Oh-Bla-Di, Oh-Bla-Da, Life Goes On

The craziness of life seems to have taken on a snowball effect.  Although I keep thinking life can't get any busier/crazier, it does.  And yet I still think that just around the corner is a patch of easy peacefulness--must be a mirage! 

Our church's general conference was this last week and it was as if I came into sit by the fire after plodding along through a blizzard.  I felt that patch of peace; a feeling of optimism that I CAN do all of these things; and such a happy gratitude as well.  Now I'm back out in the blizzard with that memory of the fire to keep me pushing forward. 

I've had two dear friends struggling with major illness and I want to serve them and their families.  My responsibilities at church are also very important to me, but time consuming.  Our little puppy is as good as they come, but still, it's another body to care for.  The kids' schedules keep us occupied every night of the week.  Not to mention drs appointments and volunteering in classrooms.  My house is definitely not as tidy as I'd like it to be these days and my chances to run are few and far between.  I know I need to let some more things go.

Mitchell is doing really well physically.  For the past month we've had him in gymnastics and put PT on the backburner.  He lost interest in our sessions, and the idea to try gymnastics came to mind.  He LOVES it and exerts more effort in class than the rest of the week combined.  He has made progress too!  He's jumping off two feet now (albeit not very high), and seems more agile to me.  Tonight during his class I tried to hold back tears.  He tries so stinkin' hard and yet there still is such a large deficit in what he can do and should be able to do.  It's so hard not to remember my wild little boy bouncing off the walls and wonder what's going through his mind now as he can't make his body do what he wants it to do.  Yes, I am so grateful that he's come this far and yet for him, I'd be so ecstatic to see him free from these limitations.  Tonight as I thought about all of this and his innate optimism, I realized that his little spirit is compatible with this trial.  I know he gets frustrated, but his optimism will always carry him through and continue to push him forward.  That is something to be very grateful for. 

He has also started preschool and seems to really enjoy it.  He's spent some time on the "watching chair" (their term for time-outs), and of course I knew that would happen.  He's angelic most of the time and suddenly a switch goes off and he loses all control.  For that reason I don't like him out of my sight, but I know it's best for him to be in the world and learning how to deal with it.  He told me a boy stuck his tongue out at him and that made him feel sad.  He also said he plays by himself at recess.  All things to be expected, but still so heartbreaking for a mama who is already so scared to send her little ones into the harshness of the world. 

Other than the behavioral outburts I think we're doing really well.  We are so grateful to all of our supporters out there!  On a sad note, our sweet little friend Peyton (a dipg patient) is declining.  I think about her and her family a lot each day.  Please pray for them.