Play Ball! - Week of Apr. 28th

"Equality is giving everyone a shoe. Inclusion is making sure it fits." ~Author unknown

The mission of the West Michigan Miracle League: To give every child, regardless of ability, the opportunity to play baseball and be part of a team, in an environment where “Every child deserves the chance to play ball.” 

The Spring season opener for the WMML was scheduled for Saturday. Cam has chosen to continue to play with his friends for 5 Saturdays.  He is a part of the St. Louis Cardinals team with Brody, Daniel, Mackenzie and many other friends. 

The first game was held May 3rd and the morning got off to a chilly start.  They players and fans, though, displayed warm smiles all around.  Onji, pictured next to Cam, always yells his name from across the field when she sees him.  A few players from another youth team came over to watch the WMML players and cheered each of them on as they went up to bat. What a cool display of awesome sportsmanship! The remaining game times are:

• May 10 @ 12:30PM
• May 17 @ 11:30AM
• May 31 @ 10:30AM
• June 7 @ 10:30AM 

After warming up at home and grabbing lunch, our fam was headed downtown.  

The second annual Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Neuromuscular Game-A-Thon was taking place and Cameron was invited. Community individuals as well as patients from the pediatric neuromuscular clinic and their families gathered together to play video and board games while socializing over a shared experience.  Cam was happy to see some of his power soccer friends there too!

Over the weekend, Cam and his dad worked on Jane's work laptop.  While she was on a business trip this week, her laptop keyboard stopped working.  The father/son duo removed the surface of the computer completely.  Although the keyboard couldn't be fixed, the onscreen keyboard was operational allowing Jane to (very slowly) access some critical information.  Luckily, her new company laptop arrived over the weekend.

Cam, of course, couldn't wait to assist with setup to ensure everything was working, especially the keyboard!

Camology Quotes:

Cam and his parents had fun seeing WMML parents and players.  One of Cam's teammates is a friend from preschool, Mackenzie.  On the drive home, Jane was commenting how cool it was that Mackenzie's sisters help her a lot. Cam wasn't quite following the gist of what Jane was saying...

"What does that mean? You didn't give me any context, Mom."

The Impactful Conversation - Week of Apr. 21st

"No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes, we have no clue." ~Jay Asher

Kind people surround us.  During a strange power outage in our former neighborhood on the next street, our close friends reached out.  They stayed overnight and we shared dinner together.  A beautiful bouquet of flowers was dropped off from them and two weeks later, the remaining arrangement still looks lovely.  Thanks to Ms. Patti and Mr. Steve!

Perspective is defined as a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; your point of view. Cam learned a lesson in perspective this week. 

When he arrived home from school one day, he was adamant that one of classroom aides had berated him for his power chair not functioning correctly.  He was upset and expressed his feelings. Jane reached out to his teacher via email explaining the situation.  The teacher shared the email with the aide and when Cam arrived the next morning, they had an open discussion. Upon entrance home after the school day, he was so happy to report all about it.  Cam and his mom talked about how misunderstandings happen sometimes because of the lack of open communication.  And, how good it feels to have things resolved and move forward!

Jane picked up Oma on Wednesday and Chris headed to Detroit on Thursday to begin his extended weekend fishing trip on the river with some friends.  The warmer weather provided a nice afternoon for strolling.  Cam and his grandma made energy bites to fulfill the snack zone for the next few days.

The weekend included a Grandma-Mom-Son outing to a family favorite, Olive Garden.  Cam played on the tablet at the restaurant since it's so similar to his iPad.  Our meals were most delicious and Cam saw a classmate who works as a hostess there.

Chris sent us a fun pic from the Detroit River holding a delicious walleye.  The guys all catch their limit daily, have the fish cleaned and then split the entire bounty at the end of the trip.

Sunday was the best weather day of Oma's stay so we headed over to our local botanical gardens in the early afternoon. 

