I should have had a picture from behind him...I thought he was really enjoying a cartoon on tv. Then I came back a little later to check on him and he was still in the same position...I thought, "no way, Zach doesnt sit still for that long"...of course not...he fell asleep..and he managed to stay in the same position for about an hour!
Our own story:So many people think, your child can not
talk well, can not walk well..here comes that "R" word. In actuality...yes
when tested she is intellectually disabled...but that is because she can not do
these tests like others...she is trapped in a body that will not allow it.
So the stares, and points are hard enough to deal with...but when you have
someone at your own home say"well at least my child wont be retarded like her"...well that is one of the most hurtful things ever! I have tried to
get passed this being said...but how. When as a child we were hurt by
someone calling us this...we think oh kids say the cruelest things...Well lets put an end to this...because this ignorance just leads to it going from cruel words of a child to ignorant adults saying these cruel things!My child has just as much value in this world as any other child!
Last night Zach spent a long time on puzzles. I bought these magnetic ones a couple years ago...and they are still a big hit. They are the Monkey Magic Magnetic Box(farm theme). I really recommend them for any kids(just not for those that stick things in their mouth, as they have little pieces and are magnetic). They come with transparencies that you stick in the tin cover and then the shapes will stick on there. Then you can also make your own designs also.
For being his first day with us...looks like he is feeling pretty comfortable!
"Unfortunately, most of us have lost loved ones due to heart disease. I have lost two special people in my life, my Dad and my brother. I miss them very much and think of them often. To help stop this, I will be walking in this year's Start! Heart Walk benefiting the American Heart Association. I have set a personal goal to raise funds that are needed for critical heart disease and stroke research and education.You can help me raise funds and protect those you love by making a donation online. Click on the link below to visit my personal donation page where you can make a secure online credit card donation. The American Heart Association's online fundraising website has a minimum donation amount of $25.00. I know this is a lot as most are struggling to make ends meet. Every dollar counts. I will be appreciative of any donation and will collect money and write a check for any/all cash received. Your donation will make a difference in the fight against our nation's No. 1 and No. 3 killers-heart disease and stroke.""Thank you for your support.Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support American Heart Association Syracuse,NY"As my mother mentioned one loved one that lost his battle to heart disease was her brother Billy. My Uncle Billy was a great man, full of love! It has been almost a year since his passing and we all miss him very much. I would be honored to walk in his memory! Also has part of the walk is to raise awareness of stroke, as well as heart disease. As many know Kennedy has been followed by cardiology because of her mitochondrial disease. Her recent appointment went well and everything is good. Unfortunatly her doctors have to monitor her very closely for strokes. They think she had a stroke about a year ago, and even possibly while I was pregnant with her. So as well as walking in memory of my loved ones...I will be pushing my daughter during this walk in hopes to raise awareness that strokes can happen at any age!I would love for any possible donations. My donation page online is here. Also if you would like to make a smaller donation feel free to email me at colleen_mouse@yahoo.com for my information! If you are local to me, I would love to even collect change...I myself am going to save all my change until then(and donate all change that I already have sitting around, which is quite a bit). I would love to do a penny drive for those that are local and would like to donate their change to this cause! If you are local to Syracuse and would like to donate your change, email me and I can make arrangements to collect the donations the week before.
I have been dieting and exercising and have lost 25 pounds. Sunday I went through all my clothes in my closet, trying them on to see what fit, what was too big, and what I need to get rid of. Well here is my son....always the helper!
Typically in our home the storybooks are mostly for Kennedy. There are a few that Zach loves looking at, but to sit down and read a book to, forget it. He will come around for a while then listen from a distance, then come back. He is really starting to talk a lot now and has come a long way with communication. He is really enjoying labelling things. The book I am talking about today is great for that, Usborne look and say, School.
