This is the Schneider-Farris Family's Blog. Keep up with what we are doing by logging into this site regularly! (The reason this site is called "Tragedy and Triumph" is that when I first founded this site, my husband, Dan, had been in a horrible accident, and he recovered. His recovery was a miracle! Go back to the 2005 archives to read our story.)

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

How is Jo Ann? How are the children?



To the friend who logs checks for updates here every once in awhile:

Our "Novel or Movie" is coming to a conclusion it seems. Music should be playing in the background and there should be a scene where there are lots of hugs and smiles.

Yes, that is happening.....each day our family does cherish the fact that Daddy is alive.

However, things are not "the same."

The children have done well. They are back doing many of the activities that they did before the accident and they are back skating everyday. They are slightly behind on their homeschool goals, but will catch up.






Jo Ann's small private lesson skating clientele is gone though. To build it up again is quite difficult and Jo Ann is seeking other ways to bring some income into our home. She does hope to give a few lessons again too. Yes, we do have financial worries at this time, but hope that somehow something will turn up so Jo Ann can bring some much needed extra income into our household.

The problem is that Jo Ann can't take on much more. The children and Dan take up so much of her energy, and she has put all her efforts into the care and well-being of Dan and the children. She has trouble sleeping at night because so much is on her mind these days. Yes, Jo Ann is overwhelmed.

Jo Ann has taken on more and more responsibilities, but the children have begun to help out around the house much more than before. We have all realized that Dan's main goal is to continue to get well, so we all try to help him do that daily.



We've gone swimming, roller skating, skiing, and out to eat as a family again. Although Dan can't roller skate or ski, he can accompany us to these activities. How neat is that?



Dan takes Joel to hockey games and practice again and drives Joel to Boy Scouts. Dan is working full-time from a wheelchair and is driving! Wow! We do rejoice that Daddy is with us and "so well" and wonder now what the rest of 2006 will bring.

Will we ever find out what really happened? Probably not -- Dan doesn't remember....but....does that matter....no...our life together now, for 2006 and beyond is what needs to be focused on.

If you pray, please continue to keep the Farris Family in your prayers. Pray that Jo Ann can continue to be strong. Pray for our financial needs. Pray that our children live their lives without remembering much of the negative things that happened to their family in 2005. Pray that our children continue to grow and learn as we continue to homeschool. Pray that Dan completely recovers and walks really well again.

Things will never be the same again; we know that.

Hugs to all who read this.



Wednesday, February 22, 2006

President's Day 2006 -- Dan goes swimming

We went swimming as a family on President's Day and Dan joined us in the pool. In the pool, he doesn't have to put weight on his feet, so he was able to "mix-in" and play with the children and swim too. He did do a lap or two!

The last time we all went swimming together, was on Labor Day, 2005. This was really nice for the entire family and we can't wait to do it again.

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Months in Review -- a poem


Months

September
Daddy almost died in September

October
Daddy woke up from a coma in October and miraculously lived

November
Daddy was home from the hospital but still very sick

December
Daddy celebrated the holidays with his children and began to get better

January
Daddy "sort of walked" again

February
Daddy went back to work in a wheelchair

Months

Working full-time worked out fine

Dan is tired, but adjusted to working full-time with no problems

Things do feel like they are returning to "normal."

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Dan climbs up and down 20 steps!

Dan took Joel to Boy Scouts last night.

Boy Scouts meets on the top floor of a two story building and the only way up is up stairs.

Dan climbed up 20 stairs before the meeting and went down 20 stairs when the meeting ended.

Wow!

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Dan attends Cub Scout event with his new walker


On Saturday, February 4, Joel became a Boy Scout.

Dan and the rest of the family accompanied Joel to a special banquet and ceremony at a hotel in Colorado Springs.

Dan left his wheelchair home for the event, drove the car, and used his walker to enter and leave the banquet room.

Hopefully, more ventures with Dan walking more and more will occur.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

February 1, 2006 -- Dan returns to work part-time

Dan returned to work on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 (in a wheelchair).

All went smoothly. Dan returned to the same office and the same job.

He will work part-time (3 days a week, M-W-F, 8 am to 2:30 PM) for about 2 weeks and then return to full-time status.

Having Dan back at work is such a time of triumph and excitement for our family and shows us things will soon feel normal.

We do have a time of adjustment ahead. We have only one car at this time and physically getting Dan to work and getting the children to where they need to be, is a challenge and we anticipate some exhausting days until a 2nd vehicle can be obtained. Before Dan's accicdent, we were able to function with one car since Dan took the bus to work, but that is no longer an option.

Dan continues to have physical therapy and doctor visits that need to now be squeezed into a busy schedule.

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Jo Ann Schneider Farris has participated in skating for most of her life as a competitor, coach, and author.

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