So, as you can tell I haven’t been writing for a while. But I’m back again doing my Blog!! It was the birthday bash at Rose Club. Rose Club is a group of people that plan events throughout the months. You get to pick the activities you want to do each month. So on September 15, we celebrated the all the September birthdays! Staff Derek brought his music so we could all dance!

Every October CAFCL has a Charity Auction to raise money to help fund the services they provide. You are invited to dress up and eat a beautiful meal prepared for you by the Camrose Casino this year. Every year has a different theme and this year’s theme was Super Heroes! Our tables were decorated with super hero socks and super hero pez dispensers to take home. There were so many people out donating to this good cause. My roommate and myself attended with my parents and sat together at a table. There were lots of speeches and auctioning off of prizes. I bid on some items, but I went home with nothing!! This is the first year I went home empty handed!

We picked up some Halloween crafts to decorate our house. We did some painting at our house and I carved a pumpkin with Nancy at Rose Club. I got to carve the pumpkin hand over hand and scoop out the guts! I like doing that every year. I decided to dress up as a nurse this year for Halloween. I got to attend two Halloween parties this year. The Rose Club had their party the weekend before Halloween and it was a fun dance party with a disco ball, which was very different. I have never been to  a party with a disco ball before.

Every Sunday I go home for a visit with my family. On this particular day, my parents taught me a new game. It’s called “King in the Corner”. I use a card holder for my cards that make it easier for me to play. There is a blue thing that holds some cards and you have to set it up with a black and red pattern of cards. You have red circles that go in the middle. The goal of the game is to make as many piles as possible starting with a king. This is a fun game and sometimes it takes me a bit to learn, but once I do it gets easier. This picture shows you who won!!!!!

At Centra Cam I have a learning board. Every month I make a different poster. This month I made a poster for Terry Fox because the Space and Science Center in Edmonton has a whole exhibit about Terry Fox’s’ life. So when we did my poster we went on the internet and we looked at  Terry Fox’s story. Terry had cancer and had to have his leg amputated when he was 18. He then ran across the country at 22, well almost, for the Marathon of Hope. He ran 3, 339 miles across 6 provinces. Terry Fox was important to me because he told us you can do anything, and that anything is possible even though you might not have the best mobility or be sick. I want to tell people that even though I have Cerebral Palsy I can do almost anything, it might be harder but I make it through  these everyday challenges.

We also did a poster on drugs last month. Centra Cam had a police officer come in and do a presentation on drugs and why they are bad for you. I knew this officer because he was my aide in highschools son in law. He also taught me D.A.R.E in grade 7 and 8. My poster had information about different types of drugs and why they are not good for you to take. It also taught that medicine has to come from your doctor or a pharmacist, so you can not take anyone elses, because it can make you more sick.

Every week on Thursdays at Centra Cam we do a drumming circle. This is held inside or outside depending on the weather. If it is inside we have a sensory room where we play. I really like drumming because it makes music and makes me happy. That is why I am so excited to join the SingAbles choir, because I love music and singing. I have a feeling it will be a great experience.

Saturday September 1st, we went to a friends birthday party at Centra Cam. It was the first really cold day, lots and lots of wind. The people hosting the birthday party couldn’t get the door unlocked, since Centra Cam is closed on weekends. We had to figure out the code so everyone had to wait in their cars, but other than this it was a pretty good party. At the party we played Monopoly, this set was pretty cool because it was in braille. There was a plastic part that set over the game, so Mellissa the birthday girl was able to read it, even the money was braille. Everything was braille so it was very neat. I cant imagine how hard it would be to be blind. You use your eyes for everything, I need to see to do everything. It amazes me how she is able to do everything still. Everyone had pizza, kinda like a pizza party, but I just saved my snack for cheesecake! I bought her an iTunes card for her gift because she has an iPhone and she really likes to buy apps so she was pretty happy.

On the 6th Craig played baseball with the Kodiaks. We went and supported him and watched the game. He is always good at sports.

Yesterday was the first snowfall of the season! It is way to early for snow, it is still technically summer! My roommate Teresa and I watched the “Muppets Christmas Carol” last night. While it was playing I made cookies with Becca. We made peanut butter chocolate chip cookies for everyone in the house.  I cannot wait to see what next week bring.

Summer went super fast. It is already feeling like fall here in Camrose. Last Saturday was super busy. Everyone in our group home went to the Brewhouse, this was the first weekend that Becca was here as she was away for a really long time. She was taking some schooling. We had to put two tables together because there were lots of us. I got to have a dessert, I had a bumble cake, it was pretty good it had whipped cream with it, but I asked for ice cream instead. It is better that way.

After our Brewhouse lunch we went to Walmart. Me, Theresa and Kat bought coconut facemasks. Coconut is my favorite scent. All night we watched the High School musical movies. It was very crazy, because I have never watched three movies in one night before. So we had a girls night in, with our facemasks and our movie marathon.

