2015 A year of... milestones

First off, we hope everyone has had a joyous holiday season spent with loved ones laughing and enjoying the simple things. We had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by our family.

We had a lot of fun festivities leading up to Christmas with building a Gingerbread house, school parties, baking cookies  and a train ride with Santa.

And we had an amazing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with our families. The kids love hanging see them, especially their cousins.

Giosa cousins... So hard to get all 5 to cooperate. Natalie is the only one- lol

Donnelly cousins...easy now, but will get harder I'm sure.

All in all, we had a great holiday season and feel blessed.

This year has been amazing...has been triumph...has been challenging...has had it share of us struggling. If I had to sum up 2015 in one word, it would be Milestones.

2015 started off with JP under going his second (but not his last) surgery. While we weren't new to surgery, this situation was different. Jonathan under went lengthening surgery and had an external fixator, which we never experienced before.

This was the first time we had to learn to clean pin sites, turn the pins in his leg to help bone growth, and undergo a ridged PT scheduled, as well as weekly doc appointments. It was a  big under taking and scary at times, but quickly became managable. It was also the third time in his life, we witness the excitement and joy of watching him "learn" to walk.

Being a FH parent is hard and yet we get to witness our kids having milestones over and over again. 

There was defintley a lot struggles and tears (by both of us) during lengthening,  but also so much joy and happiness. 

JPs recovery was a long one, he was in an ex-fix for 4 mos and then a cast for a month, but he handled it all so well for being 3. 

And we are amazed how fast the time went. In no time, JP was back to walking, no running, with his brother. His leg grew a whole 4cm. I can't believe it has been almost a year since we started the legthening journey.

Another milestone this year is Jonathan started school! He goes the First Presbyterian Bucket School just like his brother did. He's doing well. He adjust great to school and seems to like it. 

We love hearing all about his day and what he learned. He loves staying for lunch bunch and is starting to show his interest in learning new things. We're hoping the rest of the school year is just as incredible!

!

And then there's Aiden... This kid "graduated" from kindergarten in June.

And we were so happy how well he adjusted to "big boy school" and then first grade! He is doing amazing! He's excelling  academically and socially and just loves school!

Aidens so excited to stay the whole day and enjoys buying lunch!! His teacher feels he's a great asset to the class. We couldn't be prouder of the young man he's turning into. 

We just wish time would slow down a bit, we are not okay with him turning 7 already.

Aiden also handled the extra attention his brother got during surgery very well. He didn't acted out or regress. He also took care of his little brother.

The kids also got a new baby cousin this year.nThey are great big cousins to Olivia. They loves to talk to her and hold her.

Olivia Rose was born May 2015 and the boys loves her so much!

All in all 2015 was filled with new stuff for the Giosas. Some easy, some hard, but we managed and are doing well!

We are just so in love with our boys and so proud of all they have accomplished so far! We can't wait to see what 2016 brings to them!

And last, but not least, a big thank you for all who supported us this year-cheering us along the way, praying for us, and lending their help and support. We can't begin to tell you how much we appreciate it all!

We wish you all a very happy and healthy 2016!!

7 years at Parenting

On Friday, November 20th at 3:37pm our sweet boy turned 7. How did that happen??

He was so happy and excited for his big day and Mommy... well it took her breath away for a second that he turned 7.

Aiden always has the longest and most drawn out birthday. It's a week or so of celebrating, but that's what happens when your birthday is a week before Thanksgiving.

On his actual day, he has a full day of school, but was excited to wear his "seven" shirt and his birthday boy pin! He also read to his class (Green Eggs and Ham) to celebrate his day. His teacher said he did great with it too!!

After school, he came home and opened his presents from us and we took him out to dinner to his favorite restaurant- Victory in Downingtown. 

On Sunday, Aiden had a "kid party", it was one of our gifts to him. He was so excited to celebrate with his friends and cousins. We had it at the place where he takes swim lessons- pretty cool to have a swim party in November ;)

He loved it so much and enjoyed spending time with all the people he considers important to him, so we were so happy to let him celebrate this way!

And his last celebration was on Thanksgiving with his family (as it always has been). He got to celebrate with his aunt and uncle, grandparents and cousins. He loves having a bit of Thanksgiving be about him!

(Aunt June's favorite cookie pie she makes for him every year!)

All in all Aiden's birthday celebrations were amazing (according to him) and I'm so glad they were! He's an amazing kid who's is smart, loving, and caring and I'm glad he's all ours!

Halloween 2015

We had a two day action packed Halloween adventure this year. It started with JP's school parade on Friday. The kids dressed up in their costume and paraded around the room for the parents.

And afterwards, they sang us a few songs. It's always cute to watch a bunch of 3 to 5 year olds sing and entertain the crowd.

It was an interesting experience for Keith and I to be there this year. JP goes to the same preschool that Aiden attended for 2 years. The first year Aiden was there, JP was 9 mos old. It was strange not to have to wrangle a small child. We were able to sit back, watch, and enjoy every moment...and a bit sad that our baby is growing up.

JP is definitely different then his brother. Aiden always knew every word to every song and every hand motion. JP is more of an observer of the other children, but would get excited when he knew the words or motions. Either way it was super cute as always.

I then headed to Aidens school in the afternoon to volunteer for his Fall Festival party. The party is a great time for the kids to have some fun with games, crafts and have some fall theme snacks. This is my 2nd year volunteering and I love meeting his friends, as well as helping out in his class.  I think Aiden loves having me there.

Then that night was his school's "Monster Mash". It's an event, sponsored by the PTO, that gives the kids a chance to wear their costume and celebrate Halloween. It's a bit crazy, but Aiden loves it. They have crafts and games for the whole family.

They also have a DJ in the gym for the kids to dance and my two let loose.

It was a good time for the boys!

On Halloween, we had soccer where the kids got to wear their costumes, which was fun to watch (sorry no pictures),  Batman and Super Mario had a great time.

We then had a birthday party in the afternoon for a friend of the kids and then back home to start the Trick or Treating festivities. We had our parents and my sister and brother in law over, as well as the cutest Strawberry ever! My niece Olivia.

The boys loved having their family here to see them off as well as sharing Halloween with their cousin.

Then the boys were off to get candy. As always, they were so excited and couldn't wait to go house to house. We went out with a few of the neighbors this year, which was fun for the boys (and us too).

I was amazed how well JP did. This was the first year that we didn't take a stroller with us and he walked about three quarters of the way through trick or treating...in fact spent most of the time running. I thought for sure he tire out and we would have to carry him most of the way, but no! 

As parents know most 3 1/2 years old would tired easily, but a kid with Fibular Hemimelia (who also had lengthening this year), it's hard to gage how much they can physically take before they are exhausted, sore, and done. JP still expects me to carry him a lot, so for him to do as much walking as he did was amazing. He showed us again what a superhero he is! I'm sure candy was a good motivator.

And last but not least, Aiden loves Halloween, but it's hard as a kid with a Peanut/Tree Nut allergy. He knows what he can and can't have and usually ends up with candy he can't eat. So this year, we made a deal with the kids (because neither need the amount of candy they got), we let them pick 10 of their favorites (for Aiden mainly kit kats and Hersey bars) and we bought the rest back. They are allowed to take that money to buy books or legos. This went over very well with both kids (surprise surprise) and we donated the other candy to soldiers. All in all they had a great Halloween.