2013 ~

Hi all! I hope everyone has had a nice start to 2013. We are off in full swing with the sell of our home and the search for a new one. I think we were all a little sad to leave our home, so many great memories. Jax learned to walk & crawl, not 1 time in that house, but 2!! Brendan went from a toddler to a teenager and encountered some of the most trying times a school aged boy could! We shed many tears within those walls & said numerous prayers. A home holds many memories but the ones that will stay with you forever are the ones to treasure. We are excited to get a new house that will allow more independence for Jackson & many more joyful memories!

Jackson got his first pair of eyeglasses! The pic below was taken when we picked up the glasses & needless to say, he was not crazy about them. His little mad eyebrows say it all... They have yoke prisms in them, which help with his right field visual loss, everything is shifted to the right in an attempt to train the brain not to neglect that visual field. In theory, this should also help with his gait & balance. His vision teacher and para have both noticed a positive change in his vision with the glasses on. :)  He looks so studious in them.

Brendan is staying active with year-round basketball. He has a game at least every other weekend, if not every weekend and practices 2 x's a week. He is doing well in school and continues to be such a help around the house. Selling our home wasn't easy on him, but he has really stepped up to the plate and been understanding.  While we look for a home, he is sharing a room with brother. This makes Jackson extremely happy, not so much for the teenage brother. ;)  Pic of his bball team, they won a tournament a few weeks ago!

 

After 5 1/2 years of continuous PT & OT, we are considering taking a short break.. Yes, I can't believe those words are coming out of my mouth. I am a huge advocate for therapy and have seen what it can do, not to mention the amazing, talented and caring people who have helped us, more than they will ever know! We have talked to the rehab doctor and therapists and all feel Jax is ready to be an active boy w/o the weekly therapy appt's. They will be providing us home therapy programs and have made themselves available via phone (they may regret that) :) We will look at doing a round of intensive therapy which is 2-3 x's a week for approx. 6 weeks. Research shows that after a certain point of recovery, intensives become very important and beneficial. Please wish us luck as we approach this change. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, this is what we have known for so long, not to mention what has gotten Jax to where he is today.

School continues to be one of Jackson's favorite places! He asks for it before we even get in the car & screams Miss Cheryl's name till we park. He has so many nice friends but 1 imparticular that shows such compassion & understanding for Jax. If every child could be as caring and at ease with those who are different, as this little boy, our world would be a more comfortable place.  He treats Jackson like he does all the other kids but, makes modifications where he needs to, so Jax can participate in all activities. I hope when he gets older, he knows what a difference he made on Jackson's life.

Thank you to all of you for checking in on our family! We continue to take life one day at a time because we know tomorrow could be completely different.

Tina