Maximizing Our Potential

Bill and I were discussing this Wednesday night.  Several things were on our minds and we started talking about how each individual person could best maximize their potential whether it be at work, at school or just simply at life in general.  We mostly agreed, as we often do, that a great many people do not live up to or work up to their full potentials.  Present company (meaning ME) included.  I know I have so much to offer, but I like to skid by on the path of least resistance, especially lately. 

One of the reasons we were pondering this is that Bill's co-worker's child was born in January with Spina Bifida.  She is in need of surgery and was in the hospital for a while after her birth and then re-admitted when she contracted RSV shortly after coming home.  We are hopeful and prayerful for this little one.  We want her to be healthy and be able to achieve her maximum potential, but are worried that neither will be the case.  Said co-worker (we'll call him A) is, to put it as gently as I can, a lazy bastard who thinks only of gorging himself and playing video games on his Playstation. 

Two days after coming home from the hospital, the sick little one was taken out to a company function in order for her parents to get a free buffet-style meal.  Both parents are morbidly obese and their 3 year old weighs about 65 lbs.  (For comparison, my 4 year old weighs about 33 lbs, a little on the skinny side, but still on the charts.)  A lives on the path of least resistance, only bothering to get off the electric steps when it involves loads of food, especially if it's free.  He and his wife were featured in the Enquirer a while back for being feeders. 

What brought us to this discussion was Amelia's impending first visit with the Early Intervention Specialist.  Amelia has torticollis  and at first we were very concerned at what this would mean for her future.  I had a difficult pregnancy and Amelia came five weeks early.  She stayed in the NICU for 17 days and while there, we were told she has Osteopenia of Prematurity and she initially tested positive for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.  She was later cleared of the CAH, but her alkaline phosphatase levels continued to be elevated, assuring a diagnosis of OOP.  When the pediatrician noticed Amelia's head cocked to one side and the fact that she was 3.5 months old and couldn't hold her head up, we were referred to the EI program through the state.  We thought, "Haven't we been through enough?"

But we were lucky, and A's baby was just one example of how lucky we were that Amelia was well and alive.  Amelia will no doubt reach her fullest potential and be able to maximize that potential as infinitely as she wishes.  With caring, attentive parents and a loving and healthy environment, we know our baby will grow and thrive.  Her torticollis is mild and the exercises and play therapy we have been doing with her have already improved her ability to hold up her head straight and for longer and longer periods of time.  Her first EI visit was rather unremarkable because the therapist couldn't really find anything to add to what we were already doing.  We figure Amelia will only need the twice monthly visits for six months or so.

We worry for A's baby.  Her parents seem annoyed by her condition and put-out that they will have to stay at the hospital for 16 hours while she has surgery.  They take her out in public during the height of an RSV outbreak.  A has scheduled an MRI for HIMSELF because he now has torticollis, but he couldn't be bothered to go to his daughter's last MRI.  (Bill told his co-workers about Millie's tort.  Can you say hypochondriac?)  A has even said he feels the surgery for his daughter is "minor."

Will she live up to her full potential?  Will she then be able to maximize that potential or is she doomed to slip- slide along that easiest path? 

Another reason we were discussing maximization of potential was this blog.   I cannot even begin to tell you how inspiring this woman's journey is.  Just read it.  And have some tissues handy.  I want to maximize like this woman has and does.  I want to meander off that path and know that I'll be okay because moms like Kelle are out there tearing down the walls and the brambles and forging a way. 

I want to go scoop up A's baby and run with her.  I want to give her the same potential that my child and Kelle's child have.  I want her to know that someone out here really cares for her and hopes that one day she can look around and be proud that she had to travel the path less taken and she's all the better for it.  I want her to feel unconditionally and uncontrollably loved and cared for.  I want all kids to know what my Millie feels...okay to be who she is, but not quite satisfied with the mundane!!!       

Park Day!!!!

Finally, the weather is cooperating and we are soaking it up!  Here's a picture fiesta of our day at the park.

Getting ready to go (check out Millie's new longies...Yup, made them myself :)

Swinging! 

This kid loves swinging!

Can you say IMP?

Playing in the sand.

This is one beautiful kid!

French fry face (no, I am not one of those moms that makes a picnic)!

Love this face (she was pooping hehehe)!

Natalie building sand mountains.

My precious girl.

Hope you enjoyed the pics!  Now I'm too tired to blog.  Too bad because I had a nice rant worked up and now I can't even remember what I was angry about!

Fun Is How You Make It

The littles and I decided to have an indoor fun day last week.  I decided to capture the moments on the digital camera and share them here.  Our poor digi is about 7 years old, so it doesn't take the best pictures.  What gives it life and makes it happen is that these two little ones are the most beautiful things on this Earth and even a really cheap, disposable would take breath taking pictures of them!

It started with a little breakfast...

KEYS?!?!?!?!  ALL I GET TO EAT IS KEYS???

(no solids for you, yet!)

Natalie enjoying 'pampakes'!

Then we had a bubble bath!  Bathing together with one was fun and easy but two is a bit of a challenge.  It usually takes us about an hour and then Natalie still plays after we are finished.  I swear, that kid could live in the water as long as it's about 75 degrees!

Clean baby ears!  Amelia has loads of hair around the edges but is a little baldy on the top, just like daddy!

My little mermaid! 

I wish there weren't creepy, stalker types online and I could show you the rest of the pic.  We usually keep a plastic cup in the tub area to rinse the kids.  Natalie put both feet in it and said, "Look Mommy, I'm a mermaid.  See me swishing my tail."  It was hilarious and you could see the realism on her face.  She was a mermaid and she was swishing that tail so much that a small amount of water got on the floor but let's not tell Daddy!

Next, we got dressed in our finest (note:  Mommy's finest still includes maternity clothes so NO COMMENTS ON MY LACK OF FINERY :)

LOVE the bow.  The drool, well that just comes along with the beautiful packaging!

Tell me, who DOESN'T wear their crown to a picnic on the living room floor?

Mommy put on some FOOTLOOSE and got the party started!

Dancing queen!

Taking a bow!

It was food time and Natalie was the chef.  She's 4 but let me tell you, she knows a thing or 12 about what she wants and nutrition.  She made sure we had our fruit and veggies!

Yum!!!

As we were winding down, I took a few goofy pics and then we found 'the hat.'  This was Natalie's fav hat as a baby/toddler, so I did up some pics with Millie in the hat.

And just for a little comparison, the pic on the top is Millie at 5 1/2 mos.  The one on the bottom is Natalie at 5 1/2 months.  These two are definitely from the same stock!