I'm still here

There is so much to blog about and so little time. This past week we celebrated my birthday, watched S score 7 points in his basketball game, took a weekend getaway (just the hubs and I), ran a 5K, attended my nephews baby blessing plus all the other regular humdrum stuff...

Don't give up on me. Details to come...

Pinewood Derby 2009

Saturday nights derby was one of those proud mom moments when you really appreciate your kid. It was also a great reminder that: NOT everyone is a good sport, NOT everyone will win, life goes on! H's car wasn't the fastest but he still left with a smile which is what made me proud. He did receive an award for the car with the most "MUSCLE" and we had a lot of fun.

Saturday was also the first time we used the powerchair indoors which means Crew also had fun. I forgot to take a picture of his FIRST time driving indoors so this one with him in the background will have to do.

What's a MOM to do?

Crewzer leaves for school at 7:15 now!!! I've put in my hours at work already and I still have another hour until he comes home. I miss him. There's a million things I should be doing but I'm not doing any of them. Ever have a moment like that?

February ramblings

I've been away too long. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to sit at my computer with the bulk of my stresses and worries gone. The last 10 days have been crazy!

Carl and I met with the school district and the deaf school to discuss Crew's transition to USD. After filling out mounds of paperwork it looks everything is clear for him to start tomorrow. The bus driver drove all the way up here to discuss transportation today. Crew will be the first picked up and the last dropped off which is exactly the opposite of what we hoped. We looked at carseat options and decided that I will drive him to school the first two days until they are able to locate a 5-point harness for him (my request). I'm good with this because I'm worried about the transition anyway so providing the transportation for the first couple of days will hopefully help him ease into his new world. Carl will be visiting part way through the first day and joining the preschoolers during their Tuesday swim day. Again, our choice! Crew is going to love swimming.

Also, I somehow survived the following:

• 6th grade science project. I'm pretty sure it meant more to me than my 11 year old.
• Teaching RS about the Parables of Jesus. Big stressor for me... but like I said, "I survived".
• Children with the flu.
• Crew's right ear tube falling partially out and then getting removed by the ENT.
• Crew molded for new DAFO's.

On a good note, I enjoyed:

• The best sugar cookies ever.
• Morning runs.
• A date with the hubby at "Roosters", flowers, and a day to myself. Took myself shopping... wahoo!

Honestly, I hope to not be as absent here in the near future.

A Shout Out to the World

We have been busy here partying! Crewzer turned FIVE! I can't believe it! Just moments after I shot this video we unexpectedly lost our balloons but Crew was so busy CREWZIN that he didn't even notice. LOL.

Today we have another party at the bowling alley. More to come...

The Deaf School.. following your GUT

My tour of the deaf school last Wednesday went well. Carl and I actually feel pretty good about it. At this point, we figure we may as well give it a try because if we don't we will never know...

Crew has attended the preschool with our district for two years now. He has made some good strides but nothing significant. We are still struggling to communicate with him. This past Christmas we received the entire "Signing Time" collection and believe it or not his ASL has taken off.

I was able to observe all three deaf preschool classrooms together for "large group" activity. It was fun to watch the kids interact with each other. Most of the kids have hearing aids or cochlear implants. Many of them have glasses and a few were in wheelchairs. It didn't matter. The kids seemed to all be friends. They interacted well. They communicated with each other. I saw happy happy, smiling, giggling children.

Sometimes when I think about the strides we've made in the last 6 weeks I get kind of choked up. It's my greatest desire to see Crew communicate. And while the thoughts of having him away from home for such a long day make my heart sink, I hold out HOPE that this change will be a good one. We only want what is best for Crew. With that in mind, I made the phone call today that will set this transition into motion.

There is that parental instinct when you decide to do something you never thought you would do. I call it parenting through your GUT. Not that I haven't spent a lot of time on my knees though.

Have you ever made a decision "in the best interest of your child" that you never thought you would make? How did it turn out?

The GOOD and then some of the OTHER.

Crew's wheelchair is here all the way from Texas. Our PT flew to Texas and brought it back with her on the plane. I am constantly amazed at how often we are blessed with people in our lives who go out of their way to help us. This PT doesn't even work with Crew anymore since he graduated from the 0 - 3 program. Two years later she is still watching out for him.

Let me just start by saying the chair was in good condition before it was turned over to American Airlines. Several phone calls were made to AA prior to this trip to determine the best way to bring this power wheelchair home via plane.

To make a long story short, the airline busted it up pretty good. The base is cracked and broken. The headrest, footrest, and armrests are all bent. A complaint was filed to American Airlines so hopefully the insurance coverage for 15K will cover the damages. What a mess! She said the chair came out of the baggage shoot. Uh hello, its a 200 pound chair. What a bunch of idiots!

Crew is excited! When he saw the chair sitting in the garage this afternoon he threw a fit because he couldn't drive it. Fortunately we still have the demo chair here and he was able to "Crewz" around in it for awhile.

I have contacted the Permobil rep through email already. Hopefully he will be able to stop by soon and write up a bill to submit to AA.

And since I don't have a current picture of Crew with his therapist, I am posting one from 2006.

In the Blink of an Eye

When did this baby
turn into a little boy???

Reading Between The Lines

A conversation with Crew's preschool teacher:

Miss K: I'm just calling to see how Crew is doing?

Me: Oh, he's good. Why... did he have a bad day at school today?

Miss K: I just wondered if he wasn't feeling well and/or if he was tired?

Me: Well, he did fall asleep on the bus ride home.... maybe he was tired.

Miss K: When he got to the classroom he just layed on the floor for like 10 minutes. When Clark (deaf therapist) came in and started signing to him he livened up a lot and they started signing to each other. Clark asked him if he was "tired" and (blah blah blah blah blah)... rubbed at his ear....(blah blah blah). I'm trying to learn 3 or 4 new signs a week and use them with Crew. (blah blah blah).

Can you imagine functioning in an environment where your teacher only knows a handful of signs and that is your main form of communication? Can you imagine the frustration, the boredom?

After last weeks IEP, Carl and I have decided its time to take a long hard look at enrolling Crew in the Deaf School. We've decided to take a tour of the school and meet the teachers. Tomorrow I will make that call.

Up for a CHALLENGE?

And because spastic quadriplegia isn't enough of a challenge we have to add boots that are 10 sizes too big.

For yonks we've been stuck in the crawl-around-with-oversized-shoes-or-boots-on-your-hands stage. Constantly we are tripping over the aftermath of Tornado Shoe. Just this week I stood him up and slipped his little feet into a large pair of boots, ya know... just so he could get his "feel". Consequently, he likes this new hobby very much but it involves me following him around. What a guy!