Family Pictures

Since Max is not exactly cooperative lately with having his picture taken I didn't even want to risk getting his 4 year pictures taken on top of family pictures. So this year we combined the two and did them in the middle of October. That way they are close enough to his birthday and can still be used for Christmas too. As usual my best friend Christie took the pictures for us. We went to downtown Guthrie and I was really happy with the results. I will definitely have to remember to go there again when Max is a little more cooperative because the possibilities were endless. they were once again great and thankfully I didn't have to be too embarrassed of my sons not so stellar behavior since she loves my boy so much. Thanks again Christie!!!

Swim Lessons

Jeff and I have been wanting to get Max into swim lessons all summer and unfortunately we could never find anywhere that would allow for either Jeff to be in the water, or for special needs students. Finally a space opened up in a special needs swim class at the YMCA. We figured we would try it out and see how it went. Max absolutely fell in love with the water! Since the first set of classes we have already taken another session and start a new one again on Wednesday. We became members because I have been working out there too since they have child care so the classes are really affordable. The instructors are so kind and patient and Max really takes to them. Max loves swimming more than any extra curricular that we have tried. Who knows, maybe I have a little fish on my hands. Just last week he swam across the entire pool by himself (with a floatie of course.) We will see how long this lasts but for now he likes it so much that we will keep signing up. The sessions are only 4 weeks with one class a week so the commitment isn't big and well worth it.

These pictures are from the first class. I had to take them from across the way in the parents section so they are a little hard to see. But trust me there is a smile from ear to ear on his face.

Learning to get into the water safely.

Kicking in the water

Diving for Ducks

Swimming like a big boy!

4th Birthday

I could have sworn that I had already made this post and to my surprise when I was trying to play catch up I realized that apparently I haven't. I appreciate everyone being patient with me and the blog. As I told you before we have been so busy lately and the blog has suffered. Max's birthday party was actually a week and a half after his real birthday. Luckily we had scheduled it that way because Max was really sick on his birthday. All of the unspoken unpleasantness that only mommies and daddies can relate to seem to be occurring all at the same time. We tried to make the day as special as possible but unfortunately daddy also started to come down with it around lunch time and I wasn't feeling exactly spry myself. We had grand plans of a trip to the zoo, an afternoon movie, dinner at Max's favorite place McDonald's with a little time at the play place, and capping the evening off with presents and cake. Clearly none of that happened so we spread his presents out throughout the day and he had a sliver of cake before bed. Thankfully he wont remember this birthday much, if at all. This was also the last day of summer before school started back. Which as we all know Max didn't make it to the first day of school either due to being sick. This virus had him down and out for a few days but thankfully we had our fun loving little boy back after a few days.

Max got to have a birthday boy donut for breakfast. Thankfully he got a little more excited than this but not much.

The only excitement we could think of was to let him open a few presents early. He got to open a new book after breakfast.

But this is how most of the day was spent. The two sickos watching a movie on the couch.

He got to open another gift that afternoon. He was getting restless and I felt sorry for him being sick on his birthday and all.

Finally after a bath and dinner we sang "Happy Birthday," had some cake, opened some presants, and called it a day!





I cant even believe he is already four. It's so cliche but it really has flown by. There are times I miss my sweet baby, but others I am amazed at how much he has grown. Maxwell has made me a more patient and understanding person. I cant believe that I get to be his mom everyday!

Birthday Party

Luckily even though Max was sick on his birthday we had already planned on having his party the weekend after. My brother Jeff and sister-in-law Andrea let us use their house cause they have a really nice pool and a cute multi purpose/pool house. There were threats of rain all week and luckily it held out just long enough for the party. As everyone was leaving the dark clouds rolled in and we barely cleaned up in time. This year we attempted to be more low key so we didn't invite as many people as usual but it still ended up being somewhat of a production. We had the works! All in all it ended up pretty good and went off without a hitch.

