We're Back Home Now

What a wonderful weekend we all had with Mikey. We didn't get home to North Carolina until late Monday night. Nancy had to spend the night with us because it was so late and she got up early Tuesday morning to go home to South Carolina. So now I will tell you about our fabulous weekend.

We picked up Mikey Saturday morning at his home. He was packed and rip roaring ready to go. His wife was giving her sister a baby shower later in the day and had some shopping to do. First he wanted to get a hair cut. So we took him to the place that he wanted to go to. He and Nancy went inside while I got him one of his favorite hot coffee's at the Fox Hollow Coffee Shoppe. After that, we went back to the hotel to drop off his stuff and pick up mother. Talk about a tearful family reunion. Well a mother's love and a son's love is always something and so strong.

So off we go to find this brain game my sister Nancy read about. It was by Nintendo. Mikey hasn't forgot his since of direction. He took us right to Best Buy in Delaware. We found it and the game just happened to come with the brain game also. It measures your improvements with each game you play and keeps a graph to show you how you have improved. Mike loves it!

Then he asked if we could go the Bayard House on the Chesapeake Bay to eat on the water. It was so beautiful and the food was so good. We headed back to the hotel. Mikey wanted to go swimming and get in the jacuzzi at the hotel. With me being the only real swimmer in the family I knew I was going to be the one in the pool with Mikey. I thought that when he had been going to the YMCA that he had been kicking his legs, swimming a little bit, and at least dunking his head under water. But he wasn't. He was just doing leg exercises. I had no idea that was all they did. So we put on our bathing suits and went to the pool. I had Nancy go with us just in case I needed her to help me with him. So we started in the shallow in. Seeing that he looked like a fish out of water I got the buoy that you throw to rescue someone with. I had him hold on and I would pull him through the water while he was kicking his legs. Well what we found out is that he swims just like me or a pro under water. Using his arms and legs on top of water not too good. At first he was swimming from side to side back and forth and then we started doing the length of the pool. I got so tired and he just wanted to keep going and going. Then we got in the hot tub for awhile. I think it makes you feel like a wet noodle when you get out and also leaves your pores open. So I said we had to jump back in the pool to cool off and close our pores. First I went and then yes, Mikey jumped in with the promise that I would be right there. Back to the room we went. I fell asleep but they ended staying up awhile visiting.

The next morning Mike was doing push ups on the floor. We were so proud of his improvement and just wish he felt as positive about his improvement as everyone else does. We have pictures and Nancy is going to put them on here for you. Mike had to be at the Extreme Home Makeover at Freedom Hill that afternoon so we took him home and we all headed out there. Mother, Nancy and I rode the shuttle bus to the site. I can't even tell you how many people were there but I can tell you it was so hot that I got sun burned. We yelled, "Move that bus!!" and "Move that trailer!!" because of the house and the barn. It all was very exciting. Mikey was supposed to be riding in the new indoor ring when the Luther's came in to see the new barn but with all the confusion and people that didn't happen. He did get to welcome Renee and her family home though and was interviewed again. Then we all met at Pat's Pizzeria to eat dinner. All the children, his wife, and a family friend. We had a great time. We all had a long , hot, exhausting day.

Monday we went to tell Mike good-bye. He had already played his brain game that morning and rode his adult tricycle. We asked him to ride again so we could get some pictures for ya'll. So I hope you enjoy these pictures. The trip seemed so short and we can't wait to come back to visit. Mike is continuing his therapies at the University of Delaware. Hopefully getting three visits per week soon. He will also continue his therapeutic riding at Freedom Hills where he is also helping out around the barn two to three days per week. I recommended trying to get some swimming therapy because it makes you use so many muscles, arms, and legs. We'll just have to see what happens. He is going to ask about it.

Again thank everyone for their support and prayers and please continue praying for my brother. He has come a long way but does have a long way to still go. God bless everyone.

WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
WE BELIEVE IN MIKE REA


Up, down and I promise he came back up about 5 to 8 times.


Mother and Mike, Looking at Alex Brown's Racing Site,
Abigail, my baby girl




Great Exercise!!!