Tuesday, November 11, 2008
LightSticks
Just when I was about to reach my breaking point Mike came home with light sticks for the boys and they are in the yard playing with them right now. I feel guilty I don't even want to go out. I just want quiet! I can hear them tho and they are having fun!
Behaivior Out of Control
I feel like this past month both kids are out of control. I know they are not getting as much social interaction as they should but that will come in the new year with school. They just won't listen to Mike and I at all. Child gates do not work on either child. Carter has this new thing where he likes to open the gate to the kitchen and get into the frig or the sink or anything that looks interesting. Yes, we have already tried a frig lock! He can get it open too! They have also become SNACK hogs and it is driving me batty. All they want are snacks. Provided they are healthy I have no issue but it feels like it is one after the other. They finish a banana and want a granola bar. I CAN NOT WAIT until they get into pre-school and have a little bit of a schedule and discipline from someone other than Mike and I. They seem to take discipline better from others than they do from us. I am not sure why, maybe they have just been home too long! I thought I would never want the day of school to come but right now I am welcoming it and I can not wait! I am not sure if it will be full time or part time but either way I know Mike and I need some sort of a break from this routine. This routine is not working anymore. Our 1st appointment for Carter with the Manchester School District is 11/18, then 11/26 then 12/4! I had a nightmare lastnight about calling the VNA program to inquire about Chase. I am not sure why but it was not pleasant. The woman was extremely rude to me and treated me like my children were lepors. I know this would not happen I guess just my internal fears coming through in my dreams. Why can't I dream about a vacation on an island where Im sleeping in a hammock with the wind blowing off the ocean, doesn't that sound a lot better?
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Transition Meetings and what they all mean!
I have no idea. I just trust in my schedule and Maggie (Easter Seals) and I know it will go well.
I had a moment of weakness and called Manchester School District when I realized we had 3 appointments with them this month. Basically preparing Carter for his transition from Early Intervention Services from Easter Seals to OT, PT and Speech through the Manchester School District. This is a very scary process. I know what I have to bring and when I have to be there and I put my faith in God that it all turns out for the best. My biggest question is where will he go to school and how will he manage on the bus????? When I say manage I mean emotionally not physically. I know he will overcome any physical obstacle he faces with school. It is the emotional that I worry about now!
As for Chase we are also working on transitioning him from home to pre-kindergarten. OH MY GOD my 1st born in pre-kindergarten. Just so overwhelming all at once. Anyone know of a good local program for a 4 year old that is accredited? I do not even know where to begin. I just know every time we take the highway to Bedford he sees Kinder Care and says "Mom that is my school". I would also like Chase to bus to school. I want them to be independent in that mannner. I have to be at work at 6 am.... and with one vehicle I think he needs to bus as well.....
Okay enough venting....... Phew~!
I had a moment of weakness and called Manchester School District when I realized we had 3 appointments with them this month. Basically preparing Carter for his transition from Early Intervention Services from Easter Seals to OT, PT and Speech through the Manchester School District. This is a very scary process. I know what I have to bring and when I have to be there and I put my faith in God that it all turns out for the best. My biggest question is where will he go to school and how will he manage on the bus????? When I say manage I mean emotionally not physically. I know he will overcome any physical obstacle he faces with school. It is the emotional that I worry about now!
As for Chase we are also working on transitioning him from home to pre-kindergarten. OH MY GOD my 1st born in pre-kindergarten. Just so overwhelming all at once. Anyone know of a good local program for a 4 year old that is accredited? I do not even know where to begin. I just know every time we take the highway to Bedford he sees Kinder Care and says "Mom that is my school". I would also like Chase to bus to school. I want them to be independent in that mannner. I have to be at work at 6 am.... and with one vehicle I think he needs to bus as well.....
Okay enough venting....... Phew~!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Third Prosthetic Leg
When Carter woke me up the morning of 9/25/08 he said to me "New Leg Day" and had a smile ear to ear!! What could possibly be more precious than that?
We went to Next Step and had a great time testing out his 3rd prosthetic leg. The entire team did an unbelievable job but special thanks and kudos to Scott and Dave for their continued support and above the bar care!
Carter is literally off and running. Really not much easing into his new leg, He pretty much wants it all the time and asks for very little assistance. Five months out of his leg did not slow him down one little bit!
I hope you enjoy the slide show below......
We went to Next Step and had a great time testing out his 3rd prosthetic leg. The entire team did an unbelievable job but special thanks and kudos to Scott and Dave for their continued support and above the bar care!
Carter is literally off and running. Really not much easing into his new leg, He pretty much wants it all the time and asks for very little assistance. Five months out of his leg did not slow him down one little bit!
I hope you enjoy the slide show below......
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
"DON'T YOU GET IT"
So many experiences we have as a family change us in one way or another. We have been through so much since our children were born that we are definately not the same people that said "I Do" 6 years ago. We feel that these experiences have made us stronger and closer as a family unit. I don't blog everything, good or bad. I try to keep my blog upbeat and filled with pictures. Maybe I should blog more of the not so good experiences to help educate and to just get them off my chest. So here's one that I just can not get out of my head!
