Kind of sobering... isn't it?

Sister and Brother

It really is nice that the Princess and the Pope get along so well. These moments do my heart good!

Hypotonia

Hypotonia is a state of low muscle tone (the amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle), often involving reduced muscle strength.

Pope was diagnosed as having hypotonia.

By this photo, you'd never know...

FIRST lost tooth!

After 7 years, 4 weeks and 5 days... the FIRST tooth is out! Congratulations Princess!

A letter.

Remember that he is, first of all, my child.
Let me see him smiling in his sleep and let me think about how handsome he is...
and not about how delayed that smile was in coming.
Help me not lose sight of my son in the shadow of his limitations...
I know that you care for my child and that you work hard with him.
I need your expertise to help him become all that he is capable of being.
You need my help in understanding who he really is and in following through at home with things that are important.
Remember, though, that you send him home at night and have weekends off and paid vacations.
Let me have the luxury of having a vacation, sometimes physically,
sometimes just emotionally, for a day, a week, a month, without your judging me.
I will be there for him when you are long gone.
I love my child with an intensity that you can only imagine.
If on a given day I am tired or cross with him, listen to me, lighten my burden, but do not judge me.
Celebrate with me, rejoice in who he is and who he will become...
but forgive me if from time to time I shed a tear for who he might have been.

Welcome Autumn

Autumn weather is here. Cane training is going well... so much more confidence!

Camille's Art

A child who loves God, Jesus and Catholicism. God bless you, Princess... and know the Lord loves you more!

First Day of School!

It was a rainy start to the school year, but Pope started preschool and the Princess started 2nd grade today!

Pope has less tolerance for photos. What a sourpuss!

Cane travel

Cane travel exercises are NOT Pope's favorite activity. Most places we go without the cane. But when your vision is as low as Pope's vision, the cane is a terrific and very useful tool. We decided, since Pope was already 3 years old when we adopted him, that he should begin using the cane right away. However, this has taken a lot of work on our part, since we still don't have an O&M instructor for Pope. Mike taught me how to use a cane and I'm teaching Pope, or at least trying to teach Pope.

This is Pope in March, getting the feel of the cane for the first time.

It seems the best places to work with Pope is outside. Here's Pope using his cane at the carwash in July.

Here's Pope today. He's really getting the "sweep" technique down. But he grouched about it the entire time!