Road trip benefits

My oldest son at home, Tyler, accompanied the baby boys and I to the children's doctors for appointments yesterday. The drive is about 4 hours one way so I really enjoyed his company. He also is much stronger than I am. By the end of our day, I was really ready to hit the pillow but he helped empty the car and get the boys in. One of the best things of having individual time (well, plus the babies!) with the kids for the medical trips is that I get their undivided (mostly) attention. It's fun talking about drivers training, politics, religion and relationships. It's also nice to see him interact with the boys and to watch him meet their needs, whether it's sharing snacks,or wiping drool. I was even surprised when he fed Gborlee before he even began eating his own lunch. I really want what's best for each of my kids as they grown and learn, but I must say, there are parts of Tyler's growth that I am thrilled to be witnessing. It hasn't been a basket of roses for tyler to learn to know and love us, just like it has sometimes been more like a bin of thorns to love and accept him. But for the record, I think he is growing up to be a pretty nice teenager these days, and it makes me appreciate him even more as he attends to our disabled boys. For me, this is all I need our family to be. Helping each other to become people they can be proud of. I am proud of tyler this week.

Real Life phase

We just completed our second post-placement meeting last night with our social worker, which signals the boys being in America for nearly 6 months now. I am amazed every day at all the changes, even the little ones, they continue to make. So we are settling into the phase I call "Real Life with Disabled Children."- A few highlights would include: *learning not to faint when the total medical bills for two small children already add up to over $100,000.00. *automaticaly packing an overnight bag when traveling to the children's hospital, rather than being down there and finding out i am going to have to stay over, and not being prepared! *actually getting a shower most days, even if it means waiting until naptime to take it! *scheduling NOTHING until I check my planner *referring to their doctors by first names, especially the ones I see more than my family! *meeting the NICEST people in the world - parents of other special needs kiddos *counting a therapy play group as a time to talk to other adults *having a diaper bag packed and ready to grab as I walk out the door, with enough in it to last at least three days *laughing and snapping pictures of the messes they make, even though I was just in the bathroom for a minute I have to plan a little more, be a bit more flexible and make sure I have the emergency seizure kit with me at all times, but these CP boys are not much different than any of the other kids when they were toddlers. Someone told me the other day they could never do what I do. Really? It's easy to love these angels, and if you got to now them, you would do all you could for them too. And I disagree with my friends' last statement: "they are lucky little boys to have you" No, I will always believe it is me. I am, by far, the luckiest woman alive.