Out on a Limb Camp!!!

Out on a Limb Camp!

Will & I just went to our first camp experience together at Out on a Limb Camp hosted by Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children & Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children. The camp is technically for kids ages 5-18 but Will & another toddler were invited for 2 days & one night. We had a blast but were wiped out!

The camp is absolutely beautiful & located near Salado, TX, in Central TX. It was so remote & just gorgeous- lots of Austin Stone, extremely hilly, & a beautiful lake.

Kids at camp do all the regular camp activities: silly games, fishing, pranks on the boys/girls' cabins, arts & crafts, swimming, etc

The only differences from "regular" camp is that this one is free for all campers & all the campers have limb differences.

Also, each camper takes a parent. I LOVED meeting all the parents & visiting. I learned a lot about dealing with my nemesis- insurance company, prosthetic options, traveling ideas for hospital visits, school issues, handling bullies, how to deal with the "mommy, why am I different" conversation, etc.

At one point, I stood in our bathroom with several moms & laughed while we shared various stories of things we've actually said to our children - you know, those things you never plan on saying to your kids until they have prosthetics- like, "I'll take your legs off if you don't obey me & come to Mommy," or "Eat like a civilized human being please, use your feet!" It was even funny how several of us seem to sometimes lose a leg or feet & actually have to spend time looking for said body part before leaving. At one point, a counselor made a joke in the theater during the talent show about the girl with one leg ("Ilean")- & we all erupted with laughter. Only in this group would the joke have been so hysterical!

It was so fun to be with people who laugh at life & enjoy life - just as it is!

I witnessed kids at dinner eating with their fork in their toes- & not spilling a single bite - because they don't have arms. I saw a boy play a trumpet with his differently formed foot since he didn't have a hand. I saw kids do arts & crafts with their feet holding the paintbrushes. I saw kids play air hockey & pool & ping pong- they have hand differences. I saw them play checkers - with hand & arm differences. I saw kids sign their name holding a marker in their neck or in their toes - & have great hand feetwriting. I saw little girls & big guys dance their hearts out on a stage during the talent show- despite having leg & feet differences. And I saw parents beaming with pride as they watched their kids.
Most of the children were adopted from Eastern Europe & Russia so it was fun to meet kids who have come from other cultures. In fact, it was incredibly humbling as so many families not only adopted older, waiting childen, but they adopted several kids with limb differences. Made me think differently about complaining about my challenges- I just have one child! (It also made me want lots of kids with limb differences!)

We often talk about how we don't take things for granted since so much was not guaranteed with Will. We don't take his smile for granted- we didn't know if he could smile. We don't take his life for granted- we didn't know if he could survive past 6 weeks old. We don't take walking or feeding himself or coloring or swimming or any other activity for granted - we weren't guaranteed any of it.

But, something else occurred to me at camp.

I was sitting in the theater watching a slide show of the week's activities & holding Will in my lap. I couldn't help but glance at so many of the parents- all smiling & sometimes crying. This is such a bonded group of people. And it occurred to me that we are the lucky ones. I often think God did not make me adequate or capable enough to be Will's mom. But I'm so glad he did anyway. I am so lucky. And I really think the other parents there would agree- we're so lucky! We were sitting in the presence of so many miracles. We see amazing things every single day. We get such incredible joy out of our kids - as C.S. Lewis says, your capacity for joy is only as great as your capacity for pain. We've known such great depths of pain that our joy is overflowing.

We're so lucky. We're so blessed.

Someone said to me just the other day that they felt sorry for us - that attending camp because our kid is different was too bad. I don't feel sorry for us at all! I'm so thankful! We had so much fun & am so thankful to have met the kids & parents. I feel sorry for people who don't get to have these opportunities- who, you know, have to wait until they are 5 or 6 for regular camp!

And, so, it occurred to me that I don't take this for granted, either.

I don't take it for granted that I could attend camp with my one year old a few days ago. That's a pretty rare thing. I'm lucky!

I don't take it for granted that my child has limb differences. I'm so thankful he does because I get to experience such a depth of life that I didn't know before. I don't think I could have said that 2 years ago. But now, I see the joy & excitement in our life. I get to experience & celebrate miracles...every single day.

I don't take Will's differences for granted.

Before I even hit the highway leaving camp, Will was out!

Will's first camp cabinmates- Nadia, Ryann, Reena, & Vanessa

(yes, all girls- since he's still a toddler & I went with him, we stayed in the girls' room)

One of my favorite parts of camp is that Will was in the majority - limb differences at camp are NORMAL! :)
And not a single person grabbed his hands or feet, made fun of him, was cruel or obnoxious, asked me annoying questions, or, frankly, even paid much attention to his hands & feet

One of the Scottish Rite prosthesists, Robert, was at camp. He is HILARIOUS & the kids just love him! They pulled various pranks on him & seem to constantly be hanging all over him. We met Robert when we first toured the hospital during my pregnancy, just after Will's diagnosis. We talked with him for quite a while in the prosthetic lab that day before realizing he also has a prosthetic leg.

Thanks, Robert, for giving of your time & energy to the kids at camp!

Our "cabin" - not bad for a camp cabin, huh?

It was Austin stone & had a great wrap around porch with rocking chairs. When Will is older, he will stay in a more "rustic" style traditional cabin.

Will & a camp counselor

Will & a friend (the other toddler there for "baby night"- age 3) enjoying the train table

Will & Vanessa - who was such a good helper! She was constantly asking me if she could carry stuff for me & was great at playing with Will

Will's prosthesist, Wanda, who is in charge of the camp.

Wanda did so much work putting camp together & we are so thankful for her- for her creativity & flexibility in designing & building Will's prosthetics to her idea to include Will & I for 24 hours at camp. One of the best parts of camp was observing kids develop relationships with their nurses & prosthesists. It's fun to get to know them outside the hospital!

All of the kids, including Will -here in his camp shirt, signed the canvas to hang in the lodge

Will LOVED swimming time & especially loved when the camp goldens swam with him! Lots of squealing could be heard!

The camp had a very cool replica of a movie theater built on one of the hills. It had a concession stand, pool tables, air hockey, & train table in the lobby.

I wish my picture wasn't so dark but this very cool, very personable kid (Y), has three limb differences- both hands & a leg/foot. In fact, he is missing his right arm. He played the National Anthem on a trumpet...using his differently formed right foot.

WOW!
I was so inspired as I watched him - I can't wait to see what kinds of cool things Will will do with his hands & feet!

Will & some camp counselors

Swimming time

Swimming with his Scottish Rite physical therapist, Brenda!

When I arrived at camp, another mom & Brenda immediately came to my car & helped me unload. Then, Brenda took Will from me & I didn't see him for an hour & a half! It was great! He had a blast making new friends & I got to go visit & spend time with other parents & listen to the guest speaker.
Brenda & Wanda also surprised us by wearing there "Where There's a WILL, There's a Way" t-shirts! So fun!!!

Swimming with the girls

At one point in the pool, we swam up to some big kids & suddenly they were all saying "hi Will." Of course, he said hi back. It was hilarious- how in the world they all knew each other I don't know. He's definitely earned his name, "Mr. Social."

Posing at the pool