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park spans 158 total acres, with approximately 60 acres developed as outdoor gardens, natural areas, and the sculpture park.  One of our favorite sculptures is the DaVinci Horse. Here are some fun facts:

• Leonardo da Vinci designed a giant horse statue in 1482 to honor the Duke of Milan’s father. 
• It was intended to be the largest equestrian statue in the world, made of bronze. Though he completed detailed sketches and a full-scale clay model, it was never cast in bronze due to wars and political turmoil. 
• The project was revived in the 1970s by Charles C. Dent, a U.S. pilot and art collector. 
•  After his death, Nina Akamu, an accomplished sculptor, reworked the design based on Leonardo’s original plans. 
• The final statue was cast in bronze in 1999. 
• 🐴 The Meijer Gardens Horse The American Horse at Frederik Meijer Gardens is one of only two castings of the final sculpture (the other is in Milan, Italy). 
• It stands 24 feet tall (about 7.3 meters). 
• Commissioned and donated by philanthropist Fred Meijer, who was deeply inspired by da Vinci and public art. 
• Installed at the Gardens in 1999 and serves as a centerpiece for visitors. 
• It’s located in an open plaza area with space to walk all around it. 
• Made from bronze, weighing about 15 tons. 
• Visitors often take photos standing beneath it to capture its massive scale.

We also saw our close friends, Anna and Spencer with their daughter, Lucie.  It was such a special day made even better!  

Shortly after leaving the Gardens, we made our way to Liam's house to celebrate his 17th birthday.  He and Cam have known each other since preschool!  Chris actually arrived back in GR early, so he joined us there. Jane returned Oma to her home and they both commented on all of the flowers suddenly in bloom.  The weekend came to an end much too quickly, but we all packed quite a bit in 😀

Camology Quotes:

Cam likes to know what meals are being planned in advance.  However, he does not pretend to know what his parents will do as noted in his response to Jane: 

"I only worry about myself when it comes to choosing food, Mom."

Powering Through - Week of Apr. 14th

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." ~Theodore Roosevelt

People often say it's better to be busy than bored. However, when things stack up, it can definitely feel overwhelming.  Waking up extra early again on Monday was tough for Cam and his parents.  That evening, Jane had a board meeting and Chris took his son to swimming/physical therapy.  

Tuesday at school, Cameron endured a full day of testing, then an in-home wheelchair repair appointment followed by an hour of tutoring.

The whirlwind week continued on Wednesday for Cam with an outing to see our minor league baseball team, the Whitecaps. That evening, after an early dinner, Jane and her son figured out how to use the ceiling track/lift to transfer Cam from his power wheelchair to the power soccer chair.  Then, we were off to power soccer practice at the YMCA.

Back at school on Thursday, Cam finished his testing and then had a evening with Jane while Chris was at a work meeting.  Friday evening, we had a quick family din so Cam and his dad could make it to their scheduled haircuts.

Saturday, Jane went to pick up Oma and they were back in Grand Rapids by lunchtime.  Cam's grandma had pre-ordered a fruit basket for our family to enjoy for Easter.  That evening we watched a comedy on Amazon Prime called "You're Cordially Invited" and all of us laughed out loud multiple times.

Easter Sunday morning, the sun shone brightly as we made our way to church. We were surrounded by such friendly people and the live band playing brought the music to life.  The pastor provided at fun surprise at the end of the service indicating that they were giving away 1,500 boxes of Girl Scout cookies upon exiting the church.

After a light lunch, we drove over to Cascade Park to take a stroll.  The sidewalk path along the perimeter of the park is exactly one mile in length.  The blue sky clouded over but that did not deter our group.

Chris brought his discs for frisbee golf to test out his throwing skills.  Cam led the way for the duration of our exercise.  We passed quite a few other folks with the same idea. 

Upon our return home, we settled in for a movie.  We watched the third installment in the Paddington films titled "Paddington in Peru" since we've enjoyed the other ones.  It was a good flick.  Our Easter dinner was a bit unconventional with our main dish of grilled flank steak.  We all agreed that it's a nice change to choose something other than ham or turkey, our typical choices.  

