simple truths

I just viewed this short montage on another blog and I just had to share it.... very touching true story about a young man, who just happens to have Down syndrome, who touched the hearts of so many people with one simple act.  We could all learn something from Johnny the bagger... sometimes it is the little things that make all the difference. Check it out.

The Simple Truths of Service  

it is so very hard to be small

Sean is miserable. Some celebrated milestones just SUCK!  It is day 5 of Sean's teething woes and I just noticed that a second tooth has  just erupted.  My otherwise happy baby has been replaced with a sad, blubbering mess of a child. Somewhere amidst the fever, the coughing, the impressive amount of snot and drooling, the tears, the crying, the red droopy eyes and the tender, swollen gums there is a little baby that just wants to nurse and go to sleep.  

Sam is not quite sure to make of all this.  Sean rarely cries and I think his constant misery over the past few days has taken as much of a toll on Sam as it has anyone.  This morning Sam was just full of piss & vinegar and needless to say he had a less than productive physical therapy session.  However, part way through he turned his attention to Sean. They had a very tender moment.  Sam the protective big brother that he is, gently patted Sean on the back and gave him kisses in is very best attempt to console him...and then promptly removed his socks.  It was the most focused and intentional act of affection and concern that I have seen him display toward anyone.   It was very sweet.  It is not that Sam is not affectionate, he is,  it was just the way he touched Sean with such softness... it was a genuine moment.  

Andrew is doing better, recovering from his sinus infection, and is finally back to school just in time for Wacky Wednesday.  He wore his clothes backwards and spiked up his hair... if I could have put Sean down long enough to take a picture I would have. :)  Hopefully everyone will be back at their peek performance soon.

***special note***

A Nursing Mother's Prayer

OH LORD may my nipples be tougher than the sharpest baby tooth.

some girls need chocolate... I need cookies

happiness is... a box of Girl Scout cookies!

It is Girl Scout Cookie time and I am verging on cookie nirvana.  Some girls need chocolate... I need cookies.  I acknowledge that I have an addiction but unwilling to give up my vice, I have established some hard and fast rules about Girl Scout cookies...yes it helps me sleep better at night.   

#1.  I always buy them.  The kids in the neighborhood know that the NO SOLICITING PLEASE sign on my front door is null and void if they are peddling goodies.  They know my weakness and they are more than willing to bring their wares to my doorstep.  Enablers they are... cute, sweet, big eyed enablers.  Don't they know an addict when they see one?

#2. I only buy 2 boxes at a time.  This rule was put into effect after the Thin Mint invasion of '97. That was the year I bought my stash of yummy goodness only to find out that out that my husband (also an enabler... although he too has been known to polish off an entire sleeve of Thin Mints in one sitting) also fell victim to the Girl Scout Cookie sign up sheet posted on the bulletin board at work.  I think we ended up with 16 boxes of Girl Scout cookies in the freezer that year (that is not counting the boxes we devoured).... hence the need for rule #2.  This way we (Patrick abides by rule #2 as well) can buy from everyone and we don't end up with an embarrassing number cookie boxes to haunt us through the lenten season.  

#3.  Cookies may only be eating with a glass of milk. I know that there is little to no nutritional value to cookies... but I don't care.  Sometimes a girl just needs what a girl needs.  However, in my attempts to set a good example for my children and to not fall too deeply into a glutenous bliss... I always drink a glass of milk with my cookies.  Milk does a body good.  This rule prevents me from avoiding meals in order to polish off and entire sleeve of peanut butter sandwich cookies while standing at the counter making the kids lunch.  It forces me to sit down, relax and enjoy my spoils.  

 

rough day

So Sean had his 6 month well visit with the pediatrician and she of course agreed with us... he is brilliant :)  He is in the 90th percentile for height and 70th for weight and doing all the things a good baby should be doing.  Unfortunately the poor thing got 3 shots.  Sean took them like a pro but as if the day wasn't rough enough... he also cut his first tooth.  You can't see it yet but you can feel the sharp point on his gum... I breast feed, therefore I KNOW!  And he perhaps has his first little cold.  It could just be teething too but he has a runny nose and a tiny cough... it is oh so pathetic but he is still able to smile through it all.  Check out those tired little eyes.  He is comfortably sleeping with Daddy right now and hopefully he will be right as rain tomorrow.

a Beary special surprise

This little bear made my day!!!  It is from UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation and it came bearing the grant I applied for.... Yippee!  The UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation is a non-profit charity and was "established to help families whose children have medical needs that are not insured comprehensively to provide coverage for all their medical treatments... and helps families who have gaps in their commercial health benefit plans".   Sam does not qualify for SSI, Medicare or other state/federal programs and usually a child must receive one or more of these type of services to qualify for any sort of aid... however this grant was different and I jumped at the chance.  The grant we received (we submit the bills and they pay... what a deal) will cover Sam's diapers, formula and some medications not covered by insurance....OK I am on the verge of tears...this is soooo wonderful!!!  Sam is 5 years old and he goes through about as many diapers a day as Sean (6months).  And due to the fact that he had nearly all of is large intestine removed because of Hirschsprung's disease he will most likely be in diapers for several more years.... and he is 100% g-tube fed and the special formula he is on is his only form of nutrition.  Neither of these items (diapers or formula) grow on any sort of tree or shrub around here so this grant is oh so very wonderful and will basically cover Sam's diapers and formula for 1 year!!!! Yipee!!! This is just a really blessing and I want to encourage others who might be in the same situation that we are to check out this foundation.  

Sam is pretty happy about it too!

double standard

Check out these thighs!

At this age chunky thighs are beautiful.

so pinchable and squeezable...

a sign of health, growth and good eating...

hhhhhmmmmmm...

So why doesn't anyone pinch MY thighs anymore and say... 

"Oh you are soooo cute"?  

Some things in life are just not fair!

all about the babe

Sean, 6 months

 

Sean is 6 months old! (as of Feb. 17th) 6 months...I know!!! Can you believe it???  Well, he is nothing short of brilliant... of course! He sitting independently without support, eating cereal, rolling over both ways, and trying to get up on all fours. He squeals and babbles and has even learned the fine art of whining.  He delights in his brothers and all things that they do.  He is also very curious and gets excited about exploring new things. We are going to be in such trouble once he starts crawling!  Everything goes to his mouth and I think he is teething. He is a happy, happy baby and an absolute joy.  

Here is a short video (22 seconds) of Sean in his Jumparoo! He really loves this thing but we limit his jumping bliss to about 15 minutes a day.

happiness is...

... obviously 15 minutes is long enough!