SB Conference...

Andy and I had the opportunity to go to this years National spina bifida conference. We went with our friends Nate and Emily and although we had to leave our boys behind, we managed to have a great time! While there I was able to meet the first mom that I spoke to after finding out about Grey's SB. What a pleasure it was to meet her face to face. Seeing her son Nate run around was even more amazing than I thought it would be. I was also able to meet another mom who has answered many of my questions over the past year and a half, and a sweet baby girl and her parents who makes me smile every time I see her sweet face. Putting real life faces to these names that I know so well, was such a great feeling. Having a child with SB is an automatic entry into this club that I'm not always thrilled to be in. However, this club is full of amazing families and kids who I cheer for everyday. Seeing Jet stand up, Annabelle moving right along, Katie do a jog-a-thon, Nellie take steps with her walker, Alex scoot forward, Brenden with his new walker, Roman working out on the lite gait, seriously the list could go on and on...these kids are such an inspiration, and their families lift me up when I need it. Their moms (sorry dads, but the moms stick together) can answer my questions and calm my fears, but above all...THEY GET IT!! They cheer right along with me when Grey reaches a milsestone that at one point felt unreachable. But...back to the conference...

This conference was full of families like ours! I have never seen so many wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, AFOs in my life! It was GREAT!! The conference lasted Monday-Wednesday and was FULL of valuable information. I won't lie, there were times where we were on SB overload but for the most part, we learned so much and had a great time! I'm really looking forward to next year...ANAHEIM, CA...we're hoping that we can make it...WITH Grey this time!

I hope that you are all enjoying this wonderful holiday weekend!!

Love to all,
Leigh, Andy, and the G-man himself

Couldn't leave you without a picture!
Here is Grey working on standing! He is now able to stand leaning onto something for about 10 seconds!! WOO HOO!!

Downhill Ride

I just thought we'd share a short little video of Grey doing some more "off-roadin," this time down the hill in our backyard.

AHHHH Summer, love it.

love,

Andy, Leigh, Grey

Grey's story

I've been meaning to write out Greyson's story and I finally have! Here it is...
Grey's story


Love to all!!
-Leigh

Six month check up??

*disclaimer---for those that don't know, I (Leigh) am a dental hygienist...

Nope, Grey isn't ready for his first visit just yet...but we are getting him ready! :) When Grey first started popping in those teeth, I of course started brushing them. And by brushing, I mean holding him down while he screams and trying to cram a toothbrush in. Yeah, he wasn't a fan. Recently though, we have come to an understanding that brushing isn't all that bad. We take turns...first I start...

Then he gets a turn...
Yum...he wouldn't be doing a good job if he didn't get a big taste! :)

My turn again...(he occasionally pulls the "I'm not going to open" bit...)
And then he is back at it...making sure to get every nook and crany!


I sure love his crooked, crazy teeth!!

Cowboys and ice cream...

There really isn't too much to say about this...
Grey had his first ice cream cone over Memorial Day weekend...
He LOVED it!! (We knew he would!)


We were lucky and he wanted to share. :)
He also faced his fears about this guy
This was one of his Christmas gifts from grandma and grandpa Neal...but he just couldn't bring himself to ride it...until today...
Then we put his cowboy hat on and he REALLY got into it!

We finally decided to take it outside and he stayed on it for at least 20 minutes...just sitting there enjoying his ride...He was rockin' all over the place!
Wooaaahhh Horsey...
It was getting HOT and it was time to take a dip...I'm not really sure what kind of contraption Andy made with all of those noodles, but Grey seemed to like it!

It was quite the day for our little guy!! Ice cream, horses, and crazy noodles in the pool! Just a typical day for out Grey!!


In other Grey related news, he had his first UTI this past weekend. UGH!! NO FUN!! He is feeling much better now, but the poor baby was pretty sick over the weekend! He was back to himself by Monday and we are praying that we don't have to face another one of these for a LONG time!!!

Love to you all!!

Grey is an animal

Well yesterday uncle jim and aunty em treated us to a trip to the zoo. Thanks again for bidding on those tickets at the fundraiser auction...worked out pretty good for everyone involved :) Anyway, it was a beautiful day to get out and check out the animals with the family. Turns out Grey was not exactly as pumped as uncle jim was to go to the zoo. Here he is on the way there...not too enthused.
But then when we got there, he was pretty happy!
That happiness soon faded when i pulled an "aunt pat" and wanted to get a picture of the three of us in front of the famous John Ball Statue. Just like my aunt Pat would do to us cousins every time we'd go anywhere!!! (love you for it though aunt Pat :) Here's the family, and what appears to be John Ball kissing my wifes head. hands off buddy

Grey was pretty happy as he entered the zoo stopping off and checking out the alligators, he was making his funny little noises he makes when he sees dogs and was quite content...untill we entered the aquarium...


this is when things went south...


we thought he might like the petting zoo...nope, hated it.

but wait... he kinda liked it.

We then made our way thru the zoo, and it was pretty cool. in fact heres a bear that was acting pretty cool!


So out of all the incredibly great animals that were there to view, Grey seemed the most excited with the drinking fountain...oh well. :)

oh but wait... now it was time to go and look how happy he is!!! rascal!


thanks again aunty em and uncle jimmy!

great times :)

love Andy, Leigh, & Grey

A Huge Success!

Last night was our big fundraiser for the West Michigan Spina Bifida Association...It was a big success!! Emily Bush and I decided a few months ago that we wanted to do something more to help raise money and awareness so we started brainstorming. :) We came up with this idea of partnering with a restaurant and holding a silent auction.

Vitale's in Ada was kind enough to donate 10% of the nights revenue to the WMSBA. Thanks again, Vitales!!
We were a bit nervous about our silent auction, nervous that we wouldn't get enough items and nervous that no one would bid on them! We were wrong!!
Some of the top sellers were these original pieces done by non other then Greyson Gibbs and Carson Bush! Although we did realize that they are spending too much time together...their paintings look oddly similar! :)
Here is Grey with his Grandma Neal, the big winner of his artwork! (mom, it better be hanging up next time we are there!!) :)I can't say thank you enough to all of the people that were able to make it out, and to all of those that were thinking of us. I was overwhelmed at the end of the night when I thought about how many people came to show their love and support to our two sweet boys. Greyson and Carson are so blessed to have so many people who love them and care for them. When we found out that I was pregnant, I thought that my life would be full of t-ball games and soccer...instead it is full of therapy, appointments, and now fundraising!...I woudn't have it any other way. :) Last night was a big moment for us...showing people that spina bifida isn't something to be afraid of or look down upon. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!
Andy is taking the picture or he would be in it too. :)