Photo Friday

Alex in his Gait Trainer

Evan on the swing at Grandma's House

My other two kids. Oreo and Brody

What Matters Most

There has been so much tragedy in the nation lately that it’s time for all of us take a step back and be thankful of what we have. The world is a scary place and so many of us get up each day, do what we have to do, go to bed and get up to do it all over again. Not even realizing that it could all end at any given moment.

Now granted, I have a little more time on my hands to think about these things than most people, but my daily life is just as busy as someone who goes to work for eight hours. Nearly every day we have something going on whether its therapy appointments, preschool or play dates with friends. The countdown is already on to Alex and Evan turning three and I am just amazed at how fast the time has gone by.

Life is crazy fast and it’s even crazier with twins. There is always someone making noise and if one isn’t crying or whining then the other one is. Evan is on the go always wanting to do things all the while Alex is content in the other room with a toy or the TV. Sometimes I wish there were two of me so I could keep up with them better but there isn't so I have to split my time and divide my attention like most parents with two children.

Because the boys aren’t at the “sharing” age just yet, I have been trying to explain the whole “taking turns” concept. Tonight while I was stretching Alex, Evan came up to me with his blocks, got in my face and with his hand patting his chest, he said “Evan Turn”. He wanted me to stop stretching Alex and play blocks with him. It was so cute. When I was done stretching Alex, I gave him a toy that Evan is very fond of…which made Evan intently stare at me giving it to Alex, but once I explained that Alex would be playing with it so I could play blocks with him, all was good.

It’s so important to enjoy these moments that God has given us. Just last night a family in the next town over lost their home to a tornado. This is a family of five with three small children. They lost all of their belongings and their home but none of them were hurt. That is what matters the most. It’s not the house or the cars or the material things….it’s the love that holds a family together and what will get them through this tough time to rebuild and come back stronger.

My life has turned out a little different than I expected but I wouldn't trade anything because everything I have experienced up to this moment is how it was supposed to be. I have a great husband and two beautiful children who love me very much and that's what matters most.

 

 

 

Photo Friday (Flashback)

This week is a Flashback Photo Friday. Here are two photos of Alex and Evan when they were 9 months old. I miss my little babies! They were so chubby and cute!

 

 

Photo Friday

Evan enjoying a popsicle

Alex relaxing watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse



Alex fell asleep eating



Evan enjoying his cereal

Two Blessings

My Mom and I have had our ups and downs like most Mothers and Daughters do. We may not always agree or see eye to eye on things, but one thing is for certain: Love. There is no love like a Mother's love and I am learning that as I go along in my journey as a Mother to my two sons.

Motherhood is hard....plain and simple. I keep saying over and over that it is the hardest job I have ever had, but with that the reward is the greatest. Seeing them happy and content warms my heart, hearing them laugh and play makes me smile. I love their hugs and kisses and cuddles.

I never thought in my lifetime I would be blessed with twins. It's been a rough journey, but seeing them together, making each other laugh and knowing they will always have each other is very comforting as their mother.

I have mixed feelings on a lot of things that have happened along the way, but one thing is for certain: I would not trade my life for anything. I love Alex and Evan so much and they are each a perfect mix of both Eric and I. They are beautiful little boys who are full of energy and full of love and I am so proud and so happy to be their Mother. They are and always will be my two blessings.

July 21, 2010 - Alex and Evan at 5 days old

 

May 12, 2013 - Evan and Alex Today

 

Photo Friday

Alex enjoying the spring weather

Evan killing time waiting for the bus to come

Photo Friday

 Yesterday Alex and Evan had their first official Ice Cream CONE.

It went over just as I expected - VERY WELL!

Be Proud of My Son

It’s been 63 days since Alex completed his four month therapy program at Euro-Peds and it’s been 63 days without therapy for him. As usual, there were “issues” with the paperwork for our secondary insurance that put us on hold for this long. I mean issues as in human error if you catch my drift. There is nothing more frustrating for me as a parent of a child who NEEDS this therapy to have to sit and wait for people to do their job. There is no excuse for it to take this long, and I wish I had other options, but I don’t… so I sit and wait.

The wait finally came to an end today when Alex returned to therapy this morning. We got a lot of good results from the Euro-Peds program so I am expecting a little more from his current therapist. Alex is going to be 3 in a few months. He sits ok, rolls really good and is looking like he wants to crawl now but his core (trunk) strength is still lacking. He has come a long way in the last 6-8 months. It used to be really hard for him to sit in a shopping cart or a high chair at a restaurant. He is now doing both of those things very well. Now that we are out walking again, seeing him in the wagon is awesome! He doesn’t slip down and has such nice control of his trunk.

There are many things I would like Alex to accomplish and I know in my heart that he will. It may not be alongside other kids his age, but I truly believe in my heart that he will do it. If for some reason he can’t do something, oh well it’s not like it’s the end of the world.

Some people have made comments to us about how hard it is going to be for him and for us as his parents having to take care of him for the rest of his life. REALLY? He isn’t even three years old. We don’t even know the HALF of what he is going to be able to do yet because he is young and still learning. As his mother, I will take care of him until the day I die and it won’t make a difference to me because he is my child and I love him unconditionally and would do anything for him. Those same people also don’t fully understand why the specialist(s) we take him to are important and how crucial his Physical and Occupational Therapy are. Those people don’t know what it is like to parent a special child.

Alex’s CP is merely an obstacle. Yes, certain things will be harder for him in life but it doesn’t mean that he can’t live a full life. These are the cards he has been dealt and as his parents, Eric and I are going to give him the best life we can. He is also very fortunate to have a twin brother like Evan.

So I ask that you be proud of my son for all he has accomplished and be supportive of what is to come. He is an amazing little boy who is full of life, full of love and deserves a chance just like everyone else.