Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year to You and Happy Birthday to Me
Whoops, found this in the drafts, I meant to post it Sunday.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Finally, a birthday celebration for Cecilia
Thursday was such a busy day that we decided we would celebrate Cecilia's birthday late; last night we had a birthday dinner of ribs, presents, cake, and fun celebrating our special Little Miss Cecilia. She is such a special little person; she has brought a lot of joy, silliness, and music to our home.
She sees her cake coming.
Still not a fan of the singing.
We love you so much Cecilia. May the Lord bless you and keep you all the days of your life.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
One Week
Our little love bug is one week old today. I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful it is to have her in the family. I am reminded so often during the day how blessed I am to be the mother of all these beautiful children; there are so many precious moments. There are constant requests to hold her, and all the kids are so gentle and loving with her. Some things make us laugh and some just warm our hearts and melt us. When I first got home, I began to nurse Madalena. George says, " Is that your boob?" To which I tell him yes and that that is how the baby gets fed. He gets a look of disgust on his face and says, "Eeeew." We laugh of course. Pauly tells me, "Mom, if you ever need someone to hold her, I am your guy." So I hand her to him and begin to walk away. All I hear is, "Oh, aren't you just an angel." We get a little teary eyed.
My sister asked us tonight if we feel like the parents of 7 children. Sometimes it does get very overwhelming, especially when they are all talking at once or are all seeking your attention; the room does begin to spin a little. But, overall, it feels wonderful, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I was making some well child check up appointments today with our new pediatrician, and as I am talking to the scheduler, I decided that I was just going to get everyone set up for physicals in the new year. At one point the woman surprisingly and light heartedly exclaims, "Good Lord, how many children do you have?" We laughed a little, but she, like most of the staff at our clinic and hospital, was so respectful and happy for us.
Thanks for all your prayers. Our transition is going well because we are held up in prayer, so please keep them coming.
This is when reality hits you in the face; your oldest with your youngest. Amazing how fast time flies, which is why we accept the lack of sleep and all the other crazy moments that come along with this life. It will be over all to fast, and we will be able to sleep as much as we want but will be missing the pitter patter of little feet and the rumblings of a house full of energy, life, and love. Thank you Lord for the life you have called us to.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Home Sweet Home
I am very glad that I decided to stay because Friday afternoon my blood pressure really spiked. The nurses and my Dr had been keep an eye on my blood pressure because it was creeping up. Initially, we attributed it to the pain, but my pain was being managed well, but my blood pressure soared to 164/108. My Dr. put me on medicine to lower it and ended up doing lab work later that evening because my pressure was coming down, but my other "off" feelings were still there. My blood work came back fine, and I got a good night sleep. I woke up feeling much better and feeling ready to go home.
Unfortunately, the blood pressure medicine gave me a migraine, so the Dr. decided to let me go off it and just see how things go. My pressures were all over the place but the Dr. was confident that they would work themselves out. I will monitor myself at home, and a home health nurse will come to see me later in the week.
Paul had to work and came to get us about 5:00. After our usual trip to Target to get my pain meds, we got some Chinese food to celebrate with the kids and headed home. To say that the kids were thrilled would be an understatement. Precious memories were made. The had banners, cards, cupcakes, and homemade flower bouquets to welcome us home.
It feels so good to be home, and Madalena seems totally content with all the attention. I figure she must be so familiar with it that it is no big deal to her. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, pray for us.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Madalena Gertude
Our beautiful baby girl, Madalena Gertrude, has safely arrived.
Born at 8:01 am
Weighing in at 8'12"
Length 19"
Surgery went very well. Mamma is recovery well. Madalena has nursed already and Mamma is eating.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers.
We are very content and happy.
God is good.
Friday, November 4, 2011
The end of a chapter in our family's novel
Today feels like a very momentous day; a day to celebrate how great God is. A day to praise, praise, praise and reflect on the last 7 years with our dear Pauly.
Before you think this is just the ramblings of a very pregnant woman, I will put it plainly- Pauly is graduating out of his last therapy today!!!!!!!!!!! We have had Mackenzie coming for 2 years now for in home therapy. She has educated all of us about Autism, she has worked one on one with Pauly to build his anger managment and social skills, and she has helped the kids learn to interact and just have fun together. She has been there through my tears, frustrations, and even anger. She has been there for the girls when they just didn't understand their brother, and today we will say good bye to her.
