this & that

Let’s see….where to begin.  Lots going on in Peyton Grace’s life over the past week!!!  First, her big birthday – she hung out with her Daddy all day and anyone they ran into got their photo taken with her in a birthday party hat!!  They met me for lunch and we had a lovely time!  Her birthday party was on Saturday and lots of people came to wish Peyton a happy birthday and help us celebrate her first year (with Ed’s chili and wings).  She really seemed to enjoy the party and we got some really cute pics….posted below. 

To be honest, celebrating her first birthday was something I almost dreaded.  I was having a hard time with the fact that she wouldn’t be like most 1 year olds…..into everything and crawling or walking and happy and smiling.  Don’t get me wrong, lots of acceptance has gone in our lives this year, but the first birthday is just so representative of progress and development and it absolutely breaks my heart to think about what has been taken from her this year, but you know what????  Her day was a celebration…..a celebration of what she has overcome this year, a celebration of the fact that she isn’t having 100 seizures a day, a celebration that she has not been in the hospital in 9 months, a celebration of the fact that she doesn’t sleep all day anymore, a celebration of the fact that she is ALIVE.  Peyton is by no means a typical 1 year old, but Peyton is her own person and even tho’ her first year has been so unlike our plans, her first year has inspired so many and taught us so much that we couldn’t possibly be sad on her first birthday.  If anything, this was a HUGE milestone for her.  She made it one year, in spite of the thousands of seizures she has had.  She is growing, she is progressing and she is loved. 

I want to tell you about our day yesterday.  Our friends with CDSA (early intervention) invited us to come to a conference they were having about Assistive Technologies.  They wanted us to come and share our experience and talk a little about how much Peyton’s equipment is helping her and our perspective, as parents just beginning on this journey.  It was such an honor to be invited and to get to go and meet so many wonderful people that devote their lives to helping kids and families.  It was a humbling experience and I am by no means a good public speaker, but when it comes to Peyton, the words come much easier.  Peyton got to hang out with some of her favorite people and did so well.  Sometimes, crowds bother her, but she seemed to have a sense about where we were and was so sweet the whole time.  They fed us a wonderful lunch and it was just a great experience for both Ed and I. 

Peyton’s seizures seem to do better than we have a bad day or two, but we can usually pinpoint the cause for the bad flare ups so we continue our battle with the seizure monster.  One day we will beat it!! 

Enjoy all the pics!!!!