Shamrock Shakes - Week of Mar. 14th

The Shamrock Shake® was created in 1967 by Hal Rosen, a Connecticut McDonald's Owner and Operator who made the delicious, mint shake in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. It debuted nationally in 1970 and was an instant success across the country.

At school, Cam's class made their own version of the shamrock shake to try.

Tasty Shamrock Shake

• 3 large scoops vanilla ice cream (about 1/4 cup each)
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 6 drop green food coloring
• Whipped Cream for topping
• Maraschino Cherry (optional)

In a blender, mix vanilla ice cream, heavy cream, peppermint and food coloring until completely smooth.  Pour into glass and top with whipped cream and cherry.  Enjoy!

In all fairness, Cam decided he needed to compare the one from school with one from McDonald's.  Since Friday was a half day, father and son went to the drive-thru that afternoon to obtain the official Shamrock Shake at McD's.

The official result from Cam: the McDonald's shake is tastier than the homemade one.

Our weekend was spent preparing for next week's construction in Cam's room and bathroom anticipating the ceiling track that will be used to transport him from his bed to bathroom and back again.  

A local news story we watched Saturday morning talked about making plastic tourniquets on the 3D printer for the people of Ukraine. See the link to the story here: https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/a-kenowa-hills-high-school-student-is-using-a-3d-printer-to-make-tourniquets-for-ukraine

The blueprint was posted on the website and Chris and Cam downloaded the schematics and got to work printing!

Saturday evening, we were happy to see some of our Raisch fam friends for a fish dinner.  Mr. Steve, Patti and Sarah brought Steve's perch and Jane baked cod.  We had an assortment of veggies and fruit.  Afterwards, we settled in to watch the U of M NCAA men's basketball game.  Cam and Sarah definitely found the most relaxing positions. The game was exciting and Michigan pulled out a win!

We know spring is in the air as we watch the squirrels become more active in our yard.  Even after Chris added grease to the birdseed pole, the acrobatic rodent is still able to scamper up and somehow hang on.  

Sometimes it seems if you work that hard for something, you just might deserve the prize 😉

Camology Quotes:

Some evenings after Cam goes to bed, Jane settles in to relax on the couch and watch a little tv. When Cam announced he was ready for his nightly routine, he informed Jane of the following::

"Mom, you can watch something inappropriate now.  I am going to bed."

Go Go Go Joseph, I Mean Cam! - Week of Mar. 7th

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Bible's Book of Genesis. It was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly. The show has only a few lines of spoken dialogue; it is almost entirely sung-through. Its family-friendly story, familiar themes and catchy music have resulted in numerous stagings.  Forest Hills Northern High School added to that list of performances.  

Cam, along with the 7th/8th grade choir had been practicing the music for months.  The high school theatrical group endured their own lengthy practices involving singing, choreography and set design. This was the week of final rehearsals and the actual live performances.  Rehearsals were 3 hours long and the choir kids had to sign up for 1 evening.  They were to be dropped off at 5:30p and picked up at 8:30p.  That is a long evening on a school night especially when you're typically in bed by about 8p.  Cam persevered and even woke up for school in a great mood on Wednesday morning after missing out on more than an hour of sleep.

Oma and Opa arrived on Thursday afternoon, anticipating their grandson's weekend performance.  We were relieved Cam's grandparents were able to drive in Thursday because much to our surprise, some snowflakes accompanied by frigid temperatures filled the day on Friday. 

Jane was able to secure front row seats, directly within eyeshot of where Cam would be.  The middle school choir was split into two sections- far stage right and far stage left.  

At the Friday evening event, we saw Cam's teacher and classmates, Cam's favorite aide, Brody's family and others.  We were impressed by the high school talent comprised of singing and dancing along with the middle school melodic choir.  Cam's choir teacher is pictured with him and made certain he had the full experience of the performance.

As we were leaving, a fourth grade teacher approached Jane and told her that Cam had grown so much and it was great to see him in the show.  She also said that our son made such an impression on her when he was in elementary school and she will never forget him.  

