School has started and it's almost Christmas!

 This is the first day of school.. I have a new bus driver who is named Julie.  That's easy for my mom to remember!   (because Julie is my sister's name.)  She is a really nice person.  

Here I am riding in the bus.  I have a really nice bus helper lady.  I'm enjoying the bus rides better every year.  When it was first after my accident, I HATED the bus.  Every bump and turn and slide, really bothered me, but now, sometimes I just put my shades on, put the ipod in my ear, and I just relax all the way to school.  I guess we all calm down as we get older.

Third time is the charmer

August 13, 2013

Third time is the charmer, I always say.  This will be my 3rd attempt to have a blog for Nathan, and this time, I will remember my password!  I will also remember the blog name and how to get to it.  So I guess we'll see how I do. 

This has been Nathan's 12th year since his accident.  Next summer, he has to have a major surgery to replace the Baclifin pump that he has inside of him for pain management.  So that will be one heck of a summer coming up.  But this year he is doing good.  Despite the fact that he seems to get pressure sores on his ankles or heels from the dafos that he wears, he is doing great. We use to have wild nights with him, where he was in pain all night long and he would cry out all night long, but those nights are so very far and few between now, that it almost seemed as though they never existed. 

On my birthday this year, Nathan smiled for me!  He doesn't smile very often.  I don't think it's because he can't, I think it's because his brain doesn't remember how to, and so every now and then, it just happens... It really made my birthday special.  

On Sundays, when we go to church, Nathan usually sits in his wheelchair and just listens.  Sometimes he listens with his eyes closed ;D  but lately he has been awake during the Sacrament.  One Sunday, he acted very upset with me and so I asked him why.  Of course, he can't reply back so I have to ask different questions on why he would be upset with me.  After only a couple of questions, did I get it right.  So now, if Nathan is awake during the Sacrament, it's because he wants to partake of it.  So for the last 4 weeks, Nathan has gotten to take the Sacrament and renew his baptismal covenants.  That makes me really happy.  Then after the Sacrament, he closes his eyes.. He really does know what is going on!  I never have questioned it, but some others do.  

So here is Nathan at this year's Father's and Sons Outing.  Our ward was going to a camp site that would have been really hard for Nathan and his wheelchair.  In fact, whenever the guys think about going.. they just dread it because the ground is so hard to roll the wheelchair around on it.

This year, Derek really wanted to go.  He wanted Dad (Mark), and Adam and him and Nathan and Brogden to all go and stay over night.  Dad wasn't so sure about the campground with the ward, but Derek really wanted to go.  He really didn't care if it was with the ward, just more bonding time with the family.  After talking about it, it was decided that they would pick a new camp site and just go as a family.  They would have one of Nathan's helpers come along, and then when it got really late, the helper and Nathan would head back home and Dad and the others would stay the night.  Staying there for Nathan would be very difficult and uncomfortable for him.  So Derek was in charge of picking the campsite, Dad was in charge of the food, and Adam was in charge of the entertainment.  

They had a great time!  Nathan loved it so much and really felt involved with the family.. Cudos to Derek!  I'm so thankful that Nathan has family that want him to be involved in everything they do.

Nathan and his helper Mark Rebilas

Derek and Brogden at the campsite                         

The Petersen men!  Mark, Nathan, Adam, Derek and Brogden.