Cerebral Palsy Family: February 2012

Friday, February 24, 2012

The Toledo Crash VS. Owens Express March 24, 2012-Spread The Word!!!!

Hi everyone!

The Toledo Crash (Nick's Wheelchair Football Team) vs Owens Express:

Saturday March 24th 6-8 pm at Owens Community College

Join Us! Come and watch and you may be inspired, as well as have a good time:)

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthe-toledo-crash-football-team.com%2F&h=7AQEXSxjVAQE1MDLmGFG7eqBxj0xWxasX2DUGPKXumQ_j_Q

I've talked about Nick's football team before and this is going to be the first time they play this team. PLEASE come to the game if you can and spread the word and encourage others to come! We'd greatly appreciate it. I know Nick and the rest of the team would appreciate the support! Thanks!

Blessings:-)

Amy

Abilities Expo

Hi all,

Here is a link to Abilities Expo:

http://www.abilitiesexpo.com

They put on a number of events each year or "Expos" and here is a short description from their web page:

"For the last 30 years, Abilities Expo has been the one show dedicated to educating and improving the lives of Americans with disabilities, senior citizens, families, caregivers, healthcare professionals and professional therapists. It has been the nation’s foremost event for companies to demonstrate their products and services to the largest community of end-users and industry professionals."

I thought you may find this of interest and/or know someone who maybe interested . Feel free to pass this on. Thanks!

Blessings:)
Amy

Cerebral Palsy Family on Facebook

Hi all,

I've mentioned this before I believe, but we have a group on Facebook which is a link to this blog which is at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/cerebralpalsyfamily/

Blessings:)
Amy

New Blog Address for Woodlane

Hi all,

Here is a new blog address for Woodlane (in Wood County, Ohio):

http://www.woodlaneworks.wordpress.com

http://www.facebook.com/wood.lane.works -their Facebook page

Their web site is still www.woodlane.us .

Amy

Friday, February 17, 2012

Updates February 17, 2012

Hi all,

Check out a picture of my new License Plate above. It was the best abbreviation I could get to fit because I wanted to support Special Olympics too (www.sooh.org). Obviously, the CPFAM stands for "Cerebral Palsy Family", the name of this blog and our Facebook Group linked to this blog. We are thinking about getting some abbreviation of Team Hyndman if we can when we have to renew Greg's LP this year. Nick just got his LP for his van and we didn't get a specialized number, but he did get a "handicapped" or "disabled" LP tag instead of him using the card on his rear view mirror because it was hard for him to take on and off of his rear view mirror and it was in the way while he was driving, so we opted for getting it on his License Plate instead.

We hope everyone had a lovely Valentines Day:-) Nick had classes that night so we are going out to dinner as a family for Valentines Day this weekend. We exchanged small, meaningful gifts and hope to just spend some time together this weekend.

Isabella had a band concert last night and she/they did GREAT! The kids are just busy with school and their activities (band, dance, wheelchair football, writing songs). Nick got to go to his old high school this past week and wrestle/workout with the wrestling team which he REALLY enjoyed. It means a lot to him and to us that they ask him to do this. He's gone over to work out with them and watch them several times now when he's available. It also gets him out of the house and socializing:-)

We just got a Beach Wheelchair for Nick this past week. It's much bigger than we thought! For anyone who doesn't know, if you use a wheelchair, it is next to impossible, if not impossible, to push them on the sand. If you love beaches as much as we do, this is not fun. We've always had to either carry Nick (when he was smaller), now we walk him by holding on to him on each side (it's hard for him to walk steadily on the sand!), and then we have to carry his chair out to where we settle on the beach. In Hilton Head, they had a tarp down to push a chair on but once the tarp ended, it was the same situation to get to the beach. So, we thought we'd invest in a chair, which was about $2500, with the idea he'll have it for a LONG time and can use it whenever he wants to. BUT we realize we'll have to have a van or other way to transport it as we'd have his other wheelchair and this one to GET TO the beach, so if we'd fly somewhere, that may be a problem. It is big, but can fold, so I wonder if it would be possible and affordable to fly with it as luggage or, well, I'm not sure yet. That is why we usually drive most trips because we have Nick's wheelchair and equipment and it's just easier for us. We have flown but it's not easy with all of his stuff, his service dog, Charger, etc. Of course, we would and probably will fly again but it would just take some planning I guess. Anyhow, I'll try to get a picture of it up on the blog soon. We're STILL waiting on Nick's sports wheelchair to come in for his wheelchair football and other sports. We paid for it in early December so we are hoping it will come in soon as we are not dealing with insurance, etc., which is supposed to be what usually takes so long. We've waited up to six months in the past for insurance when we've ordered his regular wheelchairs, which by the way are the only kind insurance will pay for and they only pay for a new one every five years. Anyhow, we are excited for him to get it for football! He's really banged up his regular wheelchair, and we've had to repair it and get new wheels several times, so we are hoping this titanium chair will be a better option for getting rough and crazy like they do:-)

Nick's spring break is next month and Bella's is in April. Now that Nick's in college, the only breaks they get together is Christmas/New Years and the 2 months in the summer if Nick doesn't take any summer courses. Bella's got 6th grade camp for a week next month too.

