My Alphabet Of Gratitude...Letter W is for Water!

Water = Life. You can drink it, cook with it, bathe in it, swim in it, splash in it, sail on it, and clean with it. Some people use it as you would a road, some people even live on it. It falls from the sky, can be turned into a gas or a solid. It's what causes our crops to grow. It forges canyons, bridges and other magnificent natural works of art. It also makes my munchkins smile. Priceless. Nothing makes my little Easton happier than floating in warm water. He is part fish, I swear. Either that or he fancies himself a merman. Either way, He loves it. He could spend hours in the water with no problem, even cries when I take him out when he isn't quite ready to say goodbye to the wet stuff. How pruned can his feet actually get? Very.
Megan loves her baths too. She doesn't swim like Easton does. She simply enjoys the warm water buoying her up. The weightlessness is what she truly enjoys. She loves to sleep surrounded by water. She always looks so peaceful, so content, so comfortable.
Raegan isn't to hip on the bath scene but she does love her showers! That's right, I said showers. It was hard for me to believe at first, I thought it would pass. It didn't. Ever since she was a newborn she has loved the water hitting her in the face and the back. Her tummy, her feet, she doesn't care. She smiles and giggles at times, it is quite the special moment.
Water. Amazing. Simple and yet profound. We would literally die without it. And yet, I know I take it for granted too. I couldn't imagine a day without water, and yet I know there are many in the world that can, that do. I know how blessed I am to live where I do and have the resources available to me that I do. I can simply turn on a tap and out it comes. I happen to have a well that my water comes from so I also believe it is the best tasting...not to mention free. I don't have to hike anywhere to get it. I don't have to get it out of a dirty ditch. I don't have to wonder where I am going to get it. There might come a day when that changes, I don't know, I do know that today it is readily available to me. I thank God for it whenever I see my babies smiling in it, or when I smell my sweet Hannah's hair freshly washed in it. Whenever I am thirsty or have clean dishes or clean clothes. Whenever I see a beautiful waterfall, or a rainbow in the sky, I am thankful for water.

My Alphabet Of Gratitude...Letter V is for Valor!

Valor is defined in the dictionary as bravery, courage or boldness. Strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness. Personal bravery. To be strong.

I have been blessed with seven glorious children. I love them all very much. They have all taught me many unique and special lessons. They have humbled me with their spirits, with their personalities and with their lives. Three of these children I refer to quite often as the Munchkin Trifecta. They are my trio of little people, my babies, my passion. It is them that I would like to thank for their valor. My faith teaches me many things about why my babies are here, what their purpose is, what their future is. You don't have to believe like I do to see how valiant these children truly are though. I am so very grateful to live in the time that I do. The internet is an amazing gift. I have been blessed through this gift to be able to share in many children's lives that have the same condition my trifecta has. Our group is refered to as Rhizokids. I see such valor in each and every one of these children's eyes. I see their strength in their smiles. I see their courage when they are faced with odds that would scare the bravest of men. I can feel their spirit and strength even through their pictures.
These children fight a battle everyday. A battle to simply survive. But most of the time you wouldn't know it by looking at them. They usually have a smile on their face and a giggle on their lips. I've seen them put into contraptions that give me nightmares, I've had to put mine in some of these contraptions myself! Any yet, they smile. They remind me to be a little more couragious. A little stronger, braver. If they can do it so can I! Right?
All of my children have had surgeries right after birth as most RCDP children have. Cataract surgery. Yuck. Seeing those huge eye patches on your baby's little bitty face is tear wrenching. They endure braces, splints, casts, and tubes just to name a few. Some have even had to have their tiny little hearts mended. Some have never left the hospital. To look into their eyes and see such strength, even in the littlest ones can be lifechanging. I often find myself telling my Munchkins that I would trade places with them in a heartbeat if I could. I wonder if I could handle what they do with the valor that they do. I don't think so, that's why God put me in this body instead of theirs. They have proven themselves, they are warriors. I am here to learn from them.
I also think of the many wondeful mothers and families of RCDP children that I have met online. I would also describe this awesome group of people as valiant. Most of us have had our children born to us, but some in our group have joined voluntarily so to speak, by adopting and taking care of these special children. This screams valor to me. To know what you are up against and to dive in anyway, knowing the future holds heartache. I'm sure if their little RCDP children could mouth the words "Thank You" to them, they would...repeatedly! But since they can't let me be their representative by saying how truly valiant you are.
To each of my special RCDP angels here and in heaven I say thank you for your valiant lives. Thank you for your strength and your smiles. Thank You for showing me how to fight and how to live. Thank you for teaching me what is important and what is not. Thank you for fighting this battle with all the joy that you do. I love each and everyone of you!
To my Trifecta, my Megan, Easton and Raegan, my heart swells when I think of you. Each one of you has such strength of spirit and heart. I can not imagine my life without you. I love you more than words could ever say.

