pieces of my summer treasure

Summer is beginning her slow exhale. While there are still plenty of weeks of warm weather to be had, change is in the air. School is about to begin and our daily routine will be adjusted.

 We are savoring every bit of summer time together.

We had a burst of slightly cooler weather and took advantage of every extra minute we could spend outside.

And, of course, there is always time for a little mud play - also known as "sensory integration" in our family. This is a good example of why I always carry a big package of wipes with me. :)

My heart skipped a beat as I saw Grant maneuvering this portion of the play structure. He couldn't do that earlier this summer. The combination of motor planning issues, hypotonia and major vestibular/proprioceptive disorientation makes it extremely challenging for Grant to climb and descend stairs and even walk steadily at times. So you can imagine my elation when I witnessed Grant walking the elevated, uneven steps all by himself (and with no prompting)!

Grant's birthday is just around the corner. I get emotional just thinking about celebrating four years of Grant. There is so much about him I want others to know.  

Yes, he is a boy who has Fragile X Syndrome and that puts numerous challenges in his path and it can be hard for others to see past... but he is also a boy who is kind, loyal and very forgiving. He loves to read books, play baseball, go on walks, be silly, laugh, eat, jump...

To those who have taken the time to see beyond Grant's challenges and love the boy he is at heart, thank you.

To those who read this blog and support, encourage and pray for us, thank you.

I mean that with all the thankfulness my heart can possibly express.

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OK, moving on from my emotional rant... :)

Beautiful days often mean getting my car washed by all the handsome men in my life. 

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Another sign of summer slipping away is the end of church softball games.

I am so glad I decided bring the boys to a few games this year. Some went smoother than others, but once again I got to witness the patience and kindness of others as I relied on helping hands to make sure the boys stayed off the field and out of trouble. All in all, the boys did great and we are looking forward to next season!

Before our last game, Aaron ran with the boys on the field. It was a perfect evening and the perfect way to end the season.

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On Sunday we went with Aaron's parents to a local park that had a lake with a nice little beach. The time at the lake was short but we resolved to return soon.

[Insert blissful sigh...] I could spend my whole summer at the lake.

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I entered the summer with great hesitation - unsure of how I was going to provide the structure and therapy Grant continuously needs. Indeed, there have definitely been a few rough days in the mix, but overall we've had a wonderful summer break.

I am learning to take each day one step at a time... and treasure the little things.