Thursday, October 21, 2010

William's Gardian Angel

We had an experience with William's Angel recently, he's been having heat related seizures, and needs medicine for them to stop. Also, needs O2/breathing treatments with them. We were at brother's Baseball game, and the alarm went off at the house, and I get a call from the police, I try to tell them to just leave it alone and let it go I'm sure it's nothing, but they were already headed out to check on it, he says he'll call me back when he gets to the house, so then Rob get's another call about the front door going off again, and then 5 min later another call about the back door going off. I tell him just ignore it it's the police searching the house, and I'm sure all it fine, he's about to leave to go tend to it. Then he makes another snide comment to me about it, so I grab William and head home to take care of nothing. Police man calls to say everything is fine at the house and it's nothing he could find. On the way home I realize that William's eyes look like he might be headed into a seizure (we've had 3 or 4 before). So I get home, house is fine, and he's in seizure mode so I put him on the couch and try to take care of him, hook up his pulse ox and o2 etc (which I have BECAUSE I"M HOME ALL BECAUSE of the ALARM), give him medicine. Anyway seizure lasts he drops o2 while on oxygen (but only for a second, and quickly recovers as long as he's on o2), so I call 911, and we go to hosp (only get o2 and suction at the hospital). And spend the next 6 hrs in the ER sleeping and recovering, and watching the Rangers Win :).

But the angel part is the alarm that started the whole thing was a HALLWAY alarm, the whole reason I was home around the medicine, O2, and pulse ox is because of the HALLWAY alarm. Nothing was in the HALLWAY that could have set it off, and it's pointed level with the ground to not pick up the dog, and the dog never sets it off. I'm convinced the more I think about it, William's Guardian Angel was playing with the alarm that day.

We now have O2, Pulse Ox (finger kind), O2 mask, Meds, NG Tube, Breathing Treatment, Neb kit, etc all packed on the wheelchair.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Tommys first hit out of the air!



Tommy did a great job at his baseball game and hit it out of the air while the coach was pitching the ball instead of off the tee. I'm so proud of him.

Unfortunately I was home/ER With William, he had another episode brought on by heat today. We've had these about once a month, for the past 3 months. They seem to last from 30-45 min before he comes out of it. During these times he needs o2 and breath very shallow. Luckily we have O2 at home now, and 2 of the times we've been able to deal with it at home. This one we probably could have dealt with at home also, as all the ER did was give O2 for the first 30 min, and suction him; both of which could have been done at home.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Sleeping with pumpkins 2

Tommy took one too.

Sleeping with pumpkins

Lydia bought gourds and pumpkins to decorate the tables at our house. Micah played with one most of the night and decided that he wanted to take the pumpkin to bed with him too.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Made it to Church on Time by myself

Made it to Church on time by myself with all 3 kids, and even made a stop before getting to church.

What was even better Micah was pushing the Walker, Tommy pushing the wheelchair with William in it, and I had my hands free where I could have had the new baby in them post arrival in Feb!  They were great big helpers!

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."