Keepin' it Real.

What did I manage to accomplish this morning, perhaps while many of you were working on your computers, teaching classes, running businesses, crunching numbers, and in meetings? I kept both of my children alive. I made sure they were fed. I changed their dirty diapers. Okay, I also gave them a bath... Definitely the "cutest" part of my morning.



After twelve o'clock, noon, after cleaning up vomit and diarrhea and toys and dirty clothes and after putting in several batches of laundry, I showered. I ate. I had some cold coffee.

Elliot has been sick since Saturday and has been coughing so much that he's been throwing up. I just had the carpets cleaned three weeks ago and in three days he's managed to vomit on every single carpet in the house.

Next house. No carpet. Perhaps we'll just throw down some straw.

Owen is sick as of last night as well. Congested. Snotty. Coughing. Mild fever. He's actually on antibiotics for an ear infection he has from the last cold that both boys had two weeks ago. Fingers crossed.

So... I'm, for real, keeping the blog postings off of Facebook. I know so many bloggers, especially bloggers who have children with delays, seizures, life-threatening illnesses, and medical complexities, who feed their blog postings into Facebook. I read these everyday and am so appreciative of these connections. But now that I've been able to get back into blogging the last few months and have reconnected with many of the people that I "lost," I'm reclaiming Facebook as my own space. Not as a place where I update everyone on Owen and our family, which is really the original intent of this blog. I've been dragging my heels for a couple of months wondering whether there was someone else out there who, when I had to pull the plug on the blog last winter, was cut-off and wondering... "What happened to Owen?" I don't ever want anyone to have to wonder that...

So, you've been warned. If you want to know all of the juicy details of our ups and downs and arounds with appointments and seizures and therapies and equipment, or, if you're a parent who wants to make a connection, and connections are ALWAYS welcome, you've gotta check the blog. We actually appreciate you checking the blog and hope you'll stick with us, in sickness and in the health...

But all of the above said, about my "mommy morning," things are going quite well. Elliot and I both absolutely love his preschool and have made a number of really wonderful, new friends. Kelsey is loving the parent education night (for real!) as, the last I heard, he and a few dads will be getting together for social hour prior to each one every month. Oh, and at the last session his suspicions about sleep were confirmed. Five hours just doesn't cut it. Parents need eight. Ha ha. Yes, of course they do.

I was recently invited to join a committee to help plan and develop a Farm-to-School program at Suquamish Elementary where 45% of students are on free or reduced lunches. This project has been spearheaded by some really amazing teachers and community members, all of whom are passionate about providing children a nutritional and educational foundation through food cultivation and experiential learning. I cannot think of a better extra-curricular activity for this mama. I'm very, very excited. I was closely involved with the Suquamish Environmental Education Boosters while I was still at Grounds for Change full time, through our membership with 1% for the Planet. The "Pond Kids" used the donation made by Grounds for Change to attend Islandwood on Bainbridge Island - something that otherwise, might have been out of their reach. I'm excited to have ended my four year hiatus with these fabulous kids.

Owen has been doing great at his PT and Speech sessions at Harrison Pediatric Rehab Center in Silverdale. The facility is beautiful and the staff, excellent and incredibly skilled. It is a perfect fit for Owen. Finally. He is currently being fitted for a stander, to help alleviate both the VERY tight hamstrings (the source of the acute pain episodes he was having) and try to mitigate any further hip issues. Owen's PT told me that even having children standing at a 30% angle, placing weight on the feet and legs, can have a significant, positive impact on the hips, hamstrings and spine.

The two volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, both attorneys, will be meeting with our family on November 21st to help us finalize Owen's wish. Interestingly, but perhaps not so surprising based on their experience, they made a suggestion that we are very excited about and will probably choose. We're not ready to spill the beans just yet, however. Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, we've also had the pleasure of connecting with a family up in Port Angeles whose son is very similar to Owen, just a couple of years older. Owen is a rare-find and we are always so eager to make these connections, connections which are much more difficult to cultivate than those that occur simply by attending a Parent and Child program at the local preschool.

Off to tend to my little guys...

Peace and warmth to all.

~ S