Fall Outing

This Humphrey family didn't really have any plans for today so when Drew called and said their first choice of friends to hang out with got sick and they wondered if we wanted to meet them at a nearby orchard, we decided to take them up on it.  Ian hasn't really been out except to get his casts on, so we thought it would be good for him and of course, we never turn down a chance to see the granddaughters!

The orchard was young and not producing yet but we took a wagon ride (which thrilled Ian) and brought home some gourds.

 Ian has never met a dog he didn't like.

 Family photo (Felicia needs her shades!)

 Brenna signing Ian's cast

 Pops making Felicia laugh

Now, tilt your head to the right....

 (This picture was not sideways when I loaded it, so I'm not sure what happened but I can't seem to fix it.)

Again, no clue why it's like this.

Cast Signing

Ian got his casts yesterday and it turned out to be more of an ordeal than we were prepared for.  They stretched his legs a bunch and he was in more pain than after the surgery, even with meds to help.  After a traumatic ride home and some rest in his favorite recliner, he finally felt like getting in his wheelchair and having everyone sign his neon green casts.

 Dad got to go first with a giant marker

 Lucas was next

 Then Jeremy (and mom, too!)  In this picture, you can kind of see the stretch that they got.  His legs used to only stretch to about a 90 degree angle, so he's already made progress.  We are praying that the pain and discomfort will be worth the end result.

 Jeremy always wants his picture taken whenever a camera is present and if Ian was going to have his picture taken with Jeremy, then he certainly insisted on having one with his favorite person in all the world......Dad!

We are so thankful for our good friend, Lynn, who came with me to have the casts put on and brought dinner, too!  I can lift Ian with the casts on but he was in so much pain and it was a huge help to have someone there to help get him in the van and hold on to him on the trip home.

Before bed last night, Ian was trying to tell me something that I didn't understand so I got his talker and he said he wants to go back to school!  The plan is for him to go on Monday for part of the day.  I think he's tired of mom.  ;-)

Simple Joys

One thing I've learned in the last 3 years is that those of us with functional legs cannot even begin to imagine how important a wheelchair is to someone who doesn't have the ability to walk.  Because of a miscommunication with the surgeon's office, Ian ended up with a non functional wheelchair after his surgery.  In other words, we are paying a month's rental for a chair that he can't even sit in.  Anyway, our incredibly wonderful OT and PT were on it immediately  and managed to get the parts (which had to be painted and shipped from CA) here in record time, so Ian could have his chair back.  Lenard came this morning and attached them and we wasted no time!  We headed out into this beautiful weather and Ian directed me to his favorite corner.  He still LOVES watching semis roll by and tries to get them to honk.  

It all reminded me of how often we used to do this when he first came home and before he started school.  If you care to see what he looked like 3 years ago, you can go here. Some things never change. 

Not only did he get to see lots of semi trucks, but we had a caravan of large vehicles pull onto our road due to a problem.  I asked if they minded an audience while they figured it out because they were making Ian's day!  So, he got to see everything up close and personal until they pulled out again.  

You can see by the above picture, that he still has splints on, but gets the casts tomorrow.  He's doing really well but frequently asks me to take those things off his legs.  

To everyone who has been praying, thank you!  What was supposed to be a one day hospital stay turned into a 3 day visit because something made Ian very sick (anesthesia, narcotics, flu bug???) and it took awhile before he could keep anything down.  He is back to his normal happy self and boy, are we thankful!!!  Now we begin the serial casting process.

Another Surgery

Yes, I am once again woefully behind on blogging and I continue to blame it on our pitiful excuse of a computer.  However, feel free to go to Lindsay's blog to see what I was up to last week:  http://lindsayandtroy.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-week-with-grammy.html  It would take me weeks to upload all of those pictures.  

