Dear Spring- ANY DAY NOW!

You know your life is interesting when the nurses at your local children's hospital know you by name, know your children's names and know that "you were just in here the other day." Yes, friends, we have had a heck of a ride since the beginning of the year. Since January 21st we have had Connor's eye surgery and shortly after we came home that same day, Casey was seen in the ER and admitted over night for fluids for dehydration from a nasty GI bug.

Connor pre-surgery

Casey and his bucket in the ER

 Two weeks later Casey was back in the ER and then admitted for the same GI bug and dehydration, while Reagan was seen in the ER after visiting twice with her pediatrician and having 6 days of a fever over 102.

Connor was then seen by a gastroenterologist about his 2 hospital stays in 2012 for dehydration and bilious vomiting and was ordered to have an upper GI study with barium. Casey was then seen in the ER and hospitalized with a nasty case of croup that required a couple of breathing treatments and a steroid shot, and we ended it with an ER trip and hospitalization for Connor who somehow morphed the virus that caused Casey's croup into a virus that caused coughing, fever and bilious vomiting in him. So, to add that up that's 1 surgery, 5 ER trips and 4 overnight hospital stays and 1 upper GI study just since January 21st- so just less than 3 months. Is it any wonder I have not had time to update my little blog??

I must admit that Matthew and I are feeling a little beaten up and at times have felt slightly defeated. Three kids 3 years old and under is a lot of work but when all 3 are always sick it's a whole new ballgame, folks! My amazing pediatrician assures me that once Spring comes and the boys get a little bigger and stronger their immune systems will bulk up and we won't always be frequent fliers at the ER. Can I just say how much I can't WAIT for that day?

There were times when I felt like I was surely going to lose my mind. I felt like I could not handle one more minute of sick kiddo when that wonderful thing called perspective would slap me upside the head and remind me that we have it pretty damn good. I would remember that these were all normal childhood viruses and that though they were coming one right after another, they were just little things. It could be so much worse. Once I thought about the fact that my boys have healthy hearts, don't have cancer, and don't have some other debilitating disease I was able to look up and thank GOD for blessing me with 3 healthy kids. Someone's road is always harder than mine and I do well to remember to count the blessings I have and to realize that they are numerous. Once that happens, though I am tired I am no longer down and feeling beaten. Life is much sweeter when you can count the joys and know they wouldn't be as sweet without the occasional setbacks.

In other news, we filmed our commercial for the Summit DD and the Disabilities Awareness Month Campaign and my sweet little family is featured throughout our county on several billboards. What an honor to be the voice of such an important message- that despite having kids with disabilities I AM THE LUCKY ONE!  Here are both the link to the commercial on YouTube and a photo of our billboard.

 Click the link below to watch:
I AM THE LUCKY ONE

Myth: Having children with special needs, people feel sorry for me. FACT: I AM THE LUCKY ONE!

Reagan is just getting up from her morning nap so I'll have to end this update! Thanks for hanging in with us! Remember to like Casey and Connor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaseyandConnor and write on their wall!

Also remember that this Thursday 3/21 is World Down Syndrome Day! Wear your blue and yellow and spread the word that the 3rd 21st is the chromosome for cool! Love to you all!!

-Meghan