As those of you that have read our holiday family letter in the past know, we have never lacked for drama. For more than half of this year, we were a family in crisis.  There is no easy method with parenting a child with developmental disabilities, especially when you add to it twin toddlers. Basically we had spent 30 months racing around trying to just maintain the shaky ground we were constantly under. I know that seems overdramatic, but keep in mind, we try not to be oh whoa is us in these letters.

But then the tone changed, some. We kind of feel like the toughest parts of our lives are in the rear view mirror. Why?  The date was August 11, 2010. This magical day was when Madeline Long (7 yrs.) began her first day of First Grade. From the first moment that I found out we were going to have twins, I told Susan that we would face 2-1/2 years of hell until we got to this stage. I’m no Nostradamus, but this one came true more than I could have ever expected.  Having a child like Maddie who needs 100% adult attention is one thing, but then add 2 babies to this, well, as those who have witnessed it firsthand, not an easy gig.

Maddie loves school and her teachers at Lantern Road Elementary are great. She loves P.E., and recess most of all and has been awarded two Life Rule Role Model Certificates by her school principal for demonstrating one’s Personal Best and, more  recently, for being a role model for Fairness. She continues to take gymnastics classes each week and joined Girl Scouts this school year as a Daisy Scout.

Maddie, as well as our entire family have been extremely fortunate to have met Ms. Brittany, a woman who, generally when I’m traveling, spends time with Maddie – playing with her, taking her to fun places and helping Maddie be/become her very best.

Maddie has come a very long way in terms of how she perceives and interacts with her brother and sister.  At times, Maddie will engage in imaginative play with her brother and sister.  For those of you with a background in special ed. or who know us well, this is huge!  This is a beautiful thing to see.  Maddie now expresses shared happiness with Sam and Mallory as well as love and concern for them.  Rather than reacting with frustration, anger and irritability when Sam or Mallory are crying or upset, Maddie demonstrates genuine compassion for them or, if she’s overwhelmed by their loud cries, she may elect to remove herself from the environment  – a coping skill she didn’t have previously.  She’s so much more connected with her sister, Mallory (2 yrs. 9 mo.) and her brother, Sam.  While Mallory is still too loud sometimes for Maddie’s sensitive ears, her outgoing personality has begun to draw Maddie towards her like she does to most who are cast under her spell. As you can see from the photo montage (click the youtube link included in this letter), they are both gorgeous girls.

Sam Long is a quirky dude. He loves almost all food, especially pizza, but the only treat he chooses to eat before bed is caramel corn. He’s quite the fashion plate, as he likes to put on 4 or 5 different shirts each day. He tries to make so many daily outfit changes I call him Sam Gaga. Basically, Sam and Mallory are only twins by relation. They are opposites on so many levels, but they complement each other and have a wonderful  connection with each other. Coming up on their 3rd birthdays in March, this age is a really fun one to be around (for the most part).

Susan continues to work part-time (Mon.-Wed.) at Propeller Marketing. She enjoys her work and loves her boss (and long-time friend), Jocelyn (how many people can say that?) and, it’s only a 15 minute commute. Her job works well for our family on so many levels.  Susan can get the kids up and going and Maddie ready and on the bus to school all before her work day begins.  Plus, it works well with my schedule, as I’m on the road most Thursdays through Sundays.

One downside, though, is that it doesn’t leave much time for us to be together, but we suspect in another decade or 2, we should be able to catch up on lost time.  This last November, we did have our first overnight date away from the house since the twins were born, so that was momentous. We also made our annual excursion to Door County, Wisconsin during Maddie’s birthday week (August) where we stay at the beautiful condo Susan’s parents own overlooking the water in Sister Bay, Wis. We’re fortunate to be joined by her parents and my Mom for a fun week of everything that Maddie loves to do (swimming, riding the go-karts, going to the beach and riding the rides at the fair).

2010 was a good year overall for my business, as the standup part stayed steady, I’m in the midst of my 8th season writing the Frank Caliendo comedy sketches for the NFL on FOX and I contributed to my 2nd year of writing material for the NASCAR Awards Banquet. My standup act has gone through some positive changes which better reflect who I really am.  April 2011 will mark my 20th year performing stand-up comedy. Now, only 30 more years until I can retire at 75. (you’re kidding yourself if you don’t think the social security benefit age won’t be there in the future.)

So, this is where we leave you at the end of 2010. We’re cautiously optimistic for the future and, let me add, it’s taken us a few years to get there. We hope that you are lucky enough to feel cautiously optimistic for the future yourself.  So, the Long family wishes you a cautiously optimistic Christmas and a reasonably Happy New Year!