Here is a summary of our journey.... Pauly was around two when we really starting knowing something just wasn't quite right with him. He used only gutteral grunts and yelling, seemed scared and angry a lot, and couldn't stand to be around people. When he was about three, I asked his pediatrician if we should be concerned and pursue anything; I was at my whits end and needed some reassurance and direction. I still remember her words to me that day, "I think you just have one of those more difficult children, but I believe you are doing everything right, and he will slowly come along." Basically, forge ahead a lone which is what I did. I really wasn't ready for any kind of label anyway; I was too full of guilt that I was just parenting him badly. So, I continued to go it alone, and we dealt with the wrath of his frustration which included holes in walls, many parties/family events we either couldn't attend or would have to leave early, and times when I would hold him for up to an hour while he just raged out of control waiting for my sweet boy to return to me.
About 2 years later, I was with my dear friend who has an Autistic son. I was at a pretty low place and finally just asked her point blank if I needed to be doing something different. She had been so loving with me over the years and always told me that I would know when I was ready for the potential label. We had a wonderful heart to heart, and I began the journey of testing beginning with an Occupational Therapy evaluation.
Pauly was then diagnosed with Sensory Integration Dysfunction. In a nut shell, imagine you are wearing not only a hair shirt but a hair underwear, pants, and socks. Now sit on a stool with only one leg and try to balance. Now turn the radio on but make sure it is in between stations, so it is nothing but static. Stack on that that the lights are very brigh and flicker every so offten and things keep passing your eyes that you must look at. Finally, someone brings you a book to read and wants a recap report in 10 minutes. Are you thinking OVERLOAD? Oh, and you have no way to tell anyone anything about how you are feeling because you have no idea what you are feeling and no way to put it into words anyway.
We started O.T. with Denise, our first earthly angel. She not only helped Pauly develop skills, get stronger, get more confident, but she truly cared about him and loved him no matter what he brought to her each week. She also educated me tremendously and helped me for the first time understand my son. She also pointed us in the direction of having a vision evaluation to see if there were any eye issuses that were making things more difficult for him. He did also do some speech therapy in the same clinic to work on social skills.
The vision evaluation revealed some imature reflexes and other eye issues that were making things more difficult for him. Basically, some of the reflexs that mature during infancy and the first few years of life had been halted leaving a lack of development in certain parts of the brain. His eyes also had trouble working as a team which meant he had trouble focusing and seeing only one of something; lots of eye strain. Pauly completed a 30 week regimine of weekly visits to the clinc to work on getting his brain to finish developing and strengthening his eyes. Therapy was a success although not any of our favorites.
Also during this time, we started pursuing other options for O.T. and began working with the school district to see if Pauly could qualify for special ed. services. He had to go through a lot of different testing related to intellegence, social skills, mental health, etc. and in the end he met the criteria for the educational diagnosis of Autism Specturm Disorder. We then began to look at options for classes and services they could offer him. Their main goal was improving his social skills and jump start him into reading, basically get him excited about it. My goal for them, "Help me paddle this boat."
I still remember the first day I put him on the bus. He was only going to be gone for an hour or so, but he had never been out of my care. It was the first time I was fully entrusting him to someone else's care; not easy. We had been through a lot together, and I was never not there for him. He did great and loved it. We gradually increased his time, and last year he went for half days. Toward the end of the school year we noticed a shift in him, and decided to bring him home. This year he is home full time and is doing great.
Once we got the educational diagnosis of Autism Specturm Disorder, we decided it was time to pursure medical testing. He went through more testing with a pshycologist and did in fact receive the medical diagnosis of Autistic Disorder. The label was finally there staring us in the face. I still remember the whirlwind of emotions, questions, and where do we go from here. But we were thankful at the same time that we were getting answeres to what was behind our struggles.
We then began jumping through the social service system of hoops and were able to get ourselves a county case worker who was another of our angels. She was an amazing gift to us and helped us navigate the waters of services available, funding options, and just general support. At that time, I was a mess of confusion, guilt, insecurity, you name it, and she walked me through it all. Andrea was with us until this past March when she said, "I don't think you need me anymore." It felt good to say that indeed I felt capable and secure to go it without her.
Now, here we are today saying good bye to another one of our angels who has gotten us through some dark and confusing days. We are going to be flying on our own after today, and we couldn't be more thrilled.
Pauly has made some amazing progress, especailly in the last 3 months. I look at him now and just can't believe where we once were. He is maturing and turning into such a fine young man. He and I had a date night the other night, and it was just such a joy. He now regularly tells me that he loves me, and he lets me comfort him when he is sad or hurt. My heart heals a little more everytime; it was so painful when I couldn't comfort him and wondered if I would ever feel real love from him. He is participating more and more in chore and family life around here, and he is turing out to be a great big brother. We see his compassion and patience growing daily. It is just awesome. Our family is healing and not just surviving but thriving.
