Precious flower girl!

Kate was a flower girl in one of her teacher's wedding on the Saturday night of the big ball game I wrote about in my last entry. Jillers took lots of great pictures and posted them to Shutterfly. It used to be that I could copy photos from Shutterfly and use them as I wished; not now. I asked Jill to please send some of her favorites directly to me so I could post them in this blog. She did but they arrived via Picasa and I am not smart enough to be able to save them to "My Pictures" from there either. Picasa did give me the option of blogging the pictures but each one opens individually and so is sent to the blog individually. This picture of the flower girl dancing with her wonderful father is special to me - so I blogged it first - and now it will be in the bottom entry of pictures from the occasion! Oh, well! At least, I can share it so I shouldn't whine, should I?

Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh!!!!

Just looking at this picture of the scoreboard (Thank you, Michele) does not give you any idea of the excitement and frustration surrounding this game! I am so proud of the EHS WILDCATS!!!! I am wondering if Tom will be able to talk today. He had about used up his voice advising the refs and then came the last play of the game!!!!!!! We were tied 21-21; Texarkana had the ball with three seconds left and they were preparing to kick a thirty-eight yard field goal for the win. EHS blocked the kick and DeAndre Williams (one of my Hugh Goodwin babies) scooped it up and ran seventy-two yards for a touchdown!!!! (You will notice in the picture that we only won by six because no attempt was made to kick the extra point.) I always have great respect (also dread and terror) for Texarkana's teams; it was against the Razorbacks that Jimmy ruined his shoulder in a goal-line stand.

Kate's home therapist

I have probably mentioned before what a wonderful big sister Lanie is for Kate. Several years ago, when Lanie was five or six, I commented to her about how impressed I was with all the creative games she came up with to reinforce the things Kate needed to work on especially hard. It really was amazing. I'll never forget Lanie's quiet reply; it still brings tears to my eyes. "I'm Kate's home therapist."

On Saturday it was very difficult for Lanie not to be out on the baseball field mentoring Kate herself. I think the program is arranged so that family members are not the mentor for a relative. Soon after the game began, Lanie quietly left the stands. I hadn't really even missed her until I saw her clinging to the fence, as close to third base as she could be. She did eventually return to the stands to sit with the rest of Kate's fan club.

Kate's Baseball Game

I've started crying again already as I begin to write this entry. Saturday afternoon we went to Kate's baseball game. She plays in The Miracle League and it was her first game. It was amazing! Our Kate Kate is developmentally delayed; she has apraxia of speech and takes medication to control a slight tremor. She has made tremendous progress and now longer carries a "talker" with her wherever she goes. Her appearance does not indicate that she has any sort of handicap and I had never thought of her being eligible for something like The Miracle League, even though she goes to a wonderful school, The Academy at Riverdale, dedicated to children with speech/language disorders. Kate has been the bat girl for Lanie's softball team, which Stephen coaches, so she has a rough understanding of the game. She was so happy to be the participant instead of a spectator for this event! Here she is saluting the crowd!

I love this picture of two of Kate's biggest fans! (You would think Stephen was the one related to Tom; he ALWAYS has his eyes closed in pictures, just like his father-in-law!)

Each athlete had a mentor. Kate's must be giving her base running tips as they watch from third. Kate played third base throughout the game but, since I don't see a glove, she must be running the bases in this shot. After the game, I thanked Kate's mentor briefly but I wish I had been able to talk more to her. Several athletes had mentors wearing shirts signifying that they were a member of an athletic team from one of the various state colleges. This young lady moved like an athlete and had a lot of poise and grace. She did not, however, wear a shirt giving me any clues. I wish I knew more about her and had been able to thank her more profusely!

Look at that happy girl as she crosses home plate!!!

I wrote down the website for The Miracle League, www.miracleleaguear.com , and I intend to find out more about it. Until I witnessed a game, I had always been skeptical about a child in a wheelchair getting any enjoyment out of being helped to bat and then being pushed around the bases by someone else. Not any more!

Lanie's Soccer Game

Last Friday night EHS played J.A. Fair in Little Rock. The Wildcats were victorious 37 - 0! Those of us related to the defensive line coach love those shutouts! (Can't remember if I mentioned that we kept Magnolia off the board in the game the Friday night before too!) Since the game was in Little Rock, it worked out perfectly for Tom and me to stick around for ball games on Saturday.

The Pauls were visiting in Tulsa for the weekend so Tom and I stayed at their house to feed the animals. Lanie's soccer game was in Bryant so we rode with her family. This picture was taken just after she stuffed her socks with shin guards.

Kate immediately found two of Lanie's friends, who were there as spectators, and the three of them played hide-and-seek throughout. Jill took a picture of Kate when she was "IT" so I took this one of Jillers; I took a picture of my daughter as she was taking a picture of her daughter!

Tommy is enjoying retirement so much. Look how happy he is to finally be able to be present at all the kids activities! (That Jillers is pretty cute, isn't she?)

Here is Lanie B. in action. She moves well and is quick but she looks awfully small out on the field. I should have included a picture of her with other players so the size differences would be evident. Stephen is her team's coach and I think they are having fun sharing the soccer season.

Glamorous Grandma!

Just had to post this photo of Grandma Johnson! We surprised her last Wednesday but she looks as if she was expecting company, doesn't she? We are tremendously relieved that she has adjusted so well to her altered living arrangements.

Sunday, September 12

I went shopping with Jenny and Lucy in Atlanta just before Hattie was born. It is driving me crazy that I can't remember the name of the store but it was quite a trek from 1245 McLynn Avenue. The purpose of the trip was to purchase this double stroller. Wish I had caught Hattie smiling but I promise she truly enjoys her walks with her sister by her side! This Sunday morning I had taken Hannah to the Pauls' to take a shower. (I have not gone into detail here yet about our crazy weekend. One of the exciting events was the misbehavior of the Fussells' plumbing!) When she was all clean, she and the three Paul girls walked to Fussells; well, really Lucy rode her bike and the others walked. Going home, we decided that for the safety and sanity of all concerned, both girls would ride.