In the final weeks before you were born, we discovered you were in a Frank Breech position and I would need a c-section. Our many doctor visits would reveal a heart beat that sounded like a racetrack and that made me happy. We knew you were still with us. The best sound in the whole world.

I sang silly made up songs and hugged my tummy. Prepared your baby things. Your Aunt Bonni let us borrow her children's baby bassinet. Grandma Bettie sewed a Winnie-the-Pooh bumper and sheets for it. We still had until January, but were expecting your arrival.

I tried to say focused on NOW and not get too ahead of myself. We had to wait for more information. And you were the only one who could reveal that to us.

We hoped we could meet you, even if it was only for a little while.

So, about this time in 1998 we found out our baby would be a boy. His due date is January 15.
We had no idea what Arthrogryposis was or what it would mean for our son. But they gave a very grim outlook.
Our greatest wish was to meet him and let him know us, even if it was a for a little while.

This link is for Exceptional Preschoolers, AJ's video is featured here.

Thank you Miss Rachel for your gift of teaching. We wish for you great success.

http://exceptionalpreschoolers.org/welcome/

AJ is Turning 12 soon...

What's new in the past few years for AJ? Well, with the continued support of contributors we were able to remodel our bathroom tub wall. Now AJ can use his shower chair without getting his feet squished by the wall. What a great feeling that is compared with a bed bath. Oh, as an added bonus, we have the dryer running with warmed towels so he won't freeze on the way back to his room. AJ is very cozy.

We were able to purchase a Transfer Lift Chair to safely move AJ from room to room. Our previous methods were not good for AJ's positioning or our backs. We LOVE the Transfer Lift Chair! Our backs are very happy too. We received the chair on our 12th anniversary. What an awesome gift!

We also have had other household items such as hot water heater and washing machine needing to be replaced. As we average 3-5 loads of laundry a day we kept Grandpa Francis and Grandma Char busy while using their machine. Thanks Dad & Mom. AJ sure appreciated clean linens and drool cloths.

AJ was a recipient of Make A Wish this year. He received sound activated lights and a speaker set up that works through his TV and goes into his bedroom. Light never sounded so good! With the lights we received an added bonus as the creator of the lights, Ken, has befriended us and now is a part of our family.

Speaking of added family, Alin has also been added into the mix. We interact via the internet and Skype (video). Three hour time zones don't matter when a connection is made. We enjoy Alin's music picks dancing to AJ's lights. It makes for quite the party from Washington to Illinois. Alin made a U-Tube video with AJ and the light driver lights in it. Alin and AJ have different disabilities, but very similar lifestyles.

Via AJ's TV we can connect his computer and have been looking up topics to back up what he was focusing on in his school lesson. For instance, AJ was learning about safari animals and with the help of Teacher Mary has now been watching Africam.com. We are looking into more interests for AJ via the internet. We are also hoping to have AJ's Springboard (communication device) be able to allow for some navigation on the internet. Our hope is that it will work with a voice command set up. This is in the very early stages now.

We were recently contacted by a teacher in NY who attended a program that started off with the showing of AJ and Grandpa Francis' video. We were very excited to know that something we do daily can inspire others and confirm that what we do is important not only in our family life, but that it is spreading out to reach others. It's our way of paying it forward. Being on the receiving end quite often and then being able to give in this way is VERY rewarding.

Visit AJ's BLOG at ajpatnode.com for more information regarding Ken's lights, Alin's U-Tube video, future posts about his computer or AJ & Grandpa's video on the website.

May God bless you. Thank you for blessing our lives with yours.

The Patnode's

This is what we are sending out for this years update.

Just learned a presentation of AJ's video (see Grandpa's Creative Construction) has made it to NY.

We are very excited to know something we stand by inspires others.

Very cool.

We are currently using AJ's computer to access information to coincide with his school work. For example one of his lessons was about the desert, so we came up with a documentary about deserts. AJ was very interested.

We are currently looking at Africam.com to view the happenings at a water hole. Unfortunately it is nighttime in Africa when AJ is awake. We will continue to see what we can discover.

Some topics have been hit and miss with finding information. We look foreword to new adventures via the web.