Chumps and Lumps

What's that saying... the family that plays together, stays together?

We're thinking it should be changed to

the family that jumps together are chumps together.

 Or probably better for our circumstances-- how bout, the family

that jumps together survives their lumps together.

 Boy Wonder is oh, so happy when he's outside.

It was another good day and we are so grateful for every one.

You'll enjoy this-- I know Kean did.



Giddy-Up!

Our quiet Saturday turned out to be quite exciting for Kean.

A friend of ours owns a ranch where she boards horses and gives lessons.

She's decided to offer free horse therapy lessons one Saturday out of each

month for special needs kids.

I helped her out by sending out a press release and by hooking her up with

the Treasure Valley Down Syndrome Association.

Today was the first offering and there evidently was a miscommunication.

One of the local TV stations showed up at 10 but the Down syndrome kids weren't coming until 11.

Since the photojournalist could only stay for half an hour, my friend Teri called me in a panic

and asked if I'd rush down with Kean.

By the way, Kean has been cleared by his doctor (with some special rules and circumstances)

to start private horse therapy lessons next month.

So this was a good test to see if he'd like it.

And guess what-- he LOVED riding the horse.

 I actually was the one holding onto him as he rode on his maiden voyage for the news guy.

(I just wanted to get some pictures of him here).

The moment he got on, he broke out in a huge smile and was

trying to push my hands away-- he thinks he's ready to go on his own.

 Here's a super short video clip.

By the way, our little "Hollywood" was on the 5 and the 6 o'clock news.

However, I think the girls were more excited about his new found fame than he was.

Here's a link to the news story.

http://www.ktvb.com/news/Horse-therapy-volunteer-program-helps-kids-with-special-needs-208021771.html

The Fix

I'm happy to report all is well with the Greer girl.

GiGi woke up this morning her normal bouncy self

and was excited to go to school today for the district wide 4th grade Rendezvous

(a day long field trip that they prepare for all year long). 

Kean too, had another great day.

We walked the girls down to the bus this morning and while there

we ran into a neighbor who lives one hill over.

Can I just tell you how nice it was to answer his questions

with all positive answers.

Kean is doing so well, he's happy, eating well, sleeping well,

and seems to be tolerating his meds for the most part (he still has a good vomit about once a day).

But really, for the first time in a long time, I'm not stressing over anything with Kean's health.

And what a nice blessing that is!

And in case I don't mention it enough, Kean's sisters are spectacular.

Holland and Greer take him for long, lazy four wheeler rides around the yard

day in and day out.

The kid just pines away for his "DaDa" and sisters to come home each day

so he can get his fix.

Thankfully, he's so cute and sweet.

He's pretty hard to turn down.

Warped

What happened to the days when I'd put Kean in bed for a nap and he'd actually go to sleep?

Nowadays, he giggles, goofs around and as of today- destroys his room.

Look how we found him.

A picture off the wall in bed with him...

 his herd of stuffed animals and everything else in the crib-- on the floor.

 I swear the kid cracks us up several times a day.

In the middle of a walk this morning, my phone rang.

It was the school saying Greer was throwing up.

Sigh.

On the way home from getting her, she told me it wasn't an upset stomach or the flu.

Her eyes had gotten blurry, then a bad headache came on.

Poor girl didn't quite make it to the trash can and was embarrassed that she vomited

in her classroom.

Meanwhile, I'm panicking... a brain tumor is the first thing that comes to my mind.

Stupid Cancer has me warped forever.

By the way, she's fine.

Came home, took a nap, ate like a horse

and seems totally herself.

She and Holland even made duct tape swim suits for their dolls tonight.

Guess we avoided another catastrophe for now, eh?

The Swimming Pool Saga

I have to say today made life seem quite normal.

Kean had double therapy-- he was a pill.  Enough said.

But he seems good otherwise.

Wish I could say the same about my dear neighbor Grandpa Bodily.

We had a particularly cold "cold spell" this past winter and when

he went to get his pool ready for spring and summer he found that he had a frozen/broken pipe somewhere.

Mark Moomey has been 'slave boy' and has painstakingly dug up half the pipes

from here to Tucson... to no avail.

Then today (after two weeks of sleuthing) they found the culprit-- outside the pool area,

right next to the pump equipment.

Yikes... what a mess...

but what a fun playground for Reesey Magoo.

We just hope fixing it won't be nearly as difficult as finding it!

Vroom Vroom

Today was one crazy day.

Lot's of meetings on our Keanut's fundraiser

so the boy spent much of the day with Grammy and Grandpa.

This is him seconds after pops told him he'd take him for a motorcycle ride.

 We've been having a bugger of a time getting Kean to use words instead of signs.

But one word Byron can consistently (for Kean) get him to say is motorcycle.

I guess it is all about motivation.

Because the reward for the word is this:

Don't you just love those abs?

Teri's My Name and Spoilin's My Game

We had a friend stop by today... Teri Morley Garzon.

She and I were friends eons ago in Vegas and now her parents just live a mile from us.

Small world.

We had such a lovely time chatting and catching up.

She named her little girl (almost 3) Holland-- sound familiar?

We think it is an absolutely brilliant name.

Teri came bearing gifts today-- a bag of scrumptious salty and sweet popcorn... 

 

which Kean immediately set about to devour and a family game

to play around the dinner table.

We played it tonight--- (for example; who is the best teacher you've ever

had and why?), and was it ever fun. Greer and Reese got the giggles

and couldn't stop.

And finally, she brought me the coolest "Mother's Day" gift.

It is a purse made and designed by a young woman in her 20's name Yali.

She had Cancer as a girl and wanted to give back. So all

the proceeds from her "Carry On" purses go to the children's hospital

in Chicago where she was treated.

I'm so in love with and excited about this bag.

The peacock is a bird that replaces its feathers annually so it symbolizes

renewal and new beginnings.

The bird's tail is made up of paisley patters that represent the

paisley bandannas that many cancer patients use to cover their bald heads

during treatments.

And finally, the hearts that make up the feathers crowning the peacock's head

emphasize the love, support and service from family and friends.

I think it is probably one of the coolest gifts I've ever received.

Thank you dear Teri for a wonderful visit and a continuous reminder of your love!