See You Later - Week of July 17th

“Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.” ~Garrison Keillor 

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." ~A.A. Milne

Our Arizona family headed to the airport Monday afternoon. It is always tough to see them go.  It is especially difficult for Grandma Sue.  Cam commented a few times that afternoon how much he missed everyone.  The house definitely seemed abnormally quiet without all of the activity.  Fortunately, there were quite a few things on the agenda for the rest of the week.

We had to delay Cam's work day at the cafe until Wednesday.  But Tuesday after dinner, Chris decided to see if he could still rollerblade.  He was a bit hesitant and asked his son if he would provide assistance while he reacclimated to the blades.  Of course, Cameron couldn't wait to help out.  He cautiously drove his dad around the driveway and thankfully, they both decided not to tackle the steep hill.

Wednesday afternoon, Amanda drove Cam to Brody's Be Cafe.  Cameron wasn't certain he would have much to do.  He couldn't have been more wrong.  

Cam was busy delivering drinks to customers since his cool carrier can handle multiple beverages.  He also drove a load of garbage to the dumpster via his powerchair.  The weekly engagement with customers and staff definitely seem to be improving his confidence and ability to understand that he can be a valued employee.  The Cafe's program director declared his delivery service a 10/10!

For the remainder of the week, Ms. Amanda was on vacation.  Thursday began with a trip out to Heidi's Farmstand for Jane and her son.  Their favorite worker there, Ms. Pat, was excited to greet them and see her buddy.

As a surprise for Cam, we welcomed Ms. Michelle (a former summer nanny) and her granddaughter, Ada, for lunch. Michelle had recently traveled to Lithuania and Latvia to learn about her ancestry.  She brought Cameron some chocolate in the shape of the country and shared so many stories.  Our favorite was about the Lithuanian language.  "Achoo" in Lithuania means "Thank You!"

That same evening, Ms. Ann stayed with Cam while his parents attended an outdoor concert at Fredrick Meijer Gardens. Fortunately, the rain showers had subsided and it was a beautiful evening to see Ben Folds Five performing with the Grand Rapids Symphony.

Friday, we were on the go again... Cameron was scheduled for two sessions with the Grand Valley State University PT graduate students.  The time is a win-win since Cam is able to explain how his muscles feel with different exercises and he appreciates the opportunity to be a teacher.  The students work with a real 'patient' that they can question and begin to understand how muscle tone and spasticity are different in certain individuals.  Cam also saw his friend, Onji, who is always happy to see him.

After leaving GVSU and heading back home, we were quickly on the road again after grabbing Chris. Plainwell was our destination and a birthday dinner party for Auntie Roe was the reason.  It had been a very long time since we'd seen her and surprising her on her special day seemed like a great occasion.  Her husband, Mike, planned the entire event reserving a room at a Mexican restaurant.  Our dinners were delicious and the waiters brought a sparkler out to the table while singing.  Cam wasn't too certain of its fiery safety and told his parents that he would not want that for his own birthday.  It was such a fun evening and we were all happy to catch some extra zzz's that night.

Saturday afternoon, we gathered up our things and drove north to spend time on the beach.  Oma and Opa met us there and enjoyed the sunshine too. It was the first time they were able to see Cam's new beach chair in action.  We shared a delicious dinner and some delectable dessert with our family and friends. 

These summer days seem endless.  We know all too well, the season goes by much too quickly.  Our goal is to squeeze in as much beach time as possible!

Camology Quotes:

Cam is a pretty observant person. He will notice if Jane has moved any furniture or if something isn't placed where it normally is. Our family shares an inside joke about his observance perhaps being a bit more astute than his dad's, at times.

"Mom, did you get your hair cut today?"

Yes, I did. Thanks for noticing!

"Cam, you need to give your dad a heads up first!"

Brother Birthdays - Week of July 10th

"The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." ~Albert Einstein 

"Blessed are the flexible, for they will not be bent out of shape." ~Unknown

We celebrated Cam's dad on Monday for his birthday!  After he opened presents, Jane and Chris went out to dinner while Ms. Amanda, Grandma Sue and Layna had fun at the house.

