Annual VEEG, Easter, and an Award for Flexibility

  • Post category:EEG / Holidays / School
  • Reading time:3 mins read

These past few weeks have been pretty uneventful in the “land of James” which is why I haven’t posted a normal “life of James” post since mid-March. I’ve been contemplating moving to a monthly posting schedule instead of bimonthly if things stay quiet. Now that we’re getting into spring, my weekends will be a bit busier with yard work, so posting monthly would be a bit easier on me. Of course, you can always keep up to date with James on Facebook.

 

Annual VEEG

The last week of March was Spring Break and James spent a little bit of time at the beach.

 

James lies on a hospital bed with numerous EEG electrodes and wires attached across his scalp. He is wearing a shirt with a printed design, and the clinical setup around him makes the monitoring equipment clearly visible. Behind the bed is a large window showing a bright, calming ocean view with sunlight reflecting off the water. A nearby table holds personal items including a backpack, a water bottle, a paper cup, and some papers, adding a lived‑in feel to the medical setting.
Beach “vacation”

 

If you haven’t figured it out, it wasn’t exactly the beach. James had his annual VEEG, and in the pediatric rooms at the hospital that don’t have a good view, they put coverings on the windows that are more pleasant to look at. Unfortunately, we were only able to spend one night at the beach before they kicked us out. It was just an overnight VEEG. Grover the therapy dog stopped by while he was there.

 

James lies on a bed with white gauze wrapped around his head to keep the EEG leads in place. He is wearing a long‑sleeved shirt decorated with stylized stormtrooper helmets and the word “Empire” in red. A cluster of EEG wires and a monitoring device sit near his head, giving the scene a clear medical‑monitoring feel.
Head wrapped in gauze to keep the EEG leads in place

 

James lies on a bed wearing stormtrooper‑themed pajamas, with medical monitoring equipment and wires nearby, suggesting an EEG or similar setup. A light‑colored dog gently touches James' hand with its paw, while an adult in a blue shirt and name badge helps guide the interaction. The moment feels calm and comforting, capturing a soft connection between James and the dog.
Grove the therapy dog giving James five

 

A hospital room scene shows James lying in a bed with medical equipment, wires, and monitors nearby. A large light‑colored dog sits on the floor close to the bedside, wearing a leash and watching attentively. The dog’s calm presence adds warmth to the clinical setting, suggesting a therapy or support role. The room is softly lit, with medical supplies and furniture arranged around the bed.
James with Grover the therapy dog

 

I love his spiky hair after they took all the EEG leads off his head:

 

James lies on a bed with a colorful owl‑patterned pillow behind his head, wearing a black and gray shirt with three stormtrooper helmets and the word “Empire” in red. His hair is free and uncovered, with no electrodes visible, showing the moment after getting the EEG leads taken off. A small device or remote rests near the pillow, and the scene has a calm, post‑procedure feel.
After the VEEG and the wires were removed from his head

 

Easter

A close‑up of James sitting in his wheelchair with a headrest behind him. A playful digital filter adds blue‑and‑pink bunny ears, a pink nose, and white whiskers to his face. The background shows a wooden cabinet and some medical or assistive equipment, blending a lighthearted digital effect with a real‑world care setting.
Bunny James

 

We did Easter a bit differently this year. Normally we split up Easter weekend between my side of the family and Stacy’s. Due to our schedules, we were unable to get together with my family over Easter weekend, so we saw Stacy’s family on Easter Sunday and went to my mom’s yesterday.

Stacy’s family has an interesting tradition that I hadn’t heard about until Stacy and I started dating and I attended my first Easter dinner with them. It’s called egg tapping, and it wasn’t until I was writing this post that I realized that it’s an actual thing that is done in other parts of the world. The object of the game is pretty simple. Each person gets a hard-boiled egg and taps the pointy side of the egg of the person sitting next to them with their own egg. The person whose egg doesn’t crack wins the round. Because the egg has two points (or a top and a bottom), each person gets at least two rounds. The last person to have an uncracked top or bottom is the winner.

Here are some pictures of James and I doing the egg tapping. Sorry buddy, but daddy won both rounds.

 

James sits in a wheelchair wearing a red‑and‑orange plaid shirt and khaki pants, holding a golden brown egg in his hand. Another hand, belonging to Jeff standing nearby, holds a similar egg just above his. A few medical cables are visible near the seated person’s lap. The background shows a wooden table, a chair with a blue patterned cushion, and a hardwood floor, giving the scene a warm, home‑like setting with a shared moment of interaction.
Daddy tapping James’ egg

 

A close‑up of Jeff's and James' hands holding small golden‑brown eggs. James sits wearing tan pants and a red plaid shirt, with a white medical cable and sensor visible near their hand. Jeff's hand reaches in from the side, also holding an egg. The scene takes place indoors on a wooden floor, with part of a round wooden table in the background. The moment feels like a shared, hands‑on activity involving gentle assistance or coordination.
James’ egg cracked so Daddy wins

 

Flipped the egg over to do the other side and Daddy won again

 

At my mom’s house yesterday, the kids had an Easter egg hunt. It was a little rough getting James’ wheelchair through the grass, but we managed. It was a good workout. I wonder what my mom’s neighbors were thinking when the kids were hunting for Easter eggs a week after Easter.

 

James and his cousin are outside near a brick building with white shutters. His cousin stands holding a pink basket filled with colorful plastic eggs, wearing a floral jacket and striped leggings. Beside her, James sits in a wheelchair, dressed in a dark jacket, with a light‑colored bag featuring a cartoon bunny face. The scene captures a cheerful springtime moment, likely during an Easter egg hunt.
Easter Egg hunt at grandmas

 

I guess it wasn’t just my family who celebrated Easter a little late this year. The Easter Bunny paid a visit to James’ classroom on Friday, five days after Eater. She must have gotten lost.

 

In a classroom setting, James sits in a wheelchair wearing a red shirt with a horse logo and the word “STALLIONS.” A tray attached to the chair holds two large buttons, one red and one green, along with some electronic components. Beside James stands a person in a full white bunny costume with pink ears, wearing a black shirt printed with a horseshoe and the word “ELEMENTARY.” The bunny holds a wicker basket filled with colorful eggs. The background shows shelves with labeled bins, a computer, and an American flag, giving the scene the feel of an elementary school Easter event.
Surprise visit from the Easter Bunny at school

 

Award for Flexibility

When I got home from work on Monday, Stacy told me that James received an award for flexibility. I looked at her funny and asked her something like “how did James earn an award for being flexible? Because of his muscle tone, he is not very flexible at all.” She said, “no, silly. Read what it says.”

It says “James Fulkerson has been nominated for showing the FLEXIBILITY key of excellence by always being a trooper when there are schedule changes!” Well, that makes more sense!

 

James sits in a wheelchair wearing a red‑and‑orange plaid shirt and a red‑and‑blue neck support pillow. He is holding a certificate that congratulates James for being nominated for showing flexibility and being a trooper during schedule changes, recognized at a PBIS assembly. The certificate includes a horse logo, a star graphic, and a small orange shirt icon labeled “Bang‑Up Job!” The moment feels proud and celebratory, capturing a well‑earned recognition.