Oma's delicious fruit basket items were part of our dessert, and of course, the unexpected free Girl Scout cookies!

Camology Quotes:

Whenever we have a challenge that involves something with Cam, he will typically indicate he has faith in his parents. Such was the case Wednesday evening when Jane and her son had to navigate a transfer into his power soccer chair without Chris present due to a pre-scheduled meeting he had.  The power soccer chair weighs over 300 lbs and doesn't really have a "slow" driving mode, so Jane was helping her son drive it through the house. Right before the garage, the entryway presented a bit of an issue when Jane drove the side into part of the wall.  Cam immediately saw a bit of damage and commented..."Mom, you're not going to blame that on me, are you?"

Staycation - Week of Apr. 7th

"The eye never forgets what the heart has seen." ~ African Proverb (Mufasa movie)

Although visiting other places is enjoyable, staying home over spring break has its benefits as well.  Even the deer chose to remain and make a daily appearance.

Cam and his parents watched the newer Disney movie, "Mufasa: The Lion King" together.  The CGI (computer generated imagery) is impressive and the adult humor included was greatly appreciated.

Ms. Amanda hung out with Cam and they kept busy baking brownies and banana bread, playing board games, and watching a few shows.

Cameron was invited to spend time with his buddy, Liam at his home. Jane dropped him off late morning.  The fellow staycationers chatted about school and friends.  The boys also watched the first episode of "All Access PD: Grand Rapids" streaming on Max, since they are both avid police fans.  

Liam's home is completely accessible and truly, the only friend's house that Cam can visit and easily drive around in.  After lunch, Liam's mom even drove Cam back and dropped him off in their accessible van.  What a bonus for us all!

On Friday, Jane and her son had plans with Oma.  Upon arriving in Grand Haven, Cam and his mom picked up an early lunch at Panera Bread.  Cam's grandma is always excited for our visit and we were fortunate to have a sunny day.  After our midday meal, we strolled around the complex and stopped to chat with many of Oma's friends along the way.

We made our way back to Grand Rapids in the mid-afternoon.  Cam's parents were headed out on a date night, while Amanda and Cam watched the movie 'Twisters.'

Our family was up early on Saturday to drive over to Grand Valley State University in Allendale.  It was the 30th Annual Wheel Run for Everyone 5K to benefit Renew Mobility, where Jane is a member of the Board of Directors.  The 5K participants walk, roll, jog or wheel their way through the course around the campus. The Doctorate in Physical Therapy students at GVSU (for the past 30 years) have been raising money to support our vital mission to enhance independence through access to mobility equipment.  We were excited to see so many friends there- Mr. Patrick (Cam's current PT), Dr. Lisa (GV Professor), Liam's family and Rebecca with her daughter, Gracie. It felt so good to be outside all morning in the brisk fresh air, supporting one our favorite non-profits.

Sunday was a true day of rest, sprinkled with a couple of projects.  Jane and Cam made their way to Costco in the afternoon, which is always an adventure on the weekend.  We were actually "checked out" while waiting in line when a roaming cashier inputted everything into a tablet.  All items remained in our cart, we presented our card, and off we went.  Cam and his mom loved being a part of the new technology.💻

Back at home, Chris worked on the converting the snow plow back to the lawn mower...yes, we are convinced that any further accumulation will be in form of rain only!

Camology Quotes:

Cam is definitely on a joke roll these days.  On Friday, we had an exterminator scheduled since we had noticed more bugs than we normally do with the weather changes.

"I have more ants (aka aunts) in my family then I thought I did!...Get it??"

Let the Break Begin - Week of Mar. 31st

"Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer." ~William S. Burroughs

It was a short school week for Cam since his spring break officially started on Thursday. He was very excited at the aspect of sleeping in for the next 11 days!

