What a Perfect Day

 Noah had a blast!!!!!

 It was great spending time with our kids.

 Thanks Dave for an awesome day.

 It was a beautiful day for a ballgame. Although, where we were sitting it was very cold. In fact they were selling hot chocolate. (I took Noah out in the sunshine to get warm.)
While we froze, Morgan, Brad and Emily were sweating in their seats.

 

 The best part of the day, watching Noah and his Dad run the bases.

Scott and Noah got their picture taken with Lonnie Chisenhall.

When we got in the van Emily said that Noah needed seaons tickets because he was their luck charm.

They won!!!!!

Thanks again, Dave. You will never know how much this meant to us.

We are so excited, 2 more days....

 Ten and half years ago Noah went to his first and last Indian's game at Jacob's Field. (We went to a Red's Indian's game in Cincinnati once.) Scott got 4 free tickets from work. Noah was small enough he could sit on my lap. It was fun but, man was I sore the next day.

 The girls made sign's to cheer on the team.

 To bad digital cameras weren't available back then. I would have made sure Noah looked a little more happy to be there because, he was very excited.

It started out to be kinda of  a wet day and then turned out to be pretty nice.

Ever since then, I've dreamt of taking Noah again and watching him run the bases with his Dad.

Because of a friend of Scott's I'm going to see that dream become a reality. Scott's friend gave us tickets to the game on Sunday. It so happens to be a Kid Fun Day.

So, after the game Noah and his Daddy will be running the bases.

I can't wait!!!!!!

Thanks, Dave

Family FunDay at Malabar Farm

 

 On Saturday MTD (Where Scott works) had a Family Fun Day at Malabar Farm. Noah had a great time. He loved his first hayride. In fact, he loved it so much he started to cry when he had to get off.

 

 

They had games for the kids to play.

Noah had a great time playing games.

He won some really cool stuff.

Noah enjoyed petting all the animals.

Thanks MTD for planning a great day. We had fun!!!!

God is Good All the Time

Noah is still enjoying his time at school.

 

 

 

 The last couple of weeks have been amazing. We have had a church contact us and they want to sponsor Noah. They want to help provide ABR for him.

We have always wanted to be able to afford the ABR machine for Noah. St Mark's Church is paying for it and have offered to pay for the training as well. Is that answered prayer or what?

We are so blessed and thankful for these Earth Angels. 

 

 

This is what the machine looks like.

 

The ABR Machine

The ABR Machine performs as a complement to the manual exercises and can be used in combination for efficient core strengthening. The ABR Machine is well suited for trunk applications such as thorax, abdomen, vertebral column or pelvis, leaving the parents and caretakers free to concentrate on more delicate areas of the neck, face or head.
Ideal to use during the night, it conveniently maximizes the number of potential working hours.
The ABR Machine is also at the service of parents who simply do not have the time and resources to implement more sophisticated and targeted ABR Manual Exercises

 

 

 

 Noah will get 10hrs. of therapy while he sleeps. Plus, he'll still get 3hrs of manual exercises during the day. I can't wait to see what kind of progress he will make now.

 

 I got an email the other day to let me know that my blog won the ABR blog campaign. How cool is that?  Our prize is 3 months free machine rental.

 

 

I have one more bit of good news. Its the icing on the cake.

On September 30th, we get to watch Noah and Scott run the bases at a Cleveland Indians game.

I'm so excited. I can't wait!!!!!!

 

God is Good. All the Time.

 

 

 

The Women in the Mirror

I saw an unfamiliar face in the mirror today. She caught my eye as I rushed to start the day. I hardly recognized this woman. What had changed in her eyes? She was no longer young, naive and viewing the world through rose-tinted glasses. What had caused the worry lines and thoughtful brow? How could she look so fragile and weary, yet also determined and strong? Around some corner on the road of life.......she had been shaken to the core of her very being.

