The most beautiful toddler in the world

Last night I had a dream about Bobby and he was wearing those cute little footy, snuggly toddler/baby pajamas.  You know, the kind that you just melt when you see a baby wearing them.  I got out Bobby's photo albums and of course, he sat right down beside me and we looked back down memory lane.  Oh I wish that he was still that age when he would fit into a stroller and a store buggy and he would ride as long as we would push him.  Plus he was so much easier to catch when he was running off since his legs were so little.  Thought that I would share some of the pics of his toddler days (before I had a digital camera and actually had to have pictures printed-so I didn't take hundreds every month like I do now).

He loved to sit in this kitchen drawer.  He finally won the battle and I kept it empty so that he could climb on in.  He generally had a white cloth diaper in his hand (or rather mouth).  He liked the feel off it on his face and liked to chew on them.

Oh I wish they made foot powered riding toys like this in his size now.  Bobby spent hours on the ones that were in the house.  He rode around the wood floors in our house like a wild man.  He hasn't figured out pedal bikes and actually doesn't have much interest in them.

Bobby fell asleep in the craziest places when he was a toddler.  He would be playing, stop for 30 seconds and would be fast asleep.

He loved to sit in the baby doll high chair and sit in the baby doll cradle.

He also loved his exersaucer.  Even after he was way too big for it, he still liked the toys that were attacked.  Notice the baby doll stroller with wheels in the air-this was Bobby's favorite way for this stroller to sit.

He always manged to climb up on our outdoor table and hold on the the umbrella.

Yes, that is Bobby face down into a puddle...

He has been muddy from the beginning!!

He would drag his little rocking chair into the dining room and climb up onto his high chair and just sit there and hang out on the tray.  How he survived without more bumps and bruises!!

The two Bob's, big and small.  Aren't they cute!!??!!  Thanks for going with me on the trip down memory lane.

Is the tide turning??

Wow, is April over yet???  Bobby has been out of school for 14 out of the past 18 days.  So excited that the school schedule is getting back to normal next week.  After this weekend, these poor kids are going to have trouble going to school for a full week.  Only one extra day off left in April and only 2 in May!!  Unfortunately for this past stretch of 5 days off of school, I have been sick.  The worst sinus infection/allergy combo that I have had in years.  Still coughing up a lung every time I talk.  Fun, fun, fun!!!  Bob came home from work earlier in the week with the allergy/cold disgustingness (I know, not a word).  Yesterday I finally felt like taking Bobby outside to play after school and he was ecstatic.

We have had such an extremely hard time with Bobby outside lately.  He has been running off from us and it has frankly been a nightmare.  But he was AWESOME!!  He stayed right in the yard and played (well, played Bobby style).

A true WV hillbilly!!!

He stood in these trees for quite a while.  Not sure what the fascination was, but it kept him occupied and happy.

Bobby couldn't wait for Daddy to get home to take him for a ride in the Rhino.  "I gonna drive this thing myself!!"

He couldn't figure out how to drive, so he moved back over to his side.  He even tried to alter his seat...

We had the best time outside that we have had in a while, and trust me, we were ready for a good one!!  I hope that this means the tide is turning for our outside time!!!

When it was time to come inside, Bobby came right on in and didn't fuss once.  He was ready to get working on his "road."

Working hard to put up some guard rails on his road.  The wood pieces were not cooperating like Bobby wanted which caused a minor meltdown, but he worked through it without getting too upset.

He finally moved the structure to the kitchen hoping that the guard rail would go up better.

After school he goes to his 3rd appointment with his new autism therapist.  Definitely will have to play outside since it will be 80ish, the cold is back on its way tomorrow.

Longest Spring Break Ever

We really didn't have any way to top the first day of Bobby's spring break.  After all, riding in the car all day and riding the Rhino with Daddy in the woods....well, nothing is better in Bobby's World!!!

The worst thing happened over the first weekend of spring break...our neighbors put in a fish pond, complete with a fountain in the middle.  Ironically, the pond is not that big and you probably wouldn't even notice it unless I pointed it out to you;  however, Bobby noticed!!!!  He sat on our steps that lead upstairs in our house and looked out the front door windows at their pond for two straight days, while sitting in his swim trunks that he put on himself.  Bobby said "swimming" ALL day (to the point I was ready to scream, pull my hair out or run away).  When we went outside he ran from us and tried to get down the hill to their pond.  Now don't get me wrong, I am not upset with my neighbors, they have every right to do whatever they want in their yard.  It has, however, made our life much, much, much harder.  Bobby wanted out to the pond so badly that he figured out how to break through our child locks on our doors.  UUGGGHHH, my worst nightmare coming true all during a time where he was home all day long!!!

