James Was Testing Us

In a post I made a couple of weeks ago I had mentioned how February just flew by, James remained healthy all month, and we were wondering if it was just the “calm before the storm.” James has this habit of staying healthy for an unusual amount of time (for him), just long enough for us to put our guards down, and then BAM, he surprises us with one of his respiratory illnesses seemingly out of nowhere. Because of his inability to suck or swallow, and therefore manage his own secretions, James often gets aspiration pneumonia.

Today was that day…or so we thought. This morning he was unable to get his oxygen saturations up to acceptable levels, which for him is above 85. Even with the oxygen concentrator providing him with 2.5 liters of oxygen. This and his high heartrate are the typical warning signs that he is coming down with something.

By noon he was back to normal like nothing happened. We swear he was just testing us. Making sure we remembered how to manage one of his respiratory episodes. Did we pass the test James? Good. Now can you not do that anymore? The stress is not good for mommy and daddy. Thanks dude.

 

Other than that little stunt that James pulled, the last couple of weeks have been rather chill. Last week Stacy brought one of her dog walking clients home for a couple of hours. She wasn’t sure about James, but gave him lots of kisses on his ear, eye and mouth.

 

James lies on the living‑room floor in his cushioned seat, wearing a dark shirt with a white geometric design and blue pants. A light brown dog stands close beside him, leaning in to nuzzle or lick the side of James' face. Nearby are stuffed toys, including one in a dark shirt with an orange logo and a white plush toy on the floor. In the background, a wooden table holds a teddy bear and a fish tank, and a stroller sits near a doorway leading into a room with wooden flooring. The scene feels warm, homey, and full of everyday life.
Dog checking out James

 

March 7th was “Spread the Word to End the Word Day”, which is a call to action to stop using the “R-word”. You know…retarded. We’ve all used it, me included. I’ve used it more than I’d like to admit, and I still find myself using it from time to time. I need to do better. Here is a list of alternate words you can use:

 

A bulletin board with a blue background and a glittery border displays a message made from mixed fonts. The text lists a series of words like “crazy,” “ridiculous,” “absurd,” “silly,” “senseless,” and others, all leading to a final line that challenges the use of the word “retarded,” followed by the phrase “Buy a dictionary.” The overall design is bold and attention‑grabbing, clearly meant to promote respectful language and discourage harmful word choices.
Please use another word

 

James received a package in the mail a few days ago from Bounce Children’s Foundation that was full of little things for St. Patrick’s Day.

 

James lies in his foam recliner wearing a white shirt with black and red accents and partially covered by a red, black and white blanket. Resting on his chest is a small cut‑out figure of a leprechaun dressed in green. James holds several gold‑colored coins, giving the scene a festive, playful feel. Beside him sits a brown stuffed bear wearing a dark blue shirt with “BEARS” in orange letters. The setting appears cozy and relaxed on a carpeted floor.

 

Bounce really is an amazing organization. In addition to the holiday themed packages they send, they also arrange some pretty cool outings for special needs kids and their families. If you are in the Chicagoland area, have a special needs child, and aren’t already a member, consider joining.

 

I realize this has turned into one of those hodge podge messy posts without much flow. I just have one last thing to throw out there. It’s more of a reminder really. If you haven’t done so already, please check out Stacy’s Thirty-One online party. It’s Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and 20% of all sales will be donated to United Cerebral Palsy Center for Disability Services.

https://www.mythirtyone.com/627441/shop/Party/EventDetail/10518945

 

A graphic features bold text reading “My Hero Has Cerebral Palsy” with Cerebral Palsy crossed out and the word “COURAGE” emphasized beneath it. To the right is a bright green awareness ribbon, the symbol commonly associated with cerebral palsy. Below the main message is a smaller line noting that March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. The overall design is clean and supportive, centered on advocacy and pride.

 

A green graphic features bold white text that reads “I heart someone with Cerebral Palsy,” with the heart formed by a ribbon‑like design. At the bottom are two small logos: one for UCP United Cerebral Palsy and one for Firefly by Leckey. The overall look is clean, bright, and supportive, expressing love and solidarity for someone living with cerebral palsy.