It has been a wild month for the Jettons – It has been filled with ups and downs and all arounds. We have had quite the time with Ryder James lately and his new issues with reactive airway disease. It’s interesting that when you think you have conquered a lot of things (mostly with Hattie) that you find out you know nothing about other things – the game of parenting is such a roller coaster.  Little man has been admitted twice since 10/23/18 for his airway issues having pneumonia with the first admission.  He is such a ham though and has brought such an amazing amount of joy to our life.  Hattie is slowly growing fond of him even saying “bubba” (brother) for the first time last week – Laken is loving preschool and is full of emotions good and bad, and LOVES a good conversation on the phone. Isla Kate is in pre-vpk and had her first program which she cried through but HEY stayed on the stage.  She loves a good task especially to clean with the mini vacuum and continues to make us laugh with her random funny sayings and giant beautiful smile.

10/31 we moved….yes again…but back to our community in Niceville.  God showed up in a HUGE unexpected way and we are still reeling from it.  It started when I told James that I was going to go part-time due to Hattie needing me so much more and that I would feel more comfortable not building “Hattie’s Home” as we so lovingly call it right now and finding a bargain home for the right price that I could cut back on work.  I truly felt that the Lord has been speaking to me in this area and took a step – well He met with a whole golden staircase! The next day we received a text that our house we were renting was under contract – praise GOD – then the next day our realtor, Dana Topel, was showing us houses and pulled out of her back pocket a remodel that wasn’t listed that she knew would be perfect for us AND IT WAS – she has always been our guardian angel when it came to any homes we have purchased and the Lord worked through her BIG time. Best part is that it was our builders who were renovating the home, Huff Homes, and they helped us to put in all the same flooring and wheelchair ramps for Hattie K so its more than we could ever need at this point.  At some point I believe that I will start trusting God – but then I would have to never worry and who wants that!  Moving back to our community even though I am still commuting has been the biggest blessing – Hattie needs community and we need strength.

Hattie started school with the big girls in August and is absolutely loving it! I had a lot of anxiety about it but her teachers and the wonderful ladies at Crosspoint Academy have made us feel so welcomed.  We made her a small bumpo wheelchair from a DIY instructable post a father of a son with spina bifida had posted and Hattie has taken off.  It’s definitely been a transition for James and I because it is our first real thing in public that open us up to questions.  People are starting to realize Hattie is different and sometimes its a hard pill to swallow.  We have to believe that all special needs parents experience that anxiety/fear/nervousness/dread of bringing out the “equipment” that sets their child apart but we have to remind ourselves that HATTIE DOESNT CARE! She loves the mobility and we love her joy.

She is now rolling from back to front and bearing more weight with the help of her AFO braces. Ryder and Her do races around the living room – rolling into each other – with only the occasional collision or protest from Hattie because Ryder pulls her hair…or she bites back (whew! yes we are working on that)  She works so hard for her therapists and is continues to make wonderful inch stones.  She sits better in the bumpo and is almost to the point of sitting up by herself for small periods of time.  She is feeding herself small foods so much better and we swear she NEVER STOPS EATING. 

Laken and Isla love to sit behind her and help her play with toys.  They LOVE to push her around in her wheelchair especially up and down the ramps in the backyard…we have to watch to make sure they don’t pop any wheelies…but for real Laken is crazy.  At school Hattie has made many little friends who love to bring her toys and just talk to her.  Hattie truly seems to love the interaction – I was so fearful in putting her in a class setting but again I have realized that Hattie knows no fear and sees no difference, Mom needs to stop projecting her fear of rejection on Hattie.  When I get fearful of “the questions” or “the looks” – Hattie is smiling and has a never-ending joy through it all.  Hattie is saying Dada, Mama, Bobo pretty consistently – she says La, Ya, Seat, Dog often.  She LOVES outside and points to the backyard all the time.  She is such a goofball and makes everyone smile all the time – even Ryder. Hattie turned 2 in August – we had the best unicorn birthday party for her and she had so much fun

                     

This Sunday our church will broadcast our advent video about Joy and Hattie’s Story.  The more I watch it (we got to preview it before hand) the more I am humbled and brought to tears. My gut reaction is to hide and not to open myself up but I know the Lord wants me to allow more people into our circle. God designed fellowship – He did not create us to be creatures that are alone. Hattie needs people and we need people.  Our Journey, as we were made aware in April after Hattie’s diagnosis, will not get easier but will continue to wind and find new challenges.  Having people to pray, support, love on us is so important.  Love to all – Keep praying for Team Jetton and all our many winding roads!

  

Kaet