Transitions

 Peyton will be THREE this month!!! What????!!!  Shut the front door!!!  How is this possible?  In some ways, the past three years have gone by at a snail’s pace and in other ways, it all seems like a fast blur. 

Since the beginning of this journey with Peyton, there have been some constants in our lives.  God, family, friends and the CDSA (Children’s Developmental Services Agency)  I want to talk about the CDSA.  They came into our lives almost immediately after Peyton’s first hospital stay.  They called me one day and asked about coming out to do an evaluation on Peyton should she need services at some point.  I said sure (thinking the whole time we would probably NOT need their services) Turns out, we DID need their services and turns out, they changed Peyton’s life and our lives forever.  We were on unsteady ground with Peyton and the challenges she was facing, physically and cognitively.  We were terrified.  We were sad.  We were so unsure of ourselves.  Our team with the CDSA came in and helped calm our fears, boost our confidence as Peyton’s parents and helped us realize that life wasn’t over just because we had a child with severe developmental delays.  Not only have they worked tirelessly with us to get Peyton all the equipment, therapies and resources available to her, but they have become our friends and allies along the way.  They get it – usually they know what we need before we do!  They don’t do what they do for the money or the recognition.  They do it because they have a passion to help children and families coping with sometimes unthinkable issues.  Peyton’s life is better because of them.  Our lives are better because of them.  I don’t think I can express in words what they mean to us….Jane, Casey, Gabrielle, Marsha, Donna, Pam, Kathryn and many others we have encountered over the past three years.  I believe these ladies change the world with what they do.  I know they have changed ours and as Peyton transitions to the school system for her therapies and pre-school education, we are sad to say good-bye to the CDSA.  They are part of our family and a part of our hearts.  They will probably never know how they saved us from ourselves back in the beginning when we were so scared and terrified of what the future held.  Today’s blog is dedicated to them and their kindness, generosity, love and unselfish giving of themselves.  They are a bright and shining light and we are so blessed to have had the opportunity to meet them and share our beautiful Peyton Grace with them.