A Truly Happy Thanksgiving

Rachel had a good Thanksgiving. She spent the day with Ryan's family at the house we are renting. They had turkey, all the food that goes with it and a fun game of Scrabble. Anna, Ryan's sister, sent a couple pictures from the day and a note that I will include at the bottom. Ryan is with Rachel this weekend, Nancy (his mom) will be with Rachel on Monday and Mom and I will be with Rachel from Tuesday - Friday. She comes home on Friday!

This is how Rachel and Ryan do it: No handicap parking, no ramps, and riding in a BIG diesal truck (Ryan's). This was Rachel's first ride in the truck since being in the hospital. I know they both loved the challenge.

Nancy, Rachel, Ryan coming into the house were Thanksgiving was celebrated. David is behind with the wheelchair, 'just in case'.

David/Nancy Baltensperger, Rachel and Ryan, G'ma Fass, Emily and Allyn Weddle

-playing scrabble.

From Anna,

"Rachel never used the wheelchair at the house. Ryan encouraged her to just walk from the truck to the chair inside the living...and did fine! Dad just had the wheelchair behind her in case she did need it or something.

In one of the pictures you'll notice us hovered around a game - Scrabble. I caught Rachel and Ryan laughing gleefully after having racked-up a bunch of points in the word they had placed on the board. (We played in pairs) Infact, Rachel and Ryan creamed the rest of us in that game! Not fair that Ryan had the smartest person on his team!!!! (Rachel provided alot of the spelling/placement ideas on their team, as pictured of her pointing with her finger in one of the pictures.)

Even though it was a "different" thanksgiving (in that we were spending it at a random apartment in Lincoln versus at home on the farm), it was a memorable and encouraging just to know that Rachel has come a long ways and is continuing still at the same speed or perhaps faster!"

Smiles,
Anna Baltensperger