Tuesday was our big outing to Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park in Alto, MI.  Coco met us there with her two kiddos.  It was the first time for Grandma Sue and Layna and they loved being up close with the animals.  The sidewalks at the park are very wide and it is a walking/wheelchair campus.  Cam's grandma requested chair use which her grandson was very excited about!  

As we made our way through the park, we purchased lettuce leaves
and carrot sticks to feed some of the animals.  As a group, we also had some of our own snacks to digest.  Favorite animals included the giraffe, tropical "talking" birds, an owl and the large porcupines.  The ostriches recently had babies and it was interesting to see them nestled on top of their parent.  Boulder Ridge is a very relaxing experience moving along at our own pace and it also wasn't overcrowded which made our afternoon outing that much better.  We were all pretty worn out at the end of our adventure and happy to relax at home that evening.

On Wednesday, Amanda took Cam and Layna to visit her dog, Otis, and take him for a walk.  They also baked some soft chocolate chip cookies that afternoon.  The two cousins definitely enjoy the batter tasting process of licking the beaters.

We had planned our visit so that we had a day of activities and a day of rest whenever possible.  Thursday afternoon, we anticipated the arrival of Layna's dad, John, his girlfriend Jaleaa and her two daughters, Alayah and Ameena.  On Friday, we all met for lunch at Anna's House and sat outside in our backyard that afternoon.  The adult couples had dinner out downtown while the remaining crew, along with Amanda, dined on pizza and salad.

Saturday was John's birthday and his brother, Chris had picked up a cake from our favorite bakery, Rykes.  Cam's Uncle John loves chocolate which his nephew is very appreciative of.  That evening, we grilled shrimp, veggie burgers, chicken kabobs and lots of different vegetables.  After celebrating birthdays, we played games until late into the night.

Sunday, we all roused a bit later than our typical wake-up time.  We had a quick lunch at home and then headed for the beach.  Coco and fam graciously welcomed us and the water was finally perfect for swimming!  It was our last full day with everyone.  We all agreed that the shoreline of Lake Michigan was by far the best way to spend it!

Camology Quotes:

Cam can be quite tied to his routine. So, when a later than normal stop for dinner on the drive home Sunday resulted in a 25 minute wait, we expected a very inpatient person.  To make matters worse, the main part of Cam's meal wasn't even in the bag.  While Jane contemplated heading back into the chaotic restaurant, her son spoke up. "Mom, I can just split your salad with you if that's ok."

P.S. We tried to accomplish everything in a single stop by heading to McD's. However, this particular one didn't have salads.  Cam wisely said afterwards, "That doesn't even make any sense!  They have chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. How can they not make a salad?!"

Fam Fun - Week of July 3rd

"I sustain myself with the love of family." ~Maya Angelou

"To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there." ~Barbara Bush

We were all anticipating the week ahead filled with major family time.

With a sunny forecast for the 4th of July, we traveled northward to hang out with cousins at the beach.  It was a great day by the lakeside.  We had our first corn on the cob for dinner and we even saw some fireworks on the drive home that evening.

Ms. Amanda and Cam decided to make some homemade banana bread with chocolate chips. It is a favorite recipe in our household.  The baking duo highly recommend licking the beaters upon completion of pouring the batter into the bread pans.

On Thursday, Cam and his mom made cornbread and packed up some tasty snacks in preparation for visiting cousins at Maple Beach in Holland.  

Once a year, we try to gather together to see our cousins, catch up and share some laughs. We talked about how all of the couples met each other and early years. 

Cam liked listening to the stories and always cracks up hearing tidbits about his own parents.  As is our tradition, we dined outside on a beautiful, breezy afternoon.  The shrimp boil consisted of potatoes, corn, shrimp and sausage.  Cornbread and biscuits rounded out our meal with mini assorted bundt cakes for dessert.  We always chuckle when we say "goodbye" as another half hour of conversation continues.  We were also sent home with all of the delicious leftovers.

