BUDDY WALK 2007

WOW!! What a great day! The weather was beautiful, the campus of Furman University is wonderful, the walk was great, lots of new faces, lots of money raised, the Butterfly Release and raising awareness for Down Syndrome! It was awesome! September 30, 2007 was the day and we couldn't have asked for better weather. Somewhat breezy, but it calmed down later on in the afternoon. Lots of old friends and new babies. It was so touching to the heart to see so many people walking for people with Down Syndrome and YES that's for Spencer also. It brought tears to my eyes. He is such an awesome kid and we just get closer everyday. He amazes me even though he has limited speech how he communicates with me and others. He had so much fun yesterday dancing to the music, knocking the balloons around, hugging old buddies, walking(at least for awhile)in the walk, getting a certificate, medal & ribbon and watching the Butterflys fly. I've posted some pics so you can enjoy the Buddy Walk through his eyes. God bless all that put together this walk, it is for a great cause!

Daddy's B'day

Sept 12 was Mike's B'day and we always have cake and balloons. This year with me only being 2 weeks out of Gastric Bypass, I bought a very small cake at Bloom and let him and Daddy and Mamaw go at it! I ordered pizza online for them and went to my room as the smells are somewhat make me sick. I took a few pics of them and Spencer loves birthdays. I'm not for sure, but I think he thought it was for him again! Oh well, he enjoys it and Daddy and I both love sharing our birthdays with him.

Labor Day Daddy got him in the pool what looks like one last time before we close it down. I love the pool and would have been in it everyday but can't because of my drain tube. It was removed Wed, but I still can't get into the water until it heals, which will take 2-3 more weeks. I'm on a full liquid diet now with skim milk, sugar free pudding, cream soups with no hunks, lowfat, sugarfree yogurt and sugarfree jello. Protein is still an issue, but I'm pushing it! I start back to work on Mon 9/17, so hopefully I can get back on schedule and not feel so down in the dumps! Routine is good!

Enjoy the pics!

Post Op

Spencer is not crazy about waiting on the bus, but here he looks happy. We are usually ready way before the bus comes! He is like his Mum, when we're ready we're ready and let's go! These are a couple of him waiting the first day!

Well here I am 5 days out of gastric bypass surgery and doing really well. The worst thing is having to drink protein drinks to keep my strength up until I can start back on food, probably 3 more weeks. Actually it was harder than I thought it was going to be, I think mainly because I'm having to depend on so many other people for help. I am so used to doing things for my self and Spencer. He's been a trooper. Doesn't really understand but has been very gently with me and works well with his Mammaw and Daddy. He is having a great school year with his new teacher who is full of energy and they do lots of fun activities with academics! He comes home straved so I know they are working hard! Thank you to all of you that have send well wishes and prayers and thoughts. Without a friends like you I could not do this big change on my own. Hope to see you all at the Buddy Walk! I am so excited about it!+

TIME FLIES

Can't believe school has started again. I started last Tues and Spencer started Monday. My year has been hectic to say the least since I will be out 2 weeks for surgery beginning the 28th. Spencer has done great! New teacher and she is so mellow and a new sitter. My assistant's daughter is getting him off the bus and I pick him up there. She has 2 children and they play great together! My mom is coming to stay 2 weeks with me after surgery to help out with Spencer and the house. I'm very excited but nervous. This is life changing but a change I'm ready for. God has granted me the courage to do this and I will uphold him in this! Here are a few pics of the latest happenings in the Boyce household. Spencer amazed me with his level of thinking and problem solving. He loves the dog, Bubbles and the cat Polly. We aren't doing horseback riding due to the extreme heat but will start back after Labor Day. Spencer will also begin Carolina Miracle League beginning on Sept 6. This is so much fun and he gets lots of exercise!

Have a great day!

A New Beginning

Today I start my pre-surgery diet for my surgery scheduled on Aug 28th. I'm very excited for this and have prayed about it. For the past 7 years since losing our daughter my life has spiraled out of control with me gaining 130 lbs. I want to get back to the active lifestyle I had and be able to share it with Spencer! He is very active, which is good, and I want to be able to keep up! This surgery will give me the tool to take the weight off and help keep it off. By this time next summer we will have completed a very active summer and I'm already making plans. The beach, camping, fishing, hiking, going to the parks, water sports, playing ball, running, taking walks, biking, beginning a golf program. Sound busy, huh.....good that's what I want so we can be a active family!

Spencer is in WV this week spending one last fling with the family before beginning school on Aug 20. It will be good to get back in a routine. Unscheduled time is good, but routine time is better to keep everyone on track!

Here are a few pics from our weekend trip to WV. My Grandmother turned 95 and is very active and bossy! She's something else!

Have a great day!

A New Beginning

Today I start a pre-surgery diet. My surgery is scheduled for Aug 28th. I am very excited and ready to take my life back. 7 years ago things began spiraling out of control and I lost control. I put on approx. 130 lbs in these last years and can no longer do the active things I once did. I do want to get that back so that I may share them with Spencer. He is very active and loves being outside. I want to be able to run, laugh, play ball, swing, bike, hike, take walks, go to the playground, go to the park, fish, camp, play on the beach and all those cool things that at this point I have a hard time doing! I want to share with him fun things and most of all be there for him in the future. I have prayed about this and asked for guidance and I feel God has answered my prayers. My little boy needs a Mommie and I want to be there for him in the future!

