Visit with Alex and Anastasia from Canada

Stasia and Alex, our buddies that live across the river from us in Canada came to visit one night. Alex and Josie have gone to the same therapy center together for a few years. Josie just adores Alex and visa versa. They had fun showing off their standing tricks to each other. Alex amazed us when he walked across the whole room without any assistance...way to go Alex!!! You can't believe how hard these kids have to work to achieve even the smallest goals. We are so proud that Alex has achieved such an enormous one. We look forward to seeing you guys again soon. Jenny and Josie

Dinner with the Tokarskis..minus Max

We had so much fun having dinner with Przemek and Sylwia at there house. Unfortunately for us Max is in Poland visiting his relatives. I am sure he is having a blast, but we miss him. Anyway, Josie and I just love Przemek's polish meals. He is such an awesome cook. Josie was elated to have his mushrooms. I couldn't get her to eat those if I paid her, but Przemek is the magic mushroom maker obviously. We just enjoyed being together, talking and laughing. Zoya, the dog, wowed us with her tricks. Josie thought that was so cool. She is a cute little French bulldog. Thanks Tokarskis for having us. We miss you all so much when we are in California!! Jenny and Josie

Off to Mayberry!!

After we left Ronald McDonald House we moved back over to our favorite house, Aunt Harriet's on Cloverly. We are so grateful to be able to stay here once again. Thank you Aunt Harriet and Jeanie for making it possible. We are missing not having Harriet here with us, but know she is recovering in the right place so she can move back home and be able to travel to her favorite place, up north.

We quickly got back into the swing of things with all our dear friends here. Josie wasted no time at all getting back to the the Little Club for more swimming. It is such a treat to be able to be members there even if it is for just a short time more.

Josie and Reggie also got back into there rock star routine with band practice at the Livingston's one night. We had a great barbecue there and then doing s'mores around the fire that night with the neighbors. It helps that the sun stays up until 10 PM. More time for playing!

Swim Chicks practice started as soon as be got back. Josie is so happy to be in her 3rd year with the team. It is such an incredible program and one of the great joys in her life. The show will be the day before her 10th birthday. I will post a lot of pictures and video after the show.

It is weird to be staying for such a short time. We are so used to staying for months. We are grateful for whatever time we get here. It is our Mayberry. Jenny and Josie

Ronald McDonald House Detroit, Michigan

We are back in Michigan for a quick "tune up". Our adventure started out staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Detroit right next to Detroit Children's Hospital. We were grateful to get a room there. We had a humbling and wonderful experience there meeting so many families. It was a difficult setting but so many had such great hope and faith. We met an brave woman named Donna. Her twin boys were born 9 days before we got there at 25 weeks. Sadly, one of them only lived on earth for 2 days. She was having to grieve for one and put all of the rest of her strength into keeping focused on Gabriel. I felt blessed to have known such a courageous mom. Happy to report that when we returned 2 weeks later to cook lunch for everyone, we got to see Donna and find out the sweet Gabriel was still fighting hard. He was up to 2 lbs 7 oz and was being taken off the breathing tube to breath on his own. They have a long road ahead since his due date was October 8th, but he has a mom who loves him so much. Stay strong Donna, my friend. We met so many with extraordinary stories. I actually had a lot of guilt that we were on the recovery road. These families have such a fight in front of them. I am thankful that (hopefully) most of that is behind us. I know we still have things to do, but it makes it easier to take when Josie is doing so well. Thank you Ronald McDonald House for taking care of us for a few days. It will be an experience that we will never forget and will be grateful for the time we got to spend there. Jenny and Josie

Father's Day Weekend in Tahoe

Father's Day weekend at Martis Camp in Tahoe with Brian, Michele, Matt and Trent was magical. We had such incredible weather and better company. Josie had a ball with the boys. It was none stop fun. Matt, Josie and I went bowling at the barn. Upstairs in the barn there is an amazing art loft. Josie and Matt enjoyed doing their art work. We went all over Martis Camp one day. The new facilities are unbelievable. We also went to Father's Day brunch at Sunnyside by boat. It is always great to be on the water. Josie loves the water more than anything. Thanks Brian and Michele for having us. We love you all so much and miss not being together. We hope to return there when we get back from Michigan. Love, Jenny and Josie

9 Years and 4 Years

My angel, Cris Embleton, whom we are eternally grateful to for making it possible for the girls to come here. We love you Grandma Cris!!

What a celebratory day it is in our family. Josie and Teresa arrived conjoined at the head from Guatemala 9 years ago today. I never in my wildest dreams knew how much my life would change for the better when that plane touched down at Burbank airport and I was able to set my eyes, heart and hands on them for the first time. What a pleasure it has been to love these girls so much and to be surrounded by their greatness.




Happy 4th Birthday to my sweetest nephew, Luke Michael Richards. You are are bubbly, fun and energetic 4 year old!! You bring so much excitement and joy to our lives. It was another blessing that you also arrived in our lives on June 7th.


Look at how hard they hare laughing!! What joy these two have together.

Because they say things come in 3's, June 7th 8 years ago we got Josie out of the hospital after they returned to LA from Guatemala. This is the moment that she launched into my life for good. We Love June 7th!!! Thank you God for the blessings of this day and everyday. Love, Jenny and Josie

Adorable video of the girls laughing together. I thought Teresa was going to start belly laughing when Josie was doing this. I love these moments.

Doing well

Josie has been doing so well. She wanted me to write on her blog that she is doing really well in school. She is learning so much and loves to be with her friends. She is such a little peacekeeper. It is great to see the other kids embrace all of her abilities and adapt to her disabilities.

Tonight we went to Party City to get some supplies for her Girl Scout camp out on Friday night. I missed a great opportunity for a photo op. She was in her stander, glasses on, pink purse over her shoulder and her red super hero cap around her neck. Priceless.

She has been using her Polish walker with Joy at PE and really increasing her distance. She will be running with it soon, I hope. Thanks for checking in. Love, Jenny and Josie

This is dictated by Josie...PS. She loves school. The End.