Summertime fun!

We started out the summer just right with a vacation to Mimmy and Papa's in Arizona! We were absolutely amazed at how different Jax responded to things than in years past. Jackson wanted to participate in ALL activities and was not afraid to try anything! He rode the tube and did not want to get off! He rode the jet ski with Daddy, granted he wanted to drive so Eric got a little dizzy from going in circles. :) He also wanted to be in the water, as chilly as it was at times. I was so happy for him that he had such a wonderful experience and showed so much courage.. that's our boy!.. Brendan also had a monumental experience getting up on the water skies for the 1st time - good job bud!  Here are a few photos:

 I love fishing with my dad!

YAY BUBBA!!

We returned from vacation and haven't stopping going since. Brendan has been in basketball camp and Jax is receiving his summer therapies (ot, pt, speech) plus school tutoring and hippotherapy. He hasn't done hippotherapy (horse riding with a therapist) in quite some time due to his allergies and boy was he excited to start this week. We timed the allergy med just right and he had a wonderful time. I'm so glad he is able to attempt this again and hopefully each session the allergies will stay at bay.

Jax had an appt. with the rehab doc this week & all went great! He got 5 shots of Botox and in Jax fashion recovered like a champ, it was done in the office but their was no numbing cream. :( Needless to say, he got a chocolate milkshake afterwards! The long term goal with the Botox is that his muscles will continue to gain strength so we can space each injection out further and further. The doc made note that his walking looked very stable and to continue encouraging as much natural wallking as possible..Jax wouldn't have it any other way. :) He stressed how important this is for his hip and spine alignment.

As Jackson's walking increases, not only strength wise, but also endurance, I catch many more eyes looking our way. I'd be lieing if I said at one time it didn't make me angry or confused, but now I find myself saying they are starring because "They wish they knew him." They wish they knew who the sweet child with the bright smile is, they wish they knew what a tough spirit God blessed him with, they wish they knew that every word he speaks is a gift from above..I could go on and on.

Not a single day goes by that I don't thank God for this amazing, resilient, terrific miracle!

In the last week or two I have had so many people ask us how Jax is doing, those who we haven't spoken with recently, some that we have..either way, to know that Jax is in your thoughts and prayers, is so uplifting and heartwarming. Thank you!

Tina