On Friday, we prepared for the arrival of Cameron's Grandma Sue and cousin Layna.  Their flight landed a little before 7p in the evening.  To say we were all excited was an understatement!  The minute our two relatives from Arizona made it into the house, it was a hug party.  

Saturday was our day of rest after the travel time for our family.  It was good to relax and hear stories about each other's lives.  We had a fun dinner of surf and turf on the grill.

Sunday after an early lunch, we made our way to the cottage for a beach day!  The water was still a bit chilly, but the sand was pretty hot.  We played on the beach with cousins and soaked up the sunshine.

Early in the evening, we made plans to stop and visit Oma and Opa in Grand Haven.  Layna fell asleep in the van as we made our way.  We stopped at Culver's to pick up our dinner and then enjoyed an outdoor picnic in the courtyard at Rosy Mound.

Cam, Layna and Chris played games in the courtyard while Grandma Sue, Jane and Cam's grandparents visited with each other.

We certainly packed in a lot this week and we're thankful that Grandma Sue and Layna will remain will us for a full week!  And they are thankful it isn't over 110 degrees in Michigan like it is in Arizona!

Camology Quotes:

While sharing stories at Maple Beach, Cam was very interested in tales about different times the adults had some trouble when younger.  In fact, Jane posed the following question to her son.

"Do you think I got into trouble, Cam?”

"Oh, I'm sure you did, Mom!"

The CamMobile + - Week of June 26th

"Every person that comes into our life comes for a reason; some come to learn and others come to teach.”  ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Ms. Ann has been tutoring Cameron for more than two years now and has known him since he was little. As a former teacher and recipient of multiple degrees, she is truly beyond qualified for the role.  An added bonus is that Ann is a very close friend and considered extended family.  She and Cam traveled to Grand Haven to visit with Oma and Opa.  They all ate at a local favorite restaurant, Russ' and Cam treated the group by paying for everyone.

Prior to the weekend, Cam is always willing to help with household chores.  Carting the laundry basket from one end of the house to the other is something that makes life easier for his mom.

Both Saturday and Sunday were spent at the cottage with cousins.  Playing with the new puppy, Hildie, was a fun experience for Cam.  We shared meals both days. 

Cameron's cousin attempted to avoid being tagged while running and while picking up blocks, they proceeded to make up their own fun! 

One of our true highlights was the introduction of a brand-new beach chair for our son.

Aristotle is quoted as saying that everything happens for a reason.  

At times, it is difficult to understand and fathom why certain things transpire.  Such was the case for Mike Deming and his wife, Karen.  After eight months of being married, Karen was in a car accident that left her paralyzed and a quadriplegic. Living in Florida, she always loved the beach and the water.  Her husband, Mike, was determined to create a beach wheelchair that could be used in the water for his wife. In the past 30 years, the Demings founded Debug Mobility and made it their mission to keep improving the experience for accessible beach lovers everywhere. https://www.beachwheelchair.com/about-debug

Chris and his son designed and built several beach wheelchairs we named "Cam-mobile" to provide transport on the Lake Michigan shoreline.  Due to Cam's continued growth, it has become more difficult to build in comfort.  Earlier in the year, Jane reached out to Debug Mobility.  When we ordered the chair two months ago, the company was uncertain they would be able to make our requested arrival by the 4th of July holiday.  After continued conversations and a team effort, the big box arrived on Friday!  And now, our beach time can truly begin 😎

Camology Quotes:

While driving to the cottage, Chris realized he had forgotten his sunglasses.  We do keep random extra ones in the vehicle and he found an old "cheap" pair provided as a free giveaway.  Once Chris put them on and showed Cam, his son laughed hysterically and noted:

"Dad, those look like senior glasses!"

