Multi-tasking

Sometimes, as a mom, you've got to get creative. Innovative. Think out side of the box...

...or in this case, bathtub.

Poor Kate is on some heavy duty antibiotics (more on that later) and they are wreaking havoc on her poor little bottom. (If you're a mom, you didn't think twice about that. If you aren't a mom, sorry for the TMI.) This morning she woke up this morning in serious need of a warm bath to soothe and clean her little booty. But I knew if I let her sit in the bath, I wouldn't have time to get the bigger kids ready for school. So I had to come up with a way to do both. And fast. So...

Miss Kate got to sit in a warm bath, watch a movie (so she'd stay there), and I got to keep an eye on her while getting the others ready. Win win. And because nothing in this house is ever done alone...

So it actually worked out really well. I think we need more 7 am baths on the kitchen floor while eating cheerios and watching The Lorax.

WDSD 2013

My beautiful son and daughter are more than just a chromosomal count. More than a statistic. And certainly more than just a couple of kids with disabilities. 

They are amazing kids who want and deserve to be an active part of their communities. They have friends. They have personalities. They have feelings.

Today is World Down Syndrome Day. And as I "wave the flag" of awareness for my kids and others with their same diagnosis, I want to say one simple thing. My hope is that someday, our world-- our society-- won't need a day. That people would be aware. That people would always accept them and look at them no differently than any others. That Micah and Abby would be seen as special for how incredible, kind, smart, and funny they are. Nothing more, nothing less. And until then...

Happy World Down Syndrome Day <3

Tennessee snow

Yesterday and today, we had snow.

IF you can even call it that. It was more like a white slush that only lasted til 11am each day. At least at my house. Some really shady spots it lasted longer. To me, real snow is when the sides of the roads and parking lots have big heaps from the snow plows (not just wet roads where some snow once was). It's when you walk around and your shoe print is still white (not muddy). It's when it snows all day and night (not just for a couple of hours that you missed while sleeping). I kind of wanted real snow.

But being the snow deprived Tennesseans they are, all my little ones insisted they go out in it today, since they didn't yesterday.

See, in my opinion, if you can still see grass, it's not worth the effort.

But they gave me these pitiful faces and wanted to play out there so bad. And to make it worse I saw pictures of my kids friends on Facebook all dressed in cute snow clothes and making half mud/half snow snowmen. So I felt bad and drug it all out-

8 little snow boots
4 snow pants
4 big coats
several hats
and a seemingly endless supply of pink gloves (how important is it that they match? I mean really?)

Em was at a friends' house and Ashley apparently agreed with my too-much-effort theory.

So for all of about 30 minutes, we watched them play.... some. Most of the time was spent with their little faces pressed against the back door. "Mommy, I'm cold. She pushed me. My hands are wet. I'm cold. Micah's eating it. Eww gwoss Micah! My gwove is coming off. I'm cold."

And that was the end of that.

Don't get me wrong, Micah would have stayed out there all day. Maybe it's the Ukrainian in him. Maybe it's a boy thing. But he loved every little bit he could scrape together. Except that he wanted to take off his gloves. Then hat. Then coat. He wanted to be one with the rapidly melting snow. Its a constant battle with him. And I don't need another green-snotty-nosed child right now so we made him come in.

So from now on, unless its real snow (according to the Amy Dictionary) we are doing regular old clothes and coats. Or unless they learn to play longer (and with no whining).

.... who am I kidding?

I'm sure the next time we get another snow (if you can call it that) we'll do the same 30 minutes putting it on, 30 minutes taking it off production for 10 minutes of half fun, half miserable.

I mean we are, after all, Tennesseans right? :)

Habi-coles

"Mommy, I habi-cole?"

Excuse me?

I look up from my new post in the living room. Still trying to get rest, I've been camped out reading blogs, doing the one-eye-open-mommy-nap and watching reruns of Duck Dynasty. That is, in between the occasional attempt at potty training diaper change, meal, or playing referee in games of "who had it first" or  "we don't bite".

Jake is still on the youth retreat. Ashley, Emily, Mabry and Kate are all out with friends who are fellow Nazis in Operation Help Amy. So its just me, Micah and Abbs. And apparently... Barbie.

So *ahem* Barbie and I are minding our own business when my two little bundled up Eskimos come in from playing in the back yard. Rosy cheeked and out of breath from climbing up the deck stairs, they come up and lean against the side table next to my armchair and stare at me. I can tell they both want something. 

"Yeeees?" I ask.

Abby, being the unofficial spokes person says, "Mommy, I habi-cole?"

"What?"

"I HABI-cole." Then she gives me the forehead-tilted-forward, mom-you-know-what-I-mean-just-think-about-it face. "Habi-cole."

Deeply confused, I look to my non-verbal child as if he's going to offer some help.

And in perfect comedic timing, Micah looks from Abby to me, raises one eye brow, lifts his index finger and licks it.

Immediately I know.

"OH! Popsicle!!"

Both raising their hands touchdown-style, shout in unison, "Yay!"

Hahahahahaha.... oohh those two kill me. I didn't get a chance to snap a pic right then, but called them in for a picture a bit later. What a couple of goobers.