Typically these experiences come from McDonalds Playarea, The Park, The Pool, or anywhere that children join to play. We were at the park the other day with both boys. This particular day we chose to go to the BIG park where there would be more kids and not go to the small park where we know the regulars who frequent it. Both boys quickly joined the others playing and running. Carter still does not have his new leg (getting it 9/25) so he is still knee walking and crawling around. Mike and I were sitting in an area right in the playhouse watching the kids play. I noticed some kids that looked like siblings staring at Carter and whispering. There were about 8 or 9 years old. Completely normal behavoir for their age to stare and wonder. Rationally I can say this is normal behavoir but emotionally it still is hard for me to watch other kids stare and whisper about my boy. The girl called her other sibling over and loudly said "Look at that boy he has no hand and no foot, LOOK". I was about 5 feet away but I just sat and thought I would let the kids sort it out instead of instantly jumping in to explain. I hate to say it but sometimes I get tired of explaining why Carter is different everywhere we go. Some days I just want to go about my merry way and not be the center of attention. So the 3 kids sat watching him and talking about his differences, again totally normal behavoir. Please don't get me wrong - I have no misconceptions about kids and their normal curiosities. Meanwhile Chase came over and caught wind of the conversation about his brother. Mike and I looked at eachother and listened to him very carefully. This is still very new that Chase explains his brothers differences to others. It is also a very critical time for Chase to interact with others appropriately in regards to his brother. As the kids kept saying to eachother "Why" Chase piped in and said "That's Carter my brother, and he was born like that, DON'T YOU GET IT" the questions continued and he repeated, "He was born like that, DON'T YOU GET IT". The third time his voice was a little louder and little more frustrated, "DON'T YOU GET IT HE WAS JUST BORN LIKE THAT". Yes the tears were flowing down my face, for pride that Chase was so precise and for saddness that this was just the beginning of questions Chase will be faced with about his brother. Chase quickly went back to playing and Carter never even knew what was going on, or did he? Carter's OT from Easter Seals feels he understands and takes in a lot of what is said about him, which scares me a little.
Chase's words keep ringing in my head..... "DON'T YOU GET IT, DON'T YOU GET IT!"
I think to myself, NO I DON'T GET IT!!!! Why was Carter born like that? After all this time 4 little words out of Chase's mouth affected me so much. How can I expect children to understand when I don't even understand. I keep asking myself "does this mean I do not accept what has happened?" If I don't get it..... do I accept it....and will I ever get it.....and will I ever accept it......???
I'm not sure what these feelings all mean but I know that they have made me think ALOT!
What I do know is that there will always be questions, stares and whispers and I just have to accept it. What I still don't know is WHY God chose Carter to be different.
Typically these experiences come from McDonalds Playarea, The Park, The Pool, or anywhere that children join to play. We were at the park the other day with both boys. This particular day we chose to go to the BIG park where there would be more kids and not go to the small park where we know the regulars who frequent it. Both boys quickly joined the others playing and running. Carter still does not have his new leg (getting it 9/25) so he is still knee walking and crawling around. Mike and I were sitting in an area right in the playhouse watching the kids play. I noticed some kids that looked like siblings staring at Carter and whispering. There were about 8 or 9 years old. Completely normal behavoir for their age to stare and wonder. Rationally I can say this is normal behavoir but emotionally it still is hard for me to watch other kids stare and whisper about my boy. The girl called her other sibling over and loudly said "Look at that boy he has no hand and no foot, LOOK". I was about 5 feet away but I just sat and thought I would let the kids sort it out instead of instantly jumping in to explain. I hate to say it but sometimes I get tired of explaining why Carter is different everywhere we go. Some days I just want to go about my merry way and not be the center of attention. So the 3 kids sat watching him and talking about his differences, again totally normal behavoir. Please don't get me wrong - I have no misconceptions about kids and their normal curiosities. Meanwhile Chase came over and caught wind of the conversation about his brother. Mike and I looked at eachother and listened to him very carefully. This is still very new that Chase explains his brothers differences to others. It is also a very critical time for Chase to interact with others appropriately in regards to his brother. As the kids kept saying to eachother "Why" Chase piped in and said "That's Carter my brother, and he was born like that, DON'T YOU GET IT" the questions continued and he repeated, "He was born like that, DON'T YOU GET IT". The third time his voice was a little louder and little more frustrated, "DON'T YOU GET IT HE WAS JUST BORN LIKE THAT". Yes the tears were flowing down my face, for pride that Chase was so precise and for saddness that this was just the beginning of questions Chase will be faced with about his brother. Chase quickly went back to playing and Carter never even knew what was going on, or did he? Carter's OT from Easter Seals feels he understands and takes in a lot of what is said about him, which scares me a little.
Chase's words keep ringing in my head..... "DON'T YOU GET IT, DON'T YOU GET IT!"
I think to myself, NO I DON'T GET IT!!!! Why was Carter born like that? After all this time 4 little words out of Chase's mouth affected me so much. How can I expect children to understand when I don't even understand. I keep asking myself "does this mean I do not accept what has happened?" If I don't get it..... do I accept it....and will I ever get it.....and will I ever accept it......???
I'm not sure what these feelings all mean but I know that they have made me think ALOT!
What I do know is that there will always be questions, stares and whispers and I just have to accept it. What I still don't know is WHY God chose Carter to be different.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Merrimack River
Earlier in the week we went to the Merrimack River down by Arms Park to ride bikes. We ended up rock climbing right in the river. I was amazed at how daring the boys were. They had little or no fear while jumping from rock to rock. I had plenty of fear for everyone. We sat on the rocks for a while with our feet in the water. We met a father and son who were kayaking. The kids had a blast watching them flip their kayaks. While playing in the water Carter came upon a turtle. I leaned over with him looking at this turtle thinking what a cool find. Just then Mike said, "that is a snapping turtle"! Holy Crap I grabbed Carter so quick! Mike picked up the turtle by it's tail for the boys to see. He was pretty big and definately not happy we picked him up. We spent quite a bit of time watching him play in the water and hide under rocks. The best was when he would poke his head out of the water for some air. The boys were fascinated. When it was time to leave the boys cried that they wanted to stay. I think 2 hours on the rocks was enough for me. We topped off this fun day with ice cream cones. Enjoy the pictures!
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