July 19, 2007 at 12:05 AM MDT

Hi, Guys!
Just a short note tonight as I need to hit the hay. That might be a little pokie.....
Anyway, Cam is finally taking his medication, and discovered that it's better in the long run to not hurt so badly and be able to get something done! It makes it easier on those around him, also.
He is doing well in therapy. He is balancing on 2-point, or on his knees holding on to something. He tried the half-canes, and was able to move his knee slightly. Today he crawled around the gym 3 times. Two weeks ago he could only do one lap and was exhausted. Now he wheels himself home nine blocks afterwards. He went to Toastmasters right after, then crawled around home for awhile. He fell onto his floor pads (with a pillow and blanket), and I crawled into bed, where I belong right now.

I have much hope for the future. It seems like we are going in very slow motion, like a dream where you can't speed anything up and talk at 33 rpm instead of 78. Patience is the key word here.

We have been given the news that our home makeover may not happen until next year. Very frustrating for me. I don't know whether to take the time to do little improvements and enjoy them, or wait and hope things go more quickly than expected! I hate indecision, but I'll figure that out later :)

I have a Thai pork roast in the crockpot, and we will enjoy it tomorrow. It is smelling very yummy..........

Jake is loving his dancing. He thought he had rehearsal all week and was so excited, but then he found it was only on Friday. I had to buy him an ice cream cone and me a hot fudge sundae to assuage the pain. I know, it was a big sacrifice on my part, but I AM a good mother. I don't like to see my little guy suffer alone. Besides, I only ate the whipped cream and the nuts along with the top layer of ice cream and hot fudge. I gave the REST to Cameron so he could share in Jake's disappointment. I'm a good WIFE, too! Give me SOME credit here.

Meredith is practicing again for Drill team, and is getting very sore. Then the poor kid has to go to work as a waitress and be on her feet all night. OW. She says that she enjoys the pain. Hmmmmmmmmmm.....

I am not so tired lately, except when I babysit for my grandkids and my daughters (and granddaughter Crystal) and I talk outside in the warm wind for 1/2 hour. DUMB and fun at the same time, dumb because I have to get up with less sleep, and fun cuz I love my daughters (and granddaughter Crystal)!

Ok, now I am going to brush my teeth, and go to bed. Next Monday I am going to get lots of MAJOR dental work done, and I am very nervous that I will not be able to do what Cam needs daily. Keep me in your prayers, too, please!

Goodnight, and thank you for your love and concern and prayers, and especially for reading this and leaving your comments. They mean so much!
Love you all,
Sharon

July 05, 2007 at 10:49 AM MDT
Holiday stress is over and the laundry still needs to be done, dishes still need to be washed, and I STILL need a nap. It'll come.....
Our benefit concert was fun! I wish I could say that it was a rip-roaring success, but it wasn't. We made enough in ticket sales to pay for 1/2 of the rental hall, and I really started panicking. Great, more out of our meager stores. Then that still, quiet voice came saying to relax and consider it our gift to all those who helped us before. So be it! The Cluff Family band was awesome, Cherie Call was fabulous, and Clog America was unbelievable! It was a very upbeat evening. Thank you, family and friends, for coming to support us. It was much appreciated! And thanks to all those who were there in spirit. Cam sang a song between acts, and I MC'd. He also had 2 people ask him to speak after he announced that he wanted to be a public speaker.
I went to therapy yesterday and watched Cam crawl on the carpet (we have very little carpet now), and he was doing so well! He was exhausted, though. Today he has to go around the gym TWICE. That's better than a sleeping pill!
Hope everyone had a safe and sane (is ANYTHING in life sane anymore?)
Birthday party for our wonderful America. God bless her, and all of us!
Love ya,
Sharon
--------------------------------------------
July 04, 2007 at 06:52 PM MDT
I would also like to again express my appreciation to all of you who have shared your concern regarding pain and pain killers. My great concern has been regarding the opiates and the way the pain seemed to increase to more than it was before when they wore off. I've heard enough about Loretabs and the like that they really scare me. Fortunately Sharon found some herbal tabs that are supposed to be like the non-narc tabs Ginger told me about and which I am using, Tramadol or Ultraset. They work well enough for now until the herbal ones come.

In the meanwhile I keep exercising and trying to loosen the muscles up by doing what I call the "funky chicken". It works some and coupled with meditation and relaxation and massage, we are making it through the days.

Thank you again for your concern, faith and especially your prayers in our behalf. We love you, too.

Cameron & Sharon.
----------------------------------------------
July 04, 2007 at 06:40 PM MDT
July 4th, 1776 was the date certain Americans declared the colonies'
independence from British Rule. Today, 231 years later, I can declare
certain independence from my wheelchair because I can now crawl, which
thing I could not do just one month ago. I say certain independence
because I will certainly strengthen more and more from here until I am
ultimately walking everywhere. Crawling is just one of the several steps toward my ultimate independence from the wheelchair.

Just as the Declaration of Independence was followed by a series of hard fought battles to establish that independence, so I still have many battles to fight of my own. I have to develop greater core strength and learn greater coordination to achieve more speed in a four-point crawl. I have to develop the strength and balance to be able to learn to crawl on my knees in an upright, 2-point position. I need to learn to isolate and activate many other muscles in order to achieve a solid upright stance on my feet. The fight has just begun and there will be much sweat and strain, but there are several others further along this road of independence to whom I look as mentors and friends.

This last month has been good because of measurable successes, particularly learning to crawl 4 days before the end of the month. The goal was to learn to crawl by the end of June and I've been able to do that. There is nothing like achieving the steps along the way to final goal accomplishment. The next goal is in sight. I should have another success story for the next newsletter and will continue to work to that end.

Happy Independence Day. Let the battles begin!


Cameron Sevy
801-623-3691-cell

BENEFIT CONCERT!

Hi, guys.
Monday night (July 2nd) we are having a benefit concert to raise money for Cam's braces that will cost $6000+. At 6:30, the Cluffs will be playing blue grass music, then Cherie Call will sing some songs. Clog America will be dancing their way into our hearts before they go to Europe for an international competition.
It will all go down at the Big Red barn at Thanksgiving Point starting at 6:30 pm
We'd sure love to see all of you there! Tickets are $5 for over three years old, or $25 for a family.
Thanks for listening!
Sharon