Almost 3 years ago my son had his first seizures. The very first one I didn\’t see, I found him lying on the floor. I thought he had choked on something. I gave him the heimlich 3 times(the next day he said his tummy was sore). He was 2 years and 8 months. We took 2 ambulance rides that day.
Olivia is now the same age he was then. I am about the same number of weeks pregnant. The \”anniversary date\” is a month away. I still find myself losing my cool a bit or freaking out on the inside if the kids get too quiet or don\’t answer right away. It\’s hard to let the memory of that day go.
Joel\’s condition is fully controlled with medication. He doesn\’t have a severe case, and he takes a fairly low dose of medication twice a day. We only had to go through 2 other meds to find a good fit for him. We are fortunate that it is controllable. I have read many cases where that is not the case. My husband and I are so very thankful.
On the other meds, Joel had small \”incidences\”, head flinches, brief loss of balance, and even loss of baldder control (adds a bit of complication when potty training!) In June, it will be 2 full years he has gone without any seizures (brief or long)! It\’s a major milestone, but it means more tests… The last time he had an EEG he was so young, I don\’t know what to expect from my big boy. It was scary for him and heart-wrenching for us. I pray that he will not be fearful.
We are also praying for no traces of sezure activity. I wish that type of news would offer me ultimate comfort, but there is still fear. I still struggle with allowing Joel to climb without a \”spotter\” (what if a breif incident occurs?), but I do. I fear recurrence in later years or months. I fear having this in his health history will limit his choices. I have no idea if one can be a pilot if one had epilepsy as a preschooler.
I am getting ahead of myself. June is still months away. I just take joy in the fact that he is healthy, active, smart and has the best sense of humor! I tearfully rejoice that he is alive (he was blue when I found him that morning 3 years ago). I am thankful he takes his medicine so well (he used to blow the sprinkles off the spoon). Finally I am thankful God chose me to be his mom. At 5, he tells me I am the best mom… I sure hope he still thinks that when he\’s 30:)
blankets go on bunkbeds!” That’s what Olivia had to say when I told her what was for dinner - hot dogs in a blanket. Yeah, a healthy meal: hot dogs (turkey) and processed American cheese wrapped in crescent roll dough. I called her to the kitchen when I pulled them out of the oven, to show her we wouldn’t be eating real blankets. Her response, “Oooohhhh, not REAL blankets!”
Due date that is! It’s the final countdown and the innate drive to “nest” is in full swing! I am reminded nearly every moment that the time is drawing near.
I am trying to focus on the pregnancy, and enjoy it. This may be the last time I experience the kicks and hiccups within my womb. However, the feeling of anticipation and wonder keeps turning my focus to meeting my new son or daughter!
In the last week I have been experiencing new movement within - hiccups!!! Also, the kicks, punches and stretches have become markedly stronger. This is my favorite part of pregnancy. The back pain, waddling, and exhaustion are not the bonus is this deal:) Another precious memory I will surely treasure are times like this evening: my son leaning on me as we sit on the couch, with his hand on my belly. Joel loves feeling the baby move.
Olivia is less enthusiastic about feeling my belly. She is more interested in details such as: will the baby talk, will it have teeth. can we tickle it, can she hold it… and her greatest anticipation is when she can have a baby in her belly so she can have Tums too:)
Tonight, my husband put togther some shelves from Ikea, to make room for baby things, and to create a more efficient space for Joel and Livi’s toys. I think we are making some progress! We still need to sort through the storage unit and get the saved baby clothes, car seat, bouncer and swing. Hmmm… I’m sure I’ll think of more. I know my scrapbooks won’t be caught-up in time….
I recognized something this week. I view fruit as a snack item. This is a problem when my daughter only wants to eat fruit for breakfast… In my mind, breakfast is cereal or eggs or pancakes or oatmeal or something with enriched, refined, white flour!
