Ethan's Fourth Birthday

Thanksgiving and Birthday Blessings

As Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, most of us are taking time out to think about the things we are thankful for. Ethan’s birthday is Monday – and he was actually born on Thanksgiving so that holiday will be forever special to us. He is our miracle. We are so thankful to have him in our lives. He reminds me on a daily basis to be thankful for the littlest things. I take great pride in the things that other parents take for granted in their children. It is hard to believe he is turning four. I think in a way, I am stuck in time with him. I had all of these milestones in my mind that I thought he would have reached by now, and have learned over the years that it just isn’t going to happen. I am now much more realistic with his progress. He has matured by leaps and bounds the last year and we are really proud of him. It hasn’t always been easy. Driving for two hours twice a week for him to go to speech therapy for forty minutes is trying on my patience! But then when I see him attempt a new word with the therapist it is all worth it.
Ethan is excited that it is his birthday and this is the first year he has been able to tell us the kind of cake he wants – I’ll give you one guess…it starts with a S. His wish will be granted on Sunday when we have his party.
I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and is surrounded by family and friends who love and understand them. Children can remind us that it is the simple things in life that should make you happy and joyous.
Happy Birthday to my sweet little turkey Ethan and Happy Thanksgiving to all the special people in our lives.

Sick Babies

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit. Both the boys are sick. Ethan is on the tail end of "it" and is feeling better. He still has a deep cough and a runny nose, but no fever. Theo, however, is not improving and went back to the doctor for a second time today. He has been laboring to breath, and since he was hospitalized before with RSV we want to be extra cautious. They gave him a breathing treatment and now I have to nebulize him every three hours. If his fever persists for a couple more days we have to take him back in. Life with children I suppose. With all of Ethan's doctors visits it seems menial in comparison. Anyhow, I will be posting more once the boys feel better. I think Ethan is going stir crazy -- we haven't done much at all for the last week and half. I am starting to feel like a hermit!

Special Needs Children

You know you have a special needs child when...

1. You compare ER's instead of grocery stores
2. You compare your child’s oxygen saturations
3. You view toys as "therapy"
4. You don't take a new day for granted.
5. You teach your child how to pull things out of the cupboard, off the bookcases, and that feeding the dog from the table is fun.
6. The clothes your infant wore last fall still fit her this fall.
7. Everything is an educational opportunity instead of just having plain old fun.
8. You cheer instead of scold when they blow bubbles in their juice while sitting at the dinner table (that's Speech Therapy), smear ketchup all over their high chair (that's OT), or throw their toys (that's PT)
9. You also don't mind if your child goes through the house tooting a tin whistle.
10. You fired at least 3 pediatricians and can teach your family doctor a thing or two.
11. You can name at least 3 genes on chromosome 21. (you really know your toast if you can spell the full names correctly)
12. You have been told your are "in denial" by at least 3 medical or therapy professionals. This makes you laugh!
13. You have that incredible sinking feeling that you've forgotten something on those days that you don't have some sort of appointment somewhere.
14. Your vocabulary consists of all the letters OT, PT, ST, ASD, VSD, IFSP, IEP, etc.
15. You keep your appointment at the specialist even though a tropical storm is raging because you just want to get his on over with....you waited 8 months to get it....and besides, no one else will be there!
16. Fighting and wrestling with siblings is pt.
17. Speech therapy occurs in the tub with a sibling.
18. When potty training is complete, you take out a full-page public notice in the Washington Post.
19. When the doctor/specialist/hospitals, etc all know you by your name without referring to your chart.
20. You keep a daily growth chart (or seizure chart)
21. You calculate monthly statistics for the number of times you child vomits, and did this for more than one year.
22. You phone all your friends when your child sits up for the first time, at age two.
23. With a big smile on your face you tell a stranger that your four year old just started walking last week.
24. Her medical file is two inches and growing.
25. You have a new belief...that angels live with us on earth.