Welcome to Elijahland

I wish we’d brought swim suits, I thought to myself. Our little boys, their pants hiked up to their knees, were wading in the water. “Let’s let them dip their toes in,” I had said to ...

http://elijahland.com/2019/09/bring-home-some-mud.html

Wooo-eeee. Eleven. Our biggest little is 11 years old. I don't know how that is possible. The past year has been a challenging one... Trying to control Elijah's seizures, dealing with beha...

http://elijahland.com/2018/08/eleven.html

Elijah has epilepsy. I don't want to write that sentence, but: there, I said it. We always knew this day might come, always knew that the s-word (seizures) might once again make an uninvited ...

http://elijahland.com/2018/04/add-it-to-list-epilepsy.html

It’s become somewhat of a tradition for me to write one blog post a year, on Elijah’s birthday. So here we are. Hi. Ten years have passed since Andy and I became parents, ten years s...

http://elijahland.com/2017/08/double-digits.html

Elijah is nine today.* NINE!** *Apparently I only write blog posts on Elijah's birthday. **No, I am not shouting no at you in German. Although, I kind of want to. NEIN! Nine is halfway ...

http://elijahland.com/2016/08/halfway-to-adulthood.html

You're kind of awesome. But, you already know that. You've had a raw deal, my little dude. Starting out life with a significant brain injury is a rough place to start. The thing is, though, you...

http://elijahland.com/2015/08/dear-elijah.html

Our two big boys “More God,” Oliver says as we sit eating lunch together. “You want me to teach you more about God?,” I ask. “Uh-huh,” he says, chewing on his sunbutter and j...

http://elijahland.com/2015/02/missed-opportunities.html

I wrote the following two weeks ago and never hit publish. I don't know why, I think I got distracted and I'm not sure my head is attached to my body these days. Even still, it all rings true... ...

http://elijahland.com/2015/02/as-it-gets-harder-it-gets-easier.html

This week marks our return to our new normal. Elijah is back to school after winter break, Andy is back to work and my mom (who had helped us for a few weeks) is back home. So, this is my new lif...

http://elijahland.com/2015/01/outnumbered.html

On Friday, December 5th, 2014, we welcomed the fifth member of our family. He arrived at 8:09 am and weighed 8 pounds and 11 ounces. He was 21.5 inches long, the exact same length as both of h...

http://elijahland.com/2014/12/family-of-five.html

I'm having a baby this week. A planned c-section is kind of like an eviction date. We're kicking you out, little buckeroo.  Now, I'm a glass half full kind of gal, but let's face it... I hav...

http://elijahland.com/2014/12/this-week.html

Oh, poor little neglected blog. There is so much you don't know. So many things that have happened in the past several months that haven't been written here in Elijahland. So many changes occurr...

http://elijahland.com/2014/10/three.html

Today was our firstborn's first day of first grade. Little brother, Oliver, wanted to be in pictures too, so he got to help hold Elijah's sign. Oliver wanted to go to school with his big br...

http://elijahland.com/2014/09/first.html

I never intended to take such a long break from blogging (sorry about that). The last several months have been super busy. We've been living life to the fullest. Swimming, camping, fis...

http://elijahland.com/2014/08/alive-and-well.html

When I was a kid, my mom worked for our local devision of The Arc  - an organization that advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She still works there, act...

http://elijahland.com/2014/03/not-new-debate.html

I had a memory a few weeks ago. I'm finally taking the time to write it down... Fairytales do come true - sometimes with baby legs in the face Andy and I were at a department store. Except ...

http://elijahland.com/2014/02/a-sweet-memory.html

I only wrote 13 posts last year. Thirteen. That's only one a month and it bums me out. Back in 2009, I wrote 114 posts. Those were the days. It bums me out because I am a writer and I should be...

http://elijahland.com/2014/01/writing-more.html

January February March  April May June July August September October November December

http://elijahland.com/2013/12/time-flies-when-youre-having-fun.html

One of the hardest parts of being Elijah's mom (or dad) is this: Not knowing what is going on in his head - especially when he's sad and we don't know why. I wrote the following a couple of weeks...

http://elijahland.com/2013/12/i-love-him-so-much-it-hurts.html

The scene: This morning at a Caribou Coffee drive-thru... As I pulled up to the window, the cashier - an older grandfatherly gentleman - started to make small-talk. "How are you enjoying th...

http://elijahland.com/2013/12/the-impostor.html

Our big kid's front tooth has been wiggling for awhile. And tonight Andy was able to able to yank it out. He really is growing up so, so fast. Didn't he just get those baby teeth?

http://elijahland.com/2013/12/grin.html

I have had so much anxiety about sending Elijah to school. The worst was in August before school had even started. I was so worried for him. Worried about bullying. Worried he wouldn't get what...

http://elijahland.com/2013/11/acceptance.html

Elijah started kindergarten today. How did this kid get to be so big? He did great on his first day and we're excited to see what this year will bring. And potty training? He's still ...

http://elijahland.com/2013/09/big-kid.html

This needs to be shouted from the rooftops: Elijah peed on the toilet six times today. Six times, you guys. And no accidents (other than the wet diaper he woke up with this morning). That's a ...

http://elijahland.com/2013/09/from-rooftops.html

Nine years ago I waited for the moment that would change my life forever. My hair was twisted onto the top of my head and I was wearing the most beautiful dress I had ever owned. I paced around...

http://elijahland.com/2013/07/the-moments-before.html