It is so very hard for me to admit my emotions and sadness when it comes to Mikey's disabilities. Yes, he is legally considered disabled. I do not consider him disabled. He is able to do anything and everything. Except wear gloves. Any kind of glove. Most of my friends will remember the horribly upsetting expereince we had this past winter. Mikey needed mittens--we get VERY cold waaay up here! He wanted army mitts. Well, he wanted army mitts, but after "persuading" him that mittens would keep his hands warmer (I really don't think that fully grasps the "severerity" of his defects). He agreed. We found the perfect pair of army mitts. The helpful salesgirl said oh we've got lots of sizes and styles--"how old is he?" I tell her "he's nearly 6". "oh good!" she brings us a 6 year old size. Right away, before Mikey even saw she had them, I told her that I was sorry, but they wouldn't work. "Oh but these are for his age range". Ok, but they won't work. Trust me. They won't work. At this point Mikey sees the mitts and takes one from her. She STILL didn't get that I really didn't need her help.

Then she sees. She realizes. Then, here it comes...I just know the exact moment THAT LOOK is coming on. The mouth drop open, the eyes enlarge to size of dinner plates. SHOCK--see, THAT'S why THOSE MITTS WON'T WORK. Mikey starts crying--something he has NEVER done in public. "Why don't anything fit my little hands Mommy". At that moment, the sound of my heart shattering into a thousand itty bitty pieces was clearly audible. Right alongside the heartbreaking cry of my precious little PERFECT boy.

So, what's a Mom to do? Go to the next department store and look. But not before heading down the toy isle to find a suitable distraction because the place we are going, needs to go unnoticed by my super smart little man. Thank you Lightning McQueen, you've helped me in many a crisis. It's now do or don't time (insert duh duh duh piano sound effect here) I put on my super sneacky mom hat and manouver to the infant side (going through the "big boy" isle first of course). I park his cart and Mikey in all his McQueen glory can not see where I'm looking....the infant isle. Yes. I find a pair of mitts, not army, but really there is no selection for infants aside from pink, blue or different blue. Hmmmm which will it be? Size? 24 months--yes infant mitts. They didn't fit. They are too big. Hear that crash? That's just another piece of my heart falling. I find another blue and give 'em a go. They fit--mostly. I mean really why do you need all that material where fingers are supposed to go? Anyhow, success finally. The size 12 months. And yes, a little big. I can never explain the feeling of buying your perfect 6 year old a pair of 6-12 BABY mitts.

I need to learn to knit. I have a most wonderful online friend and all because of her, Mikey did get his knitted army mitts. for this season She even made them 'specially for Mikey--we made outlines of both his hands, sent perfect Nat some army yarn, a few weeks later, it was Christmas for Mikey!! Mikey got his army mitts!!! And they are not infant mitts--they are big boy army mitts! I will forever have a place in my heart for Nat, I can not explain the emotions of receiving something everyone may think is "just a pair of mitts". They are Mikey's special fit army mitts and although they won't fit him next year, we will be holding onto those mitts forever and a day. Mikey had real mitts.

On that note, I need to get a move on. Work work work....Till next time.