We, Shawn and I, are hosting a charity Softball Tournament on Saturday, October 9th to benefit The Rise School of Denver, a school for children with special needs located in Denver. At this time I feel it is appropriate that I disclose that our daughter, Julia attends the school. However, any proceeds raised will be given directly to the school for materials, tuition assistance for some of the other parents, and the general running of the school, not for Julia's tuition. They run entirely off of private money and donations. You can read more about this amazing school here: http://www.riseschool.org/denver/
Please let me know if you would be interested in bringing a team, looking to play on a team, sponsoring (very important!), or helping out with organizing. Any donation from $1 to $1M would help our cause. Also, please forward this to others that you play with that you think may be interested or be able to put together a team. Any company that donates will be allowed to set up an information table, and/or put a banner at the field, and have their name noted on the printed material and t-shirts.
The price for the tourney will be $225 per team.
We are also working on prizes for teams, so I will be checking to see what everyone prefers but I expect to have some nice awards, t-shirts, etc. Some possible donors include Chick-Fil-A, Direct TV and Microsoft!
The tournament website is www.shawnckelleyrealtor.com
Thank you all for your time and consideration! I know times are tough for all of us, but if you could help, some amazing kids would really benefit. Any questions, please feel free to contact us!
Sorry is some of you get this twice! :)
--
Susan Lawson (mom to Julia Grimes - brain injury in January 2007)
drslawson@gmail.com
303 335 7448
Shawn C. Kelley
Realtor/Broker
Absolute Real Estate Services LLC
(303) 570-8354
shawnckelleyrealtor@gmail.com
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Lots of thoughts today...............
We woke up this morning..at about 9am - got to sleep in a bit, though Jack was already up and Julia was kicking the walls trying to get out of her "bed".....woo hoo....
We then decided to travel to Elizabeth to an "Alpaca Festival"....yes you read that right....alpacas.....Jack LOVED it. He was so infatuated with the chickens running around, the alpacas, the ducks, the goats, the food, and, of course......................the girls running around....LOTS of them, but he took a liking to one in particular. She was cute. THey chased the chickens a lot.
Julia was a little hesitant with all of it. She, too, was very interested with the chickens, and tried her best to chase them around, but never caught one and got frustrated. At one point, she saw Jack and his new girlfriend chasing them around and tried so hard to get into the action, but after about four steps, realized she couldn't physically do it, and just melted into a heap of sorrow. It is starting to get to the point where she realizes she is different somehow. I huddled with her on the chicken poop covered ground and just told her it was ok, even though I was crying too. She is TOO cognitive and has TOO much receptive knowledge - she KNOWS she can't do what the other kids can do, AND she can't talk.....She and I were at our breaking points today, but I think we both hid it pretty well.
Then, tonight Shawn and I got to go to dinner. What a wonderful dinner we had (on a gift card no less!!!). Again, I don't mean to look for triggers, but I find them everywhere. There was a super long wait for a table - Homecoming.....all the kids dressed up and looking pretty and trying to impress their dates...I could not stop my mind from going to that place - Julia will likely not go to homecoming in this manner. I tried to let it go. Then we were seated, and in my view, directly at the table across from us, a boy, about 12 years old, clearly autistic. Shawn and I managed to have a great dinner and good conversation, and good repoir with the waitress (who I may need to help me with a job soon-haha). It really was a good night. I am just scared about the future of everyone in my family. Not just income, but FUTURE. What are Julia's potentials. Where will Jack end up. What about Shawn and I. How will I make enough money if I leave the typical practice of Vet Med. My brain hurts.
It will all be OK. It will work out fine. Take it ONE DAY AT A TIME. All I (we) can do at this point.
Thanks for listening. Keep your prayers for Julia.
Susan
We then decided to travel to Elizabeth to an "Alpaca Festival"....yes you read that right....alpacas.....Jack LOVED it. He was so infatuated with the chickens running around, the alpacas, the ducks, the goats, the food, and, of course......................the girls running around....LOTS of them, but he took a liking to one in particular. She was cute. THey chased the chickens a lot.
Julia was a little hesitant with all of it. She, too, was very interested with the chickens, and tried her best to chase them around, but never caught one and got frustrated. At one point, she saw Jack and his new girlfriend chasing them around and tried so hard to get into the action, but after about four steps, realized she couldn't physically do it, and just melted into a heap of sorrow. It is starting to get to the point where she realizes she is different somehow. I huddled with her on the chicken poop covered ground and just told her it was ok, even though I was crying too. She is TOO cognitive and has TOO much receptive knowledge - she KNOWS she can't do what the other kids can do, AND she can't talk.....She and I were at our breaking points today, but I think we both hid it pretty well.
