Every year I think of a word or saying that can be our chant, center us, focus our year. The first year was the famous "keep calm and carry on", last year was simplify which was perfect. Towards the end of 2012 I kept coming to contentment and be. There is something so simple with "be". Be content, Be grateful, Be happy, Be in the moment, just BE. I think we are finally at a place in our lives where we are so very content. We are happy, healthy, and love one another more than words. There is so much joy that everyday brings. The smiles and laughter swell our hearts and I think Ricky and I still ask is this really our life? We are so blessed. To be content means to be satisfied and there is so much peace with that.
The kids are doing so well. They say new words and sentences everyday and usually it's the funniest things that we can't help but laugh about. They are each learning to say Happy Valentine's Day. It's the sweetest thing but nothing as sweet as when they say "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, I love you" or Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, I love you". They are each so full of love and happiness. There is no ignoring them either. They'll pat our arm or leg and continue to say mommy or daddy until we give our full undivided attention.
Gracie is doing so good walking and her pace is faster and faster every day. It brings so many emotions when I think about her life so far and I do often. Every odd was against her, every diagnosis or unknown diagnosis has made her stronger, has made her fight harder. She is so very reserved, so cautious but she continues on, meeting goals, and doing things the doctors said she'd never do. We do have some pretty big health issues to deal with this year. She has to continue intense physical therapy on her leg. This week will be the first week she'll have three days a week PT. We need to follow up with her ENT about her paralyzed vocal cord and see if the injection into the cords is a route we'll want to try again. I'm not sure that we will but it's so hard because her vocabulary has taken off but her voice is a whisper because of that left cord. And then there is a big thing with her arms that is now affecting her range of motion. The pediatrician said it could continue to get worse or it could stay where it's at. She is unable to put her arms straight up which affects her being able to dress herself, brush her hair, and also affects the way she uses a spoon. These things aren't really a concern now because I can do those things for her but she does like her independence and as she gets older she won't want her mom doing these things for her. The other thing is we really don't want another major surgery. It's so heartbreaking but at the same time we sure don't want her to remember any of these things. It is nothing Ricky and I take lightly and if anything ever weighs on us, it's the health and choices we have to make for them.
Brody got his new glasses last week. He look absolutely handsome and some much older. The RX is so different than what he had so it's a really big adjustment for him. He talks a lot but he really gets to talking when he is exhausted and it's time for him to sleep. He literally talks himself to sleep. We often wonder who he is talking to in his room. He has full conversations, laughs, and claps to whomever he is talking to. He has very recently started to develop some bad habits while eating and we are trying to figure out what is going on to cause these new changes. I'm so happy he has not had any seizures since the last one in December and he is not on the medication for seizures anymore. I thought long and hard about that medication and all I could think was it was poison being put into his little body. I had such a bad feeling about it. I think it's so amazing that he is so smart and doing so well having the brain damage he has. Besides having glasses, you'd never know by interacting with him that he had such a rough start. It's so amazing.
Madi is something else. That child is just like me. Ricky says we even sleep the same. He has his hands full for sure. She is the mommy to Brody and Gracie and really takes care of them. Rather it be patting their backs, sneaking drinks for her bubby and sissy into the living room or snacks for that matter, their love for one another is so wonderful. She has to buckle her own car seat and heaven help us if we don't let her do it! I'm sure our neighbors can hear her protest. She wants to pick out her own clothes and shoes and it's a fight to keep a bow in her hair unless it's on her terms. The same goes with taking pictures of her. Her and Gracie can find their groove to any beat. If a dog or cat is in our yard that shouldn't be, she has no problem telling them about it. She is something else!
All three of the kids love our neighbors so much. They now say they want to go to "Lupe and Ronnie" and point across the street. It's an everyday visit and the few days it isn't, I have a problem on my hands. They have Mrs. Lupe and Mr. Ronnie wrapped around their pinkie fingers too, every time they leave they say I love you Lupe and I love you Ronnie all the while blowing kisses and waving. So sweet! That is the way these kids are though, so full of love!
Krista