Bob has just finished child proofing our doors to the next level to keep Bobby inside and safe.  Our 2 main outside doors are still safe, since he can't yet work the dead bolt, we will have to cross that bridge....   He had to change 8 of our door knobs to key-entry knobs, with the key facing us, not outward.  We have hooks high at each door with a key hanging and you have to open most of our doors with a key.  We do have one bathroom open for Bobby and his bedroom.  All of the other doors that used to house plastic child lock covers are now key entry.  Very inconvenient, but not as inconvenient as having search parties look for Bobby or even worse.

A flour covered Bobby (maybe he has been training with Peeta!!)

We moved Bobby to play in the fenced in area of our yard (which he doesn't really like) since he kept running off from us.  Zoi liked us being out there with her.  Tennis ball fun!!

Don't stick your tongue out at me young lady!!!!

To celebrate Easter, we went to our Autism Support Group Easter egg hunt.  The major problem, the egg hunt was at Bobby's schools playground.  He doesn't have problem going out to play there during school, but after hours he will not go there and play.  He will go to other school playgrounds, but not his.  I have no idea why, but it held true for the egg hunt...Bobby did not want to be there and was not happy.  He only stayed about 20 minutes and then Grandma Carolyn took him home.

He enjoyed looking through some prizes, but had no interest in finding eggs or playing on the playground.  Later on in the day we went to play at Mylan Park school's playground to show Daddy that the problem was indeed the location, not the playground.

Bobby played like a champ.  Mommy and Daddy "played" basketball while Grandma Carolyn watched.

Easter went very well.  Grandma Carolyn and Aunt Mimi came over to cook and spend the day with us.  The Easter bunny waited until our guests arrived to bring Bobby's basket.

Bobby did a great job opening his basket.  He could see what was in it and opened it up and started pulling things out.  He didn't have to unwrap anything.  The Easter Bunny said that he would talk to Santa Clause and use these strategies to make Christmas morning a whole lot easier!!

Bobby showing off his prized pinwheel to Aunt Mimi.  Kisses for Grandma Carolyn...

Bobby went into the dining room to take a little break from the Easter festivities and hide out for a little while...

He sat amazingly well to eat dinner at the dining room table.  Our new tradition seems to be having a cake at every "celebration" so that Bobby knows that we are having a special event.  He happily blew out the candles on our malt ball covered chocolate cake (he didn't eat any, just enjoyed blowing out the candles).

After 10 long, long, long days off, Bobby finally went back to school.  He even dressed himself one day...

Too bad it wasn't "Wacky Wednesday" at school, because I so would have sent him like this!!!

It is finally back to normal around here.  Bobby is back to his school routine and we have had much better days.  He went out to play when he got home today and Zoi was making sure that he was ok in the yard.

Obviously, we had to go out and join the fun...

Zoi licking the flour out of Bobby's hair.

The crazy twist to spring break is that the Mon. Co. kids had 10 days off, go back for for 4 days (well, 3 1/2, there is an early dismissal on Friday), then have 4 more days off.  Plus, Wednesday is kindergarten registration and they use the autism room for the occasion.  So, if I send Bobby to school, he will be the speech room ALL day, which is a small room with a table, a couple of chairs, and a storage cabinet.  There are no windows, no computer, no play area, none of his "stuff" and Bobby would be MISERABLE all day.  Obviously, I am not going to send him so he gets a 5 1/2 day weekend.  Just what we need after 3 1/2 days of school.  Lord, give me the strength....

Our First Freebie Offer (from blogging)

I learned something new yesterday, which made me realize that I misidentified someone in a picture from the Mud Buddies at Burning Rock blog.

I said that Bob and Bobby were following 3 Mud Buddies, when, in fact they were following two Mud Buddies.  The one leading the way, in the yellow helmet, is actually from PWD Off Road, which is a organization based out of Ohio that also provides riding opportunities for people with disabilities.  Check out their website:  http://www.pwdoffroad.org/, or like them on Facebook.

Darin, from PWD, in the yellow helmet, leading Bob and Bobby.

