catch up randoms...

Yes, another one of thost random posts that involve random photos. It is kind of fun though because then I get to look back and see what has taken place! Kind of a journal of photos! Not only are there photos but some amazing praise reports!!

I needed some new running shoes because mine were about 4 years old (kind of the last thing on my mind through all of this) and the heels were slanted from all the wear on them. My SIL and I jetted down to the Nike outlet store to hopefully get a good deal! I found some great ones but they were a tiny bit big so I settled on another pair...




I have been having Ben doing a few things around the house sometimes and he does really well. Either he didn't like folding the towels or he was just giving me goofy face because I was taking his photo...




Ben and my lil nephew L were tired the other day...



He ain't no lap dog...he perfers the shoulder...



We made some veggie pizza on Ezekial tortillas, AMAZING...



A friend of ours brought some amazing tomatoe soup over this past week with homeade croutons! This was not tomatoe soup out of the can! This was homeade from her own garden items and it was so yummy! The photo doesn't do it justice...



Ben was recently fitted for a splint for his left foot. He has what they call inversion of the foot...it turns in. He also tends to drag it as well. His walking has been more stable but he has had to almost figure out a new gait. His foot doesn't drag anymore which is good and as far as the inversion with the splint on it is much better...




Last week Ben's therapy got switched around a bit and so on a nasty rainy day I decided that we would do some painting. Ben really hasn't done any art therapy since Kessler in NJ so he really enjoyed it! Ben's is done, and mine needs to be re-done! I may redo it several times. What I would love to do is get some small canvases so that Ben can paint one every couple of weeks and see what he can come up with. Check out his smile...






It was one of those days...



Soccer games have started so we have been attending! One of the nieces or nephews always end up on his lap...



My bible study group got together and put together care packages for homeless people or any other person that we think might be in need that we can hand them out to. Ben wasn't able to go because he had scheduled therapy but we had fun...






I tackled the office/sewing room/dump room again the other day. These are all items that needed to be sorted and filed...



He has also been doing alot more ball work to help strengthen his core. Today he did really well and was able to balance sitting on the ball for 1.5 min! His best time yet! It may not seem like a long time but for him it is...




Ben did the bench press the other day for the first time since the accident. His arms were a bit shaky but he did really well. I think he did 3 sets of 10...more then I can do...



Poor Diesel got into the dishwasher and cut his tongue on a table knife! He won't be doing this again because I looked down from washing the dishes and found this...



Ok so two HUGE praise reports...

Last Sunday I asked Ben if he wanted to just go to church without his catheter and he said yes! We had been trying to "bladder" train for awhile but his brain was just not there. He could sometimes tell me/us when he needed to go but most of the times his mind would not remember. It is so frustrating for both of us.
Well, we went to church, he came home and went to the bathroom. He has been able to tell me, his therapists and nurses when he needs to go! There was one accident and it was my fault because I was in the midst of something and I asked if he could hold it...my bad! So, it has been a bit over a week and Ben is doing great! I think sometimes I am more nervous then Ben and he gets and has told me to stop asking him if he is ok or if he needs to go to the bathroom. Ha! We will work with nights later but plan to just keep working on the days to get it down pat! Ben is so happy about this as one could imagine! It has been a long time in coming. Ben couldn't be more proud of this for himself and yes it may sound small but it is HUGE! What a great blessing from the Lord to give this function back to Ben...he has waited a long time for it. Please continue to pray that every thing continues to go smoothly and that it just continues!

Second one is that he his off his last stimulant! He has been on Ritalin starting a few weeks after the accident. About 6 months after we came home I weaned him off his afternoon dose and he did great. The last few weeks I have been giving it to him only a few times a week to get him off even more. This weekend I took him off completely and so far so good. His energy seems to be about the same so that is good. Its amazing what meds can do...they may solve a problem but they cause alot more. I am not a huge med pusher for anything unless it is absolutely needed...so therefore that is why I want Ben off as many as possible. Seizure meds are next but that will have to be under his neurologist care and monitored with an EEG...pray that will come to fruition!

On a lighter praise report note we found a board and train program for Diesel about 20 min from us. He will be leaving next week and gone for 3. weeks for alot of basic training. Our goal is for him to Ben's service dog and give him the training that he needs. Some training will come in this session and other parts will come when he is older. What we will do without him for almost a month...I don't know! I pray he comes back a changed pup! :)

So, we have alot going on in our bits of the woods! Ben and I have alot to be grateful for and I am seeing that more and more everyday. No, life is not what we wanted at all but it is what it is now, in this moment and we are grateful. Hard yes, grateful yes!