8 Years Later...

Today, October 12, marks 8 years since Mason was first admitted into the hospital and diagnosed with Infantile Spasms (later progressing to Lennox Gastaut Syndrome). The first few years I cried on this day because it was a painful memory. Today I cry for a different reason. God has been so faithful. He has been there all along, and even though we still have our struggles, I know He will continue to not let any of it be wasted.

Here a quick update on the boy. The diarrhea stopped for a couple of days, but returned soon after we arrived at the retreat this weekend. He has an appointment with a pediatrician on Tuesday to look into it. There was nothing that triggered it this time, that I know of anyway. It did make the retreat more difficult...

The weekend retreat was for families of kids with special needs. I have never felt so comfortable, as a family, in a group setting as I did this weekend! Acceptance, compassion, caring as well as 'not caring' when your child's behavior becomes not-so-nice. Like throwing a spoon across the dining room, tossing over chairs, screaming, etc. And that was only some of the stuff Mason did! I could just stand there and let him have his tantrum and nobody gave me funny looks.

Asia and Sydney both connected with other girls near their ages, and have formed friends for life, I'm sure. This was the first time Asia has met someone in her age group that has a sibling with special needs. And they go to the same youth group!!! Finally she has someone to identify with!

I was nervous Friday night, but not so bad Saturday morning when I spoke. And not at all on Sunday. I think I did alright in speaking and engaging everyone in sharing on different topics with questions I posed. It's always hard to tell, but some did tell me that there were a few things that they now view differently. :) There were many, many nods of agreement as I spoke. We identified with each other.

The most incredible moment for me was at breakfast on Saturday morning when I was talking to another mom. She had been feeding her 10 year old disabled son, but paused as she and I conversed. Suddenly her daughter, also 10, took the fork from her mom's hand and started feeding her brother, just picking up where her mom left off. I burst into tears. I have never seen another family operate the same way ours does. It's hard to explain, but families that have someone with a disability just operate differently. This weekend was such a bonding event like I have never experienced.

I could go on and on, but I promised a 'quick update'.

THANK YOU for your prayers this weekend and thank you in advance for your prayers this week.

Tuesday: Pediatrician
Wednesday: Neurologist

Off to bed, retreats = sleep that is not as good as at home!!