The Return of Normalcy...?

Around the time that Eden turned one, I found that our lives started to feel more normal again. When you have infants, things change so rapidly, so often that you feel like you're stuck on a baby revolving door! You are constantly reworking things you are doing. When you get a schedule to work, suddenly it changes, then you find that you've gotten the baby food thing down, you move to table food, you get one thing baby-proofed, then you realize your kid can swing the fireplace curtains open and you find a soot-covered hand reaching for the white carpet...or is that last one just me...?

Regardless, the first year of life after a new baby is a whirlwind. But then, all of a sudden, you turn around a think, wait...change isn't smacking you in the face every other day!

And you start to feel the Return of Normalcy.

It may not be exactly like it was before, but at least you feel like you are starting to crusie at your new altitude of normal. So, I was asked the question this week of "when does it slow down?" by a friend. I thought: Never! But when I really looked at how life was going, I started to realize: I'm starting to cruise!

We were told when Wyatt was born that the first year is the hardest. Well, I think that's true with any infant. But for kids with special needs, the first year can be a little [EXTRA] challenging. There can be lots of doctors appointments. I mean, "let's-rent-an-apartment-next-to-Children's" lots and "I'm-on-a-first-name-basis-with-the-parking-staff" lots. And we don't even have as many as some other friends, with whom I totally empathize.

In Wyatt's first year, we had the following: 13 days in the NICU; countless additional appointments with his pediatrician plus all regular check-ups, multiple developmental health check-ups with the Tomas Center for Down Syndrome at Children's Hospital; three cardiology appointments; three appointment with the ENT, one out-patient procedure to put in ear tubes; two appointments with the othomologist; one trip to the ER, one admittance to Children's for overnight observation; and non-medically related appointments in the form of bi-weekly visits from the developmental specialists for Help Me Grow.

Being checked in at Children's Hospital after an ER visit (it's like 3 am here and I look awful)

Daddy holds a sleepy Wyatt pre-op for his ear tubes

But now, it's starting to feel like it is slowing down. We do have bi-weekly Physical Therapy (which is turning into weekly PT while I'm off for summer break) and regular check-ups, but the big stuff is subsiding. And that feels good. We have a few follow-up from the Ear Tubes and Audiology, and then a follow up for Cardiology in two years. Wyatt is on table food and I can typically modify whatever we eat to fit him, even if it does mean sticking it in the blender for a moment if he's struggling to finish the last bit. And Eden and Wyatt are starting to actually kinda play together (or at least Eden palys with Wyatt.)

I'm ready to checkout Mommy! Didn't I make a good purchase?!?

 And additionally, my own school work is slowing down. My student teaching is near complete, which I'm sure has a big hand in feeling like I'm not insane! (I'll post specifically on my school stuff later this week).

But overall, it's feeling, well, manageable now.

I feel like I can start to breathe a little. I'm trying to let that feeling stay with me, rather than worry and wait for the other shoe to drop, because I like cruising sometimes. I can sit back, and even if it's for a moment, close my eyes and feel the wind in my hair. I looked at Wyatt sleeping the other night, before I went to bed...

What a precious little guy

...and I felt very "normal" ; )

That is, until Eden starts Pre-School in the Fall. Oh well, the cruise will be nice while it lasts!