Welcome to the party!!! I made a balloon wreath a while back and was so excited to finally use it. I think I have figured out the equation to any fantastic summer birthday party.

We had hotdogs and decorations. √

Party Games √

Swimming √

 Cake (thanks to my girlfriend Ashlee who made a cake with banana filling!!!) √

Singing to the Birthday Boy! √

Don't forget the ice cream. √

And of course presents. √

Back to school for my Westfield Wildcat!

The first day of school is but a distant memory now. We are actually almost 6 weeks into the school year and I am now finally getting around to this post about Max's first day back as a Westfield Wildcat. This year Maxwell is technically in Pre-School even though he went last year too. He has the same teacher and therapists as last year which is good because he really seems to like them. Unfortunately as you already know Max was sick on his birthday and therefore the first day of school too which was the next day. For some reason School starts on a Friday here. They say it is so the kids can get accustomed to the routine without diving head first into the school year. And at risk of sounding incredibly old, they never would have done that in my day! Needless to say Max started school Monday instead. And since my boy is sometimes a summer baby and school started so soon after his birthday we took cookies and party bags for the class. It seems like I have maybe started a trend in his class too. I know it's the norm to take treats to school for birthdays but I of course didn't want to be normal. So on top of cookies we brought Cars party sacks for everyone. Now there have been two other birthdays and class and what did Max get? You guessed it... party bags. Yup, just call me a trendsetter! I realize I didn't invent the concept of giving party sacks but give me these small things to feel good about people. Any way first day of school went well. Max seems to be in a groove again and enjoys going which is nice. Hopefully it stays that way too, but then again this is only pre-k.

We are ready to hit the road!

Mrs Hopkins helped Max put away his bag and he waved goodbye. He is such a big boy and thankfully this year I didn't embarrass my self by tearing up again.

Playing a little catch up.

I'm going to go ahead and say sorry now. I have been really busy lately and have not had time to post anything. I have several things in the works to post about and I am just trying to get it done. It seems every year around this time we get so busy. It all started with Maxwell's birthday, the first day of school, then Max's birthday party, and Jeff's Birthday and the list seems to keep growing. Plus Fall Ball started back up last Sunday, a special needs swim class at the YMCA, equestrian therapy started again last week and I was out of town all last week helping my sister recover from surgery. Now I am back to the land of the living and trying to get back on track. I also have a trainee at work lately so I haven't been able to use my down time to catch up there either. While I was gone at my sisters' I worked on a photo book from Shutterfly.  So here is a little morsel to tide you over. Max was at home with daddy and looking at all the pictures made me miss my boys even more. Thankfully we skype'd each day and I got in my little fix.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Visit Shutterfly.com to create your own personalized photobook.

A message for Aunt Jenny!

Is it really just a word?

So, tonight I was having a relaxing evening at home with my family. Max is in bed,and Jeff and I finished watching a movie and decided we would watch a little light TV before bed. The Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne Barr was on, sure lets watch it. Little did I know, because apparently I have been living under a rock about some comments that were made by Wayne Brady. As many of you know I don't share my political views or opinions on social issues here. That just isn't what I want my blog to be about. But I seriously can not understand why it is for some reason acceptable to make jokes about someone's child. And what really ticks me off is that the joke is for some reason okay because he is a comedian and comedy is supposed to be edgy. Some of you may not be aware of the comment made, and for those of you who also live under a rock like myself here it is.During Brady's remarks, he was making fun of fellow roaster Jeff Ross."Now the thing is Jeff," said Brady, "these are all jokes, and I really like you. I really, really like you. But a lot of people hate you, especially Sarah Palin because you remind her of what Trig is going to look like when he’s 40."

