the very thing we were confident would NEVER have to happen, may just have to happen. Surgery.

I am doing my very best to be optimistic and think of only the best case scenario, but even that makes me sick to my stomach. If she is a good candidate for a device to close the hole, they will deliver it via catheter through her leg and into her heart. If that doesn't work, its open heart surgery. Even thinking about my little girl going into surgery and under the knife is the hardest thing to imaginge and I dont know how I am going to get through it.

We have 6 more months to wait before we know anything. We then will go back and the cardiologist will take another look. At that time they will decide what type of surgery she will have and then we have to think about when. She is so small, so helpless and my little angel.

Please God- bless us and make a miracle happen.

Things Are a Changin....

2009-04-28T15:51:00.002-04:00

It's been a little over a month since I last made a post on this blog... yes, that is pretty sad. But I guess I never really called or considered myself a real "blogger" anyways. I just cant think of original and interesting things to post on here, nor can I find the time to even get on the computer outside of work. With that said- I am going to do better now that we are getting close to our 2nd child coming into this world and there are so many of my family and friends that I never get to see.

So... for updates on baby Sarah are concerned, we had a sonogram this morning for and thanks be to God, everything looks great. She is weighing in at about 4lbs right now and is already head down. We have exactly 7 more weeks to go until she is scheduled to join our family (unless she decides to come early)and I can't wait. I can't wait to see her beautiful little face and to take the first photo of Evie and her little sister together :)

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!!!!!

2009-03-22T14:07:00.002-04:00

May god bless my little angel Evelyn and all the other angels across the world!!!

Doctors, Doctors, Doctors

2009-03-20T13:27:00.002-04:00

Everytime I feel like I am staying on top of all of Evie's needs medically- I find myself booking her another Dr. appointment. She currently has a pediatrician, geneticist, pediatric cardiologist, ENT, two therapists and now a pediatric opthamologist. Well, she will soon. I am not sure how you check the vision of a 12 month old baby, but we'll see. I guess the good news is that by getting everything checked so often we always stay on top of anything that might be a concern. So far we have been extremely lucky with Evelyn's general health. She has never been "sick" really in her life, other than a 99 degree fever once and a bad cold. She had her ENT check up a few weeks ago and her hearing test was 100% normal! The lady checking her even said she is a really great booth tester :) Anyways, its kind of scary as a mom to have to be so proactive about possible health issues for your baby, as I always get nervous and imagine the worst. I am just very thankful to God that he has blessed us with such a healthy little girl!

Taylor Joins the Family

2009-03-05T09:40:00.005-05:00

After you have had a child of your own and have gone through the experience of brining a new life into the world, your perspective on friends and family doing the same completely changes.

I went to visit my brother, his wife Shannon and their new baby boy on Wednesday night who was born at 5:57 pm and I couldn't help but get choked up. Not only because I was extremely excited and happy for them, but the memories of brining Evie into the world just one short year ago were still so fresh and vibrant in my mind. It might sound strange but I still vividly remember the smell of the sanitizer on my hands each time I entered the NICU to see my little angel so tiny and fragile. It is funny how the mind works.

Well I guess the good news here is that if I am really missing the smell of sanitizer on my hands- I only have 3 and a half short more months before I will be in that hospital room again bringing Evie her little sister :) Crazy.

How Im Feeling These Days...

2009-02-28T16:19:00.002-05:00

Happy First Birthday Angel

2009-02-19T08:17:00.004-05:00

Dear Evie,

Just one year ago you came into this world and into our lives. I can't believe it has been an entire year since I was blessed with meeting you. I want you to know how proud I am of you for being so strong, so determined and with such a beautiful spirit at just 1 year old. You are truly the light of my life. I know that everyone who is blessed with the opportunity to meet you in this life will be better off for doing so. I pray that you will dream anything, want anything, achieve anything and be anything that you put your mind to. I will always be there for you to protect you and guide you and be your friend. I love you. Happy First Birthday Angel.

Love,
Mommy

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I Woke Up with Nick Lachey

2009-02-16T12:27:00.010-05:00

You know you are a real fan when your camera battery dies within five minutes of Nick coming on stage, ha ha. And when your friend's camera battery dies also.... too funny.

