sometimes life gets REAL

This week was kind of a big week at our house.  A lot of the normal things happened, but we had a special visit on Thursday.  Noelle, from Kids on the Move, came to visit Luke and me.

At Luke's two year wellness check-up, Dr. Johnson and I talked about milestones for every two year old.  When it came to the speech milestone- Luke wasn't even close.  A two year old should be speaking around 25 words with 4 to 5 two word sentences.  Luke maybe says 5 words total and signs another 10.  Without any hesitation, Dr. Johnson referred us to Kids on the Move.

I'll be honest it wasn't the easiest day as she watched an analyzed Luke for two hours and coming to the conclusion that he has a "severe expressive development delay".  But in the same breath feeling this overwhelming peace in knowing that they are here to help and that we ALL have the same goal.  That all other aspects of his development are right on target.  And that this was going to be a positive experience for Luke and us.

But on Thursday, I just kept hearing the word "severe".  I also felt this heavy heavy burden on starting therapy.  How will Luke respond to the therapy? Do I have enough patience to really give Luke the best experience possible as it is mostly parent therapy (the therapist comes and guides me on how to get Luke to talk)?  Are people going to judge my child (some already have) as he doesn't speak as many words as the "other" kids?  And can I just brush those ignorant comments off my shoulder?

I think those things because on October 21, 2009 at 9:41 in the evening, I gained this love for someone I didn't know existed.  This love has the highest hopes and dreams for a little boy that came straight from heaven.  This love would make me jump in front of a train without thinking if it meant something greater for my child.  This love makes me long to give him every opportunity in this life to succeed and find happiness.  This love that makes me never want him to experience pain or sorrow, but knowing that is the exact reason we came here.

This love is something Darren and I both share together as Luke's parents.

However, as I finished getting off my pity party stool and realized the opportunity that is ahead of us, I got excited!

BECAUSE:

Kids on the Move has had rave reviews by everyone I've talked to.
All therapy is done in the home.  They always come to us.
Luke loved all the activities Noelle did with him on Thursday, and all therapy is play based.
We now have access to a library and developmental toys that only kids in the program have access to.
This journey is only going to make us better parents and family.
Our support system is out of the world.  So many people want our small little family to succeed.
This journey has made me realize the true power of the Spirit.  I think about the journey we've been on with just Luke to figure out everything with his health and now development.
Darren and I really do make a great team and that TOGETHER we are going to be the best co-therapists for Luke. And that our relationship and love for each other will grow deeper as we go through this journey together.

I know that we are going to get through this trial in our lives just fine.  I know that other parents out there have far greater burdens they are dealing with.  However, that doesn't make ours small or light.  I know that through hard work, love, tears, and laughter we will get to where we need to be.

So here we go on our journey to get our little Luke to "express" himself!