Support Team Frankie at the Fraser Walk for Autism -- Sat April 18, 2009

Last year, Frankie was in the top 15 of the contributors to his amazing school. That Boy deserves to stay at the top! Anything you can donate helps and is much appreciated.

Frankie attends Fraser Academy, which is a truly unique and thoroughly amazing charter school in Minneapolis. Each class is made up of half typical kids and half kids with special needs. Frankie does everything the typical kids do ... he just gets extra help from teachers and paraprofessionals.

For an autistic kid, Frankie is very social. Most days, he can't ditch me fast enough when it's time for school.

Please consider making a donation -- any donation -- to this great cause.

Thanks in advance!

Frankie's Awesome Year 2008

The Frog Jump Ride

A very short video of Frankie on the Frog Jump Ride!

Summer Vacation -- Part 2

The coolest thing that Frankie learned during our vacation was how to ride his new trailer bike! We were all really nervous that Frankie wouldn't understand how to hang on, but he mastered it right from the beginning!

On our first trip, we went all the way around the block twice! Now Frankie's record is two laps around Lake Calhoun (about 6 miles total).

First day on the new bike.

Swimming is an essential part of any summer vacation. On Friday afternoon, Frankie and I were invited to swim at the Minneapolis Golf Club. It was a perfect July day -- temps in the 90s and lots of sun!

Frankie and Dad at the Minneapolis Golf Club.

On Saturday, we ventured way out west (to Delano, MN -- about 25 miles west) to visit our friend Kate and her family. They own a few farm animals, so Frankie got to meet and greet a horse, a miniature horse, a donkey and a cow.

Frankie on the farm.

A little more fun than the animals (okay, WAY more fun) was the trampoline!

How can you not have fun on a trampoline??

Frankie's Summer Vacation

Instead of our usual two day Dudes' Road Trip to Saint Louis, we opted for a stay-at home vacation this year. We definitely missed seeing our family down there -- and basking in 90+ degree heat and humidity -- we found a lot of fun close to home.

Frankie enjoys our first night of vacation (Sunday night) swimming at Lake Calhoun.

Monday was a little cold and gloomy, so we headed indoors to watch WALL-E. Frankie loved the movie - especially the first half, where just the two robots talked to each other.

After WALL-E -- Block E Theatres in downtown Minneapolis.

This was also Frankie's first movie in big kid underpants. He did a great job (with a potty break halfway through)!


One of the many things Frankie mastered on our weeklong vacation was riding his new scooter. He took to it right away and now does great turns and rides down hills!

Frankie on his scooter in front of our house.

On Wednesday, we took our act to the Como Zoo in Saint Paul. Frankie was kinda-sorta into the animals (mostly the Sea Lions) ...

Frankie watching the sea lions.

And enjoying Sparky the Sea Lion's show!

But Frankie's favorite part of that day was Como Town. He went on the Frog Jump Ride --

Frankie down to earth right before the Frog Jump Ride starts.

Admiring his skill after mastering the Giant Swing.

Much more! Continued in the next post .......

Frankie's New Simming Trick

Frankie has learned to dive from a sitting position from the side of the pool. We're not sure what the floppy fish stroke is all about, but he pulls it off well in the end! (more)

Frankie on the Ferris Wheel

Frankie and I played hookey from school and work on Presidents' Day and had a blast at the Mall of America. The highlight for Frankie was the ferris wheel.

Even though I was a little terrified at the flimsy plastic doors that prevented us from plunging ten stories to our death, Frankie obviously wasn't worried...

Great Big Massive Update

On a very cold Minnesota morning -- with the temp hovering at -14 and windchills in the -30 range -- I'm typing quickly to generate heat. Here's what Frankie has been up to since last October ....

Swim Meet

Frankie went to his PCA Noel's swim meet at Hamline University. Frankie is an amazing swimmer, so being on a swim team like Noel is definitely in his future. He had a great time watching the diving, competitive swimming -- and coed swim team members....

Hungry Dude

Frankie now weighs 50 pounds! He's a great eater. And he doesn't tolerate poor service very well ...

Listening Therapy

Frankie started Listening Therapy last fall as part of his occupational and speech therapy at the The Therapy Place. He listens to music that has been specially modulated and recorded to help his brain process information differently.

It has been amazing for Frankie! He is vocalizing more, concentrating better and able to follow instructions with more complexity.

Plus, he just looks cool ....

Classic Sick Day

On a day home from school when Frankie wasn't feeling well, we built a couch fort ...

After Christmas Fun

Frankie and I enjoyed a week of no school and no work after Christmas. We took a day to shop and ride rides at the Mall of America. Frankie loved going on the big rides -- even a roller coaster. Next stop ... Six Flags in Saint Louis this summer :)

You Know You've Lived in Minnesota a Long Time When ...

You run to the playground when the temperature rises above 40 degrees in January. One Sunday afternoon, we had a heat wave -- 45 degrees! So Frankie and I went to one of his favorite playgrounds. It was a fun of mix of seasons -- we played on the swing, then walked out onto the frozen lake.

Saturday at the Playground

Last weekend was cold and rainy in Minnesota -- except for a few hours of much-needed sunshine. Frankie took advantage of those hours by going to one of our favorite playgrounds right on Lake Calhoun.

I'm not quite sure how this iconic/blashpemous picture came to be, but it is pretty funny. It makes Frankie's priestly Halloween costume from a few years back seem more believable.

Frankie loves the tire swing at this playground. It's even more fun when there are other kids on the swing, but we had a great time with just him going around and around and around and around.

