Monday, April 16, 2012

So Big

This morning our house was a revolving door. First came our Speech Therapist, accompanied by our Special Education Teacher. They are helping teach Ella some sign language and also giving us tips on how to encourage her speech. As they were finishing up, our Physical Therapist(s) came by to watch Ella show off her mad army crawling skills. And that's about all they got done... Ella got a little irritated threw a huge fit, if one of them actually tried to touch her. Right as they walked out the door and Ella thought she might have a chance at a nap, ha!!  The ESU audiologist came by to check Ella's hearing. (She still didn't pass...)

No rest for the weary tomorrow either... We are venturing into Sioux City for a MOPS meeting in the morning, then traveling to Vermillion for Ella and Charlie's 15 month and 4 year check up. I'm sure they will test Ella for RSV and try to coax me into being admitted since she has a tiny sniffly nose... (Love our overly cautious Dr--seriously I do!!!) And if Ella thought she might get some relief after that, just wait... she still has OT to look forward to on Thursday!

I'm not a special needs mama looking for pity. I don't want anyone to feel bad for us. (Although if anyone does and would like to drop by a meal or a bottle of wine we usually eat around 5:30) Kidding!!! Kindof... :)


Life is often hectic. The sheer number of doctor appointments, in-home therapies, phone calls to insurance companies and government agencies, forms to fill out... it's often overwhelming.

Tonight I was feeling exhausted just thinking about our busy week and the things I need to get done. I was playing 'So Big' with Ella and all of a sudden, for the very first time she put her own short little arms up in the air to show me how 'big' she was. I thought my heart would explode with joy...  Ella ran screaming and giggling into the kitchen to show Daddy (Okay, maybe that was me... but she was really proud of herself too!)

The Dr. appointments, all the miles traveled, all the hours on the phone with insurance companies, all the frenzied minutes spent shoving things in the closet cleaning the house before the therapists arrive... They are all worth it. There are so many unknowns with Ella, we never take anything for granted.

Every. single. milestone

is


"SO BIG!!!!"



9 comments:

  1. Maria- I have to say, I'm enjoying reading your blog and hearing about your precious children. I don't know you personally, but I know JJ from working with him at the bank. Ella is so lucky to have wonderful parents and God has blessed you with a perfect family. I'm so thankful you are sharing your story, struggles and triumphs. I pray you know you are not alone.

    God Bless!

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    1. thank you so much heather!! it truly means a lot to me.

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  2. Reading through your struggles and joys have helped me see that sometimes I take my own kids' development for granted. We, too, play games like "So Big" but I don't light up with excitement the same way I did with the first child (or 2nd or 3rd. . .) because it's what SHOULD happen, not IF it will happen. However every child developing into an adult is a miracle and I need to remember that. Thanks for the reminders! (p.s. I, too, enjoy a nice meal and a bottle of wine . . .)

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    1. well maybe we should get together for a nice meal and bottle of wine!! :)

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  3. Yay! What an exciting day for you! Speaking for the therapists, we don't mind if the house isn't perfect :) I have been in homes of hoarders...literally! I will try to remember to drop off some wine sometime soon!

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    1. lol! i know... they assure me all the time it's fine, but i still TRY to pick up just a little! :)

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  4. You are such a great blogger! Thanks again for sharing your journey with us! I'll have to get to that bottle of wine one of these days...as I have not see you and family in forever! thinkin of ya all!

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  5. I did sign language with Hayden and I plan on doing it with Brynlee too. I LOVE IT! Whether you have a child who has hearing loss, needs help with speech or not I think it's awesome. It was one of the best things I could do with Hayden because she was able to communicate things to me that she didn't know the word for. One of my favorite signs as she got older was help. I, like you, HATE whining so when she needed/wanted something that she didn't know the sign for she could just sign help instead of whining or grunting about it. So in other words...huge fan of signing :)

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