The Wait is Finally Over!

The Gait Trainer we have been waiting on for six months has FINALLY been approved. We are now waiting for a letter to be signed by the Doctor so it can go to insurance to get paid and the parts can be ordered. Many of you may recall what a frustrating process this has been for me, but I never gave up. I kept fighting and fighting and my hard work finally paid off. I made a promise to both of my sons early on that I would always fight for them and never give up. Believe me, I felt like it many times having to deal with so many ignorant people during this process, but I just took some steps back, took some deep breaths and kept on it. I am so happy for Alex. I really think this will help him so much and hopefully kick start his walking.

I am also pleased to announce that Alex has been accepted into a new Therapy Program called Euro-Peds. I mentioned the program earlier in the month in a previous post and I am so excited for him. He will finish up his current therapy program on October 31^ST and move onto Euro-Peds in early November.

Euro-Peds is a more intensive Physical Therapy program. He will be attending one hour sessions three times a week for three months. That should cover the time my current PT will be out on Maternity Leave so he won’t have much down time in between programs. I am not crazy about the three day schedule, but that is what they require so that is what we will do. It’s a lot having three therapy appointments a week plus school and some weeks….Doctor Appointments, but I will do whatever it takes to make sure Alex gets what he needs. As long as I get some down time for myself in the evenings (which I have been making a good effort toward that) and Evan gets ample play time during the day, then things should run smoothly.

When I dreamed of having a family growing up, I never imagined it being this hard. You go about life thinking that everything will be fine, you will have healthy children and life will be a piece of cake…until something happens to your child, your world is flipped upside down and you wonder why me? Why my child? Let me just say that my two sons are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and although my life isn’t a piece of cake, it has made me a stronger and more well-rounded individual who doesn’t take life for granted. I appreciate more and respect others that are in the same boat as me because I know what it feels like. I firmly believe that I have been put in my situation for this very reason and I know someday I will look back and be proud of who my children have made me and I hope they can say the same.

 

 

Eric and Keri: Our Love Story

When I first started this blog it was supposed to be all about life with twins but over time it has evolved into more of a family blog. Today’s post is all about my journey with my husband Eric. We have been married six years today.

Eric and I met nearly 12 years ago on October 31, 2000. My best friend and I along with his best friend and him were all working at the same store together in the mall. Eric and I were on different schedules and weren’t even aware of one another until my best friend Stephanie introduced us. She couldn’t wait to introduce us because she was convinced he was “my type”. I wasn’t really interested in being set up with anyone at the time, but I decided to meet him anyway. He walked into the store wearing a pair of blue goggles around his neck. Yeah, it was a little weird but I didn’t want to judge. When she introduced us, he “high fived” me. I was taken aback by this but he was cute so I wasn’t giving up yet. My shift was over so I left for the night but that weekend we crossed paths again and he accompanied me on my break since his shift was over. We had good conversation and we exchanged phone numbers. He called a couple of nights later and asked me out on a date.

November 9, 2000 was our first date. He took me to dinner at Chili’s and we went to the movies and saw The Legend of Bagger Vance. After the movies he drove me home where we sat in his car and talked for three hours. He kissed me goodnight and that was my last first date. We fell in love pretty quick but took our time enjoying our relationship.

 

October 17, 2004 we got engaged in Frankenmuth Michigan. He arranged a horse and carriage to take me to a Rose Garden where he was waiting dressed in a suit. He got down on one knee and proposed to me. We then rode back into town together where he had dinner reservations. When we walked into the room, both of our families were there to surprise me. I was blown away at how well he had planned all of this with everyone knowing but me! He did good; I was on cloud nine.

 

We had planned an outdoor wedding with no indoor backup. The day before our wedding there were snow squalls all day long and one of them happened during our rehearsal. But nothing was going to stop me from marrying the love of my life, so on October 13, 2006 Eric and I got married inside a tent at Depot Park (instead of at the gazebo). It was 45 degrees outside and there may have been a snow flurry or two, but none of that mattered because it was our wedding day!

 

Like any couple, Eric and I have had our ups and downs. We work at our marriage every single day of our lives and because we make the effort, that is what keeps us strong. Having twins has been more than challenging on us as individuals as well as husband and wife. Having a special needs child is even more challenging, but it has totally changed our lives for the better. We appreciate the things that some people take for granted, I think we support one another more when we get frustrated or stressed. We understand more, we love deeper and we laugh together A LOT! We are goofy together, we have fun with our kids and most of all we balance each other out. I cannot imagine doing all of this with anyone but Eric. Who would have thought that the guy who wore goggles around his neck and high fived me when we first met would go on to be my husband! (Love you hun!)

Eric is my better half, my best friend, father of my children and the love of my life. I am so happy to be his wife. Happy Anniversary to the man I fell in love with 12 years ago and married 6 years ago today.

