Spring Break 2013-Day 1

We (Mommy and Daddy) picked up Bobby from school on Friday and took him to his daily behavioral therapy before coming home to begin a 10 day spring break from school.  While at therapy, Bobby kept laying his head down on the table...oh no, this only happens when he is sick.  His therapist got him through quickly because this is his typical behavior before he throws up.  We grabbed a bag for the ride home, just in case.  We made it home and he ran into the bathroom as soon as we got through the door.  Poor kid, please don't let this be like Christmas break...if you remember, he was sick with the flu for the entire break.

Please excuse the big rip in the blanket, this is Zoi's one weird vice...she likes to "chew" on this blanket for some crazy reason.

Bobby laid around off and on all evening and was a little more on the grouchy side.  You could tell that he just didn't fell well.  He did, however, continue to have an appetite.  He disappeared upstairs around 8:30, so I went to check on him and he was in bed fast asleep and thankfully he slept until 7 am.

I didn't have much confidence in Saturday, his first full day of spring break.  He still acted like he didn't feel well.  He was still grouchy and kept repeating "Rhino, Rhino, Rhino"....meaning, I want Daddy to take me for a ride in the Rhino.  Daddy complied and while Bobby was sitting in the Rhino waiting to take off, I said "wait."  I went inside and got the good cold medicine that we can't get Bobby to take since it tastes awful (I know because I take it when I'm sick).  I got the medicine, filled up the little medicine cup and said "drink this if you want to go for a ride."  He finally took the cup and drank half of the medicine and shivered as the awful taste went down and then he poured out the rest onto the garage floor.  I said, "that's ok, we have more," went inside and filled the cup half full.  He fussed, but finally drank the rest of the medicine so that he could "ride Rhino."

After riding for a little while, he went and played in the yard...

Then about a half hour later from the time that Bobby took the cold medicine, he decided that it was time to JUMP...

Looks like Mommy knows best.  He was back to normal after the "good stuff."

He had a fun time playing outside, but it was time to go inside to make dinner and wait for our dinner guest to arrive.  I made a knockoff Primanti Bros. sandwich for dinner...

Complete with the internet version of their coleslaw and homemade french fries.  Yum-O!  While having dinner, Bobby snatched Daddy's hat off of his head and decided to wear it himself...

I could not get over the fact that a man's extra large hat fit Bobby this well.  Oh my, where did my baby go.  In a couple of months he is going to be 9...how does this happen???!!!!!

Grandma thought that he looked super cute too and wanted some kisses from Mr. Bobby!!

Bobby loves his Grandma!!

Spring Break count down....One day down, nine to go.  Hopefully we find some fun things to get into. Looks like playing in the snow is in our near future!!!

Grocery Shopping With Bobby

Yesterday afternoon I had to run a couple of errands.  Grandma Carolyn came over for a visit and decided to come with us.  The last errand was to stop at the grocery store for a couple of things.  By the way...I HATE to do this chore with Bobby along.  However, he is never going to learn how to do this without being taught and having repeated exposure.

I was driving through Sabraton after dropping of my paperwork at CCIL and decided to stop at the Kroger since Bobby had never been to this grocery store and didn't have a predetermined route in his head that we must follow.

The first hurdle was getting him through the front door.  I had to push him through the door with everything I had, which lead to a second door that I had to push him through.  YEAH!!  We made it in.

All in all, Bobby did a great job!  He does so much better if he is the one to push the shopping cart.  However, he isn't the best at steering, so I have to make constant adjustments.  Grandma wanted to get some pictures on her phone of Bobby shopping in the store (does this make you wonder where I get my picture sickness???).  She got ahead of us while we were getting Bobby's yogurt and snapped some pics...

We ran into a teacher from Bobby's school right here.  She was as excited to see Bobby out shopping as a typical kid would be to run into a teacher out in the community.  Bobby, however, was no fazed at all by seeing her.

Wouldn't you know it, they don't have Bobby's brand of yogurt!!  Mommy had to help look for something similar.

OK Bobby, this is a smooth, banana flavored yogurt...let's try this one.

He put it in the cart and now off to find his English muffins.

He exited the two sets of doors with no problem.  After all, the car is in the parking lot and he LOVES to ride in the car.  Plus we had Grandma Carolyn's car and that makes it even BETTER!!!  As for the yogurt, he dipped an apple slice, a french fry and even tried to use a spoon...but we found it in the garbage can a little later.  He tried it again for a bedtime snack and....threw it away.  Guess there is a trip to Walmart in my near future to get the appropriate yogurt.  Ahhhhh, the joys of selective eating!!

