Will Everyone Stare?

The countdown is here... 6 days until we are DOC band free!!! It has been almost 3 months with that plastic head contraption. What many call a "helmet." I didn't want to call it that because, well, that isn't what it is. It is an orthopedic device.  Children who are mentally challenged or have a brain injury may wear a helmet. But that wasn't Isaac.  However, the DOC band did serve it's "helmet" moments! There were many times while learning to sit (and now learning to stand) that he would fall and bonk his head.  I'm sure that was a good cushion for him!

But now, now the routine we have come to know is coming to an end. And we couldn't be happier. The nights of dousing that sweaty thing with alcohol, scrubbing off the food that splattered on it,  the days it gets caught on the shopping cart and many other things, all the frustrations that come with it are coming to an end. (Can you tell we are excited?)

So that wasn't the full purpose of this blog post. I just needed to let that out there. (WE ARE ALMOST DONE!)  I remember the day we took the imaging for his band and thought, "Will everyone stare? What will it be like?" Well, let me share our journey...

Yes. Everyone stared. But not in the way I thought they would.  Many stared in awe.  Here's an example.  Recently, there was a day my husband took Isaac out grocery shopping. He mentioned to me later, "Everyone kept stopping and gushing all over him about how adorable he is!"

Oh yes! Our son is the cutest thing in the world! We should enroll him immediately in a baby contest. But I truly think people see him with the DOC band, and notice him more due to it.  The best part that I noticed was they didn't look away sheepishly like, oh I better not stare. Instead, they did just as my husband mentioned and smiled and loved all over him.

I've had some of the best conversations at Costco that I wouldn't have had if he didn't have the DOC band on. I know those parents wouldn't have approached me if he didn't. I know because the whole reason they came was THAT is what we had in common. Their children either had one or was suggested to have one. So we stood and chatted about the pluses and minuses about the band.

Now don't get me wrong.  There are definitely people who showed no interest in Isaac. And I'm totally cool with that. I don't need everyone gawking over him like he is the Prince of Egypt.  And I have definitely had people just cold out reject me when I asked them a question. Was it because of his DOC band? Did they associate it with some mental retardation? Or was it the Christian stickers we put on them? Or was it just the fact he is a baby and some people can't stand babies. Who knows. Who cares.  All that truly matters is that our child is alive and well.

And maybe, maybe, sometimes staring isn't a bad thing after all.

As a side note, I have worked with mentally disabled adults.  If I was ever BLESSED to have or to take care of a child with disabilities, you better believe I would stand up for them. And yes, it would be a blessing. Would it be a challenge, heck yes. But that is a blog for another time...

Babies and the Path of Gratitude

Having a baby always looks glorious on the outside. We see the youtube videos of laughing babies, cute things they do, and even some seem like mini Einsteins.  Then there are the difficulities... the long nights, the continous spit-ups, food thrown everywhere, your schedule is never your own, you revolve it according to their naps, and so much more.  However, the one thing you will never catch me do is complain about ANY of these or anything else.

Tonight, while my husband was feeding our son after his bath, I was picking up his toys and putting them away. I stopped looked around, and smiled. I just looked and realized.... We... are... blessed! Many people can have a negative attitude about all the work it takes to raise a child. About how annoying it can be to have to pick up these toys over and over every night. How repetitive it feels to wash those teething toys continously because the dog fur just finds its way to it every moment of every day no matter how clean the house is, like a child to sugar.  Yet, I don't, and WON'T, go there. Because we are blessed.

We are blessed first and foremost to have a... no THIS... child. We are blessed with the love of each other to support one another and create such an amazing family dynamic where we communicate and respect each other. We are blessed to have the items we do that our little one loves to play with as well as the ones that keep him safe. We are blessed with all the clothing to dress him up. We are blessed with loving family and friends, near and far.  We are blessed with all the medical technology that was able to help our little one through his trials. We are blessed with books so we can read to him and he can tear and chew on pages, food to eat and he can throw and splash, bibs and burpclothes to catch all that spit up and create lots of laundry (and blessed with washer machine!). I could seriously go on forever.

My point being that as parents, we are supposed to be teaching our children morals, virtue, truth, goodness, and beauty. And yet, Isaac has been teaching me more than I ever thought he would in the almost 8 months he has been born... more if you count in utero.  And the lesson I have been learning of late is everything follows your attitude. If we look on life in a positive way, all follows so. If we choose to look at it negatively, we are doomed to follow that path.  I have chosen the path of gratitude. I hope you do also.

Easter Blessings

[Written Sunday... published late... oops!]

