Steps!!!

Bryce took his very first independent steps last summer while we were in Michigan for the Conductive Learning Center's summer camp.  We were at the toddler play area at the mall and if my dad hadn't happened to have been standing right next to me, witnessing them, I truly wouldn't have believed my eyes.

As with all things Bryce, progress is steady but exasperatingly slow.  And since those steps he's continued to stand all by himself more and more, with increasing success and confidence.  He's also continued to work on taking a step or two and more recently 3 or 4 and, just very recently - and only very occasionally - as many as 5 or 6.

Try as I might, getting this on video has been impossible.  He'll do it once, completely out of the blue and then fall trying to do it again for the video.

BUT today, I finally got it!  So now that it's captured on video, posted to the blog and will soon be shared to Facebook, it's officially official - Bryce is taking steps!

(By the way, please don't judge us but we like to rock out before bedtime - hence the very loud background music - wink, wink)

I can't even express how joyful and grateful this makes my heart, y'all.  To be completely honest, there were months, years really, that I didn't know if Bryce would someday walk on his own.  Last summer when I saw him take those first steps I thought ok, he'll walk some but probably still need a walker or canes.

But seeing the fierce determination in his sweet little face when he's taking those fought and fraught for steps gives me new found hope and optimism that maybe someday he'll walk - really walk.

It's not like I think the end all, be all is walking.  It's just that life is harder if you aren't an independent walker.  Bryce's walker prevents him from walking on the playground, walking in and out of our front door, getting onto the bus by himself and so much more.

And as his mama, I think he has enough hardness in his life.  Wouldn't it be nice if this particular struggle was a part of his past?  I think so.

A New Look for a New Year

Just a quick note today to unveil the new look of the blog.  There are still some tweaks I'd like to make but time is of the essence (read: I have none to spare).  But since I'm rededicating myself to the blog I thought it only fair that it have a fun, new look to keep me motivated.  I hope you like it and it makes you want to come back again and again...and again!

Also, the Valentines fundraiser is doing fantastically!  I will probably have to stop taking orders soon so if you're interested please use those fancy new buttons under my picture on the right to get in touch.

Lastly, I created a new Facebook like page for all things related to fundraising for Bryce to return to the CLC summer camp again this summer.  Please hop on over and like it!

With love & appreciation,

Hello 2014!

Wow, where did last year go? I don't know exactly but it's gone and I'm honestly excited for 2014 and what it has in store! A friend and I attended a Carrie Contey workshop on Sunday entitled Creating Your Best Year Yet. 

It was a great day of me time and got me totally psyched about the new year.  I've set several goals, created a new paradigm and listed the lessons I learned from 2013 to help me stay focused and positive in the new year.

One of my disappointments from last year was neglecting to write more and blog more.  Yes, yes they are the same.  But for me they are also different.  No matter though.  My point is, I'm back y'all!

So much stuff is going on in our lives that sometimes it's easy to let ourselves fall to the bottom of the totem pole.  Sharing our story, our struggles and our triumphs, here is cathartic to me.  It's the cheapest therapy there is.  And the community that rallies behind us never ceases to amaze me.  Of course, I've always held hope that my words might reach another family in need at just the right time.  That would make it all worth it.

But let's be realistic too.  The to-do list is long and always growing, we're just as busy as ever and all these kids (you say there's only two but sometimes it feels like there's 100 - trust me) need me.  So I'm vowing to update the blog once per week.  I'm so noncommittal (actually, I prefer to think of it as setting myself up for success in the New Year) that I won't even promise a certain day of the week.  But hey, baby steps, right?

One of my other goals for 2014 is getting Bryce back to the Conductive Learning Center's summer camp in Michigan this year.  The benefits were beyond my wildest hopes and I sincerely feel like he's doing so much more this year already - well, who knows how he'll benefit this summer?!  Excited? Me?  Just a whole heck of a lot!

With that being said, we've started our first couple of fundraisers already.  A dear friend is collecting gently used children's clothes and toys to sell at the Just Between Friends Consignment Sale in Georgetown in March.  We'll be getting together this Saturday to hang and tag items that are donated for sale.  And probably at least once more before March.  I'm eternally grateful to Michelle for coordinating this fundraiser!

Secondly, I'm doing a small fundraiser which actually helps satisfy two of my 2014 goals.  I'm raising money to get Bryce back to CLC by being creative: selling custom, handmade and personalized Valentines.  If you have a little one who could use some feel free to email me or Facebook me (see contact) for more information.

 

See you again next week and cheers to a wonderful 2014 for all of us!

Miracle League Baseball

Bryce participated in his first baseball game today. It was only 2 innings long and no one got out but he didn't notice. He batted for a home run in the first inning, with just a little assistance from yours truly. 

After I was able to escape the field he did well on his own, with his buddies, and enjoyed a second inning RBI and some fielding with his coaches and buddies in the outfield. 

I had pretty much given up on ever getting the chance to watch Bryce play my favorite spectator sport. Today was a dream come true. 

I can't wait to see how the weekly games improve his independence and walking endurance. 

-one proud mama

A family selfie - one full face and several partials will have to do. 

First Day of School

Today is Bryce's first day back to school. I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to cry...okay maybe just a little. 

I can't believe summer has come and gone. It's often hard to mark the passing of time with Bryce - his abilities are not vastly changed (though progress has certainly been begrudgingly made), his feet are one size bigger and his glasses new but his clothes from last year still fit. Despite the typical signs of your child growing older and bigger, time still moves as fleetingly. 

Soon we'll have to figure out where Bryce will go next year, we'll have to settle in for a fight against kindergarten and a serious look at alternatives. 

But today I'm just going to relish in the pure joy of having two amazingly loving and sweet little boys that will let me hug and kiss on them {almost} as much as I want. 

I'm going to focus on summoning the will to make the tough decisions (therapy, back to MI, kinder, Botox, posterior v. anterior walker, insurance...and the list goes on and on) over the coming weeks and months. I'm going to soak up all the little boy love I can and will Bryce's first day into an exciting, fun and friend filled success!

We have so much to be grateful for today! 

His favorite teacher was just as happy to see him as he and I were to see her. 

He was so excited he could barely bother looking at me while waving good-bye. 

I am so, so proud of how brave and confident Bryce is despite his challenges. 

And there went my heart, without even looking back...