Maid of the Mist
From the Maid of the Mist
Visiting with Richard's Dad
Richard's Mom and Dad
Richard's new "used" carSunday, August 23, 2009
More Pictures
Maid of the MistFrom the Maid of the MistVisiting with Richard's DadRichard's Mom and DadRichard's new "used" car
Pictures
Whitney, Cousin Alex and Uncle Ray, Jayna- It was really nice that there was this swing set at the nursing home.
Whitney feeding animals at the Olentangy Indian Caverns
Walking through the caverns
Jayna at the ward campout
Enjoying gem miningSaturday, August 22, 2009
Random thoughts- August 22
I just wanted to jot a few things before time goes on and I don't get my thoughts down. A lot of my random thoughts could probably be a blog post in and of themself, but I'm not going to dedicate that much time to it right now.
1. We just got back from a quick trip to Columbus. Richard's parents live there. His Dad has had a tough medical journey the past few years and is kind of tired of it all- ready to move on. Recently they discovered cancer by his esophogus and have decided not to treat it. From what I understand, they estimated him to live from a few weeks to a few months. So we wanted to go down so Richard could see his Dad. The timing worked out well, he already had a week off scheduled. We went out to eat one night- there is a place down the street from the nursing home that he could just ride his scooter too, and brought in McDonalds another night. Uncle Ray, Aunt Shawna and cousin Alex were there too. The whole experience has made me think a lot about something we talked about in OT classes- making the disabled's lived in world as large as possible. Richard's Dad can no longer transfer from his scooter to a car- therefore he can seldom get out. He was so excited to go to K-Mart on a nursing home field trip- and this is someone who normally would not be excited about going to K-Mart, but if it's your only chance to get out (he can be lifted into the van and stay on his scooter) you look forward to it. Once they were there, they really only had about 45 minutes to shop. He was happy to get an Icee and have a smoke break. It made me think- what happens if you have treatment on the day of the scheduled trip and can't go, what if you aren't able to go because the # of patients in wheelchairs/scooters is very limited... How small does your world become. A year or two ago- he was living his own life, but now is so dependent on what is available through the nursing home and everyone elses's schedule- how hard that must be. Once I have my OTA degree I'm qualified to be an activities director, something I've thought about.
While we were there we went to the Olentangy Indian Caverns- everyone really enjoyed it. The caverns and history of it were vey cool. We also enjoyed gem mining (even me- I love a treasure hunt!), there were animals out to pet- I loved it that they were just free roaming- there was a bully goat that ended up eating the bag that Jayna was feeding him from, and Jayna also enjoyed the playground. Nice little day.
2. Fair memories- past and present- We took the kids to the county fair and had a good time. It had been a few years since we had gone- Jayna didn't even remember going- so it was time to go. The fair reminds me of being a kid- having animals at the fair we would be there basically everyday of the fair- my Dad would give us $20 or so to spend during the week- a taste of freedom- then I also met my sweet hubby at the fair- so some really good memories. My goat and chicken did okay, but our lambs always placed lousily! We didn't ride rides because we have Darien Lake passes and it seemed silly to pay so much to ride there, but we enjoyed yummy fair food (gyro, sausage sandwich, corn dogs, nachos, fried cheescake!), watching shows (sea lion, duck races, acrobats) and playing games. Andrew and Whitney came home with a total of 4 goldfish (which are suprisingly still alive), and Jayna a light up sword which she has managed to torture everyone with. Jayna enjoyed seeing the animals and Whitney really hoped to be able to bottle feed a baby calf , but it was by raffle and she wasn't picked. She is a true animal lover- it is so natural in her (unlike me), she did enjoy petting the rescued greyhound.
3. School starts soon for everyone- I had great plans that over the summer I would come up with how to make things feel more balanced than last year, but.... not much has been accomplished. I hope to rely more on God this year, and pray that I don't stress out so much.
Just read- Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser- a must read for parents of teens and educators
And so it goes...
