My 30 Days of Thanks

My Daily Facebook posts during the month of November:

Day 1: It's November, the month of thanks. Today I'm thankful for a successful Halloween yesterday! Hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday. 

Day 2:  Spent the morning on a college visit with Miracle Boy. Reminded me how much I loved college. So today I'm thankful for all the opportunities he has coming up. What an exciting time for him.

Day 3: Today I'm thankful for our health insurance. Although it dosen't cover everything, actually not a lot of Bambam's therapies, I am still thankful for what it does cover.

Day 4:  Awesome day. Today I'm thankful for a 75 degree sunny day in November!

Day 5:  Today I am thankful for no phone call from the school. Some days it's the little things.

Day 6:  Today, like many others, I'm thankful for the right to vote. I sent in my ballot 2 weeks ago, even more thankful for our state's mail in ballots. 

Day 7:   Today I am so very thankful that this election is over. Enough said.

Day 8:   Today I'm thankful that Bambam slept until 6:30! Time change is always hard.

Day 9:  Today I'm thankful that I don't work on Fridays. Which really means I have 5 hours in which to make all my phone calls, schedule apts, pay bills, clean the house, do laundry, etc. But that's OK, cuz I can do it with the stereo on and no one pestering me! Have a great Friday everyone.

Day 10:  Today I'm thankful for the fun house! And snow, and college football, and homemade chili in a bread bowl. Life is good.

Day 11:  Today, like many others, I am thankful for our veterans who serve our country to protect our freedoms.  I'm also thankful for a safe drive home from the fun house and for the portable DVD player.

Day 12:  Today I'm thankful for my boss. When I told him that I was going to miss work yet again today his response was "Don't worry about it. You need to take care of Bambam first." He is a wonderful person who embodies patience and understanding and is very accommodating. When I stumbled into this job a couple of years ago, it was a blessing. This is clearly where I am supposed to be and I'm very grateful.  

Day 13: Today I'm thankful for Bambam's swim teacher. He is a college student who teaches swimming on the side. And he is awesome. He's patient and understanding and most importantly fun. He keeps Bambam engaged and motivated and honestly gets more out of him than I thought possible. My kid will learn to swim, despite all his special needs!

Our world is full of amazing people if we just open our eyes and look. Everyday heroes who go the extra mile to make someone else's life just a little easier or better. I'm very thankful that Bambam is surrounded by such people.  

Day 14:  Today I'm thankful for Miracle Boy. He is a great big brother. When Bambam had a bad morning on Monday, Miracle Boy stayed with him so I could go to work for a couple of hours. His words, "Don't worry mom, I can handle it. He'll be fine." And he was.

Day 15: I couldn't possibly go through the month of thanks without again saying how thankful I am for our Elementary School, and Mr. D, and Mrs. M, and Mrs. E, and Mrs. H, and Miss C, and Mr. P, and all the other teachers, specialists, and aides who give 120% everyday to help Bambam learn and grow. I know I sound like a broken record, but it truly does take a village. 

Day 16: Today I'm thankful for my personal chef, Mr. Fixit. Even though Bambam and I get home hours before he does, he still makes dinner every night. And it is rarely anything less than fantastic. He is an amazing cook.

Day 17: Today I'm thankful for my parents. They are fantastic grandparents. I don't think my children and I would have survived without them. And although they sometimes drive me nuts, I know that no one else loves my kids as much as they do.

Day 18: I'm thankful for a warm house and yummy food on the table. We often forget how many people in this world don't have these basic necessities. I'm thankful that we do not have to worry about where we will sleep and what we will eat. We are truly blessed.

Day 19: Today I am thankful for a very fun evening out with my girlfriends. Thank you ladies, it was a much needed break.

Day 20: Today I'm thankful for the treadmill in my basement. I'm a fair weather runner and would never run in the winter time without it.

Day 21: Today I'm thankful for a 4 day holiday weekend! Be safe in your travels and have a fantastic Thanksgiving.

Day 22: As I look around my Thanksgiving table today, I am overcome with all the blessings I see:
Bambam who is honestly the sweetest, happiest child I have ever known. For his smile that not only lights up his face but his whole body. He quite simply glows. You can't help but smile back. Even strangers in the store respond to his glowing smile and happy disposition.
Miracle Boy who is so full of opportunity, potential and promise. My "typical kid" who has given me the opportunity to experience "normal parenting", whatever that is. This young man who at 17 still likes to have date night with his mom. I am so very greatful for him.
The Quiet One who is, well, quiet. I'm not sure our household could have accommodated another noisy, high energy child. The Quiet One has merged into the household with ease. The changes I've seen in him over the past year and a half are truly a blessing. He is growing in countless ways. Watching him emerge as a young man is amazing.
And of course Mr. Fixit. I am so grateful for him. He provides for us very comfortably, he fixes anything that breaks, he makes dinner every night... The list goes on and on. I'm thankful for my "tag team" partner. As anyone with a special needs child knows, sometimes you just have to be a tag team.
I have so many blessings in my life.

Day 23: Today I'm thankful for the small airport at the fun house. We visit this airport every day that we are there. The employees are kind and accepting of Bambam's obsession with airplanes. They allow him to get up close and personal with the airplanes, he often gets to sit in one. I think they've adopted him as their mascot. Again, everyday people going the extra mile.

Day 24: Today I'm even more thankful for the iPad and headphones. As we headed off to a fun college football viewing, we could feel confident that Bambam could join us and be successful even in a crowded, noisy room. Yeah for technology!

Day 25: Today I'm thankful for all the fun, festive activities in this small community where our fun house is located. There is lots to do for the teenagers as well as Bambam. Its a great way to kick off the holiday season.

Day 26: Today I'm thankful for my sister, she is amazing. She is always there for me, to celebrate, to commiserate, to cheer me on, to pick me up, to do whatever is needed. I would not be the person I am today without her. She inspires me to be better.

Day 27: Today I'm thankful for modern medicine. I know the decision to medicate or not is a very personal one. But for us, medication has made life so much better (even possible) for Bambam. He simply cannot function without it. I'm very greatful that this option is available.

Day 28: Today I'm thankful for all the people who spend their efforts, time, and money on research, education, and acceptance of autism, or any special need. They make the world just a little bit better for everyone.

Day 29: Today I'm thankful for Bambam's classmates. They are an amazing group of young people led my amazing adults. They are accepting, understanding, and just plain nice to Bambam. And not just at school. When we run into one of them in town, they always run over and say hi and talk to Bambam. It simply warms my heart. Inclusions is not only beneficial to the special needs child, but to the whole class of typical kids as well. I really think we are raising a whole generation of individuals who will make our world a better place.

Day 30:Today I'm thankful the chance to step back and be reminded of all the things I have to be thankful for. I am truly blessed.