Thanksgiving in LA

I have arrived in LA to visit my sister for the holiday. Mike and Kerwin will be celebrating at home with his family. Mike's dad came down to stay for a few days with Mike and help pick Kerwin up from school and take care of him. We have been talking via the web cam each night. It does not work nearly as well as a video phone which we are going to have to break down and buy pretty soon so that Kerwin can use the phone. To see what I've been up to check out my sister's blog at

www.tylerandrachelhisel.blogspot.com

So far we saw a huge Christmas tree lighting at the Grove complete with real "movie" snow and a flying Santa that narrowly escaped about three major mishaps on the way down. Completely worth going to just for that. Besides that we were looking at a little TV screen (couldn't get closer to the stage) and the sound was awful so that you could only hear the singers and not when anyone was talking. It was hosted by Jon Lovitz so we just guessed what he was saying all night. Natalie Cole sang one song but the rest of the music was unremarkable. Well actually one of the groups was remarkable because they were so horrible. Yesterday I visited Rachel at work. Tyler was also working on the set of the show Bones. Tonight we will go to a Lakers game (Tyler my brother-in-law is a HUGE fan). And then tomorrow we will have our Thanksgiving dinner. I am hoping that one of my roommates from college who lives out here will be able to join us. She and her husband have a little baby boy who I have not met.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

What a difference a year makes

Kerwin is continuing to make progress with his physical therapy. I was just thinking the other day as he was standing with his ankles and knees (close to) straight that putting a before and after picture beside eachother would be truly amazing.

January 2007 at the mission
Look at those poor little feet.

Late Summer 2007 at the Visa Lodge
See how he would try to pinch those knees together for balance.

Tonight in Kerwin's bedroom

It wasn't until after his first Botox injection (May 2008), that Kerwin was able to stand up without holding onto anything for the first time in his life.

Now he is able to start and stop walking without falling, walk backwards, walk side to side, go up one step without holding on, and jump the tiniest little bit.



Thank God for this country and the opportunities we have.

One Year Anniversary!

So here is our one year anniversary post as promised. Tomorrow Kerwin will have his second Botox injection procedure for his legs. Thankfully, this time he does not have to be casted following the procedure. We are hopeful that the results will be as good as the result of the previous injection which really helped his walking.

But in celebration of all the wonderful events of the last year, I will provide a year (or so) in review through pictures.

Kerwin at 2 years old
Our first family picture - October 2006
Barbara Walker - Miracle Worker
Summer in Haiti 2007
Grandpa Red Car visits
Aunt Rachel visits
Grandma Green Car visits
Kerwin gets his visa!!!!
Kerwin's first day at home.
We all watch as UK beats #1 ranked LSU
Second family picture
First Halloween
First Christmas
Seventh birthday
Spring break in California
Kerwin at summer hippotherapy
Vacation at the Outer Banks
Kerwin and Rolgard at the ball field

Well there's a quick trip through the last year or so. Of course there is tons that I left out. We are just so thankful that God has allowed us to be Kerwin's parents and we are so thankful for all the blessings we've received in the last year and a half. We have had INCREDIBLE support from family and friends. We have experienced bonding with Kerwin like we could have never hoped for. Kerwin has made great strides physically, emotionally, developmentally, and academically. And we have grown in faith and in numberous other ways over the past several months. Thanks to everyone who is reading this blog and who has cared about our family through this season of our lives.

Pictures from the pumpkin patch

Here are some shots from our trip to the pumpkin patch on Friday afternoon. Kerwin gets done with school at 1:00 every Friday. Mike was on fall break and I was off work that day so we took the afternoon and went to an orchard about an hour from our house. It was such a beautiful afternoon and we had such a good time. We picked tons of apples (Jonagold) which I didn't even know if they were for eating or cooking but they have been great for both. I've made two apple pies already (my first attempt at this) and they turned out pretty good. I am thinking about tackling applesauce next. Kerwin loved the play area. They had huge slides, a corn maze, a rope maze, John Deere big wheels, a swing set, a dirt climbing mountain, and "rat race." Enjoy the photos!

Can you believe this?

Check out this kid playing baseball. Is this amazing or what. I can't believe tomorrow is October. Kerwin came home on October 13th. Be watching for a big one-year anniversary post!

And baby makes four!

...Five if you ask Kerwin because he counts the dog. Yes, we are expecting our second child. I am due around April 21st. I had my first OB appointment Thursday and everything looks good. I am feeling fine too. I am more tired than usual but I haven't really been sick at all.

Kerwin hasn't gotten into the whole baby thing yet. I think he is getting used to the idea but I don't think he will completely understand what's going on until closer to the time.

Kerwin had his first baseball game of the Fall league today. He played the whole game without his walker. He fell down a lot but he enjoyed the freedom. Rolgard and Erin are both helpers for his team so he is very excited about that.

For those of you who don't know who Rolgard is I should probably explain. When Kerwin lived in the orhpanage, Rolgard worked there in several capacities. He was kind of the guy in charge (made up the schedule, solved the problems those sorts of things). He also worked directly with the kids each day. American physical therapists and occupational therapists would come down on short term mission trips, work with the kids and then write treament plans for them. Rolgard would spend time with each kid implementing the plans that the therapists had written. The kids loved him. He gave them lots of one-on-one attention which they crave and he was the only male working there so he was kind of the father-figure for them all. So of course, Kerwin loved Rolgard. He was the only person Kerwin felt really attached to at the mission (in my opinion). Fast forward to this summer, Rolgard with the help of Erin, our friend we met last summer at the mission, has been accepted at Bluegrass Community and Technical College with plans to transfer to Jefferson Community College next year to take their Physcial Therapy Assistant program. This will allow him to work with special needs kids in the future with a background in physical therapy without having to go to school for 6 or more years. While he is attending BCTC he is living with my parents in their downstairs apartment. Kerwin has had a great time getting to hang out with Rolgard again. It is truly amazing that God has worked out all the details in this process.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Daddy and Kerwin being "silly".


I've been looking back at previous blogs to see what was going on a year ago. Last year today my mom arrived in Port-au-Prince to spend two weeks with. Apparently in the excitement I forgot to acknowledge my husband's birthday. So this year I want to be sure to do it right. Thank God this year we will all be together for it as well. My inlaws are coming down to visit today and we are going out with my parents to eat before the UK game which I am going to with the guys (except for Kerwin who is staying with the Grandmas).

I could never have asked for a better father for our son. How important it is for Kerwin to have a loving, present, and involved Daddy. I am so happy that we have taken this journey together. I love you, Honey!

For a special birthday post here is a list of the top 10 things Kerwin and Dad do together.

1) Play baseball, football, basketball, soccer, golf, and anything else you can do with a ball.

2) Go to CiCis Pizza.

3) Go to softball practice.

4) Watch UK football on TV. (Mike watches and Kerwin plays until they make a touchdown and then jumps around and celebrates).

5) Go to the playground.

6) Read books.

7) Do homework.

8) Kerwin helps Daddy do anything from coaching softball to pumping gas.

9) Get icecream. (Kerwin always gets vanilla).

10) Play games.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIKE!