Only Child

What a wonderful year this has started out to be!

Bennett is doing great! He has been working so hard in therapy and his balance has been improving. Recently he’s been complaining of being “car sick” (only after therapy), and this week he ended up losing his lunch on the way home. We were sure that he had just caught a stomach bug but it only lasted for about an hour. Weird coincidence that he only feels nauseous after therapy? I’m thinking it may have to do with all his activity right after he eats lunch at school. Anywho, he stayed home from school the next day. We wouldn’t want to share those germs with out friends 😉 Bryan, Ben and I met up for dinner after I got off work (spoiler alert—)  and Bennett asked if he could order two meals for dinner, Ha!

A few weeks ago, I had one of the most amazing days of my life. Sounds silly, right? A little selfish? Probably. I’ve recently been second-guessing my career choice. I love being a paramedic, but working 48 hour shifts is not only hard for a person, but for their family. I was basically missing out on everything for 2-3 days at a time. I prayed, prayed and prayed some more. Just when I thought it had gone to waste, I was given the opportunity for a Monday-Friday job with the EMS company I work with now. As soon as I hung up the phone I cried, I literally has goosebumps because I knew God had this planned all along. Now I get to wake up with Bennett every morning and read with him every night. Bennett now goes to the after-school program at his school a few times a week, and he loves it. He complains because he’s a “lonely child” and now gets to play with his school friends for longer. It’s a win-win!! (Someone asked him if he was an ‘only child’ and he swears they said he was a ‘lonely child’.) Of course it’s a huge adjustment for everyone but I am so grateful for this big change.

On another note, Bennett used his wheelchair for its first “outing” today. I was really skeptical, but it actually went really well. We met up with my mom and went shopping. Honestly, it’s probably the first time we’ve been at the mall for more than 2 hours. Bennett didn’t get grouchy, didn’t have to be carried and not once complained of his legs hurting. And his behavior was even noticeably better, I’m assuming because he wasn’t exhausted.

Bennett is signed up to play baseball this Spring! He’s been anxiously waiting to find out what team he got “drafted” to. We’re confident that he’ll do well in baseball, just because it seems a little less intense than football or soccer right now.

Bennett’s tonsillectomy is scheduled for March 13. The week before he will be having a sleep study (routine for him) and his MDA appointment with his neurologist, physical medicine, pulmonologist and geneticist. I am hopeful that they will report good news, despite the progression in his legs.

I decided to plan a surprise trip for our little family for this summer. The surprise didn’t last long for Bryan, but Bennett still doesn’t know. Bennett got to get his passport and now thinks he has a drivers license. Bennett thinks we’re going to Atlantis, but it’s much cooler than that mon.

Life is so good 😊