Special Exposure Wednesday

This was a big week in our little corner of the world. It was Ronnie's first full week with us, and we celebrated Ashley's 15th birthday! Ashley was all decked out in a new skirt...



And I know you will all rest easier knowing the universe safe now...



Make sure to check out all the other Special Exposure Wednesday shots at 5 Minutes For Special Needs

Happy Birthday, Beautiful!

The doctors were reluctant to let me bring her home at age 2. They were afraid she wouldn't live to see her third birthday. They asked me if I knew of a good 'facility' for her. They kept saying things like, "You know she'll never walk", "You know she'll never be able to communicate with you or anyone else", and "You know she will be a huge burden to you and the rest of your family." When I bundled her into her car seat and drove toward home, I saw them in my rear view mirror just shaking their heads.

Well, you know what, doctors? You couldn't have been more wrong.

She did walk. In fact, in the second grade she got sent to the principal's office for running in the halls. She does communicate quite well. Just ask the teacher that she continues to call a 'b*tch'. She is without a doubt communicating. And a huge burden??? She is the light of this family. She is our glue, our reason for getting up every morning. Her smile makes everyone one of us smile back, and the touch of her hand is like angel kisses. Not I, not her sister, not her three brothers would ever, ever consider her a burden.

Oh, and one other thing - she did live past her 3rd birthday. On Monday, my beautiful Ashley turned 15 years old. She is every bit a teenager. She is strong and willful, opinionated and defiant. She is beautiful and loving and one of the most caring people I have ever known. She is perfect, and you, dear doctors, have absolutely no idea what you missed when you turned, walked away and shook your heads.

Angels With A Van

There are some very good and caring people in this world, and I have been blessed to meet so many of them. I met another of life’s angels this past weekend.

If you checked out the link to the newspaper story about Ronnie coming home last week, you may have noticed that there was a side bar that mentioned our need of a handicapped accessible van. When I knew Ronnie would be joining our family, I began checking out vans, and quickly found that the high price tag was too much for me. Even the used vans with high mileage were still in the $30-40,000 range. I could get a ten year loan for one, but just the thought of paying $500-600 a month for the next ten years made me physically sick. I even doubted that the vans I saw would last 10 years.

What I did instead was install a wheelchair carrier on my car. It’s not an ideal solution, but it also wasn’t a ten year expense. I got a grill cover to bungee over the chair when it rains, and things have worked out so far. But a van would still be a better solution.

After the article appeared in the paper, my social worker received several phone calls from folks who had used vans to sell. Most were like the ones I saw at the van dealers – old and with high mileage. But one was different.

The Tate family called about their van and it sounded perfect. Although it is 10 years old, it only has 30,000 miles on it. The Tates bought it from an older couple who had hoped to travel in the van, but things didn’t work out. Mr. Tate had the original window sticker from the van and it cost $60,000! The Tates bought it, installed a large lift on the rear of the van, and have used it for several years now. But, their circumstances have changed and they are looking for a new van. Mr. Tate called my social worker and said I could have it for the amount of the loan payoff – just $12,000!

The van is a Dodge high top conversion van with leather, heated, and vibrating seats. (Why does someone need vibrating seats in a vehicle?). It has a TV and a VCR, which Chip thinks he can switch to a DVD player. It’s huge and has more than enough space for my family, and the lift on the back of the van could probably lift my whole family standing on it!

I still have to work out financing, and am hopeful my loan request will get approved. If it does, life will get a lot easier for all of us, all thanks to the Tate family!

Making Doctor Appointments Easier

Ashley, like Ronnie, is deaf, but she is also blind. So, whenever she had doctor's appointments, I would act as her interpreter. Finding an interpreter for a child that is deafblind is almost impossible. And, it never really crossed my mind that I could ask a doctor's office to provide that interpreter.

But I called today to make an appointment for Ronnie to see a urologist, and the appointment scheduler asked me if we needed an interpreter. My initial instinct was to say no, that I would perform that function. But before I actually said that, I changed my mind.

I decided that it might be easier for me to concentrate on what the doctor was saying if I could really listen, and not try to interpret at the same time. And, I think I would be more likely to forget any questions I might have if I was having to listen, interpret and think simultaneously.

I'm pretty good at multitasking, but I know my limits also!

So now I'm thinking that I will ask for an interpreter for any and all appointments for Ronnie. Have any of you run into any problems making this happen with your doctors? Does it make sense that I should do this?

I Will Stop Gushing Soon

I promise to stop gushing abou Ronnie soon, but you Moms know what it is like to have a new child!

A reporter and photographer were on hand the day that Ronnie came home, and did a wonderful story in our local paper.

Thought you all might enjoy reading it!

Welcome Home Ronnie

(pictured above is Ronnie's foster mother telling him goodbye)

Special Exposure Wednesday

Ronnie's home, and appears quite content. Of course, he is just like my other two boys - give him a video game and life is good!!



Be sure to check out all the other Special Exposure Wednesday shots at 5 Minutes For Special Needs!

The Hulk is Waiting

The sketch pad is open and the pencils are sharpened...



The favorite teams are represented...



And the Incredible Hulk is just waiting...



In just a couple of hours, his wait and ours will be over! Welcome home, Ronnie!

(I couldn't use Ronnie's real name until his adoption papers were signed. I've been referring to him as Johnny, but really, he is Ronnie!)