A Detour and a Broken Ear

In a previous blog I shared the Ferris Family was dealing with frustrations.   The last few months have been filled with a steady flow of things breaking or needing repair.  Nothing really bad, but the steady stream has caused us to become weary.  My “favorite” cluster of such occurrences happened during the second lengthy trip to Illinois.  While I couldn’t even begin to smile about it then, I can chuckle about it now.  It all started with a detour and ended with a broken ear.

We were dealing with the van air conditioner not working correctly at this point so we left Newburgh early one Saturday morning to try and beat the 100+ degree heat forcasted for that day.  Things were going well and we made good time.  In Mount Vernon, Illinois there is a stretch of construction and as I was going through it Brad called to check on us.  At this moment I stopped watching the green signs and started watching the GPS.  Long story short….we went 40 miles round trip off course and I arrived an hour later than originally planned. 

We settled into a family’s home that night who had invited us to stay there while they were on vacation.  In the morning we are up getting ready for church and Neil informs me he had a bloody nose in the middle of the night and now we had sheets to deal with.  On our way out the door to load up for breakfast before church Madeline gets caught in this purple princess canopy and hook and all come flying out of the ceiling.  We head to Mello Cream Donuts, the Donut Bank of Springfield.  I have the children get seated and order our breakfast only to hear a huge commotion behind me.  I turn to see Neil holding the centerpiece of the table high over his head and the other three lunging quite loudly trying to get it away from him.  I had to leave the counter to hiss at them through clenched teeth to put it down, sit down, and be quiet.  It was at this point I could have sold them all to the gypsies.

After breakfast we make one last bathroom break before going to Rochester Christian for worship.  The zipper on Sarah’s only church outfit broke.  Sarah is our tomboy and so imagine with me if you will this little one doing her best to hold her skirt together so her pink panties didn’t flash the world.  We leave there and go to Wal-mart where again she had to hold it together so we could buy her a new church outfit.  Finally with a dress in hand we make it to RCC’s bathroom and got her decent.   With everyone in their places, I finally made it to a chair in the Great Room for worship and still had three minutes on the countdown.  For those of you who know me well, please don’t pass out at this point because, yes, I was on time even after all that!!!   I was on time and I was exhausted.  I don’t remember much about the service I hate to say but we made it.

The last few days of our trip, after dealing with a broken CPAP machine, Samuel comes to me and says, “Mom, my ear is broken!”  WHAT?!  He was having an allergic reaction to some mosquito bites he had gotten the night before.  They were blistering and the bite on his ear caused it to swell to twice its normal size.  So off we went to the Dr. and after some medications, all is healed and the ear is its normal size.

Flashback with me now 12 ½ years ago to when Brad and I moved to Newburgh in October of 1999.  I remember those first few weeks as being just as frustrating.  Our first weekend at FCCN, I ran a 102 fever.  Our rental house in Chandler had mice sneaking in where the dryer vent was.  Chandlers 1-3 are now in that great cheese wheel in the sky but they did create some good memories.  Neil fell off our bed and hit his head on the handle of my dresser removing a small chunk of scalp.  Brad crunched the fender of the Lumina.  Then the utility man came to shut off the power at the rental house.  So there I was in a strange place with a two year old and no power.  I remember calling the church office for Brad but he wasn’t there.  Donna Rhoades, the office administrator at that time, answered the phone.  I can’t remember the exact wording but I expressed to her that I wish I still had boxes because I wanted to pack up and go home to Olathe.   Later that day, there was a knock at the door and there stood Cindy Claypool with this little pitiful plant with a sad little ribbon tied around it.  Honestly, it was the most beautiful sight I’d seen and a friendship was born that day and with it came hope and a change in my attitude. 

