NOW in Control

People tell me all the time that I must be a "strong person" to have been giving a special child.  Like, God just pointed down and said... Yup, Julie can handle it I pick her!  Realistically God told me to get my priorities in check! 

It was my priviledge this past week to be included in a Leadership Training Session with Hyrum Smith.  He didn't know it, but he explained how I am able to be a "special mom."  Simply - I'm forced to do the daily activities that most of us put off to another day.   I lost the title of "President of Control Freak Division" on November 26 ~ the day McKenzie arrived.   When you try to control everything, especially trying to control something you don't even understand, life becomes out of control.  Took me 40 years to admit it!

I don't consider myself any different than everyone else.  We all have issues ~ we all have families!!!  Seriously, we all deal with challenges in life and we all see life in different light, but when there is an event we CAN control, and we start believing that we CAN'T control it, but if the need is big enough and WE CAN MAKE ANYTHING HAPPEN!!!   Being the parent of an exceptional child proves to me everyday that I CAN make anything happen because SHE needs me to make it happen! 

Inner Peace ~ Having serenity, balance & harmony in our lives achieved thru the appropriate control of events.

What caused McKenzie's Chromosomes to Break?

The Physician and Specialist Response:  Unexplained (a/k/a "We don't have a clue.")
The Invitro Medical Response:  "It happens ~ that's the risk you take."
The Genetic Response:  "You just got what you got."
The Parent Response

Therapy for McKenzie & Disney

We had an appointment with Debra Beckman, Oral Motor Specialist, in Orlando, Florida and who can't use a vacation?  It's not easy traveling with children, but traveling with a special child can pose some challenges.  McKenzie is glucose intolerant, which eliminates all of the fast food restaurants for traveling (except for Pei Wei, which prepared her the perfect meal).  Omni Champions Gate was very accommodating to her medical and nutritional needs. 

If you are traveling with a special child to Disney, check for handicapped services.  They are very accommodating, but make sure you tell them all of the challenges you will have in touring the park.  There are different "passes" which we found out a little later in the day.  Overall... amazing day with the kids, Buzz Lightyear, Pooh, Tiger, Piglet, Aladdin & Magic Carpets, River Boats, Tea Cups, Carousels, etc.  There is an iphone app I highly recommend for planning your day at the park - Got Plans and make reservations at the park restaurants.

The best part of the trip ~ meeting Debra Beckman.  Why isn't McKenzie talking?  Because she couldn't possibly talk with her lack of oral motor skills.  You would have thought after four years, a cochlear implant and 9 speech therapists someone would have focused on this?  Thank you University of Miami for pushing me to meet Debra.  She provided instruction therapy to do at home with McKenzie, and expects McKenzie to start making different sounds in less than a month!!  McKenzie's speech therapist now... drove right up there for training ~ don't you wish she was yours!!!