One thing I’ve learned over the years is that Bella and her siblings don’t take life for granted.

The small things make Bella happiest — time with her siblings, laughing at something silly, the color purple, or celebrating moments that might seem ordinary to others.

Yesterday was her Jax’s 15th birthday, and we had such a fun time celebrating together. Moments like that mean so much to our family.

Birthdays always bring back memories for me. On Jax’s 2nd birthday, Bella was still in the hospital. Instead of a party together, we celebrated something different that day — Bella getting “capped”.

Bella used to have a tracheotomy, and doctors didn’t know how long she would need it. They told us it could be years. Then one day, just a few days before that birthday, they called me to say they were ready to start the process of removing it.

I remember that phone call so clearly.

We were at a baby store in Orlando looking for a triple stroller that would fit Jessy, Jax, and Bella for when she finally came home — which at that point was only a few weeks away.

Moments like that stay with you forever.

Now when we celebrate birthdays together, we’re reminded how far she’s come. How far we’ve all come. 

After everything Bella has been through, the normal days feel bigger to us.

We’re grateful for the quiet days.
The happy days.
The days where Bella just gets to be a kid.

And yesterday was one of those days. 💜