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Today was just another day... busy, non eventful, crazy day! So here's how today went:
6:30 a.m.: I open my eyes but do not hear the boys so I try to close them again for a few more minuets. No need for the alarm, because I just get up. I do not sleep that soundly any way... so I hear the boys when ever they wake
6:45 a.m.: I hear the boys laughing and "talking"... that always puts a smile on my face! I say a quick "Thank you Lord for my boys!" and I hit the ground running.
6:45 - 7:45 a.m.: It is all about getting my slow-poke Caleb ready for school. Coaxing him to pee in the toilet, which takes forever... Trying to convince him to eat... Putting on one sock, then the other, now time for shoes... Chasing him to put on his Lift Vest (his special vest that he wears at school)...Combing a few hairs against his will... Now time for the jacket... Do I hear the bus? Yep, grab the back pack... herd him out the door (more like carry)... Redirect his attention to the bus not the yard toys... Clap as he walks up the stairs on the bus... Stand and wave "I love you!" good buys...
Sigh, take a deep breath...
8:00 - 8:30 a.m.: Change Joshua's very soggy diaper... Sit at the table and eat some very yummy Raisin Bran while Joshua pigs-out on his yogurt and the rest of Caleb's yogurt and some crackers and some milk. I get Joshua cleaned up from his "fun" breakfast that he is wearing. I let him watch some Super Why while I run up stairs to get his sheets to throw in the wash before Joshua's Physical Therapist comes... oops, the door bell... grab the sheet and run to open the door.
8:30- 9:30 a.m.: I say hi to PT and excuse myself for a moment to put on some "real" clothes... Joshua walks and tries to kick the ball... Oh, poor guy he tripped on the ball and hurt his pride... He needs his mommy for a moment... I quickly throw the laundry in the wash while waiting for Joshua to fallow my voice... We are playing a little "walking" hide-and-seek game... Because of the Down syndrome (low muscle tone) and clubbed feet Joshua (2 1/2 years old) is just now wanting to walk most of the time... his knees still give out quite a bit and his feet trip him, but he has drive... He wants to walk!
9:30 - 10:00 a.m.: Say buy to PT... switch laundry to drier... make a few peanut butter and honey sandwiches and pack a few gold fish for latter... Finally I get to go pee (oh, to the little things in life!)... Load Joshua in the van and head to school to get Caleb.
10:00 - 11:25 a.m.: Sign Caleb out of school for a hematology appointment... I could have let him stay home but to be honest I LOVE seeing his wide, excited, loving eyes when he sees me... Call it vain if you wish... I call it pay day! Load the boys in the van an drive to St. Louis... Talk on the phone in the van (on the blue tooth)... The boys eat their sandwiches... Get to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital... Unload stroller for Joshua and get the boys out... Sign in at the desk.
11:25 a.m. -1:30p.m.: Waiting room full of really cool toys... A kid named Huey is volunteering in the waiting room so plays with the boys... Huey has some sort of medical condition that makes he head really small, but his heart is larger than life! He said he loves what he does and enjoys playing with the kids... Huey does a great job keeping the toys and his hands very clean! "Caleb Caines!" I have a quick discussion with the nurse about having two children with Down syndrome... "Yes, it is VERY unusual to have two children with Down syndrome... No, we don't know what the chances are because Caleb has trans location and Joshua does not... Yep, we are the lucky pick (more like the blessed)!" Time to see the doctor... he is not concerned with Caleb's blood work (slightly low white counts)... he orders one last set of lab... We are off to the lab down the hall... Now back to the car we go...
1:30 - 3:20 p.m.: Get the boys settled into the van and we head home... but now I am feeling a little guilty that Joshua has been sitting for so long... We stop at a McDonald's that has an outdoor play land on the way home... I love the dollar menu! They play and eat for a while and I laugh and watch... They are so cute playing together and trying to "play" with the other kids... Oh, no I smell a poopy... time to go! We load up and go home.
3:20 - 6:00 p.m.: Joshua fell asleep in the van so I carry him to bed for his nap... Caleb sees our high school neighbor girl and hugs her to pieces... She brought him a special treat and a book that she thought he would like... Caleb is a ladies man! I cut the power to the house and switch out four outlet in our 100 year old home, while Caleb enjoys his new book... Turn on the electric and test my little project... they work! Time to start dinner, get Joshua up, and help Caleb with sight words...
6:00-8:00 p.m.: "Thank you God for our day and our food and our family... Yea, God!" We eat... I try to get Caleb to say his sight words and after pain staking efforts he starts saying them... Lots of praise and high-fives and Caleb is ready for some Elmo as he reward... I fold and put away clothes as the boys watch Elmo Potty Time... Now it is time for bathes and bed...
Sigh... sit and relax for a moment...
Time for me to lay in bed and read my Bible and fall asleep... resting for the day to come...