My Alphabet Of Gratititude...Letter U is for Understanding!

I was at the grocery store with Megan when she was just a baby. A young girl in line behind me asked her Mom why the baby had a tube in her nose. Her mom was very kind and told her to ask me, I thought that was fabulous. The way the little girl looked at Megan as she asked, the pure innocent curiousity in her eyes, made my heart melt. I told her what Megan had in the best and least confusing way I could. Her mom thanked me and that was that. I've gotten very used to encounters like this over the years. I've never minded the children, and the adults with kindness behind their curiosity. I know they just want to understand what is different and unusual to them. I try to explain to all those who are curious just what it is like having a child with RCDP. The little things you don't normally think of, like being able to scratch your nose, Megan and Easton can't do. There is a whole list of things they can't do...it goes on for miles. It can be heartbreaking if I dwell on it. What I want people to understand, really understand, is what they can do. It's a list that is not so long but what it says is incredible. Megan, Easton and Raegan can understand. Simple. Understand what you say? Anything. Everything. I assume they know it all, hear it all, and comprehend it all. If I'm wrong, oh well. If I'm right, ask yourself this, would you treat them any differently? Not just my trifecta, anybody who has special needs, anybody who can't speak for themselves and put into words what they know, how they feel, what they want, etc... Would you talk about them as if they were in the room or not? Would you talk TO them instead of by them? Would you listen to hear if they had anything in response, in anyway? I've asked myself these questions many times. My little munchkins have given me many many moments to answer myself. I truly love it when I meet someone who understands how to treat my children. Someone who will look my child in the eye and speak directly to them. Someone who is not afraid to ask questions, someone who isn't afraid to touch them, hold them, kiss them. I've met so many of these wonderful people. My little angels recongnize their wonderful spirit and heart right away. I appreciate their kindness and yes, their understanding.
Understand that these children aren't that different. They need the basics we all need, love, shelter, food. They need to be played with, sang to, danced with, snuggled with...all the things every other child wants and needs. They need special things too like therapy and equipment, but those things are physical and I guess I'm talking more about the mental. Understand they want to be recognized and appreciated too. They want to learn and they want to see how excited you get for them.
Understand that these children are not vegetables. They are not useless, they do not simply exist. Please. Don't stare and say rude things behind back's because you think they can't hear. They can. Don't gaze at them with utter pitty and cluck your tongue because they will understand that too. Treat them as you would want to be treated. Drool isn't toxic. Dwarfism isn't contagious.

I am so thankful for all of you who do understand. All of you who have gone out of your way at times to treat my little muchkins with such kindness and understanding. When Easton looks at you with that little twinkle in his eye you will have no doubt that he knows you, sees you, and understands you! When Megan lights up at the sight of you and babbles with you for a while you will know how much she knows. When Raegan looks you right in the eye and laughs because you said your were going to get her there is no mistaking she understood you. I'm spending my life trying to understand them. I couldn't think of a better way to spend it!