This too shall pass...

In the past 2 years of Landen's life he has had many surgeries. I believe 7 surgeries to be exact. He has bounced right back from all of them. He typically keeps a cold, runny nose, etc. He has had bladder infections and continues to suffer from aspirating his liquids. He has a feeding tube that was placed about 7 months ago. Needless to say, he has had many hurdles to jump over in just 2 short years. I have expected lots of these things...these are things that just "go with living with Spina Bifida." I always worry when my baby gets sick and I worry when he throws up several days in a row b/c the possibility of shunt malfunction, I worry when he falls and gets a bump on his head(typically from pulling himself up on things he shouldn't), I worry when his temp is over 102 and thoughts of another bladder infection crosses my mind...BUT, I know that everything will be just fine and he will bounce right back like he ALWAYS has. I've always known that he would need a wheelchair, walker, or some sort of walking aid. These are things that I have expected with Spina Bifida.

Last Friday, we went to Greenville to see our wonderful speech pathologist for a swallow study. Landen is STILL aspirating honey thickened liquids. He needs vital stim therapy to help those weak muscles, otherwise he will DEPEND on the feeding tube. He needs VS therapy 3 times a week but no one in our surrounding area, Charlotte NC accepts  Teffra/SC Medicaid. There is only 1 clinic that even offers it in Charlotte. We can't financially afford to travel to Greenville 3 times a week for possibly 1+ years. SO, our next step is another MRI next Thursday then an appt with our Neurosurgeon, Dr Troup to discuss if decompression surgery will help him at all. THIS I WORRY ABOUT! I keep telling myself that "this too shall pass" and he will bounce right back like always. I have expected lots of things with Landen but I most definitely did not expect the fact that he might ALWAYS require a feeding tube. :(

Now...enough depressing news.

                            TERRIBLE TWO'S

Landen is in his terrible two's! I never went through them with Lexi or Zach. I think it was more like terrible 3's with them. Landen is VERY and I mean VERY independent and likes to do things his way! It's his way or  the highway! If he doesn't get his way, he gets mad and throws things or tries to slap at your face.(not so cute)  I have always taken pride in my house "usually" being clean and neat. Now, it's just a struggle to even find the floor of Landen's playroom. He likes to throw all of his toys out and not play with ANY of them. I think he just likes to see me pick them up so he can do it again and again and again...you get the point.

            ~MY GUIDE FOR SURVIVING TODDLERHOOD~

1.Give up the delusional dream that you may in fact at some point get your house clean. It's NOT going to happen.

2.Put everything away in your home that may be of value. This is the first thing that they go for...it's the most inticing to them. Believe me, it WILL get broken.

3.Naps are NOT just created for kids, they are for moms too! Yeah right, I'm laughing at myself as I write this. It sounds oooh soooo goood though. :) But, since us moms never get time alone, take time to "ALLOW" yourself to eat, read a magazine, surf the web...it's "you" time, so enjoy the little bit of break you can!

4.Never underestimate the power of icecream. Yep, that's right! Icecream makes it all better when I am stresed. peanut butter chocolate chunk...yummmm!!

5.Non-judgemental BFF with a toddler. She can relate. It is imperative to  be able to complain, have a meltdown, cry discuss the challenges with someone who can relate!

6. Have very very very low expectations of what you will be able to accomplish in the hrs that your sweet toddler is awake. This way, when by chance, you actually get some much needed things done, you will feel like your day was a success! :)

Toddler hood....This too shall pass!!

Enjoy your toddler while you can...they grow up so fast! :) 

Landen's Walk N Rollers

On Saturday, May 5th, our team, Landen's Walk n' Rollers, is participating in a walk to benefit the Spina Bifida Association and All proceeds are used for programs and services for people living with Spina Bifida.

Spina Bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the US. An average of 8 babies every day are born with Spina Bifida or similar birth defect of the brain and spine. The majority of these babies, like Landen, experience major back surgery within the first few hours of birth.

