So I know it's been quite a while since I've been here. I guess it's kind of fitting that it's May that I come back to my blog, in that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I have been away from my blog due to my depression. My depression has kicked my rear! So much has happened in the last three years and things have finally started to calm … [Read more...]
Autism Awareness Month – What is Childhood Disintegrative Disorder?
April is considered Autism Awareness Month. In our house, we are aware of Autism 24/7, 365 days a year, as we have two boys that have been diagnosed with the disorder. Autism is a spectrum disorder and each person does not present the same way. It can be very hard to diagnose Autism, because it can mimic so many other disorders, i.e., ADHD, … [Read more...]
What a day!
So the boys were out of school today and yesterday due to parent/teacher conferences. Yesterday was not a bad day, but today they were both rambunctious and would not listen. It didn't help that I had a bad headache! Caleb had a routine appointment with his ENT this afternoon just to check his ear tubes. We talked about the appointment prior … [Read more...]
Happy Birthday, Steven!
My precious Steven, Happy 5th Birthday! It's hard to believe that you are 5 years old. It seems that it was just yesterday that we were getting all of the phone calls back and forth making arrangements for me to go up to the hospital to learn how to take care of your needs and learn all that you had been through in your short 11 days before we … [Read more...]
Caleb’s Health Update – Part 3
So last Wednesday Caleb had an appointment with his infectious disease doctor in Kansas City, so I thought I had better update on what is going on with his health. In case you didn't see either of the first two posts, you can read part 1 here and part 2 here. Just click on the links and it will take you to those posts. We have had to … [Read more...]
Fun Filled Morning = Meltdown Filled Afternoon/Evening
This morning, Tony and I took the boys to the first of four sessions of a bowling league for special needs children that Caleb has participated in in previously. This is the first year that Steven was able to participate. We didn't tell the boys where we were going because we knew that we would be constantly asked when it would be time to go, … [Read more...]
Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015
I had never been so glad to see a year end as I was to see the year 2014 end and be able to switch the calender to 2015. If only I was able to erase all the bad -- actual horrible -- memories from 2014 from my psyche that would be even better. But God doesn't allow that! He uses those trials to grow us and make us stronger. I used to think … [Read more...]
Book Review – “Living Well, Spending Less” by Ruth Soukup
I was selected to be a launch team member for Ruth Soukup's new book, "Living Well, Spending Less," which is available to purchase today. I was giving an advance Kindle copy to read. I couldn't believe how much Ruth's experiences mirrored my own, right down to the depression. Ruth is very open, honest and real in this book. If you … [Read more...]
Permission to Heal
"You have to give yourself permission to heal," is what my therapist said to me two sessions ago as we were talking about how I have been doing about the heart-wrenching decision that Tony and I had to make earlier this year. I never really thought about "needing" to give myself permission to heal. However, since we had that session I've … [Read more...]
Caleb’s Health Update – Part 2
You can read Caleb's Health Update - Part 1 here. So after Caleb's last hospitalization in July, we remained hospitalization free for the entire month of August. The first part of September, however, things changed. Caleb's neck incision opened up. We had an appointment with his pediatrician. She immediately decided to admit him for IV … [Read more...]