Happy Easter friends and family! What a glorious one it is! We just left from Mass and man, can I just say my jaw is still on the floor with how heavenly it was.  One thing I love about my faith is I don't rely just on the way Mass makes me feel or what I get out of it.  Mass is about what I give. I am there to give honor, glory, and praise to my Lord Jesus Christ who has broken the chains of hell and opened the gates of Heaven, for lil' ol' me.  And lil ol' you too.   To sing Glory to God for all his works is one of my favorite things Easter Day.  For those of you who don't know, we abstain from singing the Alleluia and the Gloria hymns at Mass all during Lent. Lent is a time of reflection and penance.  So Easter morning, those two hymns are always my favorite! I love to sing them loud and proud with all the angels and saints.

While sitting after Communion it was beautiful watching the packed Church going up to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist.  It was especially beautiful to see the effort families put into dressing up.  The little girls twirling in beautiful dresses were magical.  The environment (flowers, families, trumpet sounding, real pipe organ, etc) all contributed to me being able to direct my mind and heart to the Lord.  As well as Fr. Lankeit's amazing homily.  He spoke of the importance of a personal relationship with Christ.  And without that, no theology, no apologetics, nothing will convince another of what the Truth really is.  Of course, Fr. did a better job explains it! But it truly is a must listen! I posted the YouTube video of it here.  Fast forward to minute 22:00 to hear the homily.Sts. Simon and Jude Phoenix Easter Mass 2017

Not only have I experienced all of these blessings, but to have a little one this Easter is quite extraordinary also.  I can't explain the joy in my heart every time I look at Isaac. His personality blooms every day. As much as I love being a stay at home mom with him, I knew it was time for me to get out more and start working.  I began putting my feelers out and actually got a part time job at a crisis pregnancy center called First Way.  It truly is a blessing to be part of that team and the way God has worked everything out.

Today has been enjoyable. (I am just able to finish this at the end of the day). A day with my new family and some friends.  Building new traditions, and loving each other. Painting eggs, having friends over. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

                       

One month down, One and Half to go!

Our little man is 7 months old! Gosh time flies. I said I was going to do updates more often than this, but life is just so busy.  Anyhow, Isaac is doing well with the DOC band. We have had several appointments for growth adjustments. They shave some off from the inside back left and front right to allow for some more growth.  Since his flat spot was on the back right, they try to redirect the growth there.  Apparently he is progressing very well.

Isaac has also been continuing with swim class each week. He knows his cues for going under water! When I give him the cue he closes his eyes and mouth. It's adorable.  Clearly he is sitting up, and just the other day, going into his room I found him sitting up in his crib on his own! So he is getting to the point of getting to the sitting point on his own also.  When we leave his room he likes turning off the light switch, too.  

Solids have been a fun adventure! He has tried lots of foods! Avocados, rice, carrots, sweet potato, blueberries, butternut squash, asparagus, peanut butter, eggs, oranges, tuna... and lots more.  He's going to be quite the foodie! 

The most exciting latest development is how close he is to crawling! He scootches backwards, but also goes on all fours and rocks. He's so close!  And his little tooth is peaking out also. Finally! Something to show for all that screaming and pain!

As far as the rest of life, mom is on the job hunt for some part time stuff.  Dad is still a rockstar at everything he does ... being supportive and making/fixing things around.  I love the team we are.  

The DOC-tor is In!

Welp, for those of you who have been on the journey of our baby boy Isaac know he is about to begin on another superhero journey... the DOC band with Cranial Technologies.

Isaac has already been through some courageous feats. He is my little hero. When he was less than two months old, the doctor mentioned his head was significantly flat. We believe this happened in utero. We tried doing all the repositioning techniques, which helped a little. But it is quite noticeable still... unless you are staring in his beautiful eyes!! CT gave us consultations as often as needed since we were choosing the reposition technique first.  The latest shows the flattening as well as the "length to width" ratio being quite distinct. It can affect his vision with glasses, helmets later in life, as well as his jaw and teeth if we did not correct it. 

So onward and upward... Isaac got to look like a baby robbing a bank for a little while during the time of getting his image taken.  They take digital pictures in order to make the model for his DOC band.  They are custom made for each baby, leaving room in the area which needs to grow and putting a bit of pressure on the area that has excessive growth.  We will have weekly follow ups so they can continue to adjust the band.

After 10 days the band came in... today! I didn't really get any shots of him in it except before they had to adjust it a bit and shave some off above his eyes. I will get more tomorrow.  But I'll tell you what, he makes the thing look fashionable! 

Okay not the best picture, but wait until tomorrow, his 6 month birthday!! And there will be plenty more to come in the next 2-3 months.  

I hope you all continue on this journey with us,

Much love,

JWinks