After a successful evening, we spent Saturday cooking meals, playing games and enjoying time with Oma and Opa.  That night we all watched the new Disney movie, "Turning Red" and gave it a thumbs up.

Oma and Opa were headed back home late Sunday afternoon.  In the early eve, Jane and Cam were watching a show together when Chris quietly called to them from the sunroom.  He almost tiptoed into the living room to show them a picture of a visitor on their back deck.  Cam and his mom were so shocked to see the majestic-looking owl looking right at Chris!   

Camology Quotes:

Jane's mom was telling Cam about her own experience with Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  She told him that her hometown (Indianapolis, IN) youth choir had such great feedback that they took the show "on the road" and their first performance was in Grand Haven, MI!  Cam looked a bit perplexed and asked:

"What road did they shut down in Grand Haven?"

Jane chuckled and chimed in: "Cam, when Oma said they took the show on the road, it's an expression meaning that the show will be performed in another location.  They didn't actually shut down a road to perform it on an actual road." 😁

Husky Hustle - Week of Feb. 28th

"To me, the body says what words cannot.   I believe that dance was the first art." ~Martha Graham

"The subject says: I see first many things that dance...then everything gradually becomes connected." ~Jim Morrison

There are many "firsts" we experience growing up and even into adulthood.  A first can be met with hesitation, anxiety or anticipation. 

Cam's 8th grade class announced the Husky Hustle, a spring dance for eighth graders only.  Forest Hills Northern (FHN) has been the school system Cam has attended since kindergarten.  Their team name is the Huskies.  Leading up to Friday evening, our teenager wasn't certain he would attend.  

Once he knew his best bud, Brody, would be there as well as his teacher who had volunteered to be a chaperone, he decided it was a go.  The event was scheduled for 90 minutes from 6:30p-8p and parents were not allowed.  Cam made certain Chris and Jane were aware of the parameters as well as the requirement to have a school ID to enter.

Upon arriving promptly at 6:25pm, Cam exited our van, with his knee blocks ready for standing, and made his way to the doors along with a sea of other kids.  Chris and Jane headed to a nearby restaurant, HopCat, to meet Brody's parents for the duration of the dance.  The time went by much too quickly for everyone as we headed back to Cam's school.  The line for kids to be picked up at 8p was quite long so Jane hopped out hoping to find their son.  When she spotted him, his smile couldn't have been bigger!  After making their way back to the van, Cam told his parents he had the best time. On the drive home, always the rule-follower, our son announced that they did not even check the school IDs!

Saturday was an unusually warm day and we spent time outdoors cleaning up and cleaning out.  Chris and Cam took a field trip to the west side of town to test out a beach wheelchair that will be donated to a family from the non-profit organization, Lori's Voice.  Even though it is an adult chair, Cam indicated it was comfortable enough to ride in.

The remainder of the weekend was a mixture of relaxation and home projects.  Jane finished an excellent book Cam is reading with his class entitled "Rain Reign" (we highly recommend!) and Chris caught her reading ahead.  We watched a family movie together.  Stella, our cat, can always depict the best example of leisure time.  Her goal is to find where the sun is shining and soak it in.

Camology Quotes:

Cam made certain his parents left on time Friday evening to drive him to the school dance.  As we arrived, our son seemed to reverse roles with us, seemingly taking on a parental tune:

"Please make sure you are here before 8 o'clock to pick me back up.  Make sure you drive our van instead of riding with Brody's parents."

Track Research - Week of Feb. 21st

Have you ever started down a path researching something and you end up finding other relevant things as well?  

Theodor Geisel (aka Dr. Suess) wrote, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It's not."

We had planned a field trip to Zeeland on Saturday.  When Chris joined the board of directors for Lori's Voice, we met a whole new group of individuals dedicated to helping others with mobility needs.  