 

Twin Friends

I have been telling Eric for a long time that I wish I could meet someone that knew what I was going through as a Mom. Someone who not only had twins, but one with special needs as well. Then, one day back in the spring, I changed Alex’s OT schedule to mornings on Mondays and met a girl Rhiannon and her twin boys Blake and Casey. I could tell by our first conversation that not only would we get along, but we were going to be friends for a long time.

We continued to see each other every Monday morning and we would talk and talk and talk during Alex and Casey’s appointments. Casey has Down Syndrome while Blake is a typical developing toddler just like Evan. We learned that our boys were only four months apart in age and we only lived about a half hour from each other.

Summer was kind of crazy for both of us so we didn’t have a chance to get together until early September and have seen each other three times now outside of therapy. All of us always have such a nice time when we get together. The kids are always exhausted from playing! To have found someone with twins so close in age is such a blessing.

Rhiannon told me that she was looking for someone like me as well. Someone to relate to, someone who understands what we go through on a daily basis. I know we were brought together for this very reason and I hope to continue to build on our friendship for years to come.

 

Here are the 4 boys together!

 

Alex, Evan, Blake and Casey

 

Bits -N- Pieces Vol. 8

Happy Fall!

 

My favorite time of the year is here and we are really trying to make the most of it with Alex and Evan being a year older. We have been going to the park a lot lately, taking advantage of the warmer fall days, trips to Cider Mills and hopefully picking out pumpkins this weekend. I have been slacking a little lately with taking pictures, but I promise to get on that!

School is going great for Eric and the boys, I on the other hand decided after only 3 days to drop out. I just couldn’t do it and although there were people around me questioning my decision to even go to school I thought I could be Super Duper Mom (instead of just plain old Super Mom) but I was wrong. I think the timing is a little off, so I am not going to rule it out, I just can’t do it right now. I am actually proud of myself for recognizing that it wasn’t for me instead of getting too far in and getting in over my head.

I personally have been feeling very overwhelmed lately. I think it’s just adjusting to the new schedule and having 2 whiny, screaming two year olds. There have been many days when I myself have had to count to 10 and take a time out to get my sanity back. At first I thought it was me, but in talking with other Mom’s (in particular Mom’s with Twins) I found that I am not alone. Being a stay at home Mom is so rewarding and so exhausting at the same time, but like every job it has its pros and cons. Most of my days are 12 hours + with 10 of them being on my own. I guess I didn’t realize it was going to be this hard.

Alex got his AFO’s a couple of weeks ago and so far they are working out ok. He can’t really tolerate them for more than 4 hours at a time. I just think they are a little more intense than his old orthodics. I think with time though, he will adjust.

So I actually received a positive call from our secondary insurance company the other day regarding Alex’s gait trainer. If you remember, we have been working on this since April. We were asked for more information back in July and then in late August they denied us for requesting too many components instead of telling us what they will and will not pay for. Well, someone called the other day to tell me they were missing some forms and allowed me to obtain those and fax them over instead of flat out denying him again – which I thought was nice of them. I thanked her multiple times and now we are just waiting to see what they say. I sure hope for Alex’s sake that he gets it this time because he sure could use it.

Last but not least, I filled out an application the other day to get Alex enrolled in an Intensive Therapy Program while his current PT goes on Maternity Leave next month. This program is called Euro-Peds and it is a three month program of Physical Therapy 2-3 times a week for 1.5 hours a session. I really think Alex would benefit from this if he gets accepted and insurance will cover it. Keep your fingers crossed!

 

As always, thanks for reading our blog!

 

School, Therapy and Everything in Between

School is off to a good start for Alex and Evan. Both boys are loving it. Evan got to tag along for the first time this week and although he didn’t do very well during circle time, he had a blast playing with all of the toys and going down the slides at the playground. He is such a ham.

Here they are playing together

 

Evan will begin speech therapy in a couple of weeks. I had him evaluated last week because he isn’t talking yet. Ok, let me clarify, he talks….just not as much as he should. He has his own language and I can understand most of what he is talking about, but he should have more words by this age and he just isn’t there yet. I thought at first I may be jumping the gun because Evan is a very physical kid and he is excelling everywhere else and he also has a twin with whom he speaks to very often. Those could both very well be factors in him just not feeling like he has to talk yet. I just don’t want to sit on it in case there is a problem. I have seen such success is Alex’s Physical and Occupational Therapy that I am not afraid to move forward. I think Evan will do just fine once he gets going. His class will be on Tuesday mornings after Alex’s class so I will keep you posted on how things are going.

Speaking of School, Eric and I both begin our fall classes next Thursday. Yep, I am overwhelmed already, but I think it’s just me getting myself worked up. I have been out of school for awhile now, so going back with two classes, plus my already busy schedule with the boys is a bit daunting. I am sure once I find my groove, I will be fine.

Alex is getting his AFO’s tomorrow!! I am excited to see how they will work and how they will help him. I will post pictures when he gets them!!

