Dog Sitting, New Shirts, Oral Surgery, and a Broken Elevator

  • Post category:School / Surgery
  • Reading time:5 mins read

Well, this past month has been another quiet one. No complaints, though. That’s the way I like it, especially on the weekends. I need that time to relax and decompress from the workweek. As a dog walker, Stacy is sometimes gone much of the weekend, so we don’t always get to hang out as much as we’d like. Sometimes, though, Stacy brings some of her clients home—with their owner’s permission of course.

 

A five‑photo collage shows a relaxed weekend spent with two small dogs. In the top left and center images, Jeff sits on a couch with both dogs curled up close — one on the lap, one tucked beside them. The bottom left photo shows Jeff sitting on the floor, gently holding one dog upright. The top right image shifts to a car interior, where one dog sits in the driver's seat and the other sits in the front passenger seat. The bottom right photo is a close‑up of a dog lying on a person’s lap, wearing a small bow tie. The collage has a warm brown background with a blue label reading “SATURDAY CHILL,” giving the whole set a cozy, easygoing weekend vibe.
Stacy brought a couple of her clients home to hang out with us

 

We have been talking about getting a dog for a while, but we’re not quite there yet. It’s an additional responsibility that we’re not sure if we’re ready for. James is and will always be our top priority. If we do get a dog, it will have to be good around James, and James around it. He’s been around a few dogs and seems to be okay around them. The only time he got upset is when a dog barked right in his face. It probably scared him.

Speaking of being upset, James had another one of his “episodes” a couple of weeks ago. I was home with him while Stacy was out walking dogs. She had him watching cartoons before she left. He was fine for a while and then he just started getting upset and started crying. I couldn’t figure out why. Then I remembered a few months back that he had gotten into one of his crying fits while watch cartoons and stopped as soon as I put M*A*S*H on. Unfortunately, M*A*S*H wasn’t on this time, so I tried The Greatest American Hero, which is an 80s TV show. That did the trick. As soon as I put that on, he was quiet. I think maybe he’s telling us that he’s getting too old for cartoons. Or maybe he just likes old TV shows.

Stacy happened to get a Zulily email this past week advertising some retro shirts, so she bought James a couple.

Two side‑by‑side photos show James lying down showing off his two new pop-culture t-shirts. In the left image, is a green shirt with a red cross and bold lettering referencing “MASH 4077th.” In the right image, is a bright red shirt featuring a stylized car graphic and the words “BACK TO THE FUTURE.” Both photos share the same relaxed setting, highlighting the contrast between the two iconic designs.
New retro shirts

 

Back to the Future is probably my all-time favorite movie. I had my own little trip back in time earlier this month. They were giving alumni tours of the high school I went to and went to check it out. Wow it has changed a lot in the past twenty years. Lots of renovations and the addition of an indoor pool. It was really weird to be back there after two decades.

 

James and Jeff move toward the entrance of a high school building on a sunny day. James sits in his wheelchair while Jeff walks behind, guiding him forward. Above the doorway, a sign reads “HIGH SCHOOL” with a circular emblem featuring an eagle. Clear shadows fall across the pavement, giving the scene a bright, open feel as they approach the main doors together.
My High School

 

James sits in a wheelchair indoors, wearing a gray shirt and a red‑and‑blue neck pillow. The wheelchair has a patterned armrest cover with colorful designs. He is positioned behind a large blue rectangular frame that reads “FUTURE Knight,” with two matching knight‑head logos in the corners. Chairs, a red tablecloth, and a light floor fill the background, giving the scene the feel of a school or community event celebrating future students.
Our knight

 

An auditorium sits quiet before a show, with rows of empty black seats facing a stage set with a large white screen and a few simple props, including a chair and a table. Overhead stage lights hang above the setup. In the foreground, James sits in the back row in his wheelchair, while another person stands nearby, partially visible. The scene feels like a calm pause before a performance or presentation begins.
The renovated school theater

 

Stacy and James dropped off some gift donations we collected for his birthday at our local children’s hospital. If you missed his birthday post, instead of giving James gifts we ask people to bring something that we will donate to the hospital. Don’t worry, James still gets gifts to open, but there are only so many books, movies, and clothes that this kid needs.

 

James sits in his wheelchair inside a bright, colorful playroom filled with toys, books, and games. He is positioned beside a round wooden table covered with donated items — board games, craft kits, figurines, and activity sets — all arranged as gifts for kids. Behind the table, shelves are packed with children’s books, stuffed animals, and ride‑on toys. A large underwater‑themed mural adds vibrant color to the wall, giving the room an inviting, imaginative feel. The whole scene highlights an accessible, engaging space designed for children to explore and play.
Dropping off toys to the children’s hospital

 

I was going to save this for the very end of the post, but I guess I’ll sneak it in here since I mentioned hospital. James will be going into the hospital for oral surgery on Wednesday to remove eleven baby teeth. We’re hoping it will help him close his mouth a little bit. He will probably never be able to close it fully because of the way his jawbone is, but if we can get him to close it just a little bit, we’ll be happy. Of course, once his adult teeth start coming in, he’ll be right back to where he is now. Other reasons that we’ve decided to have his baby teeth removed:

  • To reduce the chance of tooth falling out and getting stuck in his throat. Because he doesn’t swallow, he won’t be able to fully swallow it into his stomach and it may just sit there. We might not even know that it’s in his throat.
  • To give the adult teeth room to come in without having the baby teeth in the way, and eliminate any pain associated with the adult teeth pushing on the baby teeth.
  • A possible reduction in secretions. He’s been having some rough mornings with lots of secretions and a drop in his oxygen saturations, which in turn causes his pulse ox to start beeping at 3 am.

Please keep James in your thoughts and prayers on Wednesday. We’ll probably be posting updates on the surgery on his Facebook page, so if you want to know how it went, be sure to check it out.

It is just after 1 am and I totally lost track of the time. One last thing to share before I post this and head off to bed. I really need to start working on these posts earlier or set an alarm to tell me to go to bed at an earlier hour. Going to be a rough day at work tomorrow.

The library at James’ school is on 2nd floor, which is not normally a problem. He takes the elevator up to the library and back down to his classroom. But what happens when the elevator breaks while James is in the library? The school called the fire department for assistance, and they sent over paramedics to carry him down the stairs in his wheelchair. And that wheelchair is not light! Thank you, gentlemen for rescuing our boy!

 

Four emergency responders carry James seated in a wheelchair down a stairwell. They work in coordinated positions, each holding part of the chair as they guide it carefully step by step. All responders wear dark uniforms and gloves. The stairwell has beige walls, dark flooring, and metal railings, giving the scene a structured, utilitarian feel. The moment highlights practiced teamwork and safe transport through a space without elevator access.
Paramedics carrying James down the stairs at school because the elevator broke

 

Six emergency responders work together to guide James seated in his wheelchair down a staircase inside a building. They lift and steady the chair from multiple sides, coordinating each step to keep James secure. His nurse stands nearby, watching the process. Children’s artwork lines the wall in the background, giving the space a school‑like feel. The moment highlights practiced teamwork and safe, supportive transport in a place without ramp or elevator access.
I wonder if James enjoyed the ride