Bike riding

School was out today because of the flooding and storm damage but it was a beautiful day!! I took the kids to our church to ride bikes! The church is 1/4 mile from the house and has lots of pavement and a great hill to ride down! This has always been one of their favorite activities. I was afraid that it might be too hot for Asa and I took the cooling vest but he stayed in the shade and had a great time!!

The kids actually rode to the church and I followed behind them with my flashers on. I love being in the country and remember riding on the rode all the time when we were kids. There is more traffic these days though. On the way home we had 2 bikes, 2 Razor scooters, Asa's chair, the gait trainer and 3 kids in the van! Really, have I said how much I love my van!! I should have took a picture of all of that. There was handlebars and wheels everywhere.

Gracie was quite a poser today. Somedays she runs when the camera comes out and sometimes she strikes a pose!

Cade had a great idea of playing "tag" on bikes. He wouldn't take no for an answer! He saw no danger in tagging while riding or bumping tires while riding! And bikes are no fun unless it is full speed ahead! He and Gracie both started riding when they were 3. He used to think it was a blast to ride super fast and then shove the bike forward while he feel down on his bottom! DAREDEVIL!

And Asa loved the gait trainer on the pavement...for 30 seconds and then he headed off road! Seriously, do you see all the parking lot he had to ride on behind him and he headed for the rough and the grass! Must have learned something from his brother! Asa really did manage well out there. He gets frustrated in the house cause he is always hitting something!

And Anna! She wouldn't get her picture made but the riding was actually her idea! The days are few when she wants to play with Cade and Gracie. Today was full of bike riding, jumping on the trampoline and riding on the trails in the woods! I'm not even sure she had her electronic devices with her today! :)

And I know they should have had helmets on! We left out with so much "stuff" and I didn't even think of them until we were on the road. I think we take for granted that it is "just" a bike and it is safe but we have learned a lesson about helmets from the real life experience of a neighbor! Next time I'll do better!

They are out of school again tomorrow but it is a day full of therapy and grocery shopping so nothing fun tomorrow!

Complete washout

We had storms again last night. Tornado warnings, thunderstorms and lots of rain. When it was all said and done there was a lot of damage and schools are closed until Wednesday. Even going back on Wednesday will be tough. There are a lot of bridges closed and roads gone!

The roads in front of Barry's parents house is one that is out. We took pictures today, after all the rain was done and gone. The pictures I've seen when the water was really rushing are scary. So much destruction but thankfully, Bob and Judy and all their possessions are safe. Many aren't so fortunate. Several areas were flooded in the early Saturday storm and then again early this morning.

This is directly in front of Barry's parents house, on the main road. It is completely gone, all the way across.

It was very deep and was still crumbling away. We didn't get too close to the edge!!

This is the culvert directly across the road from the house. It is on a smaller road. Yes, 2 separate roads washed out in front of their house. Had this not washed out, their house would have been flooded.

This is at a house on Bob and Judy's road. The boat was on the trailer, under the carport and got washed away. I guess someone found the boat and tied it to a tree nearly 200 ft from the house!

And while in the 20 minutes it took for us to snap these pictures, they closed a bridge on the only road left to get out of the area. Praying this gets cleaned up quickly.

Rain, rain go away!

We have had some major storms in West TN so far this weekend! It started with a 3am tornado warning. When our town was mentioned we loaded the kids up and drove down the road to my parents. We hunkered down in their basement with my parents, my 3 nephews who were spending the night and for a little, while my cousin, his wife and their little overnight guest. That is right, 13 of us in the basement for what seemed like an eternity. Funny thing that being up in the middle of the night with storms brewing, brings out the hyper in kiddos! I think Barry and my daddy stayed up above ready to wrestle the tornado than the kids in the basement!

Thankfully, we didn't have a tornado but we have had a ton of rain. I've heard it was 12 inches of rain! Barry's parents house nearly flooded when the culvert in front of the house backed up. They evacuated as the water got to the bottom of the truck and the driveway washed out. At some point the culvert washed out and the water receded from their house. There are tons of roads out and many churches canceled services for tomorrow. I even saw where one school will be out on Monday! I'm not telling the kids that though. No need to get their hopes up!

Asa did well getting up and out in the wee hours of the morning. He ended up sleeping until 1pm though. He has spent a few days this week doing nothing but sleeping. We ran out of the CoQ10 and I thought I'd hold off on ordering it to see if it was really helping him. I think after a week or so without it I can say it is worth the money!!

Asa didn't get sick again after last night in the car. I was really afraid we'd being looking at a whole night of sickness. Thankfully not! He did get sick again tonight but there was a just cause for that. I bought these chocolate soy drink boxes. I didn't really think he'd drink it but he drank nearly all 8oz. I should have stopped him since he has had trouble with all chocolate drinks we give him, even the chocolate version of the elemental formula he was on. Sure enough, before bed he got so sick. Again, the drain bags didn't work and I had to wrangle the tube while he was puking. Thankfully Barry was holding him so it was our 4 hands vs. Asa's one mouth. Shockingly enough, Asa won! He got him and Barry both covered! Then Asa got a nice long bath and was soooo happy! He loves water but the kitchen sink is getting a little small!

Asa has a new trick. I've been getting him to practice standing up by standing him on the changing table in front of me. At this height his head is at my shoulders and I can give him good support around his hips. I can also use the same position by sitting in the floor and having him standing in front of me. So yesterday Asa lays his head on my shoulder and proceeds to bite my shoulder! Well, it was more like a lick and maybe a gumming since he has such a weak bite. Since he isn't oral and doesn't mouth toys or food, I kinda felt privileged to be worthy of his bite! I acted all silly and said "oh, don't bite me" and other goofy things so that he'd laugh and try again. This was such a fun game to him and yet it was great therapy all in one! He was oral, he was standing and he was following my directions...or rather doing the exact opposite, which is totally age appropriate.

And just to prove it wasn't a one time game, we played again today only his bite was a bit stronger (he left a red mark!) and he was pulling my shirt away with his teeth! He thought this was great! He even bit Cade and Anna. Cade had to push it a little farther and got Asa to bite his ear and cheek but I discouraged that after I finished laughing at them! If no one was near him and we said "don't bite me" he'd open his mouth and stick his tongue out! I do realize we may have created a monster and he may bite anyone who picks him up so maybe I need to put a waring sign on him! I can't help it but I can't discourage his biting at this point. Now if becomes a Mike Tyson, we'll talk but right now just guard you shoulders!!