Our Baby Boyer: 14 Years, 11 Months...Concussion scare!

We started the month with our first volleyball tournament. We went to Springfield for the 417 tournament and played against 16-year-olds. whole family was going to go but Emily got sick so she and dad stayed behind. I was really hoping everyone could come.

I spent a lot of time with Aaron this month. I skipped the Church Christmas dinner the next day and spent time at Aaron's. I also went to Aaron's basketball game at Rock Bridge, hung out with him on first day of break.

The day before Christmas break during practice, Kaya and I were diving for a ball and she ended up kicking me in the head. I ran off the court crying. This was my third concussion in a year, and the second one in a month. I knew there was a possibility that my volleyball career was over. Because it is so close to the holiday, I can’t get into the doctor until after. It is giving me some time to rest.

I hung out with Aaron the next day and didn't want to go to volleyball party at Gamma Phi Beta, where Kaya's grandma works. Mom and Dad talked me into at least making an appearance and I had so much fun with my teammates. They made sure to save the calm activities for when I was there. I knew I wasn't going to spend the night, but I sure wanted to! It was so much fun hanging out with them; I didn’t want to leave!

I decided to skip seeing Santa this year. Emily thought it was strange that I wasn’t there. We went to visit Great-Grandma Rose and then went to Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom's for Christmas. Uncle Steve did the saran wrap ball game again and it was quite a hit! We left to go to Church’s Christmas Eve service after that. We got to have Christmas at our house in the morning and went to Aunt Lisa's in the afternoon. It was nice that Nana Arden actually stayed for a while! We made a stop on the way home...to pick up my new kitten! We struggled with the name-Shout, Turbo, but finally settled on Smudge. We were told it was a girl, but Mom is pretty sure it is a boy. This was confirmed later that week when he had his first vet appointment. He also had ear mites that I got to see in the microscope-yuck! He stays in my room with his stinky litter until he gets used to being downstairs. But man, is he cute!

Papa Ron and Linda came for a visit to celebrate Christmas at our house one day. I love playing games with them. Mom took me out for Ellie Day. She said she spent way more than she normally would on clothes for me, but also knows that I don’t have many new clothes, except for volleyball shirts.

I went to Aaron's for New Year's Eve. Our family went to Aunt Lisa's because Jonathan was in town and we got to meet his girlfriend Nina. She was really nice.

I finally got to have my CT scan after the new year. I watched volleyball practice, which was hard, but I’m glad I could at least go. Lila’s mom suggested the MU concussion clinic and I got the best news! The neurologist said that I could have a slow start back to play, increasing the time and intensity as I went along. I started by playing at Cedar Ridge with mom on a snow day. We have had several late starts and more snow days from school. This has given me some good rest so I can be at my best for the next tournament (crossing fingers!)

When I went back to school, I started my online French class. I just wasn’t learning much in the in person class. I learned more in one week online than I had all last semester. This was definitely a good choice. Dad took me to watch Aaron's basketball game. Aaron came over another night and we got take out from George's. Aaron ordered a cheeseburger without cheese which I thought was funny.

Exciting news-I was nominated to the courtwarming court! My volleyball coach nominated me. I have to raise a lot of money for St. Baldrick’s. Mom was the second adult at youth in January. I was upset because that was my place to enjoy without family and I wasn’t really prepared for that happening. Lillian is working to find another second adult. I was supposed to babysit one night for two kids from church (one being Emily's friend) but it was cancelled because of an ice storm.

Mom and I went to Kansas City to spend the night at Jill's before our Sunflower Slam tournament. I had begged the neurologist to be a serving specialist in the tournament and was given the go-ahead! I was feeling good and ended up playing DS for the tournament. We took second place in the gold bracket! Taylor's team was there but we didn't get to play them. We did however, end up playing the 15-2s team and beat them pretty bad.

We were off school today for MLK Day and I spent the day at Aaron's. I hope next month slows down just a little bit, but I’m thrilled to be back playing volleyball.

Missouri Juniors 15-Blue