Thursday, October 21, 2010

Home is where the heart is.

    DJ is very happy to be home with his family and friends. All his neighborhood pals have been coming to visit and spend time with him. It's amazing how children build these beautiful bonds. Being around his friends has definitely been a major motivating factor for him to continue with his progress. He has been taking walks with his dad enjoying the beautiful Colorado weather which will be turning in the next couple of weeks. DJ is very determined and continues to show daily improvement as he faces these challenges. The strength in the right side of his body is starting to improve more so in his right leg as the doctors predicted. His right arm has started to get what they call tone. Which is the beginning of movement and is a very good sign.
     There has been a lot going on since we have been home. On Saturday Oct.16th our friends from the neighborhood planned a Spaghetti Dinner Benefit at the Fire Station for DJ here in Colorado. Everyone had a great time as some of his friends were seeing him for the first time since his surgery! The kids had so much fun doing the cake walk, getting their face painted, dancing, and of course getting to check out the fire engine. The kids had a great time sitting in the truck and imagining that they were brave junior firefighters. Mullberries Cake Shop made an awesome cake with the Super DJ logo on it. He had the honor of cutting the cake and having the first slice! He was absolutely thrilled! Mullberries also provided cupcakes with DJ's initials on them that were very tasty! He was so excited that he walked and played with his friends during most of the event! By the end of the fun filled night he was ready to go home and relax! To all of our wonderful family and friends that helped with not only this event but have given us all the love and support through out, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We are so blessed to have you in our lives! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
      DJ has started his outpatient therapy. It's good for us too because they work with Dino and I on what we can do to help him at home. The physical therapist thinks DJ is doing a great job and probably can go down to one physical therapy sessions a week after about a month or so. We are so proud that he is fighting to get his strength & mobility back. Our little man seems to amaze us each day!
    We appreciate every one sending us love and prayers and will try to update the blog. at least every couple of weeks so that family & friends can follow along with Dj's Journey.Thank you and God Bless.

"Once you choose hope, anything's possible" -Christopher Reeve

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Love and prayers will find the way.

    We are so proud of the progress DJ has been making and the strength he is showing to regain what he had lost. Every day he seems to be doing something he hasn't been able to do since his operation. This past week after DJ's afternoon therapy Kara (his therapist) had him walk back to his room instead of putting him in his wheelchair. When I opened the door for him I realized Kara wasn't helping support him as much as usual. I sat down so he could walk (with Kara only holding the waist of his shorts) all the way across his room to me! What a special moment for me as a mother!  His balance and strength is improving more and more each day. Just a few days later he gave us a wonderful gift by walking 65 steps unassisted down the hospital hallway, what a beautiful site. Now when the therapist come to get DJ he doesn't have to use his wheel chair anymore, yay!!! He is working so hard! Dino let DJ know that it was Grandma's Birthday on the 5th so they called her to say Happy Birthday.  He then amazed us by singing the entire Happy Birthday song to her. Our little man brought so many happy tears to all of us! God is wonderful!!!
    It has been a month since DJ's operation and the doctors are looking at Oct. 14th being the date we get to go home....I guess you don't really know how much that word truly means to you til you spend a long period of time away. As I walk through the hallway my heart goes out to all the parents and children that have been here for such a long time. Some of them have traveled from different states to give their children the best care here at the Children's Hospital. We are so proud of Tiana because every time she visits she wants to go down to the Chapel to pray for DJ and all the other children here at the hospital. As Tiana prays I find myself thanking God for giving DJ three wonderful sisters who I know will be close to him and watch out for him for the rest of their lives.
    DJ had another special day on Thursday when the Aurora Fire and Police Departments set up a pumpkin patch in the front of the hospital for the children and spent time with the kids. Since the event was outside we had to take DJ down in his wheelchair. That didn't last very long as he tugged at Daddy to let him know he wanted to walk through the pumpkin patch to pick that special pumpkin. After observing many different shapes and sizes he picked the cutest little one that everyone else seem to be passing up! DJ was also made a Junior Police Officer & Fireman with badges to top it off. These men and woman are wonderful for doing that for the children who otherwise might not be able to pick out a pumpkin!!
    On Oct. 1st our family and friends in Arizona came together for a Benefit Dinner/Dance for DJ that was absolutely wonderful. Dino and I wished that we could have been there and are so thankful for having such great family and friends. Toby & Julian (our cousins) thank you from the bottom of our hearts for putting so much effort in doing all this for our family. We can not put into words how much this means to us. We love you guys! Please let every one who took part in it know just how grateful we are!
We have come to realize when times are hard and we don't know how to make it through we just look to God to guide us. God has been looking out for our family along the way and showed us by giving us such wonderful family and friends to be there with us through it all. God is Great!


"Once you choose hope, anything's possible" -Christopher Reeve