Weekend In O'town

I wonder if Orlandoians hate that term. Kind of like how Atlantans hate 'Hot-lanta'.


On Saturday, CECO celebrated their 10th anniversary with a BBQ/Supply Drive at a nearby park. The founder took time to share his story behind opening CECO. Being a parent to a special needs child and needing to find an alternative to the public school system, he turned to Conductive Education. Not knowing then, of course, what 10 years of dedication to this COMPLETELY nonprofit school, an outpour of community support, and growth would bring. Today, CECO has a satellite office in Sarasota, FL and plans to open another one in Miami. They also have plans to offer adult housing for the young adults that transition out of CECO. The passion he has for improving the lives of these children is so inspirational. He and the Conductive Education concept makes you really believe that the impossible is possible. Every student there will live more independently than they would without that school.





OH! Their new Executive Director also spoke about what he’s learned in the short 6 weeks he’s been a part of CECO. He’s known Davis for a week and wanted the 100+ guests to know about his amazing rendition of Katy Perry’s Firework song. I’m not even kidding, people.





There’s, of course, play-by-play coverage of Casey Anthony’s release on every channel down here. I’ve been following her case since Caylee’s disappearance in 2008, so it was crazy to be within miles of her as she became a ‘free’ woman. I really wonder where she’s going to end up. And what’s going to happen to her. Hopefully it involves chloroform. And duct tape. And a trunk. I’m just saying.

"This Killing Time...Is Killing Me"

Clint said it best. To pass the time, I’ve been doing lots of…

Knitting…

Watching Big Bertha and Slim Jim settle their differences in the ring…

"Hmmm...what else?"

Listening to Daniel Tosh Radio on Pandora (when children aren’t present, of course). And I highly recommend this station, especially for your morning and afternoon work commutes. Uhhh...you're welcome.

I’m so pumped that my summer addiction, Big Brother, has started! Seriously, best.show.ever. Period.

Eating. And eating. And eating. And eating. There’s always something super yummy waiting for me in the kitchen.

Dance parties before bed…



Watching Davis do work…

And missing Husband. And Dockie Doc Doc.

Look Both Ways. Like, Five Times.

Davis walked right in front of traffic a car driving about 10 mph in the parking garage today.

Me: “Davis, you don’t EVER walk out into the street without Momma.”

Davis: “Right. Or Spiderman.”

I wasn’t sure how to explain to him that if a man is out in public dressed up like ‘Spiderman’ and tries to ‘walk him across the street’ (or ‘show him the puppy he has hiding in his van’ or ‘give him some candy’), chances are he can also be found on Georgia’s Sex Offender Registry and he should scream until someone comes to his rescue. So I just said, “Nope. Only Momma. Or Mustacheman. He’s the REAL superhero, anyway.”


This is the kind of thing that scares the urine out of me with him. He doesn’t pay attention to his surroundings like he should. He has this whole ‘go first, think later’ mentality. And, with his balance being so unreliable, he has more potential than other 5 year olds to get seriously hurt. I can speak from experience since I can barely take 6 steps without tripping, banging into something, or dropping whatever’s in my hand.

We’re working on it, though. Today, in class, the conductor made him do a lot of balancing exercises and walk through obstacle courses that challenge him to actually think about and pay attention to each step he took.

One Less Nunley, One Standing, And One Being A Big Dog

'Stache-tastic left this morning. Boo-to-the-hoo.

After being trapped in her cage pack-and-play off and on for the past two days, Booger finally learned how to stand up!!! She's pretty stinkin' proud of herself.

Note to her: You're growing up too fast and I want it to stop.right.now. Thanks.

Wooder started class today and it went well. He worked hard for five straight hours and when I told him I was thankful for that, he said, “Yeah, well, that’s how the big dogs do it.”

Shampoo and Switch-er-oo

We went back to Sea World today to take full advantage of our year-round passes. This time, Davis sat in the Splash Zone and got soaked by 'Shampoo'.

