Wednesday, April 9, 2008

More Progress

Today (Tuesday) speech met with us and we showed her the new paci and how well he did with it, and she's going to try to get a bottle nipple like the paci so he can try a bottle.  The big news for today is: she put 10 cc (one at a time) in his mouth and he swallowed every bit of it!!!  He was so alert and awake every time I visited him today, and Nana called to say the same thing about her visit with him too.  He was really moving around.  He also had 2 huge poops while I was there visiting this evening. Also tomorrow for his 11am feeding he will have much less about half a feeding, and then make it up later in the day, but this is so at the 2pm appt with speech he will be offered a bottle, and hopefully being hungry he will try to suck on it some.  Also when i went to see William today he had been moved to new digs instead of the plastic crib he is now in a big crib with rails, and a mobile.  he's also positioned where he can look out the window and see what's going on outside.   

In other news Tommy got a hair cut today (much needed, but we've been distracted with other things around here), and Micah went to his first Mavericks game.   

8 comments:

Lori said...

Amen! William really does look alert and strong. You have a beautiful family.

Anonymous said...

I am so happy William is improving.
I love Tommy's haircut, and Micah is adorable.
Billie

Tricia said...

Did William yank out the NG tube by himself? That's how it sounds from your wording. Cadenne was the queeeeen of that. She did it like 6 times! Nasty ol' tube!

Ladyornot.com said...

I am so happy. Thanks be to God!

Liz said...

sounds like William is saying he doesn't want to have surgery! Thats great that he is doing so much better lets hope they decide he doesn't need any surgery at all!! Tommy looks soo handsome and all grown up.

~Lydia~ said...

Yes he yanked the NG tube out all by himself!! So while he had it out I had to get a picture of him without anything on his face.

Colleen said...

I'm so glad to hear William is making such great progress. Looks like the boys had fun at the Mavs game!

Anonymous said...

Lydia, I'm glad he seems to be getting better and stronger all the time. I think about you and your boys almost daily. They are all beautiful.
Susan

Mother of a "Special" Child

When I was young, I'd often say,
I'd like to be a mom someday
While playing with my baby doll,
I thought that job's not hard at all

I'd have a baby, maybe two,
a girl in pink...a boy in blue
Well I grew up and sure enough,
I'm now a mom and gosh it's tough

The baby that was sent to me,
was born with disabilities
At first I'm frightened through and through,
there's much to learn to care for you

This wasn't in my plans at all,
when I was young and played with dolls
Your mind and body were so weak,
you might not ever walk or speak

So much special care required,
I'm often scared and often tired
As months and years go slowly by,
I smile a lot but sometimes cry

To watch you grow and not complain,
though you endure your share of pain
Oh, how I'd hold you and I'd pray,
that you'd be healed and whole someday

But I knew that was not to be,
not physically or mentally
And so I taught you best I could,
your progress wasn't very good

But then one day I realized,
as I gazed into your loving eyes
That I had learned so much from you,
determination...courage too

A love so unconditional,
it floods my soul and always will
I'm proud to say I gave you birth,
for you're an angel here on earth.

God Choose a mother for a "Special" child

Most women becaome mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressure and a couple by habit.

This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

"Forrest, Marjotie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."

"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew."

Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But she has patience?" asked the angel.

"I don't want her to have to much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."

"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make her live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps - "selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'. She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!"

"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".

And what about her Patron saint? asked the angel, his pen poised in mid-air.

God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."