There was a time when only tears and fears were reflected in those eyes. A doctor's unexpected words, the future suddenly uncertain......gray, shadowy images of the vague and scary concept of her child coming into the world as "disabled". An incredible journey began that caught her by surprise and would take her places she never thought she would go. The journey had been long at times and she had shed tears of pain and tears of joy. She'd had hopes and dreams dashed in the blink of an eye. She'd asked the question WHY? She'd had friends fail her and not know what to say or how to help. She'd seen her child suffer. She'd cried silent tears into her pillow at night. Tears of exhaustion and fear. Tears of helplessness and longing. Tears of thankfulness and relief. Tears that are choked back during the day, but are unleashed like floodwaters in the safety of the night to wash away any walls being built up to protect her heart. Nights of worry blurring into days of endless responsibility. But then slowly, but surely, her broken heart begins to heal and mend.

The same pity she had once felt as she watched a mother hold her 'special child' close was now looking back at her in the eyes of strangers. But a smile tugs at her lips as she suddenly realizes that now she knew the secret! The hard-fought, carefully guarded secret that was slowly revealed in the depths of her heart.....but only after the tears and anguish of the first days and weeks of this new life. The illusive truth that mothers of special children discover as they take their first faltering steps down this
new path........It was okay. She and her child could survive, even thrive! It was not as grueling and unforgiving a road as she had imagined. The fog, confusion, despair and fear were being slowly replaced by peace, acceptance, contentment, joy and gratitude. A mother's unique, unconditional love changes the equation that may look hopeless and tough from those outside, looking in. She will fight for, live for and die for her child. These special children transform those around them into different people. Stronger people. Dare I say it......deeper people. Long gone are the days when all they had to worry about was where to vacation or what color mini-van to buy. They now struggle with life and death medical issues. They must answer their child's questions about life's unfairness and pain. What remaining strength and energy they have is spent trying to make their
'family life' as normal and happy as possible.

A twinkle returns to the eyes of the woman in the mirror as she takes a deep breath and remembers what she's been fighting for. How very worthwhile this journey has been! This child is an incredible gift and it is a privilege to be given the task of raising him. Her child is beautiful and perfect in her eyes. She longs for her child to be seen by the world through this filter of love, acceptance and potential. Could others take the time to see past this little boy's slower steps to see the life and love reflected in her eyes? Would her child be able to see himself through the filter of contentment that the woman has journeyed so long to discover?

Hope was rekindled as the woman's eyes grew brighter. The future remained uncertain, but the incredible, protective love she felt for her child through a warm blanket over the cold, dark storm clouds that used to threaten her very soul. As she threw open the doors of her heart, she felt the warm sun on her face and she beheld a beautiful rainbow of intense beauty and unmistakable peace. Hope still comforts this woman who cries in the middle of the night. Love gets her through each day. Faith takes her hand and leads her around each corner and through each deep, dark valley. Peace soothes her heart as she relinquishes control of their destiny to One wiser and all knowing. Joy brings laughter and smiles to those tired eyes once again. Each day is recognized for the gift it is.

I gave that woman a smile as I left her at the mirror today. I'll see her again soon and I'm curious to see how she will continue to change and grow. She's not the same young, carefree woman she used to be, but that is okay. I like who she is becoming and I feel comfortable in her life. The sun is shining, the day is brand new, my child is humming and God is so good!



By Cheryl Veenstra

Noah at School

I love this picture. When I look at it I see a boy that is happy, healthy and content. They say the eyes are the windows to our soul. This picture just makes me smile and I feel so blessed to be this amazing person's Mom.

Noah is enjoying school this year. He always seems eager to attend and so happy when I pick him up. I feel for the first time in his life he would do well going all day but, in order to get our ABR therapy in, Noah only goes to school from 8-12:30. He sure is loving it while he is there though.

They have a bike that he has enjoyed riding. Before ABR he could have never used something with no head rest. Look at that head control.  Good job, Noah!!!!!

Something else I notice in these pictures is how he is holding on to the handle to help support himself. Again, something he couldn't do before. 

Noah enjoying painting in ART class.

Noah loves Gym class. He was having fun kicking the ball.

He looks so excited in these last few pictures. Noah's classroom is such a great fit for him. His teachers have got to be the most caring group of ladies I know. They are always willing to do whats best for Noah. I don't have to worry about him while he is at school. He is in great hands.