Deployment Shenanigans

Rewind back to Thursday, December 4^th  (3 Days pre-marathon and the end of 2014 blissful peace and quiet):  On my way home from one of Claire’s appointments, I called Patrick to tell him we were going out to dinner to celebrate a new project I had at work. His response, “Oh good! Now you have something to keep you busy while I’m deployed!”

-          Crickets    - 

I knew 2014 was too good to be true!! But, once again the AF gods took pity on our poor little souls and kept Patrick state-side in South Carolina. “That’s a deployment?!?” You may be asking yourself. Me too. God bless the Air Force. Regardless, at the end of the day it means I’m flying solo until June.

Let me preface this by saying that, “Yes, Patrick – you are correct – this really isn’t that bad.” This will be like any other less-than-stellar life experience – God helps you forget! Looking back on Patrick’s last deployment, I remember next to nothing. Perhaps this was because Claire was 5 months old and in the beginning stages of “I think I’ll hang out at the hospital” phase, Luke was 2 (enough said), and I had just started a new job. 2015 is a walk in the proverbial deployment park!!

In case you were wondering how we would choose to fill our time, staying busy highlights include:

-                       Poop-a-palooza 2015:  What better way to get ready for a deployment than to have Claire go through the never ending cycle of “Should I or should I not effectively go #2 on a regular basis?” Code for: Until the doctors could get Claire’s meds balanced correctly, her intestines became a bipolar monster of ceasing to work (ER visit) to spouting such a spectacular fireworks show that one monumental experience left remnants in both her hair and between her toes. No lie. The good news is that 2^nd opinion doctor was much more effective at taming the ugly monster than our original doctor, and now Claire’s intestines no longer keep us awake for hours at a time each night and the fireworks shows have been cancelled for the foreseeable future. Darn.

-                      Therapist-school-paperwork-will-it-ever-end-marathon:  Running a physical marathon is a walk in the park compared to the ridiculous mound of paperwork a child produces when he/she turns three years old and “ages out” of the state-sponsored early intervention services and transitions to the local elementary school. This week, we have 14 appointments, and that is a welcome breather after the world-record 17 appointments from three weeks ago. Yes, co-workers, that is why you receive e-mails from me at the strangest times of day. It may seem odd to work at 4:45 a.m., but at least I can guarantee my work won’t get interrupted by a child, e-mail, or phone call!

-                        Wedding shenanigans:  If I could make it to Hawaii by myself with two baby midgets, surely I could make it to Kansas City with two toddler midgets, right? Fortunately, the gamble paid off, they were as good as gold, and we partied our buns off at one of the most beautiful, fun, and energetic weddings I have been to in a long time. The “baby brother” of one of the old neighborhood families was getting hitched, and the old gang from Doreen street reunited for the first time in a decade. It’s weird when your own kids are now older than the neighbor kids were when I started babysitting them. I feel old.

-                    The usual:  When we’re not out seeing the world (Kansas), then you can usually find us at our usual locations – The zoo, Sea World, or Target.  If you are ever unable to track us down, just ask Luke’s best friend at the Sea World gate, the train conductor at the zoo train (his cousin has DS), or the nice sample lady at Target where we are, and I’m positive that one of them can assist. The days just seem too long at home, so we rotate between our favorite locales, depending on the weather. If we REALLY want to spice up our lives, we might throw in shopping at La Cantera or going to the movie theater. PARTY. ANIMALS.

-                      Too fun to handle:  I know what you’re thinking – they have more fun than they can handle. Well, I forgot to mention the dishes (by hand due to broken dishwasher), laundry (it reproduces like bunnies while I sleep), cleaning (dogs and toddlers, oh my!), oh yeah, and I almost forgot to mention that full-time job that keeps me on my toes, yet offers a very strange sense of stability in my day.

-          You’re probably thinking that I need a hobby (or some tequila), and you’re probably right. 

Why I run

Why I Run

After an incredibly long day of three therapy appointments, figuring out a referral with Tricare, and work sandwiched between, I whined on the phone to my brother that I just wanted a day of “normal”, a day with nothing medically related and a regular 8-5 job.  He asked, “Have you ever considered that this IS your normal?” Pretty smart – maybe he was right.

