January

It’s been awhile since the last update. Everyone is back to being healthy. The nebulizer is packed away, as is the saline solution for nasal irrigation. Zane appreciates their disappearance, I am sure.

Home health services are well under way for Zane, which provide respite care for the family, as well. The CNA who cares for Zane is great with him. She devotes all of the time she is here to his care and therapies, so I know her presence will be beneficial to him. She will come for a full day this weekend, allowing us to take Justin skiing for the first time together. In the past, we have had to take him separately while one of us stays home to care for Zane. Fortunately, we received over a foot of snow recently with more to come this week.

Zane has also transitioned well from early intervention to San Juan BOCES—the organization that works with the school system to implement IDEA and provide Zane with the therapies he needs. All of his new therapists are terrific. Plus, he still privately receives an additional day of physical therapy from his early intervention therapist. Zane will start preschool next school year (August). We have been told to expect great advances once he is around kids who can model behaviors for him. Justin is helpful in that regard, but having a whole room full of kids will be even better.

Thanks for checking in on our little guy.

Happy New Year!

The end of 2009 was a very sick one for our family. All four of us wound up with a nasty respiratory infection through Christmas. While Justin and I have recovered for the most part, Jeff and Zane are still fighting off the wicked bug. For Zane, this has meant four nebulizer treatments a day of both Pulmicort and Albuterol, along with a nasal irrigation of saline solution throughout the day.

The end of 2009 also marked another disappointment with respite care. Jeff and I had planned to spend time alone with Justin on the slopes of Durango Mountain Resort. An hour before we had intended to leave, the respite worker canceled. I have given up on outsiders providing us with the respite that we so desperately need. My parents came to celebrate the Christmas holiday with us. My dad—who has taken care of Zane before—agreed to watch him while we took Justin to Wolf Creek. That is when we fell ill. Fortuntely, Jeff’s parents are coming next weekend to watch both boys. Jeff and I plan to ski at Telluride while they are here. We will take Justin out skiing later this month even if it means taking Zane along to the slopes. I am through training respite workers and relying on them for assistance. It is too stressful to continue along the path I have been on with them since August of 2009.

We hope that 2010 brings peace and happiness to everyone. We plan to start off the new year on a positive and healthy note (that is, once all of us are back to being healthy).

Happy Birthday, Zane!

Tuesday, December 22nd is Zane's third birthday!!! Happy birthday to the most beautiful three-year-old I know, to the little boy who has inspired me more than any adult ever has. We're so happy to have you in our lives, Zane. Thank you for being born.

Love,
Your Mom