Following My Lead - Week of May 10th

"Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions." ~Harold S. Geneen

Each morning, Cam heads down the driveway to meet the bus a little after 6:30am.  Many days, he is able to see the sunrise when he's getting ready.

At school, Robotics remains a true highlight.  Cam enjoys all subjects and the interactions, but working with his robot is always exciting.

This week he was able to test out the programming that was set up to allow the robot to follow him.  The video shows it all in action.

Oma and Opa arrived on Friday ready to attend Cam's baseball game on Saturday.

The cloudy weather made for a cooler start to the 10am first pitch, but it warmed up quickly.  The batter box was in full swing equipped with the pulley system to assist with the release of the bat to connect with the ball.

The players also had their individual photos taken, as is the case for every season.

Since Cam and his best bud Brody are on the same team, it was a sweet surprise to see their teacher Mrs. Wells and her daughter Nora, arrive in time for the WMML baseball too.

When the game was over before 11am, we decided it was a great idea to find a restaurant near home and eat outside.  We had no idea how difficult it would be!  The first place did not have their outdoor patio available yet, the 2nd place wasn't open until 3p, the 3rd place had a 45 min wait for outside seating and we finally sat down at the 4th restaurant on a picnic table.  And by that time, we sure were hungry.  Luckily, it was a delicious lunch and Oma and Opa treated us.

Back at home, Jane's mom had given her a beautiful hydrangea and begonia flowers for Mother's Day that were ready for planting.  After determining the best spot in the front yard we got to work placing them in the ground.  We bid farewell to Cam's grandparents late afternoon and watched a family movie in the evening.

On Sunday, we had another planned outing for an early dinner.  We were meeting our cousins at Outback Steakhouse to dine on the famous blooming onion and dinner, of course.  We arrived at 4:40p and were told it would be about a 35 minute wait.  As the timeframe came and went, it began to feel like a repeat of Saturday's lunch.  Of course, if one has to wait for 2 hours (!) outside, the nicer weather and Cam's dad being funny always helps.  In the picture, there is a man in the background carrying a cake.  As he passed by, Chris said "Oh, thanks for bringing my cake!" The man laughed and as we were all cracking up, Cam declared "Dad, that is embarrassing!"

We left the restaurant after 7:30p and knew we would be a bit later starting Cam's evening routine.  In true trooper form though, our son indicated on the drive home "it was worth it!"

Camology Quotes:

During our search for outdoor dining on Saturday, Jane was telling Chris & Cam that evening it was strange to see a 'Please Seat Yourself' sign at a popular restaurant that was typically busy.  Cam really didn't understand the basis for the sign at all.  His commentary:

"But if you seat yourself, how does anyone even know that you are there?!" 

A Stand Up Guy - Week of May 3rd

“Do your best with what you have where you are.” ~Movie 'Stand Up Guys'

We have become accustomed to the lack of social activities on our calendar.  And then the busiest weekend in over 1 year, seemed suddenly upon us. 

Thursday evening was Ms. Amanda's wedding rehearsal and dinner.  Cam decided, of his own choosing, that he wanted to surprise her at the rehearsal with an idea.  Perhaps it was the deer in our backyard finding a tasty treat that spurred his thought.  When Cam saw Ms. Amanda he told her he wanted to go down the aisle in standing mode in his power chair!  There was quite a bit of practice with the group heading back and forth and then we quickly enjoyed a delicious dinner before heading back home since it was a school night.

Oma and Opa arrived Friday, eager to spend the weekend with us and join in all of the festivities.  The day began a bit too early on Saturday with the anticipation and a kiddo who didn't sleep much past 5am.  

Jane headed out first a little before 8am to begin her mistress of ceremonies duty list.  

Cam, his dad, and grandparents all left the house a bit after 9am to cheer on Cam at his baseball game.  For the first time in 575 days, Miracle League baseball returned to Nate Hurwitz Field.  Cam and his best bud, Brody were assigned to the Cubs team.  And their former teacher, Ms. Kathy and her husband Kevin were also in the cheering section.  The middle school Robotics teacher, Mr. Z, made an appearance too to see the kids play ball.  

Directly after the awesome game, the family headed over to the Friendship Christian Reformed Church in Byron Center to join Jane and grab lunch, get changed and then suit up for the wedding.

