Happy Father's Day - MN Day 2

Father’s Day started out very nice for the Lane family with a yummy breakfast, and a bit of playing up and down on the elevators…the boys just had to got to the bath room in our room, so up, up, up to our floor they went and down, down, down they came. The view of them going up and waiving to Mike and I below was so cute that…up, up, up they went back to our room to get mommy her camera then down, down, down they came just to go back up again so that I could get a few cute pictures of them. Mike joined in for a Father’s Day picture with his boys.

Meeting Auntie and Uncle was a lot of fun for Trey. Father’s Day dinner was a sight to behold. Trey decided that he and Auntie would dine by themselves and sat at their own table. I thought it was so funny, Trey thought he was so cool and thought nothing of it.Just got off the phone with Auntie…okay so “the goods” were delivered, in other words Drake and Broc made it up to the lake safe and sound. Only one “glitch”…when Drake was saying goodbye to Trey, he said he’d see him in a couple of days and again Trey didn’t understand and asked why. Drake continued with, “because you have to go to the hospital”. Tears, tears and more tears. All’s Trey could say was, “I don’t want it!” The tears kepta’ comin’ but after the boys said their goodbyes and we all went our separate ways, Trey settled down and fell asleep in his car seat during our drive to the next hotel.

So here we are, checked in to the hotel and getting tomorrow’s appointment’s planned and navigated out in our minds and on the road. Our first meeting is probably the one we are the most anxious about…the orthopedic spine doctor. Trey has been happy since he woke up from his nap and hasn’t mentioned a word about doctors or hospitals.

At this moment he is loving life, eating PB&J, Cheetos and watching a movie in bed.
We’ve got a long day tomorrow; please keep Trey in your prayers.

Lots of Love,
Cami and Mike
p.s Happy Father’s Day

Day 1 - Minnesota

Taking a deep breath in…it is all becoming so uncomfortably close. Not two hours after arriving in Minnesota, the boys and I are eating lunch when the topic comes up about Drake and Broc heading up North to Granny’s…without Trey. I have talked to Trey about going to see his doctors in Minnesota but I think the talk’s about Granny’s house, her birthday and the birthday party over shadowed any other reason we would be in Minnesota. In this moment I also realize that we never told Trey that only daddy and I would be with him at his appointments. Trey is so sad that he isn’t going to Granny’s with his brothers and it is obvious that he doesn’t realize why. I tell Trey that we have to visit the doctor and he asks, “for daddy?” I tell him that we are going to see his nice doctors, his only concern is whether or not he would have to get a shot. Drake and Broc both chime in and tell Trey that he will have to stand real tall for a picture of his back as they both get up from the table to stand tall and show him how it’s done…the tension is broke when Trey asks if he has to be naked for the picture. Next Trey’s big brothers tell him that the nice doctors will take a picture of his tummy and put sticky stuff on his tummy too. Nothing is said by Trey other than him conveying again that he wants to be with his brothers. I am fighting back the tears wondering if this will be the moment that he asks, “why” but am rescued by the innocence of a child –two children, Drake and Broc as they change the subject and start talking about World Cup Soccer.
In a very selfish way I wish the older boys could stay with us through the week…believe it or not, to help ME. The boys relate to one another on the same level while I on the other hand, trip over my tongue not knowing what to say next and stumble over my emotions, trying with all my might to hold them back. I will never be ready for the day that I have to answer the question “why” but after today (crazy as it may sound) believe that with Drake and Broc by my side I will have the strength to get through that moment.

The night ended with Mike and his boys having a great time swimming in the hotel pool...Trey was so proud of himself to be able to float on the "noodle" all by himself.

Keeping Busy

Our first official week of summer vacation was spent at Vacation Bible School. This year the theme was "Egypt" and like previous years, the boys loved it. Trey was such a big boy this year...amazing what changes a year can bring. Trey was singing, and dancing and making new friends daily. This last week was spent making posters for Uncle Bryan's return from his deployment
as well as getting ready for Minnesota and Trey's annual check up with the specialists. As soon as get the results of Trey's spine x-rays, echo. and blood tests we will then breath easy and head up North to celebrate my Granny's 90th birthday. I will bring the computer with us and update Trey's blog as the results come in...pray for good news!

