Well, Hello!

It's been a few years since I have been here. I feel like I should be blogging again, at least a little bit. My kids are growing up and some things have changed and other haven't. Becca is now 6 and Richard is 8. After starting school we found that homeschooling was the best option for both kids. So that's a new adventure that we are going in to. Will come back later!

Testing.....

Last time I posted it automatically posted to my facebook and I don't want it to do that. So it is a test to see if it still does still do it! ARGGG.....

Our First 48 hr EEG.

I thought I would share Becca's and My experience with a 48 hr EEG at All Children's Hospital in St. Pete. We went in on Thursday, November 3rd and left on the 5th. We had a great experience. The Nurses were great and very helpful. Becca even had a visit with Pet Therapy. A golden retriever came to her room, unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of that. :( We aren't sure if she actually had any seizures while we were there, her results we will get next week. I also have to say Thanks for the lovely fairy pillow case, that we got to take home! Picture time and video!......

Becca watching her first movie of the weekend.

Becca's favorite way to sit. She loved sticking her feet through the railing.

Richard's drawing of a brain...after telling him what the wires were for.

Up and walking around the room for a bit.

Favorite Aunt Titi. Best Aunt in the world came to hang out for the day.
(P.S. She did put a pair of my daughters pants on her head so she would look like Becca, lol)

View from our room :)

Gotta love zoom on a camera :)

Our room

Video of Becca playing with a ball and having fun on the bed!



It's amazing how grown up little kids can act sometimes!

Well, my son, Richard isn't so little anymore. He is 5 1/2, as he will tell anyone that will listen. But today he showed me just how compassionate he is. We were at All Children's Hospital for Becca's neuro appointment. And while at lunch at the cafeteria in between the appointment and the EEG to follow. There was a mom sitting at a table across from us. He turn to me and said " Mom could we go sit with her, she looks all alone.". I told him that sometimes people like to sit alone and think, but if he felt like he needed to, he could ask her if she would like to join us for a bit. He got right up and walked right over to her and asked her if she would like to join us. I was totally surprised that she said yes. We had a nice, small conversation and she left with a smile on her face (there wasn't one the entire time she sat alone). I pray that her 12 day old baby boy did get to go home today, like planned. My son surprised me today. :) But sometime even kids know what others need! God knows how to work!

Time Goes By!

This morning at 5:03 am, two years ago, my mom left us to go home! Kinda wish I was in the frame of mind to get some pictures that last month but she wouldn't have been happy about it anyway, so I am sure I wasn't meant to. Picture time!

(April 09-Theresa's Intervarsity Grad Dinner)

                       (April 09- Easter)                               

She was an awesome Grandma right from the start!

(Richard-2/7/06)

(Richard 10 months)

 (Becca 7/29/08) 

(Becca one month)

( Becca 4ish months)

July 8th 2002 @ 3 am, my dad passed away, its been 9 years. They are both very much missed and thought of everyday! I will post some pictures of my dad, when I can find them, that was pre-digital age for me!

I thank God everyday for the gifts he has given me!

I subscribe to Parenting Special Needs Magazine (http://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/) . This issue has a story in the beginning which I want to share with you! (P.S. you might need tissues)

The Special Mother

by Erma Bombeck

Did you ever wonder how mothers of disabled children

were chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over the Earth

selecting his instruments for propagation with great

care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His

angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

“This one gets a daughter. The Patron saint will be

Cecelia.”

“This one gets twins. The Patron saint will be Matthew.”

“This one gets a son. The Patron saint.... give her

Gerard. He’s used to profanity”

Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles,

“Give her a disabled child.”

The angel is curious, “Why this one God?

She’s so happy.”

“Exactly,” smiles God. “Could I give a disabled child

to a mother who does not know laughter?

That would be cruel.”

“But has she patience?” askes the angel.

“I don’t want her to have too much patience or she will

drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock

and resentment wears off, she’ll handle it. I watched her

today, she has that feeling of self and independence

that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see,

the child I’m going to give her has his own world. She

has to make him live in her world and that’s not

going to be easy.”

“But Lord, I don’t think she even believes in you.”

God smiles, “No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect

- she has justenough selfishness.”

The angel gasps - “Selfishness? Is that a virtue?”

God nods. “If she can’t separate herself from the child

occasionally, she’ll never survive. Yes here is a woman

whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She

doesn’t realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will

never take for granted a ‘spoken word’. She will never

consider any ‘step’ ordinary. When her child says

“Momma” for the first time, she will be present at a

miracle and will know it! I will permit her to see clearly

the things I see... ignorance, cruelty, and prejudice...

and allow her to rise above them. She will never be

alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day

of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as

if she is here by my side.”

“And what about her Paton saint?” asks the angel, his

pen poised in mid air. God smiles, “A mirror will suffice.”

This touched me. I have always believed in GOD. He is awesome and in control. Even when I think I am doing things my way. He has alway made a way to provide for us. I love all the gifts he has given me and for the things he has planned. Life isn't easy it, never has been. It has made me who I am, a blessed child of God.

I am going to cuddle, one of his greatest gifts because she isn't feeling good and can't tell me whats wrong.

Becca surprises us at Therapy yesterday!

Becca has OT Tuesday mornings. Lynnette has been doing Listening therapy for about 2 months on the swing and decided to try with her wearing the headphones while standing and walking. (Lynnette is awesome by the way and really the reason Becca is making so much progress) Here she is trying at the mirror. You can see her wearing the head phones. The pop link she is holding helps keep her from taking the headphones off. :) (Please excuse the crappy cell video, I really need a better camera. If you full screen them they are better.)

And to the big surprise... 20 min later and for her PT to see as well! Her motivation for walking was a pop link and a rolling stool, lol. The things our kids love!

I am so proud of Becca! We all are! A big thanks to Lynnette who is an awesome OT!