Brownie Bites: Henry Ford Museum

A Mother's Perspective by Stephanie Husted

You passed me in the shopping mall...
(You read my faded tee)
You tapped me on the shoulder...
Then asked..."What's a CHD?"

I could quote terminology...
There's stats that I could give...
But I would rather share with you...
A mother's perspective.

What is it like to have a child with a CHD?

It’s Lasix,aspirin,Captopril…
It’s wondering…Lord what’s your will?…
It’s monitors and oxygen tanks…
It’s a constant reminder to always give thanks…

It’s feeding tubes, calories, needed weight gain…
It’s the drama of eating…and yes it’s insane!
It’s the first time I held him…(I’d waited so long)
It’s knowing that I need to help him grow strong…

It’s making a hospital home for awhile…
It’s seeing my reward in every smile.
It’s checking his sats as the feeding pump’s beeping…
It’s knowing that there is just no time for sleeping…

It’s caths, x-rays and boo boos to kiss…
It’s normalcy I sometimes miss…
It’s asking do his nails look blue?
It’s cringing inside at what he’s been through.

It’s dozens of calls to his pediatrician…
(She knows me by name…I’m a mom on a mission)
It’s winters homebound…and hand sanitizer…
It’s knowing this journey has made me much wiser.

It’s watching him sleeping…
his breathing is steady…
It’s surgery day and I’ll never be ready.
It’s handing him over…( I’m still not prepared…)

It’s knowing that his heart must be repaired…
It’s waiting for news on that long stressful day…
It’s …praying…it’s hoping…that he’ll be okay.
It’s the wonderful friends with whom I’ve connected…

It’s the bond that we share…it was so unexpected…
It’s that long faded scar down my child’s small chest…
It’s touching it gently and knowing we’re blessed…
It’s watching him chasing a small butterfly…

It’s the moment I realized I’ve stopped asking why?
It’s the snowflakes that fall on a cold winter’s day…
(They remind me of those who aren’t with us today)
It’s a brave little boy who loved Thomas the train…

Or a special heart bear…or a frog in the rain….
It’s the need to remember we’re all in this plight….
It’s their lives that remind us we still need to fight!
It’s in pushing ahead amidst every sorrow…
It is finding the strength to have hope for tomorrow

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Henry Ford Museum

Yesterday, we took Drew to the Henry Ford Museum with Bill's parents. I hadn't been there since 7th or 8th grade...and going back was awesome!!! For those of you not familiar with it, the museum depicts innovations throughout the 20th century, as well as the turn of the century, and all the major movements of the 20th century. I hope you enjoy this sampling of our photos...I know they're a bit small, but I am including a bunch and didn't want a HUGE post! lol

Us, the Model T and the assembly line:

Furniture...I just like this picture:

Drew's attention is elsewhere and Bill is being silly:

Call me crazy, but I would put this in my house:

Agriculture Exhibit:

Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Meyer Wiener:

Memories...like the corners of my mind:

Women's Suffrage Display:

The actual Rosa Parks bus:

2 comments:

Lauren said...: Great Museum! I've been there so many times! But it never really gets boring... I even got to sleepover in it (well in their dorms) in girl scouts. Glad you had a good time! =D Cute pic of you, your husband, and Drew (even of Drew wasn't paying any attention hehe).

**Heart Hugs**

~Lauren (22yr. old CHD Survivor)

Blog: www.laurensheart.blogspot.com; March 8, 2010 at 9:22 PM
NikkiG said...: I would put that in my house, too!; March 9, 2010 at 12:52 AM