There are some moments in life that shift our “normal” so far off from where we envisioned that it is seemingly impossible to comprehend that “normal” is still within personal reach. My first encounter with these moments came at 12:45 on April 16, 2010 with the doctor stating, “Your son has Down Syndrome”. Although this sentence altered life as I had previously known it, the moment was merely a line drive to shortstop. It was the news of Claire’s suspected genetic disorder that sent the ball so far into left field that it left the stadium.

Over the years I have watched my friends and family deal with their own monumental moments. From the deaths of children, spouses, and parents to divorce to fertility issues to other crazy life incidents, I have seen others react with anger, denial, withdrawal, and humor. There is no one right way to handle the repercussions of these pivotal moments. When the responsibility or grief or whatever emotion follows becomes so painful to endure, it is simply about survival. This is why I run.

Nine years ago I signed up for my first half marathon because it sounded like a good challenge, and I was crazy enough to try it. Plus, think of all the beer I could drink with all of those calories I was burning!! Fast-forward to this past July, and my rationale was not quite the same.  Running a full marathon always piqued my interest, but I always had a justification for not doing it. “I’m too busy”…..”Luke is just too little to be away so much”….”Only crazy people run 26.2 miles” – All seemed 100% valid, at least until I had Claire.

In 2014, the kids have had over 400 hours of physical, occupation, and vision therapy in addition to visits to nine specialty clinics. Through these appointments, Luke constantly remains the happiest and most content human being that I have ever encountered. His attitude is something that I can only dream of attaining. To watch Claire struggle to learn every single nuance of daily functioning has taught me the true meaning of endurance.

I watch my friends with their kids, and I marvel at how naturally they progress from one skill to another. If I did not have Claire, this is something I would have never noticed nor appreciated in the chaotic hustle and bustle of the daily lives we lead. The jealousy I used to feel for the ease in which milestones were reached has been replaced by a true sense of awe over how the human body is capable of developing. I looked at myself and realized the God-given gifts of health, motivation, an insanely supportive husband, an incredibly flexible job, and inspiring kids that I was allowing to waste away. So, on that fateful day in July, I joined the San Antonio Marathon Training team and haven’t looked back.

Each week when I run, I am the crazy loon wiping tears from my eyes as 100 of us take off running on the dark trails throughout the city. As the sun rises and we push forward, stories are shared of why we are here. From Cancer survivors to weight loss champions to empty-nesters looking for a hobby, each of us has a reason to challenge our bodies to endure the 26.2 mile race.

For me, it is watching Claire’s struggle. While other kids run around, get into trouble, and play with their friends, she sits at the sideline in her wheelchair, unable to move independently. Since she is legally blind, we do not even know the extent to which she sees the world around her. She has never sat up in her crib, held a bottle, fed herself, or taken a step. Each time she needs to be moved because she is uncomfortable, feels thirsty, or wants another bite of food, she relies 100% on the help of others.

I have the freedom to move as I please, to go where I want, and to do whatever I feel like. So, I run. Training has been an emotional release to savor the stability of our lives in San Antonio, to quietly say prayers of thanks for the support Luke and Claire have, and to celebrate the milestones of this past year. From gaining a pound to signing “more” for the first time, Claire has defied the grim predictions of the doctors in Shreveport two years ago. She will continue to defy these odds, and I will continue to run.  When I cross that finish line on Sunday, we’re going to help her stand to celebrate.

So, here’s to running my first marathon and Claire standing, two things that I once thought were impossible.

Miracles Happen

Dear kids,

Today, a miracle happened. The last time the world saw an event like this, your mom was younger than you. People jammed to "Take On Me" by A-ha after a day in the office using Microsoft 1.0. Evenings included watching The Cosby Show and going to see Back to the Future on the weekends.  Twenty-nine years later, here we are cheering for the Royals in the post-season.

You have to understand this significance -  while growing up, I didn't even think the Royals were eligible to play in the World Series. Now, we are witnessing one of the best streaks in post-season MLB.  This is all happening just a few months after the excitement of seeing the Spurs win. If only KU could get on this winning bandwagon....

When we're not busy cheering for the miracle of all miracles, Patrick has been holding down the fort while I was off at a conference in Chicago. It was an unbelievable trip, AND the house was standing when I came home. Winning.

Except for Luke didn't like the stray animals he encountered during my absence.....

 But Claire stayed happy as could be. However, that smile looks like she's keeping a secret or two about what REALLY happened while I was away.....

