Easter Fun Part 1

I am a couple of weeks behind on the blog, so I do apologize for the delay but I hope to be all caught up by the end of next week.



On Sunday, March 20th we went to the Elf Khurafeh Shrine Center for an Easter Egg hunt. It was a last minute plan but ended up being so much fun. The boys had a really good time. In addition to the Easter Egg Hunt, they had food, games, a raffle drawing, face painting, balloon animals and The Easter Bunny was there too. The two hours went fast, but it was a lot of fun and we will do it again next year.

The Easter Egg Hunt was divided into age groups. Infant-3, 4-7 and 8-11. The 4-7 group was the largest so the number of eggs they could get was limited. The lady running it let Alex come up to the front and get the eggs close to the building which was really nice. Once back inside, the boys got their face painted and played some games. One boy maybe 9 or 10 years old named Keegan came up and offered his bucket of eggs to Alex. A few minutes later, a group of 4 older boys came over with a huge bucket of eggs and gave them to Alex as well. It took everything in me to not cry. These boys we had never met before and didn't know Alex did this out of the kindness of their hearts. I think it melts my heart more that they are children doing this than adults. It gives me hope that this generation may be a good kind-hearted bunch. Here are some pictures from the event:

Alex playing a game

Alex picking up eggs

Egg Hunt

Face Painting

Evan getting a Leonardo Mask

Alex sporting his tattoo and flaming baseball on his cheek

This is the group of boys that gave Alex the big bucket full of Eggs!

Alex with Keegan, the boys who gave him his bucket

Grandpa won Evan a Lego Set in the Raffle

Evan waiting for his balloon sword

Field Trip Friday

March is reading month at school and last Friday, March 4th the boys and their class took a field trip over to the Middle School to read with some of the 8th graders. They also had some free time in the gym where there was a bounce house and basketball.

Before the field trip I told Mrs. Barry (their teacher) that I was curious to know who would want to ride with Alex on his bus (he has to take the special ed bus so they can transport his wheelchair). This was the email I got from her when they got back: 

Mrs. Williams,

We had a great time on the field trip. I asked all the kids this morning who would like to go on the bus with Alex and every kid raised their hand! A few kids were missing so we were able to fit all on Alex's bus. We arrived and went to the gym and then went to the second floor to read with the 8th graders. Alex was able to take the elevator up there. We had fruit snacks for snack. Then we went back to the gym for playtime and Alex went on the bounce house and played ball. It all went really well and all the kids had a blast! 

Yeah....I cried when I read this. I cannot believe that ALL of the kids in the class wanted to ride with him and then it worked out that they all were able to. It was so much sweeter than I imagined. I am going to be really sad when this school year ends. Mrs. Barry has been such an amazing teacher and I am not sure if anyone else beyond her is going to compare. She takes such pride in her job and cares so much about her class. She told me yesterday that she isn't ready to let them go and feels like the year is flying by - which I agree it is.

Evan looking thrilled to be reading....lol

Alex and his buddy

Alex liked the bounce house

Bounce House

Evan playing Basketball

Evan 

After lunch that day as I was leaving work, the school called me to tell me that Evan had an accident on the playground and would need stitches. He was running to line up for recess, tripped and slammed his head into a picnic table. So, an unplanned field trip to urgent care it was! The gash was just above his right eyebrow but wasn't as deep as it looked. The Doctor was able to glue it shut and tape it with steri-strips. It is still in the healing faze, but looks to be doing well. He was such a trooper and I am so proud of how strong he was through the whole process!

Smiling Boy

All Patched Up

Ouch!

I know this is only the beginning of many injuries for my boy who is always on the move and is very adventurous. It could have been worse, so I am glad he is OK.

As for Alex, he may not realize how much he means to his classmates, but I do and it makes my heart smile. 

EuroPeds Graduation #4

Today Alex graduated from EuroPeds for the 4th time! The past 12 weeks have flown by! As always, it was a positive journey for Alex. He did really well and we look forward to practicing the things he has learned in hopes of him getting even stronger than he already is. Thank you Amanda for putting up with Alex and his quirky ways. He really does love you and we are so happy that you have become part of his journey.

YAY!

Celebrating his hard work

With Amanda, his PT

Sitting tall listening to Ms. Karla read to him

Standing Tall

This is the gait trainer we are trying to order for him

Walking in the gait trainer

Wednesday he will get a round of Botox shots in his legs to help relax his muscles and release some of the tone for him. I am just disappointed that Physical Therapy is over because the Botox benefits are so much greater when he has it. This just means that Eric and I have to be on top of keeping him stretched.

On Thursday next week, we begin a new journey: Speech Therapy. Back in October we had an evaluation but insurance became an issue and then EuroPeds called with an opening. I decided to take the opening at EuroPeds for the time being but now we have moved forward with speech. I am very excited to see where this takes Alex. He has been more and more vocal here at home in the past month or so. I really want to see if there is potential there for him to speak or find a better way to communicate. I hope this new adventure has as great of an outcome as all his other adventures! I will have an update in a few months as to how it is going.

As always, we are very proud of all of Alex's hard work, strength and progress. He continues to amaze us.

Life at 37

I have a lot of goals for myself over the next year. Life is going far to fast for me to keep up, but I have to find a way to better myself. I always seem to highlight the positive things that surround me, but that just isn't enough. It has to start within and it has to start today. I have a lot of life to live yet and I want to be sure that I am living my BEST life.

I have a great husband, two beautiful children, a dog, a cat, a home and everything that comes with it.

Now, I have to find a way to make time for myself, believe in myself, build my self confidence and find happiness with who I am and all that I have. I have to stop dwelling on the negatives, letting negative people effect me and know that I can do all of this if I just take the time, find the motivation and believe. I feel like I am in a funk and it is time to get out of it.

I do good in certain things for short periods of time. Now I need to carry it through and make it stick. I am not a sad miserable person, but there is a lot of room for improvement and I am ready NOW. Even if I have to reference this post everyday for the next 365 days - if that is what it is going to take then I will do it. Not only for me, but for these 2. 

They need me. They look up to me. They depend on me. It is time to give them all they deserve.

This guy needs me to - and I need him.

Here is to life at 37. May it forever change my life in ways I never thought possible...until now.