The Autism Way To Spend St. Patrick's Day

When Bobby was a baby and toddler, we always heard (and said) that "he marches to the beat of a different drummer" and other sayings of this nature. The older that kids with autism get, you realize that they follow their own rules.  So, what should we do to celebrate St. Patrick's Day....go see the Easter Bunny, definitely not a typical way to spend the day!!

This morning Morgantown Mall hosted a Sensitive Bunny event, which was just like Sensitive Santa but with the Easter Bunny.  So after we got up and had breakfast we got ready and headed off to the mall.  Just like with the Sensitive Santa event, Bobby was number 2 (and I'm pretty sure the same girl was number 1).  He ran right up to the Easter Bunny even though it was not his turn.  I took him over to one of the tables that a WVU sorority had set up with activities for the kids while they waited and we worked on waiting...

He did an AWESOME job of waiting.  He did get up once and jump around but came right back to his seat with a verbal prompt.  He didn't even have an interest in the activities, he was busy watching what was going on at the Easter Bunny area.

They finally put up the number 2 to indicate that it was Bobby's turn.  We took him over and I stood him in place, put my hand up with the wait indicator that he is learning and he stood there perfectly.  I went and stood behind the camera and prompted him "look at Mommy" and he did.

 We got a great picture of Bobby standing nicely by the Easter Bunny with his hands folded looking at the camera.  What more could a Mommy ask for????!!!!!

 He stood and looked at the Easter Bunny for a while.  Would love to know what was going through his head at that point.

We then got an extra special bonus....the mall has a train and the kids got to ride...

 I got in with him to take a ride around the mall.

 Alright Bobby, hands and head in the ride at all times!!!

We saw some familiar faces along the train route...

 Greg, Noelle and Natalie

 Daddy

The staff of PlayWorks

After the train ride we were going to let Bobby take a walk.  He stopped at the play area and since it was empty we let him play...

He's a happy boy!!

Look closely, his feet are off of the ground.

Now that our Easter Bunny fun is over, it's time to go home and celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  Humm, what shall we do to celebrate??  Cabbage and green beer?  Probably not.  Maybe we will do that on the 4th of July!!

We Love 71 Degree Days

Bob and I were driving back home following a fun mini getaway.  Me:  "I'm not ready to go back to Mommy world."  Bob:  "When we get home, you take your Mom and Aunt Mimi somewhere and I'll take Bobby outside to play."  Sounds like an awesome plan to me!!!  Not to mention, Grandma Carolyn and Aunt Mimi are probably ready for a break after being on "Bobby Duty" for a couple of days.

Grandma Carolyn, Mimi and I went over to the Home Show at Mylan Park and looked around and Daddy took Bobby outside to play.  It would be cruel and unusual punishment not to let Bobby play outside as much as possible on a beautiful 71 degree day in early March.  Oh how we needed some warm weather.

When we got back home Bob headed up to the roof to work on a couple maintenance issues, which by the way is one of Bob's strong suits.  He is definitely not one to let things fall apart around him!!  Love that quality about him.  Hummm, do you think that is why he took me away???  LOL!!!

 Don't jump............

Zoi was clearly unimpressed that Daddy was up on the rooftop...

And Bobby, well Bobby was just super excited to be outside in this awesome weather....

He had loads of fun with Grandma Carolyn and Aunt Mimi.  He got to take many "rides in car" and he especially loves to go in Grandma's car.  They also took him to Mylan Park to play, he got to eat at his new favorite, Long John Silvers.  He had a great time.

Bobby actually showed me that me missed me, something that I have never really been sure of before.  When Grandma and Mimi were getting their bags into the car to go home, he came over to me (I was standing by the car), took my hand and took me to the door to the house so that I could not go with them.  He didn't try to get into the car either.  He was ready for me to stay home with him!!!  You can't even imagine how happy this made me!!

Daddy made it down safely off of the roof and Bobby stayed by his side too for a little while...

I love these two boys!!!!

 After he was sure that Mommy and Daddy were staying home it was business as usual.  "Bobby, stop throwing rocks!!"  Back to parenting as usual too.  Ahh, what a perfect day!!!!

I took one more picture while Bobby was in this area.....

This is the little wall and utility box that Bobby's head was stuck in during his sled ridding accident that I wrote about in a previous blog posting. 

Just want to thank Grandma Carolyn and Aunt Mimi for staying with Bobby while Bob and I got away.  What a great weekend!!!  A perfect 71 degree day.  We love 71 degree days!!!