Two Gold Two Silver

 Max started the school year off with a Orchestra Concert at the end of September. Then, in October I got to shadow him at school. It's where I spend the day with him going class to class with him. It was pretty cool to be with him and see how he interacts with other students and teachers.
 Not much interaction with other students, but he loves his teachers.

 

 

Max's Orchestra He is in the back on the left.

Max and his Math teacher...one of his favorite classes.

Max practicing in orchestra class. I loved sitting next to him and hearing him play.

Max and his Orchestra teacher.

Last picture of the day after Shadowing Max. What a blast it was to be with him.

 

Max and Special Olympics 

 Max had Special Olympics regional swim meets at the beginning of October.
 He won a gold medal for freestyle and a silver for relay and he was the last to swim in the relay so he had to bring it home.
Even with the beating sun on us, it was worth it to watch him shine.
I'm so grateful for the Special Olympics Program.
They have made it possible for Max to feel important. 

 

 Max getting his Gold Medal. What a thrill it was to see him shine.

Max's Gold Medal

Max and his friend.

 

 

In-between his Regional and State Max got sick with Strep. He fought it so he could attend the State competition and opening ceremonies for Winter Olympics.

 

The hotel we stayed at put this sign up for the athletes.

 

 

Max swimming.

 

Max got Silver medal in Freestyle.

 

Max loves baseball.

 

Max had to step on this for three minutes without stopping.

He did a wonderful job.

 

Max having fun!

 

The Gilbert Roadrunners Swim Team

 

Magnificent Max

 

Max with Ronald McDonald

 

 

 

Max ready for the parade.

Max was asked to hold the banner. He loved it.

 

The Torch.

It was breathtaking watching them light the Torch.

Fireworks!

 

Max's glow in the dark balloon.

 

Here is a picture of Aunt Delia who came with Aunt Vivian to see Max. They watched the ceremonies too. Max calls Aunt Delia, Aunt Dil.

Max was happy to see them.

 

Max swimming to finish the relay.

Go Max Go!

 

The Relay Team that won Gold.

 

Max ready to go home after a fun filled weekend with friends.

 

I'm so grateful that Max was able to be apart of this swimming event. I loved watching him interact with his friends.

Max said, "Mom I now have a Gold and Silver Medal, now I need to get a bronze, so I can have a complete set of medals."

 

 

Max's New Adventures.

Max went on a scout camp out up in Flagstaff with his scout troop and father.  They both came home tired, but happy. Max completed the Flagstaff Extreme obstacle course. 

He had to go through four large circuits within their Adult courses, each containing a mixture of approximately 10-17 different obstacles. The obstacles range from rope swings, scrambling walls, hanging nets, wobbly bridges and suspended “surprises”.

The skill level and height of each circuit is marked using a color coded system indicating the challenge based on elevation and difficulty. Check-in, safety briefing, demonstration course and all four Adult Course can be completed in approximately three hours.

GREEN = Minimum Elevation/Minimum Skill BLUE = Medium Elevation/Medium Skill RED = Advanced Elevation/Advanced Skill

BLACK = Advanced Elevation/Advanced Skill

On The Adult Course which Max did all of the courses.

They have a brief 30 minute training session, you begin on the GREEN course where you get comfortable with the equipment and the rhythm of moving through each element. After defeating the green course you will move on to the BLUE course. Suddenly childhood memories of swinging on ropes and climbing trees comes back to you. Your agility and sense of freedom return and away you go!Up further into the trees you head on the RED course. Climbing higher into the trees, try not to let your emotions get the best of you. Balance comes into play when crossing wobbly bridges and swinging surprises. You're feeling confident now, you have defeated the first three courses and can't help laughing out loud as you zip through the forest or watch your friend try to walk gracefully across a moving obstacle.Yes, you have made it through the entire course, No, wait, you are not done yet! Now it’s time for the ultimate in focus and fitness: the BLACK course. Before you set off, your senses take in the natural beauty and harmony of your surroundings. You climb up even further into the tree canopy discovering that your movements are even more fluid than before.As your journey ends at Flagstaff Extreme you leave with a smile, a sense of achievement and memories that live on.

