Donovan's ok : from Bridget

> So we're about 30 minutes out from dropping Donovan off at camp. I
> pretty much can't stop crying. I know we made the right decision but
> i also doubt our decision. donovan was upset when we left and i
> couldn't talk him through to feeling better because I knew I would
> start crying too. We left him in the hands of Erin, the amazing OT
> that visited him in Mary Free Bed and his cabin leader. About 25
> miles down the road, no more napkins or kleenex left in the car and we
> crest a hill to a rainbow! You have to zoom in the photo but you can
> see it arching right over the road.
>
> For any of you that remember The rainbows the week of Kevin's passing
> and have read Heaven Is For Real, you'll understand why I have peace
> now that we did do the right thing by having Bay Cliff guide him
> through this next phase of his rehab.

School and Parties

Well we are settling into our new routine as we are all home, school is done and a few wonderful memories as we enter the transition from MFB to Camp starting next Sunday.  First the arrival at home!

Bridget, Emma, Carl and the Nelson Family (plus one Mast) spent last Wednesday night and Thursday morning getting our home ready for D's arrival.  Lot's of balloons and signs along our driveway.  For those old enough to remember the Burma Shave Cream signs along the roads, that's what our driveway looked like thanks to Mary Nelson, her kids and Wyatt Mast.

Balloons and signs as we drive in

We had a nice night at home, spagetti and meatballs (Donovan's favorite for dinner) and a quiet night just settling in.  The next morning was the last half day of school.  Everyone was excited to be done and Donovan was excited to go see his classmates.

I was very touching to see the reaction as Donovan walked down the hall way in lead of his mom and I.  Everyone we saw was "Hi Donovan!" "Way to go Donovan"  "Great to see you Donovan"...

We rounded the first corner  (before i could start videoing) and two girls from the other class ran up to him and gave D BIG Hugs and very sweet words of welcoming.... Here is the video after that point.  It took me a minute before fixing how i held the camera but i do so hang in there... It is worth the wait...

Our fist full day at home, Donovan had Wyatt and Bennett over for a play date.  They had loads of fun.  It is wonderful watching his friends play with him and being so careful with him and yet just being his friends.

Heading to the Tramp for a try.  It was amazing watching D just plugging away to get where he wanted to be.

On our second day, a girl in his class, McKenzie Cole, had a birthday party at a local hotel pool.  It was great again seeing his friends welcome him.  McKenzie's parents and several of the mom's there were very helpful.  We swam, sat in the hot tub, at pizza and cake, played videos and sang Happy Birthday.

Donovan and Daniel hanging out in the Hot Tub

McKenzie and Friend having fun!

Hom... Part Dos...

Ok, I think I maxed out the blog with that last post and many pictures...... First time for everything.  Just a few more that I want to share........

Angry Bird, Monkey, Fish, Froggie, Steve, Sheep, Tiger, Lizard, are packed and ready to go home.  Like visit number one to MFB, D's old and new friends stayed close and comforted him at bed time.

The final fair well in the Social Room... 

Good Bye MFB...We hope we never pass through these doors again.... but we are glad you are here if we need to! 

.... Wait to you see Bridget's post of of Donovan's pictures of his homecoming!!!!  :)

Home..Where I want to be...

Yes, we are home!  I'm making this post as I listen to the talking heads song... this must be the place...  Here is the link for those interested...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFeforW2ycI

I thought of this song as I relax after unpacking and having a good stout beer (Founders Poet).  The talking heads were always one of those bands i never bought but always enjoyed when they came on the radio.  It became popular to in the the Movie Wall Street, during a seen when Charlie Sheen and Daryl Hannah's characters are making pasta in their newly furnished apartment.  Weird things you think about catagory!!

Anyway, Donovan's Journey day 89 (or something like that) and we are back home.  Carl is complaining about Emma and Donovan getting to much attention.  Emma is mad about something girls her age are mad about (and people ask me why i didn't get married until I was 38), and Donovan is being Donovan (Mom, can i have chips and Salsa?).

This beer is good.  Darn it, it's my last one!

So we had a round of goodbyes this morning at MFB.  The best moment was when Donovan and I made our final move to leave and we were alone in the social room except for Noah.  He was on the computer (see pic below) playing a game.  I said to Donovan "let's go" and he said "I'm going to miss MFB".  So I told him I understood as he made a lot of friends. 

As we walked out, he said good bye to Noah and both boys looked very sad and gave each other a heartfelt, soft high 5.  Now Noah does not speak, but the look in his eyes and his gestures made it quite clear he was sad to see Donovan go. 

Donovan, Noah and Anthony... The Three Amigos!

Noah Playing games on the computer

There were many good byes today, to staff, new friends, parents and people we have just come to know as we pass in the hall ways.  Can't say enough about the RN's, Nurse Tech's and Therapists.  

