a blog about raising a daughter with cerebral palsy and learning unexpected lessons along the way

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Happiness is...

... a lot of things. It's finally having a moment to sit down and reacquaint myself with this blog. It's having a husband that works his hiney off so that I am able to stay home and man the family ship and not miss out on a single moment. Some days though, I'd like to opt for a co-captain er, a nanny. Particularly so at any hour of the night when my high-maintenance, yet oh-so beautiful 6 month old wakes for the 4th, 5th or 6th time. Every night. She never misses a beat. That, my friends, is not happiness. Although she'd beg to differ...


Happiness is scribble that's slowly turning into an "O-i-a". It's not pretty (yet) but who says signatures have to be? For Oia to stabilize her paper with her less dominant hand and correctly grasp a writing utensil with the other, go "around and stop" to form an /O/, then go "up and down" to make an /i/ is purely an accomplishment. The /a/ is most challenging but she'll learn to perfect it soon. With only verbal cues, our girl has put her name to paper and that's just plain awesome.

Happiness is the ever-growing list of new sounds, words, and phrases that come from the mouth of my 4 year old. With each new word or phrase, I feel as though I'm learning more about who my daughter is. Thoughts are turning into words. Words introduce me to my child. And never, ever do I underestimate the power of a single word.

"I need wheeeeee!" So off we go... to the swing to go wheeeeeee! And "I need go pee-pee!" so off we go to sit for a different purpose entirely!

While pointing up and into the dark sky from the living room window, "Mommy, Mmmmmmm". A child whose visual impairment doesn't stand in the way of her view of the moon, she shows us the big light she discovered high in the sky.

When Esme finishes eating, Oia questions "All done ba-ba?" in hopes I'll answer "yes" so she can take the empty bottle and in turn feed her baby. She's a little mommy, no doubt.

In asking for her glasses, "I need eye", as she closes her eyes and points to one of them. It's a remarkable request coming from someone who only ripped them off countless times a day as an infant.


Happiness is a week of warm, 60+ degree weather in the middle of January. Stroller-riding, walking, and wheeeeee-ing in the warm, winter sun is good for the soul.



And happiness is found in the space between Oia and Esme. The space between them is my dream come true. Really. I wanted so badly to have a second daughter long before I became pregnant with Esme. I imagined an older Oia. An Oia who would need a best friend, no matter what. An Oia who had come home from a really awful day at school, maybe feeling lonely. Maybe feeling down about being different. Maybe feeling the need to vent about what hurts, physically or emotionally. Maybe feeling the need to simply share a joke, or a secret ~ with someone other than mom. Maybe feeling overjoyed of a recent achievement, bubbling inside to share it with someone who truly cares. A sister. I knew she needed one. Esme needs Oia too. I really believe these two ladies were made to compliment one another. Many heart to hearts, good cries, laughs, and memories await them. In fact, the laughs have already begun... and that's true happiness.

8 comments:

  1. Mo, you have a way with your words that makes me tear up! Oia and Esme have an unbreakable bond as sisters, and that is - pure happiness.
    And the writing her name thing? Wow. Go her.
    You've got a great thing going there, and you are so truly blessed.

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  2. Too funny - I was writing a post about my sister daughters! I think I know how you feel about giving your girl a sister - I seriously thought my older daughter would be the more fragile one (just from being small from being low birth weight and 5 weeks early! Funny now to imagine that being something to worry about!) and that she would need a sister the way I needed mine and moreso, and I hoped so very much my second child would also be a girl. Then Hannah came with far greater needs and I was so grateful she had an older sister. Now as it turns out Hannah is not really so needy, but the other benefits are so huge: they have each other to share jokes and laughs and clothes and to be united against me when I say it is time to clean up or something parentally dull and dreary. Oh how I love to see them hug each other and ask about each other or if one gets a treat she usually gets one to go for her sister. Really this is one of my favorite parts of parenting right now, and I am so glad you are enjoying those joys in your neck of the woods too. I think we are internet soul sisters! Well, you got the looks, so on second thought maybe we can't be internet sisters after all, since I am so jealous. But whenever I have call to come to your side of the country I am definitely coming to meet you, because I enjoy you so much!

    Now about that poicture of Esme . . . words fail me. You probably know this but you produce very beautiful children. And the joy on Oia's face as she runs on the road-wonderful to see, and a perfectly heartwarming thing for you to share with us!!

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  3. Happiness indeed! Beautiful Mo....

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  4. HI MO
    CONGRATULATIONS TO OIA FOR PRINGING HER NAME WAY TO GO.. YES, THIS WINTER HAS BEEN A GOOD ONE AND NOT TOO HARD TO GET AROUND.. IT'S NICE TO READ THAT THE GIRLS GET ALONG SO WELL AND OIA JUST LOVES HER LITTLE SISTER AWESOME!!

    ESME, IS A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL SO ADORABLE.. MO, THANKYOU FOR POSTING THOSE PICTURES THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.. I LOVE TO SEE THE JOY ON OIA'S FACE WHILE RUNNING IN THE STREET... HOW, IS OIA DOING FROM A PHYSICAL STAND POINT?

    I TOO WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU, THE PEOPLE I COME ACROSS KNOW HOW THINGS ARE AND REALLY UNDERSTAND.. YOU PROVIDE ME WITH SOME MOTOVATION MO!

    MELISSA

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  5. Happiness is reading this post. Thank you for this.

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  6. the pictures are great u got some cute kids

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  7. Happiness is........having your girls' Christmas photo up in my office at school. Love to show your girls off to friends - new and old, and tell them what an amazing mother they have!

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  8. Hi Mo, I think finally I may be able to post on your blog and it really show up instead of disappearing. There is no greater joy than having two daughters who depend on each other. The events of this winter have convinced me yet again that God knows what he is doing. Love those girls and love you.

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