The courses are meant to be used progressively and the cost of admission covers one loop or rotation through all four Adult courses. At any exit point along the courses, you can descend. Walking paths will take you back to the guest services and welcome center.

This information was on the web page. It will give you an idea of what Max did. He completed the whole course along with two other boys in the scout troop the other ten boys couldn't finish even the past the first two courses and ended up dropping out.

 Max was over 30 feet in the air.

 

Max right after he got home. 



Here is the black band he got from completing the courses. 

 

Karate and Special Olympics



Max keeps busy with
Karate, Swimming, Orchestra,

Scouts, and spending time with his family.





 Max enjoying practice

 Max making one last lap after two hours of swimming.

 Max showing a Karate move

Max got his Orange Belt

Its A Hundred And Five

Every morning before the bus arrives. Max has to search on my I-pad for the forecast for the day. This morning he read that it was going to be 105 or higher and cloud cover.

I love how he will ask the same questions at the breakfast table each morning. "Mom is it going to rain today?"  And each day I give him the same answer. "I don't think so."

Today while we sat on the couch and waited for the bus we looked at the next week forecast. He liked it when there was a little cloud with blue lines coming down out of them on the forecast below the temperature. When the bus arrived he jumped up and ran to his bedroom going in the opposite direction of the front door.

I call him to come and warned him the bus might leave without him. After about two minutes of calling him. He leisurely walked into the living room and had one arm in the sleeve of his thick coat and was getting ready to put it completely on.

I asked him why he felt a need to take the jacket. His response was. "Mom it might rain and I don't want to get wet." Somehow I was able to convince him to leave without his coat in hand and make it to the bus carrying only his back pack and viola.

Years ago when Max was about seven maybe a little older. He would always want to wear a thick jacket when playing outside when it was a hundred plus degrees. I had learned to pack up those winter clothes before the heat struck the valley of the Sun. Over the years I had grown more relaxed and stopped packing up those winter clothes. I guess I'm going to have to pack them up again and hope for the best.

I honestly can say there is never a dull moment with Max. I love every second, minute and hour of the day with him. He is one amazing young man.

I'm grateful for Max and I feel blessed to have him.

Max sang the National Anthem

Tears were present on July 28th as I watched my son

walk onto the Diamondback field to sing our national anthem.

The hours we spent reading over the words to the national anthem

every night had paid off.

After Max got the words down we started to sing to the tune of the song.

What a joy it was to hear him sing the national anthem by himself.

I wish they would of let the four athletes sing without the man named Steve. He drowned them out and made the meaning of the event disappointing.

After all the hard work, Max and the others put into practicing.

We had practices and it was amazing to hear these special, awesome athletes sing.

 

 Max and the other three who sang with him.
Left to right.
Conner, Rebecca, Sarah, and Max

 

 Max walking out to the field.

 

 Max taking a stroll on the Diamondback field

 

 

Max and Rebecca

 



Special Olympics Singers getting ready to sing the

National Anthem

 

 



Special Olympics Singing National Anthem at Diamondback Game

Max's Poem

 A Mother's Day Poem that Max wrote.

I AM FRIENDLY AND LOVING

I WONDER WHO I AM GOING TO SEE

I HEAR SCREAMING IN MY EAR

I SEE MYSELF IN SOMEONE ELSE'S BODY

I WANT TO PUBLISH A BOOK

I AM FRIENDLY AND LOVING

 

I PRETEND TO HAVE FULL VISION

I FEEL LIKE I AM FLOATING IN AIR

I TOUCH PEOPLE'S HEARTS

I WORRY ABOUT MAX

I CRY WHEN MY SON LEAVES

I AM FRIENDLY AND LOVING

 

I UNDERSTAND HOW MAX IS TREATED

I SAY GOODNIGHT TO MAX EVERY NIGHT

I DREAM MY SON BECOMES A CELEBRITY

I TRY TO MAKE MAX EAT FOODS HE DOESN'T LIKE

I HOPE THE BEST FOR MY CHILDREN

I AM FRIENDLY AND LOVING