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| 8 Going on 18 |
I tried to explain that there was no school or therapy to go back to YET, but as soon as there was we would go back. I know he would have preferred a more challenging summer, but it was a good combination of "stuff to do" and relaxation, let alone an earthquake and a hurricane!
James had a few "firsts," including an upside-down roller-coaster (thank you L&S!), steering a real truck (via our lovely - and carzy - neighbor), and independently riding a two-wheeled bicycle (all Dad's doing). James ate new foods: a plum, onion rings, and a bagel. Not to mention the wild glimpses into James' mind that is provided by his iPad!
There were some incidents, melt-downs and crying jags. Tempers flared all around. Once James typed "Severe Daddy" after David lost his temper. I asked James what that meant. It wasn't until a bit later that I got "Make. Dad. feld (sic). Bad." Unbelievable. Of course, all this is a bit frustrating too because James doesn't really write much more then he can say or get across. Still, what is important for me to remember here, it is that it is LESS frustrating for James. It eases his mind. For instance, today, James started whining as soon as we got into his sensory gym. It was very early, no one else was in the center yet. What could it be? Finally, I got out the iPad and asked what was wrong. He chose the buttons for "I feel" "sad" on his communication application. But WHY James? He clicked the icon for the center, then "basement" and "interactive metronome" AH-HAH!!!! The basement, unfortunately like many in the area, was severely flooded and is off-limits for the time being. James is sad he can't work on the program in the basement computer room. I told his therapist who gave him a big hug and explained that they would do lots of other fun things instead. It worked.
