What I Did on Vacation (by Ben)

On deck and ready for a fabulous week!

Mom wasn't real happy with some of the neighbors.

Hand battered shrimp! A secret family recipe is a perfect match for the fresh local variety 

(I'll bet if you ask Mom will tell you).

Mom says you have to use an electric skillet to fry them right.

This is how you make a picky 13-year-old eat a BIG meal!

Add some fresh (just raked that day) steamed oysters and we now have a seafood banquet!

I think I have the prettiest sister in the world!

Our favorite grill by the sea.

Grill, Daddy, Grill!

Carolina Gumbo! Grilled fish and sausage mixed with baked okra, squash, tomatoes, & onions. Add a side of purple hull peas and Silver Queen corn.

Don't forget a big fat fresh tomato. Hungry yet?

Sneaky Me-Ma! She walked up from the beach and made me laugh!

Hey Jessie, I had wonderful time. Did you?

But I think it's time for a nap...

So I can dream about returning to the sea!

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Two Bens in a Tub

Hello everyone! It's been awhile since I've gotten to blog. I just wanted to tell everyone how much I appreciate the nice thoughts and prayers you send my way, particularly last week when I had to go to the hospital. The folks there are very kind but it is definitely my least favorite place to visit.

Usually I'm kind of grungy after a hospital stay so I get to take a bath with my best friend - my Daddy! I love the water so I cannot wait until we can get in our pool again! Of course it'll be another couple of months before it is warm enough for me to swim. In the mean time I'll settle for splashing about in my tub.

Sophie, our kitty always has to check out every thing I'm doing. Even though she's not supposed to, Sophie occasionally sleeps at night on my feet and curls up on my wheelchair when I'm not in it. If I'm playing with my toys she wants to play too!

When Jessie was younger (and much smaller) the three of us used to get into the tub together. That was a lot of fun because we used to make a big sloppy mess with bubbles and soap! Now Mom and Dad say I'm way too big to get three of us in the tub. I still laugh a bunch though when I set my sights on Jessie's shower stuff.

As you can see it doesn't take me long to earn another trip to the tub!

Things to Do
(Blogged by Ben)

Hello everyone! I'm glad you came to visit! As you already know me and Dad came home from the beach yesterday. It was so much fun that we're both missing it already. My Me-Ma called today just to tell us that she misses all of my smiles and laughter.

I was happy that Jessie and Mom got to come for a few days but I have to admit that I liked having my Me-Ma all to myself for a change. She was so full of ideas that kept me busy every day! I think she's just as creative as Dad. Plus she was very patient with me when we played games. I love her very much and can't wait until we return in March!

If you are at the beach with your Me-Ma, here are some things to do:

1. Watch the rock band Kiss performing live on the the DVD called Symphony. She sat and watched the whole concert with me! The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra even wears make-up like the band.
2. Feed the birds and squirrels leftovers - then watch them eat the buffet. We learned that crows will eat cabbage but not green beans and squirrels will eat peanuts but not the shells. Picky eaters.
   
3. Go fishing with a magnetic wand. Even though it was a wooden puzzle I caught a crab, a goldfish, a clown fish, and what old-timers call a star fish. Me-ma says the politically correct term is "sea star." I just don't see Patrick as a "sea star" unless you include him as a Spears family member.
   
4. Take a bath with Daddy. Mommy says she's glad he didn't drown me but I was never afraid. The water was only two inches deep. Really!
5. Read a book about alligators. Did you know alligators have 80 teeth? And they eat animals about the same size as me? And they're all over the island we were visiting? I guess Mom wasn't too thrilled with that idea either.
6. Have her buy you a pair of Crocs and stare at them all weekend. I didn't even know I had feet! Now she's searching for Jibbitz I can wear.
7. Turn up the oldies classic rock radio station and dance! Not only can my Me-Ma watch a Kiss concert with me, she can also boogie to The Rolling Stones!
8. Enjoy watching her cook. Dad says this was very important to add to the list. So did Mom. I had fun listening to her talk about it and tasting stuff but I suspect Dad, Mom, and Jessie enjoyed it even more. Just a hunch.

And there you have my eight simple tips in making your Me-Ma feel special in her own beach house! I guess I should invite her more often. What do you think?

Blogged by Ben

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season spent with family and loved ones all around you. As you can see, I had one of our loved ones curled up under my legs for our afternoon nap today. Layla has been my furry friend the past few weeks. Mom thinks I'm a kitten substitute. I would say that I make a pretty big kitten!