Then, tonight Shawn and I got to go to dinner. What a wonderful dinner we had (on a gift card no less!!!). Again, I don't mean to look for triggers, but I find them everywhere. There was a super long wait for a table - Homecoming.....all the kids dressed up and looking pretty and trying to impress their dates...I could not stop my mind from going to that place - Julia will likely not go to homecoming in this manner. I tried to let it go. Then we were seated, and in my view, directly at the table across from us, a boy, about 12 years old, clearly autistic. Shawn and I managed to have a great dinner and good conversation, and good repoir with the waitress (who I may need to help me with a job soon-haha). It really was a good night. I am just scared about the future of everyone in my family. Not just income, but FUTURE. What are Julia's potentials. Where will Jack end up. What about Shawn and I. How will I make enough money if I leave the typical practice of Vet Med. My brain hurts.
It will all be OK. It will work out fine. Take it ONE DAY AT A TIME. All I (we) can do at this point.
Thanks for listening. Keep your prayers for Julia.
Susan
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Julia's Softball Tournament to raise money for the Rise School!
Things are going good with getting ready for the "Rise to the Challange" softball tourney that Shawn is putting together. We have about 7 teams (wish we could get a few more....), and several people who have volunteered ther time to help out. We got the fields reserved in Lakewood, working on umps, and mostly just trying to organize and figure out prizes, sponsers, booths, banners, etc for the event. We want this to work out and be profitable because The Rise School of Denver is just so great. They have been so patient with all of the intrusiveness of the attorneys and different Life Care Planners and other evaluators. They have made Julia A PART of a classroom, instead of being placed "apart" in the public school she attended for a year. They are just the best, and all proceeds go to the School, not a dime to Julia's tuition. We want to help. So, pray for success! And a special Thank you to Colorado Service Dogs for all the information you gave to Shawn yesterday to help spread the word. I am still shocked at the coincidence of meeting Dobbie and hearing about you at this perfect time!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Lots ahead!
So, tomorrow, Julia has her second round of botox under general anesthesia to help re-straighten her left leg. It has turned inward so much since her last injections 4 months ago, that her new brace is not fitting anymore and she REFUSES to wear shoes. I have experienced the people reprimanding me about her shoes, or lack there of, for years, but today, Shawn got to experience it pretty intensely. I hope the anesthesia goes well, again, as it did last time, but of course I am a nervous wreck. I hope her leg straightens out again appropriately so that we don't have to go through all the appointments to get a new brace soon. We JUST got this one!
The settlement is wrapping up. I think it will end in a settlement soon, or else on November 4th, there is a hearing set to END it. I am having nightmares everynight - the one last night that I had - we ended up with $250 for everything!! WOW! That better not happen, or I WILL appeal, which, with an appeal, you never win - but hey, for $250 it would be the point of the appeal. I am sure things will be OK. Probably not Hannah Poling OK (if you aren't familiar with her settlement for MMR and autism, just google her name), but I expect at least half of what she got. Once we get the settlement - that is IT. No more medicaid, no more nothing - everything comes out of the fund. Please pray for it to be fair, if not more than fair, for the loss of who she could have been.
I am feeling so stressed, that even in my dreams, I am telling myself how I just want to lay in bed for a month. Seriously, the other night, the dream I had was a current version of me talking to a younger version of me, and discussing how emotionally drained I am. Done. I was talking to the younger version of me explaining how she could change things so that life would not be so challanging in the future. Just a dream.
Though all this sounds negative, there are a LOT of positives going on in my life right now. A real potential for a new, more appropriate job for myself to support my family. The settlement, which the paperwork over the last three years has consumed my life, is almost done. A WONDERFUL caregiver for Julia. LOTS of helpers who truly care about Julia and my family. LOTS of good stuff happening.
I am just stressed. I want tomorrow to be over. Have to be at the hospital at 745, and then get to work by 1pm. The screaming and tantrums. The phonecalls to attorneys and medicaid and doctors and everything else. I am exhausted. I know this is Julia's blog, but I am just whooped. I crave my bed and quietness.
Enough complaining. It is what it is, and it will get better very soon. There are lots of changes coming that are going to turn many things towards a more positive direction.
Almost bedtime for Julia, then just one more to get down, then I am done - to get up tomorrow and do it again.
