Double Fisted

So we did go - and had an awesome time. Sorry though, what happens in Vegas - stays in Vegas. Fortunately everyone survived here at home, even Ivey. She was fine. I think she likes to shake things up a bit. Then again she is a girl and drama seems to come easy to her.

Back to the grindstone this week, but with a better ‘momma attitude’ after a couple of days away. And as always Walker has us jumping. I am sharing a picture with you all that I plan to use one day to torture Walker during his teenage years.

Ivey always bounds back after her seizures and does something a little spectacular. Signing for momma is pretty spectacular to me. Plus, both of the boys said ‘daddy’ first. As a matter of fact, Knox called me daddy for a really long time before he decided to call me momma. So let’s just say working with Ivey to sign momma FIRST has been a priority of mine, and so far it seems to be working!

Signing Momma

Notice any similarities?

Take a good look at the toe color. Now look again at his lip color. Yep. Painted his lips pink......with fingernail polish.

Record Breaking

Matt still holds the record. I am hesitant to say that this is some sort of accomplishment, but out there in testosterone land it must be. About a month or so ago, Matt (with Ivey and I in the car) made it from Floyd Hospital to Scottish Rite in under 45 minutes. It was past midnight so traffic was light, but keep in mind that record includes us stopping for gas. So last Monday night when Ivey earned us a luxury trip to Scottish Rite from Floyd via ambulance, I was even more wowed by our previous record when the EMT could not break Matt's driving record. (Wowed - not impressed mind you.) As you can imagine, when riding with my husband there is no sight-seeing involved.

Ivey did have more seizures. For whatever reason, we do not have them controlled right now. We are adapting medications and trying to keep weight and illness in check, all of which can lead to break through seizures. The only thing really notable is a change in her sleep pattern; however, her sleep pattern alters at the drop of a hat, so it is noticeable mainly in hind sight. Ivey did spend last Monday night in Scottish Rite's ER and was released early on Tuesday morning.

Then the fun really began.

While I was still sitting in Atlanta in the ER with Ivey at 9:00 am, Matt was in the car driving back to Scottish Rite (breaking more records I am sure) and we were both thinking of the plane that we were supposed to be on as it headed west to Las Vegas. It was to be our first trip away – without kiddos and further than an hour away since Ivey was born. My thoughts on this, either we are very unlucky people or the plane was going to spiral straight down from the sky and Ivey saved us. And knowing how much I hate to fly, but do, it had to be a near fatal miss. So instead of sitting on a plane, Matt was driving back to Atlanta yet again to pick Miss Ivey and myself up from Scottish Rite.

I'll let you in on a conversation that Matt and I had on our drive home from Scottish Rite's ER. Should we go on and try to catch a later flight? Or, would that make us the most irresponsible parents on the face of the Earth? Or, do we say, this (seizures) is life with Ivey and keep living life the best we can amongst them? Or, does leaving make us the most irresponsible parents on Earth? Or, do we go on because we know we are leaving the boys and Ivey in very capable hands and no matter the situation, they CAN handle it? Or, does leaving make us the most irresponsible parents on Earth? See a pattern here?

Could we possibly get another flight out? Rome to Atlanta, Rome to Atlanta, Atlanta to Rome, Rome to Atlanta, Atlanta to Vegas within 18 hours? Possible/Impossible? Are you a bettin' person?

I'll let you figure out what we ended up doing all on your own. But, I'll leave you with this final thought, had I put all of last weeks events together and realized that we would be flying home on FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH – my feet would have NEVER EVER left Georgia soil.

First Pedicure-

sweet pink toes.

Walk a mile in my shoes-

As unlikely as it might seem, not every day is all about Ivey. She does get the spotlight here and an unequal surplus of my time on an ordinary day. She, Ivey, is one of three. So I battle the guilty life of wanting to divide time equally, always failing and praying that they, all three of my children, will appreciate the effort some day.

Today was one of those days that was not about Ivey and her improvements, accomplishments, dis-ABILITIES, or any of the latter. Today was about an ordinary day. Today was a day that we, I and my children, have worked very hard for and in some aspects, we have earned. Normalcy.

Today was a little more about the boys. Today was a day about Ivey learning to be ''the baby" and fighting for her own moment in the spotlight – just like any other sibling with older brothers/sisters. Today was another step in Ivey's life toward normalcy.

Today dear Stranger, I did mind. I know that You probably had good intentions. I realize that You were inquisitive. And yes, I encourage both on most occasions. You invaded our time. Yes, my daughter does look a little different than You. But please do not point that out in the middle of a store, especially when You are within arms reach of my children, all three. My sons see their sister only as perfection. Yes, they know she has differences. We were there for my sons today, not to put my daughter in a spotlight that I am most certain You would never want to find Yourself.

So the next time You feel the urge to be polite and sweetly step into our Life, put Yourself in our shoes. Put Yourself in my daughter's shoes. In front of my two year old daughter, You asked if there was anything else wrong? As a mother, would You handle the situation as I did, with a smile? What if it were Your sister? Again, what if it were You??????

I may have told you 'No, I don't mind' today, but I did.

Just watch the video below. Would you really want to be the one to alter their untarnished perception of their sister?

I want to thank all of our friends and family from the bottom of my heart for not making a difference. All of your love and support pulls us through these moments. Thank you Martha for holding her this morning. We love you all so much.

Baby Steps