So the Gait Trainer (Walker) process is even more of a mess now then it was a few weeks ago. I will admit that I am frustrated with all parties involved and after talking with Alex’s school PT today, I think I am going to back down and not stress about it. As much as I would love for Alex to have the walker, he still needs to build his core, learn how to sit on his own and maybe even crawl. Those things are much more important to me. At least he has a stander, so he is weight bearing on his legs and even though he is strapped in, he is still working his core. He needs a strong core in order to walk, so I think that is what we should be focusing on. I don’t want to get too far ahead of the game and frankly the stress is killing me right now.

The weekend here is supposed to be beautiful so we will be taking advantage of that. There is an outdoor craft and art fair nearby that I plan on going to, I am sure we will take the boys to the park and maybe even the apple orchard down the road. We’ll see. I love this time of year and there are always so many neat things to do! Plus, living in Michigan, we all know what is coming (snow and cold) so we have to enjoy these next 6-8 weeks before we are holed up for the winter!!!

Handsome Little Men

September is here already and I am still asking "Where did the summer go?"

It's been a busy week with therapy appointments and Alex starting school. I know you may think Alex is a bit young for school, but it's an hour and a half class through his Early On program once a week.

He did really well on his first day. He didn't cry or get upset at all. He enjoyed his time with the teachers and therapists and had a great time playing. He had a huge smile on his face during story time which just made Ms. Bridgette's day! Evan will be tagging along next week since siblings are allowed even though it is a Special Ed class. He will have a blast I am sure. It's hard to believe that they will be in preschool next year. EEK!

On Monday we took the boys to the park and I took some pictures of them since taking them to the studio has proven to be quite a task with two 2 year olds. I am pretty happy with the way they turned out. I couldn't get any really good shots of them together, but individually they are super-cute!!

They melt my heart. I am so blessed to have two handsome little men!

August Update

ALEX

Alex is doing really well and is coming right along with his therapy. Still no Gait Trainer, it has been almost 5 months since we ordered it and we continue to have set back after set back. I am trying to stay optimistic, but it’s hard because I am so frustrated with the whole process.

He got fitted last week with some new shoes as I like to call them. They are AFO’S which are a type of Orthodic to help the position of his feet and toes as well as keep his foot flat while learning to walk. The pair he has now, were to stabilize his ankles, but the new pair will be taller and go up onto his calves more. They should be in soon so we will have to see how well he does with them.

Last Friday he received Lidocaine Injections in his legs per recommendation of his Physiatrist. The shots are administered behind the knee while lying on his stomach. The purpose of the injection is to block his nerves going to his calf muscles to keep them from tightening. So far, it is working well. I am amazed at how squishy his calves are – but in a good way. I am so used to them being tight that it’s a nice change and he seems to be adjusting well. We really aren’t sure how long the effect will last but we are happy with the results so far. He is a trooper. He did so well the day he got the shots.

On top of all of that, he got casted as well – poor little guy! His OT decided last week to cast his left arm in hopes of him utilizing his right arm more. That is the whole purpose of his OT sessions. He doesn’t seem to mind the cast. He still bangs on his toys with his left hand - cast and all. He also thinks he can hold his cup and pick up foods with it! It is super cute. He is doing alright with his right hand, but it’s going to take a lot of casting to break him away from his left hand. He favors it so much!

 

Next Tuesday Alex will be going to “school”. He will be attending class for an hour and a half on Tuesday mornings as part of the Early On program through the state. He will be in class with 6 other children with special needs and they will participate in circle time where they will read and story and sing songs. Then they will move onto different stations where he will be able to play. He will see an OT and an SLP while his is there as well. I think it will be a great change for him rather than them coming to the house. Evan is also welcome as a sibling to come and participate which I am sure he will.

 

Alex has enjoyed his summer by swinging, playing in the sandbox and listening to his favorite songs. (He LOVES music!). He also likes when we blow bubbles out on the deck!

 

 

 

 

 

EVAN

"Best Summer Ever” is how Evan would have to describe his summer so far. This kid has had a blast with everything this summer from his new sandbox, to his swing set, to the pool. His new thing is going down the slides at the park. He can’t get enough of it!

 

He has learned to use a fork and a spoon very well in the last couple of months and actually throws a fit if I try to feed him. He likes to do it himself and I have to say, he does a pretty darn good job.

He is into EVERYTHING – and I mean EVERYTHING! I used to have him barricaded in the family room and he decided he would start scaling the couch to get out. He is a little stinker!

Evan is all boy. He loves to get dirty, always has bumps and scrapes on him and he is non-stop from the time he gets up until he goes to bed. He is exhausting but fun all at the same time. I could do without the yelling, screaming and tantrums though.

 

His favorite toys right now are puzzles, wooden blocks and crayons. He could care less about the colorful, flashy toys that make all the noise. He’s a pretty simple kid as long as he gets his way!