Leaving is never easy...

I couldn't write this last blog post. I had to wait until we were home. Intensive Therapeutics's Camp Helping Hands was an amazing experience for Jonah. I always feel so sad when we leave.  We are blessed that Joe attends the Big Red School which is wonderful.  We also have kind and talented therapist at home . . .  We just don't  have the opportunity to work with speech, OT, and PT every day for three hours.  We also don't have the chance for Jonah to learn along side them together in a group setting... Both with multiple therapist and other children (and families) facing the same challenges. (Pediatric Stroke & Hemiplegia) On one hand I always dread going. It is a long trip, we miss our family and friends, but more than that we must face everything. We have to think about difficult things everyday. I also know that when it's time to come home, I'm not going to want to leave. There is no place like it for Jonah. (For all of us.)  I know it's what's best for him and we are more than 800 miles away.  It's an awful feeling driving home. But then we do get home. We start back with therapy, doctor's visits, homework, holidays and life slowly returns to normal.  (whatever normal is . . . )

With all that said ... I am so thankful for the opportunity. I hope that someday other children with similar struggles will have the chance to do something like this in our area. I'm just at a loss for how to help start the process right now.  

Love you all. Thanks for your support. 

Here are a couple of photos from the last day. Daniel has more on his phone that I will add later. 

Thursday

Jonah did great today. They don't send us pictures from camp anymore... So I don't have any to share. I can say that he is working very hard. He is saying a lot more words too. We ended up staying with Scott today to go over a few things and I could hear Jonah crying most of the time. :( :( He was screaming MOMMY. Which is odd, because he rarely ever cries for me. I think they are really pushing him. Alex said she thought he could here my voice because be doesn't usually stay so upset. 

Elijah worked very hard on math and reading today. One of the best things we did today was go to Thomas Edison's Lab. It was several buildings. We were allowed in the one that was three stories. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. Both boys really enjoyed it. Especially my little science lover, Elijah. 

Crafting & Playing

Both boys had a great day. Jonah painted at school. (Apparently with yellow and blue judging by the color of his right ear.) He also told me "I play balloon." They said he talked a bit more today, which is great. He will work with the speech teacher tomorrow. He did cry a little at drop off and on the play course today. (It's hard for him to climb over the things and he is frustrated.) But he ended with singing and was happy at pick up time. 

He even took these pictures to show you his school without my knowing it. 

I know... There black. I think he had his fingers over the lens. 

Elijah worked very, very hard on his unfinished work today. He enjoyed his math and syllable worksheets but had a few tears over the George and Martha reading organizer. (Just kidding, no tears... Just not his favorite.) Elijah also helped me with some really world math tonight! We did some addition problems while figuring out the sale price. :)

He also had a little art class at an art studio we found here! He is going to finish the project tomorrow. 

We celebrated all if that hard work with some cake pops.

Love you all.

NYC Pics

Here are some of our pictures from a fun day in New York City!

NYC Pics

New York!

I'll post more pics tomorrow. We had an amazing (but exhausting) day in NYC. It's the first time we'd ever gone that we felt like we knew what we were doing, where we were going, and how to do it. 

The boys had a great time. Jonah picked out a "house" AKA Mickey Mouse and Elijah LOVED skating at Rockefeller. He is so talented. We even had other adults comment to us about how good he was. Daniel and I didn't have skates... So he laced up and went out there all on his own! Can you believe it. I honestly cannot tell you the last time I saw him that happy. I wish we could take him again. 

Love you all. There are more adventures to tell and I will post them tomorrow!

P.S. I love NYC. 

Baby, it's cold out side.

We are freezing. I swear 48 is colder here than home. It's great though.

Jonah did great at therapy and Elijah has worked hard on his school work. So proud of both of them.  

Look at that right hand at work!

We found a cafe where we spend our most of the day while Joe is at therapy. it's also turned into Elijah's school. math is alway better when you sit in your mama's lap, right?! 

Elijah navigates the streets for us to and from therapy.

And here is the image of the day. Christina sent me this with a message that said he held on to the cookie until it was all gone. I'm not surprised. Who could blame him? Who would let go of a molasses cookie? ;-)