I have a million things going on in my mind, and I have no way of even being able to come up with a title let alone a post. So I am going to ramble.
Today, I had the chance to talk to one of Victoria’s friends, Veronica (part of Team V, in water polo) online. I love her, she is such a gem! She offered to adopt Ethan as her little brother. She then asked, what were the things he COULD do. Ah, now that of course makes my day. I was happy to fill her in. There are so many things we didn’t think Ethan would EVER do. When I told her that, she asked what. So I answered a quick little summation. It does my heart good to focus on the positive. To talk about his strengths is a reminder of all the things Ethan has been able to learn, as well as how we have grown.
The Bozark and I have been reconnecting with his siblings. What a joy that has been. We have an incredible sister-in-law that has been very instrumental in bringing everyone together and for that, we will be eternally grateful! We are 
delighted to be introduced to two wonderful nephews and a beautiful niece. We met with his family and had an impromptu baby shower, for his youngest sister who is expecting a new baby any day!!! That was a blast, and we have been having so much fun. We all went to the zoo, and scampered around looking at the animals and celebrated our youngest nephew’s, 3rd birthday! We are looking forward to getting to know them better and we even have a camping trip scheduled for the end of the month that we are just dang excited about! I can’t believe how enhanced our lives are, and how grateful we are, to have this new adventurous path to travel down!
Ethan, my gorgeous young man has been on the steady upwards incline for a while now. He is doing so well, that I can’t believe it. I’m just amazed with all the many things that he has been doing lately. Some highlights; He attended the 
Independence Day Parade, with us and was incredibly well behaved. No crying, fussing or having a fit. After the parade, we walked down to the park for our small town festivities. While the other kids played and had a great time, Ethan sat in his chair and later on my lap, for a great while, before we decided it was time to go home. He did so well, I could not believe it! He laughed and giggled and played, and completely behaved. I’m STUNNED. That is all I have to say. Later, we took him to the fireworks where we hung out with the Bozark’s family, and again he played and laughed and watched the fireworks. No screaming, crying ect. What a marvelous day. I am so proud of him. Ethan has also been working his ability to clap. He doesn’t have much use for his right arm (we are hoping that some day, he’ll get the memo that he even has one..) So he moves his left arm, across his body and claps. WOW. That is something I never ever would have thought possible! Another MAJOR inchstone, has been summer school. He has transitioned from his regular classroom, to another room, with a different teacher and at a different time of day. Are you kidding me? We were all prepared for the very WORST. Not only that, but it is so much hotter and he is incredibly heat 
sensitive. Our boy, has sat up in his wheelchair and adapted beautifully. All reports from school have been favorable! He still has times where he is very fussy and cries. We do our best to console him. Sometimes, we simply can’t. However, that is happening less and less. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
We are preparing for our the Steven’s-Taylor annual Camp-A-Thon. We most often refer to it as the Rebellion. This will be the first year with out my Mom, and I am trying very hard to gear up for it. This reunion was her thing. It literally meant everything to her.She would wait and look forward to it all year long. Then come the long trip home she would start planning next years. I think it would be safe to say, she was the Matriarch of the family. It was so important to her, that come August the entire family would pack up, and head to the mountain. She made me promise her, just a day before she passed away, that I would do my best to carry on this tradition. I’ll keep it. Though, it will never be the same with out her.
Tomorrow will mark the eighth year we have been with out my Dad. There will always be a special place in my heart for Independence Day, simply because that was the last event we spent with him. He drove off in his big maroon Kenworth, on his last trip and left us smiling and waving at him from the Fireman’s Fundraiser Breakfast. Though, he wasn’t perfect, he was the best. I’ve gained many a lesson from him, and I miss him desperately. Sometimes it comes in a physical ache. I wish he would have known Ethan in this life. He would have been his champion. He was the absolute supporter of the underdog and he would have loved to see his grandchildren participate in sports. He used to comment on how he hoped he would live to see Kaden play high school ball. That wish was not granted, nor did he ever see Victoria play water polo. He would have
really enjoyed that. When the swish of that ball hit the back of the net, in our sudden death state championship water polo game, my first thought was, I know my Dad is cheering for her, from on high. The youngest grandchild will only know him through the stories, which is a shame. However, I am grateful that we have those to share. And, share we will. You can count on that.
My job has had some twist and turns in it lately and I have learned so much about myself on this journey. I am so grateful that I have been granted this opportunity. This last month we have had some people out on personal leave and it has left a gaping hole 
in our system. Everyone has thrown in the towel, on our schedule and just tried to pull it together and do what we can. I am always surprised by how people react to things and accommodate for the need, even when it is tough. I have been able to work with some adult clients, and I have come to understand and appreciate how much effort and investment they have into being successful. I have often judged way too quickly and thought far too harshly about peoples situations. I see things a little differently now, and changing that view, has been really good for my personal growth and development.
Life is quite a journey, isn’t it? Gratitude is what I feel this day.
I really shouldn’t write blog posts in the middle of the night, when I can’t sleep.