Nursery and School

I love this picture of Carter in his wheelchair he looks so happy.  Plus I love his little teeth:)  Carter went to Nursery for the FIRST time yesterday at our new ward.  He fell asleep in his wheelchair so we just wheeled him in.  They never came to get me so I guess he did good.  I was excited for him to go because well....he is 2 1/2 years old.  And the nursery didn't look very crowded, plus there are other special needs kids there as well.  Carter loves watching other children so I bet he had fun.  Plus children always take an interest in him because of his wheelchair or just him.  I can't count how many times I've heard a little kid, smaller than Carter, point to Carter in his stroller at the store and say "baby!"  LOL.  Nope, not a baby. 

Carter and I start meeting with Jordan School District next month to get school started for him.  He will start going to preschool when he is 3.  It's usually a few hours a day a couple days a week.  They will pick him up in the bus in his wheelchair which straps right in.  Seems crazy that it's so soon.  December he'll be 3 and going to school AND Primary.  Wow.  He sure is growing up fast.  He has been such a mover lately it's crazy.  He is scooting all over the place I just seem to miss the part of him actually moving.  He is getting into stuff now so I guess baby proofing is coming up.  He is constantly getting in new positions, some of which leave him frustrated and in need of assistance.  Carter can get up from his back, he has even somehow moved his side rail in his bed and fallen out.  Yikes!  He sure is strong and determined when he wants to be.  He is 30 lbs and 36 inches or so long.  He is still G Tube fed with PediaSure and is doing great with that.  People seem curious if he'll ever eat again.  I'm not too interested in pressing that issue right now with a new baby.  Perhaps in a few months we'll do another swallow study and see where he is at.

Since we moved, Carter is in a big boy bed now.  We are also re-starting vision services, physical therapy and aide services.  I am also going to have him do another sleep study to see if he needs oxygen at night anymore since his tonsillectomy.  I put everything on hold for a few months with new sister, but we are picking things up again.  These past 6-7 months have been so nice without seizures and doctor appointments.  I actually felt normal for the first time in awhile.  I am so thankful everyday he is healthy and seizure-free.  His neurologist was so pleased with his progress that our appointment only lasted 5 min.  I was so excited.  He still has his temper tantrum moments when frustrated and still wakes me up early, but otherwise a great kid to be around.  His smile and laughter is infectious. 

Sierra's Blessing & Poem

Carter's little sister Sierra was blessed this last Sunday and we got some very cute pictures of our little family.  Carter has been so cute with her, he tries to touch her and they stare and smile at each other.  So tender.  He is putting his hands and things in his mouth again, the therapist says that's great.  He is still doing well and getting so big.

Top 20 Reasons Moms of Kids With Special Needs ROCK
 Anonymous

1. Because we never thought that “doing it all” would mean doing this much. But we do it all, and then some.
2. Because we’ve discovered patience we never knew we had.
3. Because we are willing to do something 10 times, 100 times, 1,000 times if that’s what it takes for our kids to learn something new.
4. Because we have heard doctors tell us the worst, and we've refused to believe them. TAKE THAT, nay-saying doctors of the world.
5. Because we have bad days and breakdowns and bawl-fests, and then we pick ourselves up and keep right on going.
6. Because we gracefully handle the stares, the comments, the rude remarks. Well, mostly gracefully.
7. Because we manage to get ourselves together and get out the door looking pretty damn good. Heck, we even make sweatpants look good.
8. Because we are strong. Man, are we strong. Who knew we could be this strong?
9. Because we aren’t just moms, wives, cooks, cleaners, chauffeurs, women who work. We are moms, wives, cooks, cleaners, chauffeurs, women who work, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, researchers, nurses, coaches, and cheerleaders. Whew.
10. Because we work overtime every single day.
11. Because we also worry overtime, but we work it through. Or we eat chocolate or Pirate's Booty or gourmet cheese, which aren't reimbursable by insurance as mental-health necessities but should be.
12. Because we are more selfless than other moms. Our kids need us more.
13. Because we give our kids with special needs endless love, and then we still have so much love left for our other kids, our husbands, our family. And our hairstylist, of course.
14. Because we inspire one another in this crazy blogosphere every single day.
15. Because we understand our kids better than anyone else—even if they can’t talk, even if they can’t gesture, even if they can't look us in the eye. We know. We just know.
16. Because we never stop pushing for our kids.
17. Because we never stop hoping for them, either.
18. Because just when it seems like things are going OK, they're suddenly not OK, but we deal. Somehow, we always deal, even when it seems like our heads or hearts might explode.
19. Because when we look at our kids we just see great kids. Not "kids with cerebral palsy/autism/Down syndrome/developmental delays/whatever label."
20. Because, well, you tell me.