Winter Hats

I love Noah in all his cute little winter hats. So many of his shirts came with little hats so he has LOTS. 

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Wordless Wednesday: All Bundled Up

Taken at Miracle League on the day before Hurricane Sandy hit when it was SUPER windy!

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Hair Cut Surprise

On Sunday, Noah woke up asking for a hair cut. This was a surprise as he typically loathes haircuts. Usually haircuts for Noah require one of us holding him while his hair is cut and he fusses the entire time, won't be still, and gets hostile. So for him to be asking for us to take him to get his hair cut was shocking.

His hair was getting longer and shaggy but because of his hair cut behavior we try and put them off for as long as possible. I asked him if his was starting to bother him and he said yes. So although it was my birthday and I really didn't want to deal with Noah's behavior during a hair cut, we decided to go ahead and take him.

Shockingly Noah was AMAZING during his hair cut.  He did not have to sit in my lap; he sat there in the chair and did not fuss, rip the cape off, etc. It was awesome.

When he was done, I clapped and said good job. He then wanted the lady who cut his hair to clap for him and then wanted everyone else there to clap for him. So silly yet adorable all at the same time!

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Crazy Clemson Socks

On a recent shopping trip, my Mom and I found Noah some crazzzzyy Clemson socks! We knew they'd perfect for Noah to wear underneath his braces. He wore them for the first time today and looked adorable in them! (But come on, when does he NOT look adorable!)

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Working on the Computer

At the Open House last week at Noah's school, he had the opportunity to try out the new big screens. He's so funny - you can NOT say he is "playing on the computer." If you use the word playing, you are in big trouble! You must say he is "working on the computer" just like Granddaddy.

Working, playing; whatever you call it, I was proud watching him drag the shapes where they needed to go.

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Raiding the Fridge

Noah was playing in his room the other day and got rather quiet so I went to look for him and found this.....

 Raiding the fridge just like a typical teen boy!

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Cool Dude

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Noah's New Wheels

After nearly a year of paperwork, appeals, patience, and prayers Noah finally has new wheels! The process of getting a new wheelchair is typically a slow one but this one set a record for Noah. We began the process in August of 2011! We all (including his physical therapy team) were shocked to see the chair when it arrived!

I call Noah’s new wheels the Cadillac of wheelchairs because it’s so big and fancy. Check out that seat! 

Even with the success of the Scoliosis surgery, Noah continues to lean to one side and this seat is a contour seat. They sat him into something that sort of resembles a bean bag and molded it around him and use that to create the seat so it gives Noah more support where he specifically needs it.

It’s hard to tell but the metal base of the wheelchair is actually a very dark purple. He chose that himself. 

He is having a smidge of trouble getting used to using the chair in the house. Since it is bigger than the old chair, he has trouble making some of the turns. He can't make them as wide as he used to but is trying very hard and seems very determined to learn how to maneuver his new chair on his own. 

There is one big change for all of us with the new chair. Since it is much bigger and heavier than the old chair, it is difficult for J to put it in the back of our SUV and it doesn't fit in the back unless the wheels are down, so we have had to add the wheelchair carrier to the back of the truck which we have currently only used for long car trips. 

Overall, we are so happy and thankful to have Noah's new wheels! 

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Brushing his Hair

Noah has been "helping" me brush his hair as shown in these pictures (before his new super short hair cut) taken last week. He doesn't really hold the brush right but his independence is admirable and cute.

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Looking for Planes

Recently we dropped off my BFF at the airport and Noah was fascinated with the airplanes and enjoyed watching them out the window.

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My Special Olympian

Last week Noah participated in the local Special Olympics. He competed in two wheelchair races. This year, he had moved up an age group and was racing with older kids. He was the slowest one in both of his heats - but he didn't care. I don't think he even noticed! He really is an example to us all - he was just happy and determined. Happy to just be there and determined to just finish! He makes us so proud! 

And now what you probably really want to see - pictures!
Warning: I got picture happy so there are a lot of pictures in this post! 

Is he not adorable in that hat?

I forgot and left it on his wheelchair that morning when he left for school and I guess his teachers thought I sent it for him to wear outside so they put it on him and he kept it on the entire time!

At the starting line

Do you spot Noah? He's the third one. 

And they're off!

Slowly but surely he's making his way towards the finish line. 

Those little hands are working hard. 

So determined!

Look at that smile! He is just happy to be there. 

He just spotted Granddaddy at the finish line!

Almost there buddy!

Getting his ribbon

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Play Ball!

The Spring Season of Miracle League has started! 

I think my favorite picture from the collage is probably the one of my Dad and Noah with their hats backwards. Too cute!

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JOY Prom

Last week Noah attended the JOY Prom. You may not have heard of JOY Prom so let me tell you a little more about it.....

JOY proms are for special needs high school students and young adults.  It is a movement that originally began in churches as a way to integrate the special needs population into churches and it has spread like wildfire and now other community organizations are picking up on it and organizing JOY proms in their communities. Proms are something most high school students are able to experience, it’s almost a rite of passage but it’s not something that all special needs people are able to experience and JOY proms are giving them this experience.

Special needs people in attendance are each paired with a volunteer “date” who helps them have an awesome time on their prom night. Upon arriving, the girls are whisked away for makeup and tiaras the boys get their shoes shined and boutonnieres. Then they walk down a red carpet where there is lots of cheering and applause. I think this was one of Noah’s favorite parts of the night!

Noah’s date was a sweet college student named Sam. There was a meet and greet the week before the prom in which the kids met their dates so that they would be a little familiar with them before the prom so Noah recognized Sam when she greeted him.  Sam and Noah danced the night away stopping for breaks to enjoy chicken nuggets and crackers.

