For the Love of Ivey

I have been on a little siesta from the computer. The excitement of the holidays has started swirling 'round even though I can not believe that it has been another year. This Thanksgiving, like all others, we have so much to be thankful for. Our family is so very blessed. As of lately the boys and I have also been discussing the word special , particularly Knox and I. Trying to explain the difference in the contexts of the word special when applied to Ivey having special needs and that each child is equally special to me, but that 'yes' sometimes we do say that Ivey has special needs that the boys do not have, but that she is not really more or less special than they….is a hard topic to explain….. But considering Knox and I had a similar conversation about the words pen and pin, and why the spelling made them represent two different objects even though they sound very much alike, well, you get the picture. This week Ivey had her first Thanksgiving party at preschool...

Knox, Walker and I woke up this morning to a Thanksgiving Day unique unto its self. Unlike years prior, they are not waking up together with their Dad or walking into a baby's room to celebrate the first Thanksgiving Day. After a tough year, thankful is an understatement to describe the joys we/I appreciate this year. For the first time in 31 years I realize that I do not need a single day to remind me of my blessings or a special day to celebrate those blessings. Here lately, I have hit my knees in my own solitude and praised God for all of my blessings without a date on a calendar to remind me to take the time. It has not taken a special 24 hours to remind me how thankful I am for my family. I hit my knees almost daily and rejoice in the friendship that surrounds me and my family. Today, I will celebrate the fact that I do not need an exclusive day to be thankful that I found my best friend to walk through life's joys and its curve balls. I will embrace today and in its fulle...

Tis the season to give.  If you aren't sure of a Cause that you would like to make a contribution to this year, here are three that are near and dear to our hearts here in the Sirmans' house.  I will provide links for you to follow + *Babylegs*   This is happening in honor of our sweet kindred spirit Gavin - who passed away just before Thanksgiving.  Gavin's mom, Karen, is making sure that the children in Dupont Hospital are warm and cozy this holiday.  Babylegs are legwarms for children.  They are especially helpful for kiddos who are continually connected to tubes - where pants are difficult to keep on and little legs get cool.  Most of you might remember me cutting wholes in all of Ivey's onesies because of this problem.  Gavin Owens:   www.gavinowens.com/2009/11/babylegs-news-flash.html You can also have Babylegs sent directly to Karen and she will deliver them to Dupont. Karen Owens P.O. Box 985 Boyertown, PA  1951...

This morning Ivey underwent another procedure. The GI doctor placed a PEG tube into the wall of her stomach. Now instead of having a ng tube (feeding tube) run through her nose into her stomach, her feedings will be supplied through the PEG tube directly into her stomach. After six months of tape on Ivey's face holding a feeding tube in place, she is FREE! No more tape, no more tubes, no more irritated skin, and one less object in her sweet face. This morning I watched her hook her right index finger under the tube and pull it out for the last time! Yeah. I just sat back, watching, and said, "Ivey, you get to do the honors." She is sleeping now. Our nurse, Hannah, assures me she will not wake up happy, nor will she be for the next three days. On the bright side, we hope to have simplified Ivey's feedings. Have you ever felt like your life were a TV script. If we had to choose one right this very moment it would be Gilligan's Island. We have just been stranded on w...

There is a chair in my home that displays one of my most valued treasures. A hand stitched pillow. Its value lies right alongside my wedding ring and my memories. Unlike the pillow from my childhood that I couldn't sleep without, the one with the special corner and worn fabric, the one that my parents brought to me at midnight when I slept away from home, this pillow has only been in my possession for a few months. And so the journey of this pillow is one that helped to set my course with Ivey. ……………………………………………………………………… So it begins. There are some stories that no matter how they are told can never be done their justice. This is one of those stories. Some of the most important pieces of the story will remain untold. This is only the tip of the iceburg for this story. So I will try to keep this simple. I have a friend. She is one of those people that you don't quite remember the moment that you became friends, but despite that, you can't live without her. It...