Welcome to Elijahland

Camping and the Continuing Adventures of Aqua Man - Part One

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:18:30 PDT

I think it's about time I shared some camping photos, don't you?So what was Elijah's favorite part of camping this year? Playing in the WATER of course!We got this floating donkey at Wal-Mart. Elijah wasn't so sure about it at first, but once someone suggested Elijah sit in the donkey...

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We're Baaack!

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:30:01 PDT

Um, from where exactly? From a week of camping, of course! I'm trying to dig us out from Mount Washmore and trying to keep little man entertained now that we're back home (and not outside 24/7). I just wanted to let you all know what we've been up to this past week. I plan to...

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Living it Twice

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:41:42 PDT

I came across this quote by Michael J. Fox recently and it struck a chord with me. It's from his book, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned. I haven't read his book, but I think I should. I bet I'd like it. Don't spend a...

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I'm Not Used to Talking to Children

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:20:08 PDT

When I hear kids talk, I'm kind of blown away. Obviously, my only experience in parenting has been of a child who doesn't talk at all. He's noisy. And he's said my name before. He's even said "I love you"! But mostly, our home is pretty quiet. In my reality,...

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How to be a Superhero

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:08:21 PDT

I think Aqua Man, er, I mean Elijah, likes our sprinkler. Want to appreciate a sprinkler like a Superhero? First, you must test the water.Then, you can jump right in.Next, stick your face right in the water. Trust him, just do it!Finally, run around with glee. Don't worry if your swim...

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Our Weird Collection

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:20:49 PDT

It seems we've been collecting things ever since Elijah was born. It's really not the type of collection you'd want to have, believe me. You see, in our family we collect diagnoses. I can't tell you how many times Andy and I have wished...if only it were just one thing. I...

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Return of Aqua Man!

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:41:08 PDT

I know, I know, I haven't been the greatest updater lately. It doesn't make you want to cry like this does it?... I should hope not. However, having to come inside after swimming might make you cry. One day last week, little man ran to the neighbors house and decided to climb in...

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What Am I Doing Here?

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:14:16 PDT

Sometimes I wonder how I got here. I mean, unlike most people, I never really made the conscious decision to start a blog. No, I wasn't struck over the head only to wake up and discover that I was the author of Elijahland. For us, it started with...

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The Quest for Sleep

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:05:22 PDT

Ahh, Sleep. Elijah has never really been a good sleeper. Not bad, but definitely not good. When he was an infant, I would spend forever trying to get him to sleep to only have him nap for a half hour. I read the books. I followed the directions. I wrote down all of...

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Describing a Miracle

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:55:54 PDT

How do you effectively describe a miracle? I used to think the only true miracle would be if Elijah completely recovered from his massive brain injury. Now I realize that miracles are all around me. I see miracles everywhere I go. And while I still hope for complete recovery, I...

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What It's Like to Be Him - Part One

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:03:55 PDT

I often wonder what it's like for Elijah to live in his body. The older he gets the more obvious it is to me that he doesn't experience life the same way I do, the same way most of us do. It's just different to live in his skin. He sees things differently than I do. As a...

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Once Upon a Time in Elijahland - Part Two

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Wed, 19 May 2010 10:11:19 PDT

The scene: This morning in our kitchen. Andy: Hey, that Justin Beaver guy is going to be on American Idol tonight. Me: (confused) What? Andy: You know...Bobby Beaver. Me: (forehead wrinkled) Huh? Andy: Beaver Cleaver! [pause as I try to decifer this nonsense] Andy: C'mon, you...

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I'll Have What He's Having...

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:28:34 PDT

"Hey, dad, whatcha got in there?"Little man is way more into what we're eating and drinking these days.It's pretty cute, sometimes messy, and a step in the right direction developmentally.And sometimes it's...HILARIOUS!Oh man, I laugh out loud every single time I look at this picture.

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Noisy

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:34:22 PDT

For the most part, Elijah has been a really quiet child. He hasn't used his voice much. He cries and whines, but no imitation, not much babbling, and not really any words (not anything that he uses consistently enough to be considered speech). But lately, the little man has been...

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Thud

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Thu, 13 May 2010 21:34:27 PDT

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud It's four a.m. I reluctantly awake from my slumber to a rhythmic thudding sound. I want to pull the covers over my head and sleep for months, but I can't. I have to go to our son's room and stop him from hitting his head on the...

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Pea Soup

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:43:27 PDT

When I was a little kid, I hated split pea soup. HATED it. In fact, my mom has a story about how much I hated it that she likes to tell. She wrote about it in a comment on one of my posts, but essentially it goes like this...my brother was going to make me split pea soup for lunch one...

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Sweet Little Brextin

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:12:11 PDT

I couldn't believe it this morning when I found out one of Elijah's friends is no longer with us. Brextin passed away yesterday, just a week shy of his third birthday. I'm kind of shocked and so very sad. I only had the pleasure of meeting Brextin once, but I'll never forget him....

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Pablo, Vincent, Elijah

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Sun, 02 May 2010 21:36:22 PDT

I've always loved art, so I have been a little sad that Elijah has showed no interest in drawing. I'd try to show him how, encourage him, help him, but he just didn't care. Me: If I have a pen and some paper, I will doodle. A couple of months ago, though, Elijah became interested and...

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Check it Out - Exceptional Family TV

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 11:53:40 PDT

Today is the premiere of Exceptional Family TV! Go to their website to watch Episode 1, which is about an amazing boy named Jack. If you're a softie like me, it might make you teary-eyed (in a really good way). I'm excited about what they're doing with this new venture....

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He's Getting It

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:28:56 PDT

Elijah's communication skills have really been coming along. We've been working with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices for awhile now and he's getting it. He's really getting it. A huge motivator for our boy is going outside. He LOVES to go outside....

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Why Feeding Your Kids Unhealthy Things is a Good Thing

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:01:57 PDT

This past weekend we had a bonfire in our backyard. And Elijah ate a roasted marshmallow for the first time ever. I know what you might be thinking...marshmallows are unhealthy. And you'd be right. What you might not be thinking is that eating a marshmallow is a major...

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Lighter

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 07:15:32 PDT

Since I wrote my last post, I've been feeling lighter. I think it's because of all your comments and because this scripture has been on repeat in my brain since yesterday: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) I'm putting things back...

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My Winter Coat

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 07:54:59 PDT

I love this time of year. The trees and plants are all working hard to give us the glorious green splendor that is summer. Every day, Elijah asks (without words) to go outside and I comply. We run and swing and play in the sandbox. It's wonderful. And yet, I feel like I'm...

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My Idea of an Excellent Morning

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 20:24:03 PDT

Watching my cup of chai tea steam...Drinking cup of chai tea while my two men play outside in their pajamas...againThat's my idea of an excellent morning.

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This Place Looks Amazing!

elijahland@gmail.com (Lisa) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:43:22 PDT

There's been a lot of buzz lately about Morgan's Wonderland, the first amusement park designed with special needs individuals in mind. The park's grand opening is tomorrow. Hopefully we can take Elijah someday; I think he would love it!

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