It's the end of 2018! It’s been a banner year for my family. Lots of the goals hubby and I set out to accomplish this year have been completed and we are excited. Now that it's time to transition into the new year, it is a great opportunity to take stock and assess how we will move forward as a family.
One of my personal projects was to revisit this blog. My oldest is about to embark on a journey into major surgery and rehabilitation exactly one week from today. After having extensive back surgery at the age of three, then subsequent surgical adjustments every six to nine months from ages three to eleven, he now has to have his current equipment taken out, realigned, and replaced. He will be in the hospital for a week and out of school for six weeks. The news of it hit me like a ton of bricks - I was hoping that we were done with these back surgeries. This is definitely not something I am looking forward to but absolutely necessary for his growth and development. But, as with everything else, there is no time to consider what could have been; only to focus on the present and do what needs to be done. Planning family meetings, coordinating care with extended family, submitting my leave at work, scheduling IEP meetings for Home and Hospital Teaching, collaborating with the school district's transportation department, meticulously planning meetings and appointments on the Google calendar and sharing them with my husband, mom, and aunt - these and other tasks have to be planned and executed with "surgical precision" in order to keep this process moving and going as smoothly as possible.
Tre' one day after his first spinal fusion in 2007
With encouragement from my family and friends, I have committed to write about this time and how it impacts the entire household. This is to hopefully give us the opportunity to assess, plan, and execute more effectively as a family as well as possibly assisting others who are looking to manage life's obstacles and are looking for ideas. Or maybe you just want to know that you're not the only one going through.
Whatever your reasons, I invite you to join me as I reflect, once again, on my motherhood practices. I also welcome you to give feedback on your experiences, what resonates with you, and yes even how your opinions differ. Please share with your loved ones and/or friend who might benefit.
I look forward to our collective journey!
