bucking bronco...blessed.

Look at my big boy! He is starting to learn how to go. I am so proud of him. Something in him just clicked one Saturday afternoon and he decided he could stand (with minimal support). He loves standing now.

We just got him a stander through Medicaid in July. Within a few weeks he was standing. Super amazing! The stinky thing is, since we just got him a stander, Medicaid wont pay for anymore durable medical equipment (DME) equipment for five more years. So, I set off on a mission to find Mr. I a used gait trainer. New ones range from $1000-$3000. A bit more than what we have on hand for NOW to get him new one. (Sure we could save for a few months, or use K's DME money for one - but I really felt that he needed to start working on walking NOW...rather than 6 mo to a year from now. It took about 6 months for us to get the stander through Medicaid)

I googled "used gait trainers" and low and behold I found a resource right here in NH! I found what looked to be a nice but older model size small gait trainer for $150. I went up the next day to Refurbished Equipment Marketplace in Concord.

Paul at REM was more than helpful. We adjusted the gait trainer down to the smallest sizes possible. But alas, Mr. I was still too small to fit in it. But he loved it anyhow and even took a few small steps. He as all smiles. Paul directed me to another gait trainer - a brand new looking Bronco. I had seen the price tag earlier and new it was way out of our budget for a NOW purchase. I told him that and he said, well, lets just try okay. So we adjusted the Bronco down to the smallest settings possible and put Mr. I in. He fit perfectly. Paul then told me that he thought Mr. I needed this bronco. He asked me what my budget was. I told him that I knew this Bronco was worth a lot more than my budget. He asked again. I told him. He replied: Its yours. We got a $3000 new Bronco for 10% of its worth. Totally, thoroughly blessed.

Mr. I is working on taking steps. He gets totally excited when his big sister Morgann is in the room and tries to follow her around. We are getting there. One small step at a time.

Blogging on special needs

I have good intentions (but let's see if I can follow through) of blogging about the boys more and their progress. Not only for my own records and for freinds and family to see them make milestones - but I have found that other blogs have been my best "therapy". I have learned so much from other moms and tried some of their tricks. One mom, Angela's mom at http://www.gavinowens.com/ wrote about the benefits of water therapy. I thought what the heck and gave it a try. Isaiah really took to the water and has started bearing weight like a champ! With the arrival of his stander and many trips to the lake, we have seen him transform this summer.

I have so much I want to share. But I am rushed for time right now. But I just want to try harder to document what works, what fails, and our struggles and triumphs. Hopefully I can help other moms (and dads) who have similar kids too.

Here are two pics of our two new toys for the boys. :)

perfect ten

Ten years! Ten years ago I married my best friend and together we began our great adventure! In one sense, it seems like just yesterday we were married but on the other hand, it seems like its been forever (in a good way.)

10 years, 3 kids, one cat, and one dog later......I just feel blessed. I could not ask for a better partner, friend, lover, father to my kids, pastor to our church, medical advocate for our boys, than Rich.

Rich asked me as we ate dinner (at a great little restaurant in dowtown Portsmouth) if I ever though we'd be where we are when we first got married. Honestly. No. Never in my wildest dreams would we have 3 kids, two of which are adopted Honduran little princes with some crazy medical needs. Or helping plant a Nepalese church in New Hampshire.

But I would not trade our life for anything.

So blessed.

Playing Hookie

So I was a bad mom today. We skipped out on therapy (okay so I gave notice and cancelled in a timely manner.) Instead of putting on AFO's, we put on swim diapers and headed out to meet my friend and her awesome kids at the state park. The boys had fun sitting in the water and trying to eat sand while we weren't looking. Morgann swam around like a dolphin for a few hours and played her little heart out with her friends. We snacked, chatted, and stayed cool on this unusually hot for NH day. (we are wimps in NH, if the thermometer goes about 85, we tend to melt.)

It was normal.

It was relaxing.

I'm learning how to live our life. In the midst of therapies, surgeries, and clinics. Becoming brave. Going place with all three. Having fun with all three. And not feeling the least amount of guilt for cancelling therapy. Cause you know, eating sand is definitely some sort of occupational therapy.

ADOPTED!

Introducing....
Kaden Dale and Isaiah Dugan. Our sons. Forever. Praise God who has adopted us as his children for allowing us to adopt these two sweet children!

Thriving not just surviving

The first year we had the boys, I was in survival mode. Survive the day to make it to the next day. Survive one hospital stay to make it to the next. Wash, rinse, repeat. I lost out on a lot that first year. Looking back, I don't know if I *could* have done it differently. Perhaps. But getting through the first year with medically and developmentally needy kids has a high learning curve. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would I do things differently armed now with knowledge? Heck yes!

I feel that the past year, we are starting to thrive. Life isn't a continuous uphill battle. I dont plot all the time when the next time I can get a nap or sleep for a few hours in a row. (Oxygen has helped that problem the most!)

Below are some of my thriving tips.

1. Take a shower before getting the boys up. Get breakfast out and ready for two ravenous boys.Change diapers, flush tubes, give sippy, and plop 'em down and enjoy breakfast together. Drink coffee while they eat. Thing One learning to eat on his own also greatly helped this "thrival tip".

2. After dinner, allow the boys to have some quiet play time together while cleaning up from dinner. They sit on the floor looking at each other with toys. Typically they chatter to each other and play. I clean the kitchen. Not a fun task, but after they go to bed I don't have to clean a messy kitchen. And its good for them relationally. For so long, they seemed like they didn't like each other all that much. Now they have about 30 minutes each night to play together uninterupted. I close the curtain between the kitchen and living room and leave them alone. Thing Two tonight, cried for about five minutes. I knew he was ok. He got over it and started playing. Victory.

3. A medical team that I can trust. This has been crucial. Our beloved doctor knows the boys. And she trusts me. And I trust her. We wouldnt be where we are today with out her. I am so grateful. I have made quite a few mistakes in some of our medical decisions. Burned one bridge that I should have probably kept up a little longer. Burned another and never looked back. It's been a huge learning experience. I've also learned if I my gut doesn't like a doctor on the first visit - my gut is right - and run!

4. A good pharmacist. Our pharmacist, Micheal, at CVS is excellent. He know me. He knows the boys. He will stay late to fill a prescription so we can avoid the E.R. I trust him and he will do all he can to help us. I am again, so grateful.

5. A good team of therapists who cheer us along for every "inch-stone". They celebrate each "inch-stone" with us. Like Thing One who belly scoots to get his cup now. Our therapists have done so much to work towards success and independence for the boys. We have a long way to go - but I know that we can accomplish a lot still.

6. Supportive friends and family. Who just call or text. And listen. And understand. Its vital.

7. Faith. God has gotten us through some rotten, barely surviving times. He has given us the strength to face another day. And He is good in the good and the bad. I know thriving is impossible without him.

8. Icecream after everyone goes to bed.

Long time

I can't believe its been two months since my last post! I think the last two months sped by with out me knowing. I still keep thinking it is MAY. But its almost the end of June. Where has time gone?

We are doing well. Enjoying summer. Enjoying Morgann being home from school - and sleeping in a bit:)

We might have some BIG news to announce next week. I'll be sure to post if that is the case.

:)