Luke LOVES school!!

Well it is official...Luke LOVES being back in school! So much so, that he hates to leave school. We put him half day at school, so that he can still get all of his therapies in the afternoon. Well...he does not like leaving school one bit, and I have the pinch marks on my hand to prove it! So, this week we are starting with a big step (for me, not for Luke,) and he will be going to school all day on Mondays. In addition, he is now staying at school thru lunch on the other days. I am so happy that he loves school so much, and hope that it continues. I am hoping it will motivate him in other areas. Luke is the only student in his class in a wheelchair. I had recorded a video of Luke walking with his walker at therapy, and Luke was watching it with us. I asked him if he wanted to use his walker at school and he replied a loud Yeah! right away. So, we have made a new rule for Luke, no more wheelchair in the house, it stays outside. He is only allowed to use his walker in the house to get around. He did great today, pray that continues. Then hopefully he will become strong enough and his balance better so he will be able to use the walker at school. Thanks for your continued prayers!

First Day of School!

Well I survived the first day of school. I know I was more nervous than the kids. Lynsey started Junior High and Luke was back to school for the first time since he was hurt. We went to meet the teacher night last night and I loved his teacher and all of the aides in his class. That helped to calm my nerves. This morning I stayed with him in class for a few hours to show them what he can do and how he moves/gets around when not in his wheelchair. I must say, it takes a special and very patient person to be a special ed teacher. God bless all of you that do this!! When I went to pick him up, he grabbed onto the table with both hands and did not want to leave. So, so far he loves it, and I really think it is going to be a positive thing for him!
In his desk at school, he was so excited to see this!

First day pics!

MRI Time

Luke had his annual MRI on Monday to check to make sure his shunt is working properly and his aneurysm is stable. He did great for the procedure. I always hate it because they have to put him to sleep to do the MRI. We have heard back from Dr. Manwaring, who monitors his shunt, who said all is well with the shunt. Now we just wait to hear from the other dr that monitors the aneurysm.

We are busy getting everything ready for Luke to go to school. He will meet his teacher on Tuesday afternoon. As it gets closer, the pit in my stomach gets bigger. I just pray it is a good thing. It is so hard to know how he is going to react knowing what school and the kids he was with before he was hurt was like and then how school and the kids he will be with now. I just hope he is accepted and not laughed and stared at by the kids who knew him before he was hurt. I received this email that sums up just how I want Luke to be accepted. I appreciate all your prayers for this transition, that it may be positive, and bring more restoration in Luke. Thanks!

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities,
the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten
by all who attended.  After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he
offered a question: 'When not interfered
with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay,
cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?"
                            
The audience was stilled by the query.  The father continued. 'Ibelieve that when a child
like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity
to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat
that child."


Then he told the following story:


Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball.  Shay
asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?"  I knew that most of the boys would not want
someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were
allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence
to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.                                                   

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could
play.  The boys looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game
is in the eighth inning.  I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to
bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the teams bench and with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.  I
watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart.  The boys saw my joy at
my son being accepted.  In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few
runs but was still behind by three.  In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a
glove and played in the right
field.  Even though no hits came his way, he obviously was ecstatic just to be in
the game and on
the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.  In the bottom of the
ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.  Now, with two outs and the bases loaded,
the potential
winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.  At this juncture, do they
let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?  Surprisingly, Shay was
given the bat.
Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to
hold the bat
properly, much less connect with the ball.  However, as Shay stepped up to the plate,
the pitcher
recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in
Shay's life, moved
in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.  The first
pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.  The pitcher again took a few steps
forwards to
toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and
hit a slow
ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked
up the soft
grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have
been out and
that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right
over the
first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and
both teams
started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far,
but he made
it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone
yelled, 'Run
to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second,
gleaming and
struggling to make it tot he base.  By the time Shay rounded towards second base,
the right
fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance
to be the
hero for his team.  He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the
tag, but
he understood the pitcher's intentions so he too intentionally threw the ball
high and far
over the third-baseman's head.  Shay ran toward third base as the runners ahead of him
circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him
in the
direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators,
were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home!
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam
and won the game for his team.  "That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling
down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity
into this world."

Thank you Chloe for sharing this with Lynsey!
                            

Busy, Busy, Busy

These pics show just a little of what Luke has been busy doing!!

Cousins in town visiting from New Mexico!

Swimming with Cousin Dylon. He wanted Mom out of the pool and for Dylon to help him around.

Opening presents during therapy! What a great motivator they were.

Luke with all of his cards...SO MANY OF THEM!!! A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone that sent Luke a card on his birthday! He loved them:)

Opening the cards from the kids at Rockpoint Church.

Birthday Cake....Jimmie Johnson cake and Jimmie won the race on this bday to top it off!

Sparkler fun on July 4th

Playing with little sis!!

Luke has been doing GREAT in his therapies! My father in law took him yesterday and said all of his therapists were gave glowing reports on how good he is doing, especially with using his words. The speech therapist also called me and told me how well he did. She is very happy with the progress he is making and said he is right on target for slowly regaining his speech. This weekend he stayed with my in-laws. Nana asked Luke if he wanted Milk. He said, "yeah," but then took it one step further by sounding out "chocolate!!" So of course, chocolate milk it was and I think a banana split too for the good work:)

The countdown is on for school...three weeks from yesterday. I think as it gets closer the larger the pit in my stomach gets and the more nervous I get. I just pray it will be a good thing for Luke and his progress with continue to amaze us! Thanks for sharing this journey with us.