Cam had been given the wedding party position of Ring Security and dressed in the same duds as the groomsmen.  As such, he needed to be present for professional pictures which were set to be taken at a nearby mill as well as in the church.

As the security kid waited for the group to assemble, he had his first look of Ms. Amanda in her beautiful wedding dress.  To say he was surprised would be an absolute understatement!  To mark the occasion, we came up with the idea of Cam decorating his chair with a chalkboard sign that depicted all of the former wedding dates that were attempted due to the pandemic.  Mr. Ring Security was extremely pleased with his own plan of standing while driving for his trip down and up the aisle.  One of the most memorable moments of the ceremony was when the pastor indicated that Ms. Amanda had told him the service could only be 45 minutes in length.  Amanda, very audibly, added in the phrase "or less" at the perfect juncture.

The reception took place at a nearby family farm in Dorr.  The sun shone brightly and even though the breeze was cooler, the setting couldn't have been more beautiful.  Chris handled his master of ceremonies duties with his great sense of humor while his son thought it was incredibly cool that his own dad announced his name over the microphone as a member of the wedding party.  After 8pm, Cam was fading and indicated he really wanted to go home and get to bed.  The groom, Mr. Nick, told Cam he was tired too and was wishing for the same thing.  Cam and Nick had a shared laugh over that comment!

It was hard to believe the very next morning was Mother's Day.  Even though everyone was a bit tired, father and son headed out to pick up a delicious breakfast from Sundance Restaurant to celebrate.

Jane and Oma really had the royal treatment!  Cam's grandma opened customized cups adorned with pictures and a re-print of Cam's great grandma's autobiography created in Shutterfly by Jane and her son.  

Cam presented his mom with a lightweight blanket with a pic of the two of them and the inscription which he dictated to his dad. "I love you Mom!!! You are the greatest! Thank you for always caring about me like when you make me awesome food. I'm happy to celebrate Mother's Day with you. I am happy that you are my mom.  Your loving son, Cam"

At school, Cam had made a tulip card and arrived home with a homemade cookie mix with a card reading: 'To a mom that's as sweet as cookies. Let's bake some together!' and handmade sugar scrub denoting this message on top: 'I added sugar, because you are so sweet to me. I added oil because you always smooth my way. I added all my love moms are loveable.'

Before Oma and Opa headed up north, their grandson finished a homemade batch of applesauce with his grandma's oversight.

That evening, Jane requested a take-out dinner when exhaustion took over.  A nearby sushi place indicated a 90-minute wait for pickup.  Luckily, the ever popular Culver's had call ahead ready in less than 10 minutes.

It was a win-win dining as a family and partaking in Cam's favorite meal.  Jane's son kept asking if it was ok to have Culver's.  It was more than alright since the reason they were observing the day to begin with was because of Cameron.  After all, his mom always tells him, "You are the only reason I have the name 'mom' and it is reserved just for you."

Camology Quotes:

During some outdoor work on Sunday afternoon, Cam figured out a new way to assist his dad with outside projects... 

"I'll be the checker and you be the fixer!" 

Sense of Direction - Week of Apr. 26

“Just like a GPS, the universe sends you signs to show you the best course. If you follow the flow, you get where you want with ease and happiness. If you miss a turn, the road becomes longer and harder.” ~Charbel Tadros 

“Right now there are thirty-one satellites zipping around the world with nothing better to do than help you find your way to the grocery store.” ~Ed Burnette

The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a satellite-based radio navigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that provides geolocation and time information to a GPS receiver anywhere on or near the Earth
where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.

Your sense of direction is your ability to know roughly where you are, or which way to go, even when you are in an unfamiliar place.

Cam has always seemed to remember how to direct others to their destination.  Once he's been to a location it remains with him.  When directing his mom a "back way" over to Costco, he exclaimed, "I'm like a GPS!"

We planned a trip to the cottage on Saturday to finalize the Dishy setup for the new satellite internet service.  While Chris worked outside to find the perfect spot, Jane and Cam assisted Oma with some tasks inside.  Upon completion, we gave Jane's mom some early Mother's Day gifts including some new dish towels and apron set.  She laughed at the one from Cam reading "Grandma Rules....what rules?!"

After sharing dinner with our Raisch friends that evening, Chris and Steve planned an impromptu fishing trip for early Sunday morning.  They left at 7:30a leaving Cam and his mom to tackle a few projects of their own.  Winter gear was stored downstairs and heavy coats were moved to the hall closet.  

