Euro-Peds Reunion

On October 6, 2013 we attended the Euro-Peds annual reunion for current and former patients of the program. There were all kinds of fun activities for the kids and Alex got to ride around on an adaptive bike the whole time. Ronald McDonald made an appearance as did Cha Cha the frog from Rainforest Café. Evan liked Cha Cha a little too much and wouldn't leave him alone! They had a balloon activity which Alex loved! It was a fun afternoon and we are happy that we were able to be a part of it.

Alex and Rachael - he loves her!

That's Evan

Photo Friday

Today we went as a family on a field trip with Alex's class to Upland Hills Farm in Oxford, MI. The boys got to feed ducks, touch a chicken, rabbit, calf, cow, pig, horse and a week old bunny. We took a hayride into the woods where we got to walk through a "Story" and at the end, Eric and Evan picked some pumpkins. (Alex fell asleep on the hayride back) It was fun, but as always a lot of work with Evan. Please enjoy the pictures from our adventure below.



Evan feeding the ducks

Evan looks like he is talking to the duck






Alex feeding the ducks

By far my favorite!!

Waiting to pet the calf



Alex with the chicken

Evan trying to steal the chicken

Quite a hungry bunch



Alex with the calf

Evan with Poppy the Cow



The boys liked Poppy



Family Shot

7 Years

I can't believe it's been 13 years since Eric and I met, and 7 years since our beautiful (but cold) wedding day. Things aren't always easy, but we have made a wonderful life together and have two beautiful children. Time is flying by in this crazy so called life of ours, but I wouldn't trade it for anything! Happy 7th Anniversary to us!



October 13, 2006

Photo Friday

Today was a beautiful day to go to the Zoo - and that we did! We went with our friends Blake and Casey and the boys had a blast! This weekend at The Detroit Zoo is the start of the "Zoo Boo" weekends so the Zoo was all decorated for Halloween. There were multiple "Treat" stations that were decorated. It was really neat how they took the pumpkins and gourds and painted them and made animals out of them. I am glad we got to see the decorations because I think this would be something really fun for the boys to do. It runs in the evenings on Fri, Sat and Sun through October. We made our way around the Zoo and then stopped to let the boys play at the playground. This may be our last visit to the Zoo this year and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day!

Casey and Alex chilling

Evan and Blake at the Playground

Meet your Best Friend at the Zoo *How we adopted Brody

Detroit Lions!

Detroit Red Wings!

Detroit Tigers!

Blake and Casey!

Photo Friday

Alex may have Cerebral Palsy, but that doesn't stop him from wrestling with his brother. These pictures make me smile. Especially the last one. I love these two with all my heart!

Parent-Teacher Conferences - Alex

Last evening Eric and I attended our first set of Parent-Teacher conferences for Alex. Let me start by saying that I couldn't be happier for Alex and I almost cried on multiple occasions. His teachers both love him (no surprise there!) and they both stressed how well he is doing in class. He has his Gait Trainer in class with him, so he gets to go in that as well as a stander. He makes his way around the room to the different play areas they have. He has already painted a picture that is hanging up on the wall and he SITS on the carpet for circle time with all of the other kids.

Yesterday he participated in a song they had and he played the bird. He actually flapped BOTH of his arms like a bird and was smiling and laughing the whole time. The other day, they were doing an activity where he had a little bean bag on his head and every time it would fall off he would laugh hysterically!

His friends in the class know who he is and refuse to go into the school until he is off the bus and ready to go in with them. All of the kids help him out when he drops a toy or needs help and one friend will walk along side him in his walker. (Now I am crying).

I worry so much about him. I worry that he isn't getting the attention he needs, that he might be left out of activities because of his lack of mobility and lack of speech. I worry that other children won't understand and not want to be around him - not because they don't like him but because they don't understand. I have been worrying for nothing.

I want to meet these children and give them each a hug and say "Thank you for not treating him any different and for being his friend". His teachers are both amazing and I know they go out of there way to help him. I know that's their job, but it still means so much to me.

We were informed that the highlight of his day is when he gets to go outside and go on the swing. That is his absolute favorite thing to do. (This came to no surprise to us).

All in all, it was a great meeting and I feel even better about Alex and his school experience. I hope he continues to progress and have a good time with his new friends.

Happy October!!

I present to you Alex and Evan's 3 year pictures! I shot these last Friday in our backyard and although I couldn't get a shot of them together, I couldn't be more pleased with their individual portraits. Such handsome little men.

Alex Ryan

 Evan Michael