"YOU JUMP"

We made it!!!  We made it through a full month of no school, no formal therapy, no plans.  Bobby loved the first week of this.  Swimming, rail trail walks, swimming, rail trail walks, swimming, all lead to a very happy boy!!  All was still good during the second week.....swimming, more rail trail walks, shopping at Giant Eagle and Target.  He began getting a little fussy during the third week of his break, but no real major issues.  However, by the fourth week of his break, he was READY for his routine to be back.  After months of no meltdowns, we went through 3 in this week alone.

It's amazing that I had really forgotten what the pre-meltdown clues looked like.  So imagine my surprise when he started SCREAMING in Target when I wouldn't let him give the buggy a big push down the main isle to see just how far it would go on it's own.  Heaven help me, I was unprepared!! We immediately left and his bad mood stayed for hours.  Yippee, fun times.  I was literally counting down the hours until ESY (extended school year/summer school) began.

When the school bus door closed and he was on his way to school, I went home and breathed a huge sigh of relief.  Four hours of quiet calm.  It was heavenly!!  Funny thing happened, he calmed right down as soon as his school routine was back.  Zero meltdowns this week.  Boy, our life is just so much easier with his predictable routine!!!!

To celebrate the first week of ESY under our belts, I decided to take Bobby to a brand new attraction in our small city.  I asked some of our special needs friends if they would like to join us, and soon a super fun play date was planned.

Bobby came home from school, ate his lunch and settled in to watch an Elmo movie.  I went and asked him, "do you want to do to tumbling?"  He immediately got up and repeated "you jump" until we were in the car and on our way.  He assumed that we were on our way to the gymnastics center where he was had special needs tumbling for the past few years.  I, however, had other plans!!!

Launch Pad, a trampoline park, just opened up super close to his school. Best news ever....they have planned special needs only jump times!!  Whoo hoo!!! When I turned off onto the road for the new facility, he was a little concerned....he had only been out this road for behavioral therapy, before his therapy clinic changed locations a couple of years ago.  He was unsure when I pulled into the parking lot.....he really didn't want to get out of the car.  I had to say, "let's go jump!" He finally got out of the car and went into the building.

Yay!!  It's a trampoline park and even better, the only people inside are his friends!!!!  It took him a couple of minutes to explore his surroundings and then he went in and joined the fun!

 Bobby refused to wear his jump socks, which did not surprise me at all, but they waive this requirement for the special needs hour only for kids with sensory issues.  Thank you Launch Pad!

 It's extra special that siblings are included in the special needs time so that families can go have an activity together!!!

 Bobby helped pick out this Snoopy t-shirt for Dylan's birthday present a couple of months ago!!

 Bobby and Sonny, tickling not choking!!

 My favorite part of this place, there is only one end of the trampoline area that is open, so parents can sit together and watch their kids and talk with each other because the kids are all in one area.

 The have an upstairs observation area with some video games to play.

By the end of the hour, kids were sweaty and tired......a parent's favorite sight!!

Bobby was ready to leave by the end of the session, he was HOT, hungry and thirsty.  By 6:30 pm, he kept repeating "you jump" which was to announce that he was ready to go back.  This may be the only bad part of this place....too close!!  LOL!!  I'm sure that we will be back.....sooner than later!!