I knew this journey wouldn’t be easy, but I can tell you truthfully, I didn’t know it would be so difficult.  The bottom line though hasn’t changed.  The Ferris family had two choices many months ago.  Are we going to be comfortable or are we going to be obedient to Christ?  We decided we were going to follow Christ and that hasn’t changed today.  So I have to stay focused on that.  I remind myself how grateful I should be that my husband has a job when so many others don’t. I remind myself how grateful I should be that I and my family have their health as a good friend of ours is battling for her life in a second bone marrow transplant for leukemia.  I remind myself how grateful I should be because I am God’s child and he loves me and even though I can’t see Him, He is working right now for our good to give us a hope and a future.

On the way home from that crazy Springfield trip, Neil shared a new CD he purchased from his Big Stuff trip with the RCC youth group to Panama City, Florida.  It was my "knock at the door" experience from 12 1/2 years prior.  One of the songs was full of praise and adoration for God and who He is.  It talked about how His grace is always enough.  It drove Neil crazy, but I bet I replayed that song three times.  I claimed it that day and when I start to feel frustration and pressure inside, I listen to it.  It is a tool God has given me to help me refocus on who He is and on His power and it gives me hope and helps to change my attitude.  It reminds me that even with detours and broken ears, He is in control and that is enough. 

Here is a link to the song, No One Higher from the album No One Higher by North Point InsideOut.  I you enjoy it as much as I have and that it helps you to refocus this day!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFCBhTe-WYg

Bike Camp Graduation Day

WOW!!!  What a week here at the Ferris household!  Madeline graduated this afternoon from the Lose the Training Wheel Bike Camp hosted by the Evansville Easter Seals.  What an incredible, amazing, wonderful, fantastic program!!!  I highly recommend this camp to anyone.  We are amazed at what has happened.   Today marks a big milestone for Madeline.

We are so very proud of Maddie Grace!  Now she has a skill she can use throughout her life.  I’m not sure if she will be able to drive a car someday, but she can ride her bike and that gives her a mode of transportation and independence.  The confidence she has gained is priceless.  This is a very big accomplishment for her.

Day #4, Thursday:  Learning to stop with coaster brakes.

Day #4, Thursday:  Learning to self start.

Graduation Day:  Riding solo!

1:30 p.m. Session Graduating Class with their bike spotters!

This afternoon she received a certificate and there was a cookie and juice reception afterwards for all campers and their families.  It was really a great way to celebrate.  As promised, we took her to Sonic afterwards for a LARGE (32 oz.) Batter, Batter Blast.   She knew she couldn't eat it all, but there was just something about being able to get a Large....she earned it!  The rest is in the freezer for later!  To top it all off, Brad and Madeline's OT, Ginger Whitler, were there to watch, cheer, and celebrate with us!  It was a great, great day!   

LTTW Camp Coordinators

Madeline and Ms. Ginger

Madeline and her Bike Camp Spotter, Ariel

Madeline has inspired me to want to ride a bike again.  I think maybe I need to go bike shopping so we can ride together and have some mother-daughter bonding!  We've heard there is a great walking/bike path connecting Rochester, Illinois to Springfield, Illinois.  I have hopes of next spring taking a family bike ride.  That of course depends upon the house selling.  Until then though, we will be practicing and focus on Madeline's accomplishment!  Celebrating today! 

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words!!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Today I'll let the pictures do the talking.  Oh so proud of Madeline!  The next two days they will begin to work with her on her own bike!  Brad will be her spotter.  Until then enjoy!  Celebrating a big victory in the Ferris house tonight!

Here we go!!  First attempt this week on a two wheel bike.

Getting a feel for it inside.

After about 5 minutes inside they taught her how to stop and then took her outside!

She never stalled or looked back. 

I think I see a smile, but I was a little teary at this point.

She did it!

Bike Camp Days 1 and 2

Madeline is doing awesome at “Lose the Training Wheels” Bike Camp hosted by the Evansville Easter Seals!!  Lose the Training Wheels is an organization that had its start with help from University of Illinois professor, Dr. Richard E. Klein.  Go Illini!! The Lose The Training Wheels™ bike program has grown from one camp and one fleet of adapted bike equipment in 1999, to over 80 camps across the U.S. and Canada and ten fleets of adapted bike equipment. You can learn more about this wonderful program at www.losethetrainingwheels.org.

