A Rough Week

Have you ever had one of those weeks???

On Monday, after I got Bobby on the school bus, I headed to my moms to meet her and my aunt and go to the hospital for my mom's scheduled surgery.  Everything with the surgery went well, but understandably, the whole process is just stressful.

Daddy got Bobby off of the bus in the afternoon so that I could stay at the hospital until my mom was settled after her surgery.  This little change to the family routine just upset the balance for a little while in autism land.  This is the first time that Daddy ever had to meet the bus.

When I got home, Zoi, seemed the most upset.  Odd that the dog would be the most wound up!! It became clear over night that the change was not the problem for Miss Zoi, she was a sick girl.  She didn't sleep all night, which meant I didn't sleep, because she would not leave my side, and I mean this in the most literal way possible.  The only way to calm her at all was if I laid hugging her.....totally not normal, she is usually right by Daddy's side all night long, and on the floor not pressed up to him.

Tuesday morning, I got Bobby on the bus, came home and called the vet.  They asked me to drop her off and leave her for the day so that they could run tests.  Leaving her was so difficult, because in my head I totally expected the worst, that we were going to have to put her down, she's not a spring chicken after all.

The vet called me while I was in the hospital cafeteria, having lunch with my aunt.....Zoi has an infection, she needs antibiotics and steroids, but is going to be fine.  Tons of stress left my body, I can relax and focus my attention to helping take care of my mom!!

Poor Zoi, she was sporting a cone when I picked her up and we left it on for the next three days.  She is such a big girl that the cone was catching on everything!!

On Wednesday, I got Bobby up to get ready for school.  I packed his lunch box and sat it down on the kitchen island.  He came over, unzipped it, put the water bottles back into the fridge and took his rice cakes and placed them into the pantry.  I just stood there with my mouth open....this has NEVER happened before.  He then went upstairs and got into bed.  Well, I guess this is his way of telling me that he isn't going to school today!!  He was very sinusy, with zero appetite and stayed home from school for the next two days.  Ummm Bobby, don't you know that I want to be at the hospital taking care of grandma??  At least she was still in the hospital and had plenty of people taking care of her and my aunt was there everyday too.

I decided to get out the autumn decorations since I had some unexpected time at home!!

I sent Bobby to school on Friday and texted with his teacher throughout the day.  He still didn't have an appetite, but stayed at school all day and had a good time.  He got off of the bus happy and had a good evening.  When he woke up Saturday morning, his appetite was back and he had four days of not really eating to catch up.

Saturday morning....Bobby's better, Zoi's cone is off and she is feeling much better!!  Bobby's respite worker came over and Daddy and I headed off to the hospital, because it looks like my mom was being released from the hospital.  Oh, and it happened to be my birthday.

It was a little ironic that my mom was in the same exact place that she was 46 years ago to the day, having her baby girl.  We had to take a picture to document that occasion!!

The doctor did his rounds....yes, she is going home!!  Paperwork was processed and we were all out of there!!!  We got her settled in, my aunt stayed with her while Daddy and I ran to the store to get some groceries for her house, we also decided to stop off for my birthday lunch at a restaurant.  Ahh, the stress of this crazy week was gone!!!  We also picked up a small birthday cake at the store so that when we got home later, Bobby could blow out the birthday candles,

Bobby and I had a little birthday cake selfie fun and Daddy took one of us blowing out the candles.

We made it through this crazy week!!!

Happy 50th Daddy

 Just a year ago, I was telling Bobby's doctor at his well-child check that his social anxiety was all but gone and that he could probably loose that particular additional diagnosis.  Then this summer.....his social anxiety came back with a vengeance.  I would have parties every weekend if Bobby were a different kid.  I love having friends and family around.  Nothing more fun than a pool full of kids, however, when we have a pool full of kids, Bobby retreats upstairs to his room, away from the crowd. So we have less parties than I would like, but on the other hand, having parties at home is much easier on Bobby than trying to celebrate occasions at a different location.  At least at home, when he retreats upstairs away from the crowd, he has all of favorite things and he can relax and be comfortable.  He doesn't get upset or meltdowns during these times, he just simply goes off by himself to play in his room or watch movies and play on his iPad.

I was excited to plan an at home celebrate for Daddy's 50th birthday!! However, I made a huge rookie mistake......after I sent out the invites, we realized that I scheduled the party on the same day as the WVU home opener football game.  Traffic in town would be crazy!!  Luckily the game started at noon and the party was planned for 4:00. Messaged everyone and told them to come early while the game was going on to avoid traffic.  I planned a seafood boil menu for the after football game party.

 Oh my goodness, Zoi found a new BFF!!  I think that these two are in love.  I was so worried that Zoi was way to big for Bobby's cousin, Alyssa, but Zoi was a gentle giant.

 Oh my goodness, what a sweet face!!

Dinner time!!!  Shrimp and crab legs were the stars of the dinner.

 Lobster bibs to the rescue!

 Ryan is so sweet and all boy.  He was in heaven with so many rocks to play with!!

 Alyssa asking Aunt Janel for some real food please!!  Sure looks better than the baby food she had earlier!!  LOL!

 Was the newest Mountaineer mascot at dinner??? No, just Sam seeing how long he can grow his own Mountaineer beard.

Zoi never left Daddy's side throughout the dinner, she patiently waited for scraps to fall on the ground.

Daddy and I had a little selfie fun after dinner!!

 I put the cake/dessert table in the garage and put a bunch of pictures of daddy as a little boy on the table.

Of course, I am making everyone take family pictures!!!

 For those of you who don't know who this group is......Sam (Daddy's brother) is in the middle wearing the white striped shirt.  To his right (standing) his son, Evan, Janel (Sammy's girlfriend) and Sammy, his other son.  Sitting is Sam's wife, Shelia. To the left is Shelia's son Chris, his wife Savannah and their children Ryan and Alyssa (sleeping away).  They blended their families 20 years ago and the boys all grew up together as brothers.

 Janel and Sammy

 Chris and Savannah

 Chris, Sammy and Daddy, who is puffing out his chest for the boys!!  The big funny of the party.....Daddy playing the part of a 50 year old......wearing his socks and slippers as his footwear!!

 The men folk!! 

 My mom (Grandma Carolyn), Evan and my Aunt Mimi

 We had to prompt Bobby to come outside to take some pictures, he wasn't feeling it, so we let him go back inside.

 Bob and Cheri (Daddy and me)

 Me with my mom

Yes, I did it, I put 50 candles on the cake and lit that puppy up!! Definitely an outdoor activity.  The amount of smoke that came off of the candles would have put the smoke alarms off inside the house.

 We moved the dinner tables out and brought out the corn hole boards.  They also turned one of the tables into a beer pong game.  Watching my mom play beer pong.....worth all of the party planning effort!!  Sorry I don't have any pictures of that game!

A beautiful sky as the sun was setting.

 The pictures taken in the dark didn't really come out, but the Christmas lights strung across the yard were fun.

So, you may wonder, what does one get as a gift for the big 5-0!!  Well....drum roll please...........

 Yes!!  A new truck!!!  As an added bonus for Bobby.....the back head rests have built in DVD players and wireless headphones.  I know.....time for a road trip!!!  LOL!!!

Happy 50th birthday Daddy!!  We love you!!!!!