In the early afternoon, we joined a virtual baby shower for our cousin.

Immediately following the zoom meeting, Jane and her son were off to wish Cam's buddy, Liam a very happy 13th birthday.  Fresh fruit, homemade whipped cream and delicious chocolate cake with chocolate frosting makes any bday celebration extra sweet.  The small group of boys played baseball and enjoyed the very warm, sunny weather.  The breezy, balmy day was an unusual 80+ degrees!  Cam gave Liam a picture cube and puzzle with pictures dating back to when the boys were in preschool.  It seems a rarity to have friends for a lifetime, but these two are well on their way.

Camology Quotes:

During the drive to the cottage, Jane typically looks for interesting stories on her phone to read to the guys.  One such story was about the world's first floating pool, 115 feet in air, located in London.  Jane commented how unbelievably freaky it would be to swim in that pool. Apparently, Cam's mind was fixated on our impending lunch pickup... 

"Speaking of freaky, can we check out the Jimmy John's menu?" 

Technology Enablement - Week of Apr. 19th

 "We are all now connected by the internet, like neurons in a giant brain."  ~Stephen Hawking

Cam likes to ask his parents about 'the olden days.'  Chris and Jane always assume he is referring to the early 1900's when in actuality he is talking about when his own mom and dad were younger.  One evening he was asking what his parent's schooling was like in regards to looking up research information for reports and presentations.  We started to explain the library factor, the Dewey Decimal system, microfiche and all the other archaic ways of finding detailed info.  Cam was incredulous.  His response to all of this was, 'But how did you do school without the Internet?!'  It is funny to think that even when Cam's parents were 13 years of age, the access their son has today did not even exist for the general population.

There were multiple technology projects this week.  

Chris was finishing labs for a course he had taken and Cam never faltered with his daily reminder to complete.  He also worked right along side his dad which kept things interesting when Cam assisted with multiple choice questions and puzzling through a technical setup.

A new piece of equipment called a "Dishy" from Starlink arrived on Saturday to test out for faster internet access at Oma and Opa's cottage on Lake Michigan.  Starlink is a satellite internet constellation constructed by SpaceX providing satellite Internet access.  The constellation will consist of thousands of mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), working in combination with ground transceivers.  The service is working to deploy almost 1600 satellites by 2022.  Father and son worked to configure and test.  After quite a bit of time, they had to put in a trouble ticket.  It was finally responded to with the indication that the satellite dish needed to be at its registered address- Oma and Opa's home, to even function.  Dishy testing status: Delayed.  Therefore, Cam was ready for his next project.

Jane and her best helper worked on a secret present for Mother's Day for Oma.  It took quite a bit of time, but Cam does not waiver when a project is in progress.  When his mom was having trouble accomplishing a portion, her son said to keep going.  By late afternoon on Sunday, completion was in sight.  Jane told Cam it would have never been finished had he not kept them both going.

At the end of the weekend, with many items crossed off our list, we were all feeling a bit tired.  Even our cat, Stella, seemed to channel the mood of the family.  She produced a large yawn which actually looked like a bit of a roar!

Camology Quotes:

Besides Chris, Jane also had some class training to attend to for her job.  She may have been procrastinating a bit and told Cam they could tackle it the next day.  Cam was ensuring there would be no excuses or further delays... 

"Mom, you better get a lot of rest tonight because we are doing your classes and labs tomorrow." 

A Virtual Race to a Restaurant - Week of April 12th

 "Adapt yourself to the needs of the people." ~Sunday Adelaja                                                                   "Different is the new normal." ~James Durbin 

When people say 'kids grow up so fast' or 'you blink and they are teenagers' one doesn't imagine that it's how every parent feels.  In actuality, it seems it is completely true.  As Cam grows, his needs do as well.  The days of Jane lifting him solo are long gone.  A few years ago, the physical therapists who work with Cam recommended we begin the process to obtain an electric Hoyer lift through insurance.  It took some time, but when it arrived, we were all relieved to have this invention to assist us.