Blessings:-)
Amy

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Each Of Us Remembers

http://www.ucp.org/uploads/media_items/each-of-us-remembers-parents-of-children-with-cerebral-palsy-answer-your-questions.original.pdf

Hi all,

I read this, "Each of us Remembers", for the first time when Nick was a baby, through a lot of tears, and I couldn't finish it. Eventually, I did. I found I could relate to it and feel it, even more so as I look back now. I realize now how accurate so much of it was to my feelings and reactions. As time goes on, you are on such a roller coaster of emotions, lots of highs and lows and sometimes when you least expect them.

I thought some may appreciate this or find it comforting, helpful, etc.

Now, you can get this on United Cerebral Palsy's website, www.ucp.org, under resources, then under parents and families.

Blessings:)
Amy

The Toledo Crash Football Team

Hi all,

I've talked about the wheelchair football team Nick plays on, The Toledo Crash. For anyone on Facebook, they have a Facebook page.

They have a website too which is at:

http://www.the-toledo-crash-football-team.com/

Blessings:-)
Amy

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Registration for Challenger Baseball Toledo Area

Hi all,
Here is an e-mail I got re: Challenger baseball / The Greater Toledo Challenger Little League for anyone who has or knows a child who would like to play and / or someone who would want to volunteer as a "buddy":

Good Friday!

Just some information to pass onto you!

Ball registration will be Saturday February 25th at the American Legion on 204 Illinois Ave in Maumee. It will be from noon til 5pm. Please remember if you help on the field with the players we will need a volunteer form completed and a copy of your drivers license. Registration is still $30. Brandon from All Wear will be there also. He will have sample shirts so you can double check the shirt size you need for you child, along with shorts for you to see and try on if necessary. Yes that is right, the kids will be receiving shorts too with their shirt and hats this year! Brandon will also be taking parent shirt orders too. Please remember for parent shirts the money is due at the time of the order.

Please let me know if you have not received your registration paperwork from your coaches yet, and I will email them to you!

Opening day picnic will be on April 22nd. The picnic will begin at 430pm and the games will start at 6pm.

Reminder bowling is this Sunday at 3pm!

Have a great weekend!
Georgianna Lanning - glanning@nbls.org

I don't have any further info. but if you have any questions or need forms, contact Georgianna Lanning at the e-mail listed. Thanks! The website is http://www.gtcll.com.

Blessings:-)
Amy

Clearwater Marine Aquarium - Clearwater, Florida

Hi all,

I know I had mentioned in a previous post that we saw the movie Dolphin Tale back when it came out in theatres. Nick said it was probably the best animal movie he'd ever seen. We LOVED it. That inspired us to take a detour on our trip to Florida for the holidays, so we spent Christmas (4 days) in Clearwater Beach, Florida so we could visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) featured in the movie Dolphin Tale and meet Winter, the real dolphin in the movie playing herself, whose story the movie was based on, and all of the other great animals there. We knew it was based on the true story of Winter and they filmed at CMA but we had no idea how much until we visited and watched the movie on DVD, the "Special Features" part, and they showed video of it.

First, we want to share information about the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and recommend you visit their website at http://www.seewinter.com. There's so much great info, merchandise you can purchase, information on visiting and how to donate. We have been telling everyone we know about it and telling them if they are ever in the area of Clearwater Beach, Florida or anywhere close to there, to visit CMA! It's definitely worth it. As you can tell, we were very touched by it, inspired by Winter and the other animals and the passion of the staff. This place is the real deal. They rescue, treat, and when possible release so many animals and the ones that live there cannot be released for a variety of reasons.

We get nothing for telling you about this except for the excitement and satisfaction of hoping more people will visit and/or donate so they can continue to grow and do more of what they do so well. We fell in love with the animals and were so impressed by the passion of the MANY happy and enthusiastic volunteers and staff, most of which were hired since the movie as they are now able to expand and grow from the publicity. This is a win-win situation for everyone, good for the animals, the staff and volunteers, and visitors, believe me.

We just got the DVD recently and watched it AGAIN this weekend and were talking about how much we love it, miss it, and badly want to go back. We many not be able to go soon, but believe me, we will be going back when we can some day.

We visited on December 23rd for most of the day. I had scheduled a behind the scenes tour and it was somewhat busy that day, although not too busy or too crowded at all and the tour was REALLY amazing. Next time we want to wade with the dolphins as well, get in with them. Nick, as well as the rest of us, was so inspired by Winter's story and perseverance, determination against so many odds, to go on and live life in spite of his physical challenges. Winter is not the only animal there that inspired us. We got to watch another dolphin ,Nicholas, whose sad, incredible story touched us. He was funny, we got soaked by him and loved it and he was so playful. After the show, he just kept coming up to us and turning his head and looking at us with his toy next to him, as if to say, "are you still watching me?" It was BEAUTIFUL and moving, the whole day. So, GO if you can!!!!!!!!!!!:-)
And, if you haven't seen the movie Dolphin Tale, rent it or buy it (I would buy it if you can!). Watch the Special Features as well. I got it at Amazon.com but you can get it anywhere of course.

Thumbs (and all other fingers!) up from Team Hyndman!

Blessings:-)
Amy

PS- If you can't tell, we love movies. Last night, the kids and I watched the movie "Courageous". Greg was working but we can't wait to watch it again with him. We bought it too on Amazon.com. We HIGHLY recommend it. I have never cried and laughed so hard alternatively throughout a movie as much as I did while watching this movie. It is a Christian movie but I want to say, you don't have to be of ANY specific religion or belief to appreciate, enjoy, and take a lot from this movie. I think everyone would be glad they watched it. Just our opinion, but we liked it that much and wanted to share that.