Field Trip Fun

How on earth does time fly by so quickly?????  Here we are, getting close to the end of the school year, that means fun activities are thrown into the mix!!!  Bobby and his special needs buddies were off to the Stepping Stones Arts Festival.

The one great thing about yearly activities.....you can really notice the growth from the previous year.

My friend Shelly and I like to volunteer for this event and we especially like to be in charge of the bouncy house!!  Do Bobby and friends get to jump a little longer because of this perk???  Possibly!!It is fun for us to be there, we can experience some of the fun with our boys, but they also get out with some independence from mom.  They go off and do activities with their teachers and come over to visit with us when it is time to JUMP!!

When Bobby and his teacher first made their way over to the bouncy house to say HI, Ms. Kim said that Bobby had led a horse around and that the horse was wearing shoes.  Well, later when I saw pictures of the horse, these were definitely not the shoes that I was expecting!!

How cute is this little girl with amazing pink shoes??!!!  I would love to know what Bobby thought about this.....after all, the last horses that he saw in person where the wild horses on the beaches of the Outer Banks of NC, and they definitely weren't wearing shoes!!!!!!

The boys, Bobby and Sonny, with their autism teacher from grades Kindergarten through fifth grade, Ms. Kim.  I'm not sure who is sadder that this is their last year together before the boys move on to middle school next year.  Oh Ms. Kim, don't you want to move on to middle school with them??!!!

 Next up, the boys got in line to jump in the bouncy house.  I, of course, wanted to get some group pictures.  If you know much about autism, you know that getting a good picture of 5 children on the spectrum is virtually impossible.  They are not all going to look at the camera or appear to be paying attention at all.  LOL!!!  This is as good as it gets!!

 There was a dance troupe doing a number behind us and they had just finished....Bobby started clapping, which cracked all of the adults up!!  Good job dancers!!  Now, raise your hand if you want to jump.........

Yes, the finally got to go in and jump!!  They had a blast.  Watching Bobby and Sonny together was particularly enjoyable.  The look on Bobby's face shows that he is indeed having fun.

Having fun!!

After they jumped, the boys went off to do some art activities with Ms. Kim while Shelly and I stayed and ran the bouncy house.  Every once in a while I would catch a glimpse of Bobby across the building and I was just so happy to notice that Kim didn't have to keep a death grip on Bobby as was the norm in the past.  She could have her back to Bobby while she was helping another child.  Bobby stayed close by and did some people watching.  PROGRESS!!

 I looked up and noticed the West Virginia University mascot, the Mountaineer.  I told Shelly that I was going to go get our boys and get their picture.  The Mountaineer was very generous and patient while the boys got in position.  Bobby's grabbing the gun, Sonny's getting a hug...pictures success!

Bobby was getting a little restless a little later and I offered to bring him back over to the bouncy house area with me so that Ms. Kim and Sonny could do another art activity before lunch.  We had plenty of chairs for the kids to sit and take off/put on their shoes so Bobby sat for a while, jumped, and went over to another active area and jumped on the trampoline.

 The rest of his crew came over to wait until their time to go to lunch.  Here he is with one of our favorites....Ms. Deb, one of the autism aides.  Yes, leaving these ladies next year is..........ugh!!

 Fun, Cooper the mascot of the West Virginia Black Bears baseball team. Yes, we have to go get a picture!!! Sonny and Bobby.......

 Still had 10 minutes or so until lunch time (the different schools had scheduled times due to limited tables).  Shelly and I were having our lunch break and the high school volunteers who were working with us took over so that we could hang out with our boys.  We sat down for a music activity.  There were different instruments in the middle, so we grabbed one and gave them to the boys.

 Finally, time to go to lunch.  On the way to the tables, we ran into another one of our favorite people, Coach Lorri, their adaptive PE teacher.  Thankfully, Coach will also work with the boys in middle school.

 Cooper was back and the Stepping Stones staff wanted a picture, so the boys obliged and took another one for us!!

 The boys went off to lunch and Shelly and I went back to our station. Later on, the came back for one more jump before they left for the day.

