Posts

Showing posts from November, 2018

Guys! I used to be terrible at this....

Image
Guys....I used to be TERRIBLE at this. Now, I’m just not great at it. Living in the moment. It sounds easy enough but really, it takes conscious effort to enjoy the good life gives you while NOT dreading what feels like the inevitable. Whether it’s another hospital admission, a decline in my son’s health or a new, scary diagnosis. It’s a mix of fear and anxiety. It’s total lack of control. It’s a lot of things but what living in fear of the future really is, is giving into the thief of living joyfully in the moment. Whether the fear is loud and noticeable or a consistent white nose playing in your brain, it’s toxic. Honestly, it took me years to even realize this is what I was doing. I knew I was worried all of the time. When my phone would buzz with a text form whoever was caring for my son or Case felt even slightly hot I started planning a hospital stay in my brain. I’ve planned hundreds of these that never even happened. This isn’t something I’m proud or even like talking about. It...

The Holly Jolly Holiday Headache (and 10 tricks and tips to help you avoid it).

Image
The holidays are CRAZY. Add kids, they get crazier, add a child with any kid of extra needs or medical complications and they sometimes can feel unbearable....The holidays are supposed to be fun, the happiest time of the year and I know for me, they can get stressful. I have often let worry and anxiety steal all of the beauty and joy the holidays hold. As mom's and dad's of special, medical kiddos, we need to take that joy back! I see some of you and you are SO good at that! You are usually just so happy to be out of the hospital for another holiday that nothing else matters and you do what works best for YOUR family. You enjoy the holidays because you've been doing them long enough to know what works and what doesn't. You've started some new traditions and maybe don't force some of the old ones because they don't jive well with your new normal. Guys, if you haven't already, it's time to TAKE THE HOLIDAYS BACK! Here are ten tips, tricks and hacks t...

Pantry Stocking Stuffer!

Image
Here is is! Christmas 2018 give back project is ready to roll! Visit visit the event page for more info! https://www.facebook.com/events/308791043060575/

Primarily Custodial.

Image
Taking care of a child with complex medical needs is the hardest thing I've ever done. By hard, I don't mean impossible or miserable just hard. Our son Case is seven years old and has a list of medical needs longer than my arm and it would take an entire blog to list them all but lately, his biggest battle is a severe intestinal disorder. He is feeding tube and IV nutrition dependent. As parents, Dan and I don't just care for him medically, we order meds, make sure supplies come on time, go to IEPs and therapies, visit specialist after specialist after specialist. We've watched him endure so many invasive medical procedures my stomach turns when I allow myself to really think about it. That's just the short list of what medical mom's and dad's endure. One of the most frustrating battles we have had to fight is the dreaded insurance battle.... Within the past few months, our son’s primary insurance (the one we pay for, not the one through the state) started...