Anyways, this morning I "Woke up with Nick Lachey." At least that was the name of the event I won on the radio station. It was actually really cool to be part of such a small event meeting a celebrity. There were only about 30 or so winners, so really it was a small event and we were really up close and personal with Nick. He sang about three or so songs and the audience got to ask him questions. Then we all had our pictures taken with him. My friend Stephanie and I were among a few "Nick-fanatics" in the small audience. Who suprisingly traveled from other states just to be at this event. It was pretty crazy.... I mean, I didnt know where Nick and Vanessa spent Valentine's Day, but most of the other girls did, ha ha. The girl next to me had a Pringle's can with her that had Nick's face on it and it said "Happy Birthday Nick." That will give you an idea of the fans at this thing. Just check out http://www.nickfanatic.com/.

Anyways, I got to meet him... kinda.... and our personal conversation went something like this....

Nick: "So when's the big day?"

Me: "Oh, ha ha, June 27th"

Nick: "Your First?"

Me: "Nope, it's number 2."

Nick: "Well Congratulations"

Me: "Thanks" (with a smile and a bright red face)

Here is the link to the pics and podcast that the radio station made, http://www.mix1073fm.com/Article.asp?id=1169688. And here are a few pics from my camera... although it was dark in there and so I had to take the pics with the flash off to even see his face in the photos, which on my camera came out really crappy. They were short on time so we didnt even get to take pics with him with our own camera, so I will have to get the picture of us and him off the radio station website when they post them. Grrrrrrr.

Yes, thats my pregnant belly sticking out and suprisingly I wasn't the only pregnant girl there!!!! There was one other :)

Happy Love Day

2009-02-14T19:47:00.003-05:00

The Baby Einstein Trance

2009-02-13T21:20:00.004-05:00

Every so often... probably more often that I should...I allow Evie to watch some Baby Einstein videos. She has her favorites from when she was a tiny infant (she has always been into them) and now her new love is "My First Signs." Hopefully she is picking some of them up and I am not just cooking her brain with television. Anyways, I put an old one on for her today when she was getting fussy before her nap- it was the first one she ever watched, and she was literally in a trance. It is literally a 20 min video of spinning tops, ocean water, the sun shining, and it's all set to classical music. I just dont get it- what do they put in these videos, some kind of sublimal messages???? What makes her so obsessed??? She would barely look at me when I called her name.

Why Wouldn't I?

2009-02-11T12:35:00.004-05:00

Yes, I did call into the radio station to win 2 tickets for breakfast and a private concert with Nick Lachey. Why you ask?? Why not... I NEVER win anything and I like to meet famous people. Especially when he was married to Jessica Simpson who I was obsessed with back in the day when she was cute and innocent. I even bought her wedding book before my wedding so that I could copy her hairstyle. Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention - I WON!! 2 tickets for me and a friend. Anyways, I will of course post pictures when I return next Monday :)

Sarah Olivia Farhat

2009-02-08T21:28:00.002-05:00

She looks beautiful already :)

She Loves Her Daddy

2009-02-04T21:43:00.002-05:00

The Balance

2009-02-04T21:34:00.002-05:00

Today was my first real day back at work and officially in the office. With that said, it was the first time EVER that I have left Evelyn with someone for an entire day, except for her Daddy. It was quite a big step for me, or for "us" for that matter. I only called to check in twice with Ashleigh (our part-time nanny) and although I thought about her all day long... I did manage to get some work done and focus on something else for a while. I even went to lunch with a coworker and when the waiter at the restaurant dropped a glass, I jumped thinking that it was too loud for Evie and that she would likely cry (she startles easily)... then I remembered that she wasn't there. It was definitely a strange feeling. I realized today that it will take me a while to get really comfortable with having someone watch my little girl, but it is really refreshing to separate myself from time to time and be the woman that I was before motherhood. I love being a mom and I love being me- I am just now learning how to do both. Its that "Balance" I guess we are all looking for.