As Cam has continued to grow, we knew a modification to his room would be needed at some point.  We were finally able to obtain quotes for a ceiling track system but really wanted to see one in action.  Our drive to Zeeland had that goal in mind.  We met Erica, a 14-year old in a power wheelchair just like Cam.  She has a ceiling track system that goes from her bedroom to her bathroom.  Jane asked if she could sit in it and use it to understand how it worked.  Cam thought this was a great idea.  We were able to ask lots of questions and obtained plenty of information in the process.  

The house we were touring also had an elevator!  They built their home eight years ago and purposefully designed it with their daughter in mind. Erica explained that when she was little, she loved princess fairies.  An artist painted the beautiful trees and princesses you're able to see as you travel up or down. We agreed that this was the coolest elevator our family had ever been in.

While we were all chatting, we noticed an unusual sticker on Erica's tray.  It had a QR code which we discovered was for Disartnow.org. She told us all about it and we looked up the rest. 

DisArt believes that expressions of a disability culture can transform communities from awareness, to understanding, to belonging, ensuring the full and equitable participation of all disabled people. Working as a production company, consulting group, and community developer, DisArt has established and maintained a recognizable presence in the global understanding of Disability Art and Culture. With unprecedented success in artistic programming and community impact, DisArt has positively shaped and influenced the cultural and aesthetic rendering of physical and mental differences in Grand Rapids.  Cam's favorite part is an "Accessibility Map" of Grand Rapids that shows places people have tagged as inaccessible and provided a picture.  You also have the option to "tag" a location that is not accessible.  Sometimes it is so surprising when we discover a vital piece of information that we didn't have.

Erica also introduced us to her service dog, Reesa, who took a liking to Cam.  After asking our son if it was ok for the canine to be on Cam's legs, he obliged and Reesa immediately had her paws on Cam's lap.

When we said goodbye after spending a couple of hours together, we felt more informed and a bit of relief after seeing the ceiling track system in action and hearing Erica's feedback.

After all, it was Robert Boyce who said, "Knowledge is power.  Knowledge shared is power multiplied."

Camology Quotes:

This week, Cam and his mom met with Dr. Lisa, a PT professor at GVSU, in a virtual zoom session.  Dr. Lisa will be a part of a remote conference with people in Australia and New Zealand next month.  She asked if she could interview Jane and her son to discuss power mobility.  The session was recorded and we had fun answering her questions.  Cam had great insight and when asked about a grade for accessibility in the community, he gave his community a "C" but also added this input:

"I think more people use manual wheelchairs so it is easier for them to get up over curbs and into places than a power wheelchair.  The power wheelchair is an essential part of daily life for me."

Going for Gold - Week of Feb. 14th

For Cam's GLI (Global Learners Initiative) class, he was asked to research a topic he felt passionate about. Since we've been watching the Olympic Games as a family, he wanted to know more about the different options for athletes of all abilities.

The Olympics and Paralympics have different governing bodies but for decades have been held in tandem- in the same host city during the same year. They really are parallel events: The word "Paralympic" includes the Greek preposition "para," meaning "beside." In Paralympic sports, athletes are grouped together by "the degree of activity limitation" resulting from their impairment.

Cam at school "Olympics"

Meanwhile, the Special Olympics differ from the Paralympics in three main areas: the structure of their organizations, the disability categories of the athletes and the criteria and philosophy under which they participate. The Special Olympics provides training and competition year-round, and holds World Games every two years (alternating with summer and winter events). The most recent Special Olympics World Games was held in Abu Dhabi in 2019, and the next are scheduled for 2022 in Kazan, Russia. The Special Olympics welcomes all athletes with intellectual disabilities, of all ability levels, ages 8 and up. Paralympic athletes must fulfill certain criteria and meet qualifying standards in order to be eligible.

On Valentine's Day, Cam had a busy evening. Every Monday after quickly addressing homework activities, he heads off to his swimming and physical therapy appointments, conveniently located in the same building and only a ten minute drive down the road.  Cam and his mom arrived back home to find that Chris had dinner ready and a beautiful bouquet of Valentine's flowers for Jane from father and son.

