What Is Normal?

Today has been a difficult day. It as been one month since my friend passed away. I miss her so much it physically hurts. If B-man didn't need so many medications, treatments and care, I might not even get out of bed each morning. Never in my life have I felt such sadness.

While I am on the subject of B-man, let me just say that I am very glad he has had such a good run of health. We saw his pulmonologist last week and he was quite pleased with B-man's progress. That is not to say that we don't still face daily challenges. Lately eating has become a battle. One day, the only thing he chose to eat all day long was two bites of cream of wheat. No amount of pleading, bribing or singing was going to convince him to eat. He does have the G-button for supplemental nutrition however, I chose to not use it that day, just to see if I could get him hungry enough to eat. The next day was a bit better and by the third day, he was eating at least half of his meals. I decided that his supplemental nutritional formula was causing him to lose his appetite. Now, I only give him a little at night just to boost his caloric intake. By morning, he is, once again, ready to eat.

Seems like it is always something. Life with B-man is an ever present reminder that normal is only a relative term.
I remember one time a friend of mine had a new baby. He was only six months younger than B-man. When I would see her at church, I would always ask about him. By the time he was six months old, it became apparent that she was avoiding me. One Sunday, I was dropping off B-man in the nursery and I ran into her. Having not seen her in a few weeks, I automatically asked how her son was doing. When she only replied, "fine" I began to question about his milestones. She asked, "Do you really wnat to know?" "Of course I do, Why would you ask me that?" I replied. She then began to tell me that because he was doing everything either on target or early, she was afraid to tell me. She thought it might upset me because B-man was older and still had yet to meet any of those same milestones. I reassured her that I did indeed want to know about his progress. I was happy for her that her son was on target and progressing normally. I also explained to her that I accepted B-man for who he is and what he can do and the fact that her son was progressing at a normal rate in no way upset me. It's funny, how people's minds work. Here I thought she was mad at me or something and all along she was just trying to spare my feelings. I only wish that all problems were that easy to fix. Recently, tht same friend's son graduated from Texas A&M. I am happy for them.

I have some pressing issues at hand so I will cut this post short.
Later,
~Ginger