Finally

2009-01-27T09:14:00.001-05:00

It's the day I have been waiting for.... Evie's hair is long enough to be put in two pigtails!!!!! Ha ha. I am so happy :)

The side smile

2009-01-27T09:05:00.002-05:00

Evelyn has a million and one different expressions. It has been something that has made us crack up since she was old enough to smile. The funniest one has to be what we call the infamous "side smile." Most people say that she gets this from me, since both me, my dad and my sister tend to do this to some degree, but some also say that she gets this from Isa. Either way, I love it and its the best when she does it to new people who try to make her laugh. It looks like she is faking a smile or cant decide whether or not she wants to smile. She's the best.

Work Trip Cancelled......

2009-01-27T08:59:00.000-05:00

Only Me

2009-01-22T16:09:00.002-05:00

So today I went back to work... well kind of. It's been just under a year since I turned into a full time mommy from a full time consultant. Its been quite a change to say the least. A good one of course, but with it's own challenges. I always thought that when I was working that staying home with the kids looked like a piece of cake. I mean, I had to get up for work everyday, go into an office, work on a computer all day, talk to clients, run around from meeting to meeting.... it had to be easier to just wake up, stay at home, play with the kids, hang out in her pajamas. Right? Well..... now I will just say, both are hard at times and have perks at times. However, being a mom is a MUCH more challenging job, as its 24 hours a day, everyday. All of which I love of course :) But heading to happy hour for a glass of pinot noir after a long day at the office is no longer.

So as I was saying, today was my first day "kind of" back. Meaning, I actually went into the office for some meetings and to do some real work. It felt good- but also because I knew Daddy was home with Evie and I didnt have to worry. When childcare comes into the mix, which should be soon, it will be a different story I can imagine. Dont want to think about it just yet :)

The day was good- now I am home back on Mommy duty. Oh, and did I mention... on my first day back I dropped my $2K laptop and shattered the screen. Yeah... only me. Im lucky they like me around there.

Where does time go?

2009-01-21T21:06:00.002-05:00

I started to address the inivitation for EV's first birthday party tonight, and I just can't believe that my little girl is almost 1. It really does seem like yesterday that I was making early morning trips to the hospital to see my baby in the NICU ... getting up at 1am and 4 am to feed her... giving her her very first bath... well I wont bore you with all the memories :) I am just so proud of her and how far she has come in the past 11 months since she joined this world. Not only has she made great strides in her overall development, but her amazing and beautiful personality shines more and more each day. I cherish the moments that she achieves each milestone that she works so hard to reach. I know that she will continue to impress me and make me proud for the rest of her life- I am truly a lucky mom.

I just love this picture- her smile and excitement for everything new in the world is awesome.

Ho Ho Ho...

2008-12-25T21:42:00.003-05:00

We have completed the first phase of Evie's first Christmas down here in Florida and it was action-packed. On Christmas Eve we spent time at two different homes, first with Isa's brother's family and then with the cousins until late into the night. Poor Evie was up and then down and then up again and then sort of down... I felt so bad for her. I figured it is Christmas and one night of the year with an unpredictable sleep schedule can't ruin everything. Well although she was up until almost midnight and I was hoping for her to sleep in late... she still woke up at 7:20!!!! Oh well :) At least she is predictable.

Now we are getting ready to head up to Va Beach to spend a week with my family. I am so excited for everyone to see just how much Evie has grown. I would have to say that so far the best Christmas present that Isa and I have gotten is Evelyn's sudden love for clapping on her own this weekend. Everytime she does it I just get a smile that I cant wipe off my face. I love her!

It's A Big Day!

2008-12-16T10:15:00.006-05:00

We have been taking baby steps, literally, getting EV to bear weight on her little legs. Recently, she just decided that she was going to try it :) Today was her first day being able to stand unassisted, while holding onto the play table I am SOOOOOO proud of her. I actually teared up when she did it. She is the best! See her progression.... as she learns to stand ,.... and fall, ha ha!

First time standing... she's not sure what to do now.

She feels a little more comfortable and trys to reach for toys...

Uh oh!!!!! First fall.....

A little upset, but not too bad. Didnt take long for her to realize what she did...

So Proud of herself!!!!!

Sisters!!