Julia - you are one amazing kid. Even with all the behavioral issues, you perservere and show me why I do what I do.
I LOVE YOU JULIA and we will be FINE!
Susan
The settlement is wrapping up. I think it will end in a settlement soon, or else on November 4th, there is a hearing set to END it. I am having nightmares everynight - the one last night that I had - we ended up with $250 for everything!! WOW! That better not happen, or I WILL appeal, which, with an appeal, you never win - but hey, for $250 it would be the point of the appeal. I am sure things will be OK. Probably not Hannah Poling OK (if you aren't familiar with her settlement for MMR and autism, just google her name), but I expect at least half of what she got. Once we get the settlement - that is IT. No more medicaid, no more nothing - everything comes out of the fund. Please pray for it to be fair, if not more than fair, for the loss of who she could have been.
I am feeling so stressed, that even in my dreams, I am telling myself how I just want to lay in bed for a month. Seriously, the other night, the dream I had was a current version of me talking to a younger version of me, and discussing how emotionally drained I am. Done. I was talking to the younger version of me explaining how she could change things so that life would not be so challanging in the future. Just a dream.
Though all this sounds negative, there are a LOT of positives going on in my life right now. A real potential for a new, more appropriate job for myself to support my family. The settlement, which the paperwork over the last three years has consumed my life, is almost done. A WONDERFUL caregiver for Julia. LOTS of helpers who truly care about Julia and my family. LOTS of good stuff happening.
I am just stressed. I want tomorrow to be over. Have to be at the hospital at 745, and then get to work by 1pm. The screaming and tantrums. The phonecalls to attorneys and medicaid and doctors and everything else. I am exhausted. I know this is Julia's blog, but I am just whooped. I crave my bed and quietness.
Enough complaining. It is what it is, and it will get better very soon. There are lots of changes coming that are going to turn many things towards a more positive direction.
Almost bedtime for Julia, then just one more to get down, then I am done - to get up tomorrow and do it again.
Julia - you are one amazing kid. Even with all the behavioral issues, you perservere and show me why I do what I do.
I LOVE YOU JULIA and we will be FINE!
Susan
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Please God, let me know my path......
I have a meeting with Dr Larry Magnuson on Tuesday morning. For those who know, you know how important this is for me! I hope to get somewhere with him on Tuesday. My life has evolved in a new direction and I hope this Dr Larry is a start to a new beginning for me and my family.
Julia is doing great. We have hired a new ABA therapist, and she will be starting with Julia very soon. This should help greatly with some of her more trying behaviors. Julia is doing great in God's grace and His plan for her and for my family.....it is hard for me and for Jack, and for Shawn, but...it is his plan, and we will keep on keeping on. I truly feel something is going to change soon! I just read 180 pages of Temple Grandin's new book - "The Way I See It" - and have a new insight into how Julia may percieve her world. Helps to read and understand these things - how difficult it must be to be her. Sometimes we get so caught up in how it is to be "us" but this book opened my eyes to what it is like to be HER. I know several people in Shawn and I's family who should read this book, but will not push it on anyone. So odd how the themes of family, taking a step back, travel through all of our families. I do not feel so alone anymore - this is sad, but normal. Even some of the stuff I have gone through in the last week with Jack and school - all normal for the life of a family with a disabled child. Crazy!
Anyway, Will let you know how Tuesday goes. I hope to have a new career soon, but we will see.......not putting all my eggs into one basket - I have a family to consider here.
Take care, all!
Susan
Julia is doing great. We have hired a new ABA therapist, and she will be starting with Julia very soon. This should help greatly with some of her more trying behaviors. Julia is doing great in God's grace and His plan for her and for my family.....it is hard for me and for Jack, and for Shawn, but...it is his plan, and we will keep on keeping on. I truly feel something is going to change soon! I just read 180 pages of Temple Grandin's new book - "The Way I See It" - and have a new insight into how Julia may percieve her world. Helps to read and understand these things - how difficult it must be to be her. Sometimes we get so caught up in how it is to be "us" but this book opened my eyes to what it is like to be HER. I know several people in Shawn and I's family who should read this book, but will not push it on anyone. So odd how the themes of family, taking a step back, travel through all of our families. I do not feel so alone anymore - this is sad, but normal. Even some of the stuff I have gone through in the last week with Jack and school - all normal for the life of a family with a disabled child. Crazy!
Anyway, Will let you know how Tuesday goes. I hope to have a new career soon, but we will see.......not putting all my eggs into one basket - I have a family to consider here.
Take care, all!
Susan
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