Yesterday, Darin shared my blog posting to his PWD Off Road Facebook page.  I have to share one of the comments that were made:

I am the President of Mountaineer Off-Road the host of the Moonshine Run and the upcoming Thrills in the Hills Off-Road Jamboree at Burning Rock, I would love to have Bobby as one of our guest of honor on stage with the Blackwater Outlaws during our Thrills in the Hills event. I would like to offer you all free passes to the event and let him meet Brian Fisher in person and of course trail riding with a guide...

Bobby as a "guest of honor,"  these are honestly words that I never thought that I would hear, or read.  Bob and I started laughing last night and had a hard time stopping.  The reason...well, right now, Bobby is in a stage where he doesn't want to leave his clothes on.  All day long I have been following him around making him dress.  We were picturing him on stage, taking his clothes off-and I mean commando, the full monty!!  Sorry, Blackwater Outlaws, you are being upstaged my a naked boy onstage!!

I also have to concess, that I had no idea who Brian Fisher was.  I found the flier for the event on the Burning Rock website and found out the Brian is the host and executive producer of Fisher's ATV World on the Outdoor Channel.   In Bobby's World, we watch a lot of Elmo, Blue's Clues, Jacks Big Music Show...I didn't even realize that there was an Outdoor Channel.  Who knows, this may be a show that Bobby really likes to watch, we will have to check it out.

We aren't able to go to this event, but it looks like a great time.  You should check out the Mountaineer Off Road website:  http://www.mountaineeroffroad.com/ 

I feel like it is worth repeating...we met a lot of EXTREMELY nice, wonderful people at Burning Rock.  I am so glad that Bob planned this day. 

Riding with the Mud Buddies at Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park

For those who don't know, April is Autism Awareness Month, so I wanted to Light It Up Blue Today.  I'm sure that I'll be blogging more about this later, but today's post is all about our day trip yesterday.

Bob searched online to try and find something fun to do with Bobby, and low and behold he found a group in West Virginia called Mud Buddies.  They are a non-profit who takes people with disabilities for guided tours on 4 wheelers and ATV's on different trails throughout the state.  Bob emailed them and they said that they were going to be at Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park in Sophia, WV on March 30 and to come on down and ride with them.  Plan made.  I didn't have anything to do with it.  For those who don't know what it is like to take a child with autism (especially with Bobby's level of functioning) somewhere new and not be the one to make the plans and know every detail of what was available there, where we were going, who the people were....well, I just had to step back and let Daddy have this one. 

We got up at 5 am.  I packed a cooler, snack bag, changes of clothes, and a few other things for Bobby.  Bob loaded up the car (he loaded up the Rhino on Friday night).  I woke up Bobby and said, "Lets go for a ride in the car."  No more beautiful words have ever been heard by Bobby Smith.  So, he got right up, went potty, got dressed, took allergy medicine and got right into the car. 

Hillbilly parade float (Friday night)



We only made one stop on the ride down to Sophia (which is right outside of Beckley).  We stopped at a Go-Mart to get gas.  I took Bobby in to use the bathroom and to buy something small so that we could get change for the toll-road.  When we went into the bathroom, Bobby said "swimming."  In my head I was thinking, "swimming!!!!  We are at a convience store using the bathroom, pulling the Rhino behind us and you want to go swimming!!!  What in the world makes you think that we are going swimming.  I can't even believe it...swimming!!!!"  Then I looked around.  All 4 walls in the bathroom were tiled in white, glossy tiles with a band of pool blue tiles about 3/4 of the way up.  The floor was tiled in the small 1 inch white tiles with black grout and it slanted to the middle where there was a drain.  A clean, white bathroom.  So I said, "yes Bobby, you're right.  I does look like a bathroom that would be at a swimming pool!!"  This boy notices EVERYTHING!!!!  If I had gone in their myself, I would have not been able to tell you what color the walls were, let alone that they had tile or dry wall, etc.   I definitely do NOT notice the world as fully as Bobby.

Bob and I were excited to see this sign.  We made it!!  No problems with Bobby or with the trailer.  Starting off to a good day!!

Bob went into the general store and bought the trail passes.  I took Bobby to the bathroom, which are the two green doors in the front and the two green doors on the side.  Nice facilities with showers inside (since there are cabin rentals just yards away).  So far, I really like what I see.  A nice, clean place.  Now, time to unload the Rhino and get this ride underway!

Not sure how/where Bob met up with the Mud Buddies, but he found them...

Mike and Susie of the Mud Buddies Foundation (I didn't take this picture, I snatched it from the Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park Facebook page), but it was taken right before they took off with Bob and Bobby.

3 Mud Buddies 4-wheelers on the left and Bob and Bobby in the Rhino on the right.  Taking off with the Mud Buddies leading the way...