I am so excited for this new school year because we will be doing more presentations and this is almost my fourth year of doing presentations. Because we don’t have a swimming pool anymore, a group of CAFCL is going to join SingAbles which is a choir. I did drama in school but this will be very different for us to do. This is a brand new program in Camrose and I am super excited to learn. And everyone is going to it!

This week I did something new! On Friday evening  Theresa, Levi and myself went to Safeway to get flowers for Marianne from everybody at CAFCL. There was a special party being held in honour of Marianne because she won a Gold and a Silver medal at the national Special Olympics in swimming! While we were there we had music playing and we danced on the deck. They had hot dogs and salads and fruit and the best of all chocolate cake and ice cream. The only problem with the party is that there were lots of wasps. I am so happy that I got to celebrate with Marianne and show her that she is my friend. I am so proud of her.

This is the pool in Antigonish NS where Marianne swam.

For my birthday I got a gift card to Studio nails, so I got to use it finally! I have never had gel nails before. This was a new experience for me. Nancy took me to go get them done and she told me about all the steps because she had done this lots. I went in knowing that I wanted lady bugs on my nails, but the lady doing my nails helped me decide on what other colours to do as well. We decided on green, with sparkles on the top that go down, then my ring finger on each hand is a lady bug! This was the first time that Nancy had taken me out of my chair, and put me in a real seat, because my legs kept hitting the table and it was very uncomfortable. She did a really good job. It took 2 hours to do my gel nails.

On Sunday Karli came over to visit with her baby Wren Charles. He is 7 months old already and I was excited that I got to hold him. It feels like he is growing up so fast but I am so excited to see Karli around again when she is off maternity leave.

Later on Sunday I went home to my parents. My parents had a wedding to go to this coming  Saturday so we had to go shopping for new clothes for my dad to wear and my mom needed new shoes for her dress that she was wearing. We went to Winners and I got a new lunch kit, it is a pink Nike one that has a Nike Symbol on the front of it and on the side it says “Just do It.’ Before going home that night we picked up ice caps and timbits from Tim Hortons. Then my mom and I went for a walk on the berm after supper, we just walked and talked for awhile before I had to go home.

Friday the 10th Centra Cam had a pool day in Wetaskiwin. The Wetaskiwin pool has 2 separate area, the first one has a waterslide, and a lazy river. This pool was pretty warm. My aid Kennedy and I danced in the water  it was really fun.

The other pool is a lane swimming pool, for people to practice swimming. So we got there at 11 and swam for an hour and we had lunch outside and then we went back in to the pool for another 2 hours. I went in the hot tub twice, because it had a ramp. It was my first time going into a hot tub since I hit my head in Camrose. Even though the pool in Camrose is closing for awhile, we are looking forward to a new pool  because it will be more accessible. They are planning on adding a new waterslide and lazy river, and best of all an accessible hot tub. So I will get to go in the hot tub after Special Olympics Swimming. The downside is that the Camrose Pool will be closed for a whole year.

Friday evening we had birthday bash with Rose Club. It was held outside on our driveway. Derek had music playing and we danced. There was also cake to celebrate everyone’s birthday in August.

Saturday afternoon I did my nails, I painted them pink with sparkles. This weekend I am going to Studio nails here in Camrose to get gel nails. This will be the first time I have ever gotten gel nails. I found a picture on Pinterest that is butterflies and flowers so I am going to get those done! I will keep you all posted with pictures next week!

On Tuesday evening I went to see Mama Mia, it was really funny, I went with Theresa and Craig, we all loved it. Tuesdays in Camrose movies are half price!

I am excited for this next week because tonight is Marianne’s celebration, she got a gold medal in the women’s Special Olympics Nationals in Antigonish NS! Tomorrow is Tara’s open house, she moved out of our house and into another Teams, so we get to celebrate with her. I was really sad when she moved out, she had almost been there for a whole year. Then on Sunday I am going to the new Costco in Leduc with my mom. So it will be a very busy and very fun weekend.

Big Valley Jamboree (BVJ) is every August Long Weekend, it is a country music festival held in my home town. It is held by the CRE and it brings a whole bunch of different country stars. Every evening we went to the Casino for supper, there were a group of people from the Camrose Association who went to supper together.  We had a weekend pass so we could go every night. They had us sitting on a deck which was nice for my chair. It was pretty easy to get to our seats with my chair, because of the ramp and the deck- there were no stairs. On Friday we got there at around 7 and were able to see Thomas Rhett and Paul Brandt. It was super busy!

Saturday, we saw Alabama and Dallas Smith, every day we got to the BVJ grounds around 730, before we went we just hung out at home. It was raining pretty much all day Saturday but lucky for us it only rained in between the shows that we saw, so we didn’t miss anyone! There was a pretty good looking guy working security that night, so that was fun.

