A Special Message From Joshua...

Happy, happy, happy Birthday, Jodi! Joshua is sending smiles and giggles all the way to North Carolina!! He even made a special video for you!
Happy Birthday Aunt Jodi! from Jamie Nodine on Vimeo.

He also tried to eat your sign, but what can you expect from a 7 month old?! :)
Happy Birthday Aunt Jodi - The Blooper Reel from Jamie Nodine on Vimeo.

We love you and wish we could be with you to celebrate! We're with you in spirit. :)

A Bunch of Random Updates...

Ok...lots has been happening in Joshua's life so it's time to update you all. :) First and foremost, we saw the pediatric opthamologist this week and he said that Joshua's eyes look perfect! For this, we are so thankful.

Josh recently got to visit with a new friend. Some of Ben's best friends had a baby boy in August and this was our first opportunity to go meet him. Little Shaun is such a sweet little boy. He is just precious. And as I'm holding this little tiny baby, I realized...this is why people have more than one baby! There I am, rocking little Shaun, and I got all teary remembering how little Joshua used to be. And I wanted that back. Then I smacked myself on the forehead and remembered that I haven't slept more than a few hours at a time for almost 8 months and decided that for the time being, it's just best to visit little babies. :)
The weekend that we went to meet Shaun, Aunt Jodi also came for a visit. Yay!! (Dear Jodi, I'm sorry that I'm posting a picture of you in your cupcake jammies on the internet, but the picture is just too cute! Joshua loves you!) Notice how straight Joshua is sitting?! That's something we've been working on in therapy. .It's coming along quite nicely I think!

We've also had some down time at home. Joshua and Ben enjoy watching Thomas the Tank Engine on Saturday mornings. And I enjoy watching them. :)

I just had to post these pictures as well. When Auntie Gina came to visit in October, she brought along a present from soon to be Uncle David. This adorable sweater! It was too big on Josh then, but I tried it on him the other day and it fit perfectly!
(oh my gosh, I LOVE the back!)

Joshua got his hand splint yesterday. We've decided to splint his right hand (only 20 minutes a day) in an attempt to prevent him from keeping it fisted ALL THE TIME. It's a custom splint, made just for him. :) So we tried it out during therapy yesterday, and he did so well! He was able to hold a toy in his right hand for a really long time and he even used his left hand to play with the rattle! I was unbelievably impressed. Therapy was full of surprises yesterday! Joshua has an aversion to putting anything in his mouth and we're trying to remedy that with the z-vibe. He's recently allowed me to put it on his tongue, on the sides of his mouth and on the roof of his mouth for a brief second. Yesterday, Joshua decided that it was about time to chew on his z-vibe!

Finally, here are a few videos of Joshua's other recent accomplishments.

First, Josh recently started playing his little bongo drums, and boy was it exciting! We've tried to find toys with BIG buttons so that he has more success when playing with toys. This bongo drum is perfect for him. It also collapses so that when he starts to crawl, we can roll it and he can chase it. Genius! By the way, if you have sound, you may want to turn it down a little bit. I get crazy excited when Joshua accomplishes something and I'm sure you don't want to hear me cheering him on. :)

Joshua playing the bongos from Jamie Nodine on Vimeo.

Second, Joshua has figured out how to wave! I don't think think he has any idea what it actually means, but he's doing it! Whether it's mimicking me or whether he knows what it means, who cares! Something else to note...he's using his RIGHT HAND to wave!
Joshua waves 'hi'! from Jamie Nodine on Vimeo.

Oh, he's so smart! Must get that from his mama. :)

Songs for Joshua - Week 3

Joshua LOVES his daddy. They have special time together in the morning while Ben is eating breakfast. He sits Josh on his lap and Joshua watches everything that goes into Ben's mouth. He watches the spoon dip into the cereal bowl, watches it go up to daddy's mouth, watches daddy chew. And the whole time, Joshua salivates & sucks on his tounge. He watches daddy's coffee mug go up, watches daddy drink & then he wants to touch the mug when daddy puts it back down. It's adorable. Joshua also has a special call for Ben. When he wants his daddy, Josh will fix Ben with a stare and "call" until Ben comes over and picks him up.

