Sometimes the difficult decision is to “have the surgery or not”.  Other times, it is “should we go grocery shopping today or not”

Every time Erica goes to the grocery store it is a spectacle.  I (Robin) often try to get her to wait until I am home so she (or I) can go solo.  However, there is always something going on and she can’t wait to go get her groceries.

It is a balancing act. 3 kids (10yrs, 8yrs, 6yrs).  Shopping cart. A LONG list of supplies/food to purchase.

As she meanders through the store, they get strange looks.  Of course, some folks are curious of Kennady’s condition.  Some folks are asking themselves ‘why did they have more kids’.  When we had foster care kids, I am sure people said, ‘who in the world are these people?!’   <<<<<SCRREEECHHH>>>> that is a tire noise for those of you who don’t recognize it. (now, insert song…”hold up, wait a minute, let me put some boom in it” and that should suffice for the interruption)  I (Erica) am hacking the blog and adding in my own thoughts since my dear hubby wrote a blog and published it before I could add my own touch to it.

Yes.  People did make comments.  When I was pregnant with Avery, #3, people would say, “wow, you sure do have your hands full” to which my constant refrain was, “yes, but it is a good handful”.  They would take long looks at us as we made our way through the store,  pushing Kennady, pulling the cart with a two year old in it and a very large belly attached to me.   Now, the comments have turned to stares and I am not quite sure if that is a good thing or not, I kind of enjoyed the small talk in the store.  I am sure a lot of that has to do with the missing, super cute, chubby and smiling baby that was usually with me.  Now they are bigger, louder and slobberier.

The awesome thing about us humans is that we keep growing and my little two year old is now a big 8 year old that does an awesome job at keeping his sisters chair going the right direction and not run anyone over.  There is the occasional knock down of something here or there, but if that is the worst of a trip to the grocery store, we are good.  I am still working on #3 to be in charge of driving his sister, then I will be sailing through the store, #2 driving the cart, #3 driving his sister and me, ME…walking through the store tossing things in the basket like a little kid at a toy store (until the money runs out that is)!

<<<Thank you for bearing with the interruption, now back to my husband>>>>

I am amazed when she comes home and everyone is alive, the eggs aren’t broken, and the milk is still cold!

We made a decision early on that Kennady’s condition would not take us from normal life.  It was easy to say that when she was an infant.  However, the bigger she gets, the harder transportation gets.  The more difficult it is to keep her happy in certain environments.  She can only stay in her chair for a limited amount of time.  Then, she has to be stretched and diapers have to be changed.  All these factors limit our ability to run out and do anything. Plus, our boys are still at an age where they require a lot of attention and ‘hands-on’ interaction.

We continually find ourselves reshaping our thinking.  Get out! Don’t stop!  Difficulties can shape decisions, but they don’t have to dictate or be the final authority.  Improvising and changing is the name of the game.  Get creative. Ask people for help. Pray for direction and strength.  Rest. Stay home. Talk to friends.  Stick to the non-negotiables.

Those are processes we use to keep on going.