We are so thankful for all the prayers and support we have gotten over the years, and we ask that they continue as Autism doesn't just go away, and there is still some areas that are a bit rough. God has been so good to us, and we continue to put our trust in Him that He will continue to provide for all our needs, and today we celebrate all He has done for us.
Before you think this is just the ramblings of a very pregnant woman, I will put it plainly- Pauly is graduating out of his last therapy today!!!!!!!!!!! We have had Mackenzie coming for 2 years now for in home therapy. She has educated all of us about Autism, she has worked one on one with Pauly to build his anger managment and social skills, and she has helped the kids learn to interact and just have fun together. She has been there through my tears, frustrations, and even anger. She has been there for the girls when they just didn't understand their brother, and today we will say good bye to her.
Here is a summary of our journey.... Pauly was around two when we really starting knowing something just wasn't quite right with him. He used only gutteral grunts and yelling, seemed scared and angry a lot, and couldn't stand to be around people. When he was about three, I asked his pediatrician if we should be concerned and pursue anything; I was at my whits end and needed some reassurance and direction. I still remember her words to me that day, "I think you just have one of those more difficult children, but I believe you are doing everything right, and he will slowly come along." Basically, forge ahead a lone which is what I did. I really wasn't ready for any kind of label anyway; I was too full of guilt that I was just parenting him badly. So, I continued to go it alone, and we dealt with the wrath of his frustration which included holes in walls, many parties/family events we either couldn't attend or would have to leave early, and times when I would hold him for up to an hour while he just raged out of control waiting for my sweet boy to return to me.
About 2 years later, I was with my dear friend who has an Autistic son. I was at a pretty low place and finally just asked her point blank if I needed to be doing something different. She had been so loving with me over the years and always told me that I would know when I was ready for the potential label. We had a wonderful heart to heart, and I began the journey of testing beginning with an Occupational Therapy evaluation.
Pauly was then diagnosed with Sensory Integration Dysfunction. In a nut shell, imagine you are wearing not only a hair shirt but a hair underwear, pants, and socks. Now sit on a stool with only one leg and try to balance. Now turn the radio on but make sure it is in between stations, so it is nothing but static. Stack on that that the lights are very brigh and flicker every so offten and things keep passing your eyes that you must look at. Finally, someone brings you a book to read and wants a recap report in 10 minutes. Are you thinking OVERLOAD? Oh, and you have no way to tell anyone anything about how you are feeling because you have no idea what you are feeling and no way to put it into words anyway.
We started O.T. with Denise, our first earthly angel. She not only helped Pauly develop skills, get stronger, get more confident, but she truly cared about him and loved him no matter what he brought to her each week. She also educated me tremendously and helped me for the first time understand my son. She also pointed us in the direction of having a vision evaluation to see if there were any eye issuses that were making things more difficult for him. He did also do some speech therapy in the same clinic to work on social skills.
The vision evaluation revealed some imature reflexes and other eye issues that were making things more difficult for him. Basically, some of the reflexs that mature during infancy and the first few years of life had been halted leaving a lack of development in certain parts of the brain. His eyes also had trouble working as a team which meant he had trouble focusing and seeing only one of something; lots of eye strain. Pauly completed a 30 week regimine of weekly visits to the clinc to work on getting his brain to finish developing and strengthening his eyes. Therapy was a success although not any of our favorites.
Also during this time, we started pursuing other options for O.T. and began working with the school district to see if Pauly could qualify for special ed. services. He had to go through a lot of different testing related to intellegence, social skills, mental health, etc. and in the end he met the criteria for the educational diagnosis of Autism Specturm Disorder. We then began to look at options for classes and services they could offer him. Their main goal was improving his social skills and jump start him into reading, basically get him excited about it. My goal for them, "Help me paddle this boat."
I still remember the first day I put him on the bus. He was only going to be gone for an hour or so, but he had never been out of my care. It was the first time I was fully entrusting him to someone else's care; not easy. We had been through a lot together, and I was never not there for him. He did great and loved it. We gradually increased his time, and last year he went for half days. Toward the end of the school year we noticed a shift in him, and decided to bring him home. This year he is home full time and is doing great.
Once we got the educational diagnosis of Autism Specturm Disorder, we decided it was time to pursure medical testing. He went through more testing with a pshycologist and did in fact receive the medical diagnosis of Autistic Disorder. The label was finally there staring us in the face. I still remember the whirlwind of emotions, questions, and where do we go from here. But we were thankful at the same time that we were getting answeres to what was behind our struggles.
