After buying Ava’s van in Florida, we drove 900 miles to Baton Rouge, LA, home of Nonna and Papa McLin and a big loving family of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Ava’s 3rd birthday!
Ava’s 3rd birthday was another milestone for us. When Ava first received her diagnosis at 10 months old, the neurologist told us that 50% of SMA children don’t make it to the age of 2.
With that diagnosis, our lives changed forever. We were unaware at the time that there is an experimental medicine Ava could take. Ava started with Valproic Acid at age 2 which is not a cure but slows down the muscle wasting in her body. We are hoping in time a better medicine will be developed or even a cure. Since so many people have been praying for Ava our spiritual life has grown as well and we have faith that Ava will stay strong for a long time.
When Ava was 2 we celebrated and prayed thanks! And now at 3, we celebrated and prayed thanks many more times! Over the last two weeks, Ava’s enjoyed two different birthday parties in Baton Rouge, one thrown by family and one thrown by total strangers whose hearts went out to Ava.
Nonna and Papa McLin were overjoyed when we arrived late at night from the trip from Fort Myers to Baton Rouge. The northern-most winds and rains of Tropical Storm Eduard lashed out during much of the drive through Alabama and Mississippi.
On the next day Nonna, Papa, and Tammy and Charles held a mini-birthday party at Mr. Gatti’s Pizza Place for Ava, with pizza, presents, and a mini-cake as part of the fun (here’s some video). Ava had a blast eating her way into her chocolate cake and loved playing with a “lady-bug flashlight” that her cousin Sarah gave her. The flashlight was a special gift, since Sarah went into her own toybox and picked out that toy for Ava!
Ava and former Washington Redskin Bob Brunet
Ava had the chance to do a little Cajun dancing at Brunet’s Cajun Restaurant. Brunet’s is owned by Bob Brunet, a former running back for the Washington Redskins and a player in the 1973 Superbowl. He came out during a band break to meet and talk to Ava, which was very nice of him.
Randy’s godmother Dorothy (Nonna’s cousin), was also at the dance. Nonna and Dorothy actually hit the dance floor together at Brunet’s, for the first time in 50 years! Ava’s Uncle Kevin (Randy’s brother) also was there and it was amazing over the two weeks to watch Ava getting attached to her uncle Kevin, who she doesn’t get to see often.
Ava also hit the dance floor with a whole bunch of people, dancing at various times with Nonna and Papa, Mommy, Daddy, Sharon (a waitress at Brunet’s who introduced Ava to Mr. Brunet). A wonderful lady named Marsha Fauver, who fell in love with Ava and planned a birthday party at Brunet’s the following week giving Ava presents and a chance to dance all over again. Thank you Marsha and everyone who attended! It was a really wonderful time for Ava and the rest of the family. We’ll try to post the video from this dance later.
Sarah and Ava at the Birthday Party
Wow, what a blowout! Swimming, pinatas, fried fish, and family & friends from all over! Ava and her cousins had a ton of fun and hitting Aunt Tammy’s beautiful swimming pool on. Later came time for presents (thanks everyone for all the gifts given to Ava), cake and homemade ice-cream (Aunt Alice’s recipe!). Ava had a hard time focusing with all the activity going while opening presents, but her little cousin Sarah was right there to help her out! Later, Cousin Peter fried up a huge batch of yellow striped bass for dinner, and afterward, Ava and her cousins played late into the night.
It really was a fun time, especially given that so much family and friends came who we hadn’t seen in years. It was great to catch up with all of them. Aunt Tammy, the perfect party planner, just knows how to theme a party (decorations, cake, etc.) perfectly matched all with Winnie the Pooh theme which Ava loves.
Seeing Ava have so much fun with all the friends and family, and even strangers turned friends like at Brunet’s Cajun Restaurant showed us how lucky and blessed we have been with Ava’s good health and the chance to see all her family. Once again, we realized how how far away we live from so many good people. Below are a series of pics from the visit. More pics of the visit are here. Again, thanks everyone who made this visit such a very special one for Ava. God bless you all!
 Sarah, Jadah, and Heather at Avas Birthday Party |
 Kevin, Ava, Nonna, and Papa at Ava's Birthday Party |
 Anja and Ava at Mr. Gatti's |
 Ava's Birthday Visit to El Rancho's |
 Charles, Anja, Randy, and Tammy at Mr. Gattis |
 Alicen, Rebecca, Jada and Ava at Birthday Party |
 Ava Dancing With Nonna and Papa at Brunet's Cajun Restaurant |
 All the Guests at Ava's Birthday Party |
 Papa, Ava, and Uncle Kevin |
Hack
1August 13th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Happy 3rd Birthday Ava!
Here’s to your 33rd and 103rd birthdays as well!
2August 24th, 2008 at 2:45 am
[...] | iLinkShare 4 votesOn This Day, 8-15-2008: Woodstock>> saved by FamoustheLegend 0 days ago1 votesAva’s Roadtrip – And a Happy 3rd Birthday!>> saved by HMCgirl 2 days [...]
3August 30th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I loved Ava wearing the sombraro! What a photogenic child! Ava’s 3rd birthday celebration looked like loads of FUN!! We are so happy you had a wonderful trip down south. I continue to hold LA in prayer with Hurricane Gustav appearing to be on the way.
With lots of love,
Lisa
4November 5th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Ava, these are wonderful memories of all the fun we had.
We are so proud to have such a beautiful and sweet
little grandaughter (our heart). Nonna and Poppa love
you so much and thank God for you. See you soon.
Nonna and Poppa