It has been a while since we've shared and to be honest, the challenges seem to outshine the blessings of late. Of course this doesn't preclude one from a biased focus on the blessings and it's that perspective that we are perhaps most thankful for.
Far and away our top story is my father's stroke back on the weekend of February 11th. This event has been a significant tremor for our family as opposed to an earthquake and in more ways than we can count the impact of the stroke has been mild. The net impacts of his stroke are - as we know them today - loss of peripheral field of view in his right eye and mild, intermittent memory and cognitive dysfunction. He spent three days in ICU at Duke and was discharged with explicit instructions to chill out. Additionally his blood pressure is requiring constant monitoring and controlling it with meds is a very active endeavor. I know this event has truly given mom and dad pause and it's not a stretch to imply that some good has come of this. Dad needed to shift into a lower gear metaphorically. That shift has happened and it is now the responsibility of those around him to make sure he adapts to this new normal and doesn't push beyond what is appropriate. The fact of the matter is this: We love him dearly and without him there would be no us and the good fortunes of love we've amassed to date. We want him around for years to come and if that means expanding our responsibility in our mom's and dad's life then we are honored and ready to do so.
David continues to shine like a quasar and is already developing an subtle attorney's bent on making his point. Case in point:
David: "How fast can a human body go?"
Dad: "I would guess perhaps 580 miles an hour until stuff started to fly off like ears and fingers."
(David walks away and I think the conversation has concluded. A few minutes later...)
David: "How fast is the speed of sound?" (he knows the answer, but it will become obvious why he asks in a moment)
Dad: "I think it's about 600 MPH; lemme look it up..." "The speed of sound at sea level is some 768MPH it turns out!"
David: "You know that guy that jumped out of the balloon from 80,000 feet? They said he went a little faster than the speed of sound."
It dawned on me that what he had just done was found a way to tell his father that in fact the human body can handle speeds well in excess of my paltry 580MPH fathoming. He never said I was wrong. He never even let on that the cross examination was in process. There was no confrontation. Apparently the limits of what a six year old can teach are deeper than I previously understood. One day I'll have a stroke and when my sons speaks, I'll listen. In the end he threw me a bone...
David: "But he had protective clothing on."
Camden is doing well and continues to be mentored and educated by our extended family down at Frankie Lemmon in Raleigh. His conversations are becoming gradually more engaging and his directions and requests are certainly more direct. We are so blessed by this little gift from God who seems to know nothing but unconditional love he is on a mission to share.
That last paragraph is what I'm supposed to type. It's puts a smile on everyone's face and allows everyone to walk away sans confrontation of the realities of having a special needs child. The truly difficult part of this journey - that we've only just started - is watching the gap between Camden and typical children Camden's age grow wider. We don't dwell on this and we don't torture ourselves with the notion of what might have been - often. For all the heartache that is a one in 800 occurrence we have our son Camden and extra chromosome notwithstanding the purity of his love can be felt when he slowly rubs my arm at night as I read him a story; the target of his hugs - with ever increasing strength - always find their mark. God blessed us with perfect imperfection; a steep hill at times. But he also endowed us the love and determination to instill in Camden the fortitude to build out his world; one whose foundation is unconditional love and persistence in effort. It's Camden's world and we're at peace with the fact that we just live in it :)
Today is a beautiful day. Cloudy and 75 - 80 for a high. I am overwhelmed at work and not at work. Living can wait. Life demands a bike ride forthwith. For one day - today - I take control and make no apologies. I've no doubt work and not at work will be there when I'm done.
This is Life. We are thankful.