The Ronald McDonald House is soooo packed right now. We checked in last night and got stuck with a room on the second floor. Davis slept on about 6" worth of foam matting on the floor, but loved every minute of it. "I love my new bed, Momma." Reese slept in her pack-and-play...in the bathroom. (Is that DFCS worthy???) And that, actually, worked out really well because she wasn't going to sleep with Justin and I right next to her. She kept trying to stand up in the p-and-p to look at us in the bed and would get pissed when we ignored her. It was 10 o'clock, people! And we were EXHAUSTED!

Anyway, the room would've been fine, but I really like being on the first floor. It's so much easier to run to the kitchen alone and make a cup of coffee or come to the computer room after the kids have gone to sleep at night. Justin leaves tomorrow so I'll need all the 'easy' I can get. It all worked out, though, because the family in Room 6 (first floor AND the room where Davis stood up for the first time!) wanted a bigger, wheel chair accessible room (second floor) so we did a little swap out and now everyone's happy! Plus, I was bummed about being in Room 13. I actually said, out loud, "What if therapy is a flop now?" You can imagine what 'Stache-eroni had to say about that.

Cars And Back In Our Car

Justin and I try to make a conscious effort to give Davis special two-on-one attention. Once a month, we take him to do something, just the three of us. He's been, very discreetly, struggling with sharing our attention with Baby Sister. The other day, I walked into the living room to find his 5 year old body crammed inside her walker. I don't even know how he got in the damn thing. Every now and then, he'll start talking like a baby, too. And the potty accidents have gotten a little ridiculous in recent weeks.

Last night, we went to see Cars 2 while Boogs hung out with Pa.

Me: "Davis, when Dadda gets home from work, do you want to go see Cars 2?"
Davis: (Shouting and throws his 'duh' on the ground.) "Oh, yeah! I do! I do wanna go see Cars 2! Let's go, Momma! Let's go right now!"
Me: "No? Ok. We don't have to go."
Davis: "Momma, you are tricking me." (Tears immediately follow...)
Me: "I'm kidding, bro. It'll be just me, you, and Dadda. Does that sound like fun?!?"
Davis: "Baby Sister can come, too. She can go whereeeeeever she wants to go."

Such a sweet big bro!

Anyway, the movie was AWFUL! Nothing like the first. No humor and the plot was LAME! It was, like, 'double-oh-seven' meets one of those racing games you play at an arcade.

When I asked him what his favorite part was, he said, "When Barbie and Ken fell into the snow." Of course, he was referring to a Toy Story cartoon that played before Cars 2. He didn't like the movie, either, I guess.


Now, we're off to see the Wizard Orlando!

Davis Goes To College

Davis was filmed today, during PT, for a professor who's writing a textbook for physical therapy students. The footage will be used as a resource guide inserted in the back of the book for the students. How cool is that?!?!

When Kelly, his PT, was asked which of her kids would be a good candidate for this, she immediately thought of Davis because of the fact that he recently had the Rhizotomy procedure.

He totally took his job seriously and sang Michael Jackson during the filming. "Uncle Jackson walks backwards, not forwards. And he wears a white glove." Who has the best kid in the world? This girl.

4th Weekend Review

We had such an awesome time in Pensacola over the holiday weekend.

I'll recap with a few of the 87 million pictures I took...

Justin got his first ever jellyfish sting.

Hunting for crab.

Hanging out on the beach at night.

Anchored at the bay on the 4th.

A traumatizing 'sunscreen in the eyes' moment.

Davis entertained everyone with his Wipeout rendition.

Of course, a photo shoot.
An awesome fireworks show.
Watched the Blue Angels practice for their show this weekend.

Bass Masters

Justin and his new boyfriend best bud, Matt Green, compete in a fishing tournament on Lake Allatoona every Monday night. Check out the 8 lb bass that landed them in first place and put $500 in each of their pockets this past Monday...



Justin's, of course, crediting his new 'stache for being their good luck charm and is refusing to shave it. He thinks it actually looks good. Don't be jealous ladies. He's mine, all mine. Why in the world does he have a mustache in the first place, you ask? Matt LOVES mustaches! He dressed up as Ron Burgundy for a costume party on Saturday night.


