Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Embrace the Shake

Before you continue on reading please watch this video. It's 10 minutes long but if you don't watch it then the rest of this post will make no sense to you. I promise it's worth your time! Even if you don't read the blog, the video is awesome.


So a few weeks ago in the small group my husband and I are a part of, our leader showed us this video. The whole time I couldn't help but think about my little man and all that he is about to go through in life. I have been asked or heard people say that he is going to have a hard time with this or with that. That he probably wont be able to do this every day activity or whatever it may be. Well ya know what... You're wrong! My son will be able to do anything, want to know why, because we will teach him to "Embrace the Shake." 

After our small group leader showed the video he asked what our limitations were and what are some  ways we could get past them to do what we wanted to do. I spoke up and said that it wasn't limitations for me but for my son. That people say he's going to have a hard time in life and sometimes I can't help but to think that and then I change my mind and think he will be able to do anything. But I think that while he is growing up and learning, he may have some limitations that he will have to overcome. We then discussed how the way that my husband and I raise our child will help with what is a "limitation" for Jude and what isn't. Our attitudes will help him overcome these so called limitations and help him push past whatever it is he thinks he can't do. 

We then continued talking with others in the group about their limitations and how they can move past; but since this video, I can't stop thinking about how me and my husband will need to teach our child to "embrace the shake" and what are ways that we can do that without pushing our child into anything. Phil Hansen says in the video "We have to be limited before we can be limitless." By far my favorite quote from the video and so powerful. To think that before we can even think about pushing past our limitations, we have to have limits! We cannot be limitless until we have limits that we break through. So awesome. Man.... Give me all the limitations in the world so I can beat them and become limitless! 

Another quote from him was that we need to "look at limitations as a source for creativity." I will tell Jude this quote as he grows up because there will be times where he will need to embrace this and try a different way to accomplish his task. I'm sure that there will be times when he won't be able to do something that the others kids are doing; unless he thinks creatively which is where his limitations come into play. I know that my boy will be healthy and strong as he continues to grow and mature and with that I know that he will be able to do anything he sets his mind to. 

This video opened my eyes and gave me a whole new perspective on ABS and how to deal with it with my son. It also gave me a fresh look at when people stare or ask me what happened to him. I know as a mom I'm sure I will reach my limit of being asked this as he grows up but if I can push past that and answer with love and with knowledge, then I am breaking through my limitations and embracing our life and wonderful son. 

Hopefully this video can get you to think on maybe what you're limitations are and how you can push past them. Whether it's physical, emotional or something else, I hope that you can push past your limits and become limitless. 


On a different note I would like to add that we had his 6 month check up (yes, I said 6 months!) and he is healthy and happy as can be! He is a little porker weighing in at 13.6 pounds and is 24 inches long!! Will post a picture soon :) 

Have a Blessed day! 

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Bring on the tears!

So everyday is a journey when it comes to being the mom of an adorable little baby! We always get stopped in stores or restaurants by people telling us how adorable our little baby is and how big his eyes are. I say this not to brag about my son (although, I do think he is the cutest baby in the whole world!), you notice where peoples eyes go when they see Jude. They start with his face and say something about his eyes and then they move on down and you can see them look at his hands and feet. At that point their eyes go right back up to his face to continue talking. Once you notice that you can see their eyes glance at his hands while talking to you. I can't help but wonder what people think when they see his precious little fingers. As the mom I never know if I should say something or not, like should I bring it up and make them feel awkward, like I caught them looking? Or do I just let it go unless they say something? Most of the time I just let it go, not that I don't want to spread the word about ABS but that I just don't have time to explain every detail to a complete stranger that I will probably never see again.

I feel like that sounds bad! I don't mean it in a mean way, I'm just busy! 

Anyway, there is this video that I saw online the other day that brought me to tears. It was an amazing video! It was posted by a mom whose son is missing his hand and it's all about her questions and how they were answered. Over the span of 10 years she documents certain milestones and now that the boy is 10, she created a video of 10 questions she had and how her precious child answered them for her! Here is the link, I HIGHLY recommend watching this, especially if you're a mom but even if you're not, it will give you a glimpse into some of the questions we go through as parents. 


Now on to my lucky fin! He is going to be 6 months this month and I am just in shock! Where has the time gone?? I keep telling him that he is not allowed to grow up but he doesn't seem to be listening to me very well... :) He is using his hands like there's not a problem in the world for him. He will grab toys, food, clothes, anything he can find to put in his mouth (teething!). It's surprising but at the same time, not, at how well he is doing. I guess I have been told not to get my hopes up, that he will eventually do everything like a normal kid but it may take longer and yet he is proving all those people wrong!

He also started to roll at times but his biggest thing is crawling!....on his back. Weird. I know. But try and picture this; he is on his back and he pushes up almost into a backbend but on his head and then scoots like a little worm! It is the funniest thing to watch but also ridiculous because he is getting quick! My husband was watching his one day while I was out and while he was in the kitchen making food he looked into the living room to check on Jude and he was gone! Jude had scooted all the way around our living room to behind the couch. Like I said, fast little booger!

Along with the crawling we have started giving him some solid foods... Cutest thing ever! His facial expressions are some of the best when he is eating food. His first food was a banana which he loved and then we later gave him an avocado and his face was priceless. I wish we could have gotten it on camera, darn! Anyway, here is a clip of his first banana! Enjoy (:




Have a Blessed Day!