The Beginning

My husband and I thought we were AWESOME parents!  Our first child was the son anyone would want to have.  He was smart, kind hearted, out going.  Everyone who met him, fell in love.  We did a great job.  Right?

Then our second child was born and helped us realize, we weren't awesome.  We were lucky.  From the time we brought him home from the hospital, nothing has been easy.  Don't get me wrong!  He is also smart, kind hearted, and out going.  Everyone who meets him, falls in love.  But our second son has global developmental delays and some chronic health issues.  Combine that with a stubborn, bull headed disposition, and you have two very challenged, very tired parents. 

When he was nine months old, we became concerned because he couldn't sit up by himself.  Our oldest was starting to walk by that age.  A very quiet baby, he didn't babble or coo like other babies.  He was always smiling and happy but he wasn't doing all those things that other babies his age were doing.  He also had a serious asthma condition that required daily breathing treatments and diligent preventative measures.  In addition, he was very tall for his age and the steroids he was on had made him puffy.  Our primary doctor recommended that we seek out early intervention services.  He also referred us to specialists to try to identify what exactly was wrong with him.  Let the fun begin!

Having sons like ours can really put your life into perspective.  It helps you see humor in the darkest of days.  Laughing instead of crying because you have to prop your one year old up with pillows when he's sitting on the floor so that he doesn't fall and smack his head. It brings you closer to your family and those who really love and support you.  Calling your mother-in-law at two in the morning so she can listen to your baby's breathing to give you advise because he just had a breathing treatment two hours before and he can't have another for two more hours.  It makes you realize that nothing is possible without God and his Grace.  Like driving five hours to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia because the specialists tell you that your baby will need to have his skull cut open and spacers put in place but when you get there, the specialists at CHOP say take him home.  He doesn't need this procedure.  He is fine.  Crying and thanking God because you know it was the prayers of your community and your friends and family that made this miracle possible.

Life isn't easy.  Being a parent is never easy.  But the journey is certainly worth it.  My sons have taught me that.