The veil finally lifted from mine eyes! My 2.5 year old WILL eat breakfast! Fruit is not just a side dish or snack item!!! Let her eat the grapes or apples or pears or bananas or strawberries or melon or… for breakfast! Yes, she may be very, VERY regular, but the protein in her chocolate milk is significant in the food chart as well:)
I feel liberated, and satisfied. This new victory satisfies a couple of things - morning nourishment for my daughter AND it gives her an area where she feels control and independence. It\’s an in which area I CAN relinquish some parental control (letting her be independent and run wildly in the parking lot is not an option). She can choose her breakfast, and the fruit doesn\’t have to be sided with a bowl of cereal. I hear it from time to time - that the kiddos need to feel \”in control\” and if eating something healthy is how she wants to tackle this, I am happy to let go!
Another \”upside\” is - self-service. When baby comes she can grab her own apple or banana or whatever for breakfast if I the \”wait time\” for mom is beyond her schedule:) I don\’t have to worry about her trying to pour milk from a gallon jug into her bowl of coco puffsn (yeah, healthy)… most of the milk would not make it into the bowl!
I read a post by Mom in the Mirror. She called it, That Belly Button. I loved it and now evertime I see my children\’s belly buttons, I just get mushy about it! It is a special privilege and bond I\’ll always have with my children, however close to the edge they take me:) I won\’t even try to paraphrase, Mom in the Mirror wrote it perfectly…
Now is a good time to reflect on the past year. I wonder why we felt we were so busy?
October started with another weekend with mom away… I couldn\’t miss the fall scrapbook retreat! Oh, my husband is a saint! October marked the beginning of meeting with a group of about 10 teens at our home. We do a little Bible study, a lot of joking, and a lot of eating junk! Other things that started in October (kind of last month too) MOPS (I get to head-up the craft), our adult small group, Joel started Awana, and our house hunt is in full swing… Paul arranged over-night babysitting for the kids with his parents, and we got a night away in Seattle for my birthday (did I mention my pregnancy massage???!!!)
November was the month we\’d been looking forward to much of the year. On the 10th we headed to Florida for a couple of days at Disneyworld. On the 13th we set sail for the Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. We were gone nearly 2 full weeks! This special vacation (with the kiddos) was in celebration of our 10 year anniversary (bu that wasn\’t technically until December…). A low-key Thanksgiving followed. We celebrated it at my in-laws - they did all the cooking!!!
December always bring a hectic pace — shopping, pondering whether or not to send cards, a party here, a party there, painting 3 rooms of the house, putting an offer on a house, putting one\’s house on the market, pulling out of an offer, taking one\’s house off the market after almost 2 weeks… You know, the norm:) My parents and brother came for Christmas. We managed to lounge a bit, but peppered their visit with a trip to Seattle and the Light of Christmas at Warm Beach (by the way - Warm beach is not warm in December!:) The month finished off with our family venturing to Mt. Baker for a youth retreat - a mouse and an early return home. We blasted out the old with a sick 2 (and one half!) year old lying between us, with a 102 temperature… our 5 (and one half) year old son zonked out on the other couch a mere 3 minutes before the Space Needle fireworks welcomed in the new year…
We sure do know how to ring in the new! I wonder what 2005 will look like??? I just need to remember to go with the flow… to give in to the chaos — for it is impending:)
Now is a good time to reflect on the past year. I wonder why we felt we were so busy?
July brought more family visits. My Grandma Myra came for a week-long visit. Hubby\’s Grandma, Aunt and Uncle also came out from Tennessee. We spent the 4th with our friends Darren and Sara in Bellingham. Joel had a ball at VBS. His favorite part was the music - he just loves to be up front and to perform! The most significant event of the month - and probably the year, was finding out baby #3 was on the way - I will always remember July 21st, 2004:)
In August… Joel did Minihawks (week-long sports camp). Then we flew to Minnesota to see family and be at my Cousin Heather\’s wedding. Joel was the ring bearer and Livi was the flower girl (or \”flower princess\” as she calls it!). We got to see family I had not seen since my wedding almost 10 years before! It was a whirlwind, but it was so neat to have been able to go. As our summer grand finale, we went camping the last weekend with over a dozen other families at Camp Casey! There were an overwhelming number of bees (28 stings among the families at our camp), some rain, and an abundance of fun with good friends. Of course, we returned home dirty, tired and thankful for no more bees, and reconnected with friends!!!
