Happy 5th Birthday Michael and Matthew!

Matthew in "the suit"

This blog is a week late in coming but, Michael and Matthew turned 5 last week.  5!  I can't believe it.  It someone ways the last 5 years have flown by and in other ways, it has been a long 5 years.  When I look back over this time, especially the last year, I am amazed at the progress they had made.  Late in 2012 both boys were able to go through a 3 week intensive therapy called "Therasuit Therapy".  This therapy is like putting 6 months to a year of therapy in 3 weeks.  They both went 5 days a week for 4 hours a day. 
This therapy would have not been made possible without the help of the awesome church community that surrounds us.  We did a fundraiser to raise the money for this therapy.  This therapy costs $7000 EACH!  That is not money I have lying around the house, if you know what I mean.  I thought it would take me months and months to raise this money.  God had other plans.  The money was raised in less than 2 months!  A therapy that I thought they wouldn't be able to do until this summer they both did between October and December of 2012.  When God moves, He moves and I am forever grateful.

Michael in "the suit"
 

This benefits from this therapy has been many.  Increased strength, mobility and endurance to name just a few.  Matthew has become so much stronger.  Michael's confidence has grown and continues to take more and more independent steps at therapy.  Michael also just got discharged from OT (Occupational Therapy).  He is up to speed with any other 5 year old when it comes to his fine-motor skills.  Yeah! 
I could on in more details about the progress the boys have made but, I think video and pictures will speak much better than I can ever do justice.

I also want to give a big thanks to all the therapists who helped the boys through this "boot camp" of therapy.  The therapists at Progressive Pediatrics are the best.  There is not one day that I have been there that they don't have a smile on their face and ready to take my boys.  Love them!

 

 

My boys came into this world 8 weeks early and started life at just a meer 3lbs. 12 oz. each.  Their future was uncertain as they spent the first 7 weeks of their life in the NICU.  Since then we, as a family, have had many ups and downs.  I know these boys have been given this cross for a reason or reasons that only God knows.  Michael and Matthew carry this cross with such grace and joy. They continue to beat the odds and progress beautifully. 

I have posted in my office a poem that was written by Ryan Sprague.  He too, has a son with cerebral palsy.  I hope he doesn't mind me sharing this but, I read this often and think of my boys.

I hope you enjoy it as I do. 

 

The Road He Travels

by Ryan Sprague

 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

But this is the only path I know.

A weary traveler, long I stood,

And wondered if I ever would,

Travel the road where my brothers go.

 

Their way is smoother, but all is fair,

I do not wish them off their road.

In our family, my burden's shared.

It's actually better that they are there.

for from that path they can share my load.

 

I doubt if I'd been given the choice,

That I'd have opted for this trail.

But I might have missed that still soft voice,

That gives me the power to rejoice,

And provides the wind that fills my sail.

 

After many steps along my way,

When at last my final breath is spent.

I'll look back fondly on that day,

When the smoother path was taken away,

And know why mine was different.

 

How the Olympics Have Inspired Me



XXX Olympiad



Oh, the Olympics! 

In years past I was not an Olympics fan.  I think the reason for this is that I wasn't a very huge sports fan.  The Olympics only interfered with regularly scheduled programming.  Over the past 12 years, my husband has slowly gotten me into watching them.  At first, I went kicking and screaming to watching them, but as each year passes I see more and more the magic that the Olympics has to offer.

The first Olympics I really remember enjoying was the 2008 Olympics in Bejing.  This was the first time I was introduced to the likes of Michael Phelps.  I still remember articles on the web about his 10,000 calorie diet (or something like that).  Fast forward to the 2012 Olympics in London and I am hooked.  The kids have really enjoyed it too.  Our daughter gets out the American  Flag and starts waving it!  I love the patroitism that is stirred in my soul.

What has me drawn into the Olympics is the stories behind the athletes.  The work and obstacles some of these people have overcome to get there, to me is unimaginable.  It is unimaginable to me because I am in awe of the patience a person has to have to endure all of that for just a few minutes in time.  In some cases, like in the 100m, a few seconds! 



You are not disabled by the disabilities
you have, you are ABLE by the abilities you have
-Oscar Pistorius



There are quite a few that have impressed me like Missy Franklin, Gaby Douglas, but the one that has caught my attention the most is Oscar Pistorius.  If you haven't heard of him, he is the double-amputee that is running in the Olympics.  Now, those are 2 words you don't typically hear in the same sentence: double-amputee and running!  If you don't know about this guy, you need to find out more about him.  He inspires me in so many ways and I can't help but think about Michael and Matthew when I see him.  To me Oscar Pistorius is an amazing example of what a human being is possible of doing.  He is an example of what the human spirit can achieve.  He made something seemingly impossible a reality.  I see his story and stories of people similar who overcame, what seemed to be insurmountable odds, I am filled with hope.  I have hope for Michael and Matthew that they will overcome the limitations that they were born with.  They will be another example of the power of self and more over the power of God. 

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." -2 Cor 12:9

There is so much more I say about Oscar but, all one has to do is look at his life and that says it all. 

I am a believer in the Olympics now, well I guess I am a believer in the effect the Olympics has on people.  What effect is that?  It brings out the best in these athletes and I think it brings out the best in us who are watching.  I know for me, it gives me hope; not just for the twins, but for all my children and for all of us.

If you are watching the Olympics, how has it spoken to you?