Brendan continues to ride...tandem style!

Brendan LOVES riding his bike. He has outgrown it (he has had it since he was 3!) but they aren't exactly cheap so we keep using it. He has been able to pedal on his own since the PERCS surgery. I have been searching on line for a used one....craigslist, equipment exchange sites, etc. They are not easy to find especially the exact style we need. We need to be able to push, steer and brake for him when needed. I was not having any luck. They were either already sold or didn't have the parent handle. I was feeling discouraged and trying to figure out a way to make his current bike last longer.

On one random Saturday my husband stopped in a local bike shop (not your typical bike shop....a man and his brother have a hobby and work out of their mother's garage fixing and selling bikes)to ask a question about a bike he is trying to build. While talking to the gentleman my husband notices a tandem handicap accessible bike and why did he happen to notice this among a ton of bikes jammed into a garage? Because I JUST showed him one online whiling looking on the Freedom Concepts website. I was like OMG look at this bike. It is awesome. What are the chances?! Right in our own town there is a tandem bike perfect for our son...making family bike rides possible yet again. We couldn't believe it. So fast forward a few weeks and the bike is tuned up, rust is painted, handle bars re foamed and we own a GINORMOUS tandem style bike for $400! These bikes go for over $6800! My awesome husband rigged the pedals so he could reach them and off they went.

I didn't think Brendan would love the bike as much as he does. He kept saying he wanted to ride by himself but that child could not have a bigger smile on his face when he rides. My husband thinks he likes going fast! The thing is huge but really neat. I think it was meant to be and now this huge piece of machinery can ride on!
Do you think he likes it?



If you think your child could benefit from a bike check out craigslist...it is amazing how many you actually find on there. Try searching handicap accessible bike or trike, freedom concepts.... Also there is a great equipment exchange site (which is great for all kinds of equipment for our special needs kiddos)Www.rehabequipmentexchange.com, great place to buy or sell your equipment. You can also hold a fundraiser or contact your local Shriners who donate bikes. I highly recommend getting a bike. Brendan built calf muscle last summer, something I have never seen on him before and it gives him independence which he LOVES. It also allows them to be a kid which they need more than anything!

2 Years Surgery Free....we did it! Cardiologist created some relief

Two years ago in April I set a goal. I wanted to make it two full years with ZERO surgeries. This was after Brendan had 3 surgeries in a row which was hard on everyone. PERCS was his last surgery and I am still thankful we did this for him. He is still benefiting from it. I can't even believe it has been two years already. That time flew by. Brendan and I discussed this today after I realized we made it the full two years and we both agreed we should try for one more surgery free year.

We had his cardiologist appointment today. I have been dreading this since I made the appointment but it went slightly better than I had imagined. I couldn't sleep last night thinking about everything Brendan has been through and what more he will have to endure in the future. Two years ago he had his Atrial Septal Defect closed and for some miracle the umbrella device worked and he DID NOT need open heart surgery. I was shocked because we went in not knowing if it would work and he needed the largest device they make. Today he had his 9th echo and his heart is functioning great. Unfortunately there is a small leak around his device. Basically the device closes a hole he had (his valve was too short and did not open and close properly) and his tissue grows around it and seals it off. For some reason he has a leak BUT since his heart is functioning great and his right side is no longer enlarged we do not need to worry or restrict him in any way. The Doctor told Brendan there is no EXCUSE to be LAZY haha! No onto the bad news....the news that has set heavily in my own heart since last year. His Aorta is enlarged. Now this can be very bad and require open heart surgery and cause a lot of issues as he gets older. The Doctor said he is not overly concerned at this time and it may not get any larger but it is something we have to watch yearly. So the one Dr. I thought we would only see every 3 years continues to be a yearly visit and something that causes a rise in my blood pressure every time it arrives.

I must say Brendan was an absolute trooper today and is seriously a pro a these appointments. He dealt with the echo very well which can be uncomfortable and part of it actually hurts because they have to press on his chest pretty hard. He hates the EKG due to the stickers they have to put on his skin but we made I deal that I would take them off and he did awesome! He used to be that screaming baby through the entire hour long appointment and today he was this amazing 10 year old who amazed the Doctor because he remembered he wore a mask due to having a cold last time he saw him. Yup that is my kid!