I witnessed a couple of younger boys having meltdowns, which seems to occur most in the bouncy house line.....waiting for something you really, really want to do in autism land is so difficult.  It breaks my heart to witness it, but it also shows me just how far Bobby has come.  He waits now, he doesn't like it, but complies much better than I had ever dreamed when he was younger.  

"UH OH"

We are finally getting into our new routine of Grandma Carolyn's surgery recovery.  Her sister, my aunt Mimi, is staying with her and as soon as I get Bobby on the bus for school, I go to her house to give Mimi a break to run her errands and do the things that she needs to do.  I've been cooking meals while I'm there for them to have, doing laundry and helping do whatever I can.

Saturday (yesterday), Bob and Bobby accompanied me to Grandma's house.  I was making a roast beef dinner while we were there, so we were planning to be there for a few hours.  

Bob and Mimi ran an errand and then went up to Mimi's house so that Bob could get her lawn mower out and ready for the season.  Meanwhile, Grandma got her shower, I had dinner going, and was doing some laundry.  I had put the towels into the dryer and come back into the living room and sat down to relax for a few minutes and watch tv with my mom.

Bobby was upstairs watching Elmo movies in one of the bedrooms and being a really good boy. We then heard a crash that caused my mom and me to jump.  Bobby then yelled "UH OH" and began whimpering.  I knew that he was scared and not hurt from the crash because he wasn't in a full cry.  I ran upstairs where an older coffee table was sitting with a shattered glass top and broken wooden supports under the glass.  

"It's OK, you're OK, we're not mad."  I kept telling Bobby these things to calm him down.  I noticed a couple of drops of blood on his feet so I took him down to the bathroom and had him take off his pants so I could look at him.  

I yelled to my mom, "call them (Bob and Mimi) and tell them to get back here, Bobby needs stitches."

There was no doubt in my mind that his knee needed stitched since I could see things that I definitely shouldn't be able to see.  The one benefit to my mom just having surgery......there was gauze, bandages and tape all within reach.  I got Bobby's knee bandaged as well as I could with one hand and got him dressed to go.

Mimi's phone was laying on the table.  CRAP!!  I knew that Bob didn't have his phone with him either and they would be outside working on the lawn mower and not hear the inside phone ringing. DOUBLE CRAP, Bob took our vehicle with my purse inside.  I didn't have our insurance cards or my license.

I put Bobby in Grandma's car and started off to Mimi's to get my purse from Bob.  My mom had texted Mimi's daughter-in-law who lives close by to run over and get Bob.  So on my way to Mimi's house, I pass Bob and start honking the horn!!!!!  Oh Lord, help me get this kid to the ER!!!!

Bob pulled over, I turned around and we were walking in the ER within 10 minutes after this.....and it was pretty empty!!  Thank you Lord!

They have little check in rooms where you go over why you need to be seen, etc.  It was obvious from the blood soaked gauze taped to Bobby's knee why we were there.  One of the first sentences out of my mouth was, "he is on the more severe end of the autism spectrum so his compliance isn't going to be great."  

The woman who checked us in kept us in her little office until the triage nurse was ready for us.  Bob said to her, "should be go to the waiting room?"  She said, "you can stay in here if it is easier for you since it is a much smaller room."  "YES, thank you!!" was my reply. 

A few minutes later the triage nurse took us to get his vitals and medical history.  His nurse came in to take us back to a bed before we were finished in triage so that we didn't have to wait to go back, she even brought some tape with her because I was sitting on my knees in triage holding Bobby's bandage on because he had pulled it off by this point.  I looked at her and said "THANK YOU!!"  In my head I had been thinking, "what I wouldn't give for some tape right now!"

It was only 2 or 3 minutes before they ushered us back to x-ray.  They wanted to make sure that there was no glass in the wound and that he didn't fracture anything.  I held him for 4 x-rays, and we were back to the bed and thankfully the other family that was in there a few minutes before was gone.  We were alone in the area.

The doctor came in.  I said, "he's going to need to be sedated.  He is very strong and is not going to comply."  Funny, as an autism mom, I've pretty much been in control of situations pertaining to Bobby because I've had to tell everyone the best way to work with Bobby.  The doctor said "NO!!"  

