The Blessing of Patience

I have never been a really patient person. It's something that's worsened as I have gotten older; the desire for results and immediacy often marring my attitude and view. And then Emerson came along and then challenges between T and me that forced me to slow down and embrace patience. I have had to redefine success and focus on the day at hand not the ones that may come my way. Or may not. It has felt slow--painfully slow--at times. And yet, I know I am on this journey to learn and this is one of the lessons I am to take with me.

So, after much time caring for Emerson and his dysphagia, after training myself that a plateau can be a good thing (it's better than regressing, remember), after reminding myself to walk the careful balance between hope and realistic expectations, we had movement today. Movement to the plus side of the page. Movement that will expand Emerson's diet into a greater realm of normalcy and one that tonight, let him drink from a straw.

Happy Easter!

Easter

Drops of color swirl and glide across our gloved hands
and slowly stain the delicate shells of still-warm eggs.

Two of them tumble to the table and crack;
Your little hands still learning the weight
of delicate and fragile and gentle.

The light comes through the glass and showcases
the beauty of these miniature works of art
you helped me create.

You can't even see the fractures.

____________________________________________________________

It was a great Easter weekend. Beautiful weather, stunning flora and a reasonably cooperative toddler.



Saturday was pretty cool, too. Click to see if you agree.

Weekend Highlights and Lowlights

* Emerson got a private swim lesson on Saturday due to the mere fact that his three other classmates failed to show up. He was in heaven having Coach Adriana all to himself. His placement in heaven resulted in some spot-on swimming too, and he emerged from the pool wielding his second ribbon - awarded simply for being Awesome.

* A trip to the bookstore, a favorite place of mine, and a well-behaved toddler to boot! Until, that is, we ran into one of his daycare buddies and the two began running and reeking havoc. A quick check out and McDonald's lunch diversion put a stop to, "But I want to wait for David, Mommy!"

* We went to dinner at one of my favorite places for comfort food and for the first time - EVER - I ordered my chicken grilled and not as breaded tenders or as a steak (read: chicken fried steak). This is huge and may need a descripter more important than highlight.

*Picked up everything needed for Emerson's Easter basket, sans the candy and the basket.

*Emerson cried from 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. complaining of an ear infection. It was the saddest thing to hear him pleading to go to the doctor and asking for medicine. Rough night for our bleary eyed little guy. Meds kicking in and some self portrait fun livened him up and we were all asleep by 2 a.m. See below...