CANADA

So, after being in Detroit for the first three weeks this summer, we returned home for a week and then decided that we hadn't driven enough and that we would head for Canada. No, really, we found another intensive therapy program for Marshall in Ontario that we felt like he could benefit from, so after a week at home, we headed out, AGAIN. Fortunately, family and friends lent a hand and watched Jordan this go around and she stayed back in the states while we ventured off to another country. It was a 21 hour drive from Arkansas to Picton, Ontario, where Marshall is attending Ability Camp. We crossed the border at Detroit, where we were a week prior and got the third degree from the customs lady. She asked what we were doing coming into Canada? I told her that Marshall was attending an intensive therapy program and we would be here for 5 weeks and then return to the states. She asked if we had any equipment with us. So I said yes, we had a wheelchair and a walker. Well, obviously that was the wrong thing to say. She wanted to know what KIND of walker it was. I guess I didn't know that there were terrorists using handicapped children's walkers as weapons of mass destruction. WOW!! Anyway, it was an interesting interrogation to say the very least.

So, once we crossed the border, we quickly realized that things in Canada are a little different. The speed limit said 80, so we were like wow, we can drive 80! Not so much. They do speed in kilometers, which is less than miles. They also measure their gas in litres. So when we pulled up to the gas station and saw 1.29, we thought it was for a gallon, nope! It is so weird being outside of America.

We made it to Picton about 3:00 pm on Sunday and when we turned on Brewer road, we saw this sign! The Long Dog Winery. How fitting for a family with 3 long dogs. It was such a cute sign!

Mark helped us unload all of our stuff and get settled in before we headed to town to stock up on groceries. The camp is about 15 miles from town, so there is nothing really close nearby. We spent the day figuring out what we would be doing for the next five weeks before Mark caught a taxi around 1:45am to go to a bus station in Belleville at 3am to then ride a bus to Toronto airport to catch a flight out of Toronto at 6:00am. Mark ended up arriving at the airport at 5:30, and catching the flight by the skin of his teeth. The usual travel woes for my husband. It is crazy to think that we won't see each other for 5 weeks.

Marshall started walking with a front walker while we were in Detroit and has continued using one while here. He is doing a really good job with it, it is just hard because he is having to use it totally different than his other walker. This walker will hopefully help with his shoulders and make him put his weight through his feet and not his arms.

Marshall is in class from 8-1:45 everyday and then goes into the Oxygen Chamber for an hour after class. We get in and have "dive" to approximately 15 feet. The first week was hard because we had to get used to clearing our ears, but once we did a few "dives" it got easier. Marshall would drink his juice while we went down, and he did a great job! Once we got down, he had to put his hood on so that he could breathe the 100% oxygen. I was very proud of him because sitting in a chamber for an hour and a half was hard for me.

This summer has brought amazing experiences that we will never forget and most of all, opportunities for Marshall to grow and learn how to be as independent as possible.

Niagra Falls New York

Well, we decided that in the same weekend that we went to Chicago, we would try and drive the 9 hours to Niagra Falls. As we all agreed, why not go while we were this far North? We left Saturday afternoon after we left Sears Tower and drove straight throught to Buffalo New York.

We crossed through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and into New York. This summer has definitely put the miles on our vehicle, but life is worth living and all the miles were worth it. We arrived in Buffalo around 3 am and the kids went straight to sleep, but since we had to be back in Detroit Monday morning for Therasuit, Mark decided to go ahead and drive to the Falls and take pictures at night. He said it was very loud from the Falls and there was a lot of mist/fog. So the next morning we got the kids ready and headed to Niagra Falls. It was only about 20-30 minutes from the hotel in Buffalo, which was nice. Once we got there we decided to do a tour, which lasted 4 hours. This way, we could see all of the sites and have a guide to help us. Everything that we did, was handicap accessible. We had Marshall's wheelchair and Jordan's stroller and we went on everyhting with everybody else. We first went to the lookout tower that overlooks the Falls and took pictures before we had to get on a trolly to go to the Maid of The Mist, so Marshall go to ride the wheelchair lift up onto the Trolley. Of course, everyone else in our group, waited for Marshall to get on the Trolley. I think they just wanted to see him go up the lift in his wheelchair, but they were all very nice.

When we got on the Maid of the Mist, they gave everyone blue ponchos. Mark put Marshall's around him and his wheelchair, he of course, thought this was funny. I put mine on and wrapped Jordan up in hers because of course, as soon as we get on the boat, she is ready to eat. Our kids make sure to keep our life interesting, that's for sure. So, I had to feed her during the ride, but it was fun. We all got soaked and had a great time!

After the Maid of the Mist we saw a few other attraction at the Falls before going to the Cave of the Winds. This is where you get really wet. So, again, we were given ponchos, but this time we were give cool flip flops to wear so that we wouldn't slip and fall. Marshall looked super cute in those dorky flip flops. Anyway, we went and it is only wheelchair accessible to the first level, which was fine by me and Mark climbed the stairs to get to the Falls and got soaking wet.