2008-12-11T13:01:00.001-05:00

Well I promise this time that I am really going to start blogging more now, its not just an empty promise:) It has just been CRAZY past few months....really crazy. Anyways, I figure that my first post back better be a good one. It seems that our little family of 3 will soon be a family of 4 by late June 09!!! And... Evelyn is getting a little sister. I am so thrilled that they will be so close together in age, although I know I will have my hands full to say the least. It is just going to be so great for her to have a little sister, someone to share with, play with and love forever.

Now... names?.... the nursery?.... so much to think about :)

Been a while...

2008-11-17T20:44:00.006-05:00

Sorry that I haven't posted any updates lately, things have been pretty crazy with Isa traveling and getting ready for the holidays. The other day I was looking at my little muffin as she was sitting up and playing on her own with some toys and I was just amazed at how fast the time has gone by. I can't believe that she is almost 9 months old!!!! We actually took her to her 9 month well baby check up last week and she is a strong and healthy 19.6lbs and 28 1/4 inches long. Thats about 75th percentile in both height an weight for typical babies. Go EV!

Here are some more recent pictures so that you can see how my little baby has grown! I can't wait to get her first Christmas pictures taken this week.

Trick or Treat!!!

2008-10-31T20:42:00.002-04:00

Our First Buddy Walk

2008-10-19T21:16:00.005-04:00

This Saturday was our first annual Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome. It was such a great experience- the DS Association of Jacksonville does such an amazing job with the event. The day was just beautiful with mid 70s and sunny on the beach. I cant wait until next year when EV can walk along side us :)

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

2008-10-08T18:55:00.006-04:00

The month of October is Down Syndrome awareness month. In honor of our little peanut and the entire Down Syndome community we are walking to support the cause. We hope that the money raised will make it possible for each child affected to reach their full potential in life.

See our team page for Evelyn's Angels here: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=277481&supId=233989902

Fall in Florida

2008-10-07T20:42:00.002-04:00

My Little Pumpkin

2008-10-07T19:37:00.005-04:00

We visited a local pumpkin patch today (by patch I mean parking lot of a church.... I mean, we are in Florida) with the SE Mandarin Moms Club. Although the pumpkins were plentiful and a heck of a lot cheaper than up in DC, I couldn't help but miss the brisk air blowing on my face during the month of October, wearing a nice comfy sweater and holding a warm cup of Starbucks in the Fall. It was a nice sunny and humid 85 degees today here in Jacksonville which was beautiful for the beach but a little odd for the pumpkin patch. I still have hope that by the end of the month I can pull out a sweater or light jacket...

Settling In...

2008-10-03T20:58:00.002-04:00

Were finshing up about week 2 now since we made thebig road trip down to sunny Florida. Things have been hectic to say the least. With a delay on our floor installation,we have basically been living in just a few rooms of our house, among boxes. Things are starting to come together though... the hardwood is about 50% done now and Isa can at least work out of his home office now. I cant believe it, but we even found time to get our Florida driver's licenses already. Im even impressd with myself on that one. I will say that the Florida system seems to work a little bit smoother than in VA. I think its just because they are a little lazy and less thorough here when it comes to the paperwork and necessary processes... which usually isn't a good thing, but in this case it works.

Evelyn and the pets have adjusted well. She never ceases to amaze me with how adaptable she is every time we put her in a new environment. Children are just amazing. We took her to the beach for the first time tonight since we moved here and she was so excited. She just loves even the sight of water... must get that from Mommy.

Back to unpacking now while the little one is soundly asleep.... more later.

I like to SIT!!!!

2008-09-19T22:42:00.002-04:00

Look at me... I can sit :)

OBX Family Vacation!