Cerebral palsy is one of the most common developmental disabilities in the US, affecting at least 800,000 children, adolescents and adults in America. Cerebral palsy is NOT a disease nor should it be considered one. It is not even a simple or single disorder but rather a broad range of disorders that disrupt a person’s ability to move, sit, stand, walk, talk and use their hands. The severity of the movement disorder and the type of movement difficulties can vary greatly. Some patients have only mild difficulties with balance, walking and fine motor skills while patients at the other extreme are completely trapped in their own bodies, fighting rigid limbs, and unable to speak or swallow.
CP was Kennedys original diagnosis....while she is now diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, she still has the CP label to describe her symptoms. It is so true how different every individual is that has CP. I used to work at a home taking care of many women with CP..and along side of me were two employees with CP. So like mito, CP can be so varying!
One great blog raising awareness for CP is Life of Logan...go check them out!
In honor of my Grandfather I wanted to share a few pictures.
This is my dad, and all his brothers and sisters growing up.
~~if you would like to join in the flashback fridays go to Too Much Information blog.~~
I would love to give a warm welcome to my guest Stacey:
Staying Motivated with an Unmotivated Husband!
by Stacey
(www.satcygirl.com)
During my husband's college years he worked as
a personal trainer and became something of a "gym rat". In the early years
of our marriage, before we had children, my husband and I would spend a few
evenings a week at the gym. It was something we enjoyed doing
together. Him a little more than me, but we enjoyed our time together
nonetheless.
Over the years my husbands once flexible free-lance
job turned into a standard office job with standard office job hours. Time
spent at the gym became less and less, but we still kept active with hiking and
mountain biking. Then kids happened. Time at the gym and time spent hiking
and mountain biking became nonexistent. And now we both sit here, overweight and
unhappy in our current bodies.
Between pregnancies I tried using
exercise DVDs to lose the baby weight. I liked the workout but I found
myself slacking because no one was holding me accountable to it. After
having my youngest daughter I started using the Wii Fit. Finally I have an
exercise plan that varies my workout and keeps me accountable. There's
nothing like turning on the Wii Fit after a take an exercise-hiatus for a few
days and the little balance board guy asking me where I've been for the past few
days! The Wii Fit has gotten me back into exercise and eating right.
I even couple it with an aerobic weight lifting class at the
gym.
Now, what do I do with my husband? I've tried just about
everything to help him get back into exercise. He says he wants to do it
but then the excuses come pouring out! He was going to hit the gym on the
way to work in the mornings so I bought him an extra set of bathroom stuff to
take to the gym with him. Three months later he still hasn't gone.
I suggested that we get a treadmill but he says we don't have the
room in our house. I invite him to join me while I do the Wii Fit, which
he did a few times, but then he doesn't think it's fun when we can't do it at
the same time. I invited him to attend the aerobic class at the gym but he
doesn't want to go into a class like that until he's in shape. What?
I thought the point of those class was to get into shape?
So this
is where I sit, lost as to how I can get my husband back into the exercising
mode. Of course I want him to workout so he will feel better about
himself. But, more importantly, I want him to workout to help me workout.
His Eeyore-attitude about exercise tends to drag me down. I find myself
skipping my evening exercise because he wants to watch a movie together.
That is my biggest exercise struggle right now. I need some
help ladies! I need to get my husband motivated so I can keep motivated!!
Oh Stacey...dont I wish I could help...my husband is also an unmotivated one! Bob was always thin, until the last couple years and while still thin, he has the beer(whole milk, junk food at midnight)belly going on. I have tried over and over to get him to play Wii with me, but he doesnt think he has to exercise. Sometimes he motivates me, but unlike my exhusband, he never has had issues with my weight...which hasnt really helped me get thin. I love that he never puts me down for being overweight...but he doesnt push me to lose weight either. He did buy my my Wii Fit though...so hey I finally got a piece of exercise equipment in the house(if you call it that)! I think me working out has gotten my husband somewhat more aware that he himself should...but that is as far as it has gone.
Come check out my fitness friday post at ShawnsSharings. Like I said there will be another surprise there also...want to see, you gotta visit!
Its been almost a year since Kennedys Wish was granted...
