Will this year be Lucky Seven?

Blessing or a curse?  I am stumped on how to write about our INCREDIBLE summer.  In listing what happened, I am afraid our wonderful vacation sound boring and trite. How can I ever relay my joy and make you understand why I am so sad summer is over?! I can only try.

James and I were alone at first, with David visiting on weekends until he could join us for the final week.  Can you believe it? I was alone with my kid for days on end and really enjoyed it! We had FUN.  I'm not saying I never got angry or annoyed.  I just didn't have any scary issues or concerns or hellish crap that his autism often brings up.  No meltdowns, no inconsolable moments, no times when I couldn't reach or communicate with him.  

1) James slept through the night, EVERY NIGHT.  And, many times, was able to put himself to sleep without a parent laying at his side. This is a HUGE achievement. My sleep log shows that two years ago, he slept through the night about 8 times a month. Although until now, "sleeping through the night" meant when James woke up, climbed in our bed, and went right back to sleep.  At one point, he rarely went to sleep before midnight (with no naps and a full school/therapy schedule).  Can you imagine our delight that, after six years, his bedtime is between 8:30 and 9:30? And that ten is late? 

2) James ate well and tried new foods.  He ate tater tots (potatoes HAD to be french fries).  He ate all kinds of chicken - nuggets/fingers/filets (frozen, fresh, organic, fast food) - in a variety of places - house/backyard/a restaurant with cutlery! He had different kinds of pizza, (again fresh, frozen, sneaky

healthy). He even ate little pizza bites with soy cheese rolled inside whole wheat crust!  Before, pizza could only come from our local Brooklyn shop (he knew if it didn't). He had a push-up ice pop (those freezable tubes) and home-made oatmeal cookies.  The list could go on. I pray his taste keeps expanding. In the past three weeks, James has grown inches taller and packed on quite a few pounds.  Where ribs were sticking out, you only see a tummy!  Needless to say, most of the size-7 clothes (a size he moved to in June), is either too short or tight.  I won't even mention the never-worn school outfits that his grandparents gave him!

3) James enjoyed the bay in his own grown-up sized tube, feet on the ocean floor.  He didn't even want me to hang on the back (not going to happen kid)! As a little guy, James loved the water and would go in with ANYONE who would take him.  Then he became fearful and the bay (and the bath tub) became a vat of boiling oil to him. When we got bathing under control, we tried again.  At first, he sat in the pools that where created by the gaping holes in our beach's bulkhead.  He enjoyed that greatly, but wouldn't stay in the bay for more than minutes. Last summer, we splurged and bought one of those big, towable tubes with a mesh bottom.  He loved it. He could be in the water and still be secure.  At the beginning of this summer he wanted to be in the bay, but with me, in my tube. I am happy to say that this is no longer the case. James has claimed one of OUR tubes for his very own!  

4) James, who has a rough time learning new things, somehow knew how to pitch a ball to his dad (he loved it too, would do it for hours if you didn't stop).  Hitting wasn't great. He threw the bat at the ball instead of swinging and got frustrated when you demonstrated.  Every time, he would give his dad the bat, pick up the ball and start pitching again. If only he was a lefty!

5) Another first was that we stayed at a friend's barbeque for hours, until it got dark!  We were the second arrivals but by far not the second to leave! 

6) We went to two antique flea markets, dragging James along in his red wagon - and he loved it. Even waved or smiled at people who talked to him.

Sole dark spot: the lack of success in the potty department (which will be another issue, another time). 

Last note: This week saw James' annual IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting.  Potentially scary and very nerve-wracking as this is where his special autistic school and all therapy is approved, added to, or cancelled.  James has a lot more therapy than many children, therapy (that we fought to get) which is called into question every year.  At breakfast David and I discussed potential scenarios and how we would react to them.  Then we went armed with our therapists' reports and our doctor's forms and with James' principal and his Medicaid coordinator.  It was all a non-issue.  Everything was approved.  I know he needs it, and it's not like we are scamming the government, BUT, in this financial climate, budget cuts are everywhere and we were terrified. 

I think a great vacation can be measured on how rested you are (very), how many pictures you took (tons) and how sad you are to get back to the grind (I cried)!  I must begrudgingly admit that, unlike me, James loves being back at school.  Can't be sad about that!