The place where the JOY Prom was held was two stories so parents could go to the balcony and watch their children have fun from above while giving the kids space to enjoy the prom. Thirty minutes or so before the prom ended, parents were invited to come down and dance with their kids.

And now what you have probably been waiting for…. Pictures! I tried and tried and tried some more to get a picture of Noah smiling but he would not smile for the camera. He was a little overwhelmed with everything at first but all in all, he had a good time and was exhausted by the time we got him home!

Handsome in his suit

Yes, that's the "Angel Choir Boy" Pose in his suit!

Noah and Sam

Getting his boutonniere pinned on

Excited to be on the red carpet

Dancing the night away

Noah and Sam taking a break. 

Me and my handsome boy

All tuckered out at home after the prom! 

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Picking Out his Tie

Tomorrow night Noah will be attending PROM! I know, it seems early for prom not only in early in the year as most proms are usually in April or May but also early age wise since technically he is only a freshmen but this is a special prom. It is called JOY Prom and is a community wide prom for special needs high school age students and young adults with special needs. Each child has a "date" who is a college aged trained volunteer.  There will be hair & make up for the ladies, shoe shines for the guys, a red carpet, and more. I have been looking at other JOY Proms across the country from previous years and they really seem to go all out for these kids! 

I had already signed him up to go and was talking to my Mom about everything when she reminded me that my brother didn’t want to go to his prom so I got a little worried because I realized I didn’t really give Noah a choice. (Bad Momma moment, I know!) So I asked him and he definitely wanted to go! He loves the school dances he has attended thus far and as I explained Prom is a fancier version of the dances so he is pretty excited to go.

Originally we were going to borrow a suit from a friend for Noah to wear but when that fell through we decided to just rent a suit. We wanted to save the tux for his senior year. So we went and had him fitted for the suit and will pick it up later today. 

We let Noah choose the tie

and you won’t be surprised to know that he chose an orange one! 

He’s going to look so handsome in his suit! 

(And yes, I’ll post some pictures sometime after!)


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Eating Out with Noah

Around the time that Noah was about 7 years old we stopped eating out at restaurants. I hated that we had to do that because we had been having lunch or dinner on Sundays out with my parents but it had just become too overwhelming for Noah and he’d have meltdowns and you could tell he was just miserable. Plus that made it un-enjoyable for all of us. So we stopped.

In the past year, Noah has grown up so much. He wants to do things or is able to do things that I never thought he’d want to do, like art projects and painting or attending the Christmas Eve Candlelight Church Service so recently J and I decided to give eating out a try. Over Christmas break at my parents, Noah had eaten chips and cheese dip that had been brought home from the Mexican restaurant and really enjoyed them so we chose a small Mexican restaurant. We sat at a booth and Noah sat in his wheelchair at the end of the table and did so well. His behavior was awesome. He didn’t get loud or upset and he just loved the chips and cheese dip and made a mess (he even had cheese dip in his hair!) but we didn’t care; we were just happy he was being so well behaved!

The next Saturday night, we found ourselves without a PCA and on that side of town again. Noah pointed in the direction of the Mexican restaurant and signed please so we tried it again. I kind of wanted to see if the first time had been some sort of fluke or something but nope, it wasn’t a fluke. He did awesome again!

J and I decided to get really brave and this past Saturday asked my parents if they wanted to have dinner with us – and Noah! – in honor of J’s birthday. I was nervous about the aspect of bringing them along (at times in the past Noah has become more overwhelmed when it’s all of us) but wanted to give it a try.

I’m happy to report, that once again, Noah was AWESOME! He behaved so well and happily sat next to his Granddad. He ate well, chatted a little bit, and even though it was really loud (and there was even a baby crying nearby at one point which usually upsets him) he never got upset or acted out at all.

It seems so normal doesn’t it, to have dinner at a restaurant with your family? The second Saturday, I remember looking across the booth at J, smiling, and saying, "This feels so normal." But it’s something that many of us probably take for granted. I know I did before and I’m just thankful that for now, we are able to enjoy an occasional dinner out as a family.

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Noah's New AFOs

Back before Christmas, Noah was fitted for new AFOs. (AFO stands for ankle foot orthosis and is basically a brace that goes on over the socks and supports the ankle and foot.) Children can get decorative AFOs that have a pattern (clouds with butterflies, camouflage, etc) on them or you can get AFOs with "tattoos" that have an image on the back of the AFO. 

Noah got to choose the design for his AFOs and of course his eyes went straight to the Clemson designs. He couldn't choose between the orange tiger paw or the tiger so he ended up with this........

One of each! 

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Cutie in the Orange Hoodie

My sweet boy in his favorite hoodie sporting the angel choir boy pose. 

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Looking out the Window

I love how every morning my sweet boy heads to the window when it's too cold to go on the front porch to watch for the school bus.

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Loyal Fan

Noah asked for a Clemson jersey and hat for Christmas and as you can see Santa obliged. He was all decked out for the Orange Bowl and although they lost, Noah doesn't care. He's a loyal fan whether they win or not. 

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Christmas Eve Photos - Finally!

In light of everything that happened (you know, the grand mal on the scariest night ever and the subsequent seizures) I am just now getting some Christmas pictures posted. To be completely honest, I didn't take a whole lot of pictures on Christmas Day. Noah was glued to me most of the day so taking pics was difficult and he looked pitiful (pale, dark circles under eyes) so I didn't do a lot of snapping.

He was in a GREAT mood on Christmas Eve though and I got some good photos I wanted to share.

My parents, my brother, J, Noah, and me on Christmas on Eve

Noah and his pup 

Cutest Little Elf

Noah and Paisley in their Christmas jammies and ready for Santa.

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