How do you say thanks to people who have taught your son to walk twice in 5 years......  God bless you....(including the cleaning crew who took the time to speak Spanish to him to keep his skills up!)

Donovan's favorite RN Jackie.   He insisted on a picture!

Donovan's favorite (second time around) therapist Star!  We got home and after about 3 hours he told us he missed her already!

Joe, Donovan's lead therapist.  Great man, very caring and unforgiving.  Just what D needed.

Morning Med's with Mary Ann... Never found Ginger...

Donovan's Doctor, Dr. Rush.  The Steven Wright of Physiatrist.  And a good one. 

Donovan's new favorite game...KerPlunk.. Remember that one?  Dawn was one of his OT's and she was great!  Deb (rec therapist on the left)

Jen was always a bright spot in the morning and could get Donovan to do things that were very challenging (like swallowing a pill).

Yahtzee!

Deb ran the social room and kept the games and events going!

Nick (RT) D, and friends Amanda and Johnnie.  Johnie had similar surgery a week after D.  He is a wonderful young man who has a great sense of humor!

Sarah and MaryAnn.  Our first time in MFB was before the changes in Electronic Medical Records.  Now the RN's Office is in the hallways, working on roving laptops.   This is the normal scene outside Donovans's room.

This is Elias.  Another one of the gang and one of the Nurse Techs who helped entertain the kids when not in therapy.  These students were a God Send keeping the kids entertained and interacting.

Going Home!

Tonight is our last night at MFB!  Donovan and all are excited to ending this part of his journey.  More to come later, but over the next week it will include:

Mom's breakfast burrito!
Going to school for the last half day and reconnecting with class mates and teachers!
Mom's Pancakes and Grist Mill Holiday Bacon!
Hanging out with Buster!
Sleeping in his own bed!
Playing the Wii on my big screen TV!
Watching Carl's last soccer game!
Mom's banana muffins!
McKenzie's birthday party at a pool!
Grilled Hamburgers!
Hanging out with Carl and Emma at home.
Visiting our cousins in Detroit for a couple of days!
Then.....

CAMP!!!! 7 weeks of fun and therapy on the shores of Lake  "Gitche Gumee" (Superior)!


As always, big thanks to all the people at MFB and the friends we made there!

New Friends

We are winding down on our stay (phase III) at MaryFreeBed.  We aren't sure how it all play out as we juggle what is right for Donovan, how the doctor feels and how the insurance will hold out.  Will keep you posted but this could be our last week!

Donovan, Carl and Emma, have all made new friends here as have Bridget and I.  We are not just talking about a wonderful staff; some new and some from our first visit; but the families and the patients we have met.  Some pretty incredible stories and people, who when we examine our situation, make us feel pretty blessed!

There is a young married couple here who celebrated their first anniversary here, after the man was in a very bad auto accident and who has a long road to recovery.  They have been here since the first of the year.

There is a teenage girl here who has spent time with us as she has very little family visiting her.  She loves movies and has a very devilish smile and personality.  A teenage boy, who is always in a good mood, a joy to play games with, that is paralyzed from the neck down.  You'd never know it from the smile on his face when he is winning at monopoly!

Then there is the family members of all the patients here.  Mom's, Dad's, sisters, brother's, friends, etc.... Some wonderful people...

You should have seen Carl and 3 boys, who I've never met before, invent a game of dodge ball using wadded up paper and utilizing chairs and tables as boundaries.  Or Carl playing air hockey with a 2 year old girl and gently hitting the puck so she could win.  I've seen Emma do the same thing......

And Emma doing art projects with the kids and making stuff for Donovan, family and friends.  Donovan's door has "D O N N I E" on it made from duck tape.  It is in recognition of how the "E Cousins" (Eric, Elliot and Emmet) now refer to Donovan when playing.

And Donovan.... Everyone knows Donovan!  Parents, friends and others, who i don't know, talk it up with him like they known him forever....  As frustrating as my kids can make this old fart of a Dad, they also make me a very proud father!  Thank God their Mom raised them right!

I'm sure at some point in this blog we will say a big thank you to all of you who have helped along the way.  Whether it was dropping off food at the house so we had a warm meal or parents of Donovan's friends who made the time to share their kids with us.  Old friends who live far away, yet always seem to email, text, or called to say hello just at the right time.  They listened to us vent about this or that (or sometime brag about how well D is doing). 

Then there are the parents of Carl and Emma's friends who at a drop of a hat, took them in overnight, or picked them up at school because of my work or our schedules, just to give us a little breather!  And Bridget's family who have stepped up and helped soooo much in many many big and little ways....

God has blessed us and words can't express our gratitude.....

Donovan and Anthony playing a computer game.  They became fast friends playing the Wii Of Course

!

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