It was back to preschool for Joel in September. Livi started back at Music Makers as well. One weekend we went to Cannon Beach (in Oregon) with another family. We just lounged, ate, and rode our bikes in the rain:) The next weekend I went away for 4 full days to Tennessee. I went to the MOPS national convention. It was my longest trip away from the kids - ever! I went with my friend Casey, and we laughed - hard - nearly the entire time! Our kids are the same age, and it\’s hard to find time just to get to know each other — our weekend gave us plenty of time for that:)
Now is a good time to reflect on the past year. I wonder why we felt we were so busy?
April provided some much needed down time. No visitors or big trips. Joel took swim lessons and Paul got a bunch of tickets to see the Mariners play - through October!
In May… Livi turned 2 and had a ladybug birthday party. It turned out to be the party month! We were invited to 7, yes 7 kiddie birthday parties, and 2 baby showers. So many of the parties overlapped, so we were only able to make it to 3 birthday parties, and I went to both baby showers:) Joel continued with swim lessons and started his 6 week soccer session, and Livi continued with Music Makers:) I participated in my first road race. It was a 5 mile run! I only messed up one toe and ran the entire distance!
June marked the official beginning of summer… the end of the preschool year for Joel and his birthday! Joel turned 5 and had a pirate party. Livi got to join a mini-preschool class - one day (2 hours) a week for 3 weeks. Her first dose of \”school\”. She loved it! The highlight of the month (in stress and enjoyment) was the Mom\’s camping adventure at Camp Cushman. We had 5 moms and 12 kids. We pitched tents, tent trailers, built fires, lounged by the lake, unpacked and pakced back up… it was the real thing - roar!!! Livi ingested a wee bit o\’ bug repelant (non-deet). Me and the kiddos had a ball, but wore ourselves out!
Now is a good time to reflect on the past year. I wonder why we felt we were so busy…
In January… we spent Christmas and New Year\’s Eve with my parents in Colorado. I split my \”momness\” between 2 MOPS groups through June (burned out a bit). Both kids clapped and sang in Music Makers through the spring. My mom had knee surgery and Paul\’s dad had his donated kidney (from mother-in-law) removed.
In February… a Superbowl party! Our dear friends came over on the spur of the moment after the party and stayed the night. We stayed up late playing XBox. I mention this because it was such a fun time with Keith, Marissa, and Bryan, and I don\’t have pictures of it (we missed Jenn though!!!)! A few days later, Paul\’s extended family came from Tennessee and South Carolina (Grandma, 2 aunts, an uncle and 4 cousins). It was great to see them and show them a bit of Seattle. The next week my sister came for a week-long visit - more sight seeing! The last weekend I went on a scrapbooking retreat and we squeezed in hosting our first karaoke party - which happened to be a hit!
In March… Hubby\’s Grandma (another one) popped in for a visit, along with his uncle. A few days later, my parents and brother all came to visit during my brother\’s spring break. We planned Olivia\’s dedication so they would be here for it - March 14th. We did the church dedication, but the special part was having our supportive friends and family come over afterwards. We ate and visited and everyone gathered in the living room as we prayed together for Olivia. March wrapped up with me leaving my family for another weekend to go on my church\’s women\’s retreat. Obviously, my husband is spectacular and makes the effort so I can \”get away\”.
My 10 year reunion is in February. Not my high school reunion, nooooo…. My COLLEGE 10 year reunion! 10 years… it’s just crazy…
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