Summer fades to fall

Shoot!!! I knew I was slacking on the blog posts, but a whole season has come and gone. Goodbye Summer and hello Fall!!! It is funny to look back at this time of year over the past four years and recall how chaotic the fall always turns out to be. Let's rewind so you can see what I mean.

2010:  Luke had just started at the Goldman School, and we were nicely settling into a routine....until Patrick started Weapons School, I attempted to finish grad school and simultaneously conquered a ginormous audit at work. That is all I recall of Fall 2010. We both graduated, the audit was a success, and Luke isn't too scarred from it.

2011: Early pregnancy = high stress. After two miscarriages and Luke's surprise diagnosis, doctors went on high alert when it was time for pregnancy #4. After the endless high risk appointments, Claire received the clean bill of health, and doctors calmed down by Christmas. That sure didn't last long.....

2012: It hurts my head to even look back on fall of 2012. Patrick was gone, Claire screamed incessantly and couldn't stop throwing up, I lost a few marbles, and Luke was the only one who escaped unscathed. Thankfully, Hawaii saved us from our misery.

2013:  The million dollar question: Are they moving or not? I'm sure a lot of you made bets if the Air Force was ever going to take pity on our constant trips out of state for Claire's doctors. The never-ending game of "You're moving..not today....just kidding...move tomorrow....just kidding the government shut down...no one goes anywhere...you have three weeks to move to San Antonio" was a wee bit exhausting, but we survived. And here we are today.....

2014:  Blogging hasn't been high on the to-do list because there is just too much fun stuff going on!! After four years of stress, emotional meltdowns, uncertainty, and just plain chaos, it is unbelievably amazing to just calmly enjoy life.

Our Texas summer evenings include walks through the neighborhood. It is a new development, so it's fun to see the changes each day. In honor of the construction workers, Luke likes to wear his sombrero.

The zoo is our #2 favorite destination, only behind Sea World. The carousel is finally a favorite attraction. 

It is nice to travel to see friends instead of doctors. We made it back to KC for Erin and Adam's wedding. I think this selfie is almost as good as Ellen's from the Oscars.

And we celebrated Cesar's retirement in true Godinez fashion. A party busy, sombreros, mustaches, and Mexican food. Would you expect anything less from this family???

Claire got wheels!!!! Our therapists are great about obtaining adaptive equipment for Claire. This summer she received a wheelchair and adaptive seat for playing with her friends. There are a few new dents in the cabinets and walls, but Luke will eventually learn to navigate better.

For a special treat, the beach is only two hours away!!! Both kids love the sand and wind, so we definitely need to make the trip more often.

Favorite destination #1: Sea World!!!! It is an unhealthy obsession. We can't help it. We know we won't live here forever, so we have to take advantage of having Shamu 30 minutes from the house. Seriously, we are obsessed.

When we're not at favorite destinations #1 or #2, we love to just hang out at the house. Claire has been making amazing progress this summer with therapy, so it is fun to see her interact with her toys, Luke, and Kathryn (nanny's daughter).  We'll blog more details on her progress later....

And finally....have we mentioned a time or two the amazing resources that San Antonio has to offer? We participated in the San Antonio Buddy Walk to raise money and awareness for Down Syndrome. The event raised $194,000 and had over 6000 participants. It is sensational to live in a place with such an acceptance for special needs. My favorite sign from the day said, "Real friends don't count chromosomes." So true.

THAT my friends is why we have been a little absent from the blog. Don't worry - we will try to do better....until we get distracted by the next fun thing....Just know this - we are savoring the calmness of 2014.

Celebrations!

Paaaarrrrtttaaaayyyyyy!

It has been a fun-filled week of celebrations. Thanks to the Spurs NOT choking in the finals, Claire and Luke got to party in style waaaayyyy past bedtime. Why go to sleep when you can drive downtown with 5.5 kazillion other people, honk the horn, and yell out the window like a crazy person? Judging by her hair, Claire clearly had a wild time. Luke, on the other hand, was not a fan of the chaos, so he passed out while Claire practiced for her future partying days.

