You Could Kill Him

    Could you imagine having a child you could not bear hug?!  That's like having corn flakes but no milk, pizza with no cheese or music without rhythm! I think I bear hug my children several times a day!  

30 Day Thankful Challenge: Thankful for "Factor Time" during the maturing age!

     So on the Prophyholic Facebook page, I’m doing the 30 days of Thankfulness Challenge and applying it to being a Prophyholic Hemophilia Mom.  I’m nervous I won’t make it!   I’m trying hard not to miss a day or undervalue the experience with easy or repetitive things to be thankful for.

     On this journey I had an Oprah, “Aha moment”!   I am thankful for the connection time I had while giving my son his factor to treat his hemophilia.  I wanted to share this in a more detail blog post because I want every Mom to realize that “Factor Time” is a great experience and journey.

     For most Hemophilia Moms, starting home infusion for prophy is rough on you!  Most likely your child was an infant/toddler and you have to tell yourself that the pain of sticking him with this needle is less pain than a joint bleed.  So, for years you go through this several times a week, filled with good days of cooperation and bad days of him fighting you tooth and nail.  Eventually though, through my experience, as your child gets older and mature they realize that "factor time" is a must and you have his full cooperation and help.

Independent heartache!

 
     My son at 11 just cooked his bowl of Ramen noodles by himself and my heart starting pulsating with …Well, I’m not quite sure with what!

     My first instinct is to say fear, but why would fear of him being able to make his own noodles make my heart pulsate?  He’s very responsible and I trust that he would pay attention to what he is doing.
   
     Could it have been shock?

Three things I wouldn't have at my Halloween Party!

     We all know Halloween can be a bit bloody.  If your child has hemophilia, your job is to avoid blood 365 days a year.  I found a few Halloween themed ideas for a party, a Hemo Mom would probably not want to have:

1.  A Bloody Fondue Bar

     A Hemo Mom doesn't want to see blood flowing.  We stay on our tight prophylaxis schedule to avoid such problems and a hell of a lot of money on factor!

Photo from Sugar and Spice by Celeste: Blood Fondue Bar

Confidence at Camp

     It's been over a month since my last post...bad Mommy!  The good news is the kids are enjoying their summer.  I think in the month of June my oldest son, Marques, was never home on a Saturday.  That was a big deal to him and proudly noted since my children usually complain they don't do anything all summer.  Of course that's not true! Each year we try to go away for at least 3 days, but their memory of it gets lost in the long summer.  

     This summer though has been full of new experiences.  Marques went to camp for the first time.  He didn't want to go, but under pressure by me he went.  Thank goodness, he loved it and was already talking about going back when I picked him up.  I tell you, he was only gone 6 days, but it felt longer.  This was the first time I was apart from him for so long....  The best part is I didn't have to worry if he was taking his factor, because he was at a bleeding disorder camp.  Last year I was not ready to let him go, I now regret that because gaining his independence from me is something we both needed.