The Hoyer brand has been synonymous with lifts for 70 years. Ted Hoyer, an innovative quadriplegic, invented the first patient lift in 1951, a mechanism that is still considered to be the forerunner of all modern lifts.  On Thursday, Chris had an evening board meeting and knew he wouldn't be home prior to Cam's evening routine.  Jane and her son thought it would take a bit longer to get ready so they built in an 15 extra minutes.  Maneuvering the Hoyer and figuring out details was a bit trying.  Cam was not only patient but thinking of suggestions all along the way.  Due to them both remaining calm and chuckling at some missteps, it all worked quite nicely.  It may be difficult to imagine what a Hoyer looks like, so we put a large stuffed animal in to show the sling action.

The weekend brought sunshine and milder temps.  A huge mound of mulch was delivered.  Father and son busied themselves for a good part of the weekend placing the mulch in piles over the flower beds and spreading it out.  The pile shown was three times the size when it arrived.

As the world continues adapting some in-person events, we signed up for the 25th Wheel Run 5K through Alternatives in Motion.  The "virtual" 5K did have its advantages.  We began the Wheel Run when it worked for our family which happened to be 4pm.  From our home, we ventured one street over to our former Windcrest neighborhood.  We stopped and chatted with many friends we know along the way and then began trekking through the Burton Nature Park.  

Upon entrance, we saw two pug dogs with a young family and a kiddo in a wagon.  Jane struck up a conversation about their pups and then mentioned how cute their daughter was.  The nice dad immediately said it was his son!  After apologies and friendly exchanges, we all continued on our way.  A couple of minutes later, Cam stopped driving, turned to his mom and said "Aren't you embarrassed?!  You thought it was a girl but it was a boy!"  And then, uncontrollable laughter ensued between Cam and his parents.  Every couple of minutes or so, Cam would stop driving and begin laughing all over again just thinking about it!  At 2.8 miles into our journey, we stopped to enjoy dinner at a local favorite, JT's Pizza.  It was the first time Cam had been inside a restaurant in over a year!  The remainder of our journey home enabled us to feel just a tad bit healthier as we all enjoyed a little exercise for a great cause after dining on pizza and cheesy breadsticks.😋

Camology Quotes:

Jane didn't admit to her son that she was a bit nervous about using the Hoyer solo until they had completed the evening routine and he was tucked into bed.  At a critical moment during their finagling, Cam calmly and with an encouraging tone said the words Jane needed to hear most... 

"I have faith in you, Mom."

A Break for Spring - Week of Apr. 5th

“Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"... "It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...” ~Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

The official full week of spring break arrived for Cam.  Many of his classmates were on trips with their families.  

Fortunately for us, Ms. Amanda was also on break from her kindergarten class and remaining in Grand Rapids.  She was housesitting nearby and ready to hang out with Cam.

Their daily routine included walks through our nearby nature park.  The strolls were over a mile round trip and our weather was unseasonably mild for the entire week.  Taking care of Roxie and Lola, the dogs Ms. Amanda was caring for, was definitely one of Cam's most enjoyable excursions.

On their regular outings, the duo would frequently meet other dogs like the Bernese Mountain one pictured.

Back at home, Cam and Amanda made Energy Treats with oatmeal, honey, peanut butter, chocolate chips and vanilla.  They were most delicious!

Our 7th grader wanted to keep his tutoring time in place with Ms. Ann after we told him it was completely his choice.  Even though Chris and Jane still had to attend to their jobs, they both found a few spare hours to hang out with Cam over his spring break and we all enjoyed family workouts in our home gym.

On Saturday, we headed north to check in on Oma and Opa and help out with a few chores.  Lake Michigan is actually down a foot of water so the beach looks pretty expansive right now.  Of course, a few days of high winds and big waves means the lakeshore can change rapidly.  Cam and Jane helped Oma with indoor tasks while Chris measured the steps down to the beach for an upcoming project to build an apparatus that will take our 7th grader to the sand.

We had a visit with Liam and family on Sunday to wish Liam's dad, Mr. Matt, a happy 40th birthday!  Cam and his buddy played outside and we all enjoyed hot dogs and delicious chocolate cake which Cam declared should be in place for his own bday celebration in August.

Another declaration took place as it appears that Sir Cam is being officially knighted by Sir Liam.

Camology Quotes:

Cam had to write a short paragraph about his spring break.  This was his typed entry.

"I spent spring break at my house.  I went for lots of walks because it was sunny and warm.  I worked out with my parents.  I had a fun spring break with my parents."

