April 2010 Update!

Two years and nine months old!

It was a roller coaster of a month. We are happy and healthy, but it seems like every person in our family has been in the hospital. April was a scary month filled with a lot of praying and a lot of tears. After complications with open heart surgery my beloved Uncle Greg passed away. His service was beautiful. My Aunt Lori even had all the siblings release doves at the cemetery. I added some photos of him and some of the flowers people sent to the image gallery for this month.

Rowan has been busy with therapy every week. He has a BT (behavior), OT (occupational) and ST (speech.) So three times a week a professional comes to the house and helps us work on things. I do see a difference. He holds eye contact and is talking more and doing more. Its great to have my little man more present with me. I am not even worried about Autism anymore. He still has yet another evaluation for that, but I really could careless what their findings say. I mean I am all for finding out which route to aid in teaching and guiding him. I just don't care at all about this label and what it means. It is weird because I have found that a lot of parents really want this label. When did having an Autistic kid become the "in" thing?

One cute thing Rowan did was while watching a movie with Gina and Sloane. He was sitting in my lap and wiggled his way free. He said to me "I'll be back." Shocked and curious I said "You''ll be back?" Rowan replied with "yeah" and walked into the other room. It was amazing to hear him speak so much!

So here we come May! I am feeling good and we are healthy and I am praying that everyone in our family stays that way as well.

View photos of Rowan from April!

Videos of Rowan from April!

The tragic story of Baby Brianna

I know it will anger some that I even share this horrific story. However; I do not believe in coincidences and this month happens to be dedicated to Child Abuse Awareness. Since I learned of this story in February not a day has gone by that I do not think of it. It really has impacted my life. I feel it is an important story, but it is a tragic story beyond belief. It is the story of Baby Brianna Lopez. It was just by chance that I even saw this. I seek to avoid even hearing stories of this nature. Baby Brianna was born premature to this world and the five months that she inhabited this earth she was tortured. She was beaten, raped and basically used as a rag doll by her mother, father and uncle. Even the grandmother of this poor baby did nothing to help her. From the photographs there is no doubt that one look at this baby and her story would be told. I can't imagine seeing this and doing nothing. Let alone it being my own flesh and blood and standing by while she is horribly abused. After seeing the news cast and then researching the story I was unable to sleep for three days. Why did I research it? I couldn't believe it was true. I figured it had to be some sort of hoax. Some sick joke put together by some bored person to scare people. Sadly this story is no hoax. Sadly the things done to this girl are real. I am well aware of child abuse, but to this extent it just never really settled into my mind. Terrible things happen everyday and when the really bad ones hit, it is all over the news. This happened six years ago. I have never heard of it. I can only imagine how many other cases like this exist. It breaks my heart and I am trying to find a way to help. The first step for me I guess would be sharing this story. Know that as you learn about this story know that the people guilty of this are not serving life sentences. Know that these people will be out walking the streets again. I hope this story does incite you a little. I hope it puts a fire under you to change things within your own life and to lend a helping hand to changing laws. I hope this story brings people together to protect those who need it most.



After finding out about this story I wasn't really sure what to do. I wrote the most powerful person I know of in hopes of her help. Yes I am talking about Oprah! I am certain people have written her about this story and hopefully my letter added to the pile will get more attention put on the subject of child abuse. Oprah herself admits to being abused so I know it is a subject she cares a great deal about.

Recently for Lent I incorporated this story and in a very personal and loving way dedicated the forty days to my son. The story of Brianna Lopez has really changed my life. It took things I knew were happening and brought them to my attention. Let me know that it is not so far from home and that I need to do everything I can to first make sure my son is protected and loved and second dedicate my time and efforts to making children less fortunate know that they can be protected and they are loved.

I know this story is a difficult one. I was waiting until the end of Lent to finally decide if I should share it. After the way I feel it has changed and benefited my family life I was almost certain that I should share it. Still I didn't want to upset anyone. Then come to find out that April is Child Abuse Awareness month I felt that was the last piece I needed to share this story.