Sometimes I Forget

Sometimes I forget our world probably isn't the normal to most families. Do most families know all the details of an event to prepare their child? Do all families do a picture schedule of the days with their kids? Do all families do a sensory diet multiple times a day to help them feel normal inside? Do all families pay a lot of money for extra therapies for their child? I sometimes forget that isn't the normal. For almost six years that is all we have known and will continue to know. Once our second son was born (not a Fragile X Carrier) I finally understood what it meant to NOT have to do those things. What I thought wasn't normal was actually normal. It took me a while to understand that Liam was able to do things that Landon would have never done if he wouldn't have been in extra therapies, been prepared by us, etc.

For me, having a child with special needs is normal and having a child without special needs is normal. We once did a video testimony about our journey through parenthood. I stated that having a child with special needs made me grow in so many ways that are uncomfortable for most people. I will admit, it was uncomfortable for me at first too. I didn't like talking about Landon's needs, I didn't like admitting he was special needs at first, and I didn't want anyone to see that he was different. Until that one day a good friend of mine sent this little story to me.

Welcome To Holland


I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It’s just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

My Weeks in Photos

To say that I have been a blog slacker would be a correct statement. Time gets away from me and before I know it I haven't updated! I will show you what we have been doing around here.

I went and watched my friend Abi coach her Basketball game. She did a wonderful job!

Liam and his BFF walking one day after lunch.

Toddler fit. Enough said.

Liam and Addison playing so sweet together.

I guess he likes the older girls. :-)

Breakfast at Gailey's with staff wives.

Landon started swim lessons. Loves it and did amazing.

Me and Shallina at Haruno.

Kick it up

After weeks of aching ankles after aerobics class, I finally got a new pair of kicks. It's amazing how fast your tennis shoes wear out. I decided to go with the same brand that works for my feet. You can't go wrong with bright orange Saucony tennis shoes. People will know I am coming, right? Nate was a little surprised I picked that color, but I was tired of boring.

I have also been enjoying more of this. (see picture below) We add this to our smoothies in the morning. I have tried a few smoothie recipes out there but we finally have perfected a good one. I am full until lunch. I used to get hungry around 10:30 a.m. but the smoothie holds me over until lunch. Here it is.

1/2 cup plain or vanilla organic yogart.

1/2-3/4 cup spinach leaves. (more if I am making it)

1 banana

1 cup frozen berries

a dollup of honey

a big spoonful of protein powder

1 tbsp chia seeds (sometimes)

This morning we woke up to this. (see picture below) The high today is 26! Brrr! It's cold!

Books, Babies, and Budgets.

A couple of days ago I skipped the gym and headed to the library with the Copeland girls. We have a great library here called The Library Center. It has a coffee shop, a gift store, a big children's section, etc. The kids had fun pulling out the books and looking at them. It's something fun to do in the winter months. Later that day, we played outside. What's wrong with that picture? I love it!

Mya, Anabelle, and Liam

Last weekend I attended a baby shower for my friend Erika. Erika used to work for Nate and her husband was one of our former students. They recently lived in Australia where Brian attended Hillsong. He is now a worship pastor in Kansas City. This is their first baby and it is a boy. They are naming him Axel. It was fun to celebrate with them and see all the fun things she got!

The Mom-to-be

Jessie, Erika, me, and LeighAnna

I recently made a few changes to our annual Bock family budget. These are never fun but so necessary. We follow the plan of Dave Ramsey and try to stick to cash as much as we can. It seems like a "game" in my head, but it works for us. When using his budget worksheets you see where every single dollar goes. It's amazing. We did have to raise our grocery budget as we have two growing boys that can eat! WOW!

Is it really 2012?

What are your New Years resolutions? If you are like me, you didn't make any. I always found it pointless to start making lists of resolutions. If you are going to start something, start it today! Don't wait. It has been funny to see all the Facebook status's about people starting a new exercise program, eating healthy, etc. It's a complete lifestyle change you have to mentally make. I hope everyone can keep the resolutions in February. Going to the gym on Tuesday was funny. The parking lot was packed and people had to park across the street. Again, that crowd will probably die down in February/March.

I started an exercise routine about 14 months ago. I have always been "active" in my lifestyle but would get bored very easily. I have finally found something that I don't get bored with. I attend a step circuit/toning class on MWF and a Hi/Lo Aerobics class on T/TH. I enjoy the way I feel afterwards. It's a great calorie burn that leaves you burning an average of 500 calories. I have toned and lost inches since I have started. I am on a mission to cut some unnecessary eating out of my day. I have been telling my husband that I have been working out to eat lately! That's not good. The mentality of my exercising has drastically changed over the years. I no longer workout to look good, but to simply take care of my heart, blood pressure, and weight gain. I want to be the best Mom, wife, etc. I can. All of that takes energy and good health.

Christmas Break 2011

Well, another one is in the books my friends. Are we really in 2012? Sometimes I still think we are partying like it is 1999.

Our family of four enjoyed waking up on Christmas morning at our house this year. Santa dropped by and dropped off a few things for some two behaved little boys. Santa left a note saying that he had heard Landon and Liam's Mom wanted a very simple Christmas and to drop off only a few things and save the rest for those in need. :-)

On Christmas night we got the boys in their pajamas and loaded the car up to head to St. Louis for a couple of days. Gigi and Papa had told the boys that Santa also made a stop at their house. Leaving at bedtime is perfect for us. The boys immediately fell asleep and we had a very peaceful 3 1/2 hour drive. It was perfect. We enjoyed time with my parents, grandparents, and close friends. We always feel like we have to fit so much in during a short amount of time. Grr.

We then headed to a little town called Newark, MO. Have you heard of it? It is very small. Nate's brother and sister-in-law live there. They have three kids. Landon and Liam had a lot of fun with their cousins. These are Landon and Liam's only cousins so they are pretty special to all of us.

As much as it is fun to see family and have a different routine, I am always ready to get back to my own bed and own routine. I thrive off of routine. Needless to say, Tuesday can't come soon enough.

Happy 2012!

Santa dropped by.

Landon's new bookcase.

Liam's new bookcase.

My BFF Bonnie and her twins. Annie and Owen.

Gigi and Liam

Cousins!