Sunday, we saw Florida Georgia Line and Brett Eldredge, this was our favorite night! Florida Georgia Line was incredible and the fireworks were amazing. We had fireworks every night but on Sunday they set the stage on fire as a stunt. Darby and I danced a lot that night, down where they were playing.

Because of BVJ I didn’t go home on Sunday, so I was excited to go home on Monday. I got to go in my mom and dads pool and float around. My dad and mom had to lift me into the pool, it is a 2 person life, someone has to hold the floater and then the other person has to lift me or else it isn’t safe.

All together it was a busy weekend, but really fun!

On July 21st, I went to the Kray Family farm with Roseclub. First when we got there we had lunch and me and Nancy walked around a bit and found a car covered in chalk paint that you could write on. So Nancy had the idea to write my blog name on it and take a picture.

We went walking around the place and we did some activities. I had never done these before  when I just go in the corn maze, so this was nice. First we went on a little train, Nancy and Karen, from team 2, were able to help me so that I was able to go on it, because my chair wouldn’t have fit.

Then I go to try something really neat, we went to try a pumpkin/corn cannon, it wasn’t really a cannon it was more of a gun, and I figured out I could do it on my own.

This was my favorite part. It started to rain that day, so we didn’t stay out all day, we stayed just long enough to see the pig race. I would go again, even though I had to take my other chair because it was bumpy, but I was still able to have lots of fun.

On July 22, a Sunday,  me and my mom decided to make cookies. We have made cookies before, when I lived at home, but this time I did more of the work myself! I have always been able to help, by putting the ingredients and then using the mixer, but this time I even scooped all the cookies onto the sheet pan.

Then this past Saturday, in the evening, my mom texted me that I  could go home, because my grandpa was in town. My grandpa lives in Ontario, but he drove down here. My brothers and their girlfriends were there too. We had a family supper and hung out on the patio. It has been a year since I have seen him, he usually comes every summer.

This past week I have had a cold, a bad cold,  I had a sore throat, my nose ran, everything. It made me think how different it is when I am sick verses other people, because I cant have halls candies or cough medicine. I cough but there is nothing anyone can do to make it better.

I had to have ice cream cake instead of halls since it melts and puts me less at risk for aspirating. Aspiration is kind of like when food goes down the wrong way, because for me it goes in my lungs. For me, aspiration is caused because I have a hard time swallowing, this is popular in people with Cerebral Palsy. Aspirating can be very dangerous because it is a cause of pneumonia.

I began getting tube fed in grade 8 but I was still eating meals as well, but I really wanted just the tube.  I remember having macaroni with soup and cheese on top everyday, this was something that was easy to eat and didn’t cause me to aspirate as bad. Everyday after school I would have thickened chocolate milk, it tasted awful but we had to thicken it so it would be easier to eat and be safer for me. I remember bawling my eyes out at supper because it was frustrating trying to eat before the tube and I wanted to just use the tube. So in grade 8 I got my feeding tube, I had to go to Edmonton Stollery Children’s

Hospital, I got a long one first for a bit but then it was switched to a shorter one. Nw it is like a balloon in my stomach. When I first got my tube, I began getting abdominal migraines, and I would throw up everyday. Abdominal migraines, are not headaches, they are stomach pains that are caused by the same triggers as migraines. It took 3 years for them to figure out what was wrong and why I was having such a hard time!

Did you know that between 150 000 and 300 000 adults in Canada have long term feeding tubes? Mine has been in for 8 years. I eat every 3 hours. Up to 3 times a week I can have a treat that I eat through my mouth, my favourite is blueberry cheesecake. The reason I have the feeding tube is so that I don’t aspirate as much. A positive of the tube is that I am healthier and I am not losing weight. The negative of having a feeding tube is not being able to eat what I want and I have to be careful of what I eat and to eat slowly when I do have my treats. If I eat a treat that day I find I cough more while I am sleeping, and it can be uncomfortable and not safe for me. Having my feeding tube is the best decision I have ever made for myself, I know it sounds weird, but I am so glad I did it, because eating was so frustrating.

This week has been pretty busy! On Friday I went neon bowling with Rose Club and my staff Melissa helped me. We use a ramp to hold the ball and I am able to push it down. Melissa is able to move the ramp around so that the ball ends up where I want it too. Because it was neon bowling I wore a tie die shirt that I made with Rose club last year, it glowed under the coloured lights. 

Saturday my grade 1 teacher Ms. Cherniak and her mom came to Camrose, they live in Wetaskiwin. They brought me presents! I got lots of bath bombs, and some coconut lotion and shower gel, a new outfit and lots of earrings. I made Ms. Cherniak a pillowcase with flowers on it that I crosstitched because it was her birthday too in May.

Saturday night my room mates and I watched a movie called Kissing Booth which is on Netflix, it was very funny! I would recommend that people watch it, my room mates liked it too. I sat in a light brown chair with my red pillow and my Justin Bieber blanket. I have gotten to see Justin Bieber live in Edmonton way back in 2012 it was pretty cool.