In the Blink of an Eye

When did this baby
turn into a little boy???

Reading Between The Lines

A conversation with Crew's preschool teacher:

Miss K: I'm just calling to see how Crew is doing?

Me: Oh, he's good. Why... did he have a bad day at school today?

Miss K: I just wondered if he wasn't feeling well and/or if he was tired?

Me: Well, he did fall asleep on the bus ride home.... maybe he was tired.

Miss K: When he got to the classroom he just layed on the floor for like 10 minutes. When Clark (deaf therapist) came in and started signing to him he livened up a lot and they started signing to each other. Clark asked him if he was "tired" and (blah blah blah blah blah)... rubbed at his ear....(blah blah blah). I'm trying to learn 3 or 4 new signs a week and use them with Crew. (blah blah blah).

Can you imagine functioning in an environment where your teacher only knows a handful of signs and that is your main form of communication? Can you imagine the frustration, the boredom?

After last weeks IEP, Carl and I have decided its time to take a long hard look at enrolling Crew in the Deaf School. We've decided to take a tour of the school and meet the teachers. Tomorrow I will make that call.

Up for a CHALLENGE?

And because spastic quadriplegia isn't enough of a challenge we have to add boots that are 10 sizes too big.

For yonks we've been stuck in the crawl-around-with-oversized-shoes-or-boots-on-your-hands stage. Constantly we are tripping over the aftermath of Tornado Shoe. Just this week I stood him up and slipped his little feet into a large pair of boots, ya know... just so he could get his "feel". Consequently, he likes this new hobby very much but it involves me following him around. What a guy!

Make Lemon Pie

Within the last week I've survived:

• Another IEP
• Teaching Relief Society again. Lesson on Unity.
• Sub 20 degree running weather (6 times).
• Nights with less than 4 hours sleep
• An ear infection. Not my ear but still...
• 5 hours hunched over in the basement using a caulking gun... my poor back.

Tonights FHE lesson was on Optimism. You would never know it, would you? LOL. Truly, the lesson is more for me than anyone. It included a scripture, story, object lesson, and lemon pie. "If life hands you lemons... make lemon pie". The pie didn't set up but I like it that way;)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Congratulations!

Attack of the Mouse has a new little one. What a great addition to the family! I am so in love with this little guy. I am an AUNT:)

Backwards Resolutions

The last thing I need is to set myself up for failure. Besides, I have enough guilt in my daily living to last me for awhile. After reading Jodi's post on backwards resolutions, I decided this is the way to go.

So, in an effort to guarantee SUCCESS and not add to my guilt, I've decided on the following resolutions:

1. I will not learn to sing on pitch this year.


2. I will not give up carbonated beverages.


3. I will not stop running.


4. I will not stop blogging.


5. I will not get super skinny.


6. I will not get out of debt.


7. I will not stop battling my boys to brush their teeth, make their beds, or pick up their clothes.


8. I will not vacation out of the country.


9. I will not be adding another one to our family.


10. I will not stop praying.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Is it OKAY?

I just finished reading Jacolyn's post on "What exactly is your okay?" Jacolyn also has a child with CP and I've enjoyed getting to know her and her triplets via her blog. I haven't had the gumption to write anything regarding the holidays. Truth is, it's been really hard. I am so ready for school to start bright and early tomorrow morning. I try so hard to be positive but I feel like sometimes "its okay" to share the disappointment and frustration because that is what makes this blog real.

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I remember people telling me it would be "okay" after I brought Crew home from the NICU. I knew in the back of my mind that it wouldn't be "okay". Almost 5 years later I realize the outcome is actually quite worse than I ever imagined it would be. I know that sounds horrible. However, it never occurred to me that he wouldn't be able to communicate. I didn't realize how frustrated and unhappy he would be to sit on the sidelines and watch. The days are hard and long.

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It's a good thing that we can't see into the future. This spunky little 4 year old is determined to experience it all. We bought a treadmill the day after Christmas. The roads here are an icy mess and now with 3 of us running we decided it was time to make that investment. What we didn't anticipate was Crew's obsession with the treadmill. In 9 days I've only been able to squeeze in two good runs on the treadmill because Crew insists on joining me in my runs;) I'm tough but not throw 35 pounds on my back and run TOUGH. If he see's anybody go downstairs he screams and cries until he gets his time on the treadmill. This involves me standing on the sides and holding him upright while he walks at .5 mile/hour (grinning) until he is so tired that his legs are literally dragging. This usually takes about 10 - 12 minutes and then he is ready to give it a go again a few minutes later.

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DOING.

We must constantly be doing something. If you've spent much time around me you've heard me brag about how well Crew is doing with his power chair. There was a day when we didn't think he would ever safely navigate the thing. Still, we have our moments but for the most part he is doing great. Unfortunately for me, we do not have an accessible home and so all his "driving" is done outside. As children typically can be, he does not notice the single digits, the frozen toes or the dripping nose. But what he does see are snowdrifts to conquer and ice hills to climb. He is blissfully happy until mom can't take the cold anymore and calls him inside.... and then he is a MONSTER:)

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Tonight, after dealing with two LONG weeks off from school and therapy I experienced one of God's "tender mercies" as he snuggled down with me and fell asleep. I held him and thanked God for allowing me to be his mother, a calling for which I often feel inadequate. I hope I'm doing "okay" with this huge responsibility. I surely do feel blessed to have him in my life. I too have decided after many prayers and tears-- it's going to be OKAY. I don't know how, I just know that it is.