Approaching the Finish Line

This is what I have been looking at for what seems like forever.  My nights consist of many opened books on both sides of me, with loads of medical terminology and transcription style and formatting rules everywhere I turn. These past few weeks I have been crazy busy with school work.  Finally, it's coming to an end in the next few weeks.  To finally have the ability to work as a Medical Transcriptionist will be great.  Now if only I can find a job.

On my left

On my right

My beloved resources

Update:  Job search = Complete!!!! 

Brothers

Here is a video of Jake and Vinny playing.  Jake loves to hold Vinny, and Vinny gives him a run for his money as you will see in this video.

Also, almost always on a daily basis, I have to separate these two boys at the lunch table because Jake likes to make silly faces at his brother while he is eating resulting in Vinny laughing hysterically with food in his mouth.  Can we say "choking hazard."

Silly Face

Hysterical Laughter - wish I had this on video

Moments of Sadness Reply

I recently replied to a posting on our HPE Yahoo Support Group in regards to the moments of sadness we, as moms to special needs children, experience.  This is what I wrote:

I can completely relate to this. Based on the rest of these replies back, you certainly are not alone.

For me I call these moments 'Vinny Moments', because it is the times when I think about how things could have been. I have one trigger that gets me in my Vinny moment, and it is when I see my nephew, just two months older than Vinny, walking, talking, playing with his siblings, etc. To see this adorable little child, unfortunately, is a dagger in the chest for me. I'm reminded of the fact that Vinny will not be able to do those things. But I'm also reminded that he CAN do those things, but in his own way.



Every smile, every laugh, every attempt at crawling on the floor, every attempt at grabbing what it is he wants, and every day that he is on this earth, is a miracle. How many people can say that they live with or have lived with a miracle. We are SO LUCKY to have our special children, and I wouldn't change it for the world.


I've posted on my blog an entry called "wandering mind". Its about how I worry about the care for Vinny when I am gone. Again, it is something that I think about, and those thoughts and the thoughts of what could have been will never go away. I get through these moments because I find true comfort in knowing that I am not alone, and that I have a great group of moms and dads that can relate and provide support and encouraging words.

Thank you to all of you!

My little law abiding citizen

For the week of Feb 28th - March 4th, Jacob was student of the week from grades 3K-5K.  He received the "Good Citizen" title by following rules and laws, involved in family, school, community and country{?}.

Way to go Jake!

Party Preparations - Jake's 5th Birthday

Jake's big day is coming up in less than two months and I have been so excited with the planning process.  This will officially be his first birthday party.  Hopeful attendees include all 14 of his classmates.  Birthday theme is baseball, and oh, do I have some great ideas.  This will {hopefully} be an outdoor party, so first order of business is to do a little construction and add stairs onto the deck going down to the side yard {much needed improvement, photos coming soon}.


Design theme I plan on going with is, of course, the Milwaukee Brewers. Jake has requested games of freeze tag, bag toss, baseball, silly string fights, and bubbles. What he wants, he will get. Photos of the big day are coming soon!

As you can tell by my advanced planning, I am very excited for this party!!



Logo of choice



Back at school & Baclofen

After a week of Jacob being home with a fever, he is back at school. I dropped him off this morning and he was greeted with open arms {literally} and excited "hellos". Such a loving teacher and sweet children he goes to school with. I know he felt special this morning and I enjoyed that smile on his face.

Vinny, on the other had, is back in his crabby, I'm-in-pain mood. I know he probably is, but I don't know what to do about it. We've upped his Baclofen, and I have a feeling it is causing him these issues. I've heard that he could be in pain from the muscles being stretched, but I think it is causing him constipation pain. I plan on calling his physical medicine doctor this morning in hopes that he will have some answers for me.

It is so frustrating having to watch Vinny like this and not being able to help him or ease his problems. Really hoping this gets better soon.

Other Baclofen users: have you ever had this problem while increasing this med?

- Posted using BlogPress from my IPad

Speech-Picture Cards

Just a few of the cards
Vinny worked with today.

This morning Vinny's speech therapist Misty came over to work with Vinny.  We tried a new technique today, and started using simple picture cards for Vinny to make choices.  HE DID AWESOME!!!! As you can see, the pictures are very simple and Vinny understood them beautifully.  He made clear choices by choosing exactly what he wanted and was able to tell us if he was all done or wanted more.  We even switched the cards around when it was time to chose and he still chose the one he wanted.

I couldn't be more proud of him.  We most certainly will be working more with the picture cards to communicate better with Vinny.