No Hands, Really!

Since I posted the last video of Caden using the wall at the doctor's office to support himself into a standing position, he has been practicing his technique. Today, he got brave enough and took the plunge and stood up completely on his own out in the open with nothing to support himself on. I was completely blown away! He did it several times before I ran in to get the camera so I could video it. Thankfully I got it just in time because this was the last time he did it today. I couldn't be more proud of him right now! I credit his progress to his incredible PT, Julia, and to the treadmill research study he's participating in.

Check out my awesome little man!

Look Mom, No Hands!

Ever since Caden started the treadmill research study (we just finished week 4 and have 2 weeks left) he has been cruising around furniture more and more and experimenting with his balance. He will let go of what he is holding on to and just stand there. The video here shows him practicing to stand from a flat surface (the exam table at the doctor's office) using the wall behind him for support. I am so proud of how far he has come in the last 4 weeks. It's truly amazing!

Crash

I guess things weren't busy enough or stressful enough at our house because now we've added another stressor on top of everything else. While Greg was riding his bicycle to work on Monday morning, he was hit by a car. Praise God he was not injured more seriously than he was. However, his right shoulder took the brunt of the impact and completely tore the AC joint, resulting in a “separated” shoulder. Basically the ligament that holds the collar bone in place and holds the shoulder up is torn. So Greg's collar bone can be pushed up and down (quite frankly it really creeps me out!) and there is a significant drop on his right shoulder.

We are so incredibly grateful his injuries were not worse. He did not hit his head. In fact when I looked at the helmet I couldn't even see any scratches on it. And, he didn't break any bones. But this particular injury might mean surgery for him. He has consultations with two different orthopedic surgeons next week so hopefully we will know better at that point. But we are very concerned about trying to get him back in as good a condition as possible. He is way too physically active to have something like this slow him down. We want to make sure we pursue all possible options to get him as healthy as we can.

In the meantime, things have definitely changed at our house. There are fewer things that Greg can do on his own. I need to help him with more and it means I have less hands to help with the kids also. So, not only am I a “parent down”, I have added one to the number of people I have to “care” for. God is good and I know we will get through this but I welcome your prayers!

Here are a couple pics of his road rash – it's actually not too bad considering what he went through! Although he was wearing his favorite jersey at the time and it got several holes in it. I think he was more upset about that than the shoulder injury! ;)

American Heart Association Start! Heart Walk

Thursday, September 16 was the State workers heart walk. Andrea, the MLH coordinator, and I went down to the state capital building and set up a booth for Mended Little Hearts. We shared pictures and stories of the children in our group and how incredible they are. We met people who had children with congenital heart defects, or knew someone who did, and were able to do some networking. It was a good day and I am glad we were there. These first 4 pictures are from the state workers walk.






On Saturday, September 18, was the main heart walk for everyone. I've been planning on doing this walk for the last year but only started fundraising for it about 2-3 months ago. Mended Little Hearts had a large group of people walking. And, within MLH, we had several team captains with our own teams. For example, our team had 17 people walking that day. My team has raised over $1500 and there are still donations coming in. If you would like to donate, you can still do so! Just contact me and I can let you know how. As a whole, MLH raised over $9000 which is so awesome! Every dollar raised by any of the teams under Mended Little Hearts goes directly to pediatric CHD research. Research like this will help children like Kyler & Caden.

We were joined by some awesome friends and family for the walk. We were planning on having Kyler and Caden both there with us for the walk but unfortunately Caden got really sick that week prior to the walk. He was having fevers as high as 104.6! Greg's mom drove down from Oregon and was planning to do the walk with us. However, since Caden was sick, she graciously offered to stay at home with him so Greg & I could still take Kyler and walk with the rest of our team.

Thank you to the following people who joined me, Greg & Kyler: Natalie, Gail, Heather, Collie, Dick, Joan, JB, Sharon, Lexy, Vanessa, Will, Shirley, Malia, Dimple.

We plan on making this an annual event for our family so if you missed it this year and would like to join us next year, please let me know and I will keep you posted when the time gets closer. :) The walk takes place in William Land Park in Sacramento; a gorgeous place for a 5k walk!


The location for the heart walk

L-R: Malia, Sharon, Lexy, Vanessa, Shirley


I love their tattoos!

Wonderful surgeon, Dr. Teimour Nasirov with me, Greg & Kyler

Pretty much everyone in red in this picture is on our team. Teimour was walking with us for awhile also. :)

Greg & Kyler walking

Our incredible team, we are so thankful to all of you for joining us!
Clockwise starting in back row: Will, Shirley, Heather, Gail, Sharon, Lexy, Kyler, Greg, Carey, Natalie, Dimple, Vanessa, JB, Collie, Malia (Missing: Dick & Joan)

At the finish line!

Shirley, Will & Malia - thanks for joining us!

Sharon, JB, Vanessa & Lexy - you are awesome!

Lexy sporting her new MLH tattoo on her cheek :)

Kyler loving the strawberries offered at one of the booths after the walk

Vanessa & Malia relaxing after the walk

Greg's sister Natalie drove over from Walnut Creek to walk with us

Greg, me and Will all enjoying our mint chocolate chip ice cream cones :0

At home after the walk, we had to have a family photo in our MLH t-shirts since Caden couldn't be at the walk with us

Fundraising

On Monday, September 13, our heart support group, Mended Little Hearts of Sacramento, held a fundraiser at Chevy's on the River in Sacramento. It was a fun thing to do in place of our regular monthly meeting. Our family went and some good friends of ours joined us for dinner. Overall,there was a good turnout of people supporting MLH. I haven't heard the final result in the amount of money raised. But it's a start. We are trying to build up some reserves so we can purchase supplies for care packages for families with children in the hospital, etc. If you would like to make a donation or find out how you can help, please send an email to: SacramentoCA@mendedlittlehearts.org.

Caden having a good time with our good friend Shirley!

Kyler with Shirley & Will's daughter Malia