When we started Landen's team a few weeks ago, our goal was to raise $300.  We didn't have enough time to raise alot of money so we didn't want to make our goal out of our range. We are VERY pleased to say that within 2 weeks of started our team, we have raised over $1200. We are soooo very excited to turn in all that money this Saturday!

Here is a picture of the shirts we designed for Landen's Walk n- Rollers!

21, 22, 23...24!

Yes, my baby is 24 mos old. 2 yrs old! Wow~ I can hardly believe that time has flown by so fast. I love him beyond words. He is the sunshine in my world, the breath of fresh air, and the beat to my heart! He is my 2 yr old monkey! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LANDEN!

Landen's Birthday was yesterday and we had a big family party for his BIG #2! We had so much fun and Landen got SO many gifts. It was like Christmas all over!!! :)

He is such a loved little guy!

It's hard to believe that 2 yrs and 1 day ago we adopted the sweetest thing in the world. Our hearts are truly full!!!

Enjoy some of the pics from his BIG day.

 

AS PROMISED - Landen and His Walker

Landen Using His Walker

Click on the link above to see an angel walking!  Our excessive pride of Landen is simply immeasurable.  =)

Landen's 2nd birthday is coming up and I am soooooo not ready for him to be 2. I LOVE him at this age and wish I could bottle him up and savor this age for a little while longer...  Although he has definitely started with the terrible two tantrums and such that I am not so fond of!!! And he gets into E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. in a split second.

His party theme this year is Moe Moe (Elmo). He gets so excited when he sees me looking online at party stuff/supplies/gifts/anything Moe Moe related. He wants to wear his birthday shirt everyday! After bath time in the morning I will ask "Ok Landen what are we going to wear today?" and his response..."moe moe" :)

There hasn't been too much going on with us which is why I haven't blogged. He's doing pretty well. We haven't used his feeding tube in several weeks which is a blessing. We don't have another swallow study until  June though and we can't have the feeding tube removed until that is completed PLUS after the swallow study...if everything is normal with the study... we still have to wait 3 mos after the swallow study to make sure he isn't going to need it again before they consider removing it. :(  

He's doing great with his walker. He prefers his "vroom vroom" over walking though! I don't blame him much b/c he gets so tired from walking just a few feet and his legs just give out on him. I get tired just from watching him.

Landen is in our friends wedding next week. I am soooo nervous. I can see him now ramming into every isle with his wheelchair and throwing a tantrum in the middle of the wedding. Insert....sweat dripping from my head, palms sweaty just thinking about it. I'll let you know how that goes!

We leave for the beach April 1st. We will be gone 6 days and I can't wait! I need a vacation. I really think Landen will do well this year with the sand. His therapist has been working with him on his texture issue with sand and he is doing so much better. We actually bought him a sandbox for home and he likes it! I can't say that he loves it but he LIKES it.

And lastly... Ron has a second interview with Newberry YMCA next week. It's now down to him and 3 other guys. They are holding a banquet for the guys Monday night to meet and mingle with some community leaders and such. We are praying that this will work out and he will be offered the position. This would be a great opportunity for our family and we are all excited about the possibility of moving to Newberry. BUT... either way, we LOVE Rock Hill and we would be happy either way...just more happy in Newberry making more money! :)

Enjoy the pictures. I will post a video of him walking really soon.

Landen is enjoying his sandbox!

Everything is a hat! If it can fit on his head...it's a hat!

What a great sissy! We moved the sandbox under his swing set so he wouldn't get sun burned! I think he likes it better under here anyways. :)

Look at my handsome boys! They wanted to dress like "monkey". Copy cats!!

Look at my baby cheezing ( all 3 of them)

I could T.O.T.A.L.L.Y. eat him up!

I'm just taking a "wa-wa" break, Cruising around the church will wear you out!

He knows exactly where Jesus is!

14 things I L.O.V.E about you!

