ToGeTheR 4 EveR: It's Autumn Time

Kenai's football

After a lot of back and forth about whether or not he wanted to play tackle football again, Kenai settled on trying one more time. This was the first season our family has had to go longer than 8 games (his team made it to the first round of the playoffs).

Kenai learned the first week of practices (before they even have pads on) that he'd likely be a 10 play player. This meant that he'd be lucky to get more than the leagues required 10 plays. He set his own goals to achieve in the hopes of seeing personal improvements even if he'd be standing on the side lines much of the games.

Well, that helped him at least enjoy practices for a few weeks. Then games started. His teams head coach was more of a silent partner and the 2 primary assistants seemed to constantly be battling it out for dominance. If a player didn't execute a play just right (one of) the coaches would more often than not be yelling at the official, the player, and anyone else near by about how it should have been done. Kenai realized that sometimes playing on the field actually is worse than being on the bench.

As the season drug on, he became more and more distant. Less and less excited to be at practice and didn't even care about going out and playing with Kotah. By the second to last week of the regular season (3 weeks left for his team) he didn't even want to go to practice. He asked if he could miss practice and go to Kaiya's flag football games instead, and for the first time in our parenting years we were fine with him missing practices. He didn't miss all the practices for the week, just Tuesdays and Thursdays, but he still wasn't having fun.

He FINALLY opened up, or rather broke down in a very emotional moment, and admitted he HATED practices because everyone seemed to be swearing and talking inappropriately and it made him not just feel uncomfortable, but actually was making him feel physically ill (which we had noticed and though he was just coming down with something). Kenai is just a softy. He's not one to yell and scream and be "up in your face" about anything. He'll fix your chin strap and go searching for your missing mouth guard. He'll fill the water bottles and bring you a drink even though you just told him he "sucks" and should "never play ball again". We reported this behavior to the coaches, and they didn't exactly seem to care, in fact it was over heard that it got worse after because the adults were (appeared to be) trying to prove a point that they'll talk however they please.

In spite of it all, he did finish the season. Its just too bad this was his (potentially) last year. We are done with Roy Recreation Football, that is for sure. IF he plays next year he figures he'll go stand on the sidelines at the Jr. High with is coach from last year.

This was before his first game of the season. He was so sweet to indulge me.

Kaiya football (flag)

Kaiya wanted to try something new this year. It was a toss up between flag football and volleyball. She decided that she'll wait and try volleyball NEXT year with her best friend (and her mom coaching) so flag football won this year.

Her coach was so good with the kids. They all got a chance to score either a touchdown or an extra point. When Kaiya scored she was the last one on the team to get points and you'd have though they won the game with that touchdown... they did win by that touchdown, but the kids didn't even know the score, just that they'd finally gotten her a score.

They only won that ONE game, but Kaiya had so much fun. She was (almost) sad that it was over, but she was also ready for a little break... the last week of football she also had soccer and basketball.

Kaiya soccer

I am coaching Kaiya again. I take Tank with me to practices and IF the girls show up we have fun. IT IS A HARD TEAM. I have a few girls that understand, but there are a few that have no desire to understand. We won 1 game, tied another and lost the rest. I try to focus on small personal goals like dribble and FOLLOW THE BALL. Pass the ball and KEEP RUNNING. Kaiya is KILLING it at goalie. She played at least one quarter every game (it is also a way for her to "sub out" while NOT actually subbing out). Keep trying and learning baby girl, you are having fun.

Back 2 School

8th Grader Roy Jr. High

(and braces... I don't think I documented that in March)

3rd Grader

6th Grader

Wearing the same shirt he did LAST year on the first day of school... haha

Tank's growth
Kotah's ACL

Wednesday, April 3rd. Jeremiah had to boys at a NOT PRACTICE practice. It was rainy and wet. Kotah was running drills with his teammates when he collided with another player and twisted his knee. We took him to the ER where they said he'd sprained his exterior ligament in his knee and he'd be out for 6-8 weeks... that was the end of his spring lacrosse season.

He rested for the following week and had a check back with his primary care physician where it was reiterated to me (and him) that it was NOT necessary to order an MRI and there was nothing else wrong with his knee, we just needed to be patient and let it heal... "he'd be good to go in JUNE" for the summer tournaments with SAGE.

In spite of this HUGE setback for our athletic teenager, he was remaining in good spirits about life.

Now, it was the last week of May. Kotah was cleared to play again so he went to practice... and came home nearly in tears because what had happened 8 weeks earlier happened again. THIS TIME I ignored insurance "protocol" and contacted the sports medicine doctor myself and got him in the next day. He (AGAIN) said there was "No need for an MRI" he would just have to "let the injury heal on its own and he'd be good to go in about 8 weeks"... I PUSHED FOR THE MRI and guess what... Torn meniscus, torn ACL, bone bruising and a break that had already healed from the original injury.

I wanted to scream "I TOLD YOU SO" and I wanted to cry at the same time. Cry for my baby that was going to have to have surgery. Cry for the time we'd wasted because I listened to the doctors and not my gut. Cry for the rehab and the missing of sports and the trial and hardship Kotah was going to have to go through. 2 weeks later he was in the Surgical Center waiting for surgery and already talking about "next year". He was so good and so strong through this whole thing.

We lived in the TV room for about a week. He had a LOT of helpers and they (almost) never complained. There were a few nights we all (minus Jer) slept in this room just so they'd be near him.

He started therapy the following week. Very minimal. He had to take it easy and let the repaired meniscus heal first before he could start rehabbing his whole leg with the ACL. He was patient and dutiful in doing his therapy everyday... more than required even.

He also kept his sense of humor. One time I was trying to get things situated for Kotah and Tank wanted to eat... so Kotah offered to help. Tank was not amused, but the rest of us were and I was happy to see Kotah being himself and not mopey and sad.

When Kotah would be on the floor doing therapy stuff I'd lay Tank down there and the two of them would bust it out. Kotah on his knee mobility and Tank on his tummy time.

Here he is the fist week he did sled pushes and that was like a month ago. He's been "graduated" from physical therapy into the Return to Sport Therapy. He goes 2 a week and then tries to go to VASA 2 a week with Jer. He is determined to get back to his previous self, or even surpass that boy when he comes back in the spring for Lacrosse.

His Dr. and therapist keep saying if he wanted to do basketball in January he could, but he's really trying to be patient and not succumb to peer pressure to play before he is ready. He has grown and matured so much through all of this. He's learned that if you want to do something you have to put in the effort. (90/10 rule) You have to do 90% of the work on your own and then the therapist can help you with the other 10%. If you aren't doing your work you will NEVER get to where you want to be.