Unfortunately they had to settle for a baggy of pretzels because I've been out of... Habi-coles... since, ya know... August. But the whole scene was just too cute. Moments to remember...

Still

Well, I might as well blog about it. Since I have the time.

I mentioned it a bit in my last post. But here it is again.

I've got mono. :(

It all started before Christmas. I was feeling pretty miserable. But honestly, I was so on guard for flu symptoms, that I didn't stop to think what else could be wrong. I had no congestion. No runny nose. Not really a sore throat. But my neck hurt. Like... swollen kinda hurt. And my lower back hurt just a little. And I was getting migraines. 30 years and I've never had a migraine. Until now. But my biggest complaint- fatigue. I was so tired. All the time. But hey, I've got six kids. And it was Christmastime. Who wouldn't be tired?

But still, there was something there.

I told myself to deal with it and I moved on.

Until finally I got to the point that I knew something must be really wrong with me. And actually, the only reason I finally saw a doctor was because if something was wrong, I just wanted to know so I could start on an antibiotic or something and be done with it. Because like Sweet Brown says, "Ain't no body got time for that!" ;)

The doctor did a flu test and a strep test. Both were negative. But after barely touching the back of my neck, my doctor have a "Oooohhh, now I know what's wrong" followed by a "You're not gonna like this". Which, ya know, is always what you want to hear from your doctor.

She said the glands in my neck were sticking out. And that she thought it was mono, though it's rare for someone my age to catch it. I told her I'd had it several times in high school. She said that made sense. And to make a long story short, it's kind of been latent in my body and could really only be brought about by extreme stress or not taking care of myself.   .....Who me???? ;)

So they drew blood to confirm that it was mono and sent me home with a steroid.

~~~

After being on the steroid for those 7 days or whatever it was, I felt great. Totally fine. And when they called with the results of the blood test, she said it was already 4 weeks in. So I thought, great! I'm practically done with it!

Wroooooong.

A few days after my last steroid pill, my back started hurting again. And though low, I've had a fever the last couple of nights.

I still have mono.

And once again the thing that bothers me more than anything else- is the exhaustion. I can't function. And in this house, the mom has to function.

And if all that wasn't fun enough, Jake has a Sr. High winter retreat for 4 days. Which means....

Watch the amazing "SOLO MOMMY! As she swirls through the house cleaning and cooking while juggling six children IN THE AIR!! And for her next act she's going to swallow fire!"

But ya know, I can't do it. I physically cannot. And even if I physically could, I have to rest or this thing is never gonna be over.

So for once in my life, I swallowed my pride. And asked for help. (via facebook) Are you proud of me??!! You should be!! Its not easy for me! Why should people come do something for me when they are busy with their own lives? But my husband gently reminded me that I'm loved and that people want to help if they can. And he was right. Boy was he right.

I've got dinner coming every night this weekend. The 2nd grade class moms have lined up meals for the rest of the week. Yesterday a friend bought me groceries. Mallory is taking the baby girls for a couple of days, Ashley and Emily have been farmed out to friends (and teachers, actually) to play and sleepover. My neighbors even took Mabry to dinner last night and are going to do some laundry for me. And I've had lots more offers for help as well. I'm so blessed, I want to cry. God's people are awesome.

And now...

I can be still.

So until this thing passes (and I'm praying that day is coming soon), I'm going to accept the help with gladness. I'm going to rest the way I need to. I'm going to let the dust bunnies collect under the kitchen table and snuggle with my babies. Maybe the Lord will reveal a thing or two to this stubborn conquer-all mommy. Like how to be still.

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

Father God, teach me to be still and know that You alone are the great I am. Be exalted in this home... be exalted in my heart.

Fresh fire to advocate

When I think back...

back to when I used to cuddle my newborn baby girl with the tiny ears...

and kiss that little nose with a flattened bridge....

and rub my finger across the single line in her palm...

everything in me wanted to fight for her. I pictured my self doing stuff like... well, what I'm about to share with you.

And now, somehow I get wrapped up in life. I repost pictures from IDSC on FB. I "advocate" in my little ways. But not like this story I'm about to share with you.

For a little background, I still keep up with some of the families whom I adopted "with". A handful of moms who ransomed children with DS out of Eastern European orphanages around the same time. I've said it before on my blog, but these women were an incredible encouragement to me at the time. And now its so fun to see how all of our kids are growing. Paula is one of those moms.

The following was taken, with permission, from her FB status. This is so encouraging to me. This is the kind of mom I want to be for my kids.

Follow-up report.... Grace and I presented to almost 800 middle school students today about Down syndrome, ending the use of the "R" word, and how we are more alike than different. After sharing our story, the whole student body spontaneously gave us a standing ovation. But even better--two students came up to Grace afterwards and asked her to sit with them at their lunch table--a dream come true for me.... I wept like a baby when I got in my car afterwards..... Thanks again, to those of you who helped by suggesting ideas and encouragement! Blessings, Paula

Wow. Thank you, Paula for being a voice. For your kids and mine. Your boldness gives me courage and fresh fire.