A Whirlwind Weekend

A Visit to Chloe...

I have been wanting to visit my friend Corinne, one of my best high school friends, for over a year. Last July she and her husband welcomed their first child, a beautiful daughter named Chloe Anne. At her four-week checkup, the doctor discovered something was terribly wrong. It turns out that Chloe has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which is the #1 genetic killer of infants and toddlers. Chloe's intellectual development is not affected whatsoever, but her muscles are very weak. Chloe is now 15 months old and has had a long road. I have been wanting to get to Orlando to visit Corinne & meet Chloe for so long, and I was finally able to do it last weekend.

We had a wonderful (albeit emotional) visit. Annalise was in good health so she was able to come along, and she adored Chloe. It was so sweet to see Chloe smiling while watching Annalise play, and Annalise would bring Chloe little toys and stickers to hold. At one point Annalise went over and gently kissed Chloe on the head. So sweet! Chloe was much more hesitant with Ricky and myself, which is to be expected since most strangers she sees are doctors, nurses, therapists, or others who are poking and prodding her. But, she finally warmed up enough so that I could sit down next to her and give her some gentle tickles, and she allowed me to stroke her sweet beautiful face as I said goodbye to her when our visit was over. And she gave Ricky a giant grin. We fell in love with Chloe, and we are amazed by my friend Corinne. What an amazing mother and caregiver she is! (And her husband Matt, of course, but he was working during our visit so we missed him.)

Thanks for all of you who have been praying for Chloe. Please keep it up!

Corinne & Chloe

Chloe's Sweet Cheeks!

Annalise admiring Chloe (Annalise loved Chloe's ponytail!)

...And a visit to Mickey!

We decided that since I was going to Orlando, it would be fun to take Annalise to Disneyworld for a day since her birthday was on Monday. We had a great time! We packed 10 rides in one day. The minute one ride ended Annalise would say "I want another ride!" She amazed me at how much "cooler" of a kid she is than I ever was. She went on Goofy's roller coaster, Snow White's Scary Adventure, and the Haunted Mansion and never got scared. I would have been freaking out! Ryan stayed behind and my parents took care of him (since he detests long car trips!). It was nice to give Annalise some time alone with us where we could focus our attention on her.

Annalise saying "Faster!" on the Tea Cups

Waiting in line for Dumbo

A GIANT mess with a Mickey ice cream bar (we changed clothes immediately!)

Exhausted!