What a smile can do for you

When we found out we were going to have a second baby I was excited to have a new little person in my life.  What I didn't know is that I would have one little person and at least 20 other new persons as well.  Let me see if I can list them:
Pediatrician
Geneticist team
Neurologist
Neuro surgeon
ENT
Pulmonologist
Urologist
Nephrologist
Surgeons
Dieticians
Social workers
Case workers
Aerodigestive specialists
Developmental specialists
Orthopedist
Audiologists
Opthamologist
Plastic surgeons
Speech therapist
Occupational therapist
Physical therapist
Respiratory therapist
In home nurses
Not to mention the dozens of Dr's that oversaw Parker's care or ran tests on him while he was in both St. Elizabeth & Children's Hospitals.
Hmmmm....I'm sure I forgot someone ?

This new life for us is quite an adjustment.  I do think God had been preparing me for this though.  I always enjoyed working with people with special needs and thought it was my calling to be employed somewhere that I could make a difference in people's lives.  My initial major in college was special education (but learned quickly that the school system was too political for me) and I worked for agencies where I got to care for people with disabilities.   It's funny really to think that I used to provide in-home care to people with special needs and one of the boys I worked with had a trach.  Now my child who has a trach is receiving in-home care.  I must say having complete strangers come into my home and care for my child so I can sleep is extremely difficult for me.  I know that I'm not superwoman and I do in fact need sleep.  Without it I realize I would be useless to Parker but also would compromise my relationships with Alexa, Paul, and everyone else I know.  So....we have night nurses.  And, most likely will continue to have night nurses for some time.  And I'm sure I will learn to love them.  It is just going to take time.

Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in all this craziness and wonder what the reason is behind all of this.  But then my little boy gives me a smile like this... 

and it truly makes me put all of that aside and remember how blessed I am to have such a sweet little baby in my life.  He really does make my heart melt and I love him so much!