May 8 Memories- Nigh Nigh Dree (Mixtape)




So today, I am remembering bed time with Dree.

Bed time consisted of getting in jammies, brushing teeth, brushing hair.

Mandy and I would usually alternate putting Audrey to bed.  Hannah loved putting her to bed, but it was only so effective as Audrey could be very 

Then we sat in the chair, or bed.    That was Audrey's choice.  When it was me putting her to bed, it was "Bed or Chair?"  Audrey would reply back "BE or CHA."  With me, it was probably 75% "BE", 25% "CHA."  Once we got to BE or CHA, she would sometimes switch her mind, just to mess with me.  But once in BE or CHA, we would usually read Audrey a book.  (PS we are so proud of Audrey completing 1000 books)  

After Reading time, it was music time.


Sonata for 2 pianos in D Major K448
Soon after Audrey's epilepsy diagnosis, Amanda did a lot of research.  It led to Mozart.  Mozart's Sonata for 2 Pianos in D Major K448 was proven to reduce epileptic discharges in some patients. There is also a Yanni song that has a similar affect.  However, we stuck with Mozart.  We became interested, and Amanda was especially intrigued by Mozart's life.  Sonata for 2 pianos became Audrey's go to night night song as well as the song that was played when Audrey was having a seizure cluster. It did help get her back to herself after a seizure.

Amazing Grace- Alan Jackson
The next song on the list was Amazing Grace.  Amanda started singing Amazing Grace to Hannah.  Audrey was much more musically interested, and Amanda continued to sing it to Audrey.    But why Alan Jackson? No, Amanda doesn't have a country music obsession.  The answer is Alexa.  Originally, when we started using Alexa to play music for Audrey, the free version available with Prime was a different version.  But as Alexa has done often, they changed the free version of Amazing Grace available to Prime members, and Alan Jackson's take on the classic became important to the night time routine.  Hannah also would sing Amazing Grace to Audrey.

Remember Me- Coco Soundtrack

I used to have Alexa play the channel "Disney Lullabyes."  The song "Remember Me" was on that list.  When it would play, I would eventually sing it to Audrey.  She would always say "me" when the words "remember me" were uttered.  At the end of the song, she always said "ME" after the last "remember me."  It became our night night song when it was my turn to put her to bed.  When Audrey passed, it became a tradition to play the song at Audrey's grave.  I still hear "ME" in Audrey's voice.

Audrey loved music.  During the day, she loved dancing and twirling to music.  And at night time, she relaxed and went to bed to it.  The bedtime routine could be challenging at times, but it was such good quality time.  

"Night Night Dree"
"Nigh Nigh"


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