My name's Rena. Rena Joy Pickles. 

I live in Galveston, Texas, with my husband, Chuck, and our five children, who range in age from 13 down to two.  We have three girls, Remington Gayle, 13, Gigi Elaine, 10, and Yvonne Cherise, who's 6.  We also have two boys, eight-year-old Ripley Charles and our youngest, two-year-old Addisyn Michael.

Chuckles the dog rounds out our family.  His name may sound dorky, but he's a very good watchdog, and more importantly, he is very good with the kids.  He is their best friend, their protector.

My husband works in a factory in Houston, making airplane parts, while I am a homemaker/homeschool instructor.

I love what I do:  teaching the children new things.  They are always eager to learn and they are incredibly smart. 

I have to stay home because of our youngest, who was born with serious disabilities; he requires 24 hour medical care.  I'd rather be near if a problem unexpectedly crops up.

Addisyn was born with microcephaly, or a smaller than average head.  He can hear and see, but he cannot talk, walk, or feed himself.  Because his lungs are weak, he is on supplimental oxygen.  He's prone to frightening respiratory illnesses that've put him into the hospital, and you never know when he'll get sick again.

Addisyn spends his days lying in his crib, or, when up, sitting up in his special stroller.  He has to be dressed, bathed, diapered, just like a baby; he cannot take care of himself.  It is really hard having a child like our youngest because he takes away the attention from the other children; I am sure they feel jealous or resentful towards him.

I always worry that the older children are going to hurt their brother; they are always fussing about how much he needs care, how much attention he gets from us.  They feel cheated somehow.  I wish I could make it easier for them; I hate having to spend so much time with one child and not the others!

Anyway, Addisyn is a popular figure at church.  Everyone there just loves him.  He also is also the center of attention whenever we go out to eat (we go out usually every Friday, after Chuck gets paid; we go to Joe's Crab Shack).  The waiters and waitresses there dote on him.

Some are understandably uncomfortable when they see our son or hear his noises.  I can't help how he is; it's just how he was born, and we try to make the best of a bad situation.  We try to include him in all of our activities when he's well, giving him lots of love and attention.  We try to treat him as normally as possible; Chuck and I feel this is the best way. 

We don't want to lock him away in an institution or hospital setting.  We feel he deserves better than that.  This is why we keep him home, with us, where he belongs.

I wish people could see his smile, look at his beautiful bright red hair, big, luminous blue eyes, see what a joy he is in our lives instead of looking at his problems.  Too many people see his disabilities first instead of seeing the whole child, and that bothers us no end.

Well, I have to run.  Addisyn's nutrition pump is sounding off; he's been on it for the past few hours; maybe he's done with his "breakfast".  Have to give him his next round of meds and see if he needs changing; if so, will do that, as well.

I will write in here again; until later, this is Rena Joy signing off!

~Rena Joy Pickles