2 Years...

New bike for his birthday! Has hydraulic hand brakes which require very little hand strength to engage!

Today marks 2 years since Alistair's surgery, 2 years since our lives made a hard left and tumbled over the jagged rocks, swerved around the blind corners, dropped us into canyons and made us climb giant hills. We are finally beginning to feel like we are getting back on track, but still not quite on the main drag. Here is the post from that day here.

Had a great season as goalie. Currently taking private goalie lessons to be ready for next year!

I don't want to think about it too much as that day was traumatic on so many levels. Just the idea of sending our child back into the hands of strangers was hard enough. But to not see him again for HOURS and then to have him back changed in ways we never would have even imagined...well, I would have hauled him out of the hospital before his surgery, loopy on versed, in a heartbeat if we had known what lay ahead.

Nerf guns...so many Nerf guns!

It comes and goes, the guilt and the sadness of everything. For the most part we have come to accept that this is how our lives are now. For all intents and purposes, Alistair is doing great. I would say his recovery is at 85-90%. He is still struggling with fine motor skills as his hands, expecially his right, just don't want to get on board with the rest of his body and recover. He is still doing OT once a week and we try as much as possible to make him do as much of something himself before we help. Alistair just got done participating in the Northshore Summer Music Program (band camp) and along with working more on playing his trombone and learning to play and march for the Bothell 4th of July parade, they had elective classes they got to take. He ended up with xylophones and guitar and ukelele. This past Friday, parents attended and were treated to a concert, where Alistair had an improve solo with his rhythm and blues group (there were about 10 of them that got up and did a little improve) as well as went to their electives classes with them and listen to the music they had learned. First was his guitar and ukelele class. As soon as they started playing, my heart sank and I got so simultaneously angry and sad. Alistair was sitting on the floor with this guitar, not able to really wrap his hand around the neck or place any fingers on the strings and couldn't do anything but use his pointer finger nail to strum the strings (couldn't make a fist and use his thumb). I felt so bad for him. The saving grace, which is always the case, is that he wasn't bothered by it, was happily (and sometimes loudly) singing along and came over to show Gillian and I the guitar and what he had learned. I asked him if anyone offered him a pick and he said no. I asked him if anyone had any other alternative solutions for him, he said no, they didn't have enough time to do anything with him. I get that, I do. They only had 8 days and had to learn music to perform and they didn't have copious amounts of staff. BUT, I wish someone had watched him for 2 minutes and decided perhaps this wasn't a good fit for him and moved him to another elective that didn't require such dexterity.

Alistair, Gillian, Cooper and Bennett going to Art day camp together this week! 

Alistair has a great outlook on things and doesn't seem to get upset or bothered by everything. But he has his moments. This past Saturday, Alistair had PT with Brian. When they were finishing up, Alistair mentioned to Seth and Brian he wanted to be done with PT. Brian asked him if he was done with him and/or didn't want to come anymore. Alistair said he wanted to be done because he wanted to be normal...to which Seth replied he isn't and has never been normal! :) That made him laugh and they moved on quickly. Aistair is moving on to middle school next year and I think he is becoming more and more aware of his needs and how they aren't "normal" and doesn't want to be seen as special to his friends and, gulp, girls!! He actually told his para he didn't want her to be with him next year because he was afraid she would cramp his style with the ladies!! Dora told him she would walk behind him a few steps so they weren't seen together! Unfortunately Dora won't be with him next year, but he will have someone! I don't think they will follow Alistair everywhere, so he shouldn't have his style cramped too much. 

Last Day of School...soon to be 6th grader and 3rd grader!

Alistair got great check-ups with ALL his doctors. Dr. Lewin said his heart is looking good and was pleased to hear how active he has been with all the lacrosse. Dr. Apkon said she felt he had improved tremendously in his movement and flexibility since December. Dr. Anderson said he was growing great and is trending on the growth curves appropriately. Can't complain about much of that!

All of that said, life is good. We all have our health and it is summer and we are enjoying it! We don't have a ton of plans on the weekends, so we have made a list of day trips and places we want to visit. We intend to cross a majority off by September or October. The kids are adventurous and like to see new things. One of their dreams is to go to Idaho (I know, exciting!!). I think it is because they are known for their potatoes. Well their dreams will be fulfilled in a few weeks when we spend the weekend in Kellogg, ID! We will see the gold mines, ride the world's longest gondola (3.1 miles!) and play at the water park.

Birthday cake (adds up to 11) made by Grandma - Boston Creme Pie!

We won't mark this anniversary forever. Some day it will all just be a bad memory. But for now, it serves as a reminder that life can change in an instant and you never know what you can handle until you have to. We are stronger than we think and family is what binds that strength together, lifts us all up and carries us through. We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends who continue to do this for us! Thank you!

Alistair doing an obstacle course at PT!