HEALING 2 THE NATIONS INTERNATIONAL
Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance. (Ps 2:8)
This has been a tough day, being confronted with the medical community's bleak outlook on Sammy's future.
The babies woke up earlier than usual again, but we waited till 8 am before getting up and making their breakfast. After feeding them, cleaning and dressing them, I was holding Sammy, while the other two were running around and Randy was making his breakfast. It alway takes a while before breakfast and the babies are downstairs and I can get to sleep, but today I only had half an hour to sleep.
And then the doorbell woke me up before the alarm, as the three guys had come 10 minutes early. I went downstairs and picked up Sammy. They had brought Sammy's special chair, and his night leg braces, to see how they would still have to adjust them so they'll fit perfectly. You can see the chair in the first picture, as they were getting it ready. They then put it on my lap, and Sammy into the chair on my lap. Of course he started screaming again. He was facing forward and couldn't see me, I could only talk to him and stroke his head. Randy was also closeby trying to calm him down. They were fiddling with his legs and who knows what, before he could finally come out and I could turn him around to face me again. That was step one. Step two were the leg braces that you can see on the second picture. Randy handed me one of the new animal books where you can stroke the animals and they make noises, and that was a great distraction. He was busy with the book, while the guy fiddled with the braces, and so Sammy was okay. The guy said these were the smallest braces he had ever made, and he still made them a little too big. Sammy will get them for good next week.
I went back to bed, but time was short, and then I didn't hear my alarm because it's still silent for some reason. So I got up later than intended, which was not good, as Sammy should have started eating at 11:30 today, so we could leave at 12. It was baby jars today, and Randy started feeding him ten minutes later. However, Sammy really didn't want to eat it. I was busy getting everything ready, also Randy's and Sonja's food, and myself, as I was the one taking Sammy to physiotherapy today. Sonja arrived, and Sammy and I left shortly after noon.
After three subway rides, we arrived at the hospital, and didn't wait long before his physiotherapist arrived. As soon as I put Sammy flat on the floor, he started crying. I've noticed recently that he does not like to lie on his belly, but would rather sit up. So I sat him upright, and the therapist had to start with him gently. He started crying hard several times, but then finally he allowed her to work with him, which she hadn't even expected. I know he was tired as it was his regular nap time. She made him kneel, sit, climb and use his hands, before he'd had enough after only half an hour or so. And while I was holding him and trying to calm him down and get him to be happy again, she started talking, and really discouraging me with everything she said. Like that we should already be on a waiting list for a special needs kindergarten and school, and that cognitively he'd probably not be able to do school either, and that he'd need therapy all his life.... It was so discouraging and weighed on me all the way home, as it would mean changing our lives radically to adapt. And at the same time, anything is possible, especially with our God. It was a tough ride home. Sammy was tired, but he doesn't sleep any more in the stroller. He'd had a cereal bar, but only a little milk, that was all.
As soon as we got home, I put him to bed as it was already 2:30 and time for the afternoon nap. He fell asleep right away, right next to his brother who was already asleep. Tammy had just woken up when we arrived. Sonja was giving Tammy her afternoon meal downstairs, while I told Randy about the session. I was totally exhausted, not having had my normal sleep in the morning, and lay down for a nap, letting Randy and Sonja take care of the little ones. When I got up, I cleaned up the kitchen and then went downstairs to have some quality play time with my little ones. I had only half an hour left before it was time to get their dinner ready.
And we had great fun. Emmy and Tammy were playing hard with Sonja, and with their house, and Sammy crawled to me and on top of me. We also read the new animal books again that they really enjoy. And we tried to take a picture together, but Emmy wouldn't stay long enough for it. I've had some balloons blown up, and made some small so Sammy can handle it better, and he's really been enjoying it, especially biting into the tied end. Tammy and Emmy were also putting blocks with holes on poles again, and Tammy is getting better at it.
At 5 pm I left them; tonight Emmy and Tammy were alright, but Sammy was very tired, and so they all came upstairs before I was done getting dinner ready. I was glad when they ate more at the table tonight, and again, they ate the rest while in the bathtub. Randy left at that point to go to the grocery store before it closes. I then put them all to bed, and our friend Sonja who is such a God-sent left to go home. I sat down by the babies, which is necessary for Tammy so she can fall asleep. The boys fell asleep fast, but the girl just wouldn't. I left and came back a few times, gave her milk, and finally Emmy woke back up and wanted milk too. Then it was Emmy who was wide awake, but at least I don't have to sit there. He's actually doing better when I'm not there.
I was finally getting my food ready, when Randy returned, also pretty late. I had started worry. I then ate and relaxed, then cleaned up kitchen and dining room, before going back downstairs to start doing office work. I haven't been very motivated recently, and am not getting things done as fast as I should, but c'est la vie.