ENTER THE BIRDMAN 

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I have two very special sons. Each is unique. Jay, aka Jaybird, or The Bird, is also referred to as special because of his needs. He has multiple and severe disabilities, a result of being resuscitated after an event diagnosed as Sudden Infant Death. It happened when he was five weeks old. We've all had an interesting time growing up together. It has been crazy and wonderful and scary and fun and not so fun. I'm sure many families can say the same. My sons are the best thing that have ever happened to me, and I am insanely proud of them.

After 16 years at home, Jay moved to a comprehensive care facility in a university town. He requires a lot of specialized care because he's what you call a special edition. It was something I swore would never happen, but it did. Sometimes it is a good thing, or at least an appropriate thing. But your heart never stops wishing it could be different.

I tell you these things not because they are what necessarily defines Jay. But I might take a really awesome photo of him and want to share it. Not that I want to do much of that either, because Jay can't well articulate how we would feel about that and I believe that is important to recognize. But I might occasionally have to brag on him, and you would likely want to know why he is in a wheelchair, or has developed as he has. It would be beyond naive to assume otherwise.

Jay is well cared for and happy, and keeps everyone at his joint either laughing or pulling out their hair. Because he is also an ornery (love that word) special edition. This Sunday we sang a lot of songs, did some marching, some reading, recorded some goofy behavior to share with his brother, played race car with the wheelchair around the nearby park and lake, steered clear of what I can only call hooligan geese, and then he tired of me and kept yawning and telling me to "hush up." He was ready for a short nap before evening dinner and when I kissed and hugged him for the last and millionth time of the day, he said "good job."

And that's a pretty good day.

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