During our trip to Phoenix, we took in a Diamondbacks vs. Giants ballgame. We had six tickets but only four from our family were able to go to the game. We gave two tickets to Jacob's co-worker for him and his wife to attend the game. Section 307 sure is a long way up there! ;-)
I was totally surprised at how easy it was to navigate the stadium. It was especially helpful that the stadium has escalators (alligators, as TJei would call them) to transport people up the various levels. The view was good - even thought it was the nosebleed section! The picture doesn't show the same clarity that a person has when looking down onto the field.
Grandpa took TJei for a cotton candy. It was actualy an attempt to distract her so everyone else could enjoy the game. TJei had a long, long day ... she had started off the day with a swim in Uncle John and Aunt Kelly's pool at 5:30am! Yes, early in the morning. With all the activities of the day combined with walking from the parking garage to the restaurant (Hard Rock Cafe) and then the restaurant to the stadium she was pretty tired and irritable by the time 8:00pm came around. It was so, so sweet though ... when the cotton candy was all gone, just one single bite left, that bite of cotton candy had to go to Grandpa and nobody but Grandpa. We've no idea why, but yes, that last bite was his.
In spite of all the crankiness, she is adorable.
I hope Mike (coworker) and his wife Becky enjoyed the game along with the antics of our little one!
The time has come, I must quit dissin' the Wii. No, I didn't get the game! All y'all know I am far too obsessive to get started on something like that! It was hard enough weaning myself from the original Mario Brothers arcade games. I'll stay my distance from Wii. Still, I must quit giving her a hard time about that pesky little game unit. It has been theraputic for her and has given her, at least, a bit more confidence to try other things. Other things like air rifle in the Michigan Wheelchair Sports Games last week.
Kelly endured the cold to spend time with TJei in the pool. TJei was determined to go swimming despite the frigid temperatures. If I'm able to get the video clip working, you can hear their reaction to the icy water. Kelly was just an amazing aunt to get in there and deal with that cold water with TJei. :-)
Way back in the day, my Sassy Sister Zena became fascinated with the challenge of wheelchair sports and she excelled in sports during her high school years and as a young adult. She has faced many obstacles due to the automobile accident that nearly cost her life a couple years ago along with post-polio medical conditions but she still nourishes a healthy passion for sports. Zena has been a long-time member of Toledo Raptors, a wheelchair sports team associated with the National Spinal Cord Injury Association of Northwestern Ohio which she is also actively involved with.
A competitive spirit has kept her active and the activity has helped maintain muscle mass in spite of the continuous attack being made against the muscles and organs of her body from the polio virus that is ever-present in her system.
I am really proud of Zena's efforts to stay active but even moreso, I am proud of the encouragement she gives to younger people who are facing challenges we can only imagine. She is always cheering them on and lifting them up. These are a couple of the younger participants, one from the Toledo Raptors team and another from the competing team, all friends, at a competition in Michigan. 