Jamming Time - Week of June 19th

“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” ~Molière

“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” ~Roger Crawford

Early Tuesday morning, Cameron and his mom said goodbye to Chris for the remainder of the week.  For the first time ever, he was headed out for a Canadian fishing trip via a 7-hour drive, followed by a 30-minute plan ride to a remote lake.

Tuesday is a working day now for Cam.  He and Ms. Amanda made their way to the café.  Cam was excited to test out the new drink carrier tray created by he and his dad.  As an added bonus, the café worker made his way through the market crowd to pass out smoothie samples!  Who can resist a smiling face and a cotton candy flavored cool drink?

Friday was Cam's second job of the week.  Grand Valley graduate PT students awaited his arrival late morning.  The team of 4 was assigned the task to brainstorm to figure out how to best engage the "patient" they are working with.  

After stretching and reviewing some exercises, the guys had a plan.  Cameron had the distinct honor of holding a steering wheel to "drive" through a Mario Cart video game simulation.  It was fun and interesting for Cam and also worked lots of different muscle groups.

Friday evening, we welcomed our lifelong friend, Sarah Foody. She traveled from Colorado for a family engagement and we were delighted that she could spend 2 nights with us.  Cam and his mom had time to chat with her Friday evening and Saturday morning before she left for the day.  Then, Jane and her son made their way to Grand Haven to spend the entire afternoon with Oma and Opa.  After a picnic lunch outside and a few indoor activities, we decided to stroll around the entire grounds.  It was such a beautiful day with a light breeze and very comfortable outside.  We said goodbye to Cam's grandparents before dinner and thanked them for a great day before traveling back home.

Sunday morning, Sarah talked with Jane and Cameron for quite some time before she needed to get on the road.  We all agreed that it is truly awesome when our dear friends become the family we choose for ourselves.

As we anxiously awaited Chris' return early Sunday evening, Cam and his mom needed an afternoon project.  First, they had a store run to grab the necessary items including pectin and lots of sugar to join the flat of Michigan berries they had already procured a few days prior.  Then they busied themselves with the task of making homemade strawberry freezer jam.  Music played in the background for berry smashing and mixing in the sugar and cooked pectin.  It took them the entire afternoon to fill more than 24 containers but it was well worth it.

Cam's dad returned from his Canada trip in time for dinner and was welcomed with the biggest hugs and grateful smiles.  He had such a great time which Jane and her son were super excited about.  They did realize, though, that when one of their team members isn't in play, the game isn't nearly as fun!

Camology Quotes:

Cam and his mom definitely had some trying moments while Chris was away.  Jane told him that the good things always outweigh any negative.  

On Sunday, when Cam's mom remembered to grab chocolate milk prior to him even asking, Cam nicely commented:

"Oh Mom, that's so incredibly sweet of you!"

Get Your Hot Dogs - Week of June 12th

“You’ll never be bored when you try something new. There’s really no limit to what you can do.” ~Dr. Seuss

Everyone needs a sense of purpose.  Since Brody's Be Cafe opened in late 2019, Cameron told his parents that he wanted to work there when he was old enough.  With his 16th birthday around the corner in mid-August, we talked with the Cafe's director and she indicated he could volunteer to gain the experience.  If there is concurrence from everyone, Cam can be added to the payroll after he turns 16!

Every Tuesday, the village of Ada hosts a Farmer's Market from 9am-2p in the parking lot adjacent to the Cafe.  The Cafe has a hot dog cart set up outside and you go inside to order an iced coffee, smoothie or lemonade.

Cam's job this week was to advertise the Hot Dog Cart by driving around the market.  He was also encouraged to talk to others.  It was a cooler day and Cam was successful with his messaging and chatting it up with potential customers.

During hangout time with Ms. Amanda, the duo drove over to let out Amanda's dog, Otis.  He couldn't wait to greet Cam with some kisses as they ventured out on a walk.

Chris received news that he was a raffle winner from a charity golf event he attended earlier for Mary Free Bed.  

On Friday, he asked his son if he'd be willing to help pick up the prize from the Wheelchair Sport department at MFB.  

