Thank you - 5

Progress continues with the addition of a furnace and duct work. A number of BIG 'Thank yous' are due. Here they are:

Tim Yeager and Northern Heating and Air Conditioning for their contribution with the furnace.

Dave Klein for his huge contribution of duct work and time.

Steve Ruzicka of L & R Building Supply in Ham Lake for his contribution on the windows.

Frank and Giuseppe Garruzzo for their cash contribution

Mel and Margaret Price for their cash contribution

Athlete of the Week!

As if the championship didn't burst my buttons enough, we received a call from Josh's coach on Monday stating that he would be a Star Tribune athlete of the week! WOW!

In the last week, he's been a part of a team that won the state championship, been on KSTP Sports Wrap, been in the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press and now this!

What else can I say, but I'm proud of him!

Check it out here (never mind that they say he's a senior).

Undefeated Champions!

You may have heard of the New England Patriots. If not, they're a football team who were almost perfect this past season. Well almost doesn't cut it.

You may have heard of the Anoka-Hennepin Mustangs. If not, they're an adapted sports team who were perfect this past floor hockey season. Yes sir, a perfect 15-0 record! 12-0 in the regular season and 3-0 in the state tournament to capture their second Adapted Floor Hockey championship in as many years.

We are the proud parents of two of the members of this perfect team. Yes I admit pride is bursting out of me. Since I can't contain it I'll share it here. Before I talk about our boys, I want to acknowledge that each member of the team contributed to this perfection in such a way that a LOT of it goes unnoticed.

There are paraprofessionals who do so many things that I don't even know all of their jobs - equipment, scoring, checking bus lists, encouraging etc.

There are the coaches who put in countless hours planning, preparing, scheduling, worrying (maybe a little?!) coaching, training, working, encouraging, challenging and many more "ings."

There are all of the players who work hard at practice and at game time. If they're not on the floor, they're cheering and encouraging the others.

There are the parents who make sure that their kids get to practices and games and have the right snacks and their uniforms.

There are bus drivers who we rarely if ever see.

There are PCA's who dedicate extra hours to making sure their charges are at the assigned destination. There are fans who come from near and far to cheer on our kids.


Yep, it's true. You've heard it said before, there's no "I" in team. My oldest son exemplified this when he was interviewed by the Star Tribune in this quote "It feels pretty good," said Josh Price, a sophomore winger, "But I'm not the only person that's a star. I'm a big part of it, but I'm not the star."

He knows like all of the kids do that they are a star on our team. He also knows that he can't (and didn't do it alone).

So while my buttons are burstin with pride, I must also say that I am moved. Moved because each and every one of these kids is out there playing SO HARD while dealing with some kind of physical or cognitive challenge. These kids have a 1000% more heart than any paid athlete I have ever watched. You can not help but be impressed by these kids.

In addition to their heart, is their ability to let go of the things that just don't matter. Very shortly after each game, they return to being just themselves. They chat with each other, or play in the pool or turn on their iPods, while the rest of us adults try to figure out why the officiating might have been good or bad or why some coaches seem to play for blood or even why we ourselves are so concerned about these things.

So the pride wells up in me and the things that move me take me back down.

I realize that it's important to be proud of my kids - not because they've won a championship, but because they gave their all. It's important to be proud of them - not because they were perfect this season, but because they work so hard to overcome their challenges both on and off the floor. It's important to be proud of them - not because they scored a lot of goals or made a lot of shots, but simply because they are my sons.

Yes I am proud, and thankful that God himself gave me my sons to teach me some of the really important things in life.

I mentioned that I would be talking more about our boys.  In the first game, Josh scored 5 of the 11 goals as they beat Mpls South 11-2.  Matt (number 4) played enough to record a few shots and as he put it to me "Dad, I was really movin out there."

In the Semifinal, Josh got one assist as they beat a tough South Suburban team 4-2.

In the championship game, Josh led the team with 2 goals to beat their rivals by a score of 4-2.

There are a few short articles at the following locations about the Mustangs and their victory. Josh was interviewed by the Star Tribune and was seen on KSTP Sports Wrap on Saturday night.

Star Trib wrap

Star Trib article

Pioneer Press article

State High School League Article

Hospital Work

Have you ever spent a day going from home to the "waiting room" to "pre-op" to the "waiting room" to outside to the cafeteria to a "hospital room?" Well I just did for the last 24 hours plus and I'm pooped.

I followed my girl and the alpha male in our home through these things and let me tell you, I worked hard! Some of these places were new and slightly strange. We started by having my girl "check-in." They took her right front paw and wrapped with something that had her name and other words I can't read on it.

