Life
with Scott added to our family has been wonderful; a true blessing and
gift. He is now 10 weeks old and weighs twice his birth weight and has
grown several inches. A very happy, healthy, easy-going boy.
My
mom was here for the first 7 weeks to help. I did not figure out
assistance with caring for Scott within that time so my dad extended his
stay for another 6 weeks. I am so grateful for their willingness and
ability to stay for so long to help
My
parents were here not just to see their new grandchild but to help me
with his physical care. I am not physically able to care for a baby on
my own due to my disability until he is able to crawl or walk, with
Kiana it was at 7 months. So, until that time, and while my husband is
at work I need someone in my home with me. The things I can do for
Scott is love him, talk and sing to him, nurse him, try to calm him
until someone else can pick him up if he is crying, and tell others what
I think he needs. But I need assistance in bathing him, clothing him,
changing diapers (although I have changed a few but I have to do it
either on the bed or on the floor), carrying him, putting him on my lap
to nurse, etc. Now that Scott is a little more “solid” and stronger I
am able to pick him up off of my lap after nursing him and burp him.
But since I do not have the balance to carry him I have to stay on the
couch until someone removes him from my lap. When Scott wakes up at
night my husband gets up to change his diaper and then puts him in bed
with me to nurse. After Scott has fallen back to sleep I wake my
husband up again to move Scott to his crib.
My
dad is here for another 2 weeks. Since I do not qualify for in-home
care or services through the State, I recently contacted Hawaii Centers
for Independent Living (HCIL) to inquire how they might be able to help
me. I had a 2 ½ hour intake appointment with a woman here in my home
and I ended that appointment with a feeling of hope. HCIL is a
non-profit organization that advocates for people with disabilities and
believes that we have the right to live independently. They provide
several programs and services. She is going to help me look for someone
to come into my home to help me with Scott and for funding to help pay for the assistant. Again, I am hopeful
and thankful for her help. I wish I had known about HCIL when Kiana
was born.
Infancy is the most challenging for me but I am learning to enjoy and appreciate every moment because they grow up so fast.
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| Scott sitting on my lap and smiling at his sister |