The random amounts of snow we are still receiving remind us that winter isn't quite ready to let go of Michigan just yet.  After Chris had snowplowed the driveway on Saturday, he definitely resembled an abominable snowman!

Sunday morning, the sunshine felt amazing and we ventured northward for an afternoon visit with Oma and Opa.  Lake Michigan looks so different during the winter months and it's always a treat to spend time with Cam's grandparents. Even though it was a windy day, the drone was able to capture some very cool pictures of the big lake. The ice is much too thin at the shoreline to safely walk out so it's a relief that technology can take over.

Cam always wants to complete projects on the weekend and we were able to check quite a few things off of the list at his grandparents' home, including sharing some hearty laughter.

The chilly wind coming off of the Lake Michigan felt like an artic blast, but if you close your eyes and concentrate on the sunshine, you can imagine and remember that summer is just a few months away.

Camology Quotes:

At school, Cam looks forward to his physical education class. Obstacle courses and challenges are a frequent activity for our eighth grader.  The newest addition this year is what he calls a "wall sit-up."

"I am not sitting on the wall, I am pushing against it for exercise 😁"

Parent Nights Out - Week of Feb. 7th

"There are no perfect parents, and there are no perfect children, but there are plenty of perfect moments along the way." ~Dave Willis

It's fairly typical in any given week that a schedule change or modification of daily activities takes place.  

Ms. Ann was here in person on Monday and Tuesday for Cam's tutoring.  We knew we would only be seeing her virtually for the next two weeks, so they shared an extra hug prior to her departure.

Our biggest unexpected event occurred on Friday morning at 5:30am when we received the school closure notice for Cam.  Going to bed the night before, no one could have guessed the inclement weather headed our way.  As part of his day, Cam did complete a homework assignment showing a video of himself taking part in a household chore.  His chosen activity was transporting the laundry to the washer.

Early afternoon that same day, Ms. Amanda reached out asking if Chris and Jane wanted to head out for dinner while she stayed with Cam.  Since Amanda is a kindergarten teacher, her day was open as well.  Both Cam and his parents were happy with the unanticipated offer and enjoyed the time immensely.

On Saturday, as a belated Christmas gift and "half birthday" for Cam, the Raisch family really outdid themselves.  We were able to surprise our son by keeping it a secret.  Right before 5pm, Steve and Patti, along with one of their daughter's, Sarah and her finance, Johnny appeared at our door.  Cam is always excited to see our dear friends and his elation grew when we explained that Sarah and Johnny were staying with him and picking up Culver's while Steve and Patti were treating Chris and Jane to dinner out at a restaurant.  The Cam group played Yahtzee and devoured their meal while the adult contingency had a leisurely dinner and stopped at Target on the way home.

We watched the Superbowl on Sunday rooting for the L.A. Rams led by the Detroit Lions former quarterback.  It was an exciting game but due to the later start, Cam only watched for about an hour.  Although we told him he could stay up a bit later, he declared when it was time for him to begin his nightly routine.  He is still the most self-disciplined kid we know!

Camology Quotes:

Last week we celebrated Opa's birthday.  We ordered him a new bathrobe from Amazon which arrived prior to the weekend.  Jane removed it from the packaging wanting to be certain it wasn't too long before wrapping it.  Cam watched in disbelief as his mom slid her arms into the robe (fully clothed of course) and he exclaimed...

"Mom, what are you doing? You have to wash it now! You just wore it."

The Motivating Helper - Week of Jan. 31st

 "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." ~Walt Disney

As we entered into February this week, the temperatures remained chilly and the snow seemed steady.  Chris converts the lawn mower into a riding snow blower for the winter months and we are very fortunate Cam's dad is so handy.  

The break in the weather allowed Oma and Opa to arrive for a weekend visit on Friday.  Cam always checks to be certain we accomplish all of the tasks on their list.  Making homemade applesauce, financial reviews, Costco and store runs and delicious meals were all on the list.

