One-on-One Time for Eva

I would be remiss not to mention how much of a priority it has been for us over these past two years to ensure Eva (our oldest, who is 6), has one-on-one time with Dave and I or time together with just us and not her sisters. Livvy and Keira’s medical journeys have been the epicenter of our world and we didn’t want her to feel pushed aside or overlooked in anyway while we tended to their care.

Thankfully, we have a great support system surrounding us with grandparents that spoil her every chance they get. But they also help with the other girls so we have time with just Eva.

Usually only one of us will take her to her after school activities so we can give her our full attention. Dave and I have regularly taken her to a nearby bowling alley and arcade so the three of us can just have fun together and get lunch. And our latest Eva-only mission included a surprise trip to Disneyland just for her!

We honestly did not think we would be able to pull off something like that. With Livvy in Hospice we really had to ensure our family was prepared both mentally and emotionally should anything happen or her health decline while we were away. Dave and I were both really nervous to leave her (What if she passed away and we weren’t with her? That was a real concern.) But all the grandparents reassured us – she has been doing well lately and her health has plateued a bit thankfully – so off we went.

And we are so glad we did! Eva was so excited it was time only for her and us, AND her first trip to Disneyland to boot! We booked it through John Pagoto of Inteletravel – who was an amazing Disney resource for everything we needed to know, do and see.

We surprised Eva with a Disney shirt hidden in a giant egg on Easter Sunday. Landed in LA that afternoon and off we went to the park for the next 2.5 days.

Her first rides were Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain. She really jumped right in, but sometimes begrudgingly (and understandably). Her favorite rides? All of the Star Wars ones! Dave was so happy. 😆

And, to be honest, we were all happy. It was a great, much needed getaway, since we always need to stay close to home for Livvy.

That alone time with Eva is priceless and hopefully we are creating some amazing memories for her amidst all of this tragedy. Ways in which she will look back and only remember these great moments being seen, heard and loved just as much as her medically fragile sisters.

Here are a few fun pics from our trip:

Stuck in an Elevator

I cannot make this stuff up. Yesterday, I got stuck in our apartment elevator with Eva and Olivia. 😳

We were headed out to meet Eva’s friend Chiara when right around the 1st floor (we live on the 6th) the elevator made a big th-thunk noise as it shook and came to a stop. None of the elevator buttons would work. We were stuck.

And all I could do was laugh. 🤷‍♀️😆 What are the chances?? Apparently 1 in 100,000. So of course because we don’t have enough rare experiences in our life it was time for a new one.

With Dave out on a trip to the store my first call was to my Mom, who was still at the apartment with my Dad and Keira. She heard the “th-thunk” and the first thing she said was “Tell me you’re not stuck in the elevator.” After confirming we were indeed stuck in the elevator and asking her to call someone, my Dad flew down the stairs, made sure we were ok and got the front desk concierge. And Dave arrived from the store.

Meanwhile, I tried speaking via google translate to the Italian man that answered the elevator alarm call. I wasn’t sure if he understood me or not but he hung up.

Only a few minutes later Eva said she was bored. 😆 I was just thankful we made her use the restroom before we left and that Livvy wasn’t going to need meds anytime soon. In case we were stuck for a while we also had water with us and a few candy snacks we brought along for her and her friend.

Livvy didn’t understand what was going on so she was fine until she got tired of sitting in her stroller. So Eva and I started singing songs, like Itsy Bitsy Spider and Little Green Frog, to keep her smiling.

After some complaints from Eva, we heard a noise and saw light shine through a crack in the door. Someone was here to free us from the elevator!

After a few minutes they opened the door. We were indeed between floors. Because the opening on the bottom was bigger than the opening on the top we were going to have to get out that way.

I had told Eva she would get out first but she said “No! Livvy needs to go first because she is special and we need to take care of her.” 🥰 I reassured her they were both special and equally as important but because she was closest to the door it was ok for her to get out first.

At dinner last night Eva said “When will we get stuck in an elevator again? That was fun!” 😆🤦‍♀️

Yet again, another unexpected event happening in our lives. It doesn’t even surprise me at this point. Just another day of rolling with the punches with a smile on our faces!

A Little Bit About Eva

Most of the blog has been about our youngest girls, Olivia and Keira, as they are undoubtedly going through the most these days. But I would be remiss to not share more about our oldest daughter, Eva.

With all that our family is going through she is handling it incredibly well. While she may not understand everything yet, what she does know she processes, asks her questions, and moves right along; always rolling with the punches.

She is truly coming into her own as a big sister; talking with Livvy to cheer her up when she cries, including her in her activities, and being silly to make Keira laugh every chance she gets. She makes them both pictures with their names on them + “I ❤ U” and is already planning what she wants to get them for Christmas.

While school is different for everyone due to Coronavirus, it is a little more so for Eva. Her school has been absolutely amazing and so supportive as we navigate through these uncharted waters together. But because Milan is 8 hours ahead of Phoenix, Eva only gets to partake in her online Zoom session with the other kids at 4:15pm then it’s time for dinner. Because of that, we work on activities with her throughout the day and she has started taking Italian lessons twice a week (also on Zoom).

When she is not doing school projects she is always inventing and creating things of her own; zip lines for her stuffed animals, sleds out of Amazon boxes, jewelry for her sisters and decorations for the holidays. But her new favorite activity is riding her bike – on two wheels only! (Thanks to lessons from the self-proclaimed best teacher ever, Dad, and to Laura & Silvio who lent us this bike to use for her while we are here) “I’m so glad I got to learn to ride my bike in Italy before going back home to Arizona!” she said the other day.

She is growing in so many ways and we couldn’t be more proud of her! ❤

Day 32 in Isolation

Dave has officially settled in at the hospital and Keira is as happy as can be! She hasn’t needed a transfusion (for hemoglobin or platelets) in five days, which is amazing, and she is well on her way to a quick recovery – albeit with 50% less hair. We are so relieved she is doing well and back to eating and drinking on her own. Her weight has also stayed steady, at around 10.6 kg, this whole time, which was something I was concerned about when we started this process.

Today, the doctors said if her neutrophils rise as they should she may even get to come home next week! Yay!

Meanwhile, on the home front, we have had a busy few days with Eva and Livvy and I have loved it!

We ate lunch outside at one of our favorite restaurants, made origami hearts and Halloween decorations with Eva, played dress up with Livvy, went for a walk to see all the fall leaves and horses that live next door, completed a puzzle with Eva, walked down the street to wave at Dad and Keira in the hospital room, played at the playground, and danced in the rain!