We then began jumping through the social service system of hoops and were able to get ourselves a county case worker who was another of our angels. She was an amazing gift to us and helped us navigate the waters of services available, funding options, and just general support. At that time, I was a mess of confusion, guilt, insecurity, you name it, and she walked me through it all. Andrea was with us until this past March when she said, "I don't think you need me anymore." It felt good to say that indeed I felt capable and secure to go it without her.
Now, here we are today saying good bye to another one of our angels who has gotten us through some dark and confusing days. We are going to be flying on our own after today, and we couldn't be more thrilled.
Pauly has made some amazing progress, especailly in the last 3 months. I look at him now and just can't believe where we once were. He is maturing and turning into such a fine young man. He and I had a date night the other night, and it was just such a joy. He now regularly tells me that he loves me, and he lets me comfort him when he is sad or hurt. My heart heals a little more everytime; it was so painful when I couldn't comfort him and wondered if I would ever feel real love from him. He is participating more and more in chore and family life around here, and he is turing out to be a great big brother. We see his compassion and patience growing daily. It is just awesome. Our family is healing and not just surviving but thriving.
We are so thankful for all the prayers and support we have gotten over the years, and we ask that they continue as Autism doesn't just go away, and there is still some areas that are a bit rough. God has been so good to us, and we continue to put our trust in Him that He will continue to provide for all our needs, and today we celebrate all He has done for us.
Thank you Mackenzie and all who have worked with us over the years. May God bless you for you compassion and love for children with special needs.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Ahh November- Baby Month
As I rip the large family October calendar off and turn the page in my planner, all I can see in big letters is "Baby Day." Yes, we are finally to November and have begun the daily countdown. If you have children, you can relate when I say how many times they have asked when the baby would be born, and I would have to page through the calendar as their eyes got bigger and bigger as the pages went by. Well, no more page turning.
There are of course lots of emotions going through the house, for all of us. Excitement, disbelief, and a little anxiousness. I know it is getting close because I am finally having baby dreams. I can see Shim's beautiful face which of course I am nuzzling, and I can imagine the warmth as we lay skin to skin and just be together. I also can't fall asleep because my mind is going a mile a minute; I have been playing a lot of computer games which is an almost never for me usually, but it helps the time to go faster.
The kids are all doing such a great job getting along and holding down the fort while mom sits on the couch and rests, a lot. In past pregnancies, I have had so much guilt about how little I can do around the house and how inactive I am with the other kids. Thankfully, the guilt is missing this time. I think it is because the oldest three are so helpful and doing such a wonderful job with the three little ones. The girls do all the laundry, general clean up, and make sure lunch gets on the table if I am down for a nap with Cecilia. Pauly has been pitching in with housework and doing an amazing job playing with the kiddos; he has come up with some game they play outside that actually keeps them all busy for hours when the weather is warm enough. We are so proud of them all.
The house is filling up with baby things, and of course Cecilia is trying it all out. This week we will finish getting up the cradle and changing table, and I will do the final shopping trip for all the needed supplies for me and for baby. We will also hopefully, finalize the childcare for the weekend I am in the hospital.
Today, we also honor the Saints that have gone before us and give us such wonderful models for how to love and serve the Lord. Thank you dear Saints for your tireless intercession for our family; we look forward to the day when we can thank you face to face.
There are of course lots of emotions going through the house, for all of us. Excitement, disbelief, and a little anxiousness. I know it is getting close because I am finally having baby dreams. I can see Shim's beautiful face which of course I am nuzzling, and I can imagine the warmth as we lay skin to skin and just be together. I also can't fall asleep because my mind is going a mile a minute; I have been playing a lot of computer games which is an almost never for me usually, but it helps the time to go faster.
The kids are all doing such a great job getting along and holding down the fort while mom sits on the couch and rests, a lot. In past pregnancies, I have had so much guilt about how little I can do around the house and how inactive I am with the other kids. Thankfully, the guilt is missing this time. I think it is because the oldest three are so helpful and doing such a wonderful job with the three little ones. The girls do all the laundry, general clean up, and make sure lunch gets on the table if I am down for a nap with Cecilia. Pauly has been pitching in with housework and doing an amazing job playing with the kiddos; he has come up with some game they play outside that actually keeps them all busy for hours when the weather is warm enough. We are so proud of them all.
The house is filling up with baby things, and of course Cecilia is trying it all out. This week we will finish getting up the cradle and changing table, and I will do the final shopping trip for all the needed supplies for me and for baby. We will also hopefully, finalize the childcare for the weekend I am in the hospital.
Today, we also honor the Saints that have gone before us and give us such wonderful models for how to love and serve the Lord. Thank you dear Saints for your tireless intercession for our family; we look forward to the day when we can thank you face to face.
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