So the reason I love this week's song so much is because I can see this coming to life in a few years. :)

"Watching You" - Rodney Atkins

Driving through town just my boy and me
With a happy meal in his booster seat
Knowing that he couldn't have the toy
Till his nuggets were gone
A green traffic light turned straight to red
I hit my brakes and mumbled under my breath
His fries went a flying and his orange drink covered his lap
Well then my four year old said a four letter word
That started with "s" and I was concerned
So I said son now now where did you learn to talk like that

He said I've been watching you dad, ain't that cool
I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are
We got cowboy boots and camo pants
Yeah we're just alike, hey ain't we dad
I wanna do everything you do
So I've been watching you

We got back home and I went to the barn
I bowed my head and I prayed real hard
Said Lord please help me help my stupid self
Then this side of bedtime later that night
Turning on my son's Scooby Doo nightlight
He crawled out of bed and he got down on his knees
He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands
And spoke to God like he was talking to a friend
And I said son now where'd you learn to pray like that

He said I've been watching you dad, ain't that cool
I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are
We like fixing things and holding mama's hand
Yeah we're just alike, hey ain't we dad
I wanna do everything you do
So I've been watching you

With tears in my eyes I wrapped him in a hug
Said my little bear is growing up
He said but when I'm big I'll still know what to do

Cause I've been watching you dad, ain't that cool
I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are
Then I'll be as strong as superman
We'll be just alike, hey won't we dad
When I can do everything you do
Cause I've been watching you

Ta Da!

Just wanted to show you what I saw as I drove by our house today...

We're just waiting for a few little details to get taken care of and then we'll have a closing date. Oh, and when I asked about taking possession before closing so we could get some painting done and get new carpet laid in Joshua's bedroom, our realtor said it shouldn't be a problem. He said, "It could probably happen this weekend if you want!" Yippee!! I don't know if we're ready for it to happen this weekend, but I'm pretty sure it's going to happen soon. We'll keep you updated!

And because I know the hardcore Joshua fans (read: Auntie Jodi) are going to send me nasty emails if I don't put a picture of Josh up...here you go.

TWO teeth!

Nope, not trying to catch flies, this is how Joshua tells you he wants to kiss you. I just got done getting about 50 wet, slobbery, wonderful kisses from him. Mmm, mmm good! He's apparently very excited about the house as well. :)

Songs for Joshua - Week 2

Songs are such an emotional thing for me. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've had to sit in my car to finish crying & touch up my makeup after I hear a song on the radio that touches me. This week's song is one that really got me going this week. Every time I heard it, there were buckets of tears because I could really identify with it...even though it's about a daddy & a little girl.

Joshua has been having trouble sleeping. At first, it was just at night. Now, it's naptime as well. And when he's overtired and crying and I'm at the end of my rope, I remember that it's not going to be like this forever. He's growing so fast and sometimes I feel like I'm missing it. Like it's going too fast for me to really remember & enjoy each moment. So I have to remind myself to enjoy every moment. The moments when he's happy and laughing and the moments when he's crying and miserable. Because it won't be like this for long.

(If it doesn't load, click the pop-out player button and it'll open in a new window)

"It Won't Be Like This For Long" - Darius Rucker

He didn't have to wake up
He'd been up all night
Laying there in bed listening
To his new born baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says
It gonna be OK

It wont be like this for long
One day soon we'll look back laughing
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby, just hold on
It won't be like this for long

Four years later bout four thirty
She's crawling in their bed
And when he drops her off at preschool
She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says what can I do
She says, now don't you worry
This will only last a week or two

It won't be like this for long
One day soon you'll drop her off
And she won't even know your gone
This phase is gonna fly by
If you can just hold on
It won't be like this for long

Someday soon she'll be a teenager
And at times he'll think she hates him
Then he'll walk her down the aisle
And he'll raise her veil
But right now she up and crying
And the truth is that he don't mind
As he kisses her good night
And she says her prayers

He lays down there beside her
Till her eyes are finally closed
And just watching her it breaks his heart
Cause he already knows


It won't be like this for long
One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
Yeah this phase is gonna fly by
So he's trying to hold on
Cause won't be like this for long
It won't be like this for long

Thoughtful Thursday Songs for Joshua

There's a thing many people are choosing to do on their blogs called Wordless Wednesday. They post a picture with no words or no explaination. I thought about doing it, but come on...do you really think I could post something with no words?! That's like asking me to talk without using my hands. Simply impossible. So I've chosen to do something different. I was going to call it 'Thoughtful Thursday', but I just couldn't get past the cheesiness of it. So I'm refusing to use alliteration and just going with what it is.

I have a playlist of songs that I play for Joshua when he's fussy or tired or needs a change of pace. He LOVES music and he still sings along when I sing to him. So I've decided to share my playlist with you. I'm going to post one a week, along with the lyrics and some of my thoughts. Ok, I'll come clean. I'm not sharing the songs with you because I think you really care about what songs I sing to Joshua. This website has been a useful tool in sharing all that is happening with Josh, but it has become more than that for me. It's Joshua's virtual baby book. His real baby book has been packed and I've yet to see it surface. So every entry serves as a reminder for me of things I want to write down and put in his baby book. Someday. Hopefully. :) I want to remember these songs and what they mean to me right now and it just so happens that you get to participate in my attempt at remembering. So here goes...

