We left a piece of us O'Neills at camp

Alex, one of our counselors this year, took this picture for us.  We made 2 stepping stones and brought them to camp for our final year.  This one Casey decided he wanted somewhere near the ropes course.  It makes a nice colorful addition on route to the course.

It's hard to tell what we were going for with our mosaics, but I'll tell you and then maybe you'll see it.  The O'Neills is written in what is a path that goes to a cabin.  Can you see the cabin???  And if you look really carefully, you can see the HH (Health & Happiness) on the cabin doorway, I guess it would be.  Somewhere I have a picture of the real HH tree that I will post.  Then to the left of the cabin is a campfire.  The campfire and camp songs always happen on the first night of the session, be it outside, or inside.  It's a special part of camp with songs, and light, s'mores and comaraderie and a promise of more fun to come.  Then the blue blob is Lake Vanere.  The lake is a beautiful part of camp where we have fished on and pontooned on and sailed many, many wish boats and sang camp songs.  There are many other special and important parts of camp, but the stone was only so big, haha.

The other stone we made we gave to Nurse Daureen.  She has been an important part of our camp time since the first year (or maybe second???).  Anyway, she is special and a good friend so we wanted her to have something tangible that she could have to remember us :)  She sent us pictures of it at her home which I will also have to dig up and post here.

Awards, packing and home again, jiggety jig

Waaaahhh, today is a happy/sad kind of day.  Awards are given out and everyone spends time remembering all the wonderful experiences they've had.  But we also know that we are heading home and leaving some people that we will forever hold close in our hearts--and that we hope to see again next year.

I was up early (the boys slept pretty well for me but I didn't sleep well at all) trying to be quiet while I tried to organize things and do a bit of packing.  I even skipped a shower--just to give Gene some time to sleep in.

Got the boys up.  Nurse Daureen came early and helped get Casey ready.  Got the boys up in their chairs and headed for breakfast. 

Casey got a little bored waiting but held himself together pretty well. 

Awards tend to make everyone a little teary-eyed and this year was no exception.  It's always fun to learn more about the campers and their families by the awards that they get.  The counselors are always so creative.

Casey got the "Where in the World is Casey O'Neill" award.  It's a wooden airplane painted in his colors (green and black).  He got this because he tried to find wifi wherever he went so he could do his Google maps!  Colin received the "Hummingbird" award.  It's an eagle, painted blue, with his name and Hummingbird Award painted on it.  He got this because wherever he was at camp he'd be humming/singing to whatever song was on.  He's very cute when he does this :)   Gene got a wooden boat and the "Perfect Storm" award because he was a trooper when he and Casey went out on the pontoon boat in the pouring rain and he was the only one not covered by an umbrella or the canopy and he didn't complain one bit.  I got the "Mom Swap" award because the counselors all thought they'd love to have me for a mom for one day.  I *think* it's a compliment :).  They pained a wooden  box for me, signed their names on the back, and put tracings of the boys hands on paper in the box.  I'm to add keepsakes in the box.  They presented me with awards for Nurses Julie and Lauren since they had to leave Friday.  Julie got the Nurse Fly by Night (or something like that).  I think it was supposed to be some kind of an airplane made out of cardboard??  (not sure really, lol).  Lauren "Bull in a China Shop" award because she kept dropping things but nothing every broke, ha ha.  It was a decorated cardboard circle with lace around it.  Anyway, it's always a bittersweet time during the awards.  I can't quite put it in words, and unless you've been to Double H or another special camp like ours, it's hard to describe the atmosphere and feelings that run through...

We had time to do a quick change on the boys and get them settled into their chairs again, and finish packing up the room before the camp store opened.  Colin got into the van and hung with Matty while Casey and I hit the store.  Casey was very insistent that he go shopping in there.  We picked out three tee shirts (Casey had Tye-dyed one for Gene) and that's about all we got.  They had other good stuff but I didn't want to take too much time in there.  It's a small room and it gets very crowded.  We're hoping that they start putting more stuff on line so we can shop all year long.

Then it was time to go.  Hugging and all that kind of stuff.  No actual tears but it was close for Casey. 

The ride home wasn't the most pleasant.  No one was really comfortable and things were not very organized but we made it.  Julia was there when we got home, so that was a good thing.  She had mixed the formula and got the boys' spots ready, worked on laundry, etc.  Nancy H came a bit later.  I was able to get a bunch of stuff unpacked and equipment into being washed, etc.

Gene got the dog and we back to our regular lives again.  Already looking forward to next year!!!

Camp Inspiration; Day 2

Now let me preface by saying my I will probably not get everything we did on the blog and maybe even on the wrong days but that's because I was busy soaking in every minute instead of documenting what we did as it happened.  Hey- at least I'm attempting to recreate our time at camp!

The rain was coming (maybe it had arrived already but had stopped for a bit) so ropes was on!   Colin was the first, I believe, to do the giant swing this year.  He's not totally crazy about it but puts on his brave self and goes with it.  As you can probably see, he's in a contraption that makes him sit up more than he is used to even with our padding the bottom to help him lay flatter.  One of these days they will find something that will be more comfortable for the kids that need to lay down more.  But this is do-able, and it's safe.  There's a whole team of 'outdoor extreme' people that work on this and practice and figure out every scenario.  And, of course, there are the RTs and nurses and one of the docs that are always there helping out. 