Cam's dad was the recipient of a new air fryer.

Saturday afternoon, we made our way to Grand Haven to visit Oma and Opa.  It was a beautiful afternoon and we had Father's Day goodies for Opa.  After a few projects and visiting at Rosy Mound, we wanted to treat Cam's grandparents to dinner.  We returned to the restaurant, Don Luis, which is completely accessible and the food is delicious.  

After our meals were finished, a dessert was in order.  Cam, as well as his grandma and grandpa, had never had Mexican fried ice cream. The tasty dessert is commonly made by taking a scoop of ice cream frozen well below the temperature at which ice cream is generally kept, possibly coating it in raw egg, rolling it in cornflakes or cookie crumbs, and briefly deep frying it. The extremely low temperature of the ice cream prevents it from melting while being fried. It may be sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and topped with whipped cream or honey.  It was a great way to top off a wonderful day!

Sunday was the day to honor dads.  Cam and his mom did their best to make certain Chris knew how much we appreciate him.  He is humble, funny, kind, generous and lovable.  True to his character, he worked on a project with his son.  Together, they created a foam tray designed to securely hold drinks for the cafe.

We asked Cam's dad to pick dinner out or dinner in of his choice.  He requested a steak dinner at home.  Our outdoor grill contained an entree of everyone's choosing: New York Strip, bacon and cheddar burger and a salmon kabob.  Jane made twice baked potatoes and broccoli.

To cap off the day, Chris requested we all watch the comedy movie "Big Daddy" released in 1999.  Cam really laughed at one of Chris's favorite parts of the movie.  The main character is having a conversation with a five-year-old about using the bathroom.  The five-year-old asks the older main character why he's not going. The response: "Because I don't have to go. Only you and my grandfather go every 30 seconds."

 Camology Quotes:

Jane helped Cam make a card for Chris to celebrate Father's Day.  In honor of his upcoming fishing trip, we had to add a little humor.

"You are the best, you make good stuff and you are kind and nice!  No trout about it, you're a reel kick bass Dad!"

Welcome to Summer Break - Week of June 5th

"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.”  ~T.S. Eliot 

And it seemed, just like that, Cameron's 9th grade school year finished up on Thursday.  On Wednesday, the freshman Gone Boarding crew from Cam's class managed a fun group picture with their skateboards.

Friday marked our busiest day of the week.  We started off with Ms. Amanda back with Cam for summer hang out time.  We were on the morning schedule for a visit to the Grand Valley PT graduate students for a session.  Cameron is paid for his time spent with the students.  The group of guys listened to Cam's commentary about how to work with him, what his muscles feel like and his range of motion.

Later in the afternoon, we arrived at Chris's workplace for an employee and family gathering.  Much to everyone's benefit, Cam's dad was signed up for the dunk tank.  Chris's son had the distinct honor of being the first one to actually dunk the Director of IT.  Thank goodness it was a nice afternoon because Chris indicated the water was a bit chilly!

From there, Cam, Jane and Ms. Amanda headed to Uccello's for a belated birthday celebration for Cam's best bud, Brody. Four other friends, Brody's parents and another set of parents all joined in the festivities.  Part of Cameron's gift was a side by side picture of Cam and Brody on the WMML field 10 years ago and 2 weeks ago, attempting to recreate the same pose and photo. Ms. Amanda actually remained with us so that Cam's parents could go out for the evening to celebrate Jane's birthday.  Chris had to stay and be dunked quite a few times prior to heading out.

Jane felt quite spoiled by Chris and Cam for her birthday and the celebration continued.  Saturday afternoon, we were invited for a bday dinner with the cousins.  It wasn't exactly a beach day but we had such a great time as we always do.  After a delicious meal of salmon, chicken, veggies and fruit, we devoured white chocolate covered Oreos and Ryke's birthday cake.  

Before heading out, Cam's chair had a joystick error and had to be put in manual mode and pushed up a hill back into the van.

