Last week Patrick did something, that he has never done in his 4 1/2 years of life. Something that didn't even hit me until after he did it, but then made me so incredibly excited.....
He stood up, by himself, to get his height checked at the doctor.
I was so giddy that day, that I could hardly stand it. I had a smile from ear to ear. I was so proud of him. So proud of all of his hard work. I was also kicking myself for not getting a picture....so here is a cute random one:
Friday was Patrick's Christmas party at school. Tim, Jameson and I went. It was amazing to see how a community comes together for this school and just gives them the greatest day ever. From the PTA, to the Shriners, to the Knights of Columbus. It is a huge undertaking and we are so, so, so thankful for all of them. I also realized, even more so, how much those teachers need to be paid more. Or like a trip to Hawaii every now and then.
Playing this instrument is too much
Loved the Yellow Bell
I had a doctor's appointment and then Tim and I were spending the day Christmas shopping. My favorite day of the year. Just Tim and I wandering around the mall like teenagers, holding our starbucks cups and pretending we have money....ya know...typical Americans.
The day was absolutely perfect....until....at the end of our trip I was walking through a toy aisle, and it hit me. Hit me like a truck. I realized how many times that day I said, "Oh Jameson would love this, or Avery would love that." But I didn't say it that much for Patrick.....I did say it, but FAR less. In that moment, my heart sank. I can't really explain the feeling, but I wanted to cry and just run home and hold him. I wanted to tell the toy stores to invest in a section for our kids. Just to give us parents that moment. Instead of scouring online for toys that may or may not be suitable for our kids, and that we have to take out a second mortgage to pay for. That's all...
So....I went home...I cried...I talked to Tim....my knight in shining armor(or is that just all the beer cans?).....I watched some episodes of the Office(and Roseanne, because Jameson made me) and I cuddled the shit out of my kids. And it helped....it always does. It hurts to know that our child will never understand Christmas the way our other 2 will, but I have to find the good in it. That is why special needs parents scour online, and special needs websites, and parent support groups, to find the one thing that will make him excited or his face light up for that one special moment on Christmas morning. We hold out hope....
But lets face it....I could buy any of my kids something super cool and exciting and they would end up playing with a box. Its all about perspective.....
This is boring
1. I want as many people as possible to know that PKS exists, what it is, etc.
2. I wanted people to see our family walk the path
3. I wanted people to know that having a child born in a way that you didn't expect, IS NOT the end of the world. It is emotional, hard, tiring, confusing....a true rollercoaster. It's just different and special and there is still an overflowing, abundance of LOVE.
4. We all handle things in our lives differently.....period. The way I handle things can be completely different than another parent....but, that's ok. That's what our kids are here to do....teach us that different is ok.
THIS IS HOW BUBBY HANDLES A SLIDE
THIS IS HOW JAMESON DOES
(I know it's hard to believe, but he is crying)
IT'S ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE
DIFFERENT IS OK :)
And Lastly for your viewing pleasure....decorating the Christmas tree:
Look-I'm not too cool to hang out with my family yet...YAY!!!
White trash Christmas decorating
A
