What gorgeous kids!
I'm glad Olivia is home now.
I thought of the little girl while I was in hospital with Helen the last days. I wondered how your family is holding up, and what they are doing, how they beat the boredom, if she also has to go through horrible tests (hopefully not) and so on.
Good to hear she has such a positive attitude, she'll need it.
I bought Olivia a violin last summer and she's currently enrolled in violin lessons, which she loves. I would have taught her myself, but I have never taught anyone how to read music, and I figured it would be better to leave that to a professional. However, once she learns the basics of music, I might take over and teach her myself. All of the other kids are very active, Eric is into sports (football, etc) and Chloe enjoys gymnastics. I'm sure TJ will get involved with something or another once he gets a little older (he's 19 months old) but Olivia cannot do those things because of her OI. So the violin is something perfect for her, something she can be good at and excel in. And she's been talking about learning how to play it since she was 4 years old. So it appears she has the passion and the desire.
You're such a loving, wonderful uncle to her, and I know also to her siblings. It's sooo important for kids to have something special just for them. Something their siblings don't have, something where they don't measure up themselves against them. And all the more for Olivia, since she will never be able to hold up against her siblings when it comes to sports acitivities. I hope she will find fullfillment in music the way you do. You can show her that, and help her along the way, even if you don't teach her yourself. You will be her hero forever I think.
Guess what? My Helen hasn't had that special something for herself for the last two years. She used to be in the ballett, but the group was cancelled and she didn't want to start new in another ballett school. Anyway, for two years now I'm nagging her to find herself a new hobby, whatever it may be. Something where she learns a new ability which she can be proud of, and which only belongs to her.
A couple of weeks ago, she finally came around and said she wants to learn to play - wait for it - the violin!
We're now on the waiting list for a course. I wish she had an uncle like you.
Anyway, all the best to Olivia! I hope she'll heal as fast a spossible and will be spared further catastophes for a long, long time.