"Every Moment" - Joy Williams

This song isn't so much for Joshua as it is for me. It's a reminder to cherish and remember every moment of every day with Joshua because all too soon day becomes night and another day is gone.

(If the playlist doesn't open, click the pop-out button and it'll open in a new window.)

We laughed out loud ‘til we cried
And the tears were sweet
Midnight melted to morning
A moment faded to memory
All these days
They just slip away through our fingers
So…

Don’t let go
Hold onto every moment
Always know
Hold onto every moment that
You can

We move on with no regrets to our destiny
Held by the hands of the Father
We share His love and He leads us through
All these days
They just slip away through our fingers
So…

Don’t let go
Hold onto every moment
Always know
Hold onto every moment that
You can

Running through yesterday into tomorrow
Don’t let it just drift away
Forget about tying the hands of time
Give every minute to the One who gave us today

Don’t let go
Hold onto every moment
Always know
Hold onto every moment that
You can

What A Difference!

I'm constantly surprised when I look back at pictures of Josh at how much he's grown & changed. The difference a few months makes is really incredible! Just look at these pictures -

Daddy & Joshua (3 months old)


Daddy & Joshua (7 months old)


The other big change in Joshua is the emergence of his SECOND TOOTH! Both bottom teeth are now through. It makes nights so much more fun now that his teeth hurt & he can't sleep through the pain. Oh so much more fun. :) He's also seemed to have a little language explosion. He regularly sounds like a little pirate motorboat "aahhhhggggrrrbbbbb". When I ask him to say mama, he either laughs or says "aaaaaa". Hey, "aaaaaa" is halfway there! :)

Welcome to Holland.

I just found this essay online and wanted to share it with you.

Welcome To Holland by Emily Perl Kingsley

"I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It’s just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things...about Holland."

How perfect is that?! You know, I've been to Italy. And it is beautiful, breathtaking and wonderful. I'd love to visit again someday, if you get my drift....but for now, I'm really happy being in Holland. :)

Happy Halloween!

Last week, we had an appointment with a developmental pediatrician. It was a good meeting and we really liked the doctors Joshua saw. They'll continue to follow him, along with his regular pediatrician, for as long as he needs them. We knew from research and from what other doctors have told us that Joshua would likely have some sort of permanent disability, and hearing the doctors give a concrete diagnosis was both a relief and really hard. The doctor told us that after Joshua is a year old he will most likely be diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. They don't diagnose until after a year because of the incredible amount of growth and changes in the muscles in the first year. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy, accounting for nearly 80 percent of all cerebral palsy cases. Children with this type of cerebral palsy have one or more tight muscle groups which limit movement. In Josh's case, all four limb/muscle groups are involved, hence the 'quadriplegic' classification. Children with spastic cerebral palsy have stiff and jerky movements and they often have a hard time moving from one position to another. They may also have a hard time holding and letting go of objects.

A good friend asked me how the diagnosis affected me, how I was dealing with it. My answer was that I have good days and bad days. Truthfully, the thing that I have the hardest time with is not the diagnosis or knowing that my son will have a physical disability. The thing I have the hardest time dealing with is my fear for Joshua. I'm afraid that he will be made fun of and be called names. I'm afraid he won't be able to run around the yard or ride a bike or go rock climbing with his dad. I'm afraid he won't find a woman who will look past his disability and fall in love with him. I'm afraid that he will only see his disability and lose sight of how wonderful and perfect and valuable he is.

But regardless of my fears for him, I will never stop believing in Joshua and all that he is going to accomplish as he grows up and walks through this world. I believe with all my heart that he will serve as an incredible witness in his lifetime and that God will be glorified through his actions. Both Ben and I will support him in everything he does and tries and we will help him accomplish all of his goals any way we can. And it could be so, so much worse. He could have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Cerebral palsy won't kill him, it will only slow him down a little bit.

Ok. I'm going to end on a high note. Joshua has teeth! Well, he has a tooth but the second one isn't far behind. :) See?

It was one year ago today we found out that we were having a little boy. I remember so clearly the shock and awe and excitement that came with that ultrasound. Now, every day is filled with awe and excitement (and sometimes shock too! A diaper after a meal of sweet potatoes is a sight to behold!) as we watch Joshua grow. Just look at the difference a year makes!!

October 31, 2007: October 31, 2008: Hahaha! I bought this costume last October when it was on super-de-duper clearance. I just knew our baby was going to be cute enough to pull it off! Happy Halloween everyone! :)

ps...

Josh had a doctor's appointment on Friday. He got a flu shot (didn't even flinch!) and we found out that he is 16 lbs, 10 oz and 26 inches long. His head is still 3rd percentile.

Oh...and he's cutting his two bottom teeth. Cutting as in you can feel them! My little boy has teeth!