Chicago

We decided that since we were so close to Chicago, that we would go to Chicago for the weekend and see the Sears Tower, Navy Pier, and a few other sights. We left Friday after Marshall got out of therapy and it took us about 6 hours to get there. On our way, somewhere in Papa Michigan, we ran into bad weather and the windshield wiper decided that it was going to hang on by a thread. So, I pulled off of the interstate and couldn't find a windshield wiper, so Mark tied a knot around it with a Wal-Mart sack. We knew we brought those along for something. Meanwhile, everyone in Papa Michigan is standing outside the store saying that there is a tornado heading our way. We always find a way to add excitement to our trips, always!! Needless to say, we made it through the storm without seeing the tornado and made it to Chicago safely.
We left the hotel after dinner and headed to Navy Pier, and let me tell you, it was very windy, but beautiful. It was nice because the last time Mark and I were there it was during the winter and it is nothing like it was this time. There were so many vendors open and people walking around and so much food to eat. Since it was windy, they weren't running the farris wheel, thank goodness. I really didn't want to get on it, but I knew the kids would enjoy it and lucky for me, it was too windy! Yeah!
We had fun walking around and there was a really neat stained glass exhibit that was very interesting. This particular piece was in a very wealthy house under the staircase. Absolutely beautiful.

After we spent a couple of hours at Navy Pier, we decided that we were going to try and go to the Sears Tower. The last time Mark and I came, we went up at night and it was so pretty. So, we raced over to the Tower and parked without feeding the meter, and it may very well have not even been a parking place. I'm not used to parking in the city and it was crazy. So we hurry and unload the stroller and wheelchair and get the kids buckled up and run to the Tower as it was 8:55 and the latest you can go up is 9:00. We get in and a lady inside tells us that the Tower is closed because it is too windy! Wow! All that work for nothing. So we had to come back the next morning. Well, the next morning we had to park in the parking garage, which if you've every parked in one in a big city, they aren't condusive to a lot of space. I swear, it looked like we were going to scrape the top of the truck and get stuck. It was so crazy! I was so afraid we weren't going to fit and get stuck. Wouldn't that be great. But, we made it and made it to the tower. Jordan, of course slept the whole time, so she won't remember doing anything this vacation, because she slept through all of it.

This is a view from Sears Tower and Mark, Marshall and Becky posing while inside the Tower.

Detroit, Michigan

We spent a few days sight seeing in Detroit before Mark, Jordan and Becky went home. We went to downtown Detroit and road the tram, which Marshall loved. It was so nice because it gave us a chance to sit down and rest.

We went to the GM building, Comerica Park, Ford Field, and the River Walk. It was neat because while we were in Detroit, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup and when we went to Comerica Park the statue had a huge red wings jersey on. Of course Mark and Marshall had to get their picture taken with him.

We had a really good time walking around town. After visiting the stadiums, we went to the GM building and the River Walk. Mark and Marshall played in the water fountains they had. Marshall didn't care too much for that, but Mark had fun.

Jordan had fun during our adventures; however, she slept most of the way. It was a good thing that we brough the stroller with us, because she would just lay there and sleep. No complaints from her.
When we got off of the tram, there was a very neat statue of children doing YMCA. I just thought it was very cute.

Therasuit

Marshall spent the first three weeks of his summer vacation in Keego Harbor Michigan at an intensive therapy program called Therasuit. This intensive therapy program allowed Marshall to work on strength training and exercises to promote proper movement. It was a 16 hour drive from Arkansas to Keego Harbor and the kids did great for such a long ride! Jordan slept most of the way and Marshall watched movies. Thank goodness our kids love to ride in the car. We drove all the way through and got into Auburn Hills about 2:00 am Sunday morning. Mark and Jordan stayed the first week with us, which was great! Marshall went to therapy for 3 hours a day and worked very, very hard. He cried every morning that we would turn onto the street to go. Although he cried all the time, the hard work paid off. He gained so much strength in his legs and back, it was amazing! While Marshall was working hard, Jordan slept every morning through his therapy.

The first week we were in Detroit, we picked up Mark's mom from the Detroit airport on Tuesday. She stayed with us for a week and then flew back with Mark and Jordan to Arkansas. We spent the week going to therapy and then finding stuff to do around Detroit. We went to the Great Lakes Crossing Mall, where Marshall played in the play area on huge pieces of food. Oh yeah, food. His favorite was the banana or the watermelon, because he could slide down them and he thought that was hilarious!

We also found a cool cart at the Meyer grocery store that had a tv in it that played cartoons. We weren't sure what Marshall wold think about it, but he rode in it while we shopped and actually liked riding in it. He is such a big boy.

So, this was where we spent most of our afternoon's once Mark and Jordan went home.

Michigan was a very eye opening experience for us, in that we really learned how important it is for Marshall and Jordan to build strength in the right muscles to be able to learn to walk and do things more independently.

Marshall practicing his balance with Richard & Jordan getting comfy in the seat on a Southwest flight home from Detroit.