May is Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month

Smoky Mountains- a Bear, a Bat and Benaiah

We stopped at the Bush Beans Factory and learned about baked beans and a dog named Duke.

 After going to Dandridge to see Davy Crockett's marriage license we came back and relaxed in the hot tub.  We thought Benaiah liked it............

 as you can see......

He didn't like it and demanded to get out.

 a But he smiled for the camera

 and clapped

and looked for Bears.

Benaiah spent time in the cabin watching cartoons with Silas.

 Benaiah toured an old farm with Grandma and Grandpa.

                                              

In the farmhouse was a bat.

   

Running to keep up with his brothers.  We have had a good time and Benaiah has enjoyed himself.

 We did get to see a Bear.  Today we went on a 3.2 round trip hike and Benaiah hiked 98 percent of it himself.

Wordless Wednesday

Yesterday was a trial during church.  I am looking for ideas on how to get Benaiah to sit still and be quiet.  The things that worked with my other 5 are not working with him.  If you have any ideas please tell me.  I am at my wits end.  On another front, we are getting ready to leave for a week in the Smokies with my parents, brother and his wife.  I promise to take more pictures.  Benaiah now has his pediatric stroke survivor shirt.  Just in time for Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month which is May.

Seizure and speech

Benaiah thought 140 days was long enough to be seizure free....so on the night of the 140th day he decided to have a seizure.  It was his typical kind but it scared him. That seizure began the circus of trying to get a dr to see him.  In Ukraine, Mike W wants to see him when he has a seizure and we usually do an eeg then also.  Here in the States, we are waiting to see a Neuro and have been waiting since January.  Because the Neuro  hasn't seen him he couldn't do anything for us. His office told me to get him into is pcp.  His pcp refused to see him and said bring him in when he has another seizure. This is totally unacceptable and the Neuro also agreed with it.  Thursday was a very frustrating day. Friday turned into a blessing in that the school has accepted Benaiah into the summer school program for speech 2 times a week during summer school and then in July one time a week.  I was thrilled as he really does need speech and not a 3 month break from it.

The long awaited pictures from the Nature Center.

I am so happy I got to learn about ducks this month.  I even learned to quack like one.

Using a duck call

Me and my best friend Chloe.

Blessing

140 days seizure free.  I didn't think we would get to this stage.  Thank you Lord.

Xrays and Ducks

Benaiah had his legs xrayed yesterday.  They had a hard time getting the shots right.  I don't know why.  Then we went to the park with some friends for a picnic dinner. Benaiah loves slides so he was in his glory.  I didn't get pictures cause I couldn't figure out the camera. Benaiah was able to be in a program at the nature center and he did so much better on participating this time.  On the drive from Linn to Jeff City, I was able to teach him duck and quack so by the time the program started about ducks, he was quacking.  I was so proud of him. I will post pictures later.

Speech update

Benaiah has speech 2 times a week thru the school system.  Miss Tina told me today that he is doing really good in his group setting.  He has adjusted wonderfully. He still speaks in his own language but she tells him the right words when he talks in Benaiahese.  I asked her when I picked him if they are working on Hi as he says Hi to everyone now.  Yep, one of the things they are working on.

An Idea

A good friend of mine suggested I start a blog about Benaiah.  Benaiah is 3 and struggles/deals with the after effects of having had a stroke at or before birth.  Many things have happened in his almost 4 years.  I hope that this will be blessing to others who have walked the same walk that we are walking.