What the heck is wrong with this picture? Why is it fine for a grown man to make fun of a defenseless child because of his handicap?  I may not agree with Sarah Palin and her politics or find Wayne Brady funny, but when did it become okay to make fun of a special needs child for a punch line. What the heck happened to trying to teach people tolerance? It is ignorant people like Wayne Brady that would think that attacking someone's defenseless child is fine for a cheap joke. Guess what Wayne Brady, you are the one who chose to be on a show where it is known that people will be making fun of you in the name of comedy. I'm not a sensitive person when it comes to comedy and in fact have been known to tell my fair share of raunchy jokes. But never would I make fun of a child and especially for their handicap. Some of you probably think that I am being sensitive, but the truth is that if I just sit by and allow comments like this to be made why should I expect anyone to see why this is wrong. Several years ago, before Max was born, I nonchalantly used the word "retard" to a parent of a special needs child. Until that point, I was ignorant like so many people. I remember thinking how unacceptable it is to say things like this, and I was embarrassed. I got off the phone and cried and realized how wrong I was and that I had been ignorant. I had no way of knowing his daughter had Downs syndrome, but that was no excuse. I realized all that I could do was apologize and learn from my own stupidity. I don't understand why it is okay to use words like "retard" as a derogatory slam or a punch line in a joke. A blog I follow brings up a valid point, Would you call my child a retard? Would you call someone else a retard in front of him because someone else did something dumb or acted stupid. Max is in special needs class rooms, receives additional therapies and has clear developmental issues. Things that come easy to others he has had to work and fight for. He is the strongest and most kind child I have met. I hear people in the store talking about Max, the points and the people who have had the gall to stare as Max falls down repeatedly. I heard you call him "retarded" and ask you mother "what's wrong with him" as your child points. Don't brush it off. Explain to others that people are different and differences are okay. Shouldn't we all be teaching our children tolerance? That differences should be embraced and not pushed aside. Everyone wants to so freely give their opinions without actually knowing the full truth. My family works hard to help Maxwell learn and grow just like any other. I have big hopes and dreams for my son and I realize that just because doctors say that Max wont ever be able to live on his own or he may never be able to talk to where he is completely understood doesn't mean he cant. It's something for us to strive towards. Maxwell being an active functioning member of society is my ultimate goal. So the next time you decide it's okay to use a child that is different as your punch line in a joke maybe you should think twice about what you are saying.

One of the blogs I follow is written by a mom with a child named Max that has cerebral palsy. She made a short video for the for the ongoing R-word campaign which was created by Special Olympics to help eliminate the use of the word "retard." She made the video to show all the people that don't understand what is so wrong with a word.

Since I started writing this I have seen that Wayne Brady issued an apology. I think it is a good start and I respect the fact that people can admit when they have been wrong. If you are interested here is what Wayne Brady wrote on his Facebook page.

 This letter has taken me a few days to compose because of the conflicting emotions that I've experienced since the day of the Roast and it's subsequent airing. The environment of the Roast is a comedic (hopefully), tasteless (mostly always), affair that encourages everyone to out-filth each other. Not normally what I'm known for, right? But, when I was invited, I jumped at the chance to play outside of my perceived "norm" and have fun. The Jeff joke was written for me and at the end of the day I take full responsibility for saying it. It wasn't meant as a slam to Trig and at the time I didn't see it that way.

I could defend it as a performer, but I would rather apologize from the bottom of my heart as a father. I understand how a parent, who loves their child, who tries to nurture and shield them when they cannot defend themselves, would take offense.. I have many times experienced this feeling. I've had awful things said about my daughter.. Violent and most times racial stabs. Being in the spotlight I have built a thick skin to these sorts of things. My daughter ( who's now old enough to understand ) is another story. That being said I write this letter with sensitivity and a strong stance of responsibility for my actions.

I thank everyone who's expressed their opinion for reminding me that my voice is heard... It's easy to forget sometimes in front of cameras and lights.

To the Palins, please know that no malice or harm was meant. To the other families who were touched negatively, I hope you'll be able to accept this apology as well.

I've always said that people in the public eye should be held responsible for what you say and I'm no hypocrite. Thanks for reading and letting me express my side.

Take care all,
Wayne