Taking Care of My Oma - Week of Mar. 29th

“Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you’re just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric.” ~Pam Brown 

“A grandmother once said that children are the investments and grandchildren the dividends.” ~Selma Berg

When Cameron was little and speech was still a bit out of reach, he called Jane's mom Oma.  After all of these years, the name has stuck even though he can clearly say Grandma now.  As a youngster, Oma was very protective of Cam and now that role has reversed.

This week, we welcomed Cam's grandparents for six days.  Jane's mom was scheduled for a parathyroidectomy very early Monday morning in Grand Rapids.  Cam's final instruction to his mom: "Take care of my Oma."  

Upon arrival home from surgery day before dinner, his grandma was in good spirits and Cam requested a full report.  After understanding the medication and recovery routine, he made it his job to remind and check in as often as he could.

Since Cam officially began his spring break on Thursday, he had two full days at home with his grandparents.  Oma and her grandson looked through and read Jane's grandmother's biography.  It was written more than 15 years ago in collaboration with Cam's mom, grandma and great-grandmother.  Cam laughed at some of the old pictures and stories.

A trip to Brody's Be Café made for a tasty afternoon treat.  Both Cam and Oma tried the new mint shake which they both declared delicious!  Opa and Jane enjoyed their coffees and the relaxing atmosphere was a welcome change for everyone.

Grandson and grandma took some time to look through a Prankopedia book and with Jane's help they played a funny joke on Chris.  An almost empty potato chip bag was filled with whipped cream.  Cam convinced his dad to try a chip and he ended up with a handful of the dessert topping instead.

As we helped Oma and Opa pack up to head home on the weekend, Cam reminded her of her medicine and things to remember.  

At any point over the last 13 years, if you were to happen upon Cam and his grandma together, most likely they would be laughing or smiling at each other, or deep in conversation.  It's so good to know someone is looking out for you and for Cam and his Oma, it seems that taking care of each other is an inherent part of their bond and always has been.

Camology Quotes:

This week we were on a quest for a certain brand of frozen apples.  They were nowhere to be found.  In the news, the large barge was stuck in the Suez Canal blocking international goods traffic for many days.  Cam asked his mom about the apples again.

Cam, I've looked at our local stores and Oma has checked her stores too.  We cannot find them anywhere.

"Mom, do you think they are stuck on the barge in the canal?"

Planning a Party - Week of Mar. 22nd

"Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now."  ~Alan Lakein 

The author Peter Graham said this about becoming immersed in a good book: "We become the hero or heroine.  We are the ones who thwart evil.  We laugh as we socialize with characters we have never met but feel they are as close as our family.  We cry when we lose a good friend."

At school, Cam's class has been reading "Because of Winn-Dixie" and the teacher is weaving lessons and assignments as an outcome.  In the book, the main star is Opal.  Near the end of the story, she plans a party.  The class assignment was to design their own party with all of the particulars.  The following is Cam's proposal.

• Time/Place: Cam's house at 2:30pm
• 5 people you will invite: Mom, Dad, Brody, Mrs. Wells, Oliver
• Activities at Party: We will play Uno and play Yahtzee and we will watch The Greatest Showman and go on a walk.
• Other Items Needed: Toys, Games
• Food: Drink and dessert, fruit, chicken tenders, cupcakes, fries, water.

On the weekend, we headed over to Brody's Be Café to help dismantle the outdoor igloos and place them in hibernation for the spring and summer.

Brody's mom, Jenny, and owner of the café was very happy to see Cam.  He was ready to assist so a wagon was affixed to the back and loaded up so he could take trips to the dumpster across the parking lot.  Jenny told Cam that he would absolutely be hired when he turns 16!  In the meantime, volunteers are always welcome.

Every weekday morning, Cam heads out quite early (6:40a) with Chris to make the trek down our long driveway to meet the school bus.  We believe Cam is "larger than life" but this snapshot truly depicts that in his enormous shadow!

GVSU Public Radio (click here)  Jane was interviewed about Cam on local public radio to discuss MI-UCP.

Camology Quotes:

We know that it must seem at times that Cam is always a happy, go lucky kiddo.  Like every individual, he has his moments. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to be honest and forthright.  For an in-school assignment this week, the kids were asked to write about what makes them sad.  This was Cam's typed entry.

When I feel Sad

Cam- 3/26/21

I get sad when I throw a fit.  I also get sad when I yell at my parents.  My parents don't like when I yell.  I get sad when my parents are made at me.  I get sad sometimes.