We are so proud of Madeline and all she has accomplished in these first two days.  I wasn’t sure what to expect to be honest, except that they worked with children like her all over the nation. Monday afternoon, in the first ten minutes, they were able to get her to do far more than Brad and I had been able to get her to do for the last two years!

Day One:  Hopped right on and took off!

Typically, she would straddle the bike a friend had given her in the back yard and spend most of the time telling me how she couldn’t ride a bike and would proceed to give me all kinds of excuses as to why she couldn’t ride a bike.  We were in the back yard on the grass so she wouldn’t be afraid of falling on the sidewalk.  I would reassure her she could do it and she would argue that she couldn’t.  I held her seat and promised not to let go.  We broke it down step by step.   Nothing seemed to work.  Eventually my encouragement turned to frustration and then she would get frustrated.  As you can imagine when things had escalated to this point, no bike riding occurred.  After a few days of this, we would conclude that it was time to put the bike away until next year only to have a rerun of the previous attempt occur.

Monday afternoon she received her new t-shirt and bike helmet, hopped ON the bike with her assigned spotter beside her, and she took off.  My lower jaw hit the floor.  She didn’t once straddle the bike and argue with anyone.  Just hopped on like she’d always done this and took off!!!!  Granted the cylinder was on the back giving her complete balance, but for 75 minutes Monday Maddie rode a bike and did lap after lap in the Evansville Armory Gymnasium.  Blew me away!  It took her the first 10 minutes to figure out how to steer the bike and as time went on, her spotter did less and less of that for her.  She had a smile on her face and talked the arm and leg off of Ariel, her spotter for the week.  In fact, I texted Brad that if she pedaled as much as she was talking, there would have been fire and smoke coming off the back cylinder!

Instead of a back wheel, there is a cylinder.  When they first start they are fatter.  As they progress the ends of the cylinder will become more and more tapered. 

Before the 75 minute session was over, they had had her come in for a “pit stop” on three separate occasions.  While she was getting a drink they flipped the bike over and switched the cylinder to a different one that had the outer ends more tapered.  This causes the rider to gradually learn to balance more and more on their own.  They make this switch while the campers are out of the gym because they don’t want them to feel like it’s going to be getting too difficult and lose confidence.  Before she comes back in from her drink, the bike is back in her station just like she left it.  Very sneaky!  LOVE IT!

Today she was able to ride a tandem bike.  The Lose the Training Wheels Bike Instructor lets everyone have at least one ride during the course of the week.  This allows them to feel what it is like to ride a bike at normal speed and he would even get close to other riders doing their laps and at one point it must have been too close for Madeline’s comfort because I heard her say, “OH MY!” all the way up in the balcony where the parents sit.

She had progressed enough today that they laid out discs for her to ride over in each of the four corners and she had to “hit” them or ride over them.  Then they had some cones on one of the lengths of the gym and she was able to weave in and out of them.  Today they changed her cylinder twice that I know of.  The last change caused her to be a bit wobbly, but she didn’t quit, argue, or complain.  However, she did talk a little less! J    

Tomorrow she may get to go to the outside course.  It was my understanding that when they go outside, they will be riding a wheeled bike.  I have mixed feelings about this because I’m not sure what to expect.  Part of me is afraid the bike-straddling, argumentative, blond monster with blue fire flaming from her eyes, and horns protruding from the bike helmet will come out.  Trust me when I say that when that occurs, it’s a down right ugly thing.  The other part of me thinks maybe she’s gained enough confidence and has learned the feel of it these past two days that she’ll be able to ride with some encouragement and a steady hand from her spotter.  Maybe the precious little rosebud of mine with the blond hair and blue eyes will shine oh so bright!  Time will tell!  It’s on the blacktop behind the armory so it’s going to be a hot one for sure.  I’ve got Gatorade chillin’ and am taking sunscreen and an umbrella for shade.  