Our school holiday break begins Thursday and I'm very certain all of my teachers, therapists, and administrators are very pleased with my progress this year! Me and Nurse Lisa have missed very little school - none of those days were missed due to illness! We are more than thrilled about that.

Miss Lisa went to Disney World for Thanksgiving. She brought me and Jessie autographed photos along with a stuffed Mickey & Minnie Mouse! Mickey has been my sleeping buddy ever since.

It is good to talk with you, my friends. I just wanted to pass along how healthy and strong I've been! I'm real tickled by Dad being around the house these days. Everyone has taken notice that I'm happier and more vocal now that he's home for several months. We're planning on having a big time over the next two or three weeks and we hope you do the same.

Blogged by Ben

Hello blogging buddies! It has been some time since I last took over the computer from Mom & Dad. As you can see I've been real busy with school and my new out-patient therapy! This picture shows me working last week with Jessica and Liz. Next week I'll start having speech therapy once again after working with these fun ladies.

I work very hard when I visit them because I'm determined to walk one day! I've only had four sessions so far but they tell me that I'm already making progress. Even my Mom has noticed a difference after I've had a workout.

My nurse Lisa has been keeping a secret from y'all. Tomorrow is our Halloween party at school and she has been busy constructing a special costume just for me. It will be one of a kind so be sure to check back here tomorrow. Dad is sending his camera to school with Lisa so we'll have pictures and possibly video of our carnival.

We have some neat things to share with you over the coming few weeks. Dad is finally finishing some new paintings. In fact there are six of them only needing a little bit more work. Actually one should be ready for you to see this evening. You might consider one of the paintings for a gift during the holidays. Another big surprise is that Dad has put together a package of four notecards of our work! The back has our blog name and the link to it. We sold a bunch of them last month at the Edventure Museum visits. Again you might want to give these as gifts this Christmas or even use them as your holiday cards! Dad will tell you more details in the next couple of days.

I'll be sad to see Dad leave Thursday for another long weekend. He told me this will be the furthest he'll travel for a show this year. He's real excited though and has been painting a lot of tropical scenes which are some of my favorites. I'm getting ready to paint myself so I'll say farewell until next time! Have a great week!

Blogged by Ben
Welcome to My Birthday Party!

I'm excited you can attend along with Mom, Dad, Jessie, her best friend Bailey, cousin Chandler, Uncle Jay, MeMa, Nurse Lisa, Nurse Vicki, her husband Daniel, and their daughter Hailee.

While waiting for everyone to arrive you can enjoy the fish in the Reedy River with Bailey, Jessie, & Chandler.

I have a big hug for my MeMa. A lot of times I miss on my first try.

Mmmm....this is good!

Don't take that away, Mom! I'm not finished yet.

My best friend Hailee helps me open my presents. I like Clifford, the Big Red Dog since red is my favorite color.

I'm singing to Nurse Vicki while she holds me on the swing. Jessie and Bailey push Hailee beside me.

Time for the zoo! Jessie tells me all about the animals so I'll know what they are. Joy, the elephant is the star of The Greenville Zoo.

The lemurs are really funny. It's as if they are putting on a show just for me!

My favorite exhibit is the toucan! I think he's smiling at me.

Well I'm awfully tired. It has been a big day for me. I hope you had as much fun as I did. Come back soon particularly if you're bringing over some cupcakes!

Blogged by Ben

Hello friends! While Dad is still under the weather I thought I'd tell you about what I've been doing lately. First let me say that everyone is thrilled about my health these days! I recently went for a check up at my pulmonologist. She was very tickled at how clear my lungs sounded and the fact that my Dad even forgot to carry my suction machine with us. Next month I'll have my annual physical. I can't wait to impress my pediatrician!

As you can see from the picture I've been working hard at my painting techniques. Nurse Lisa has been helping me prepare for my visits to the children's museum later this month. One of the newer projects is pictured to the right. I am painting tiles which will become trivets! Me and Dad are going to show folks how to make these at home. They will make nice gifts for your loved ones during the holidays! Dad promised to put the details here on the blog too so that my friends Simon, Jenelle, Jake, and Ben can make gifts for their families. Plus we will take special orders for these with holiday themes that we'll make!

Since Dad doesn't have another art show until next month he has promised me that he will catch up on our paintings. We 7 flower-themed canvases that will be finished this week. There are two fish-themes and about 4 other canvases upon which Dad hasn't even started. So if you are interested in one of these paintings get in touch with Dad at benwaddell@bellsouth.net. Some of the canvases are larger (11" x 14") so they will be priced at $35 (plus $2 shipping).