One of his relaxation activities is using his iPad. He likes to search for different videos that may include favorite singers, cool hobbies and games. Cam also does appreciate a routine.  When he's on a break from school, a different agenda falls into place.

Cameron requested a daily round of sight words so Chris and Jane take turns quizzing him and there is also an app he uses to test himself.

Our Saturday adventures led us to Montague to visit cousins. There was still a chill in the air so we remained indoors for the afternoon.

Cam had fun supervising his relatives making brownies and commented on what expert taste testers they are.  

We combined our resources for dinner and feasted on pasta, salad, french bread and of course, fresh brownies for dessert.  Following our delicious meal, the younger set loves to assist with Cam's safety latches in the rear of the van.  Now that we are back in daylight savings time, we are home before it even gets dark!

Sunday afternoon, the sunshine appeared so Cameron requested some power soccer training time.

We ordered a new inflatable outdoor soccer ball for the activity and it worked out quite nicely.  Cam is increasing his skill set with each practice session. As a family, we also appreciate the increased vitamin D for us all!

Camology Quotes:

Cam likes to tell jokes, much like his dad.  Almost nightly, he offers up a new funny eager to see if it will make his parents laugh. His latest entry wasn't too bad...

"What do feet like to eat?" "Toe-fu!"

A Re-Energizing Respite - Week of Mar. 24th

"Lost time is never found again." ~ Benjamin Franklin

We often refer to Cam as "The Human Calendar" based on his ability to remember literally every event upcoming and well into the future.  

When he indicated that there was an art show at the Fine Arts Center, Jane vaguely recalled a flyer that had been sent in the last month, but not the specifics.  Cam's mom checked the online calendar for the center and nothing was there.  Jane emailed Cameron's teacher and she confirmed so off they went.  One of Cam's classmates was there too and we found a large display of artwork which included one of his works.

On Friday, Chris and Jane helped Cam pack up his things for Indian Trails Camp!  We reviewed the checklist and made certain everything was on it.  Drop-off was scheduled between 4 and 5p and our camper arrived ready to go.  He saw his friend Daniel right away as well as a counselor he knows, Miss Jess.  

Chris and Jane made their way north to spend time at the cottage and see cousins.  Sunday morning, they arrived back at Indian Trails to pick up their son.  He was one happy camper and had a report of everything they did.  The camp director told us that Cam is one of the sweetest kids she's ever met. He asked her that morning if it was possible to have another emergency contact so his parents could go away somewhere when he's at summer camp.

Miss Rachel, one of the counselors, said goodbye and told him they couldn't wait to see him in the summer!

• Weekend Favorite Activity: making binoculars
• Weekend Favorite Memory: hanging out with friends
• Friday dinner: pulled pork, tater tots, mac & cheese
• Best part of Friday: seeing old friends
• Saturday Overview: Slept good last night, french toast sticks, pizza
• Saturday Activities: Easter egg hunt, gardening, pipe cleaner flowers, fun night
• Best part of Saturday: the dance (Dance on)
• Favorite memory of camp: having fun at the dance on

Camology Quotes:

Cam uses the Alexa devices in our home to play music, set timers, request the weather forecast, and his favorite action...announcements. The announcement opens up the speaker on all of the Alexas and plays back what you've just said.  Cam thinks of everyone in his callouts...

"I wanted to give a special shout out to my mom for taking me to the art show tonight! And to my dad for giving me a good hug!"

Topsy Turvy Weather - Week of Mar. 17th

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade." ~Charles Dickens

People from other parts of the U.S. often say that those of us who live in Michigan talk about the weather excessively.  And, that's probably not too far from the truth.  Especially during the month of March, Michiganders experience "topsy-turvy" temperatures as the jumps from 60 to 30 happen more frequently.

A big event- "Forest Hills Battle of the Hills Unified Basketball Tournament" was scheduled for Wednesday at Cam's school. It is dedicated in memory of a Forest Hills Northern student, Ethan Dutter, who unexpectedly passed away three years ago shortly after his graduation.