Ready to ride the over 100 miles of trails!!!  Have fun!!

Bob could have taken Bobby for a ride all by himself.  There are no rules that you can't take someone for a ride with a disability without a guide, but it just would not be safe to take Bobby alone.  What if Bob had a accident?  Bobby wouldn't flag down another rider or call 911, he would instead, run off into the woods.  Bob had enough to worry about on the ride....making sure Bobby kept his seat belt on, his helmet lid down, kept the door closed, kept his arms in the Rhino.  When you have that much going on in your head, trying to follow a map and remember where you are is much, much more difficult.  That is where the guides come in handy.  Guess what, they still got lost.  You can get a guide from Burning Rock, you have to pay of course, and it is just plain old easier when you have someone that knows about and understands the unique situation of a person with a disability. 

What did I do while they rode for over 3 hours?   Well, thank you for asking!  I shopped in the little general store and bought the boys each a t-shirt.  That took about 5 minutes of my time.  I sat out on one of the picnic tables in front of the general store and bathrooms and read a book.  One of the owners of Burning Rock visited with me for a while as did a couple of other staff from Burning Rock.  But the rest of the time, I read a book.  Nothing to cook or clean, no one to watch after.  I just got to sit for 3 hours and read.  I am reading "Carly's Voice" which I am sure that I will have to blog about soon.  Yes, it is about autism.  I also took pictures.  Watched a couple of people go down the zip-line, which scares the &*#% out of me.  (Bob at the end of the ride kept trying to egg me to ride the zip-line.  No amount of anything would ever get me on there.  60 mph through the air.  No thank you.)

They came back dirtier than I even anticipated.  So glad that we brought changes of clothes.  Bobby would not sit in the Rhino long enough for me to get a picture of the full effect of dirtiness. 

Bob was freezing because they were soaked through.  Bobby didn't care that much.  He even took his shoes off during the ride. 

I got out the change of clothes for Bobby and he was like, awesome, dry clothes and took off his wet, dirty ones right there for me to change him.  He then pulled on me.  While Bob put the Rhino away, I took Bobby for a walk.  Really Bobby pulled me, straight to the bathrooms.  He went right it and went about his business.  Poor kid had to pee.  Bob finally made it over to the bathrooms to shower off and change his clothes and Bobby once again started pulling me.  This time towards to food truck...

You can't tell from this picture, but the food truck was in the middle of a field with a couple of tables around.  Bobby was beelining towards the food truck.  Me thinking..."Oh Bobby, I know that you won't eat barbeque.  Lets go to the car and get some of your snacks and then we will stop and eat on the way home."  Bobby ran over to one of the tables and was sitting down beside someone to eat the french fries that were on his plate.   Oh great, the truck has french fries (I know that he must have smelled them, we have never eaten from a food truck).  He had difficulty (understatement) waiting for his french fries, but once he got them, he took them over to the table, sat down with the Mud Buddies crew and started eating.  Bob and I laughing about how EXTREMELY well Bobby is sitting to eat.  I wish I would have had my camera, but it was back at the car.  So, I don't have any pics with the Mud Buddies afterwards or Bobby sitting and eating.  After Bobby ate, we loaded back up into the car...

He decided to have some snack afterall.  I wish that you could see how dirty his face still was.  Bobby got a little fussy on the ride close to Flatwoods, so we stopped.  While Bob got gas, I walked Bobby over to the Outlet Mall to walk around on the sidewalks.  Once again, he dragged me...right into the bathroom.  He had to pee.  (He knows how to say, "pee potty" and has used it in the past.  Didn't use it once today).  He peed, we walked, he got right back into the car and rode home without any issues. 

Daddy planned an outstanding day!!!!!!

If you have a motorcycle, 4 wheeler, ATV, I totally recommend that you check out Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park.  A great, family friendly place to ride.  Saw many children on their 4 wheelers and little Rhino's.  Met some very friendly people.  Very clean, well manicured establishment.  Burning Rock does rent things to ride and do have guides.  Not sure the cost.  Check out their website.
http://www.burningrockwv.com/

Also, if you are interested in riding with the Mud Buddies, check out their website.  They have different events all over the state, yesterday they just happened to be at Burning Rock.  They are supposed to send me the list of their events if anyone is interested.  They also have a 4 seater to take a couple of people on a ride with them. 
http://www.mudbuddiesfoundation.com/

"Trail Therapy" rocks, thanks Daddy for such a great day!!!