Today I am a mother....

I think in my post yesterday I was a nurse.
And I even feel a little guilty about that. I feel that I should have a post praising my Nickolas and all of the other children and families who are here today. Not 'defending' someone took all of the good out of our lives. Who reminded us that there are people out there who thinks that a child with spina bifida deserves to die, or to never be born.
But I also had to recognize that I once faced that agonizing choice. The trial by fire. But I emerged unscathed. I triumphed. And I have the scars to prove it! (I was thinking that metophorically, then thought yes I do have my c-section scar.) And Nickolas has his scar. His scar that I am so proud of.

But today I am posting about love and joy and a choice to take a step of faith. Today I am posting about the amazing mothers and children that I have loved reading about and getting to know. I am proud to be a mother of a child with spina bifida. I am proud to have made my choice.
Today I am a mother and I am proud.

Spina bifida is about so much more than doctors appointments, medical jargon and surgeries. It is about love, hope and faith. It is about laughter and joy. It is about a child who teaches the parents what it is like to live. It is about miracles and much much more than milestones and accomplishments.
It is about being aware and proud and about redefinitions. It is about finding a family who knows exactly where you are and where you are going. It is about finding confidence and courage that you didn't know that you had.
That is what spina bifida is to me.
This is what every mother who blogged over the weekend about how much they were devastated and disgusted about what had happened in our community. I think this is the blog that I should have written as a mother.

Please look at other mothers who took this opportunity to express their joy at their children who also have spina bifida, who are not defined by a medical diagnosis, and are the best things that happened to their parents.
Joanna and Jet
Jill and Kingsley
Nicole and Annabelle
?Jen and Charlie (sorry I couldn't find your name - bad me!)
Selina and Madison
Kimberly and Jonathan
Star and Tanner
Sara and Ruth
Stephanie and Nathan
Cassie and Caleb - definitely check out Cassie's site - she is showcasing different kids with SB every day this month! - Nick was there with all of his superstar buddies!
Kari and Toby this site also has postings from other moms as well - great central resource!
Mom Dugan and Brenden - sorry I couldn't find your name!

I am SURE there are more postings out there. On top of whatever is on BabyCenter and facebook.

And because it's Monday - Lets talk about some meterstones!
-babbling - FINALLY - dadada and bababa are the favorites
-getting on his hands and knees - when he is angry or excited
-resting on his knees and playing with something elevated
-following directions - putting a ball in a basket when asked
-Eating table food
-actually eating any food he can get his hands on - he's our little land shark!
-Not falling over AT ALL when sitting
-Reeeeeaching forward for things until he is allllmost over onto his belly
-Knowing what he wants - if he wants to put his fingers in your ear, he pushes your head away
-Sleeping (mostly) through the night
-Cut his 5th tooth!
-started on milk! (Goats milk - great for the constipation problem) though a sippy cup
-entered into a battle of wills with his mother (has alot to do with the above point)

Sorry no pictures!
I was crazy busy last week, I presented my Master's (of Nursing) Research at a conference (and won an award) - Yay for me! And things have not settled down since!
I promise picture this week!

This week with Katheryn and Nickolas...

There isn't that much to say this week.

The kids have been sick (thanks Kyle) but somehow I was spared the cough and cold. Nickolas has been feeding every 2 hours while he's been sick, and 4-6 hours at night (we had been 3-4 during the day and 12 [yay!] at night). But he getting better. The poor guy would cough and cough and then throw up, so I wouldn't 'fill' him that much.

Of course this makes me exhausted! AND I'm trying to get my MRP [research project for my masters] done so I can graduate in June. Hopefully next week will be better - prob not - I look at the calender for next week and it's pretty full...

 

We got the pictures of our Canadian Baby Photographers Photoshoot - so cute!!! (http://www.canadianbaby.com/) I love them - they are expensive but we were an easy sell, when the guy came to the house we had Katheryn's photos when they did her pictures all over! It is great , they come right to the house, set everything up, and you get a free 5x7 even if you don't buy anything. Of course we always buy something. They have been in business for a long time - my parents have my baby pictures above their bed, from the same people. - OK free advertising over.

Of course we have been watching the Olympics non-stop. Pretty much we put on CTV in the morning and leave it on until we go to bed. I don't remember getting this into the Olympics before (except of course for hockey) but we've been watching ALL the sports!

I also want to watch some of the paraolympics next month - get a glimpse of things that Nickolas can do. Get out of the can't-do mindset. Geez I hope I don't have can't-do mindset. All I really know about is wheelchair basketball and sledge hockey, oh and murderball (wheelchair rugby?) But there must be lots of other things he could do (if he wanted). We've already decided Katheryn will be a hockey player.

Katheryn's new favorite things are to pull Nickolas in his rocking chair (which can't be easy because he is 17 lbs!), but also to feed him. I caught her shoving a goldfish (cracker) in his mouth, and when he wouldn't take it, she was shoving it in!

Last thing. I just found out about something called conductive education. It was through a post at the BabyCenter Spinabifida Kids group - I hadn't joined it before, but it has alot of the same moms as the spinabifida support forum. Anyways, two of the moms posted about their kids being involved in a conductive education center. They were on the news here is the link: http://www.wzzm13.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=68575678001 I looked into it and the March of Dimes in Toronto has a program. I have NO idea what it will cost (the Center in Michigan the news report is about has a 4 week program that costs $1200). But I thought it would be interesting to check out. And if it helps great! I'll talk to the SB clinic about it. They should have some more info.
 

OK apparently I had alot to say about this week...

Oh Yeah GO CANADA!!! The women athletes have been amazing! Now it's Men's Hockey going for Gold!!