Hope everyone has a fun/safe holiday weekend! We're heading to Pensacola for the next few days! That NEVER gets old!

Look Before You Leap

Reese and I got into a car accident the day before Davis' birthday party. Other than scaring the sh*t out of us and being such a pain to resolve, it was very minor. A teenager backed out of her parking spot as I was driving through the lot of Walgreens...and...CRASH! Right into the passenger side back door. Ignorant little girl. I'm not bitter, though. ;)

Anyway, while at said ignoramus' insurance place to trade my gem in for a piece of 'shampoop', Davis became really concerned about the fact that they drew all over my car. They drew circles around the damages and little notes on the window about specific repairs needing to be completed. You would've thought they set my car on fire with his 'duh' inside. He was so bent out of shape about it. We dropped my car off over a week ago, and he's STILL so bothered by the writing on my car. Everyday, I hear 'Why did they drawed on your car?' or 'This car is better because it doesn't have any words on it.' or 'I think they are going to be in biiiiig trouble for writing on your car.'...

We picked my car back up on Tuesday morning...

Davis (to the guy that helped me transfer everything from the rental to my car): "Thanks for fixing Momma's car."

Dude: "No problem."

Davis (to me as we're driving away): "Why did the 'mechamic' said 'no problem'? It IS a problem because he 'drawed' on your car."

Me: "Let it go, Davis. 'No problem' is the way really cool guys like him say 'you're welcome'. And it's 'drew', not 'drawed'."

I'll never have to worry about that kid taking a marker to ANYTHING that isn't paper.

Say Whaaaaat???

Davis: "What's the name of that killer whale I saw at Sea World? Oh, yeah. Shamu. You know what I like to call him? Shampoo. Shampoo. Insert twangy country accent here. Shampoo. Shampoo."

Me: "Why do you like to call him that?"


Davis: "Because I like to say that word. I like that word. Twang. Shampoo. Ha. Ha. Listen, Momma. Shampoop. SHAMPOOP! Ha. Ha."

Fun Facts And Stats About CP

• An estimated 800,000 people have Cerebral Palsy in the U.S.



• Cerebral Palsy was first known as 'Little's Disease', named after the British surgeon who first identified the disease in the 1860's.



• The estimated average lifetime cost of a person with Cerebral Palsy is $921,000, excluding hospital visits, emergency room visits, residential care, and other out of pocket expenses.



• About 2/3 of people with Cerebral Palsy are also mentally impaired.



• There is no cure for Cerebral Palsy.

Personally...

• Davis was diagnosed at 6 months old when he was still unable to lift his head up while laying on his stomach.



• He has Spastic Diplegia and hypertonia, meaning he has muscle spasms and increased tone in both legs and hips.



• He developed Cerebral Palsy from brain damage caused by hydrocephalus, the build-up of spinal fluid on the ventricles.



• Growth spurts, cold or rainy weather, uneven surfaces, and poor health are some of the things that negatively affect Davis' tone and spasms.



• He's the baddest dude on BOTH sides of the Mason Dixon Line.

Backyard Fun

Justin's been checking Craigslist nonstop for the past year. He's been on a mad hunt for a backyard playground set...one that's in good condition and doesn't cost a bazillion dollars. Thursday morning, he came across one in Canton, headed up there with the dump truck, and unloaded all this in my backyard about 2 hours later...

He had to dig up a portion of our yard to level the ground. And he plans to build a 3-sided wall around it (thus the box standing in the middle of it all) and lay mulch all around and under it.

Its features:

• 3 swings (not yet hung)


• a tire swing


• 2 slides (one on the right still needs to be installed)


• 2-story fort at the top


• picnic table and bench underneath


• Justin's going to make monkey bars for it at some point


• climbing ladder

Mr. Casey and Mr. David were a HUGE help, too!

Probably the most shocking part of all this is the fact that Justin knows how to use the Internet. :)

Holy Holes!

The 'duh' has seen its better days...

Last Comic Standing

Davis' first joke...