OH…and I’ve saved the best for last!  Brad will be coming home tomorrow evening so he will be here the last two days of her camp and will be her spotter.  They asked us to have a family spotter the last two days of camp at the parent meeting Sunday morning and so he’s not only going to be able to be here to see her in person, but to also participate with her.  I can’t wait!  I told him today he’d better get ready because her last two laps today in the gym were her best yet.  She had her spotter running beside her! I bought him some Gatorade, too!  I’ll keep you posted!

My Rosebud

Roses from Brad

There is nothing like a sweet smelling bouquet of roses!  My favorites are the rose buds.  They are so beautiful with the potential of a beautiful flower packed inside. Incredibly fragile and needing to be handled with care, they change the looks of a room.  Roses are known to be symbols of affection that can be classified by their color:  red = passion, white = purity, yellow = friendship, and pink = gratitude.  Receiving roses makes you feel significant.  There is something special about roses.  I love getting roses!

God gave our family a special rose in our daughter Madeline.  She is my little rosebud, so beautiful and fragile.  She is a young lady waiting to bloom into a woman.  Her very presence in the room changes the look of it.  She is a joy.  I have to admit to you though, that at times I have to remind myself she is a joy.  You see, Madeline has Sensory Processing Disorder, SPD, and this sweet little rosebud of mine is also a challenge.  She doesn’t mean to be, but she is nonetheless.  SPD is a daily challenge to her life and the life of our family.  It affects the dynamics of what we do and the atmosphere in which we live and even some of the places we go and how we get there.  That still doesn’t change that she is a gift from God or my little rosebud. 

For those of you who don’t know what SPD is, the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation’s website explains that:

 “Sensory processing (sometimes called "sensory integration" or SI) is a term that refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. Whether you are biting into a hamburger, riding a bicycle, or reading a book, your successful completion of the activity requires processing sensation or "sensory integration."

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD, formerly known as "sensory integration dysfunction") is a condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses. Pioneering occupational therapist and neuroscientist A. Jean Ayres, PhD, likened SPD to a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks. Motor clumsiness, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, school failure, and other impacts may result if the disorder is not treated effectively. “

Madeline Grace Ferris, our little rosebud!

Madeline was diagnosed April of 2009 with SPD.  Since that time she has been under the care of a local pediatric Occupational Therapist, Ginger Whitler, of Evansville’s Center for Pediatric Therapy.  In the last three years we have seen a great change in our daughter and watched her for the first time do things she once could not.  We are forever grateful to God for leading us to Ms. Ginger.  He has used Ginger’s training and skills to do a great work in our daughter’s life.  I can still remember the first time Madeline could skip at age 8.  A small milestone for young children was something our Maddie just couldn’t do and not for a lack of trying.  It was a day of hugs and tears of joy as she mastered that simple activity.  So goes the story even now was we continually work to equip Madeline to overcome this disability and adapt to be able to function in today’s world.

Sensory children seem quirky, are made fun of, and labeled as weird or odd children.  Many people don’t understand why they do the things they do.  Honestly, as a parent of a SPD child, I don’t always understand either.  I am learning to ask her though and usually there is a simple reason given.  For example, last year at summer camp Madeline kept cutting in the line for the shower and it upset the other girls.  They were upset she was cutting, and they had every right to be.  They thought she was being rude.  She was.  When I asked Madeline about why she did it, she said her swim suit was wet and it was very uncomfortable.  It felt bad.  While others don’t think a thing about how their wet suit felt, it was driving her crazy and she wanted it off….NOW!  Bottom line, she needed to wait in line or get dried off and put her robe on and wait in line and we addressed that, however she wasn’t trying to be rude.  She just wanted to get the suit off and feel comfortable.

Sounds have always been a big thing for Madeline.  She can hear a pencil writing over other noises in a room.  It drives her crazy.  She hates the way erasers sound and so we daily battle over erasing her mistakes during school instead of writing over them.  She can’t stand the way jeans feel on her skin so we don’t make her wear them; she wears elastic waist banded or loose fitting clothing.  Textures of food are a battle we have also fought.  She didn’t like meat because it was too chewy and didn’t like chewing gum because it felt wet.  I could go on and on. 