There are three school districts within Forest Hills- Northern, Central and Eastern that all compete.  The Northern High School provides the gym as well as refreshments from Brody's Be Cafe. Jane was able to stop by for one of the games and say hello to Cam.

Two of Cam's champions, Mrs. Festian and Ms. Cris who have known him since he began his tenure at elementary school, both sent Jane a posting from Instagram and Facebook that featured a pic of our Junior.

We were looking forward to our weekend because Cam's grandma, aka Oma, was scheduled to stay with us.  Jane picked up her mom on Friday so she would be there when Cameron arrived home from school.  

As a special treat, we ordered takeout cod dinners from a local favorite, JT's.  Cam requested a cod sandwich, which wasn't on the menu.  But Cam's mom asked if they could provide a sub bun with one dinner so that we could assemble it at home.  It was warm and soft and even wrapped separately in foil.  Cam declared it most delicious! 

Our weekend was quiet, but full of good things.  Oma and her grandson had a nice stroll in our neighborhood and we watched Wicked.  It's a long movie and much easier to view in the comfort of your home.  Jane and her son were so pleased that Oma really enjoyed it.

The grazing deer made an appearance and we continue to marvel at them munching on the backyard grass, or whatever treats may be hidden in the ground.

It's always fun just to sit and chat about life, memories and current happenings.
We made dinners Saturday and Sunday evening with Oma's help.  Before we knew it, the weekend was ending and it felt like Oma had just arrived.  Jane drove her mom back home after our evening meal.  

Cam still insists on hugs from his grandma, and for this special gift, we are all very grateful.

Camology Quotes:

Chris and Jane still read books with Cam every evening, taking turns.  While Jane was reading one night, he became a bit distracted.  He requested the following from his mom, mid-sentence:

"Rewind, please. I missed that last part."

A House Call for Repairs - Week of Mar. 10th

 

"There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others." ~Mandy Hale

Ever since Cameron was born, we are continually amazed by the giving nature of so many people we've encountered. 

Cam's mom had to travel to Wisconsin for work leaving Tuesday morning and returning late Wednesday.  Friday was a day off of school for Cam due to a professional administration day for the teachers.  We scheduled power wheelchair repairs for 10:30am, knowing it would take a few hours.

The biggest bonus, besides a day off for Cameron, was the fact that the person performing all of the work offered to drive to our home and complete all of the parts replacements and adjustments in Cam's house!  We transferred our son to the couch so he had a front-row seat to all of the action.  Mr. Dewayne, the amazing technician who arrived right on time, answered all of Cam's questions and inquiries.  We learned that if you have a very large wooden block, you can tip Cameron's 450 lb chair on its side, shimmy the wood under and use it to prop the chair up so that the wheels can be changed out.  All of the parts replacements and adjustments took nearly four hours! 

Cam was very patient and once he was back in action, Ms. Amanda arrived shortly thereafter to hang out with her buddy for the evening.  Chris and Jane met our longtime neighbors and friends for dinner downtown.

For the remainder of the weekend, Jane was busy with a large work proposal while Chris and his son completed some home projects.

As many of you are aware, Cam was the first youth ambassador for our local non-profit, Renew Mobility.  As a youth ambassador, Cam helps ring the bell to start the "Wheel Run for Everyone" at the Allendale Grand Valley campus.  This year, the walk/run is being held on Saturday, April 12th.  Please sign up if you're able!  

Youth Ambassador Cam and his parents thank you!! SIGN UP/DONATE

Camology Quotes:

On Saturday, Chris spent some time at a fishing expo downtown. Afterwards, he met up with friends at a local favorite restaurant, Vitale's.  Jane and her son called him when he was driving home and he admitted he had some breadsticks.  When he walked in the house, Cam greeted him with a good dose of funny. 

"Dad, I cannot believe you just had breadsticks. It killed me to hear that... It wouldn't really kill me.  I was just being humorous!"