eSpecially Ben

I believe Andy Cooper deserves credit for this photo. This is Oscar Pistorius of South Africa.  The little girl is five year old Ellie. As the story goes, she raced Oscar four times and won each time. I know controversy surrounded  Pistorius's participation in the Olympics . I did not know much about his story, but I believed he should have the opportunity. After hearing him speak after one of the semi-finals and then seeing this, I am confident in my support.  With technology changing and opportunities being made possible, why not be inclusive?

Adrenaline Rush, Endorphin Spike, or perhaps Olympic Envy -  whatever it was, I have a new love for  Jumping Pillows . There were moments of fear - especially when my brother or husband decided to jump within inches of me. For the most part, it was like flying (with a safety bubble underneath me). Photo credit goes to my brother-in-law, Steve, who was very patient with me and my camera.

On impulse we followed signs directing us to this covered bridge. We traveled through twelve miles of winding countryside and worried if we would ever find our way back to the main road. We were skeptical, but were rewarded with a break from our long road trip. The stream with rocks and short walking path were enough to rejuvenate us for the hours to come. Is there a life lesson here?  Wandering can sometimes be what we need at the moment .

Ben's favorite place to be. Ever heard of the sea turtles who lay their eggs on the beach and then head back to the sea. Ben's technique reminded us of those beautiful creatures. If we did not stop him, Ben would have kept going and going. When Ben was not in the water, this is what he looked like... We used the Landeez Chair again. The lifeguards and staff at this beach were so helpful in making sure we knew we could use it for Ben and even offered to put one aside for the next day. It made traveling on the sand easy.

2003 2012 Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

We saw it on the evening news the same day of the event. The kids were pretty excited to have their moment on TV. I missed out since I was hunting pistachios in the car for hungry children. Check us out - it is quick so don't blink! The video is on the far right: Miracle Field Dedication - TV Story

When Ben is not doing well, it is an all consuming task to figure out what to do. And when things are good, everything seems brighter. For the past three weeks, Ben has been sleeping and eating well, walking with his walker and alert. "He's Back" was my second choice for a post title. Ben is back in full form - silly personality, sneak attacks and mischievous behavior. I will take it all - over the drugged out boy of a few months ago. The cause for these changes - medication. We have made just a few adjustments and they are working. In the meantime, we did have Ben's blood sent to a lab for genetic testing. Supposedly, it could tell us more about his seizure disorder and help in choosing the best medications for Ben. Right now, we will ride the high; enjoy a fun and wild summer, taking the boys swimming and hiking, going on road trips and playing disc golf. I take it all week by week, appreciate these easy times and keep my eye on the red head - because he is a tricky