Then a male with wheels came and took us back to a bed. I was thinking "we just got up, why are we going to bed again?" Then someone called a "nurse" came and asked the alpha male and my girl all kinds of questions. I have no idea what "allergies" and "medications" are, but I do understand "when did you eat last?" My answer was "a long time ago" because I can eat any time.

After the "nurse" then a "doctor" of anesthhh, a nest, oh they said something about going to sleep - something else I understand - came in and talked about my girl going to sleep. What a perfect day I thought, sleeping for a long time!

After the "doctor" came another person called a "surgeon." She said something about replacing a "pump" oh brother! you humans have too many hard words. Then my girl waited while they put some "medicine" in her arm. The alpha male said she was doing a good job being calm. HEY, what about me, I'm not just lying here because I'm cute ya know. I was trained to help her stay calm. I wasn't sitting on that chair next to her bed because I liked it.

The alpha male put on this white thing that covered his entire body except for the blue hat and fancy thing to cover his face. Then they took my girl away and LEFT ME ALONE. When the alpha male came back without my girl, he said she went to sleep very easy. Well it wasn't easy for me being left. I'm supposed to take care of her, but they wouldn't let me go to this place called "O.R."

The alpha male and I went to the waiting room and he talked for a long time. Then we took my girl's wheels up to her "hospital room." We returned to the waiting room. By that time, I was thinking I need to "hurry" and I don't mean move faster. The alpha male was called by another "nurse" and there was my girl!!

She was on another kind of wheels. This kind let her lay flat. We rolled her up to her "hospital room." There were more "nurses" and "aides" than I've seen in one room. They moved my girl to her "hospital bed" and I finally got to go out and "hurry." And not a moment too soon.

The rest of the day was spent in the "hospital room" with "nurses," "aides," and "cleaners" coming in and out. I did get fed thankfully and was finally able to get a decent nap.

In the evening, my girl went to make some "craft." I found out later that she make a bag to hold some treats or a small amount of food for me. That's what I call a "craft"! I met one of my fellow working dogs. Sonic was on a ten-day hospital stint with his boy. Sonic said he'd rather be playing too, but he knew how important it was for his boy to have him here. I know it doesn't always seem like we're working, but we can tell that our kids need us. I liked Sonic, but he, ahem, sheds and well he's brown. I like my black coat just the way it is thank you.

Later we walked around the "clinic" side of this hospital and it's amazing how different it is when there are no kids or "doctors" around. It was a peaceful walk until my girl's machine beeped. Then we had to move faster back to get the beep turned off.

Over the evening hours we tried to get to sleep, but they kept working on my girl. It's so much less complicated at home. We don't have all these intrusions on my resting time. As a matter of fact, all night long a "nurse" kept coming in and doing something to my girl. After a long working day, I needed some sleep. Unfortunately I only got a lot of dog naps.

Today I heard several times the word "home." Oh yes, home where my kennel is. I can't wait. My girl had to get an "AFO" fixed for her back right paw, see some "doctors," get a bath, get fed, have the "doctors" write papers called "prescriptions" and we can GO.

I'll tell you straight out, hospital work is OK some of the time, but I don't want to be here every day. I know that the over 30 people that worked with my girl helped her out, but I also know that I can take care of her much better at home. Well OK part of it is that I miss my bed too.

For my girl,

Hajik

Pump replacement

For those of you who have either had surgery or have watched a child go through it, the experience gives you cause to pause. Pause and think about whether or not this is the best thing.

After all, you or your child are being placed into the hands of people you either do not know or know only a little. And those people have control of your life for that time. If they fail, your life may be harmed or even ended. If they succeed, your life will improve (after recovery of course).

Yesterday in church, I was moved during the service. I couldn't tell whether I was moved because Vicki was coming up on surgery or if I was moved by parts of the service. I just realized that no matter how many times you go through surgery, you can't take it lightly. So we prepare, plan, and pray and then trust that everything will work out. And even though things do work out most of the time, you simply can not take these procedures for granted.

So thank you for your support and prayers. Here's a recap of Vicki's day.

Vicki had her baclofen pump replaced today. Every few years, this really cool device wears out. So today was the day to get a new one.

Her biggest worry was "what is my room number." She did very well during pre-op. She was calm and only got agitated about 1/2 hour before the procedure.

I was able to walk with her into the O.R. and watch her go to sleep. She remained calm the entire time.

As I write (from her room) she is awake and worrying about tomorrow. I guess you'd say she's back to normal.

Hajik has been a faithful friend waiting for his girl when she went to surgery and now sleeping at the foot of her bed waiting for her to beckon him to "visit" on the bed.

Thank you for your prayers and your support.

Vicki's Stander Article

Vicki's fame continues.  Her story has been posted on the EasyStand site.

Check her out when you have time.