Life can simply be called challenging by anyone at certain points in their lives. I think we have been in that phase more times than I can count since we first became parents. This summer that just got over was fun and we had some crazy times, but the kids simply drove me insane! The boys have reached an all time high in sibling rivalry. I can see that this will ebb & flow over time in their relationship, and we will learn new ways to deal with it over time.
As I sat in my 10 yr old sons yearly checkup, I found myself wondering where the time went. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was sitting there with my infant son? As we then went over the list of medications and list of different medical specialists that he now sees, I remember the years of challenges this boy has faced. I know where that time went, sometimes it went excruciatingly slow, and other times flew by just as fast as his little mind thinks. Currently, his health is in a pretty good spot. His body is still healing from surgery, and he suffers daily with nerve pain in his back. He will be starting some physical therapy soon, just as soon as insurance approves. Emotionally, he struggles, but each day is different. Growing up just sucks sometimes, and other times I think he likes it. Educationally he continues to amaze us. He reads chapter books to me at night, and he actually likes it! That is so incredibly awesome! Just a year ago he was still struggling learning to sound out difficult words and hear we are reading chapter books now! Each day has it's own challenges and we learn new ways to help him through those.
My youngest son has an amazingly huge heart and can be incredibly tender and sweet one moment and the next moment be screaming at his brother. Such is life as little brother of special needs brother. Unfortunately, he learns some bad ways of coping with life from his brother, and most unfortunately, I don't think he yet understands that his brother doesn't get it half the time. My little Jacob has been struggling with school this year, and it's mainly working on behavior management and controlling how fast his body wants to go. Educationally, he is amazingly smart, he reads me books every night, and other subjects he excels greatly in as well. I think next year we will have him tested for the TAG program in school. He needs to learn to manage his body this year and next year I think he will ready for the excellerated education. He has made so many friends this year, and has learned good ways to show his love for his friends without being able to hug them. (Seriously what is wrong with our schools that they have to make rules against children hugging other children! What the heck!). We are very proud of the success he has made in behavior management so far but we still have a ways to go. I am learning right along with him, and that is where my challenge lies with him. I almost feel I have to be more patient with him than I do with Josiah.
Jonny continues to go to PSU this year, as well as continuing his sub-contract work. It is a considerable challenge for him to juggle college, studying, work, and family life! There are only so many hours in a day and one can only function on 4 hrs of sleep for a short amount of time. We will continue to walk this path until he achieves his goal of a degree and I support him whole- heartedly!
Thanks for hanging in there with me, even through my long absences at times.
