Hey Erin,

We are moving to Lake Jackson in August. Just thought I would touch base with you and maybe we could get together sometime when we move. Hope all is well with your family. Kim Damron

Merry Christmas Erin! Hope you guys are doing well!! Kimberly Zuntag

Hi Erin. What a beautiful family! I'm not sure how I ended up on your page -- I think I clicked on the backpack question. I'm sure by now you got your backpack on wheels and hopefully it was a Land's End one. My Kevin is 10 and going into 4th grade this year. Last year we got him one on wheels and it was a good decision as in the third grade they start having more stuff to take home. In the younger grades they don't seem to like them in schools; not sure why. But if you feel that Nicholas needs it just talk to the school and I'm sure it will be fine. It made a big difference for Kevin and turns out in his school all the kids tend to have the rolling ones. So he fit in with it just fine.
I live in Northern New Jersey and am part of the NJ FACES group. We have a great group of parents here and we try to get together for meetings and social gatherings every other month. We have lived with DMD for the past 5 years and are thankful that we found PPMD 4 years ago. It's good to have eachother to lean on.

I've been home with my son since he was born; before that I was in the corporate world in Corporate Communications. That is too busy a world to go back into. I had Kevin at 44 and he just turned 10. I have been thinking of doing something from home or PT and I was curious about Thirty-One. I looked on their website and the merchandise looks really nice and trendy. If you are open to it, I would love to discuss Thirty-One with you as I think it would be something I would like to try. We have tons of Pampered Chef and Tupperware hostesses here in NJ but from the Thirty-One map looks like there are only 7 consultants in NJ. Much more down south by you. It might be a good opportunity for me here in NJ. My e-mail is pattifrank54@optonline.net and my home ph is 201-261-3141. Perhaps you could drop me a line and maybe we could arrange a time to talk. I would appreciate it very much. We are in the process of buying a one-level ranch with a full basement as we now live in a split-level home (the home my husband grew up in!) and it is just not working anymore. We have a lot of renovations to do to the new home to make it accessible and I would like to make contribute to the income in our family. Take care Erin and hope to hear from you soon.

Patti Frank

we have 5 kids so I live for the moment everyday. When Wyatt's taking a nap and I'm cleaning or whatever, I feel so guilty that I'm having a quiet moment. Guilt is a terrible thing. He needs the nap, so why the guilt. I feel like I'm missing him being "just a kid" while he's taking a nap. Because a few short years down the line, I would kill for the 16 month old Wyatt back. The Wyatt without a care in the world, the Wyatt who doesn't know he's sick! Thanks for listening.

Melissa

Bummer - Sue wasn't there. Maybe she went to wrong place, oopps...haven't heard from her. Glad Dr. visits went well. talk w/ you after our much needed vaca!!!

We are glad that we found this site too. When our older son was diagnosed with Asperger's we felt like our friends drifted away. They just couldn't relate to us. Now with Wyatt's diagnoses, we feel the same way. Obviously not our good friends, but people that we thought were friends. However, nobody, especially our parents really "get it" They aren't looking down the road, to Wyatt's future. Not meaning to, they say insensitive things. Example, we live in a 2 story with a basement. Clearly that's not the ideal situation for a DMD kid. So we've discussed moving. Both our sets of parents thinks that's crazy. They don't look past today. Wyatt's 18 pounds, I'll carry him upstairs, but what about when he's 80 pounds, what do I do then.
What about when he's 14, does he want me giving him a shower, no way. I want him to be as independant as possible. They have said, well I hope you don't expect us to move (their houses can't accomadate Wyatt either). Well of course we don't expect them to move, but we won't be able to bring Wyatt to visit them. They are set in their ways about holiday tradition, etc, well unfortunately, they may have to make some changes. Hopefully, they are willing to do that, The are counting on a miracle. I'm praying for a miracle too, however, I have to do what's best for him, NOT them. That's the hardest part, they love him, but they are in denial. I sometimes slip into denial just so I don't have to think about his future. But I need to face it too, so I can make his life as happy and as fullfilling as possible.

I love this site, because perfect strangers understand me more than my own family. That's hard for me to understand. I've met some fabulous people on this site who know more about me than people I've known for 20 years. Thanks to the internet, or I would be ALONE. Have an amazing day.

Melissa

getting ready for the beach... busy time but wanted to see how Cincinnati went? Did my sis in law make the Faces gathering? Hope you were able to meet her.

talk w/ you soon.

Hi, Erin. Sorry I wasn't able to meet you at the FACES gathering! Holly had a bad cough last week, and she developed a fever on Thursday morning. Turns out she had developed pneumonia!! We caught it really early, but hearing that word scared me!! Needless to say, we stayed at home this weekend. Seems every time an event comes up that I'm really looking forward to, one of my kiddos gets sick! How was your Cinci visit?

Hi Erin, Yes, would love to meet you on Wednesday night on July 9th. Offer is open still if you want to stay with us. There is enough room and independence for a new family to come. You have my phone number and here is my address: 6576 Carriage Hill Ln, Madeira OH. If you come from the Hospital, take I-71 N, take Exit 11, take a right onto Kenwood Rd and the a left on Dawson Rd. Carriage Hill is a small subdivision on the right. Our house is the last house in the cul-de-sac. Take care,

Leslie