2008-09-15T21:05:00.009-04:00

We just got back on Saturday night from our week long vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Although Hurricane Hannah came roaring through the morning of our first day, the week turned out to be absolutely perfect. We spent most of our days hanging out at the pool, walking on the beach and just relaxing. It was our first real vacation with EV and we were pleasantly suprised at how great she did away from home. Check out some of our pics below... Im still a little depressed that our vacation is already over, but now we get to look ahead at a more permanent vacation in sunny Florida :)

Check-Up

2008-09-02T11:08:00.002-04:00

Evelyn had a slew of doctor's appointments lately, checking everything from her general health to her heart condition and her overall development with her geneticist. We are SOOOOO happy to report that she is doing wonderful! Some of the best news came last week when we met with her pediatric cardiologist and we found out that she only has one small hole left. She was born with 3 holes and 2 of them have closed on their own. The remaining hole is the least worrysome and will likely close, as she has proven in short 6 months that she is a very strong little girl. The best news is that she will NOT need open heart surgery, even if the final hole does not close. We are so releived. EV also had a 6 month evaluation with Dr. Rosenbaum (one of the best geneticists in the country) and he commented that she is "one of the best success stories he has seen in a long time." When I heard those words I almost began to cry. I feel so blessed that she is doing so well and I just cant wait for her to continue to grow stronger!

Six Months Old!!!

2008-08-21T17:17:00.004-04:00

Well we are packing up shop and getting ready to head down South now... for real. We have set a timeframe of the 3rd week in September for the move, so its really right around the corner. EV got her 6 month shots today and the doctor told us that she is doing great. She is right around the 75th percentile in both weight and height (on the typical child growth chart... which means she is off the DS growth chart). :)

I posted this picture we took of her at the pool the other day. She is going to be a water baby just like her mommy. She LOVES being in the pool. She giggles, laughs and just loves to splash her hands.

More to come soon...

Baptism Day

2008-08-10T21:51:00.003-04:00

Our little angel was baptized today! Although a very long day for all of us, Evelyn did amazingly well with all of the day's events and looked just beautiful in her gown. As I was standing up in front of all of our friends and family as the preist blessed her, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy. I am so lucky to have this little girl and she is honestly a true gift from God above.

Words to Live By

2008-07-29T11:19:00.004-04:00

I stole this off of my friend Bethany's blog- I just couldnt help to post it. I love these words and they honestly reflect how I feel each day.

Don't Pity Me By: Joanne Green

Don't pity mebecause my child was not born"perfect",

for in {her} imperfection I have

learned to see beauty that is deeper than the flesh.

Don't pity mebecause my child and I have faced challenges

that have served to forgea bond much deeper than love.

Don't pity me,because you could not have done this,

for I thought that too once,before I learned that through love you can do

a great many things you once couldn't do.

Don't pity me,my child is the greatest blessing to ever touch my life

I am rich to have {her}, and richer still for
the experience of knowing {her}.

And if you are truly my friend,then you will understand.

And please,Don't Pity Me.

Five Months Old with a Spoon...

2008-07-20T21:10:00.006-04:00

Okay, so after a little blogging hiatus, we are back!!! We are finally all settled into our "temporary home" and anticipating the big move in a few months down South. Evelyn is 5 months old this weekend, and I cant believe it. I scroll down through my few blog posts I have gotten around to putting up...and it seems like just yesterday that I was posting she was 3 months old. Anyways, per the doctor's orders, we decided to introduce her to her first solid food tonight and it was SO fun! She loved it too, suprisingly. I was expecting her to intake almost none of it, but we found her smacking her lips and crying for more :)

Choo Choo to Rhode Island!

2008-07-09T11:21:00.003-04:00

We spent the last week on our first family vacation up to visit my sister's family in Rhode Island. I was very impressed with New England in general... I always knew I would like it. This time we decided to take the train... with diaper changes, feedings, etc. its just easier with a baby. And we were right- the train was suprisingly easy. The best part about it is that time flies by much faster when you can get up to go to the bathroom, get a snack, walk around, and you dont have to "pull over" to do everything. Evelyn did also very well on the train, as usual :) (I mean, she is just the best baby I could ever ask for) Anyways, the trip was awesome and the train is my new found choice of travel!

Im 4 Months!!!

2008-06-28T15:44:00.003-04:00

Well... I have not had too much time lately to update this site, among moving boxes and packing all of our belongings. I will definitely post something new soon. In the meantime, here is a recent pic of our little girl.

Her First Dip!

