Another confirmation of why we moved to Denver

Today I went to an assistive tech meeting at Braydon's school and boy was I blown away with excitement! They are so excited to have a child like Braydon to work with. We have been told by numerous professionals (ex. Physical therapists, speech therapists etc.) how they are amazed at what they see in Braydon. He is bright and just so ready to learn. This specific team has come in to look at possible ways to get Braydon to communicate. They are toying with the idea of using his foot and knee to activate switches for communication. There is also a new eye gazing system which allows him to scan through different pictures with his eyes and will speak the choices. We spent two hours together. Mind you Braydon is in a year round school and is actually on a track break right now, so most of the people involved came in on their own time.(I tried to imagine that happening in Vegas) We will be meeting again next week and they are bringing in some of the devices we have discussed for trial. I also am setting up an appointment for Braydon to go to a simulation clinic for a power wheelchair. This facility has a simulator that Braydon sits in and tries all different ways of moving a chair around himself. This will allow us to see the best and easiest way for him to function in a motorized wheelchair. It also has the ability to show if the communicating device and the way he uses the communicator will work while he moves himself around. I am overwhelmed, excited and grateful that these things are happening. After sitting there and watching Braydon get so excited, smiling from ear to ear, as he is asked by the the therapists if he likes using his eyes, foot, and knee to activate a switch to speak to us, I am so grateful for the decision we made to move here, as hard as it is and was on us, Braydon's smile makes it so worth it!

Xbox360 $150, Video Game $50, Patiently waiting to watch his brother play $$PRICELESS$$

Braydon is a boy of routines. He comes home from school and needs his cup of chocolate milk and then it is time to watch his brothers play the xbox. On this particular day he was really wiped out from a day at school and was so patiently waiting for Cayson to finish his homework, that he fell asleep in his chair. After he woke up I showed him the picture and he just smiled and laughed!! It's amazing how a child can remind you of the true blessings in life, such as the companionship of a brother.

A Madisyn Moment

I was eating lunch with Madisyn at McDonald's the other day and she was examining her fries and looked up at me and asked, "Mom, Do these fries fall down in my legs when I eat them?" Of course I wanted to tell her "No honey! They go straight to your bottom!" I had to explain to her about her tummy and how the food gets digested. She is always thinking and keeping me on my toes!!

More Family Fun

Sarah, Ryan and Mike arrived just as soon as we dropped my mom and dad off at the airport and they stayed with us thru New Year's day. We really had fun! We went to the Denver Zoo, Casa Bonita(really fun place with not so good Mexican food) and Denver Temple. We spent New Year's eve playing games and eating a lot of junk food! Sarah and I along with all the kids(that would mean that Mike and Justin were asleep!!!) stayed up till 1am. In Justin's defense he caught my flu I had earlier in the week. Braydon was such a trooper! He stayed awake until midnight and fell asleep with the noisemaker still in his hand. I will have to get those pictures from Sarah and will post them as soon as I can.
Now things have quieted down and we(me) are ready for the kids to get back into school.

Happy New Year!!

We had a great 1st Christmas and New Year's in Colorado. My Mom and Dad came Christmas night and spent the next four days with us. I was able to take my mom to see "Marley and Me", drove around the neighborhoods. (So she could find a nice place to live, SORRY DAD!) Took them to dinner at our new favorite pizza place, Old Chicago and what was really nice was their Christmas gift to us was dinner and a movie by ourselves, unfortunately I was sick with the flu and was only able to enjoy dinner, no movie! THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE NIGHT OUT MOM AND DAD!!! The kids really enjoyed seeing Grandma and Grandpa and showing them their schools. It was nice to have them here and can't wait till next time!