"What do monkeys eat for breakfast???"

You're gonna love this...

"Waffles!!!!"

He still has some kinks to work out (i.e. a punchline), but I think he's on to something...

Davis Walking 5 Months Post-Op

I can't believe it's already been 5 months! Time goes by so fast!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Z3TkgXIb8

He's wearing really tall AFO's now that encourage him to bend his ankles and 'heel strike' with every step he takes, instead of dragging his toes.


He also wears his Thera-Tog suit. The suit helps with his balance while each strap (he requires 7) triggers underlying muscles, encouraging them to 'turn on' and work. It's a pain to put on everyday and Davis HATES it, but it really helps.

\

5 years ago, today: I was released from Kennestone. Was able to touch Davis for the first time and got to see him wiggle his fingers and toes some. He was placed on a regular ventilator today and his oxygen level is staying at 21%, room air.

Summer Solstice

June 21, 2011 marks the first 'official' day of summer and longest day of this year. Today, the sun will seemingly 'stand still' as it reaches its northernmost part of the sky and begins to reverse its direction. Crazy to think that the southern part of the world is entering winter right now!

My family and I take at least 2 trips to the beach, every summer. It's something Justin and I look soooo forward to, pretty much all year. Here are some pictures from a few of those vay-cays...

Seacrest Beach, June 2007

Okaloosa Island, June 2008

Fort Walton Beach, June 2009

Okaloosa Island, June 2010

Pensacola Beach, June 2011

A little comparison...

Davis' first beach trip, June 2007

Reese's first beach trip, June 2011

5 years ago, today: Everyone voted and we named Baby Davis Gregory. Justin called down to the NICU and was told that Davis wasn't doing well. Even with the high frequency oscillatory ventilation, his lungs were still failing. As a last resort to save him, he needed to be life-flighted to Scottish Rite to receive a nitric oxide treatment (we would later find out that Davis was the first baby ever to be life-flighted to Scottish Rite for that specific reason). We watched the neonatologist baptize him and were told to prepare for the worst. Davis responded well to the medication as soon as the life-flight team hooked him up to the helicopter incubator. We were given his blanket and hat. I was unable to be discharged from Kennestone, so Justin and Dad headed to Scottish Rite while I stayed behind.

Happy 5th Birthday, Wooder!

Does anyone even look at this thing anymore? If so, thanks for the dedication!

Today marks Davis' 5th birthday and I think there's no better time than now to revive this thing!



When Davis was born, Justin and I had no idea what the next few months would have in store for us. I was encouraged by my wonderful mother-in-law, Denise, to document my experience and it's probably the best advice she's ever given me because, without it, I know I wouldn't remember much from those 16 weeks Davis spent in the NICU. I LOVE looking back on it and remembering, in detail, that crazy, stressful time in our lives. And while I won't divulge all of the mushy, personal stuff, I thought it would be nice to share my entries as each day, 5 years later, passes. Hope you enjoy...

June 19, 2006: 30 weeks gestation. I left work early, due to a thumb bleed (ha! any excuse to get out of there!). Took a nap and woke up around 7pm. Had lots of Braxton Hicks contractions. Even though mom gave me an ultrasound at her work and everything seemed fine, I still went to the hospital around 10pm because the contractions didn't go away. Nurses and midwife hooked me up to monitors and Baby's heart rate dropped. Rushed to prepare me for emergency c-section (IV started, steroid shot for baby's lungs (probably one of the worst pains I've ever had in my life), consent forms, etc). I wasn't dilated and Baby stabilized so Justin, mom, and I went to an overnight room. The contractions turned into extreme pain. I started vomiting and bleeding. Doctor said surgery could no longer be avoided. I was put under anesthesia since we couldn't even wait for the epidural to take effect. Baby was born at 5:09am on June 20, 2006. He weighed 2 lbs, 9 oz. and was 15 in. long. Baby was sent to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

June 20, 2006: Family, friends, and flowers poured in. I was on morphine and don't remember much from today. I went to see Baby, but was sick and weak and couldn't stay long.