1. We just got back from a quick trip to Columbus. Richard's parents live there. His Dad has had a tough medical journey the past few years and is kind of tired of it all- ready to move on. Recently they discovered cancer by his esophogus and have decided not to treat it. From what I understand, they estimated him to live from a few weeks to a few months. So we wanted to go down so Richard could see his Dad. The timing worked out well, he already had a week off scheduled. We went out to eat one night- there is a place down the street from the nursing home that he could just ride his scooter too, and brought in McDonalds another night. Uncle Ray, Aunt Shawna and cousin Alex were there too. The whole experience has made me think a lot about something we talked about in OT classes- making the disabled's lived in world as large as possible. Richard's Dad can no longer transfer from his scooter to a car- therefore he can seldom get out. He was so excited to go to K-Mart on a nursing home field trip- and this is someone who normally would not be excited about going to K-Mart, but if it's your only chance to get out (he can be lifted into the van and stay on his scooter) you look forward to it. Once they were there, they really only had about 45 minutes to shop. He was happy to get an Icee and have a smoke break. It made me think- what happens if you have treatment on the day of the scheduled trip and can't go, what if you aren't able to go because the # of patients in wheelchairs/scooters is very limited... How small does your world become. A year or two ago- he was living his own life, but now is so dependent on what is available through the nursing home and everyone elses's schedule- how hard that must be. Once I have my OTA degree I'm qualified to be an activities director, something I've thought about.
While we were there we went to the Olentangy Indian Caverns- everyone really enjoyed it. The caverns and history of it were vey cool. We also enjoyed gem mining (even me- I love a treasure hunt!), there were animals out to pet- I loved it that they were just free roaming- there was a bully goat that ended up eating the bag that Jayna was feeding him from, and Jayna also enjoyed the playground. Nice little day.
2. Fair memories- past and present- We took the kids to the county fair and had a good time. It had been a few years since we had gone- Jayna didn't even remember going- so it was time to go. The fair reminds me of being a kid- having animals at the fair we would be there basically everyday of the fair- my Dad would give us $20 or so to spend during the week- a taste of freedom- then I also met my sweet hubby at the fair- so some really good memories. My goat and chicken did okay, but our lambs always placed lousily! We didn't ride rides because we have Darien Lake passes and it seemed silly to pay so much to ride there, but we enjoyed yummy fair food (gyro, sausage sandwich, corn dogs, nachos, fried cheescake!), watching shows (sea lion, duck races, acrobats) and playing games. Andrew and Whitney came home with a total of 4 goldfish (which are suprisingly still alive), and Jayna a light up sword which she has managed to torture everyone with. Jayna enjoyed seeing the animals and Whitney really hoped to be able to bottle feed a baby calf , but it was by raffle and she wasn't picked. She is a true animal lover- it is so natural in her (unlike me), she did enjoy petting the rescued greyhound.
3. School starts soon for everyone- I had great plans that over the summer I would come up with how to make things feel more balanced than last year, but.... not much has been accomplished. I hope to rely more on God this year, and pray that I don't stress out so much.
Just read- Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser- a must read for parents of teens and educators
And so it goes...
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Camp Ashead
Finishing touch for the chocolate covered marshmallows!
Camp Ashead sign
Boys will be Boys!! Andrew and Richard enjoyed using the magnifying glasses to try to start a fire!
Jayna showing off her sand art creation!
Angela and Jayna having a race!Well, Jayna declared it to be "the second best day of my life" (being beaten out only by the day she was born), so I will call Camp Ashead a huge success this year. We've been doing Camp Ashead for years now- we probably started the year Andrew finished first grade- because I was inspired by fun activities that they did at the school's Camp Skeeter day.
Anyhow- Camp Ashead is a day of fun "campy" activities, but I have to say that I think a lot of the enjoyment comes from the fact that I really just try to play with the kids all day. Instead of sending them to blow bubbles, or draw with chalk I'm right there- the whole day- really trying to spend a lot of fun time with them-
Andrew and Whitney have outgrown it, so this year I put them to work helping with the activities. They did a great job and I was really proud of them. Since it would have been just Jayna playing, we did invite another little girl on the street to join us for a bit.
Andrew and Whitney have outgrown it, so this year I put them to work helping with the activities. They did a great job and I was really proud of them. Since it would have been just Jayna playing, we did invite another little girl on the street to join us for a bit.
Activities of the day included- Making camp posters, sand art, bubble blowing, chalk drawing, slip and slide, water balloons, water race, making chocolate covered marshmallows, looking at nature with magnifying glasses,grilling out and making smores and ending the night sleeping in the tent. (Well Jayna, Richard and I).
I have to say I'm so glad I can have these experiences with my kids- hopefully they'll remember them as happy times.
And so it goes...
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