Monday, May 20, 2013

Toughing it out

The past few months here have been pretty challenging. In fact, at times, life has seemed just plain overwhelming. Work-wise I taught 3 courses this semester (ack!) as well as maintained a full studio practice (and I even wrote an article for a real media outlet!). Brian completed the final and most difficult semester of his MBA program while continuing to work full-time. We tried to jointly manage the caring-for-a-family- full-time gig; and it feels like we have spent days upon days in doctor's and therapist's appointments, evaluations, school meetings and site visits, we've even consulted with a special needs advocate for the first time to try to help us with some challenges we're facing in finding the right educational placement for Simon next year (he needs to switch schools because his current school does not have a special education program past kindergarten. I'll have a full break-down over that one later...)

The kids have had a lot on their plates as well -- Olivia had her first science fair project, wrangled with fractions in GT math, and had more essays and tests and projects than she has ever had before. Simon has had his seventh birthday (omg!), 2 EEGs, countless appointments, and an unfortunate increase in seizures leading to lots of med changes (and some super heavy duty side effects -- weight loss, weight gain, hair loss, emotional instability, overwhelming tiredness and lethargy... you name it....) due to an overall worsening of his underlying epilepsy. After being away for six months, Tigger has even had some challenges adjusting to learning to work in our home with Simon in new and different ways.

Suffice it it say that by the time we made it to this weekend, we were feeling pretty done. Strung out. Overcooked. Stick a fork in it. Burnt toast.

And then this stuff happened...

My students rocked their final presentations and reminded me why I love being in the classroom with them.
Brian graduated with honors (and style!) and we were doubly blessed to celebrate his amazing accomplishment with many of the friends and family that have supported us along the way,
Olivia's hard work has been hugely paying off this year -- she won the T-shirt design contest for her school's fundraising walk (see awesome design above!), she won third place in the science fair, she won honorable mention in the Memorial Day "My American Hero" essay contest (by writing about a service dog trainer!) AND she found another four leaf clover (her 3rd this spring) just yesterday. She says she thinks her clovers mean that something amazing is going to happen to her -- I think it already has!
And Simon keeps showing us all what real strength is. Despite being on a ton of meds (including high dose valium), being hemiplegic, AND enduring near-constant seizures, he couldn't wait to get on the track and run with the kids for Olivia's school's fundraiser yesterday. Laughing and smiling and leading Tigger with him the entire time.
And finally, this happened -- Simon got too tired to run, and so his sister pushed him. For 10 joyful, laughing, FASTER! FASTER! laps around the track with her friends. 

And so today it occurs to me -- things get tough, and they might even get tougher. That's how life rolls sometimes. But, we rolled with it, and not only have we "toughed it out," we conquered it. Working, studying, teaching, learning, advocating, walking, running, and finally pushing on through to the finish line, because that is how we roll.


5 comments:

  1. My son recently started having grand Mal seizures at 16 years old. We were prescribed Kepler. We decided NOT to take the medicine and go with a Modified Atkins Diet that entails feeding our son 15 carbs a day with lots of healthy fat. He eats a lot of grass fed beef, free range eggs, organic low crab veggies and is doing fantastic! We could tell a difference in him by the 3rd day. This is not alternative or junk science. Dr. Lewis hill at Johns Hopkins has been championing this diet for years and has been really successful. Doctors are really resistant to this therapy but it works!. Read "Grain Brain" for why it works. He also takes taurine which helped stop the night time teeth grinding, jerking, and unrest in his sleep (also known to stop seizures). And he takes cur cumin as a brain protestant that raises seizures.one day came across Albert post thanking Dr Lewis hill for curing his son seizure problem, and i got the contact of Dr Lewis hill i quickly contacted him then he made me to know that the medication is 100% permanent cure, and that was how i got the medicine which i used for my son, after which i took my son for medical test It worked! Over a year now, my son have not show any symptoms of seizure and I believe my son is cure if you need his help email him on drlewishill247@gmail.com or call him on +1(323)244-4884

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  2. I am Sophie from Canada, I once suffered from a terrible and Chronic epilepsy ,since i was bone , the doctor told me there was no permanent cure i was given medications to slow down its progress, i constantly felt my health was deteriorating as i constantly go out of breath,and this illness was really terrible especially when am going out with my friends, i have this constant disorder for about 31 years, this was really a terrible illness ,on thin one day that i was going through the internet,and i came across a post of Mrs Kate on how his son was been cured from epilepsy through the help of Dr Williams herbal product, I contacted this herbal doctor via his email and explain everything to him and make purchase of his product,few days later he sent me the herbal medicine through courier service, when i received the herbal medicine i used it for 4 weeks as prescribed and i was totally cured of epilepsy within those week of usage,on thin now i have not experience any sign of seizure.if you need his help you can Contact this herbal doctor via his email drwilliams098675@gmail.com for help

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  3. WOW ALL THANKS TO DR WILLIAMS I HAVE NEVER BELIEVE IN HERBAL REMEDIES.
    my son have been a patient of epilepsy . I had tried a lot of anti viral med prescribed to me by doctors over how many years now but I could not see any improvements in my son symptoms. One day when going through the internet , i got to know about this great Herbal Dr who uses his herbal remedies in curing people from epilepsy,quickly i contacted him and he prepared a herbal medication for my son which i received and he used it as instructed by dr williams. After few weeks the improvement were very visible. the sleepiness and the abnormal behavior stooped ,on thing now he is so full of life. I would recommend this to all my friends,families,around the globe suffering from epilepsy.you can contact him through his email on drwilliams098675@gmail.com.for advice and for his product THANKS TO YOU ONCE AGAIN DR WILLIAMS

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  4. I am Shelley from Los Angeles,California, I want to testify on how i got cured from seizure, I have suffered from seizure since the year 2011 with so mush anxiety ,that i have to spend so mush money getting pain relief in the hospital, and I have visited several doctor ,but all to no avail, my world was gradually coming to an end because of the fainting and muscle spasms , until i saw a post in a health forum about a herbal Dr Williams who use herbal portion in curing people from different kind of diseases including seizure, at first i doubted if it we be able to cure my Generalised tonic-clonic seizure , but i decided to give it a try, when i contacted this herbal doctor via his email, he prepared a herbal portion and sent it to me via courier service, when i received this herbal medicine, he gave me step by step instructions on how to apply it, when i applied it as instructed, i was completely free from seizure just for 1 months of usage,i we recommend this to all my friend family in the world today who still suffering from seizure you can contact him through his email on drwilliams098675@gmail.com for help.

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  5. CURE TO EPILEPSY WITHOUT ANY SIDE EFFECT: My son was diagnosed with epilepsy. My son epilepsy was something i don't understand he cry so bad that he was usually in bed for about 8 hours and soreness killers (even prescription strength) don't stop the crying (except taking him out) even if he take triple the dosage. my son symptoms was really so bad,that we have to make hospital our home, and all the doctors would do is monitor it, prescribe him countless of control pills and pain medication with no positive result. until recently I contacted a Doctor who put an end to this problem. If you are having same problem with epilepsy son contact Dr. William for advice and possible solution without any side effect (drwilliams098675@gmail.com

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