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I'm just happy I have Daddy at home for a change even if he is a little under the weather. I do miss him when he's traveling.

Meet My New Companion!

This is Blaze. He is my new therapy/companion dog. My Mom has a wonderful story to share with you very soon to tell you about a real miracle that happened in Banner Elk, North Carolina over the weekend! And it is a weekend we will always remember for the rest of our lives. Come back soon to hear all about it.

Tuesdays With Daddy

Hello friends! Before you ask let me tell you that I am doing very well these days. In fact I'm really going to enjoy the next few days!

Thursday my Me-Ma is treating me and my family with a trip to our own West End Field. It is the home of our hometown Greenville Drive. They are a single A minor league club affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. In fact Dad says the stadium is a replica of historic Fenway Park in Boston including our own Green Monster in left field!

This will be our first trip to see a real live baseball game since the Greenville Braves left town a couple of years ago. Since the Atlanta Braves abandoned us we've become Red Sox fans. Boo Braves! Go Sox! Dad also promised that we would get matching red baseball hats so he and I will look alike. I promise to make him post some pictures.

On Friday we are leaving to go camping in the mountains of North Carolina! Dad has a show in Banner Elk this weekend and several of his art friends are bringing along their families as well. I'm anxious to meet some of the other kids I've been told about! If Mom's work week goes well we might even stay an extra day and go gem mining on the way home. It will be a big change in temperature for us too. I heard Dad tell Mom to pack some jackets because the daytime highs will be in the low seventies and the overnight lows in the low fifties. Sounds like good marshmallow roasting weather!

If you're wondering Dad does a pretty good job taking care of me on Tuesdays. He's pretty tired from the weekend so our day starts out slower than usual. But it's worth it to have him mostly to myself one day a week. Jessie usually goes to a friend's house to play so we read books, play ball, crash race my little cars, and sing real loud because no one else is around to be aggravated with us.

I hope everyone is doing well. I'll be back soon to let you know about the game and camping. It's about to storm here and I don't want to miss the thunder and lightening show! That always cracks me up!

Blogged by Ben
My 10 Favorite Songs!

1. "Dirty Diapers Done Dirt Cheap" to the tune of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" by AC/DC.

2. "Anyway" by Martina McBride.

3. "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen. This one is always sung when we hear an ambulance pull into the old folks home across the street.

4. "Roxanne" by The Police as sung by Dad's version of Elmo. It makes me laugh. It makes the rest of the family cry.

5. "Snake Farm" by Ray Wylie Hubbard.

6. "Passe Muir Delight" to the tune of "Afternoon Delight" by the Starland Vocal Band. Here's a better version.

7. "Trache Boogers in Paradise" to the tune of "Cheeseburgers in Paradise by Jimmy Buffett.

8. "Grungy Ben Messy Pants" to the tune of the Sponge Bob Square Pants theme.

9. "Polk Salad Annie" by Tony Joe White. Our favorite line is "the gators got your granny...chomp...chomp."

10. "Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack. And we sure do hope you dance too!

"What I Did on My Summer Vacation" by Ben Waddell

We had a family gathering at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. My Uncle Cameron took all the kids to a toy store where we made our own stuffed animals. Jessie picked out a panda bear.

Here I am thanking my Uncle Cameron.

We took family photographs. This is me, Jessie, and all of our cousins. Dad is positioning us into place. I really just wanted to play in the sand.

My Mom is checking out my Aunt Sheri's new camera.

Most evenings I sat out on the dune and enjoyed the ocean breeze.

My Uncle Blair was my partner on Game Night. We were pretty loud!

I even got to paint!

Most days me and Dad were beach bums.

I got to go swimming twice (that was after Mom left early to go back to work).

The End.

Blogged By Ben

Wow! What a cool day this has been! Jessie & Dad brought me a special surprise today. It was a huge race car like the one Dale Earnhardt, Jr. drives! How awesome is that?!

I've been so excited all day. I just can't help but stare at the big car and laugh. Miss Vickie also told me today that her husband has some new go-karts and she will take me for a ride in one real soon. Man, I love those fast cars. I think they are so very cool.

"Is this like my birthday or something?"

"Hey Jessie, check out the paint job on this hot rod!"

"Are you sure this is really mine?"

"What do you think, Vickie?"