I share all this to say that sensory kids don’t mean to be rude or to act the way they do.  Their bodies and minds work differently than others.  They experience life differently than we do. God has made them incredibly beautiful and fragile just like the multi-colored roses.  When hurt, they can wilt and shrivel up.


Sometimes sensory children are excluded from others or group activities by their own choice as they try to protect themselves from getting hurt; it’s easier to quit or keep to themselves than to be made fun of or rejected.  They may have SPD but they can hear rude comments and feel rejection.  We fight this a lot with Madeline as she can also be a turtle and retreat in her shell.  Sometimes Sensory kids are excluded by others and that brings with it hurt feelings and feelings of inadequacy and rejection.  While other non SPD children deal with the same fears and feelings, the SPD child experiences these feelings in a more intense way and may not be able to move beyond those experiences.  They can have difficulty in making friends or keeping friendships. 

Madeline and her new bike!
Thanks Terry for helping us get it sized!

One of the challenges Madeline has in her life because of her SPD is that she has not been able to master riding a bike.  Next week my little rosebud is going to learn to ride a bike!  She will attend the Evansville’s Easter Seals Lose the Training Wheels Bike Camp.  She will get 75 minutes of one on one time five days next week with a special series of graduated bikes with rollers and then wheels.  Hopefully by the end of the week, she’ll be riding a two wheel bike solo!  I also know however, that may not happen next week and I’m okay with that.  My goal for Madeline next week is simply to become comfortable on a bike and to gain confidence in trying to ride without giving up.    

There is something special about roses.  I love getting roses!  I love Madeline Grace!   I’ll keep you all posted!

We're off!!!

Rochester Christian Church

A warm welcome

The Ferris Family is on a new adventure.  We're starting out on a journey together to continue to build up God's Kingdom in Rochester, Illinois.  God is leading us to do new things in a new place with new people.  It's a time of new beginnings.  This is an exciting, yet scary journey all at the same time.  New stores, new doctors, new parks, new friends, new homeschool co-ops and networking.  Basically, new everything surrounds us. 

This journey has started out just like a new pair of shoes you can't wait to put on and wear.  It has been exciting and we can't wait to see what God is going to do with us.  However, new shoes take time to break in and sometimes cause blisters; they can be uncomfortable and cause you to desire those old comfortable sneakers in the closet!   That is where we are in this beginning part of our journey.  We are battling blisters! 

Blister #1
Brad has already left Newburgh for Illinois and is currently living with his parents in their spare room.  We are so grateful for their support and generosity in allowing him to stay there.  The rest of us however, are not able to join him until the house in Newburgh sells.  The house has been on the market for three months now.  We've had several showings but no offers.  In the meantime four other houses in our neighborhood comparable to ours have come on the market and sold within a month's time.  Please join us in daily praying for the sale of our home in Newburgh..

Blister #2
While we have made two long trips to Illinois to spend time with Brad this summer, once the school year begins we will not be able to take such long trips.  The periods of separation will be much longer. Please pray that our family can be reunited soon and we can continue the work God has placed before us there under one roof again.  I'm ready to go house shopping...not house selling, but until that time we pray that there would be peace and unity for our family until we are all together again!  This blister also needs lots of prayer please!!

Blister #3
Frustrations.  I can't go into all the details, but Satan has been very busy in our lives trying to discourage us and cause us to be distracted from the work set before us.  You see, God has also led us to do these new things in this new place with these new people with a fresh start and a new attitude.  It's hard to maintain this new attitude when you are feeling discouraged and frustrated.  I have to catch myself at times since my attitude transfers to our four children.  Please pray for me to remain a godly influence on our children and display Christ's attitude to give them peace and comfort during this time of transition.  It is from this blister that God is teaching me new things and I have some stories to share at a later time.  Some I can finally smile about now at least!  Some I know you will find funny as well.

I know these blisters will heal in God's timing, not mine.  Our feet will heal and toughen up for the rest of this journey.  Until then,  we'll continue on the path God is leading us to follow and trust Him to guide our steps.  Please continue to pray along with us and for us!  We're off!!!