Colin got all strapped in and secured and helmeted and then he was hoisted up and up!  We all took turns pushing him and he received lots of claps and cheers.  And, he got a Golden Ticket!! 

Then it was archery time.  We met up with Casey (I'm not quite sure why he wasn't at the giant swing supporting his brother but he was off somewhere--maybe fishing??)

Archery is cool.  They have one bow set up with a trigger so that it's easy for the kids to release it (they still need help) but it gives them some feeling of control.  The boys did pretty well and they definitely get a kick out of it!

We still had time in the day to snuggle some animals.  Colin was disappointed that the guinea pigs weren't back at camp yet (they get fostered out during the non-camp time) but he loved snuggling the bunnies.  A couple of them were still a little nervous but we had some good snuggle time. 

 Casey absolutely loves his time with the bunnies.  I wish circumstances at home would let us have a bunny but with the two cats and the dog and long Vermont winters--it just won't happen.  Sorry, buddy!

 I guess I didn't get a picture of the new baby donkey and I only took one pic of one of the mini ponies.  They were loving the attention and got lots of rubs and lots of brushing.

Camp Inspiration 2104; Day 1

All in all, we had a wonderful time at camp.  Yes, the weather was rainy but it didn't get anyone's spirits down and we had breaks of clear weather so that we were able to do most of the planned outside activities. 

We pulled into camp only about 15 minutes passed our expected time!  Not bad at all.  We were greeted by a group of people including our SIX counselors, RTs, Nurses and other staff.  Always fun to pull into camp!  We were all excited to see Matty D was back and Team O'Neill as a counselor.  Matty was one of our fun/cool/awesome counselors that we had for about 4 or 5 years before he went out into the real world to nursing school.  He is now an ER nurse but had the summer free before starting a new position in the fall.  Anyway, Colin really liked him and they had a special bond that they were able to re-establish very quickly :)

We also had some brand new counselors to Camp Inspiration and brand new to Double H!  They all were awesome and each brought something special to our team.   I wonder if we were a little intimidating to the newbies but if so, they didn't let on, ha ha.  I KNOW we are the loudest family at Camp Inspiration, and medically complicated but all the campers use either bipap or are trached/vented so we may not have been the most medically complicated/fragile.  Anyway, they all were super helpful and interested in the boys and gave a 110% effort to make the boys' time at camp special.

We were in Chipmunk again, same rooms.  We took out one of four beds so that we had more room in the boys' room.  The best thing was that there's now central air in Chipmunk!  It used to be kind of hot and musty but now it was much nicer.  A business came in and volunteered and painted some and replaced some of the flooring and added the AC.

We unpacked a tiny bit and then headed out to the Winter Carnival.  Each day had a theme and today was winter.  Up by Arts & Crafts they had a dozen or so games set up.  There was music and prizes and an all around festive atmosphere.  Both boys warmed up quickly and played most, if not all, of the games.  Casey even got his face painted.

After the carnival, the boys kind of went their separate ways.  Below is a picture of Casey with his fish, but I heard that Colin caught the first TWO fish of the camp season.  

Nurse Lauren arrived, sometime during the carnival which is a good thing because the boys like to go in different directions a lot and Gene and I can have more support and not have to be so anxious about where the boys are and who are they with and are they okay.

After some more roaming around, it was time for dinner.  I can't remember what it was, but in general, the food was really good this year.  I think the boys read some books while we all chatted and ate.  Nurse Julie arrived just in time for some dinner and to join us for our Team O'Neill photo.  I only got the silly photo on my camera, but there is an alternative one, ha ha.

It's hard to see but behind Nurse Lauren is the Double H tree that actually looks like an H and there's a plaque which I assume tells the story behind the name Double H.  I don't think I've ever actually read it!  

 

Then it was camp fire time!  This is a time when everyone gathers around a camp fire and many, many, many camp songs are sung.  Each team brings a special song that they lead the group in singing.  I think we did one about a moose.  I never remember the songs until someone starts singing and then all the words (well, many of the words) and gestures come back to me.  The boys laughed and chuckled and had a good time.  At the end of the singing, a special lantern is lit from the camp fire and will burn all week long, symbolizing all the fun and comradery of camp.  Then there are S'mores!

Team O'Neill in action

 Finally it was time for bed, but not before a book is read.

Pep and Casey having their read.

Matty D and Colin-Colin is pretending he's asleep already.

Nurse Lauren and Nurse Julie shared a room--not that they are ever in the room at the same time since Lauren did days and Julie did nights.  Very thankful for Lauren and how much she does for us during the day and very thankful for Julie who did Tues, Wed and Thurs nights.  Gene and I have so much more fun and are more rested and relaxed when we have help with the boys.  Of course the counselors help with what they can and aren't afraid to jump in and help.

Anyway, after Julie came Gene and I retired to our room and hit the hay.  Ahhh!