Sunday morning, the error persisted and we sent an SOS out to our buddy, Joe, who works for the manufacturer of Cam's power wheelchair.  He immediately came to our aid, met us at the local grocery store before 11am and replaced the entire joystick module and screen for us.  We are so grateful for people like Joe!  Without his repair job, the afternoon activity would not have happened.

Cameron was invited to a graduation open house for fellow classmates who worked in his classroom.
Twin seniors, Johanna and Katherine had extended an invite for the Sunday event.  They were truly overjoyed to see Cam arrive!  Another senior, Olivia, showed up as well and made certain to join in the photo opp.

Following the open house, Chris and Jane planned to head to an outdoor concert (O.A.R.) at Fredrick Meijer Garden while Ms. Ann spent the evening with Cam.  It was raining steadily when they left the grad party and Cameron asked Chris and Jane if they were still going to the concert.  They indicated they were since the tickets were paid for and a little rain never hurt anyone.  Cam's sarcastic retort: "O.k. parents...have fun!"

Camology Quotes:

Friday morning was Cam's first day to sleep in, which he took full advantage of, not waking up until 8:30am.  While still stretching in bed, he enthusiastically declared, 

"Ah...sooooo refreshing!"

All Good Things Come to an End - Week of May 29th

"It lasted for a long time, I believe. A very long time. It was a great success, but even great successes come to a natural end.” ~Isaac Asimov

Dr. Seuss is quoted as saying, "Don't cry because it's over.  Smile because it happened." 

On Memorial Day, we were excited to celebrate Cam's very first friend and buddy in this world, Emma.  Her graduation open house party was scheduled from 5:30p-7:30p.  The old neighborhood gang was together once again.  We all had a great time catching up with friends we hadn't seen in awhile.  Too soon, it was after 7p and Cameron came looking for his parents, reminding them he still had homework to complete.  Thank goodness for the most responsible person in our family.

Wednesday at school, Cam and some classmates presented their computer class projects.  Jane was able to pop over and hear Cam's portion.  The Gone Boarding project handmade skateboard was also completed!  Cameron was happy with the finished output which included his name and the Brody's Be Cafe logo.

Oma and Opa arrived Friday afternoon to spend a couple of nights with us.  Jane's mom brought a special surprise early birthday cake from their favorite bakery, Ryke's.  That evening our surf and dinner was complemented by the delectable white cake with raspberry filling and pink frosting.  Cam declared that chocolate ice cream paired best with the dessert.

Cam's grandparents were anticipating their grandson's final WMML game of the spring season on Saturday morning.  Chris was involved in the Lori's Voice fundraiser walk taking place at the same time.  Cam's helper was Carmen from the Miller Johnson law firm.  At his two times up to the batter box, Cameron nailed the hit and rounded the bases.  At the end of the game, each player is presented with a medal.  Brody and Cam were treated to a Culver's lunch to close out the spring season.

After our tasty lunch, we got busy making homemade applesauce. We found frozen sliced Michigan apples at Whole Foods and decided to test out the flavor for our homemade goodness.  Cam's grandma has always used a chinois strainer and pestle for the process.  Opa and his grandson both took turns using the pestle to push the sauce out of the strainer and into the bowl.  Once completed, Cam's expert tastebuds come into play.  We only needed a quarter cup of sugar to complete our recipe.  As a family, we watched the Jungle Cruise movie that evening which we all enjoyed.

We said goodbye to Cam's grandparents Sunday afternoon and thanked them for everything.  

As a family, we worked on a few home projects. Since it was such a nice day, Chris recommended an outdoor dining experience for dinner.  We made the short drive over to a favorite local spot, JT's.  In Michigan, the opportunity for eating on an outside patio is usually just a few months...time to start taking full advantage!

Camology Quotes:

One morning this week, Jane wore a pair of ripped white jeans.  Chris told his wife they were nice pants and asked Cam's mom if she realized there were actual holes in her jeans.  Cameron immediately said to his dad:

"Is that positive negativity? Like it's a compliment but not really?!"