I Am Thankful

Today is the day that Americans set aside to remember their many blessings.  We honor this day and share it with family.  I am thankful everyday, but today I will list a few reasons why.

I am thankful that Haley is healthy.  Over the years Haley has only been sick a handful of times.  She doesn't have any major medical issues.  I was scared when she was born.  She didn't gain weight in her first week of life and we had to feed her with a syringe every two hours.  At that time I thought we were in for a lifetime of medical issues.  She has issues, but she is healthy and I am thankful.

I am thankful that Haley can talk.  There was a time when we didn't think she would ever be able to.  She could say words but they were few and far between.  The words she used were mainly nouns.  I would pray that some day I would be able to have a conversation with her, I just wanted to know what she was thinking. It has happened gradually and she is by no means speaking like other thirteen year olds, but she can talk to us and we do generally know what she means.  Take the conversation that I posted yesterday.  She can be repetitive and annoying at times, but I know what she is thinking and I know what she wants and I am thankful.

I am thankful that Haley and her sister have a great relationship.  Can you imagine what it must be like to be the Big Sis to a child like Haley.  I know it's not easy.  Haley's sister has grown up to be a very compassionate and thoughtful young lady.  I remember the comments that my friends would make watching them together.  She always tries to help Haley when she needs help, she teaches her things, she teases her like a big sister does, they have inside jokes between them, they wrestle, they share music, they crack each other up and they love each other.  They occasionally fight like sisters do, not very often, but when it happens it makes me smile because it means she thinks of Haley as her sister and not a breakable object.  Haley has a wonderful sister and I am thankful.

I am thankful Haley has good taste.  OK, I had a hard time with a single sentence on that one, but this is what I mean.  Haley likes movies and music that I like.  She doesn't have any patience with shows that I also find to be annoying.  For example:  We never had to watch Barney.  Haley didn't like those stupid animated dinosaur movies that they made incessantly.  Haley chooses to watch movies that I like.  She watches certain movies over and over and surprisingly I don't get tired of them.  She listens to music on her iPod and on YouTube that doesn't drive me crazy.  When I listen to my music she sings along, she doesn't whine for me to change it and I am thankful.

I am thankful for everyone who reads this blog.  A number of you that are reading this know Haley and love her and want to know more about her and I am very thankful for you.  Some of you know me and are very supportive of me being Haley's mom and I am very thankful for you.  There are some of you that read this blog because you have a child like Haley and I hope it helps to read about Haley's trials and triumphs.  I didn't know anyone else that was going through the same things I was when Haley was little, I would have loved to find people that would write about their experiences.  I hope that I can be of help to you, but barring that I hope I can at least give you something to smile about and if I do I am thankful.

Several people have asked me if they can share this blog with people that they know.  Please feel free to share it with anyone that you think would benefit from my insight.

I hope the things that I write help you to know that although it can sometimes be hard or frustrating that raising a special needs child can be fun!