Buds!

Just had to put this picture from the weekend out on the blog. Wyatt
is such a great friend to Donovan and wonderful boy to have around.
Thanks for visiting Wyatt!!

The great escape.

Donovan's friend Wyatt visited yesterday. We were heading out to go
for a bike ride and the boys took off before we were ready. Donovan
decided to "prank" us and headed for the front lobby. They told the
nurses they were meeting us there when actually the truck was in the
parking structure. When they passed the lobby front desk they told
them the same story. I caught up with them as they were happily
walking/rolling through a path way that is designed for wheel chairs.
Donovan likes to show his friends the path. They had a great laugh at
me when I showed up with Donovan's standard "tricked ya"!

So we finally got loaded in the truck and we had a nice bike ride in the park.

The Weekly Post - Steps forward and steps back....

Donovan continues to make great progress on his ability to walk.  Joe, his main PT, now requires Donovan to use his walker everyday until noon and he is walking with canes now as this video shows without assistance!

This morning he dressed himself without assistance (except for shoes and straightening out his socks). So that part is going well.  He has been struggling on taking his medician so we are back to evaluating alternatives to the big pill.  They have done a swallow study and have determined there are issues he is having (don't remember the details, that's Bridget's expertise).  So steps forward and steps back.

We are evaluating on how long he will stay in MFB.  Although he can get out sooner than we thought, we may stay to ensure he makes as much progress as possible before going to Camp on June 13th.  His Camp (not sure I've posted anything on this), BayCliff, is a camp designed for kids, up to 18, to provide Physical Therapy in a Summer Camp setting.  Can't tell you how impressed we are with this camp and the people we have interacted with.  It is very cool!

Donovan is excited to go after meeting one of the councilors who provided lots of pictures and told stories.  Here is a link if you'd like to check it out!  www.baycliff.org 

Star, Donovan's favorite PT, just said to me, "I've never seen him walk that fast on just crutches".  He walked around our floor two times without assistance with great posture and his gait has really improved!  So overall things are good.  We continue to work through the challenges of split family living and recently me doing some traveling for work.  Luckily, we have great friends who are helping out with Emma, Carl and Buster!

Mothers Day! Best Mom

So mothers day was interesting.  Donovan started the day with continuing the great progress walking.

Strutting with Star.. One of my Favorites!

Bridget and Carl were at home having some Mother son one on one time.  Emma, Donovan and I were at MFB.  We had a great brunch at Stella's and spent the day getting to know a lot of other patients and their families at MFB.  We played lots of games and had a few disagreements to settle with the kids.

Bridget took Emma home to get ready for 6th grade camp and "the boys" hung out, played a little Wii and ended with a movie.  It is weird having two "homes" right now and I'd like to say it is easy and causes no strain on our family, but, that only happens in movies staring Mr. Rogers. (and not number 12).

It amazes me how great the kids can play, be so compassionate and loving to each other one minute, then go to the absolute opposite the other side of the coin in seconds.  Oh well... I'll keep the referee whistle handy and understand the joy of two homes, natural sibling rivalry and our own faults and lack of patience, makes for a cauldron of ups and downs.

At the end of the day you learn to appreciate their greatness, understand their faults, do your best to help them understand how to be better, take a look in the mirror and try to do better yourself.  Most of all you realize how much you love them them when you hear say "Thank you Mommy...."   Happy Mother's Day everyone (one day late)...

Brothers....

 

 

 

 

 

I've got a secret and you don't know!

Jail break from MFB and liking it....NOT

"Dad, It's 2 days till my birthday... Woo Hoo!! Woo Hoo! Woo Hoo!"

The last two nights I've stayed with Donovan.  Amazes me how much energy he continues to show all day right up to lights out, and then almost instant sleep.  Ah, those were the days!


Yesterday he walked 200 feet and below is a video of him walking today.

 

Here is a pic if the video doesn't work!

The latest twist on the Lassig Medical front...... this just in.... Carl has been complaining of his chest and back hurting... So after a conversation with a Pediatric Doctor friend, Bridget took Carl to the Emergency room for xrays... then they did an ultra sound... then more xrays.....

So Carl was at a birthday party last weekend and was jumping on a tramp and the theory is he bounced on his butt while holding his breath and it pushed air out of his lungs and into the "lung Cavity" so he has air trapped so when he runs and jumps it causes pain..... Yeeessshhh...

Not a big problem, just no soccer and high impact activity... I hope the school will let him have recess or else he has to sit in and read or play games......  Going to church tomorrow and pray no more medical issues.... :)

Then again,,, not that bad... D is good and as you can see from this pic, the Bro's are just having fun!

Wii Brothers.... Skylander Giants Experts!!

4 not 7 !!!!! Great Day

Donovan had a great day and he worked very hard. 

1.  First he walked 100 feet with a walker with no braces!  Small steps as they were he was incredible.  Joe, his PT, said he is far ahead of most kids with this surgery. 

2. We met with his physician, Dr. Rush and he said he would likely be done in about 4 weeks not 7! 

3. Donovan was able to swallow pills for the first time without chewing them!  I know it seems small, but he has medication that in liquid form is awful, and I mean AWFUL.  Just the smell is enough to make you gag (Bridget tasted it and she can attest to how bad it is).  And he has to take it every morning.  He is such a trooper!  As bad as the liquid was, he always found a way to take it (albeit with some struggle)....

4.  He did all his math home work (fractions) in

less than 30 minutes. 

5.  We built an incredable marble tower and if you look closely at the picture below, you can see the marble is "jumping" from one tower to the next.

6. As if he isn't working hard enough, I took him out to a walk way area at the hospital outside to get some fresh air, and he insisted on a game of tag with his wheel chair, where by he propelled himself and chased me around, trying to "tag" me with his feet!  Then he wanted to prove to me he could wheel himself up a small incline that was about 30 feet long.

Finally the day was done, after earning extra Wii time with Dad.  As you can see in the 2nd pic, he gathered all his friends and fell fast asleep after I read him 2 chapters from Scooby Doo. 

Kids do amaze... and Donovan even more so....

The amazing jumping Marble!

Donovan and Friends all done!