He said that he didn't want to sedate unless it was absolutely necessary.  No need to risk sedation. Bobby needed three staples because it was the quickest, easiest way to proceed. We would move him to "the other side" (surgery area I'm guessing) as the last resort.   He said we will hold him and do it as quickly as possible and men with gloves on started coming in.

The x-rays showed no glass and no fracture.  I laid over Bobby's chest so that I was face to face with him and talking to him.  Bob, nurses and the men held his legs and the staples went in.  Another man walked in and grabbed his arms for me because they had gotten out from under me.  Before I knew it he was bandaged up and Bob took him to the car.  

After they walked out two more men in gloves came in to assist and turned around and walked out when they realized we were finished.  I stayed to complete his paperwork and insurance information. They whole time I was just STUNNED at how quickly this process went!!  I just kept thanking everyone, I just couldn't believe it.  The nurse finally said, "Oh honey, you were fast tracked."  I said, "THANK YOU SO MUCH."  I'm standing there answering questions for the intake, the doctor was handing me extra guaze, bandages, and an ace bandage to put over top of everything.  I was just stunned that this was over and Bobby was out in the car!!!  

They could not have been any nicer to us!!!!  I'm not exactly sure how long we were in the hospital, but it couldn't have been more than half an hour if that long.  We left to go back to Grandma's.  I had to drop Grandma's car off.  After I pulled it into the garage, I went to check the laundry, the dryer was still running!!!!!  I had put the towels in the dryer, then all of this happened and we were back home before the dryer cycle was over!!

The staples don't seem to be bothering him other than itching a little.  He has to have them for 12 days before removal. Praying that the next 12 days go smoothly with no staple issues!!!  He slept 9 hours last night, he doesn't seem to be in any pain. 

I'm so thankful that hospitals are preparing themselves for patients like Bobby.  It means so much to our families!!  I literally couldn't thank everyone enough.....they were probably tired of hearing me!!! LOL!!

This is hard to believe......this all happened so fast that I don't have ANY pictures!! I know, so unlike me!!!!!!!!

  

"Your Mom's Sick....Call Me!!"

It's amazing how our lives revolve around the weather, especially in a region where you experience all four seasons.  It's been a long winter and our moods all improved when the forecast was a week of warm weather.  I decided to get Bobby out walking on the rail trails everyday after school.  After we got home Monday, I let him rest a little while and then we headed out for the first walk of the week. Approximately three-quarter miles into our walk I received a text from my aunt, my mom's sister, that said, "your mom's sick, call me."

Well, I knew that couldn't be good news, she's never texted me like that before!!

This picture was literally taken seconds before the text!!  When we were on the other side of the bridge, I moved Bobby over to the side and called my aunt.

"We are at the ER and a surgeon is on the way."

It takes a minute for your brain to wrap itself around this information.  She then gave me the quick version of their day.......

She had stopped in at my mom's house that morning and my mom was complaining from severe stomach pain and a sinus infection.  Mimi, my aunt, made her get up and took her to the doctor.  The doctor did an x-ray, blood test (which showed that her white count was extremely high) and then sent them to the Emergency Room and a CT scan showed that she needed surgery ASAP and her white count was continuing to elevate.  She had a perforated diverticulitis causing the infection and pain.

Now, to get Bobby back the three-quarter mile back to the car, get him home and meet Daddy and then drive to the hospital all during the 5:00 rush hour time frame. Yeah, Bobby had ZERO urgency about getting himself back to the car.....

About 9:30ish pm, the surgeon came out and talked with Mimi and me....he removed about a 10 inch section of her bowel and that the surgery went well.  She would be in the hospital for 5 days or so and be in a good deal of pain.

Bobby and one of his most favorite people, Grandma hadn't seen each other for 3 weeks, which hasn't happened since he was born.  Bobby had a stomach bug for a week so we kept him away, didn't want Grandma to catch the bug. The next week Grandma was at church everyday working on their chocolate Easter egg fundraiser, and for the last week she was in the hospital.  Grandma was missing her Bobby!!!

Friday after school and therapy, we decided to take Bobby to the hospital to say hi and pick up some dinner to go....it had been a long week!

Bobby had never been to this particular hospital and just wasn't sure about this at all!!