On a different note, we would appreciate your prayers for our sweet Ian as he will be undergoing bilateral hamstring lengthening on Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital.  Ian's hamstrings are very short due to the cerebral palsy and also, the fact that he has learned to use them to help hold himself up while in his chair.  They will be lengthened as much as possible and he will have full casts on both legs that will be changed every week for 6-8 weeks, as they stretch further and further, we hope.  There is no way to know if his legs will be completely straight (probably not) but our hope is that they will be straight enough that he will be able to bear weight more effectively.  This would help with transfers as he continues to grow.  We are dreading the next few weeks because we can't stand to see him in any discomfort and know it won't be pleasant.  However, if anyone can get through it with a smile, it will be Ian!  Thank you for praying!  

Field Day and Horses

I know I say it all the time, but we are so thankful for the kids' schools and teachers.  Ian's class does amazing stuff all year long that give him fantastic opportunities.  In May, he was able to participate in Field Day with all the area schools and his class also did several days of horseback riding. 

Here is part of his class as at the opening ceremony for Field Day:

Let the games begin!  Everyone had a balloon to release.

Watching the balloons fly!

Ian participated in the Bike Race.  Do you think he enjoyed it? (That is his para, Miss Becky, who is a huge help and support for him!)

 Go Ian, Go!!!

It's been 2 years since Ian has been on a horse and he's gotten so much stronger in that time! 

Of course, he LOVED riding horses......but, there isn't much that Ian doesn't love.  :-)

He even got to go on a trail ride, instead of staying in the arena.

We are blessed to have people in Ian's life (besides family) that want to see him reach his potential and love him in the process! 

Camp WACK - Year 2

On Tuesday, Ian had the opportunity to attend Camp WACK again this year.  I'm sure I said the same thing last year but it is certainly worth repeating.  What an awesome activity for kids with disabilities who will never be able to ski like the rest of us.  Ian eats it up!  The folks who founded and run the camp are amazing and the number of volunteers that it takes is phenomenal.  There are people who donate their boats, time and gas, people who give up vacation days to help get these kids in and out of the water, fitted for life jackets and skis, ride jet skis alongside, take pictures, man the activities, etc. Organizations donate lunch and make it possible to have many other fun activities while the participants wait or for siblings.  I could go on and on but the pictures tell it all.....

Here is the ham bone getting ready for take off

Telling the boat driver to "go!" 

Not a great picture, but it shows how they rig these things up for kids like Ian and the jet ski that isn't far away in case he tips over

Coming into the dock after his first "run"

 After they pulled him out of the water

Everyone receives a "medal" which was a sheriff necklace this year (western theme.)

Because Ian has grown so much and is so long, they had trouble getting him to stay in the chair when they took off.  He kept popping out (which he loved, by the way, while mom was having a coronary!)  They worked and worked until they had him safely in the seat (notice all the extra padding to keep him in.)  The staff goes above and beyond to make sure that the kids have a fun and safe day of "skiing."  We are just humbled that so many people go to so much trouble for Ian and the others to have FUN!!!  Thank you CAMP WACK!  You're all AWESOME!!!!

July "4th" MM-DD Reunion (on July 7th)

Last weekend, we headed to Falls of Rough, KY for the annual Mom-mom and Dad-dad reunion.  It was great to see part of the family and especially the little girls.  Olivia and Brenna loved being on the boat together, sharing.....

 goldfish and....

 kisses!

Two handsome men

 Brenna helping Dad-dad drive the boat

 Beautiful Olivia

 Adorable Brenna

 She would have stayed in the lake all day long!

 And yet another handsome face!

 Felicia getting some kisses from Momma

Mom-mom entertaining Felicia....or is it the other way around? 

Felicia and her daddy

 

 Brenna zooming cars to Uncle Ian

 Olivia waiting for a movie to begin

 The kids got really tired of watching tennis so Dad-dad set them up with a small dvd player to watch Shrek.

Cute cousins!

Home-made ice cream is a staple at these events and this year was no exception.  7 freezers of the best ice cream you've ever tasted awaited - peach, strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, banana and I don't even know what else.  So many flavors and not enough time to eat them all but we gave it our best shot!

Thank you, Mom-mom and Dad-dad for a fun weekend!!