Having a great time in the Adirondacks

We are having so much fun at the lake.  Since I have very limited access to the internet (I’m going to try and post from the local library) I am going to share a bunch of pictures to help show how things are going so far.

Ty did get sick twice when we arrived at the rental house, but I’ve been giving him medication and it seems to be under control.  He also lost the hair in the back of his head the day we got here as a result of the radiation, so we are finding hair all over the furniture, his clothes, etc., but he doesn’t seem to realize what’s happening.  Lou brought an electric trimmer with him so he tried to create a “fade” and it looks fine.  We are here with Ty’s amazing cousins James (7 years) and Ryan (6 years) – and James allowed Lou to trim his hair, too, in order to show Ty that it’s not a big deal.  Besides, Ty is so handsome, a big bald spot can’t change that J

James has been entertaining Ty non-stop with magic tricks since we arrived.  He has new “Harry Potter” glasses, he made a magic wand out of a nice stick that he painted gold, and Ty thinks it is just the greatest.  Ty even sat through a Harry Potter movie last night with his cousins.  He had no idea what was going on, but I think he just wanted to be hanging out with the big boys.  Here’s Ty holding his magic wand, and James with his new glasses.

The influence of his cousins is going such a long way.  They were coloring, and Ty wanted to sit at the table and “do art” which is something he hasn’t been doing very much of lately because he doesn’t like to get out of his comfort zone much – i.e. the couch.   He is getting so strong, he wrote his name to my utter amazement.  Look!  It isn’t very clear and he started drawing some other scribbles around it, but it’s been almost a year since he’s been able to even draw a line with any sort of coordination… I am so happy he remembers how and he was so proud of himself.

Lou set up a big tent with blow-up chairs for Ty down at the lake, and so far he’s been willing to spend some time there.  It doesn’t last long, but I’ll take what I can get.   Gavin, on the other hand, would spend all day down there in the water if he was allowed.  He has pretty much been running around naked since we got here.   Here’s big G after a long day of running around.

Ty has been practicing his walking every day.  He is getting very strong.  He can take about 50 steps across the room with some support under his shoulders, and then he stands holding onto me for another ten seconds or more.  It’s so wonderful.  Here is standing with me yesterday.

Finally, Ty is sitting at the dinner table independently.  I still can’t get over it.  We have a special harness chair that we bought for him so he could sit at the table at home, but he absolutely hates it and never gets off the couch unless it’s to sit on my lap.  I think it’s the influence of his cousins that had him sitting on his own, eating lunch with Aunt Theresa.  Unbelievable.  Brings tears to my eyes.

I will try to keep you posted every couple of days until we get home.  Thank you so much for loving Ty and for praying for him.