We walked right into the room and then realized that Grandma was on the bed with tubes and such and was ready to go NOW!!  We had to prompt him back in the room to give Grandma a kiss. Daddy got a medical glove as a distraction. It worked for a minute....

And then we left.  Funny thing, he played with the blown up glove for two days before it finally burst!!

It looked like Grandma was going to be released this weekend, now it's pushed back to Monday. Hopefully soon!!

Winter 2016 Catch Up

We were cocky!!  The whole East coast was just downright cocky.  No snow in November, none in December, hanging out in shorts on Christmas Eve, we were sure that winter was just going to pass us by this season.  Well, Mother Nature had the last laugh....winter did indeed arrive....in a big way!!!

The reason that I'm finally getting around to catching up.....Bobby is sick.  In fact, he has been sick a lot this winter.  It seems as if every few years he has a bad winter and this, unfortunately, is his bad winter.  This time, stomach bug.  We are in day 4 of this yuckiness.  Hopefully he makes it back to school before the snow begins again later this week.  So far, it isn't looking good for this to happen.

One other reason that I hadn't been sharing quite as many pictures lately....internet issues.  Happy to report that our internet issues have been fixed and it is faster than ever!!  It was rough for this family to be internet-less during the snow days.

My family, minus me, enjoys being outside in the snow.  I tend to bundle up and hang out in the dry garage while they play and work.  Something that I do enjoy about the snow....taking pictures of my family having fun.  Needless to say, I end up with tons and tons of pictures.  Thought that I would share a small sampling from our last couple of snows.

 I know, she looks like a dog in one of the pictures reminding people to bring their pets indoors during extreme cold and snow.  This girl is a snow LOVER and sometimes refuses to come in until she is good and ready.  I think that she is happy to finally be cooled off!!

The most time that these two spend together is outside when it is snowing.

I need to get Bobby a bright, colorful winter coat, this one blends into the snow!!

And now for the major snow event of the winter.....Snow Storm Jonas!!!  The forecast kept changing, but it was basically 6-12 inches of snow.  The boys went out and started plowing in the evening after the snow began.  I remember walking downstairs the next morning and my eyes went wide!!  I got out a measuring stick and opened our back door....15 inches already and it was supposed to snow for a few more hours.  A couple of days later, I read a report that this snow storm was the 2nd largest one time snow event in the Morgantown, WV recorded history.  We ended up with 19 inches total at our house, some of our local friends had a few inches more.  The eastern panhandle of WV was in the 30 inches range.

This snow was too much for Zoi,  it was well over her legs and she had to leap. She would have loved this as a puppy, but she's 8 now and struggled.  She loved hanging out in the driveway that Daddy and Bobby had plowed and this is where she had to go potty for a few days.

Daddy's car is under there somewhere!!!

A swim anyone???  How about a grilled steak???

I wanted him to stand in the fresh, knee deep snow for a picture, he, however, wasn't that interested.

The best surprise about Jonas, it wasn't a wet. heavy snow like was predicted.  It instead was a light, powdery snow that didn't stick to the tree branches and weigh them down......yay, no power outages!!!!!!!!!  Whoo hoo!!!!  First major snow with no power outage in the 12+ years I have lived in our house.

Since Zoi is used to going out to potty in our front yard, I tried to get her to go off of our front porch and move around to pack some snow down so that she would have some room.  Well that plan didn't work at all!!!!!!!  I finally coaxed her off of the porch and she got stuck.  She literally couldn't move. I ran in, grabbed my camera, took a couple of pictures and then went and rescued her.  I know, right, parents today....we all have to get the picture first!!!!  LOL!!  Back to the driveway to potty for Zoi.

We have managed to do a couple of fun activities in between all of the snow and sickness!  Bobby went to the YMCA for a swim birthday party.  As you can tell by the smile on his face, he was super happy to be out of the house having some fun!

And for the best time of the year........Junior Tykes tumbling with all of Bobby's friends from Stepping Stones!!!  The kids love this event more than anything!!!  Time to jump, jump, jump!!!

Hopefully Mr. Bobby gets over this stomach bug soon.  We are all ready to get back to school and life.....well, actually just to get out of the house!!

Spring is only a month away!!