Friday, July 20, 2007

Obviously, I'm no professional photographer





The pictures aren't in focus, but the kid is still cute. :)

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

What?

I have plans, plans, plans to read and post and write, but my life. My life is so busy at the moment!! Eeeesh!

I forgot a PT appointment yesterday. It's been every Tuesday for almost two years. I have remembered to call and cancel during shunt revisions for pity's sake.

*sigh*

I hope things slow down, and I quit being so forgetful.

I think sleep would be helpful, too.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Someone else's words

Today I read a message posted by someone on one of my email lists about life being like a big waiting room. Learning to wait is one of the hardest lessons as a little kid, but as an adult it's not a whole lot easier. Here I thought I had become a more patient individual, but I think I was wrong. I find myself going crazy somedays with this waiting game. I'm constantly questioning myself and sifting through what is paranoid and what is intuition. It's not so easy to tell. Intuition has been spot on in the past, but I'm starting to feel like I'm paranoid with our recent bout of stuff.

I feel like something isn't right. Tests are showing nothing is wrong. This is good, but why do I keep looking for something to be wrong? I don't want anything to be wrong. Or do I? I can't imagine why I would want something to be wrong, so I'm wondering if I'm just paranoid. Do I just ignore these feelings? Brush them aside? How does one cope with paranoia?

I don't want to become the parent who everyone stops listening to because they've cried wolf one too many times, but I don't want to be the person who ignores the obvious because they don't want to be perceived as overreactive. I've got myself in a quandary, don't I???

Anyway, a lot of this is due to just feeling deep down something is going on, but testing is showing nothing. I absolutely abhor the idea of putting him through unnecessary testing, so I've decided I've got to just let it go and believe and trust that if something IS going on, we'll catch it on time. G had his ophthalmologist appointment on Wednesday, and his optic nerve showed no change. We return in eight weeks to continue monitoring and making sure it has no change or gets better.

On another note, I'm a bit excited about progress in the equipment department. On Thursday, G and I went with his regular PT to see another physical therapist about his mobile stander. We were given the mobile stander because it was going to be thrown, but it just wasn't working. The other PT knew how to adjust it, and we now have a functioning stander. We talked about getting wheels and a walker, and it looks like it will be happening soon, hopefully. I'm hoping G is able to gain speed and mobility.

Friday, July 06, 2007

Terrific Twos


It's obvious the child is entering that "Terrific" Two phase. It can be terrible for the parent, and tough for the child, but all in all it's a terrific phase. I mean, every day, despite much frustration, tantrums, irritation, it seems there is this energy, this desire to learn, to destroy, to shout, to exclaim. It's encouraging to see development and progress for mom and dad despite the ringing ears. As this photo demonstrates, the kid was not happy. It wasn't because he wanted to be out of the corn, he wanted to do it on his own, and he was furious I had pulled him in there. Once I put him on the ground, he crawled in and was as happy as could be.

G is definitely emerging as a personality. As a baby, he was this silent, watchful, peaceful buddha figure. He didn't use much energy to cry or complain, and he was a huge baby because of it. He is still very watchful, but he makes noise with the rest of 'em! I remember telling people who would often tell me what a fantastic, sweet baby he was, that I thought the twos would be challenging. I figured he was biding his time. And, it was painfully obvious to me that he was taking notes with how watchful he was!

Number Three was my most challenging in this phase, and I must admit, G isn't quite like that or even like my nephew. He doesn't always have the physical capabilities to get into stuff, climb counters, open fridge doors of fish in the toilet, but his personality is definitely that of a toddler entering that two-year-old phase. He expects, no demands, that I allow him these privileges and take him there right NOW! And the word NO to him is as if I've slapped him across the face and ripped his poor, wittle heart out

I love the challenge of this age because they want to learn so much. It's all about learning and discovering and figuring things out. There are days I can't keep up with it and get frustrated and act out like I'm two, but for the most part, I really don't mind the Twos.

With G, there is a different aspect that I find difficult to deal with. This would be the shunt. Again. I'm having to learn what his Two is like. I know what my other three kids were like, I know how they acted, but what is normal for him? What is excessively irritable? Where does one draw the line? What do you ignore and what do you pay attention to? It's a challenge, that's for sure, and I'm not sure I'm relishing it much. I feel on edge whenever he cries or screamz, especially if he sounds in pain. And of course, the smart kid has figured out if he cries, "Owie!" mommy is right there asking where it hurts. Boy, I'm going to have to work on that.

Overall, though, I'm enjoying the attitude from this kid. He's funny, smart, and ornery.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

A little thing called a bath

G hasn't had many baths in his lifetime. He's 21 months, and he had 21 casts off and on to correct his little feet. Many a sponge bath was had. He has had some baths, but he's been terrified of them, and I decided to not force it. Therefore, it's been awhile since he's had a bath. I've been having him wash his hands and splash and play in the sink a bit, and I have him watch the other kids bathe. He hasn't minded being splashed recently, so I decided it was time to give it a try again.

I put G in the bath chair in the tub with his brother a few nights ago, and at first he cried, but then I splashed a bit of water, and it tickled his fancy, I guess. He was happy and content to play, and he cried when I took him out.

I find this so exciting that he finally enjoys a bath. No more screaming and trembling from him and no more feeling like I'm torturing my kid.

Another thing he's been finding enjoyment in is Blue's Clues. None of my other kids have been suckered into a show like this. He will yell, "Blue clue!! Blue clue!!" while we are watching a show, and he's quite persistent about it. Today he signed "please." It's kind of cute, and it's very, very helpful for bedtime. Getting him ready for bed takes about a half hour, so it's been nice to not have him screaming as I dress him, change his diaper, put his braces on, and give him medications. I think it's taking less than a half hour because we're not engaged in a battle anymore. Thank you, Blue, Steve, and sometimes Joe.