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Lub

Sunday, January 14, 2018 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

Most every night, I tell the littlest boy in our house to say goodnight and give a hug. It’s not been so long that he’s learned to follow directions such as this and so, we have delighted in this snippet of success over the cold winter evenings. One by one, he makes his way ‘round the room, his signature walk and acknowledgement bright amongst the fire’s flames. At four years old, his big brothers were mastering the art of riding with no training wheels and Amos? He is learning ..

Amos the Meteor

Monday, December 18, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

It’s been one week. One week to share with our parents and to ponder the force of genetics in our family. The words were crushing, I didn’t know a genetic diagnosis would feel like that. And then, real life happened. Our faithful friend was put to sleep and Amos, the four year old subject of genetics, learned to unzip his feety pajamas, take off his pull up, and pee in his bed (a pack and play- it’s a long story.) Genetics. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) done t ..

He Knows Us

Monday, December 18, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

One by one, he hugged them. Daddy, then Russell, then Blair, then Thomas. Again and again, I called out the names of his father and three siblings and the little boy paused and glanced and turned his blond head in the direction of each one. In his lopsided signature gate, he crossed the old red rug and hurled his small self into each of their arms and grinned with his eyes as much as his perfect mouth. “Yah, Amos,” he would cheer for himself and we would echo his words ..

A College Essay

Wednesday, October 04, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

"Come On, Amos! You can do it!” In that moment, I had a glimpse of what could have been- the summer I had planned. Me, a junior sailing counselor at a camp that I had attended every summer since I was 6 years old. My plan for as long as I can remember, but I didn't get the job. Instead, I accepted a nanny position for four children, ages 3-11, and here I was, staring into the blue eyes of a 3-year-old with white blond hair and begging him to poop. Amos is not just any 3-year-o ..

Faces of Medicaid in North Carolina

Sunday, July 02, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

This is the tale of one hundred children who depend on Medicaid in one way or another, whether as primary or secondary insurance or to subsidize school based therapies (speech, occupational, and physical therapies.) Read their stories. Evelyn 8 months old, only child so far, Turner syndrome, Medicaid (therapies and specialists), very strong girl. Evelyn. Miles Age 1, developmental delay, Medicaid (nursing, respite, therapy), expresses tremendous love for his family. Cha ..

Dear Richard,

Tuesday, June 27, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (2)

I hope it's okay if I call you by your first name. After all, you are one of my senators and not that it seems to matter, but I voted for you. Thanks for your update on the "Better Care Reconciliation Act." Your pal Thom Tillis gets no credit for information dissemination, but at least he's not a liar. Does that sound caustic? My mother always said you attract more bees with honey, but I call bullshit, especially when it's offered on a silver platter. You present a beautiful plan, reall ..

To the Mama Who Is New to the Special Needs Club

Sunday, June 11, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (3)

I was you. I wasn't one of those amazing people who intentionally adopt a child with special needs. I admired such selflessness from afar. My neat and tidy family was easy and I was relieved that everyone was born "perfect." It wasn't until baby number four, that I became a member of the club that I wouldn't have sought entry. It's been over a year now that my mind and heart began to acknowledge that my Amos wasn't just one of the gang as his catching up seemed more and more unlikely. A ..

Goodbye to the School Year From A Special Needs Mama

Friday, June 02, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

Flowers. Three vases. A mix of gardenias, hydrangea, and a few pilfered lilies. Confidingly, a meager offering for a mother's reassurance. Not just a safe place to fall, but a classroom that has been nothing short of miraculous. A year ago, we were prepping ourselves for Amos's entry into school. It was a choice that required no choosing, yet kindled despair and defeat in the family confounded once again by heavy irony. One can not escape the swallowing of pride required when your heart ..

The Other Woman

Friday, May 19, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (2)

He has another woman. Three of them actually, but one is particularly fond of my little blond boy with the funny gait, a boy of few words. It is her face which lights up at the very sight of him. He has another woman. Many a morning we walk into school and he lurches forward out of my arms and into hers. It is her who gives him a warm place to snuggle when I'm not there. He has another woman. He crawled in my bed this morning and took my hand, placed it on his back, and starti ..

Define Healthy Baby

Monday, May 15, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)

"As long as its healthy," I heard in the years before I became a mother and though I wasn't writing, I was still thinking. Words flow and land on the listener and often times, we are not even aware of their effect on others. We should be though, not in a hyper vigilant, politically correct sort of way, but a place of empathy, eyes and heart open to the needs and lives of others. Spilling catch phrases comes easily, but words can be thorns. For those that didn't or don't or will not have ..

Tales Of An Educated Debutante

on life, loss and the joy that rules the day.

The future is far away and scary, but today is lovely.

Lub

Amos the Meteor

He Knows Us

A College Essay

Faces of Medicaid in North Carolina

Dear Richard,

To the Mama Who Is New to the Special Needs Club

Goodbye to the School Year From A Special Needs Mama

The Other Woman

Define Healthy Baby

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