Weekend Update

This past weekend, my friend Noelle and I went up to NYC for the weekend to meet my friend Brandi who is there for work training for three whole weeks. I couldn't imagine being away from my family for three weeks straight, much less like Brandi, being away from her 3 year old and 3 month old. Brandi has been on a roller coaster ride this past year and a half, as you can read about on her blog about her daughter Avery Kate, who passed away from SIDS in 2011. We were glad to give her something to look forward to and to help pass the time :)

The weekend was filled with lots of laughter, love and even some tears. But most of all it was filled with some deep, some light and some alcohol induced conversations between three of us who have been friends since junior high.... yes, friends for 15+ years, and still remain in very close contact. I feel like I was able to take a real "break" this past weekend. I put the never ending to-do lists on hold for a few days and was able to detach myself from the real world responsibilities of work life and mom life. I was able to just go without any obligations while we were there. A part of me felt a little guilty, but an even bigger part knew that I needed that time away. With tax season already here, I'm pretty sure I fueled up enough to make it through April 15th!

Me, Noelle and Brandi

While we were there, we met up with a sorority sister of mine, Lauren, who has been living in NYC since graduating from UL. She and her husband live in an adorable quaint apartment in downtown Manhattan. They welcomed us to their apartment with open arms and showed us a night out like real New Yorkers!

Noelle, Lauren, Me and Brandi

Then on Sunday, we had the pleasure of having lunch with Sweet Baby Madison and her parents. There is nothing better than having a conversation with someone who has been on the same journey that you have, and who is walking in the same shoes that you are. Madison's parent, Brian and Jennifer, were two of the most inviting and admirable parents I have been able to keep in contact with. They emailed me when they first found out Madison was diagnosed with hearing loss. They were so glad to have found my blog and to have someone to follow on their quest to getting CIs. But little did we know, Madison ended up getting implanted 2 months before Hunter, at 7 1/2 months, even though she is 3 months younger than him. (yes, I am still a little bitter that we had to wait until after 12 months to get implanted) So I was able to follow their story through her surgery and get a close up picture of everything they had gone through before Hunter's turn came. So thank you to Brian, Jennifer and to sweet sweet Madison. It was a real treat to be able to meet you all and to share stories and experiences with you guys. I mean it when I say you guys are admirable, I can see it in your eyes that you are going to give Madison every opportunity to excel in so many ways!

Madison, Jennifer and me. 

Oh, and when I got back home, it seemed as though Hunter was talking leaps and bounds more than he was before I left. It was so rewarding to be able to really see progress after being away for a few days. The normal hum drum of life tends to take over and we don't appreciate the everyday talking as much as we should sometimes.