So as I have been saying life gets easier but once in a while you still get punched in the gut. I still remember first finding out about his 'hole' in his heart and it was devestating after finding out he had brain damage and cerebral palsy. It was just another thing we had to deal with and I hate that he has to go through so much in life. He has endured more pain than I ever have. I am so proud of the child he is becoming and how much he can handle. He comes out of everything with the best attitude and never asks why he has to go through all of this or why his siblings never do. He just goes with it and also takes it day by day.

Best Step Daddy award goes to.....

My HUSBAND!
Seriously he is amazing. He throws Brendan into the air on a trampoline nearly giving himself a heart attack, he has carrie him up 4 flights of stairs so he could ride down water slides, he does his best to help include Brendan with everything we do even if it is difficult and exhausting. Now they are bonding with 'garage' time. He lets him help build a trailer and his gas bike. Brendan absolutely loves it. He doesn't really do much but he feels very special going out there with him. It is great guy time. He can't wait to go out with him and for those of you who really know Brendan he is a MAMA's BOY! He doesn't really like not being around me and he has been willingly ditching me for 'D' (he calls him D for short because he couldn't always say Derek due to his speech delay). I love seeing and listening to them together. Brendan is always progressing and I can't believe how mature he is getting. He is a young boy who loves cars, trucks, engines and I absolutely LOVE that he can have this passion.

He has always been there for me emotionally and stepped into that father figure with Brendan immediately. He never saw him as disabled just as a little kid who quickly became a part of his life. He has been there 100% for me and all my emotions over the past 7 years and I will admit that has NOT been easy. He has been there for all of his major surgeries which may have been harder on my mental state than on Brendan himself. I haven't acknowledged him in my blog and I feel I should because he is an amazing father and the best step father I could ever ask for to help raise my disabled son. Not everyone could handle it or would want to. It isn't easy. It never will be and he is okay with that.

Happy Easter

We finally got a family picture. It wasn't easy with 6 people but I think it came it pretty good considering. The kids all still believe in the Easter Bunny. I am not sure how we got so lucky seeing Brendan is already 10 but they still have the spirit. I love that they still believe in everything because I found out very young. I just feel bad for Drew being so much younger. I feel that having so many older siblings it will be ruined for him at a young age. I just hope they all help play along as he grows older.

Life has been busy as usual. I finally filed my taxes today and we are hardly getting anything back which is a bummer since we are so poor right now. I was hoping for a nice refund to help pay off our older van. We hardly make anything since we opened our business but it as our little adventure and I really enjoy it. I can handle being poor for now since it means we get to be together as a family so much more than before. I get to take my baby to work everyday and watch him develop all the time. It is really awesome well except on the days he is cranky and just wants to be held and I can't get any work done!!! He is usually a great baby though and I really enjoy having him with him every single day.

I just ordered some more therapy equipment for Brendan's therapy room. I don't think I will be able to fit much more in there. He doesn't always want to cooperate but he does get a lot of use out of his room. He walks on his treadmill and can use his large foam mat again. The weather is starting to warm up and he went on a bike ride the other day and did amazing! He was pedaling so well. I am looking for a new bike for him. I don't really want to buy a new one and spend $4000+ so I have been searching around for a used one. He needs one that fits a 7-12 year old. His is just too small for him...we have had it since he was 3! They seem to sell fast.

We all know Brendan is obsessed with vehicles! Well we are looking into buying him a go kart. I am trying to find one that only goes up to about 12/15 mph. It is amazing what actually exists out there when you start searching. He is outgrowing his 24 volt power wheel polaris car (which gave him hours upon hours of fun) and I am in desperate need of something to entertain him all summer. I will never make it all summer with 4 kids if he doesn't have something to keep him entertained outside. It will be difficult to take them all on a bike ride or walk but I need to figure something out or I will go insane.

Time to go do some more research and make one little boy super happy :)