Amniotic Band has caused us to have lots of ups but we still do have a few downs.  Times when we just need to snuggle and remind our kids they are perfect no matter what other people say.  But there are also times when a word or a look can really hurt our kids feelings.

I have to admit Haylee has a pretty tough skin.  People can stare at her and make comments and normally it just bounces right off or she comments about it we talk about it and then it is done.  But there are other times when even the smallest thing really gets to her. Amniotic Band Syndrome make her skin as tough as it is because she does look different but that tough skin does not mean that her feelings don’t get hurt just like everyone elses.

I can normally tell when something is bothering her.  Either she will just come out and say what is on her mind or she ends up going into her own world.  And when she is in her own world I need to give her space until she is ready to snuggle.

One thing I have learned from Haylee is that sometimes she just needs to snuggle and pretend that she is normal like any other two handed child.  She knows that she has no fingers but sometimes in her own little world she pretends she does have two hands.

Recently her and I were talking about her little hand and she said to me, “Mom why do you wish you had a little hand?”  I said, “Because it is so cute and cool.”  She said, ” Mom I wish for just one day I could have two hands to see what it feels like to have two hands.  I don’t want it for every just one day.”  It broke my heart to hear her say that.  And that was a snuggle time when I knew that no matter what I said it did not matter that she just needed some extra love.

Don’t get me wrong these conversations are few and far between and half the time as soon as it comes out her mouth it is done but these conversations still come up and it is at that time that I have to just remind her that we love her just the way she is and that God made her that way for a reason.  A very special reason.