Frankie Throws!

After lots of hard work in PE at school and occupational therapy at The Therapy Place, Frankie has learned how to throw a ball over his head.

He's really proud of himself. He brings a ball over to play catch a few times a day. It has been especially fun to play catch when we swim.

Last Days of the Boot

Frankie got rid of his boot for good in September. Here's a pic of us playing in our front yard on one of the last days Frankie was stuck with the boot.

Needless to say, Frankie is thrilled not to be dragging around that big ol black boot any longer.

Mini-Vacation, Day 2

On Friday, we joined Aunt Mary Ellen and Frankie's cousin Kristy at the Minnesota State Fair. Who wouldn't love a day of high fat and sugar foods, plus lots of farm animals?

We didn't have a baseball hat for Frankie on this beautiful sunny day, but we found this awesome cowboy hat at the fair.

Frankie was a lot more interested in the animals this year. We spent a lot of time checking out bunnies, chickens, pigs and petting sheep ...

We ended our day at the fair with a fun ride on the Giant Slide ....

Like a true cowboy, Frankie kept his hat firmly in place, even on a wild ride down the slide.

Mini-Vacation, Day 1

Frankie and Dad played hookey from school and work on Thursday and Friday this week for a mini in-town vacation.

On Thursday, we went to Grand Rios, a huge indoor waterpark in Minneapolis. Frankie loved all the slides and the small pool with basketball hoops. He especially enjoyed soaking in the hot tub.

It was a rainy summer day, so there tons of other kids there. Frankie had a great time exploring all the small and large slides. We swam and slid for almost four hours!

Bad News Makes Good Kick Ball

We didn't get the answer we wanted from Frankie's orthopedist on Monday (Aug 13). Frankie's leg is healing well, but he still needs time for it to heal complete.

So...we'll be slipping on the boot when Frankie is at school. He can still have it off whilst he is at home and when we swim.

But look at how much he rocks playing kickball at school!

We go back on September 13, when we should be done with the boot for good.

First Time Swimming after Breaking His Leg

Frankie got the green light from his foot doctor to have his "boot" off when he was at home -- and to swim!

Right after that doctor's appointment, we went to Lifetime Fitness in Plymouth, MN and got ready to swim. Frankie was understandably hesitant about putting weight on his leg. But as soon as the pool opened, he was ready to go!

Whole Lotta Catching Up

I have been telling people for a while that Frankie's blog is "woefully in need of updating". So here's an attempt to catch up....

Right now, today, at this very moment, it is Sunday evening, August 12, 2007. Since I have posted since January, let me try to recap some of the major things that have been shaking.


Frankie Takes a Tractor Ride!

Uncle Larry gave Frankie a tractor ride at his estate outside Forest Lake, MN.

Frankie Goes to the Playground (again and again)

This is a shot from early spring at the playground in Linden Hills.

The Night Before ...

On a beautiful Monday night in June, Frankie strolls near the Lake Harriet bandshell.

...Frankie breaks his leg.

Sometime on June 26, 2007, Frankie broke his right leg. Luckily, he didn't have to get a full cast. He just got stuck with a "Wee Walker" boot.

So our summer plans changed a little bit. Instead of swimming 3 or 4 times a week, we found other fun things to do. We attended lots of concerts at the Lake Harriet bandshell. We made picnic dinners and sat on a blanket, taking in the scenery and the tunes.

As you can see, Frankie adapted to walking on his boot pretty quickly.

We saw RATATOUILLE and then had dinner at Hooters. Long story ....

We visited the Como Zoo in Saint Paul. Frankie's favorite part by far was watching the polar bear swim. We probably watched that polar bear swim and do flips for 30 minutes.





During this time, we kept track of the days until Frankie got his "boot" off with this calendar. We were hoping he would get rid of the boot on July 23. At that time, though, an x-ray revealed that Frankie had healed well, but that his bones still needed time to finish mending.





So we got the green light to take off his boot while he was at home and while swimming. You can see a video of his first time swimming in a separate post.


That's where we are tonight. Frankie goes back to the foot doctor tomorrow (Monday). We're hoping he'll politely hand the boot back to his foot doctor and say, "Thank you."

Frankie Sleds -- Angle 2

Frankie's Personal Care Assisstant (Aaron) took some great video of us sledding on our favorite hill over in Saint Louis Park. Frankie does a great job of telling me when he's ready to go down the hill ("Ready, Set ... Go -- he taps my hand). He's also much better about walking up the hill himself this winter.

You're a Happy Helper

... you all recognize that song from BARNEY, right? If you don't, you really don't know what you're missing.


Frankie is learning so many great things at school. He can really follow a task all the way through to completion. This pic was taken at McDonald's in Champlin on our standard Friday Night Date Night. We go swim at Lifetime, then have dinner at either McDonald's or Arby's.

I like Arby's because I can get a baked potato. Frankie prefers the fries at McDonald's -- and I really can't blame him.

The more I worry about Frankie leading an independent life, I like to go back to pictures (and memories) of simple things like this. Frankie is only 7 and has so many things to learn and so much brain development still to come.

Watching him do something as simple (but potentially useful to a future employer) as throwing away the garbage, I know that he can be trained to have some sort of job. He's already The Happiest Kid in the World. I just want him to have a great life and some sort of job or hobby that he finds really fulfilling.

Pajama Time

Paul gave Frankie these very cool fireman pajamas for Christmas. He looks so amazingly cute in them ... and somehow so grown up!

Sledding with Frankie

A day off school + 4 inches of fresh snow = the perfect afternoon for sledding!