Confession....

We broke the rules.

     The RAD parent rule that says don't take your kids on trips for a year post diagnosis. Yep- that one.
I never would have dreamt of breaking it in the first place except that Macie has been doing SOOOO well and we only had a window. It was a small one, but it was free miles and there is no way we could do it any other time this year with all that is ahead of us.
     I know some of you are going to be all irritated that we didn't stop by, say hi, or even call while we were there, but we couldn't. It was a small window with a very specific purpose. A trip especially for immediately family only. A trip for those Macie needs to have memories with. Her grandparents, and of course, she had a baby new cousin to meet too!
     Everyone was wonderful and especially sensitive to the special needs our family has. I can't tell you how much this means to a RAD kid and their family and how EXTREMELY DIFFICULT it is to accept and comply with some of the things we RAD parents ask of our family members. That said, everyone did their best to give Macie the support she needs, even when it went against every instinct they had (the root of it is over-stimulation, but it doesn't take much at all to get there with Macie). 
      Macie is pretty good at letting us know when she is struggling and she seemed really sensitive to the number of people we were with in a given location as well as the volume of conversations regardless of whether or not she was involved. Part of it is a difficulty she has with not being in control, but part of it is genuinely frightening to her as well. So those things were noted and will be worked on a little more as time goes on. Overall though, for a trip taken 8 months post-diagnosis- SHE DID AMAZING! 
    

EVERYONE DID AMAZING!!!!! 

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!!!

Meeting cousin Elyse.

Blackberry picking with Garrett.

Soaking up the sun by the flumes.

Dry heat makes porch sittin' much more enjoyable!

Fishin' with Grandpa and Dad.

and the boat can go FAST!!!!!!!

A full lake, a fast boat and the safety of Daddy's arms. Good times.

Our 3am taxi to the airport. I've never known a nicer driver. I should have tipped her more (love you mom).

     Anyway, long-story-short the inconvenience of a spontaneous trip and the schedule conflicts that incurred for everyone, turned out to be one of the best times we have had since we brought the girls home. We couldn't have done it without the grace and patience of all grandparents involved as well as help from Auntie Lou on the planning/organization of it all and the 3am airport shuttle that Mimi provided. It really was a good trip. We look forward to coming again some day.... fingers crossed it's before another 3 years pass and it's as a whole family, not a broken one.

So, our world keeps spinning.
I'll keep you posted.
Beth