 The Spurs got the week off on the right foot. The celebration continued it was finally time to pick up Claire's new "legs"! Now, the average person might just call them "braces", but the truth of the matter is that she can not use her legs for weight-bearing without them - hence - "legs". As soon as we put them on she was instantly able to bear weight effectively for the first time. Don't get too excited over that - it was probably just the sheer weight that holds her legs down, but whatever, it is a step in the right direction.

Speaking of the right direction:  Guess who has a VERY happy nutritionist?!?! It's not about the number on the scale, but rather, it is about improvement. And improve she did! We are going to just keep chugging along with shoving food in her face. Luckily, we have new special juice boxes and some 'roids to make her grow. The doctor says it is just an "elemental supplement", but we know the truth. Watch for upcoming pics of her flexing her guns.

Let the celebration continue - tomorrow is Friday!

Happy Father's Day!!

He puts up with a lot - getting his fingers bitten, dirty diapers, a sassy attitude at dinner, and an even further unpleasant attitude at 3:00 a.m. - and that is just from Claire! He rarely complains about our less than rational requests, meltdowns, and insane lifestyle. We wouldn't have it any other way. If it weren't for us, his life would be VERY boring. Besides, he would look pretty funny walking through Target with Ralphie in the Baby Bjorn.

Vacation: Lessons Learned

Top 10 Things Learned on Family Vacation

10. I am, perhaps, the world's best packer. No...seriously. Four people, six days, work meetings, and the fickle Colorado climate, and one suitcase. This is a feat that not many people can claim.

9. In other news, overweight baggage fees are Out.Of.Control. As in - to the tune of $100 for a talented packer such as myself. Never fear, just look pathetic with a double stroller, a disgruntled husband who does not appreciate my stellar skills, and the nice airline ladies scrounged up a box to save the day. Fees cut from $100 to a mere $25/bag/box.

8. Vacation of 2014 does not equal vacation of 2008. Rewind: In 2008 we grabbed two backpacks, jumped on an East-bound plane, and spent two weeks traipsing through Europe. Our diets consisted of wine, cheese, and gelato - in that particular order.  Fast forward to the past week:  A two-year-old and four-year-old and a husband on a work trip didn't equate to exactly the same spontaneity. I mean, the schedule did center on food - chicken nuggets, non-dairy snacks, and lots of water. We did splurge and buy some wine one night, but then Patrick was convinced the leftover (WHAT?!?) wouldn't make it between destinations. Probably right, but a failure all the same.

7. Vacation DOES NOT equal rest.

6. When booking future vacation rooms, ONLY book a room with two queen beds or one king and a pull-out couch, etc. Case in point: 

C: "Hehehehehehehehe....."

L: "Mama...owwwwww....mama....owwwwww"

M: "Claire, stop kicking your brother in the face."

C: "Hehehehehehehehehe....."

L: "Mickey??"

This exchange might have been funny except that it was 12:23 a.m., and I had to be up for work at 6:45 a.m. See lesson learned #7.

5. Follow-up:  While taking the entire family on a work trip might seem like a good idea, it probably isn't. Work trips were designed many moons ago by some very smart parents looking for a valid excuse to escape the responsibility of parenthood without having to explain the rationale for family desertion. It is a wonderful escape from the incidents such as those listed in lesson #6. If lesson #5 is applied, lesson #6 is a moot point.

4. Never underestimate the power of a fully loaded diaper bag. Hungry child....snacks. Spilled drink...wipes. Closed wine bottle....opener. Only in our bag.

3. The fully loaded bag mentioned in lesson #4 only poses a challenge when  attempting to make it through airport security. Refer back to Lesson #9 - the same pathetic looks, double stroller, and two adorable kids will melt even the toughest security checkpoint's hearts. Suddenly, we found ourselves breezing through TSA pre-check. Shoes on, computers in bag, two happy kiddoes, and even happier parents and security guards. Crisis averted. How did I ever do that myself on the way to Hawaii?!?!?!

2. Home is great after a vacation. Home is even better after a 2.5 hour delay due to maintenance issues. The luck of making it through TSA pre-check quickly wore off.

1. While my parents were out visiting, they observed that we rarely sit down. While vacation is great and we LOVED seeing our friends and family, being home is our favorite place. We happen to operate at hypersonic rates, but that's just us. We've been home for five hours, and the laundry is done, floors are washed, dogs are home from the kennel, and grocery shopping done. We can't wait for a quiet weekend to recover from our adventures, but first stop in the morning - Aquatica.