2008-06-05T21:43:00.005-04:00

As most of my close friends and family know, I have spent the better part of my life in the pool. It was very exciting today to put EV in her first little swimsuit and dip her into the water. She made a few funny faces at first, but once she realized we weren't letting her go- She loved it! She splashed around a bit and kicked her feet, it was so cute. I cant wait until I can race her across the pool.... just need about 10 more years :)

Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-30T13:50:00.006-04:00

The thoughts of heading down to the beach and drinking ourselves silly over Memorial Day weekend are nothing but sweet memories these days. Instead of waking up each day with a raging headache, we found ourselves this weekend waking up and looking for something fun and "family-oriented" to do with the little one. Still tired of course, due to the consistent lack of a full night's sleep :)

After searching around on the web and looking for something fun to do with the baby, we decided to get out of the hustle and bustle of DC and spend a few hours wine tasting. Although we typcially like to hit up 2-3 on an afternoon, we figured spending a few hours at one, tasting some wine and having some lunch, would do the trick. We found this great little spot, brand new to the Virginia wine tasting scence, called Barrel Oak Winery. Memorial Day was their Grand Opening weekend, so we figured why not try it out. It was beautiful, and pet friendly! They had some great wines for their first vintage- a great Viognier, a really tasty house red called Bowhouse Red (Bow, for the doggy), and some great dessert wines too, one infused with chocolate. Check it out at http://www.barreloak.com/.

Anyways, EV had a great time too, enjoying the fresh air and smelling the grapes :)

Hold it up!

2008-05-22T11:56:00.003-04:00

Working so hard every day to get that head up :) I guess all I needed was a mirror and some brightly colored toys. You got it EV!!!

Family Love

2008-05-22T11:40:00.007-04:00

Its a great thing to grow up with brothers, sisters and cousins in a large family. Today, as EV and I were hanging out at the Fakhouri house, I looked at EV and Christian (her cousin) and realized that a new generation is here and our family is really growing. As they grow up together, being there for eachother and having a strong bond, they will never have to worry about needing friendship and love, because they are family. Its our jobs as parents to provide them the opportunity to build these life-long relationships.

Family life is full of major and minor crises -- the ups and downs of health, success and failure in career, marriage, and divorce -- and all kinds of characters. It is tied to places and events and histories. With all of these felt details, life etches itself into memory and personality. It's difficult to imagine anything more nourishing to the soul.-- Thomas Moore

The Sky is the Limit!

2008-05-19T11:07:00.005-04:00

Well my little girl just turned 3 months last week and I really cannot believe how well she is doing! I am so proud of the little peanut :) Just this morning she sat up tall in her bumbo chair, she held a rattle and shook it for what seemed like a half hour, she grabbed and played with toys and laughed and giggled the whole time. Its days like this that lift my spirit and remind me just how fortunate we are. The sky is the limit for EV!!!

One Door Closes and Another Opens

2008-05-15T10:43:00.000-04:00

We recently made a very difficult decision to sell our house in Arlington, VA and explore a different and hopefully slower paced life in Jacksonville, Florida. The last three months since EV joined the world have been a whirlwind of surprises and change for our family. With each day opening our eyes to new things, we have come to realize the importance of spending time together and most importantly spending time with EV. We are confident that making this exciting change will allow EV to spend much needed time with her cousins, for Isa and I to have more time to spend together, and for us all to take a deep breath and adjust to this new life.

She's Smiling

2008-05-15T08:42:00.001-04:00

She literally woke up one day smiling and hasn't stopped since. Each day she gives me more and more smiles!

Good Morning Sunshine

2008-05-15T08:41:00.000-04:00

The kind of look that just melts you...

She's Three Months Old Today

2008-05-15T08:28:00.000-04:00

It really feels like yesterday that Isa and I were sitting in our hospital room getting ready to bring Evelyn into the world... actually, it feels like yesterday that I found out I was pregnant for that matter. I woke up today and looked at my little girl and realized that she is already 3 months old! I cannot believe how much she has changed and grown in her short life already. As we go through our daily routine of playtime, PT, eating, changing, napping, etc, I lfind myself looking forward to the days when I can throw her on my hip and run around town and no longer need to keep her in the infant carseat. The days when I can let her roll around on the floor and play with toys on her own, the days when I can tickle her and get a big old belly laugh! But, at the same time, I know now how precious each moment is and how I will miss the day before.