Raising kids with special needs is hard than I ever imagined it would be. In 2002 and 2015 Chuck and I adopted babies with special needs. Both were drug and alcohol exposed. One would later be diagnosed with autism. In 2010 I gave birth to our youngest child, Apollo, who was born with a double aortic arch, a rare congenital heart defect. Come read my stories and share in our heartbreak and triumph as we raise children with special needs.
Well, yesterday was one of dairy-free for Apollo and me…Sunday he was uncharacteristically happy…but maybe he was just having a good day. Yesterday…happy. This morning, happy and frisky. I am afraid to get my hopes up that this is the answer to his breathing and weight gain issues, but I am cautiously optimistic- that’s for…
Click over to Little Earthling Photography to see Ezrah's grand entrance into the world! Thanks so much to everyone who has left comments and links. I am slowly making my way through them. Apollo and I have been dairy free since Friday…I am avoiding soy as well, since it's one of the top allergens as…
I only gave the bare facts about Apollo’s appointment when I blogged on Thursday. I wanted to update those of you who were praying. Now I’ll share a few more details. The Children’s Hospital is amazingly organized and efficient from the moment you walk through the door, whether you are visiting someone or seeing a…
Well, we're home from Apollo's big appointment down at Seattle Children's Hospital. He was thoroughly examined by an Ear, Nose, Throat doctor. The good news: his anatomy is all in order. No tumors, deformities, or structural issues. The findings: his voice box and adenoids are red and inflamed, he's recovering from an ear infection and…
I don't write about my children's special needs on here very often. I try to be careful about what parts of their stories I tell, because it's not my story and I want to respect their privacy. The reality, though, is that it is incredibly difficult. Far more difficult that I could have ever imagined……
Do you ever have moments when you don't know whether to be proud or concerned about your children's knowledge? The other day we were driving in our van and the radio was on. The newscaster mentioned Charles Someone-or-Other and Tucker piped up saying: Charles Van Doren? Did he just say Charles Van Doren? To which…
This was the one and only salvageable photo from Apollo's ten month photo shoot. Don't worry, I plan to reshoot as soon as the rain goes away. If it goes away. Apollo is weighing in at 16 pounds 8 ounces…he's gained no weight this month. He went to the doctor this month so we could…
Sweet, sweet Apollo is now nine months old. And what a nine months it's been! First his prolapsed cord that ended in an ambulance ride and emergency c-section…then his frenulectomy at two and a half weeks old…his utter lack of sleeping as a newborn (he'd be awake for four, five, six or more hours, only…
Look at those little teeth! He was so happy to be outside yesterday he was laughing and giggling at absolutely nothing. This picture was a complete fluke. I turned my camera toward him and he started laughing…and for Mr. Serious, this was quite something. I love that you can see how much bigger the teeth…
This could be titled: how not to take a portrait of your baby…sit him in front of a hideously bright colored exersaucer…You will get the elusive: lopsided tooth photo you've been trying to capture for weeks…right in front of a terrible background 🙁 Oh well, at least I did capture his mismatched tooth-growing… Apollo's latest…