Tomorrow morning our Lucie will be four years old. Oh my word, she’s such a big girl and beyond thrilled that she will be a big sister.
We have celebrated this girl full and well this year and I’m so thankful, because in the midst of all the festivities, we got a rough reminder of the fragility of life through not one, but two hospital stays for me and baby Fafa. Talk about deja vu and crazy timing. It is the eve of Lucie’s birthday and I am literally in the same hospital where Lucie was born four years ago, being closely monitored due to some complications that have come up.
Since I have nothing to do but take it easy and rest, I thought it would be nice to share a little Lucie update, a little Baby Fafa update and also to share pictures of all of the celebrations we enjoyed with our sweet girl.
Lucie update: She recently had a Parent Teacher conference where we got to hear from her three teachers and three therapists. All of them shared that Lucie is thriving, learning, “hyper”curious, meaning she notices everything and asks question after question, and making friends, although not without several interventions when she gets too “territorial” as her teacher wrote. EEK! We’re all working with her on that. They also all noted that she gets visually distracted very easily, and also gets disinterested in things just because they may seem too difficult. So they are working with her and with us on ideas to help, especially as we enter the application process for KINDERGARTEN next year. I know, I know, she is turning four tomorrow morning, and will be starting kindergarten next Fall, because NYC kids start the year they turn five, and next December she does indeed turn five. So even though it feels so early, we have started the process. I have been encouraged because of the “turning five” evalutiaon process she will get to be a part of in light of the fact that she receives pre-school therapy services. We are about to enter a month or two of school tours, online school applications where we list our school preferences in order, plus Team Lucie meetings with her current school to help us advocate for the best fit for her. Other than that we’re just soaking in this season as a family of three before Baby Fafa arrives... speaking of...
Baby Fafa update: I have been in the hospital twice in the last four days due to intense pain and contractions that started from complications with an infection and dehydration. Things got pretty worrisome last night but the baby and I seem to have turned a corner today. Due to my history with Lucie, the doctors are being very very cautious. So even though I am feeling much better, I am not sure what they will say the next steps will be for my plan of care going forward after tomorrow. Also, throughout this pregnancy we have been told that 36 weeks would be my “full term”, and that continues to be the number I will hope and pray to reach, but some of the results of my tests today indicated that although delivery does not appear to be imminent in the coming days (thank GOD!) I may not be able to support 36 weeks. Overall I am encouraged that I am feeling better, and hopeful that I can remain pregnant with no more infections or complication for the next several weeks. Would you pray that with us too?
Love to you all,
Los HIcksons
Arriving in Florida to go to Disney with Family.
Lucie wore a button every day that said Happy Birthday and she’d get fun add ons from the Cast Members at Disney, like a pink balloon, and fun sprinkles. Sundaes at lunch? Yes, please!
Lucie matching her Little Mermaid Bed and excited to head to Magic Kingdom
Seeing the Magic Kingdom for the first time!!!
Playing with our cousin Lucas
Grandma and Abo! Lucie ran from one end of the lobby to the other when she saw her Grandma at the counter checking in. It was the sweetest thing!
Soaking in that Disney Magic
Sweet Family time with my Tio and cousin from Puerto Rico, and my little sis who I hadn’t seen in over a year!!
Familia!!!
Excited for a performance that was about to begin featuring tons of Lucie’s favorites.
<3
Best seat in the house: Daddy-O’s shoulders!
Meeting Rapunzel a highlight of the trip!
I welled up watching them interact, I think we all did. It was so sweet.
My heart! I just love the happiness of the moments afterwards and I’m glad Lucie was brave to go by herself. She was so nervous before we went in.
Cristie! The best Disney Fashionista I know.
My sparkly cousin, Amanda. <3
Prima hermanas - the three Felix cousins.
Dole Pineapple FLOAT! Yum!! (PS, the first visit pin was for Baby Fafa.)
Sleigh Ride with grandma outside of the Christmas shop.
The lighting of the castle
Totally candid moment. ;)
All THIRTEEN OF US on the rids “It’s a Small World”. I forgot how much I loved that ride.
Rapunzel’s Lanterns!!
Festivities continued the next day at Animal Kingdom!
Lucie and Lucas
Walking around in style with Cristie and Jason! (Rob added some hair ties to the sunglasses for Lucie so they’d stay on her face).
Fun character lunch
Mickey!
Trying on all the Minnie Ears.
This day was the warmest day from all the rest, and Lucie had been begging to go swimming so we went for a little bit before dinner.
That night I couldn’t shake the sharp pains I was feeling (which turned out to be the infection and contractions), so Robby wisely convinced me to go to the hospital in Orlando. They kept me one night, stabilized me and discharged me in time to get to the airport to come back to NYC. Although Saturday was much calmer, Sunday I was not feeling myself, so I went to the Hospital again in NYC that morning.
Meanwhile, a smaller group went to one last character breakfast and it was beach themed. So fun!
MINNIE!!! Before the trip, we told Lucie that we would write Lucie a letter to ask if we could go to Disney for Lucie’s birthday and then opened a gift from “Minnie” with a card and the magic bands, so it was really fun for them to get to tell Minnie that story with Lucie.
Sad I missed this part - look at these smiles!
Cheeeese
SMOOCHES
Topped off with a Birthday cupcake, because, CELEBRATION!
Back at the hotel as they were checking out, Robby and Lucie ran into Donald...
...and the classic Mouse himself! Great way to end the trip. They picked me up from hospital and off we went to get back to NYC! The celebrating was NOT over yet...
We planned a special lunch at Alice’s Tea Cup, where Lucie celebrated turning four with four of her friends. Yes, the only adults were me and Robby!
Everyone behaved sooooo great. On more than one occasion someone interrupted us and said, “you have a beautiful family!” LOL, five kids and one on the way, in NYC! Gotta give it up to all these kiddos’ parents because they were wonderful and we had a lot of fun.
Happy Birthday, Lucie. We love you.
That night she got to have an oh so fun sleepover at Aly and Jos’s apartment in their Brownstone building!
Jos the Jos reading one of Lucie’s favorite books “The Brownstone” to her before bedtime.
Last but not least, her class threw her a Paw Patrol themed birthday party. They each made her a card and they made the treats together.
The Best NEWS ever is that I found out Lucie could come visit my room, so Robby and Lucie came over after dinner tonight and I got to see her for the first time since Saturday. Look at that Rapunzel braid Rob did in her hair for her class party. LOVE!
We had a nice visit and of course, watched some Daniel Tiger.
Look where Lucie (and Aly) put the birthday decorations. On the bedroom door, perfect!
And speaking of bedrooms, before we left for Disney, Lucie got upgraded to a big girl bed! She has purple sheets, and FLAMINGO sheets. OH YEAH!