Happy Valentine's Day to my sweet sweet boy that I L.O.V.E soooooo stinkin' much and can't get enough of...

Today being the 14th, here are just 14 things I Love about you. The list could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on (you get the point) :)

14. I love the way you constantly are saying "mom, mom, mom, mom ,mom" just so I will watch you do something!

13. How you fold your arms for prayer (sooooo cute)

12. I love how you close BOTH your eyes when you try to wink at me! (gosh, I love you) wink wink.

11. I love when you CRAM your nose into my neck and like to be held tight when it's nap time. (my favorite time)

10. I love when you say "rock rock" when I say it's bedtime. (and thank you for still letting me rock you to sleep)

9. I love when you pucker your lips and cry when I tell you "bye bye" even though I am not going anywhere. Even though I have never left you...EVER...with anyone. ( I know that's a sick joke, but I love to see him want me so bad) :)

8. I LOVE watching you eat with your hands while making a H.U.G.E mess.

7. I Love watching you play basketball in your wheelchair.( can you say scholarship)

6. I love when you clap when you know you have done something good (by the way, you could never do wrong... you are always good)

5. I love watching you play with bubba and sissy.

4. I love it when you are really quiet and I ask, "what are you doing?" and you say, "Uh Oh". (this means you are usually in sissy's room pulling her school stuff off her shelf)

3. I love it when you throw things down.....then say "uh oh". (smart cookie)

2. I love it when you are just simply mesmerized by other kids, when you just sit and watch them.

                                                      and last but certainly not least...

1. I love that you love your mommy so much. I love that you want to be with me ALL the time. I love your hugs, your open mouth kisses, your snuggles, your first, your seconds, your thirds, etc. I love you more than words could even express. I LOVE YOU for who you are and who I have become b/c of you. THANK YOU MONKEY FOR BEING YOU!  Happy Valentine's Day to the most precious 21 1/2 month old EVER!!!!

And Happy Valentine's Day to my best friend in the whole world...My hubby, Ron Black! Also, to my other 2 most beautiful, bright, smart, amazing, caring, wonderful, children....Lexi and Zach. Thank you for being the most amazing children and the most amazing brother and sister to Landen. I love you guys sooooooooo much!

So, I am ashamed it has taken me this long to post something. My excuse is that  I have an addiction. My addiction...Pinterest! I simply cannot get enough of it! I have been busy with crafts, changing my rooms around, organizing, and most importantly...cooking some new delicious things. Pinterest, how I love thee!

So, what else has been going on since Christmas? Landen got his new HKAFO's...which he hates. Once they are on...he walks!!!! I don't have any videos of him walking yet, but I'm not lying!
He officially gets his "granny apple" green set of new wheels (wheelchair) on Thursday as well as his very own walker.(We've been borrowing the one he has now). And the latest thing is...He's now drinking out of a sippy cup. We aren't supposed to be doing that because he still aspirates. We still use the feeding pump which Landen dislikes too b/c it keeps him confined to one space for an hr.
We moved him to his big boy bed! :(   He loves it, momma is sad b/c he's growing up. It matches his room...Thomas the Train. He loves climbing in it and climbing out of it. He's sooooo big!
He still LOVES his sisters underwear for some reason? He thinks it is a hat! He also has a fetish for socks? He likes to put them on his hands like mittens. You'll see in the pictures below.

Well, I'm having  jitters. I NEED to get on Pinterest.

Enjoy the Pictures!

 He's happy he got in to his car all by himself!

 Look at me mom, no hands!

 See my hat and gloves?

 Playing peek-a-boo

 Praying / blessing his food! This is what he does when we say prayers! So stinkin' cute

 His new big boy room!

 New HKAFO's which help him walk

 See, I climbed up all by myself!

 His playroom...we spend most of our time in here

 Art and coloring area in his room!

 He's climbing in.... Just wait...I'm almost there

 Almost....

 I'm sooooo close...

See mom, I can do it with no help at all!