With the Olympics starting this week, Cam requested that we record the opening ceremonies so he could see it too.  It turned out to be a super smart decision since the actual program only lasted for approximately 20 minutes.  We were able to fast-forward right to the portion we wanted to see.

On Saturday, Auntie Jo and Will arrived for lunch so we could celebrate a late Christmas.  It's a treat to open presents in February! We shared a meal and chatted while the boys played some games.  After our visit, the boys needed a bit of coaxing to take a group pic but gave in before Joanne and Will left.  That evening, we made a tasty surf-n-turf dinner with Oma and Opa consisting of flank steak, salmon, mashed potatoes and veggies.

Sunday morning, Chris was off to the east side of the state to work all day.  After lunch, we bid farewell to Cam's grandparents and following their departure, Cam said he wished they could stay longer.  

Jane had two work efforts looming and her son insisted on helping her tackle them.  Cam asked questions as Jane decided what she would say during her upcoming presentations.  As Cam continued to inquire about certain things, his mom became more motivated to finish the work.  As a team, they knocked out two presentations, three spreadsheets and numerous email responses in a span of almost four hours.  Jane couldn't believe how much they had gotten done and kept telling her son how thankful she was for his questions and input. When something seems so daunting, it only takes a positive presence like Cam to continue moving forward! 

Camology Quotes:

Cam's dad has a great sense of humor and it has definitely been carried on by his son.  While Ms. Ann was tutoring with Cam, he completed a difficult series of questions.  Ann, being a former teacher, will assist, but never provide answers. Upon completion of an assignment, an automated grade appeared and Cam noted he had gotten a few responses incorrect.  He immediately looked at Ms. Ann, and jokingly remarked:

"And...Why are you teaching me?!"😁

From 2T to Men's Medium - Week of Jan. 24th

Parent sayings: "You won't believe how fast they grow up!" "It seems like you blink and they're not toddlers anymore." "If only we could stop time."

It is so true.  Cam's clothing seemed to move into the "Men's" section seemingly overnight.  Of course, that wasn't the case, but it did happen fast.  Cam has never minded shopping and actually likes to pick out his clothes.  Blue is his favorite color and many of his shirts gravitate towards that spectrum.  Without pre-planning, Chris and his son both ended up wearing similar shirts one day this week.  Except they weren't similar...they were exactly the same.  Jane bought the one for Chris two years ago and Cam's was given to him for Christmas.  

Cam was back to school this week after successfully navigating quarantine.  As we all know, sometimes it takes a day or two to get back into the swing of things.  When Chris went in the sunroom to see how homework was progressing, he found his son looking like he just survived a long day.

Jane continues to be impressed by the genius creativity of her husband and son.  Every morning, Cam's mom has a cup of coffee and sometimes in the afternoon, a cup of tea.  Chris will also make coffee or hot cocoa in the Keurig once in awhile and Cam likes to have a hot chocolate on the weekends.  Each and every time, the coffee/tea/cocoa splattered on the counter while it was dripping into the mug.  The boys were busy for two consecutive nights designing and fabricating a solution on the 3-D printer.  They created a 3D printed "mug holder" complete with holes for any drainage needed.  

Equally impressive was the detailed height model making certain that our largest cups would still fit on top of the new holder.  The "invention" is one that is appreciated by every family member, but especially the person who tends to wipe down counters the most....patent pending!

Camology Quotes:

Cam announced this week that his choir class would be performing in March for the musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  At school, they were watching the movie to become acclimated to the music and the story.  Ms. Ann tutors Cam after school and when they are finished, they typically talk about Ann's grandchildren and events.  Cam disclosed to his parents and Ms. Ann that Ann's five-year-old grandson would not be able to see the musical production.  When asked why, his response was...

"The guys are nude, like naked."

"What do you mean, Cam?"

"They are not wearing shirts!"

(discussion ensued and clarity provided...Jane's grandmother would have thoroughly loved Cam's 'appropriateness')