100 Days

Look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.  Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before.  ~Jacob A. Riis 

Today is Brody's 100th day of school.  His kindergarten class dressed up like they were 100 years old.  He's a cute little old man!

It was hard to get him to smile because he said old people do not smile.

 

 

This morning Brody said I was the best mommy in the world.  I asked him why.  He said, "Because you make me look good."  Wow, I love this kid! 

Sitting here and looking at his picture, I think about how far he has come.  The beginning of the school year was very challenging for him, but he has gotten better every month.  It's true he still has a ways to go.  He gets in trouble, but his precious heart feels bad for the wrong choices he made.  The important thing to me is he tries.   He tries his best some days, and it falls short of what the world would consider a good day.   Several times he has told me of another kid calling him "bad" or he was on the "naughty list."  It hurts him when something like this is said.  I tell him how some of his decisions were not good ones today, but tomorrow is a new day with the opportunity to make the right decisions. 

It is the perseverance of trying our best everyday that defines our character.  If we keep putting effort forward, evidently the effort will be seen.  It's like the rock quote above...100 hits and nothing, but on the 101th try the labor is seen.  Keep on trying to be the best you can be today no matter if anyone else can see your hard work.  That hundred-and-first blow is coming!  It's coming soon!!  It's coming if we decide to live a life of perseverance!!!


I'm Cackling Carpe Diem on this 100th day and looking forward to what's ahead on the 101th day or maybe the 102nd day!

Perseverance

Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it.  I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down.  ~Charles F. Kettering

This has been one of those difficult weeks.  Poor Brody was challenged greatly, and I'm very proud of him for pushing through some hard doctors' appointments and sickness.  If you're new to Brody stories, keep in mind he has a sensory disorder and problems with anxiety. 


Monday was Brody's first time at the dentist.  This is a big deal for a child who does not like his head touched.  The staff at the dentist office was AMAZING!  They made the experience for him a good one.  It was very thoughtful how they explain everything to him, let him touch equipment, and prepared him for what was happening next.  I'm very thankful for how they went over and beyond for Brody.  He really enjoyed going....what an awesome surprise!  Please pray he will continue to like the dentist on Monday when he has his first filling.  I'm not sure if he will be able to do it, but we're going to try.  We have to try.

Also at the dentist, I noticed Brody had a slight cough.  I figured it was because of his mouth being open from the cleaning.  I was wrong.  As the day progressed, the cough kept getting worse.  I made a doctor's appointment because my "mama gut" said to.  Doctor said, "He has pneumonia."   He just had that a month and half ago.   Brody was so pitiful by that night.  One of the hardest parts about being a mom is not being able to magically make your child better.  I prayed.  I prayed, and God showed up BIG TIME.  I saw improvements by the next morning.  It was difficult keep him from running around for a couple of days.  Brody is a man on the go!

Since he has had several lung problems over the past several months, the doctor refer us to a pulmonary doctor.  Doctor's appointment #3 was on Thursday.  The pulmonary doctor really felt the lung problems were a result from allergies.   This makes sense because Brody has been on allergy medicine since he was 10 months old.  The Brice Family has kept Claritin's stock up for the past five years.  We have not done a skin test to find out what he was allergic to because of his sensory disorder.  The doctor stressed the importance of it so I gave the "ok" to do it.  I held Brody's arms and shoulders down, one nurse held his legs, and the other nurse quickly as possible stuck him with all the little needles.   He cried, but he did not have a panic attack.  Praise the Lord!

This was not easy or fun.  It was however a blessing in disguise because apparently Brody is allergic to many things.  Poor kid had some severe reactions.  

If you're curious, B-man is allergic to:
every type of grass- Bermuda, Kentucky, Fescue, Rye, Johnson, Orchard, and the list goes on.
every type of mold- Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cephalosporium, and the list goes on.
a couple of trees- Ash and Elm
a couple of weeds- Cocklebur and Pigweed
Food was not severe but he did flare some with Strawberry, Pecan, and Soybean


This grass business is a big bummer for the kid who loves to be outside.

Brody fishing with his Pops

Brody liked wearing his Nanny's boots so the ants could not bit him.

Since Brody is getting sick regularly, he is going to have to start getting allergy shots.  He will receive shots twice a week the first six weeks then we will go once a week.  I hate he will have to gets shots, but I hate him having pneumonia more.  


What did I learn this week?  Perseverance will pay off if you keep pushing forward.  If you would have told me two years ago that Brody would have gone to the dentist and had an allergy skin test done in the same week, I'm not sure I would have believed it.  Through God's hand being on Brody, our family's hard work, therapies, medication, and an amazing preschool we are seeing Brody make progress every month.  He is being successful because of perseverance.  I cannot count the days he and I have both shed tears.  And yes, some of those tears were this week!  We have not and will not give up on giving him every opportunity for him to be as successful as possible in life.  It may have been a hard week, but it was also a week of seeing results.  Sometimes it takes a little stress to have gratitude.   


Little encouragement for my bloggy friends
Don't give up!  Whether it's learning something new at your job, pottery training your child, teaching your child to read, dealing with your teenager's crazy behavior, learning to take care of a sick person, transitioning an adopted child into your family, trying to get along with your spouse, or whatever is really challenging you, please don't quit.  Stick with it, and it will get better.  I know some days feel like it's just too hard, but you have to believe that tomorrow is always a new day.  And should tomorrow be hard too, well there's always the next day.  ;-)