Halloween, Health Update, School, and Our Other Kids

Halloween

I think this was only the second time in James’ life that we took him trick or treating around our neighborhood. It’s usually either too cold for him to be outside for long periods of time, or Halloween falls on a weeknight when he’s zonked from school and he’s too sleepy. Since Halloween was on a Sunday this year, and the weather was decent—chilly, but not too bad—we went trick or treating around the neighborhood as a family.

Stacy had been working on a family Halloween costume for a few weeks, so we were lucky that the weather was in our favor. We dressed up as characters from the Wizard of Oz. James was the Tin Man, Stacy was Dorothy, I was the Scarecrow, and Maggie was the Lion. Maggie didn’t care too much for the mane, but we were able to get a couple of pictures of her wearing it.

 

James sits in his wheelchair outdoors dressed as the Tin Man, wearing a silver outfit with a red heart on the chest and a cone‑shaped hat. Beside him, Jeff kneels in a scarecrow costume with a brown hat and earth‑toned clothing. In front of them, Maggie (the dog) wears a fluffy mane, completing the trio as the Cowardly Lion. Sunlight falls across all three, and the scene feels playful and creative, capturing a themed costume moment near the house.
The Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion

 

James sits in his wheelchair dressed as the Tin Man, wearing gray clothing covered in aluminum foil, a cone‑shaped hat, and a large red heart on his chest. Beside him, Stacy kneels in a blue‑and‑white checkered Dorothy costume with pigtails. Their dog Maggie sits nearby wearing a fluffy mane as the Cowardly Lion. They’re gathered on a porch with a suburban neighborhood behind them — houses, a driveway, and trees with red leaves — creating a bright, cheerful outdoor scene that brings the Wizard‑of‑Oz trio to life.
The Tinman, Dorothy, and the Cowardly Lion

 

Three people and a dog pose outdoors on a sidewalk and grassy area in themed costumes. James sits in his wheelchair dressed as the Tin Man, wearing a gray outfit with silver foil accents and a large red heart on his chest. Beside him, Jeff stands in a brown vest and tan hat, and Stacy kneels next to the dog wearing a blue‑and‑white checkered Dorothy dress with braided hair and sunglasses. The dog, Maggie, wears a fluffy mane as the Cowardly Lion. The scene is bright and cheerful, capturing a playful Wizard‑of‑Oz group moment outside.
The Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy

 

 

Health Update

James continued to remain relatively healthy throughout October. He had one or two days where he needed a little extra attention, but nothing out of the ordinary. As the cooler fall weather sets in and we get into November, we start getting a little anxious. He has a habit of coming down with pneumonia around Thanksgiving.

This year he may have started early. Yesterday he was showing signs of respiratory distress, so we kept him home from school. Today he was about the same so Stacy asked for a nurse from palliative care stop by to give him a listen. She said that the right lung sounded good, but the left side was diminished. Welcome to Pneumo-ember!  That’s what we sometimes refer to November as around here.

Going on the assumption that it was probably pneumonia, palliative care started him on a steroid and an antibiotic hoping to avoid another hospital stay. It will probably take a few days for them to start working their magic, but hopefully next month’s post won’t include pictures of him in the hospital. Please say a few prayers for him.

 

 

School

James was assigned his own locker at school. He doesn’t have many books, so I am not sure what he is going to store in it. Maybe some extra medical supplies?

 

James sits in his wheelchair in front of a row of lockers, wearing a green “Young Athletes™ Special Olympics Illinois” shirt, red wrist supports, and a black neck pillow decorated with a white skeleton hands. One locker door is painted bright yellow and stands open, showing empty shelves and a small photo attached inside. The space has brick walls and carpeted flooring, giving it the feel of a school. The scene centers on James in a colorful, everyday environment.
James’ locker at school

 

He put together a vision board.

 

James’s vision board is displayed on a large sheet with the title “My Vision Board — By James” at the top. The board is filled with colorful pictures, stickers, and handwritten goals. Phrases include “Greeter is the job I want,” “cool. calm. collected. — That’s me!,” “I CAN DO IT!,” “My goal is to do my best everyday,” “When I grow up, I still want to live at home with mom and dad,” “I want to be in Club Unify and Reading With Iris,” “Special Olympics Unified Sports,” “BELIEVE YOU CAN,” and a school‑goal statement with partially blurred text. The board features drawings of a cartoon person, superheroes, pumpkins, a house with a sun, and a dog wearing a graduation cap. The overall feel is upbeat and personal, showing James’s hopes, routines, and affirmations in a bright, creative layout.
James’ vision board

 

Now I know this isn’t really James related, but it is school related, so I guess I’ll throw it in here, too. Stacy has added another job to her resume. A couple of weeks ago she started working as a lunch supervisor at one of the elementary schools in our district. This girl just can’t sit still. She hasn’t had a full-time job since James was born and is trying to do what she can to help the family financially, and I appreciate her for that.

 

 

Our Other Kids

I can’t believe it’s been a year since Maggie became part of our family. She’s mostly a good dog, but we’ve been trying to work on some behavior issues. When we first got her, she was really friendly with anyone that came over, but then something changed. She constantly barks when people other than us are in the house, and sometimes nips at them. We don’t know what her history is other than she was found as a stray in Alabama. Maybe this is her first real home and family, and she doesn’t want to lose it so she is being protective. We just don’t know, but we’re working on it.

 

A side‑by‑side photo celebrates the dog’s Gotcha Day. At the top, colorful text reads “HAPPY GOTCHA DAY!” over a playful background with dog collars and bones. The left image, labeled “THEN,” shows MAggie outside on the grass with a younger, scruffier coat. The right image, labeled “NOW,” shows her indoors on a couch, looking older with a shorter, smoother coat and slightly sticking out her tongue. Together, the two photos highlight how she has grown and settled into home life over the past year.
Happy 1 Year Gotcha Day Maggie!

 

They say that time heals all wounds. Well, it’s been almost 13 years since we lost Jackson and our wounds haven’t healed, and I don’t think they ever will. I can’t speak for Stacy, but I can still feel the pain, sadness, and anger of knowing that we were going to lose him. I’m getting mad just thinking about it now. Wherever you are Jackson, I hope you know that mommy and daddy love you very much, and if we could have changed the outcome, we would have.

 

A five‑panel memorial collage honors a baby named Jackson. The top panel shows a soft gradient sky with the text “October 15th — Today we Remember The Babies” and a quote: “A luminous light remains where a beautiful soul has passed — Antoine Bareau.” Below it are four images: an ultrasound of a developing baby, a beach at sunset with “Jackson” written in the sand, a framed memorial card with a yellow ribbon reading “Safe in His Arms, Forever in Our Hearts, Jackson Edward Fulkerson, November 17, 2008,” and a small silver urn resting inside a maroon velvet‑lined case. The collage conveys remembrance, love, and quiet tribute.
We love you Jackson