He speaks

Four years ago today... I would never have thought that Micah would still be non-verbal. Sure, anything is a possibility with kids who have varying special needs. When we signed up for this, we didn't know if he would speak or not. Or if he could use the potty, or if he would have major heart problems, or if he'd be partially blind... We were just being obedient to The Lord. Trusting Him for all of it.

And here we are. After 4 years home, what can he say? Well... he says "no". He verbalizes a few letters. And the beginning sounds of a few basic words... Sometimes... But only when he's in the mood.

A few months ago, the school system approved Micah for a speech device. An iPad with an augmentative communication app. Fancy words that mean Micah pushes some buttons and it speaks out loud for him.

And for a mother who desperately wants to know what's swimming around in the obviously sharp brain of her now eight year old son... It's a small, flat, miracle machine. 

I've been working on it to get it in order- all of the buttons he would use at home. Rooms of the house, activities he enjoys, the foods we eat.

So far his favorite sentences are, (now imagine a deep, slightly British sounding voice speaking from an iPad, with a cute little Down Syndrome face peering out from behind it)... 

"I want a fruit and grain bar please" and "I want to take a bath" ... Like every 5 minutes. So we stick to our old signing routine around the house until we hit a moment where further communication is needed.

Like today.

Micah had just come downstairs and I wanted him to go to the living room and not into the playroom. Abby wasn't feeling well so she was temporarily quarantined in there until I could determine if she was really sick or not. 

So I said, "Micah, don't go into the playroom buddy, go to the living room." To which he completely ignored me and I repeated myself, more quickly and loudly this time as he was approaching the playroom. 

Just before he opened the playroom gate to let himself in, I ran over, grabbed his hand in mine and (admittedly too harshly) I scolded him for not obeying and sent him to a mild time out- sitting on the livingroom couch. But in a typical mad-he's-in-trouble Micah fashion, he sat and cried. And kept crying long after we told him he could get up and play.

Frustrated, I finally said "Why are you crying Micah?!" I grabbed his iPad, handed it to him and crossed my arms. I only half expected him to give me an answer that didn't involve food, TV, a bath or playing in the baby pool.

He wiped his tears and started hunting the screen for the right words.

At first it was something that had to do with cars or something. He shook his head no and kept searching. And then he came up with 4 words that softened my heart. Words I presume he's wanted to tell me countless times for the last 4 years but couldn't. 

"I... is... why... bad"

I knew exactly what it meant. "How have I been bad?" "What have I done wrong?"

Sometimes Micah is SO obviously defiant. He tests boundaries bigtime. He's notorious for it. But being the human, not-perfect parent that I am, it's hard to differentiate when he's being disobedient and when he's just not paying attention. Just the same as my other kids. Except my other kids can defend themselves. Micah can only cry.

Until now.

Sweet buddy. I explained to him the whole situation and I'm fully confident he understood. What a freeing thing. For both of us. 

Father give me patience with my son. Give me discernment and eyes to see when any of my children are testing the boundaries or merely being oblivious. Thank You for the blessing of a device that gives him a voice. Thank You for Your son Jesus who is the voice for all of us before the Father. And thank You that because of Jesus, Your mercies are new every morning... for mother and son alike.

I miss blogging

I miss blogging. I do.

It's something I often want to sit and do.... but don't.

Sometimes I look back through the old posts and I can't help but smile. The memories.... The good, the bad, the comical and the scary.

I look back at all that God has done... all He's brought me through... the blessings He's poured out on me through my husband and my beautiful children... It makes me want to keep blogging.

Because there certainly isn't want for stories now. You could peek inside my windows on any given day and laugh at the comical and strange events that take place here. And I'd love to keep recording my memories in some way.

If I'm honest, in the last year, (the last 6 months especially) Facebook and Instagram have replaced my blog. Because its convenient. And fast. But that makes me really sad... I wish I could go back and move all those updates and photos to my blog. Precious memories that I wish were in one place.

Maybe it's because I have 6 mobile children now. Maybe this is just a busy year. Whatever the reason, it's time to get back in the groove. It's therapeutic for me and I love looking back on our ever-changing life, and our rapidly growing family.

I've considered ditching FB all together so many times recently. But because of some really wonderful groups-- adoption, school, DS, etc --I really want to hang in there. But a few weeks ago I took the app off of my phone and that helped worlds. No more crazy-frequent checking of news feeds.

I think I might just use Instagram for pics but go back to telling the story here. Or maybe I'll just ditch Instagram. We'll see.

But I'm going to determine to jump back into blogging. Not for my readers but for my family. For myself. For the value of giving Glory to the Father for the great things He's done and is doing in our lives.

But if you do enjoy reading along, feel free. And leave me a comment or word of encouragement. I'm happy to share these stories with you as I record them. Thanks for continuing to stop by!

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...