Dont tell me they can't.

A while back, a medical professional told me:
"Well right now things are going good, but Kaden will always have issues and things will get bad again."

Excuse me?

First off, my God is a big God. He is the Great Physician. And I KNOW all things are possible. I believe in miracles. If God wants to heal Kaden 100%, He will. He may choose not to - but I know if He chooses not to heal him 100%, Kaden is still going to live a pretty awesome life. Being differently-abled is not a curse.

Secondly, research shows that much healing can occur in the brain if a child suffers from brain trauma, lack of oxygen, ect. Research also shows that kids with multiple aspirations, once the aspiration problem has been resolved, can regain 100% lung function. AND laryngomalacia, typically effects kids only in the first few years of life, and barely after 5 years of life. Thus, I feel strongly his apnea will be resolved.

and Third. Don't ever tell me my kid is doomed to a life of sickness and disabilities. Just don't. Keep those thoughts to yourself.

Fourth. These boys really like to prove people wrong. Including me.

Believe me. I have had my doubts and worries. If you asked me a year ago, I would have told you I didn't think the boys would ever walk. But they proved me wrong and are taking baby steps as I hold there hands. They will walk. It may be with a gait trainer and later a walker...but they will get there.

Perhaps I am a wee bit competitive. But that helps motivate me as there mom to motivate them.

Our beloved Dr. O. (who I know would never say aloud her doubts and fears )told me a few months ago that she never thought Isaiah would be a little monkey - but he was proving her wrong.
Another time, after seeing a neurologist and then following up six months later the neurologist told me about Isaiah - wow, this is a completely different child.

And then my favorite Elliot hospitalist- Dr. Abrams - Abbey, I never thought Kaden would be sitting here, eating and playing with toys." Little did she know, she was the one who instilled all that hope in me right after we first got Kaden. Even though, she didn't know if Kaden would even live at the time, she whispered gently to my very sick boy: "One day Kaden you will go to school. You will learn math. And the girls will love you." Dr. Abrams taught me a lesson that I will live by every day: Believe in miracles and surround yourself with doctors and nurses who even in their doubts, will support you in your quest to give the best life possible to those little boys.

So here's to my little men who were never supposed to:
-Make it out the NICU
-Drink again
-Eat normally
-See
-Hear
-Interact
-Stand
-Tell me their needs through signing/Ipad
(yep they can do all of the above well)

Now for some goals:
-Walk with assistance
-Talk
-Learn to get from sitting from laying down

Game on.

A post a day.

So my sister, Sarah, said I should post a blog a day. Lofty goal. But maybe I will try it until Christmas. I have a few ideas and topics whirling around in my brain.

Or I can just post cute pics of my kids.

Like this girl.

(Taken by the fabulous Sarah Dykens)

This girl. She's such a cool kid. Great big sister. Angry birds junkie. Just an awesome six (gulp, almost 7) year old.

I share more stories about her two little brothers. But this kid is pretty amazing too. She is growing into such a wonderful young lady. Last night she washed dishes for me. I like that she is getting to the age of taking over the dishes washing :) She loves to read to her brothers and to me and Rich.

I am so blessed to have a kid like her!

Holding them back.

My boys are not babies.

They are toddlers.

They may LOOK like babies. They may ACT most of the time like babies.

but the thing is. They are not babies.

They are little boys.

Who understand far more than babies.

And this is where I confess - I have been thinking and treating them like babies for too long.

On our recent trip to Virginia we were going to meet Rich's parents at the hotel. But we needed to get gas first. We knew stopping and NOT getting the boys out of the van would make them mad. Rich explained to the boys that we were stopping to get gas and they would have to stay in the van. He told them after we got gas, we would be able to get out a few minutes later.
....and it worked. They listened and understood. Amazing.

We've had them in cribs until last night (well not at my parents) The boys dont move much. They happily sit and play on their mat all day. (Much like our lazy cat) I kind of assumed that they couldn't crawl as really they just sit all day and fuss if we do put them on their tummies They can not get from laying to sitting. We are working on it and I know one day they will get it.

So my story is long I know. I'm getting to the point:)

So the mattress to their soon to be finished bed is on the floor in their room. And they are taking full advantage of their freedom. This morning, when I went in to get them, Isaiah was army crawling towards the door. And at naptime (which instead was playtime) Kaden made his way to the door and then started banging on it to get it.

I underestimate these little dudes. They have learned to adapt to their abilities. And now its time for me to start treating them like toddlers too.