Go Rattlers!

Another HopeKids event...this time great seats at the Rattlers arena football game that included time on the field after the game to meet the players and cheerleaders.

The boys had such a great time at the game and loved even more the time after the game, getting autographs and running up and down the field. Mike and I feel so blessed to have Hopekids in our community to allow us opportunities like these for the kids to enjoy and take their minds off of anything and everything medical.

Last Day of Preschool

Trey had so much fun at his last couple of days of Preschool. He was really looking forward to "water day" and ended up having a blast squirting not only the other kids but the teachers too...making them jump because of the unexpected stream of water down their back or in a few cases having the teachers squirt back and engaging Trey in a water fight. Mike and I were getting a kick out of Trey's personality and how he interacted with everyone, young and old(er). Can't believe my "baby" is headed to Kindergarten in 6 weeks!

"What?" to think

It has been one year since Trey had tubes inserted into his ears to help with his hearing loss. At our latest appointment with the ENT, another hearing test was performed and again Trey failed. At the time I was feeling pretty good about how Trey's everyday hearing was going. The audiologist explained that sometimes because a hole is cut into the ear drum for the tubes, the kids can't hear certain tones, like the ones given during a hearing test, because of this, she said that if I wasn't worried, they would see no need to worry about the failed test. But as luck would have it, ever since that day it seems like we are having to repeat ourselves to get Trey to respond. I asked for the written results from the hearing test taken on that day to bring with us to Minnesota and think I will ask to have another test done on Trey this next week. I pray that this is just a matter of Trey being ornery and nothing worse.

Memories over Memorial Day

Memorial Day was spent up North at our friends’ cabin with the company of Cathy, Joyce and John. The weekend was so pleasurable and as usual, a welcome departure from everyday life. First and foremost, Mike and I decided that the boys needed a quick course in boy scouting. Hours after being up at the cabin the boys were super excited to show us the “camp site” they made. Their Grandma Joyce and I hiked up the mountain only to find all three of the boys sitting in the middle of a soot filled fire pit and to top it off in full sun.
All the trees, all the pines, all the shade and this is where they pick to set up camp –HA! The town of Pine (located at the bottom of the mountain) was having a big memorial weekend festival so of course, Auntie Claus…oops Cathy just had to take the boys shopping.
The boys came back with bow and arrows each of a different color along with Trey having his face painted like a dragon. They also came home with kettle corn and fudge, hence Auntie Claus. We had lots of fun going on a hike, sight seeing deer, roasting marshmallows over the outdoor fire pit, reading, watching a family movie and eating lots and lots of food off the grill. The weekend was so relaxing and as usual, the weather was just beautiful…thank you Baxer and Gia, we are forever grateful for your generosity and the use of your cabin.

A "Magic" Clinic

All three of the boys were invited by HopeKids to take part in a basketball camp presented by the club team known as the "magic". At the start of the clinic Trey had decided that he would rather "shoot around" with some of the younger brothers of the boys on the club team and not participate in the clinic itself.
But by the second break, Trey was shooting hoops and participating in the drills like all the others kids. I'm not sure who learned more at this day camp, the HopeKids or the club team...the level of compassion these kids and coaches displayed to our HopeKids was very moving indeed.

A Home Run Season

I am very happy to report that Trey's t-ball season ended up being much better, effort wise, than what we witnessed at his first practice. Trey's experience with his second organized team sport was a complete joy for our entire family. I have yet to witness anything from a group of parents like the ones on this team...every last one of the dad's would help coach the boys and I have to say that they were nothing short of fantastic towards Trey and his needs. Trey loved his teammates, his uniform, getting up to bat, running through the "tunnel" as well as eating snacks at the end of each game, receiving team pictures and of course, being awarded his trophy.
It was so nice to have so many family and friends show up to his Saturday morning games, Trey never went without a cheering section. Drake, Broc, Mike,myself and especially Trey, loved those Saturdays that the boys' schedules would allow for all of us to attend both the t-ball and the soccer games as a family.

The "Red Fire Trucks" went undefeated (never mind that they didn't keep score) and had an extremely fun season...wish we could play with this set of kids and parents for every sport.