Is it really almost summer?

Hi all,

Is it really almost summer???? I don't know about all of you, but time is flying by for us! The end of the school year is FULL of activities.

I am looking forward to my doctor's appt. next week for my broken ankle. It's been three weeks since my surgery and hopefully, next week I'll be able (fingers crossed) to get a walking cast on. That would make things a lot easier.

We've been so lucky and grateful for everyone's help while I'm laid up. We found a wonderful young man who works at Nick's high school (thanks to a wonderful professional at Nick's school) who is providing respite for Nick in the mornings to get him and Charger up, fed, dressed and ready for school. It's been working out great and he's been bringing them home from school too.

As I've talked about before in the blog, Nick has played baseball for over 10 years for the Greater Toledo Challenger Little League (www.gtcll.com) and he loves it. He decided that this year, he wants to help out coaching or with whatever else they need him for, but definitely wants to still be involved. He said he enjoys watching the kids play and loves it but wants to start coaching if he can. So, that's the plan. Then we got a call from the Miracle League (www.mlnwo.org) and Nick was asked to play. This is another league, newer to our area than GTCLL, but has teams in cities nationally. (www.miracleleague.com). It's also a league for kids with disabilities. Nick decided to play, to try it, as something new and still be involved coaching and helping out with GTCLL as well. We know other kids who play on both leagues, which anyone can do. So, Nick had his first game for Miracle League this past Sunday and had a lot of fun. He plays for the "Bulls" team. The teams were small, there were only four kids on Nick's team, and we're not sure if they'll have more. Anyhow, he hit the ball all the way out to the fence and it hit the fence. Nick always surprises people with his arm, how strong it is and how he can hit. He loves that! We are looking forward to both leagues this year. It will be busy, but we know Nick loves it!

Isabella is looking forward to her dance recital this coming Saturday. She will be performing her routines for Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop. The theme is "Going Green" and they are doing a "stomp-like" number for one routine. The kids had a big pizza party this past Saturday at the dance studio to make all of the decorations for the recital, which I thought was a GREAT idea. It gives them "ownership" over it, they used recycled materials, and they had a blast! We can't wait to see her in her recital on Saturday! This will be her 5th year taking dance. (plus a few more years if you count the little classes she took at the YMCA as a toddler/pre-schooler:) ) Bella is also taking Nick's service dog, Charger, in to her class this Thursday for a book report presentation. She read the book "Working Dogs" and so Charger will be perfect for her presentation. She is excited and has been practicing with him a lot. She'll be finishing up 4th grade in a few weeks. Time just flies! Next year will be here last year at elementary school:(

Nick plans to work at The Ability Center of Greater Toledo as a volunteer staff person for Camp Cricket like he did last summer. (www.atbilitycenter.org) He also plans to attend camp with the Ability Center at Camp Storer again. Isabella plans to attend Camp Cricket at The Ability Center for two weeks as well, during which Nick will be a counselor. Camp Cricket is a day camp for kids with and without disabilities and they do a lot of fun activities at the center and out in the community. Nick's attended since he was six (minus a few summers when we were in Canada at Ability Camp, www.abilitycamp.com for 6 weeks for therapy for Nick, etc.) and Isabella, who does not have a disability, has attended since she was six as well and loves it. Isabella is also attending two three-day camps at the Toledo Area Humane Society (www.toledohumanesociety.com) and she has done this for the past couple of summers and loves it! We also hope the kids get some down time this summer to sleep in, hang out, and just enjoy their summer.

It's hard to believe that Nick will be a senior next year and we are
going to be getting senior pictures taken and touring college campuses this summer. It doesn't seem real yet because as a Mom, I still remember him as a little boy, but also because it's taken a lot of work on his part to get to this point and sometimes we wondered how things would turn out. It's one thing to know he's capable and smart enough to go to college and say that and talk about it. It's another thing to get to this point and then realize all of the things that he'll need to have in place (assistance, etc.) to allow him to succeed. It can be done, is done, for sure. We just haven't done it before. It's all new to us, like most parents, with the added layer of "disability stuff, services" we need to put into place. It's yet another transition. Transitions are something often talked about, written about in the disability community. Transition from early intervention services (birth to three) to preschool, then to elementary school, jr. high and high school, to work and/or college. Each of these steps is a big step for anyone. Add the disability on and it then involves a whole new "system" and group of professionals to work with, new services, new "plans" (IFSP, IEP, IPE, etc.), so you have to learn a whole new language and culture of services. I'll write more about transitions another time. The point it, here we are beginning one of the biggest transitions so far in Nick's life. We are facing it with a bit of fear of the unknown, but also a lot of excitement for Nick and his future. Like I said, it's just hard to believe we're HERE already!:)

So, I'll be keeping everyone updated. I always say, "it's all for the journey" and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Blessings:)
Amy