He is in WV right now with his Mammaw spending this week giving me time to finish painting our house. He loves it there. It's in the country and cool and he loves getting outside and running around with his cousins. He gets alittle spoiled, but you know, that's ok! I will pick him up on Sat and we will begin to get in our routine for the beginning of school. Summer is gone and it's time for the routine to begin. It's been a fun summer. The beach trip was absolutly the best. Hopefully next year we can do it again and I will be able to really enjoy Spencer on the beach without restrictions!

WV Family Time

July 2007 ~ Traveled to WV to attend the Spencer Family reunion. It was a great time seeing family I haven't seen in a while. Spencer loves the mountains and being able to run and do what he wants( thanks to family). Here are some pics of the reunion, a swim party andour new pup Bubbles! Enjoy!

2006 pics

Pictures

WOW~It's been way to long

June 2007

Spencer turned 6 on the 22nd and we had a hugh pool party on the 24th. Alot of friends and family came and he enjoyed so much having them. It was fun. On June 9th, we went to Isle of Palms with the rest of the family. 4 families in the same house for a week. It went really well for all of us to be so different. We had lots of fun and lots of memories were made. My mom really enjoyed it. One of my neices couldn't make it because she was in school, but her daughter went. All of the kids enjoyed the waves and playing in the sand. We seen the Charleston Aquarium and did a Ghost Tour of Charleston. We ate dinner 1 evening at Coconut Joes and it was great.

2006 got away from me as far as posting on the blog, but I do promise to try and keep this updated. I enjoy it and hope all of you enjoy me sharing my family and especially Spencer with you. My goal is to make a impact with Down Syndrome awareness for people who don't understand about it. Hopefully through my posting about Spencer you will see he is not alot different than a typical child, just somewhat delayed in areas such as speech, gross and fine motor skills. He is the pride of my life and I do enjoy everyday I have with him.

Spencer is attending summer camp at the special school in our county and loves it. They are doing lots of fun things and it is less structured so he feels, I'm sure, like it's playtime.

Here are a few pics of the beach and birthday, plus some pics from 2006.

Enjoy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Spencer, Samantha and Razzle at the Greenville Buddy Walk.








Well, I didn't get to keep this blog updated as much as I wanted, but thought I'd do it for the holidays! School is out for 2 weeks, waited until last minute to shop, Spencer is growing beyond leaps and bounds! Mike is also off on vacation until Jan 3. On Jan 2 we'll watch the Sugar Bowl with WV making it's 1st BCS bowl! GO MOUNTAINEERS. We went to the Pitt game in Morgantown and loved it. It was cold but well worth seeing the Mounties come away with a HUGE win! Here's a few pics to show what we've been up to this past fall! Can't believe 2006 will be here in a week or so, where does time go to?!






Mike & I at WVU
vs. Pitt 11/24/05





Spencer outsided with the
yard decorations.

WHAT A START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR

Well, the school year is off and running and I mean literally running! I started back teaching full time since 2001. Boy was I in for it. It doesn't stop and the most depressing thing is I miss Spencer and not being able to be with him in the afternoons. He is doing ok, but is not real excited about school this past week. Not sure what is going on there, but if it doesn't improve, I may pull him out and put him at the Meyer Center in Greenville where he was this summer. He was so happy there. Mike is working still at Lockheed Martin and working hard. It's really been hot here for the past 2 months. Finally we are suppose to have a low humidity weekend. It will be nice. We had wanted to go home to WV but with gas prices higher than ever here, $3.19, we can't really afford it. So we'll stay here and work around the house and try and get it straightened up. Of course we will listen to WV play tomorrow on the internet, GO MOUNTAINEERS!

So that's a update, sorry no new pics, but will post some soon. Hopefully we'll get Spencer and Sobie playing in the back yard. It's a funny site. Sobie loves pulling on his clothes and Spencer gets a little upset at her. Spencer loves throwing the ball to her and watching her run after.

Take care and have a great weekend

love Denise

Another Manic Monday!

As all Mondays seem to be! Just 1 week until the routine of another school year hits! Spencer doesn't seem to mind, he loves waiting for the bus that takes him to the Meyer Center. This is his last week there and he starts back to preschool in our district. His teacher called last week and sound so nice on the phone. She's new this year and as always, I'm jittery! Talking to her has helped some of that. Now our big thing is a sitter. The one I really want is asking for alot of money, so I'm trying to get some help from the PCA program, but that is yet to see. She would be good with Spencer as she is used to preschoolers, she was a PreK teacher. She is also sweet, patient, kind and understanding of him. We pray it works out!

I'm attaching some other pics of Spencer that I had wanted to add last night, but want on a different computer. These range from birth up to present. You can see the changes and it's amazing how fast time flies!

Later I will be posting about our upcoming Buddy Walk here in Greenville and hope many of you will have the opportunity to come or at least think about us on that day! It is so much fun to see all the individuals with Down Syndrome and their families and friends.

Enjoy these pics and keep watching for updates!

Love Denise